Monday, June 23, 2008

Question.....

Okay, this is for all the foodies out there in cyberspace. What is the difference between frosting and icing? Is there any difference? I suppose I can go to Mr. Webster and check but I'd rather hear what YOU have to say!!
Thanks!

Sunday, June 22, 2008

SUCCESS!!!

Success! I did it! Yes, folks, I did it. For the most part everything turned out as I intended. I had a few stumbling block but over all everything went down as planned. What I learned is I should have PLANNED BETTER. I should have thought things out MORE.

Okay, as you may recall. I made a 6" cake for the top tier of stand. On top of the that cake were the entwined first initials of my brother and his finance which I made out of white candy melts and then covered in silver dragees. Here's where I stumbled a bit. The first one I made broke. It was too thin and I started handling it too soon. The next one I made was thicker and I left it alone except to put into the freezer. The other problem I had was how to stand it on the cake? Well, as I had already broken one, and it was the day of the party I couldn't risk experimenting. So, after putting a shell border (Wilton class #1) around the top and bottom. I mounded some icing (it looked like a giant buttercream kiss) and carefully leaned the monogram up. The monogram looked great and looked good on top of the cake but it would have looked BETTER if I could have stood it up. In thinking about it afterwards I could have rolled toothpicks in the white candy melts and then "glued" them to the backs of the monogram. I think that would have looked better but again the caked looked presentable and so I moved on to the cupcakes....

The cupcakes came out well. I practiced frosting a few and then moved on to the real deal. I learned really quickly cream cheese frosting is difficult to pipe. It wasn't thick enough. I should have picked a recipe that could stand up to the piping better. I found this out when trying to pipe little flowers on top of the strawberry and cream cupcake. I ended up swirling the frosting on using Wilton's #2D tip. I lucked out, the top looked like one big flower. The marshmallow buttercream frosting for the s'mores cupcake piped out a little bit better. I used Wilton's #12 tip and swirled on the frosting. It came out nice nothing impressive but that was okay because I had the candy letter spelling out congratulations to stand up on them (s'mores cupcakes). Okay, here's where lack of BETTER PLANNING took effect. I made white letters and the frosting was white. There was no contrast. It looked good but again would have looked BETTER had I used the cocoa melts. Besides the candy letters I also free handed hearts and stood those up on the s'mores cupcakes as well.

Here's how the placing of everything went. On top was the mostly white and silver 6" two layered cake. On the second tier were the strawberry and cream cupcakes. On the third tier s'mores cupcakes spelling out congratulations and on the bottom were the strawberry and cream cupcakes alternated with the s'mores cupcakes which had the various hearts I made. Now here's what I would have done differently had a PLANNED BETTER. I should have used brown liners that way the cupcakes looked more uniform. I should have decorated the stand I used which was just made of white cardboard or looked for something a little "fancier".

Okay on to the important part...taste. If everything looked top notch it would not have matter if everything had tasted horrible. Let's start from the top...Bakerella's Simple Sprite Cake and butter cream icing is OUT OF THIS WORLD. Oh, my goodness, everyone who had a piece loved it!!!!!! I'm gonna make myself famous with this cake. I could go on and on. The last thing I'm going to say about this cake is you have GOT TO make this cake!!! The strawberry and cream cupcakes where also very good. They would have come out better had I not overcooked them. I salvaged them with some simple syrup but I'll have to try make them again before I give you a final judgement. The recipe for the cream cheese frosting (Allrecipe) I used went straight to the trash can. I had to fiddle with it too much to get it to taste like something other than cream cheese straight out of the tube. Believe it or not I didn't taste the s'mores cupcakes. I'm not fond of chocolate so after tasting the other two I couldn't bring myself to sample one. What I can tell you is that they were eaten up by my daughter and the rest of the guest. As for the frosting? If you like marshmallow then you are going to love the marshmallow buttercream. It's a keeper.

I'm sorry to say that at this time I have no pictures BUT my parents took a few and as soon as they get back to NC my Mom is going to email them to me. Hopefully, I'll be able to figure out how to post them. So, stay tuned.............. Oh, and if you can learn one thing from me........
PLAN!

Thursday, June 19, 2008

Candy melt experiments

Last night I ventured into uncharted territory. I used alphabet candy molds. I'm making 2 different flavored batches of cupcakes and a 6" cake for my brother's engagement party. I'm going to put one letter on a cupcake to spell out congratulations. On the top tier will be the cake. Standing on top of the cake will be my crowning achievement.....on wax paper I drew out my brother's and his finance's first initials entwined and I traced it with the white candy melts and then sprinkled (covered) them with silver dragees. It came out REALLY nice. The true test will come when I have to stand it up on top of the cake. Keep your fingers crossed.

Working with the candy melts was fairly easy. I used the squeeze bottles and was able to save the candy that was left over. The toughest part was getting the chocolate out of the mold. I didn't let the candy harden up in the fridge instead left it on the counter for just a few minutes. Didn't work. It needs to get cold. Once I took them out of the fridge they popped right out! Let me tell you I felt like a BIG DUFUS! I spent more time yesterday and ruined two letters trying to get them out! Hint to all: not only read the directions prior to starting but actually comprehend what you just read.

Tomorrow I will bake all of the cupcakes and cake. I'm making strawberry and cream cupcakes, s'mores cupcakes from Iheartcuppycakes, and Bakerella's simple sprite cake. On Saturday I will frost, ice, decorate, and assemble the cake and cupcakes. Wish me luck as I don't have much room for mistakes.

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Still no camera!

I still have not found my camera. It's such a bummer! I haven't really wanted to post anything.....it's just not the same with out pix. I've actually had a baseball and baking filled week since my last post.


