Inspired by Martha... Again. Still. Always!

I asked for two things from my sweetie for Valentine's Day last week...

Two bunches of tulips and, Martha's Cakes and Cupcakes magazine!

I received both! And, I was so happy when it began to snow early yesterday

because it meant I could snuggle up on the sofa and read all day long!

And, that's what I did. The magazine is fantastic! While $9.99 is a bit more

than I am accustomed to paying for a magazine, it is nearly 100 pages...

Every one prettier and more inspiring than the next!

It made me want to bake a cake immediately!

Unfortunately, my baking supplies are scattered

everywhere but throughout the kitchen because...

This spot where the boys once put on their shoes and where today

I've got quite the collection of hats, shopping/tote bags going on...

Is about to become a secondary pantry, dedicated only to my baking supplies!

I'm so happy I over-bought on these bin pulls when we remodeled the kitchen

because Pottery Barn no longer carries them but I happen to have the four we'll

need for the new pantry doors and replace the brass knobs on the coat closet!

So... Before I could bake a cake today I had to go on a treasure hunt to find my

cake pans. I looked everywhere but could not find my set of round cake pans. I

know I own a set of round cake pans because after all, I created this cake!

As I searched, I sent up a quick prayer to St. Anthony for the whereabouts of

my cake pans and, just as I finished, a set of hexagon shaped pans appeared

with a handful of fortune cookies in one of them. So I broke open a cookie...

And, there was my answer!

It means two things to me... First, that I'll find my cake pans when it's time
to load my new pantry and second, the universe must have a sense of humor...

Because... It better not take a month for my new pantry to be completed!

Nevertheless, without my round cake pans and without any idea which

boxes might contain my baking flours, sugar and other baking necessities...

I did the only thing I could... I grabbed a King Arthur Flour

cake mix and some Guittard chocolate to make it extra good!

Fortunately, I knew exactly where my extra set of bake even strips were hiding!

If you've ever wondered if they really work, see for yourself!

No trimming necessary. Just evenly baked cakes every time!

Even if you're baking hexagon shaped cakes!

To make it easier to transfer from my rotating decorating stand to a

board after I applied the crumb coat, I left my cake on my large cookie

spatula - Which also provided me with a convenient handle for turning!

It's the little things... Especially when all of your baking

supplies are in boxes sitting out in the cold garage!

Despite the fact that I couldn't try one of Martha's delicious

cake recipes from her beautiful Cakes and Cupcakes issue...

I still managed to have a little fun in the kitchen today!

It was a nice break from all the cookies I've been creating lately!

And, made for the perfect dessert after tonight's dinner!

To see the completed baking pantry project, click here!