For the second year, we'll be donating pies (Pumpkin Maple) to Share the Pie to support two great local charities: Step Up Ministry and Alliance Medical Ministry.  We'll also be featuring several holiday pies for a limited time. These deep-dish 9" pies are ready-to serve:
Key Lime (in a Pinola Cookie Crust), Pumpkin Maple (in a Braided-edged Crust), Apple (with Lattice Top), Sweet Potato (in a Gingersnap Crust), and Chocolate Pecan (in a Black Bottom Crust).  Order yours by Friday November 18 for pick up Weds November 23!  Donations from our Thanksgiving sales will go to No Kid Hungry

Come visit our Cakes tent at Crafty Beer/De-Vine Five Points

• Afternoon Out Sunday October 16 from 1-5: there will be lots of demos,wine-tasting, entertainment and treats.  We'll have an assortment of our favorite mini-bundts and other assorted goodies. AND we are raffling off a Gift Certificate for a custom cake (like our Bette Rose shown here!). The weather should be beautiful, so don't miss out!  
  

September 21 is declared by the UN as an International Day of Peace.  This year, the UN has developed 17 points designed to spell out steps for Sustainable Peace.  Those steps include improved human rights and education for women and girls. Watch the message from UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon to learn more.

With the heat of summer we have to crank up the AC to make sure our ingredients are just the right temperature and texture so that our cakes come out perfectly every time! Check out our new pictures (we've been busy with lots of custom cakes for all kinds of celebrations) and new venues! Stay cool! Relax, and have some cake!

We've had a busy summer involving a lot of back-and-forth travel on the I-95 corridor in addition to baking, so we haven't posted on our blog for awhile.  But we're still here and will be back to posting here soon.  Meanwhile, you can check out what we've been up to (and what's new) on our Facebook page! 

Garden Centers in Raleigh were packed this weekend with folks stocking up on items for their gardens--including herbs, veggies, fruit trees and berry bushes.  It's always great to have food fresh from the garden, but if you are one of the many people who decide to plant your own gardens, please consider taking some steps to reduce your need for chemical fertilizers, pesticides and fungicides--particularly if you have children (whose growing brains and bodies absorb toxins more readily). 

Start by buying organic seeds or plants if possible.  If you haven't had your soil tested for pesticides or other toxins (like lead), use pots or containers filled with certified organic soil, and use organic fertilizers.  Place sand around plants like basil or tomatoes that are prone to "damping off" caused by fungi and net vulnerable veggies and berries to keep critters and insects away, to avoid the need for pesticides.  Garden's Alive is a great resource for organic gardening products and information about organic pest-control.

We've written before about the value of organic foods for our bodies and for our environment.  As you know, Cakes opts to use organic ingredients whenever possible, but we also know it can be expensive for many households to make a complete switch to organic.  So, whether you are growing your own, or shopping at farmer's markets or grocery stores, you can start by choosing organic options to replace "Dirty Dozen" foods listed in the graphic above and stock up on the "Clean 15".  Consider switching to organic versions of pesticide-heavy crops like corn, soy, canola (including oils and shortening), peanuts (& peanut butter), chocolate, and coffee.  And be mindful of where your meats, fish, poultry and dairy products come from, so you can choose the healthiest options available within your budget.

It's important to know about the foods you eat, and we know that information can sometimes be confusing or overwhelming--so use your best judgement and take baby steps!  Here are links to some articles about avoiding pesticides, a Reader's Digest slideshow about what foods to"always buy organic", and a Washington Post article comparing organic and conventional foods of all sorts.  We hope they help you make your own informed decisions.

ince we don't have a storefront, we get quite a few requests from people having cravings wondering where they might grab their favorite Cakes' products.  You can ALWAYS order directly from us (we are very friendly, and can arrange for free pick up or delivery in most parts of the Triangle).  Though we ask that you give us a few work-days notice to fill your order, we do our best to fill small "last minute" orders as quickly as we can.  We happily provide desserts for large and small parties or special events (including numerous art openings, business and private parties)!  

For those of you who'd rather go shopping than plan ahead, we are growing the numbers of retailers featuring our desserts.  Our desserts have been featured at LoMo Market (throughout the Triangle), Boylan Bridge Brew Pub (Raleigh), TK Kaffe (Five-Points, Raleigh), Nina's (Pinehurst),Academy St Bistro (Cary), local markets and Williams Sonoma Artisan Market (Crabtree) to name a few.  PLEASE let us know if there are cafes, delis, restaurants or shops in your neighborhood where you'd like to see our lovely goodies,  or if you are a retailer looking for high-quality organic desserts, and we will arrange a tasting!  We also work with retailers to create signature products just for them! 
 
Here are some of the places you can get currently find Cakes' snacks and desserts.  Be sure to look for us at local Pop-Ups and Food Truck Rodeos in the coming months--follow us on Facebook for dates!
 
Remember, every product you purchase helps to support the fight against gender violence!

Cakes' mission is to help stop oppression and violence against women and girls. That task seems to be getting bigger by the day. Over a year since a group of schoolgirls were kidnapped from their Nigerian village by Boko Haram terrorists, hundreds are still missing. In an effort to keep attention focused on their safe return, the ‪#‎DearSister‬ initiative is asking people from around the world to write short messages of hope to be delivered to their families at the end of this month. I wrote one because I am a mother who cannot imagine the heartbreak of losing my own daughter, because I believe the life of every girl matters, and because I want the families of these girls to know their children have not been forgotten. One day soon, I hope the girls will read the letters themselves. I invite you to take a minute to write your own short message of support.