Please meet my bestie, Kim Nelson! If you are a fan of the television series, Shark Tank,you may have seen her and her company, Daisy Cakes, on last season. She was able to secure $50k in funding from Barbara Corcoran. Kim’s Shark Tank story is an amazing one–she applied online in June, 2010 and was assigned a team of producers. The vetting process was a long one, with her finally getting to fill out the 27 page application in Sept and finally taping on Halloween, 2010. Here’s Kim’s Shark Tank appearance…
I absolutely ADORE Kim and am over the moon that she’ll be here in Miami in a couple weeks, participating in the Food Network South Beach Wine & food Festival. She’s bringing her talents to South Beach! I’ve already blocked off a night on my calendar for dinner with Kim–can’t wait!
In the meantime, I was able to pick her brain about baking. Here’s what I found out–
How important ARE the ingredients? I mean, really? Do I REALLY need hand-sifted flour and farm fresh eggs?
YES! Baking is an exactly science. Everything needs to be measured just right. And the ingredients do matter. For example, I was making lemon cakes today. I had gotten 5 dozen fresh eggs from the “little lady down the road.” The yolks from those eggs were the color of the setting sun. They made the batter so rich looking. when I ran out of the farm fresh eggs, and started on my store bought ones, the batter was totally different–so pale.
How does one determine what a “good” cake pan is?
I’m not a fan of any of the non-stick pans. I like Wilton pans–I think they are the leader in cake pans. I grease and flour them, and I used a wax cake liner. And, if you are using a non stick pan, you should adjust the temperature by 25 degrees.
What’s the most common mistake that novice bakers, like myself, make?
Overcooking. Don’t dry the cake out. When you stick in the toothpick or skewer to check for doneness, it should not be come out completely dry. There should be a few crumbs stuck to it. Don’t overcook.
Because Kim and I are besties, I was able to snag a couple of goodies for you guys. First off, Kim was glad to share her Blue Velvet Cake recipe with me. Here it is..
Daisy Blue Velvet Cake
1Â cup butter (unsalted) room temperature
1Â 1/2 cups sugar
2Â eggs
2 bottles blue food coloring
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
2 Tablespoons cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup buttermilk (room temperature)
1 Tablespoon vinegar
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2Â 9-inch cake pans
Cake:
Cream together the butter and sugar. Add eggs. Make a paste of coloring and cocoa and add to butter mixture.
Sift flour. Add all ingredients  except the vinegar and soda and beat well. After beating, add vinegar and soda. Mix well and pour into prepared pans that have been greased and floured.
Bake 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Do not over bake or cake will be dry.
Frosting:
2 sticks butter (unsalted) room temperature
2 8-ounce cream cheese (cold)
2 boxes powdered sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Beat butter and cream cheese until smooth. add vanilla. Gradually add powdered sugar on low speed. Once combined, turn to high until smooth.
Cake layers will frost much better if frozen first.
Finally, Kim wants YOU to taste her cakes. She will ship ONE lucky winner TWO cakes of their choice! Only residents of the continental United States are eligible. Let’s get it!
Posted in 
Tags: 
Love Love Love Red Velvet … I guess I can share it w/ the boy too!
I definitely want that carrot cake for my hubby!
The Caramel Cake looks DELICIOUS!!!!!!!!!! They all look Yummy!!!
What an AWESOME giveaway! OMG! The Razzle Dazzle looks UH-MAZING!
Oh. my. heck.
I think the Banana Bee…love love love Banana Cake. Thanks so so so much for the chance to win!!!
Caramel. No, lemon. No wait…caramel.
just went to the website and since I am trying to be a healthier Miko… I would love love love to try the Daisy Carrot Cake!!! LOL and or dessert… The Daisy Caramel!! They all look so delish!!!
I think the Gingerbread would taste delicious!
Would love to win!!!!!!!!! YUMMMY!!!!!!!!!!!!!
How awesome! I would love to try the Jilly Vanilly and the Chocolate!
I love, I mean love red velvet cake, but this blue velvet sounds so good. I wish I was a better baker!
Gingerbread cake makes my mouth water!
Red velvet is my ultimate favorite but the lemon reminds me of my youth when my sister would bake lemon cakes…yum!!!
I watched that episode and kept her website to order a lemon cake. I would love to win any cake Kim bakes for me and share with my sisters….awww now that would be nice!
They all sound delicious!
The Blue Velvet Cake is a must-try!!
all the cakes look so tempting
I am thinking I would love to try the Red Velvet.
red velvet.. yum!
The Jilly Vanilly cake looks sooo good.
I remember seeing her on Shark Tank and wishing I could taste the cakes!
That blue velvet cake looks amazing! I’m trying that for Valentine’s Day. Yes, I know it’s not red, but a nice masculine blue cake never hurt anyone.
I remember seeing segment of Shark Tanks and was very happy for Kim. I loved it when Barbara said to Kim, You and your momma have to keep selling the cakes. I certainly would love to taste the ginger cake and the red velvet cake.
I remember Kim on last season of Shark Tank. Barabara’s “however” was epic!
I love that show…and I remember definitely wanting to taste those cakes!