TammyWright

this is supposed to be a great recipe as well. TROPICAL CARROT CAKE WITH COCONUT CREAM CHEESE FROSTING Cake 2 1/3 cups sifted all purpose flour (sifted, then measured) 1 cup sweetened flaked coconut 1 cup dry-roasted macadamia nuts 3/4 cup chopped crystallized ginger 3 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder 1 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 2 cups sugar 1 cup vegetable oil 4 large eggs 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 2 cups finely grated peeled carrots 2 8-ounce cans crushed pineapple in its own juice, well drained Frosting 3 8-ounce packages Philadelphia-brand cream cheese, room temperature 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature 2 cups powdered sugar 3/4 cup canned sweetened cream of coconut (such as Coco López) 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1/2 teaspoon (scant) coconut extract 14 whole dry-roasted macadamia nuts 1/4 cup chopped crystallized ginger For cake: Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter three 9-inch-diameter cake pans with 1 1/2-inch-high sides. Line bottom of pans with parchment paper. Combine 1/3 cup flour and next 3 ingredients in processor. Process until nuts are finely chopped. Whisk remaining 2 cups flour, cinnamon, baking powder, salt, and baking soda in medium bowl to blend. Using electric mixer, beat sugar and oil in large bowl to blend. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla. Beat in flour-spice mixture. Stir in coconut-macadamia mixture, then carrots and crushed pineapple. Divide batter among pans. Bake until tester inserted into center of cakes comes out clean, about 30 minutes. Cool in pans on racks 1 hour. Run knife around edge of pans to loosen cakes. Turn cakes out onto racks; cool completely. For frosting: Beat cream cheese and butter in large bowl until smooth. Beat in powdered sugar, then cream of coconut and both extracts. Chill until firm enough to spread, about 30 minutes. Place 1 cake layer, flat side up, on platter. Spread 3/4 cup frosting over top of cake. Top with second cake layer, flat side up. Spread 3/4 cup frosting over. Top with third cake layer, rounded side up, pressing slightly to adhere. Spread thin layer of frosting over top and sides of cake. Chill cake and remaining frosting 30 minutes. Spread remaining frosting over top and sides of cake. Arrange whole nuts and ginger around top edge of cake. Chill 1 hour. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover with cake dome and chill. Let stand at room temperature 1 hour before serving.) Makes 8 to 10 servings. Bon Appétit April 2003 91% would make this recipe again MrsGunsmith from Riverton, Utah on 07/17/06 This was a delightlyful receipe and one that my "Martha Stewart" like sister who helped me over the phone to explain what some of the ingrediants was about. It was the $80 cake receipe made by a wife of a gunsmith (me) and according my 3 kids and husband, it hit the bulls-eye target with all cylinders loaded as a bang up fantastic do it again cake! print review with recipe cdowning23 from Birmingham, AL on 07/06/06 Absolutely the best! I reduced the cinnamon to 11/2t added 1/2 t nutmeg and 1/8 cloves which really enhanced the flavor. I baked the cake in a 9x13 pan and halved the icing. print review with recipe jewelieen from Long Beach, CA on 05/23/06 I have made this recipe a few times and everyone loves it. The only modification I made was instead of draining the pineapple juice I left it in for one can. It made the cake more moist. I also used only 1/4 cup of powdered in the frosting instead of 2 cups. I felt that it was too sweet.

