Wedding wishes across the ocean

Today my sister got married but, sadly, we weren't able to be with her.  It was a strange feeling all day knowing that she was having a small ceremony and celebration across the Atlantic while I was in my pajamas watching TV, cleaning alphabet noodles off the floor after lunch, and selling chocolate bars to our neighbors as a fundraiser for Leighton's school.

To make myself feel better, I decided we should have a fancy wedding cake for dessert and a meal that would be something she'd enjoy.  That meant it had to include avocado (the dinner, not the cake!).  I had thought of burritos since it is one of her favorites, but it didn't seem fancy enough for a wedding meal.  So, I stepped it up a (teeny, tiny, eency, weency) notch and made fish tacos instead.  I've made them a few times over the last several months, but tonight's were the best.  Usually I wrap the tilapia in foil with lime zest, lime juice, and butter and then toss it in the oven or on the BBQ.  The kids liked this a lot the first couple times I made it, but it hasn't been much of a hit since then, so I decided to try to entice Leighton with the promise of a little frying and salt.  Lots of salt.  I tossed the tilapia in a mixture of flour, cumin, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder before lightly pan frying it.  Once it was hot and crisp out of the pan, I sprinkled some salt over it.  I made a little lime and butter sauce to drizzle on it too.  Leighton liked the sauce and pretended to like the fish to make me happy!  Riley actually ate more of it than I expected.  For me and Roy, I warmed up some white flour tortillas, slid the fish in, and topped it with some coleslaw (this is my go-to recipe), mango salsa, and avocado slices.  It was super tasty.

For the cake, I decided to make a petal/ruffle cake I had seen pictures of.  Well, this cake uses fondant.  I've never used fondant before.  This might deter some people.  And it maybe should have deterred me!  But, nope.  I am stubborn like that and I think I can make anything I see on the internet!!  It also uses a technique that maybe someone shouldn't attempt while try to care for and entertain an almost 2yr old before having to rush to collect the almost 5yr old from school.  All this to say that I made a few some several loads of mistakes, but it's not like it was THE wedding cake and I had to impress anyone anyway.  Overall, I was pleased with my first go at something like this, and I learned a lot and will definitely make and use fondant again (I made my own MMF, or marshmallow fondant, because apparently the stuff you buy pre-made tastes like cardboard).  I will even try this petal/ruffle technique again. Probably soon.  I have to actually.  I want to try to make it more polished and less amateurish looking.  and I know I can make MUCH prettier ruffles next time.  Mine just didn't ruffle as much as they should have - I wasn't rolling thin enough.  And I manhandled them a little too much between the ruffling stage and the putting onto the cake stage.  And I was rushing.  Did I mention that?!?!  That's also why the flower is so wonky.  It was completely a last minute decision to even make the flower.  Originally I had planned on incorporating purple and green flowers (Hannah was having green hydrangea and lavender in her bouquet) but completely ran out of time to make the green fondant.  So I was going to ditch the flower idea altogether, but then I thought it needed some sort of focal point like all the inspiration pictures had.  With minutes to spare (Literally.  I needed to wake Riley up, change her diaper, get her dressed, get our shoes on, pack the cooler with ice water for the kids, and be in the car within 11 minutes), I threw together the flower.

And I was even early to get Leighton ;)

The fondant recipe I used is here.  The petal cake inspirations and tutorials are here and here and here and I can't find the other one I used but will keep searching and will add in the link if and when I find it!