Why organic?
When I started baking and decorating cakes for friends and family, I felt it was important to avoid certain ingredients that I believe are detrimental to good health; things like bleached white flour, white sugar, partially or fully hydrogenated oils and high-fructose corn syrup. Because of this I've become an avid label-reader, and would usually opt for an organic cake mix with my own homemade frosting. Even now, we need to become aware of the economic and environmental costs of transporting, processing and packaging some of those organic ingredients.
That's why when I founded Earthly Delights Creative Cakes and Cookies I made a commitment to use only the best and locally-available ingredients possible. Ideally, your cake will contain both organically-grown local ingredients and "nearby" organic. For example, wheat grown by Butterworks Dairy Farm in Westfield and milled in Québec becomes the whole wheat pastry flour I like to use. Some products, like sugar and cocoa, are just not available locally, so I make sure that these items are Fair Trade and produced in an environmentally-friendly manner, besides being organically-grown. To be sure, an organic cakes costs more than a conventional one, but I think you'll find it very good value for money - especially when you taste one!
Food allergies and sensitivities seem to cropping up more and more - they can develop suddenly and at anytime in a person's life. But having one (or more) doesn't mean giving up all eating pleasures - especially a special occasion cake. I can work with you to create a cake (or cakes) that tastes great and looks beautiful. Natural food colorings derived from beet (reds) and tumeric (yellow) are available if artificial food colorings are an issue. Gluten-free, egg and/or dairy-free, even sugar-free - these are all ways I can help you have your cake and eat it too!
All images and text ©2012 Amy Pfeiffer