10-12 servings coconut-custard filling: 3 large eggs 3/4 cup all purpose flour 3/4 cup sigar 4 cups of half and half 4 cups of sweetened flaked coconut 1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise 1/4 cup of butter cake: nonstick vegetable oil spray 3 cups all purpose flour 1 TB baking powder 3/4 tsp salt 2 cups of sugar 1 cup of usalted butter (room temperature) 2 tsp vanilla extract 1 14 oz. can unsweetened coconut milk Buttercream: 1 cup heavy whipping cream 1 large egg yolk 2 tsp vanilla extract 1 1/2 tsp cornstarch 1 cup unsalted butter (room temp.) 4 cups of sweetened flaked coconut, toasted. For coconut-custard filling: beat eggs. flour, and sugar in large bowl. place half and hald and coconut in heavy saucepan. scrape seeds from vaniila bean into pan; add bean. bring to simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally. gradually whisk coconut mixtre into the egg mixture. return to pan. whisk over medium heat until mixture boils, about 6 mins. remove from heat. discard bean. whisk in butter. transfer to large bowl; press plastic wrap onto surface and chill until cold, at elast 3 hours. (do ahead: can be made 1 day ahead and kept chilled). For cake: preheat oven to 350. spray three 8 inch cake pans with non stick spray. line bottoms of pan with parchment. spray parchment. sift flower, baking powder, and salt in medium bowl. beat sugar and butter in large bowl until creamy bout 5 mins. add eggs 1 at a time, blending well after each addition. beat vanilla. add flour mixture in 3 addditions alternatively with coconut milk in 2 additions. divide batter among pans, smooth tops. bake cake until tester inserted in center comes out clean, about 25 mins. cool cakes in pan on racks 5 mins. turn cakes onto racks, cool ompletely. using a serrated knife, cut each cake horizontally in half. place cake halves on baking sheets in single layer and freeze for one hour before assembly. For buttercream: whisk first 4 ingredients in heavy small saucepan. cook over medium heat until mixture begins to boil. transfer to small bowl; and cover and choll until cold, about 2 hours. using electric mixer, beat butter, sugar, and salt in large bowl until fluffy, about 7 mins. gradually beat in cold vanilla base until smooth. place 1 cake round on plate. spread 1 cup filling over. repeat with 4 more cale layers and remaining filling, pressing to adhere. spread buttercram over sides and top of cake. press toasted coconut on tops and sides of cake to cover.

Quote: Originally Posted by NATASHA So awesome. My husband did a similar thing - he had organized a surprise birthday party for me (my birthday was several days earlier, but it was mid-week, sooo) and then he surprised all our guests by telling them that he had asked me to marry him earlier that day. We waited until someone spotted the ring before telling them, though. It was SO fun! What a thoughtful man you have to have wanted to put together this really special memory for the two of you and your whole family. natasha, i love your enw sig...i love seeing all your Mrs. stick around so i can see the pretty pics in your sigs!

CONGRATULATIONS AMY!! what a sweet way to propose!!!

Quote: Originally Posted by MImarchbride Anyone with wedding pics from Excellence Riveria Maya i think there are some here: here is some excellence riviera cancun info let me see if i can find more pics

ok that should be easy!! here are some choices: el dorado (riviera maya) any of the dreams (cancun, cabo, PV) excellence (riviera maya, dominican republic) royal porto real (riviera maya) royal hideaway (riviera maya) riu palace (RM)

wow, 3 months is super short...PV and riviera maya are very different. if you answer these questions we might be able to help you pick a spot that is right for you. 1. how many people will be at your wedding? 2. AI or non-AI? 3. what are you trying to keep the budget under for the per night room cost? 4. legal or symbolic wedding? 5. would you be willing to do a weekday event (most sats. and sundays are gone) welcome to the forum...sarah (awharider) is also in your enck of the woods!

i uploaded some pics to the vbpicgallery of their reception and ceremony set ups. NH Krystal Puerto Vallarta Reception & Ceremony pics

welcome leafsbride!! there are lots of RM brides that can benefit from your experience!!! you must be getting soooo excited!

Quote: Originally Posted by KARLA Another Karla!! Welcome!! I got married in Cabo on Nov. 4th. Everybody here is so helpful with location suggestions etc. Just let us know what you're looking for so we can help. now you're in the married group with me, natasha, janet, and MM

sarah, these are super cute!!

Quote: Originally Posted by akumalbound We are getting married at the Cannon House and having the reception at the Lolha restaurant (the open air palapa) in Akumal. let me see if jackie (ryjaxz19) the moderator of the RM forum knows of any good WC there.

welcome karla!! we have a few canadian brides on here...edyta being one of our more helpful.. let us know how we can help!

akumalbride, where are you getting married? just wondering

welcome to the forum!! there are a few may brides on here...jackie is the moderator of the RM forum and has alot of great information..let us know how we can help.

i love the nicole miller dresses also...they look so flattering and sexy!

