#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!