Happy Valentine's Day - Happy 84th Birthday Dad!

Happy Valentine's Day everyone but especially my Dad, Murray Neidorf, who officially turns 84 today! Because tonight is a crazy night in restaurants and it is also a school night our family congregated at my parents' house last night to celebrate and toast my amazing father. Can you tell that I still have a bit of the "Daddy's Girl" of my my youth in me?!

As you might remember last year my dad requested my Grandma Rose's (his mother's) Nut Sponge Cake for his birthday which turned out to be a HUGE hit. This year when I asked him what kind of cake he wanted (fully expecting that he would want my grandma's sponge cake again), at first he demurred but then he confessed that he wanted the Chocolate Coffee Cake with Coffee Buttercream Frosting and Chocolate Ganache that I had made over the holidays. 

My dad loves, loves, loves all things flavored mocha or coffee (except a cup of coffee itself) and this cake was no exception. He had called me a couple of days after tasting it just raving about how wonderfully delicious it was. Of course, that made me so very happy to know that I had another winner on my hands.

Stunningly beautiful, don't you think?!

I set out to make the cake on Saturday because while it is not a difficult recipe, it is one with several steps and is quite time consuming...but well worth every bit of effort (see photo above). I thought that I would make it in stages over two days but I ended up being enchanted with it and made it all in one day...3pm-10pm...OH LA LA!

Well, let me tell you the anticipation of cutting into that cake and watching my father taste it was almost more than I could bare. When the moment did arrive it was magical. After singing a rousing and very off key Happy Birthday (in my family we are known for a lot of things though singing talent is not one of them) my dad began cutting slices. This is a three layer, butter laden beauty so he and I shared a piece...it was heaven...my mother at the other end of the table was swooning in delight as was everyone else.

Me & my Dad years ago before I went "naturally blonde"!

However, the piece de resistance was really later on after everyone, except Joshua and I, had left. Now it was time to wrap up all the remaining slices for my dad's special drawer in the freezer where he squirrels away all his treats to methodically eat one at a time when the mood strikes him, which is quite often as he has a highly trained sweet tooth (a trait I have so obviously inherited). We stood side by side as if we were well trained assembly line workers. He finished cutting up the rest of the cake in neat slices, I wrapped each one separately and tightly in plastic wrap, then handed them to him to lay ever so delicately in the freezer drawer. My mother couldn't stop laughing...quite the comedy routine. Job well done I drove home quite content indeed.

It may be too late to bake this extraordinary cake tonight for your sweetheart (or just someone you love)  but do try it some time...you are sure to win his/her heart forever...

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY...may your every day be filled with love and all that makes you happy...

xoxo Nanci

Bake Sale Extravaganza for Charity Madness!!!

Well, as some of you might already know, the first annual Sugar & Stilettos Bake Sale Extravaganza for Charity is slated for May 21, 2011/11am-3pm on the Westside of Los Angeles...exact location TBA closer to the date. The beneficiaries are the Westside Food Bank and St. Joseph Center's Food Pantry in Venice (CA).

A Stunning Manolo Blanik from the First Baking Club Meeting

The planning is underway and rolling along full force. I can't tell you how exciting it is to be creating something at a grass roots level that has the potential to do such good in our community. Our mission is to raise funds that will be donated to food service programs (see above) and to also serve as a role model of what we can do to help end the issues of hunger and food insecurity in the United States. Did you know that overwhelmingly it is women and children that are going hungry? As a mother myself and an American I find it scandalous and incomprehensible. Since I can't personally write those big checks, the S & S Bake Sale Extravaganza is my way of trying to do SOMETHING, ANYTHING, to help those most at risk and in need.

