Birthdays

During the month of February, I usually crank up the oven in preparation for inspired Valentine treats that I intend to bake.  But this year, February was a bit of a crazy month.  Instead of spending time in the warmth of my kitchen, much of my time was spent outside, digging my house and car out of the rounds and rounds of snow that the incessant storm systems kept dumping on much of the northeast.  Yet even with that (and a little 'playing' in the snow via snowboarding) I also worked on a few baking orders for some birthdays.  One birthday was based on a 'Strawberry Shortcake' theme, so they requested strawberry shaped cake pops:

Inside is festive and colorful vanilla confetti cake.

Then I received an order for a birthday cake from a client who was interested in having a marble swirl cake.  So after agreeing on a blue color scheme, this ocean-like swirl cake came to fruition. 

The wavy swirls on the outside reflect the double layer vanilla and chocolate marble swirls inside.  Fondant flowers in various blue shades finish off the top.  Funny how these two creations remind me a lot more of spring and summer, rather than winter!