PATRICE'S CAKES AND CONFECTIONS - PATRICE'S BLOG

IT'S THE MIDDLE OF SUMMER...AND WILL BE HOT, HOT, HOT! (106 - hello Sacramento!)

7/27/2019

It's been quite the Spring-Summer here. July has had fairly mild temperatures; however, as we enter August, triple digits are creeping in!
I LOVE BEING A GRANDMA!
We had a great Texas trip in May, visiting our beautiful, beautiful, beautiful granddaughter, Charlotte Marie - aka Charlie! It is so very true that from birth to almost one children sprout so fast, gain momentum (almost walking??) and melt your heart with the smiles, giggles and personality that grandparents live for! (sigh) I know we're gonna be ready for another visit real soon.
OH YES, I STILL BAKE!
Baking!? Yes, I still remember what that's like! I have had one marvelous customer this year keep me in the kitchen while I baked lovely tea loaf breads, such as Lemon, Chocolate, Banana Pecan and Pumpkin, as well as a Neapolitan layer cake and a few caramels. Not only do I love baking those tea breads, but I really enjoy getting to know my customers and having great conversations about baking and life!
UPDATED MENU AND PRICES!
Coming in AUGUST - somewhere during the month - I will update my menu and price list, publishing it here and on my Facebook page. Be on the lookout for a sale or two and a Fall preview of new tea loaves and other sweet stuff.
LOCAL CUSTOMER NEWS
Patrice's Cakes and Confections will be at Machado's Apple Festival on Saturday, October 19, 2019 from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm. Loads of fun, great crafts, music, food, apples and local vendors. Come visit us in Auburn, California!

WOW! This is the longest blog post I've had in awhile.

HAVE A FABULOUS REST OF THE SUMMER AND REMEMBER TO

STAY SWEET!

HAPPY SUMMER! JUST A FEW DAYS LATE!

6/24/2019

Hi Everyone!

Believe it or not I'm on the run again!
Will attempt a more detailed update later today.
Stay Sweet!

HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY SPRING, 2019!

3/25/2019

HAPPY SPRING EVERYONE!

We're just waiting for the March/April rains to finish cleaning out the air and then it's on to the SUNSHINE! Let's not mention the coming of spring cleaning, which, alas, seems to beckon us as well.

This is a quick announcement to let all of my LOCAL CUSTOMERS know that I am now offering GLAZED LEMON LOAF breads for sale at $12.00 each. It's quite the lemony treat to greet the Spring and lasts quite a few days wrapped well on your kitchen counter! This lovely loaf will be added to the main menu in a future update.

In a few days, perhaps, I will post a photo of my latest cake for a customer's birthday. . . NEAPOLITAN THREE-LAYER CAKE. It's quite the undertaking and worth the effort. This also means that my three-layer STRAWBERRY CAKE is now available for $50.00 as a Spring specialty with truly great strawberry flavor.

Must dash. Thank you all for your support and reading my blog posts.
Pssst.....special discount for local customers who leave a comment on this post.

ONCE AGAIN, HAPPY SPRING!

Patrice

HAPPY AND BLESSED NEW YEAR TO ALL!

1/1/2019

HERE IS WISHING YOU AND YOURS A VERY BLESSED & HEALTHY NEW YEAR!

I HAVE UPDATED THE LOCAL MENU WITH SOME LOWER PRICED ITEMS!

CHECK BACK IN A FEW WEEKS FOR MORE UPDATES.

HERE'S TO A FABULOUS AND WONDERFUL 2019!

HELLO AND MERRY CHRISTMAS.....

12/20/2018

And, gee, didn't I take my sweet time updating the blog.

Well, news abounds as we are now GRANDPARENTS of a beautiful baby girl - Charlotte Marie! We took quite the trip to Texas this fall and welcomed our GORGEOUS granddaughter into the world. Mommy & Daddy are doing great and finally getting more sleep. . .Oh, who are we kidding??? There is no more sleep!

In short, the business continues and I am happy to provide updated Menu and Catering prices in 2019. I will spend the next several weeks working on updating EVERYTHING! Please take a moment to send me a quick reply that you've read this blog post. Your comments and constructive suggestions and ideas are most welcome!

CHEERS TO THE NEW YEAR!
MAY YOURS BE TRULY BLESSED!

PATRICE

Still Summer - yes, but thinking about Fall!

8/11/2018

Oh, please don't be upset about the title!
I haven't started Christmas shopping yet. . . ha! But I honestly can't wait for the Fall season to start.
That being said, I decided to announce a permanent price reduction for all one-pound caramels, formerly $28/pound, now $25!! I can tell you that one of my main ingredients, vanilla extract in all its forms, has skyrocketed in price over the past few years. I do not want to alter my flavor profiles in the least; however, I believe I can comfortably lower the pound price and still continue to provide pure vanilla flavors in my caramels. (Well, except for the Espresso Chocolate, which, let's face it, needs to be just espresso and chocolate!)

And, as sorta promised, here is a photo of the dessert table at our daughter's Texas baby shower last month.

Did you catch the flamingo theme? The two-tiered cake was a two-team effort! I baked and Natalie decorated. It was a pink ombre vanilla layer cake (top tier was all vanilla), strawberry puree and whipped cream/mascarpone cream filling, beautifully iced with Natalie's awesome buttercream and decorated with a fondant flamingo and candy wings. (whew) She also made amazing cake pops and I brought a ton of lavender, chai and salted vanilla caramels. It was a fabulous shower and I do not believe our granddaughter will lack for anything!

