Kelly's Cake Off for a Cause

Wow, where do I begin with this post?  It's going to be a very long one.  Go pour yourself a cup of coffee or tea, get comfortable because I think this will be my favorite post.

I told all of you a while back of why I felt so passionate about Ovarian Cancer Research and there were a few that were touch by this horrific disease with relatives, close frieds and co-workers.

Many of you may know that Kelly Ripa is a baking enthusiast.  She teamed up with accomplished master baker decorator, Buddy Valastro, from TLC's "Cake Boss".  Fifteen food bloggers from across the country decorated some lavish cakes for a cause.  Keely and Buddy teamed up with Electrolux in support of the Ovarian Cancer research Fund.

So starting today, exclusively at Kelly Confidential you can cast your for your favorite cake which I hope is the one my team decorated!  For every vote cast, Electrolux will donate $1 to OCRF as a part of it's $500,000 committment to help figth ovarian cancer.

Visitors to the Web site can get in on cake decorating too!  You can decorate and send a special virtual cake to a friend, family member or someone else you love.  Each day you send a cake, Electrolux will donate another $1 to OCRF.  Plus!!!  There's always a plus!  Buddy's top cake decorating tips are available!  Now that's a freebie you just can't pass up!

Everyone who logs on the the Kelly Confidential site and sends a virtual cake will automatically be entered for a chance to win a new induction range from Electrolux!!!  Now, if that doesn't get you clicking, nothing will.

Kelly and Buddy were wonderful.  They came around and talked to all of us like familiar friends.  Buddy helped each team and didn't fire any off us! 

Before I show you the cakes I need to give you a little background on what we were assigned to do.

We were all assigned a theme and our theme was the hardest.  All the the embellishments on our cake had to be piped and no one on our team bakes, we all cook.  The other cakes were embellished with fondant.  The embellishments were cut out with cookie cutters and fastened to the cake.  The fondant cakes were stunning...ours not so much.  Our cake wasn't the prettiest, but vote for it anyway - PLEASE!!!  Tell your friends, facebook it, tweet it....get our cake all the votes you can get!

Our cake "Here Comes the Sun"

"Take a Bow"

"Snow Day"

"Mod Squad"

"Fall for Me"

We had a great time - vote as many times as you can!

..and Diva, I had a great time going to dinner with you tonight!  You are a doll and I hope we can meet up again. 

Live Regis and Kelly!!! Update

5:30 PM  I am stuck in NYC - all flights have been cancelled.  I'm on my way to go have dinner with Diva on a Diet from Beach Eats.  As soon as I return I will post the pictures from today. 

Buddy from Cake Boss and Kelly Ripa were so much fun to be around...very down to earth.

Can't wait to share the deails with you!!!

A blizzard is expected to hit NYC tomorrow.  Snow is expected to start falling tonight.

I'm hoping I get out early enough...we'll see.

This was taken on 9th Avenue outside the the studio where Live with REgis and Kelly is taped.  Very cold and beautiful morning.

I did take quite a few pictures, a lot of them are blurry.  Who knew the building would vibrate that much!

The stage hands getting the set ready.

Gelman giving us instructions of not only when to clap but how to do it properly.  All of our arms are sore.

Regis during a break, taling to the audience.  He really seems to be a lot of fun.

Gelman getting the next segment set up.  Kelly made chocolate hearts and chocolate dipped strawberries that looked like they were wearing tuxedos. She is a lot of fun during the breaks.

We are getting together in about an hour for the cake decorating event in Chelsea Market with Kelly and the Cake Boss!

The Spotted Pig - Manhattan

Let me show you some food porn....

I REALLY couldn't choose, but this I was sober enough to remember...prunes inside of a pare wrapped in bacon.  You know, bacon always wins...hands down.

Tart-tarts with thyme. bacon and geuyrere....ok, these also made your eyes roll to the back of your head too.

Just an essence of the "cooking studio".

See the girl in the off the shoulder zebra print blouse?  We're bff's now...go figure.

Prey waiting to be delic-ified...seriously!

Chef April!  She adopted me..really all I had to say was grits and crawfish and just like that, she adopted me!  She is a genius!

Chef April took root vegetables, turnips, potaotes, parsnips, potatoes, onions, various heirloom carrrots, and roasted them, covered with just a little salt...

Rough mashed them with a fork, added a little chicken stock and some white wine and wa-la...

Served this amazing soup.  As much as I love to mix up the seasonings, I questioned her and salt was all this soup required, it was amamzing!

When you visit NYC, go to Manhatten and visit Chef April.  Tell her,  her adopted child from Tennessee via the Big Easy sent ya....she'll take really good care of you, I promise.

Tomorrow on the set with Regis and Kelly and cake decorating lessons with the Cake Boss!  I can't wait!!!!