Baseball: Devon's team, the Central Florida Sting WON! Yea! They played in a wood bat tournament in Lakeland which is easily an hour and a half from home. Unfortunately, Jalen's team, the Central Florida Patriots lost in the quarterfinals. On Saturday Jalen played at 9 & 11am in Altamonte and then I went to Devon's games which were at 3 & 5pm. Now that's ALOT of baseball.

Babygirl had her first gymnastics meet on Saturday. She did really well considering she only goes once a week for an hour and a half. Her best event was the bars. She got a 9.7! She got a 9.1 on the beam which was her lowest score. She also got a 9.4 & a 9.6 on two other events. Not too shabby!!!!! GO McKENNA!!!!

Baking: Last Wednesday I made Pillsbury's Easy Caramel Sticky Buns. I used their biscuits for the dough. Not only were they good but they were easy. The kids and their friend Nick said it was a keeper recipe.

Friday I spent making buttercream and practising my piping skills. The roses, well they looked "flowerish". That's the best description. I better keep practising...............

On Sunday I made Bakerella's Peanut Butter Cake. I generally don't like chocolate cake but the peanut butter cups made this cake outstanding. Now for the down side. I didn't line my new NONstick pans. I only sprayed in with Pam and the cake stuck to the pan. I was able to salvage the cake but then my frosting was grainy and looked a little oily. Even though it wasn't smooth it still tasted fine. The next thing that went wrong was the chopped peanut butter cups did NOT want to stick to the cake. I had to put the frosted cake in the fridge for a about 15 minutes and then "glue" the peanut butter cup pieces with left over frosting. Eventually I was done but not satisfied. I think I've learned from my mistakes and will try this one again. The hardest thing for me right now with my baking is timing and because I time this wrong I get impatient and make mistakes!

On Monday I had another cake decorating class, it was good but I don't think it's going the way it should go. The teacher is nice and she seems to know what SHE'S doing but she is kind of lax and I'm not sure I'm learning ALL that I need to learn. I did torte and decorate a cake. It came out pretty well. I wasn't embarrassed to show it and actually took it into work today. Does that mean I'm learning something? Or does that mean what little natural talent I have is coming through? I KNOW I'm not going to be able to wing the roses as I've practiced at home and they are very difficult.

I wish I had pix to post. I'm almost to the point of buying a new camera.

Monday, June 9, 2008

Cake decorating class

Well, tonight was my first Wilton cake decorating class at Michael's. It was okay. I am waiting until the last class before I make a final judgement. The instructor had some issues but was very personable and seemed to know what she was doing. Hopefully she will be able to impart some of that knowledge on to us. There is only one other person in the class which is nice....more one on one time. She seems very nice. The one thing that was clear is that piping is much more difficult than it looks. I am definitely going to have to practice. Oh, I don't like that I have to use the Wilton recipe for buttercream or that we only use buttercream. I know that pastry artist use more than just that but I guess it's the easiest to use, learn with, and make. I'm still excited....

Sunday, June 8, 2008

Baseball Weekend - WINNERS!

Hey, folks!

It's been a baseball loaded weekend! Devon's team, the Central Florida Sting won the Triple Crown Summer Slam tournament in Kissimmee!!!!!!! The team went 6 and 0. They beat Team Rawlings in the championship game!!!!! What a sweet win. The boys hit, pitched, and fielded well.

Congratulations to the Central Florida Sting! Go Sting!!!

With that said I guess you've figured out that I hadn't done any baking or reading.

Oh, tomorrow's the first day of my cake decorating class, YEA! Wish me luck.

Thursday, June 5, 2008

Tired

Okay, real quick!

First the cake bites are easier than the cakeballs on a stick. Second the red velvet cake bleed into the white candy melts some though mostly from the cake crumbs that fell into the melted candy - A LOT! Third clean up is as much work as making them. So with those thoughts out there would I make them again? Yes, to the cake bites. On the cakeballs on the stick don't think so. All in all they both came out really, reallywell. Especially for my first foray into Bakerella's world! I actually made them for a party. That should say something if I'm willing to let them out in public.

Oh, couldn't find the camera to take pix. Okay, so I didn't look but in my defense I was busy!

I wanna give a BIG "shout out" to my Babygirl who helped until it was bedtime and my honey, Joe who helped when my fingers were coated in candy bark and really wanted to be relaxing! Love you guys!

Bakerella

Hey, guys! I need to give credit where credit is due........Bakerella! Another B! For the past month and half I've been excitedly reading her posts and drooling over great pix of her baking creations. I've not only been inspired to bake more, dare more, to not be afraid but also to put my baking masterpieces (NOT) out there. In finally getting up the nerve I thought to myself why limit it to baking (food)? Why not to all the interests in my life, family included.

Thank you, Bakerella!

Now with that said I have been working on Bakerella's cake balls/cake pops. Yesterday I made the cake mixes and mushed them up with the frosting. I did two batches. So, today I'm gonna a be a cake rolling fool which means I'm not taking the Twins to baseball practice. I'll do Babygirl and gymnastics so I won't have to be up all night, rollin' and dippin'! In between all of that I'm gonna look for my camera so I can post my first pix. It will be my luck that I find the camera and then can not figure out how to post the pix.

Wednesday, June 4, 2008

Hola!

This is my first attempt at blogging, so, you'll have to bear with me! I'm doing the ol' learn as you go.

I intend to use this as a way to record the escapades of my family and myself which includes the 3 B's, baseball, baking, and books. I hope to find my camera soon and be able to post photos along with my commentary.

Your comments are welcomed and much appreciated! Check back soon to see what's new.

Gotta run now as I'm working on one of the B's, baking that is!