#4 My Book

Well, I've completed another cake. This weeks goal was learning how to make roses. So, the plan was to make the classic book cake adorned with roses. It's one of those cakes that you see at every old school bakery.

Since this was not a layered cake I went back to chocolate and started looking for a recipe. I found one of those almost from scratch recipes where you use a box mix and add pudding and chocolate chips to it. I have discovered that the icing I've been making for the classes doesn't agree with me so, I've got to have a great cake since I can't eat the icing.

I made a double batch because I wanted to make sure I had a nice thick cake. Once I had the cake baked, I put the crumb coat on and into the freezer it went. Since I had some extra batter, I made some cupcakes for the kids to decorate. They mixed their favorite icing colors and had a blast using my decorating tips to decorate their own cupcakes. For dessert we got to eat the girls cupcakes and I discovered one problem. I didn't think they were that great and after last weeks orange layered cake, this just would not do. Now, I had to figure out what to do with the cake I had made and believe it or not, it kept up that night. In the morning I had the solution, I bought a can of chocolate fudge frosting, put it on the cake and delivered it to Emmy's preschool, the kids loved it!

If at first you don't succeed, try-try again! So, I quickly made a new cake, this time I made it from scratch. It was a pretty easy recipe and contained 1 cup of coffee which really came together to make moist cake. This week I also substituted the vanilla extract in the cake and icing with almond extract. It smelled great! One note here, this was a very expensivve cake because I broke a gear in my mixer making the large batch of icing and it cost $150 to fix it, YIKES!

Once in class, I set up my station ready to begin the carving. Sorry to say, I forgot my camera so, I was not able to take any pictures of the work. Getting started I first had to carve a "v" in the center of the cake about 2" wide and then angle both sides of the cake to get the book effect. I applied a new crumb coat to the newly carved areas and the cake was taken to the fridge to set up a bit. Now, I had to choose my colors. This week I decided anything except pink and purple, so I made coral (I mixed pink and orange and it was really pretty) for my roses and yellow for the trim.

With my icing colors ready and my instructor brought the cake back and I started by piping on the stems and then made the roses. I found them surprisingly easy, a glob of icing in the center of the flower nail and then arches of icing as I rotated the nail. Pretty cool! I set them on the cake and used the leaf tip to make leaves around the roses and on the stems. The next step was the boarder around the cake. This time I used a star tip and made large connecting tear drops. It went pretty fast. Now to finish the cake, I had to write something and keeping my girls in mind I decided it would be "Once upon a time". To finish it all off I had a large tip that makes a ribbon for the book mark. For this I striped the bag. This means I took my decorating bag and created stripes on the sides of the bag so when squeezed through the tip it made a striped effect. Done!!

Promptly at 6:30, my door bell rang and the neighborhood tasters were here. We cut the cake and everyone loved it, but then again who doesn't love cake! This has been great for my ego!;-)
Next week a garden of cupcakes! Yum.......

yum, yum, yum # 3 is done!

I am really having a great time making my cakes and everyone loves eating them. This is a win, win for everyone! It's time to head down the flower path and first I learn how to make a Mum. I have to say not my favorite flower but, they look pretty on the cake.

Here's how I did it (I've decided that since I am going to give some of the information on how I make the cakes that I should include more pictures of the process). I hope you like this.

This week I decided to work outside the box. Sorry Betty, I found a recipe to make from scratch. Since we will be working with a layered cake, I want it to taste great! I didn't want to just put a layer of frosting between two basic chocolate cakes. As great as this frosting is to work with, it's not my favorite to eat. Yes, the objective of taking this class is to learn how to make beautiful cakes, but, we all know it's what's on the inside that counts! ;-)

So, I love citrus cakes, and we have the best orange tree in our yard. My starting point was to get on Google and find a recipe for an orange layered cake with an orange filling, yum! I have discovered it is easier to make the cakes a few days ahead and put them in the freezer. There are two reasons for this. First, with my crazy schedule when I have the time I must take advantage of it, it may not come again. Second, I think it's easier to work with the cakes when they are firmer.

So, getting started I make the filling first, it cooks and then has to completely cool in the fridge. Next, I make the cake. One little trick I've learned is if you bake at 25 degrees less than called for (remember to add a little extra baking time to compensate for this) the cake doesn't give you the bump in the middle and makes for better stacking. Once the cakes and filling have cooled I can fill and stack. When you're using a filling that is different from your icing you want to add a ring of icing around the edge to keep the filling inside the cake. Once filled, stack away and then apply the dirty icing (crumb coat). I have to say, already I'm impressed with my cake and it is nice and level and looks more professional than anything I've done before! Next, the cake goes into the freezer. Another good reason for putting the cake into the freezer is, I won't be able to eat it before class!

Class time! I set up my area and I'm ready to begin. Since I did the crumb coat at home, I start with the frosting; I really spent a lot of time trying to get the icing as smooth as possible. With my frosting complete, I mark guidelines on the cake and begin by putting little squiggles all over the top and over the edges making little swags. This is called cornelli lace. It looks a bit like a weeding cake, really pretty. I then trim it out with little tear drops and then large stars around the bottom to finish the edge.

Now the hard part, the flowers. My daughters, Lili and Emmy, have requested pink and purple (what a surprise). To make a Mum I start with a flower nail and a bag of icing with a little u shaped tip. First, a large glob of icing in the center of the nail to build the flower on then, I put the little tip to the glob and squeeze and pull making little petals. This is going to take a lot of practice! When the flower is done, I use little scissors to remove it from the nail and place it on the cake. I proceed to make 6 more and place them around the center flower. Then I add a few leaves, for these I use a little tip that looks like a bird's beak. Finally I finish with some little pink dots around the bottom of the cake to pull it together. Oh, and my instructor adds her fairy dust, sparkles make everything prettier!



