Tootsie Roll Cake

If I could go back in time and celebrate my 3rd birthday, this is the cake I want!  My sister-in-law, who clearly has more patience than anyone else on earth, gets all the credit for this labor of love.  My niece LOVES her some Tootsie Rolls...thus the inspiration for her birthday cake.

The outside is a combination of plain and chocolate fondant.  The inside is a chocolate jelly roll with caramel filling; a combination of Cool Whip, cream cheese and something caramel??  I learned that you need a special jelly roll  pan in order to bake a "roll" cake; it cannot be baked in a normal sheet pan.

She spent hours hand-forming the letters out of fondant; but the patience involved in the preparation is not the most difficult part. The hardest part is the moment when she has to cut into it and destroy the masterpiece!  Absolutely delicious. 

Can this be topped?

Shadeau Breads

 While attending a workshop at Higher Branches on Main Street in Over-the-Rhine I noticed this sweet little bakery that sits adjacent.  I paid a visit yesterday and it took me back to 2004 when I spent 5 weeks travelling Europe; frequenting the neighborhood bakeries for their delicious pastries and warm atmosphere.

Shadeau Breads has been baking in OTR for 15 years and does a great business selling to up-scale restaurants in the Cincinnati area as well as to other local patrons.  They also offer soup/sandwich lunch options served daily at their store.

I picked up a 1lb loaf of the multi-grain, delicious!  They also offer a variety of baguette, sandwich loafs and wonderful pastries and focaccia made with fresh ingredients and baked on-site daily.

On my next visit I will be partaking in the pastry followed by the focaccia (see below).  I have a feeling I will become a regular at this wonderful old-world bakery located appropriately in historic OTR.