And let me tell you, not only will this first event raise money and awareness it is going to be a whole hell of a lot of FUN!!! Take a look at what is already happening and in the works:

1. Honorary Advisory Board (partial list): Ed O'Neill (Modern Family), Laura Innes (ER, The Event), Paul Reiser (Mad About You), Armin Shimerman (Star Trek - Deep Space Nine), Kathleen Noone (Emmy Winner/All My Children), Lee Blessing (Pulitzer/Tony nominated playwright), Dawn Steinberg (EVP Casting/Sony Television), Charlotte Roe (Facts of Life), Peter Bergman (Emmy Winner/The Young and the Restless), Donald Martin (Writer, Lifetime's The Craigslist Killer), Susie Coelho (Lifestyle Goddess), Melanie Marnich (Writer, HBO's Big Love), Michael Warren (Hill St. Blues), Mary Lou Belli (Director/Girlfriends), Ronnie Yeskel (casting Director/Quentin Tarantino films, HBO's Curb Your Enthusiasm), Kevin Kilner (Actor), Jordan Baker (Actress), Harley Jane Kozak (Actress/Mystery Writer). In the works are Kathy Griffin, several of the Desperate Housewives, Yvette Nicole Brown, Jane Kazmarek, Ana Ortiz, Chris Noth, Peter Facinelli, Melina Kanakeredes and on and on...we are expecting some of our "celeb" board members to make an appearance at the event...TBD...

2. Donated Professional Baked Goods: Sweet Lady Jane, Jamaica's Cakes, Susie Cakes, The Cheesecake Factory, Clementine, Marmalade Cafe, The Sensitive Baker, Sweet Butter Kitchen & Cafe, The Cheese Box at Wally's, LuLu's Sweets, Yummy Cupcakes plus Molly Taylor and her The Sweets Truck (which includes a full service espresso bar, cold milk and other beverages). In the works among others are: Huckelberry Bakery & Cafe, Essential Chocolate Desserts, Joan's on Third, Susina Bakery, Magnolia Bakery, Isamax Snacks, Nothing Bundt Cakes and on and on...

3. Raffle Items: Collection set of LaLicious Body Products in Sugar Kiss, One hour in home massage, One hour workout with a private trainer, 3 blowouts at DryBar, a vintage French cake plate from Vintageweave Interiors and 3 tiaras fit for a QUEEN/GODDESS from Shelly's Dancewear! Tickets will be $10.00 each, winners will be chosen at the end of the day.

4. Items for Sale (list growing): S & S refrigerator magnets, sticky pads, cutting boards and aprons, Fifi Flowers specially designed notecards, autographed books by famous bakers like Dorie Greenspan, Sarabeth Levine, Matt Lewis & Renato Poliafito (BAKED), Patricia Helding (Fat Witch Bakery), stiletto cake servers, sexy rubber gloves for the kitchen, S & S eco-friendly re-usable tote bags and so much more!

5. Gift Certificates to buy: Westside Tavern Restaurant, Bed, Bath & Beyond, Tartelette Bakery, The Container Store, a one hour private French lesson from Sylvie Targhetta, five (5) hours of babysitting from Sylvan Guerveno, a mani-pedi at Hana & Her Sisters...just the beginning...

The S & S Bake Sale Extravanganza will be a child friendly event. My son, Joshua, will head up a Kid's Table of treats as well as a Lemonade Stand. Other tables included will be: Scones & Muffins, Brownies & Bars, Quickbreads, Cakes, Cookies, Cobblers, Crumbles & Pies, Savory, Breads...plus a Gluten-Free, Vegan, Sugar-Free, Nut-Free table.

So, my lovelies, MARK YOUR CALENDARS...you won't want to miss this incredible event! And if you can't make it, you can still participate by writing a check to either one (or both) of the charitable organizations and sending it to us at our office address. We will bundle those checks with all the other money we raise. Be on the lookout for more details on the website as we get nearer the actual date of May 21st.

I've got to run...there's still so much to do...wish me luck and say a few prayers that I stay sane throughout this process...

Your Fearless Leader/Baking Goddess,

xoxo Nanci