Just like school, after the class it’s test time. The fun part about taking a cake class, is that it's a taste test! This week I have the biggest crowd yet. I'm a little nervous, with chocolate cake you will please just about everyone, but this week it's orange..... YESSSSSSSSS they like it, they really, really like it!!




Next week roses!
Thanks for reading.

#2 My Love Bug!

With the success of my first cake I am very excited to continue. My girls are also enjoying the process and excited about mommy's school work. Preparation was a bit easier this week as I had the extra 8" round in the freezer and what seems like an infinite amount of frosting in the fridge.

I arrived at the cake store and set up my station, I'm ready to make my car cake.

I start this cake like the last one and cut it in half, but instead of turning it around these two get a little icing glue and stand up together making a half circle. Then, I carve a small piece off the top and watch it take shape. Once the dirty icing is complete, I use a toothpick to outline the shapes of the windows, trunk and hood. Next, I use the guidelines to pipe on a small line of icing and then proceed to fill in the windows. It's amazing how these cakes can take shape so fast without much fuss. Once the windows are filled in and smoothed out, it's time to fill in the car. With Valentines Day here, I decide to make it pink. Besides, with my two girls, chocolate cake with pink frosting is a no brainer!

This time I will not smooth the frosting on but pipe on little stars one at a time. It reminds me of the Barbie cakes from when I was a kid. Though, now that I think about it, I never had one of those cakes! Oh well, back to this cake and the pain I begin to feel in my hand. Wow, I think I'll have to get one of those little squeeze balls and start working out my hand muscles. Wait, who am I kidding, I'm afraid to turn on my wii for fear of it yelling at me for not working out in so long!

Once the cake is covered with a million (who's counting) stars, I get to the fun part, all the little details. First the wheels, I use Oreos and add white frosting to the center, a little frosting glue to the back, and attach. I add more stars to make little fenders. This really is fun! At this point the assignment is done, but, I am not! I decide at make little rear view mirrors, door handles, bumpers with license plates (I add my girls' initials) then I add gumdrops for lights and a frosting covered piece of spaghetti for an antenna and the Pièce de résistance a heart on the rear window with "Love" written inside.

My Love Bug is complete!

At home it's so cute, I can't stop admiring my accomplishment and this is just my second cake! I'm excited for my girls to get home from school and finish their dinner (yes, this is a dream of mine) so we can eat it. Well, the cake is a hit and I'm two for two!

Next class, I begin to learn how to make flowers and I will learn to make a more traditional style cake. Until then....

#1-The Butterfly Cake

At home, armed with my list of supplies and directions, it's time to begin.
I need to bring back an 8" round cake on a piece of cardboard covered with wax paper. I decide chocolate, how could I not. Betty Crocker don't fail me now!
I also must prepare my icing. Now, they have sent me home prepared for this step. First, I have a base called bright white and I need to use 8 oz then I add 16 oz of shortening and listen to this… 3 lbs of powered sugar along with some clear vanilla and then add a little water and voila, the same icing you get on those grocery store cakes!
Since the box mix made 2- 8" rounds, I put one in the freezer for next week’s class.
That was not to difficult, I'm ready.
I get to class with enough time to prepare my workspace and begin to unpack my tools: knife, spatula, ruler, decorating tips and a parchment bag for the icing, my gel piping, toothpicks and of course the cake and my icing. It's like an operating room, with out the beeping machines.
I begin by cutting the cake in half and then turning the round edges together. Hey I see where this is going. Then I am told to dirty ice the cake, don't panic that just means the crumbs will get in the icing. After a thin layer of icing has been applied the cake is whisked to the freezer to set for a few minutes. This is when I set up my icing for the finished layer, no crumbs allowed.
When my cake is returned I'm told to spread on the icing on with a smooth gliding motion careful not to touch the crumb coat. First a large dollop than back and forth, back and forth until it's covered. It's looking good and yes, I licked my fingers once or twice!
Next, I pipe on lines of colored gel. Let me mention I studied architecture in college so, I can be a little anal about the details. Once all my lines are straight and perfectly spaced, I drag my toothpick across the lines to make the pattern on the cake. It's looking pretty cool! Now, I learn my first piping technique, and I make little touching "e" around the bottom of the cake. Finally a little dot of gel here and there for extra effect and I'm done! My instructor comes by for the final inspection and adds little antennae and a sprinkle of edible glitter. Tinkerbell would be proud. My first cake is finished! Now home for the taste testers, my girls and a few neighbors’ line up and mommy got an A+! Next week I make a car, I'll keep you posted!

Cake Class 101!

I've taken my first cake class and it was so much fun! Wait, lets back up a little bit. I found a listing on a newsletter about a cake decorating class, something I've always wanted to do so, I thought, why not? I scheduled my orientation and took my first step. When I arrived I saw all these women working on cakes in the middle of the shop. They have the class set up that you can work at your own pace on your own time, my kind of class! Everyone was working on different cakes at different levels and the teacher walked around and personally instructed each student. Let me also say, the class is pretty cheap and looked like fun, so I signed up!
Then they handed me the list of supplies I needed to buy- pans, tips, frosting bases, knives, spatulas, spoons and cake carriers to name a few. It was like having another child, I secretly wished there was a registry, so much for the class being cheap! But, I forged ahead into the sugary madness to cake decorating. They sent me home with my list of supplies to buy and what I needed to bring back for my first class. I was going to be making a butterfly cake, what fun!