SUMMER UPDATES!

6/28/2018

Greetings Everyone!
Wow, June is almost gone, but we're still here! Lots to think about and get ready for my visit to Texas in July. Baby shower plans are underway and GUESS WHO is making the desserts, together with my very talented baking daughter!? (I tend to get a bit carried away when planning baking events, just ask Natalie!)

This summer finds me with time to experiment and bake "practice" products and try something I don't normally do...like a two-tiered baby shower cake. Pictures to follow soon - having mini uploading issues. The baby shower theme is flamingos and pink and white polka dots. Will most definitely post the final results at the shower. In the meantime, enjoy a few shots of my baby GIRL practice goodies. Yup, did I tell you they're having a GIRL?

Cute Onsie Cookie and Foot templates. . . but we won't be doing cookies. I have no problem sharing my less than perfect attempts with something new! It's all about the icing thickness and a very steady hand. Plus, there is a huge timing and patience factor making cookies such as these. Hats off to the experts out there! Baby shower practice cake coming soon. Have a SWEET day!
Patrice

WAIT JUST A MINUTE...ANOTHER POST SO SOON??

5/4/2018

SURPRISE, SURPRISE!
I finally posted my very latest baking adventures. Browse through the collection of cookies, cakes, pastries, tarts and breads. Hover over the photo and see what I've done. Too bad it's so expensive and a huge risk to open one's own bakery these days. BUT. . . it does matter NOT! If you are a home baker, occasional baker for friends, family and contests (HELLO, LYNN!) then keep on baking, experimenting and educating yourself to learn more as well as try something beyond what you think you are capable! Watch the Great British Baking Show on Netflix (for example) and get inspired by these home bakers! Yes, you'll have to learn a few conversions and new words; (That's spot on!) however, it will help keep you excited about trying new baking techniques and inspire you to bake more! Get into Instagram and start following baking blogs such as @erinmcdowell (#thefearlessbaker), @sarakeifer (#thevanillabeanbakingbook)@food52, @thebakefeed and more!
NOW, GO BAKE SOMETHING!!

Have a very happy and joyful day!
PATRICE

VALRHONA DARK CHOCOLATE

VALRHONA WHITE, MILK AND DARK CHOCOLATE

TRIPLE CHOCOLATE CHUNK COOKIE

VEGAN CHOCOLATE CAKE

ALL BLUEBERRY FRANGIPANE TART

BLUEBERRIES, RASPBERRIES, BLACKBERRIES

RICOTTA CHEESE, OLIVE OIL, ORANGE ZEST CAKE

SALTED CARAMEL CHOCOLATE FUN LAYER CAKE

MOCHA 3-LAYER CAKE

LYNN'S MOCHA MOCHA BIRTHDAY CAKE

FRESH FRUIT FRANGIPAGNE TART

VANILLA BEAN PINATA CUPCAKES

WHOLE WHEAT BANANA BREAD

CRANBERRY ORANGE STREUSEL BREAD

NEAPOLITAN LAYER CAKE WITH GANACHE DRIP

ABI'S CHOCOLATE BIRTHDAY CAKE

CARROT CAKE WITH PINEAPPLE AND PECANS

Where, oh where did the time go???

4/30/2018

I woke up this morning and realized that tomorrow is May 1st!

Holy cupcakes, Batman!

Well, I am more of a Hobbit or Marvel movie goer than the Batman, but, it matters not.
I wanted to touch base with any of you wandering through my Cake and Confection website and let you know that Patrice's is alive and kicking. I will be updating the GALLERY with my latest bakes and orders. We have personal plans heading into the summer; however this made-to-order confections and small dessert catering business continues to thrive!

Personal Note: My husband and I, this September, will join the ranks of many, many FABULOUS PEOPLE. . . . . . . . . We are going to be GRANDPARENTS!
SUPER YAY! Baby gender reveal this month followed by a July Baby Shower followed by an extended trip to the parents-to-be home for an exciting time! OK, Grandma, breathe.....................................

I keep saying I should start my own separate blog; however, if you are reading this and care to leave a comment to let me know SOMEONE reads these, by all means MAKE MY DAY!

I still continue to take local orders and indulge friends and church groups with lots of baking practice pieces. In addition to checking out the GALLERY, please head over to my FACEBOOK page (Patrice's Cakes and Confections) for any current happenings or announcements.

Short and Sweet as is my usual. Take care website viewers! Drop me a line, anytime!

STAY SWEET!

PATRICE

ANOTHER YEAR UNDERWAY. . .

2/10/2018

HI EVERYONE!
I may not have time to write a lengthy blog today; however, I wanted to get these 2017 year-end photos and a few 2018 shots into the blog - with the stories to follow.

My "word" for this year is FINISH! I definitely have a few others that would seem more appropriate; however, this one is so applicable to my heart, attitude and current lifestyle of not quite finishing what I already have going on. (Note if you will my PINTREST (look for Patricia Friedman) board with lots of saves to Organizing and DeCluttering...HA!)

For the moment, I will caption each photo with name and event location and purpose.

Have a great February! (Love is in the air...) Remember local customers there is a BOGO free (half pound) for ordering a pound of caramels (through March 15th)! Limited to one per customer.

Stay SWEEEEEEET!

Patrice