Quote: Originally Posted by akh Surprisingly, this hotel seems to be rated the same, or higher, than Dreams in a lot of places. Dreams seems more upscale in pictures - but I have never been to either one. Amy - I am looking at the Barcelo for me and my guests to stay at, and for my WD the night before. Let me know what else you hear about it - I am reading very mixed reviews on Trip Advisor (surprise surprise!). ann, my vendors show barcelo and dreams the same ranking too!

Quote: Originally Posted by amyhmartin I think this hotel is a great option if you have families who are traveling for the wedding (because of the suite). However the rooms do look a little out dated and I'm conserned that they don't have much of a beach. But I think the price is great and I feel that I could get more of my guests to stay at one hotel (I'm afraid of paying for the day passes). Well anyhoo! Here is a link I found of candid photos of the hotel. There is even one album from a wedding. I need HONEST OPINIONS, what do you all think of this? la jolla de mismaloya pictures and videos on Webshots ok, my 2 cents...i think if you are having alot of families travelling the AI option, 2 bd suites are a real plus...i do not think families care so much about how new, beautiful the rooms are and prefer value...if it is a wedding with no families/more singles and couple then someplace a little fresher may be better...but i think the barcelo is a really great way to have everyone stay in one resort.

Quote: Originally Posted by LALA (again) I have a Dreams question about visitor passes. If we have a welcome dinner, wedding, and farewell brunch on 3 separate days do we have to pay $85 per visitor per day? Has anyone had success getting Dreams to allow the $85 pass to cover all 3 events? kate, they will usually not negotiate on the day passes...so try to get as many guests to stay at your resort as those passes will add up...please remind me to talk to you about them..

Quote: Originally Posted by EDYTA omg I dont even know what I want to do with my hair I can't decide on anything...I kinda want it down and wavy but am worried that the wind will just mess it up and the pics will be all of me taking my hair out of my mouth...I dont know I just cant decide on anything lately edyta, may is not that windy....just slight breezes which make the pics even more ebautiful when there is movement in your hair, dress etc...what about omething pretty like rebecca's hair.

Quote: Originally Posted by LALA One more thing to think about! I assumed the packages were only useful if your guest count fell wi those ranges. I'm just going to pretend like they don't exist so I don't have to decide if I want to use them. Quote: Originally Posted by jilly76 I was wondering about the same thing with guest count, we're not going to have a ton of people, but I think its going to be tight coming in under the 20 ppl mark. We'll see, I guess I don't have to decide right now, I'll look around and try to find information on everything on my own and then if I need a package I'll take one. hey kate and jilly...the packages do have a x-person max BUT if you really want a certain pacakge, you can ask them how much for x-amount of people and they can give you a bid.

hi amanda! welcome to the forum...PDC is a great place to get married! if you could answer these questions we can help you find a great location spot. 1. how many guests? 2. AI or non AI? 3. kids or no kids? 4. approx. per night/per room budget? there are quite a few RM/PDC brides here and they are all very helpful!

Quote: Originally Posted by mexicobride The wedding coordinator at the Riu is very slow in responding. that is understandable...i think CWC has given you some great inforamtion. they are a large wedding coordination company in cabo. let me re-read your first post and see exactly what you are asking?

Quote: Originally Posted by EDYTA Tammy..u think I can trust them to do my makeup and hair for my wedding? do u by any chance know from Mariana (or can find out) who to book with? I was also thinking of maybe checking out the One and Only Spa, u hear anything bout them? check one of the reviews...dreams did her hair and makeup and she said it was great...this is so hard for me to judge because everytime i have someone else do my hair or make-up i end up looking like a transvestite-asian-ivana-trump. doesn't matter how good the person is....so i am the wrong person to ask about hair and make-up.. also, i think an outdoor/beach wedding really lends itself to a fresh look...minimal make-up, loose hair....relaxes and pretty what did you want to do with your hair?

Quote: Originally Posted by amyhmartin Wow thats a year and a half away! Do you think I should do this for a couple hotels (my three choices are NH Krystal, Dreams, and Barcelo Jolla de Mismaloya)? I hate to say that but we're are not planning on going scouting unitl Feb and I would hate to book something before then. for some reason i thought you were getting married in october 2007, you still have time...a few things to remember...up until mid-april is spring break, them mid-june gets into their rainy season so you really only have a 2 month window...and if you want a saturday, there are not that many... everyday in april, may, and june (except 2 days) is already booked for 2007 at dreams.