Icing Smiles cake For Hannah

My Longest Lasting Love Affair...

I have been married to my best friend since 1991, we met in the eighth grade. But that is not what I am writing about today...

For our wedding gift my mom & dad bought us (me) an Oster Kitchen Center. At the time the $200+ price tag was steep.

Over the years it has grated about a half ton of carrots for carrot cake, mixed at least a few thousand cakes, and innumerable batches of cookie dough.

I still use this mixer, and I take it with me every month when I teach my beginning cake class.

Diabetic Frostings

Quite often I have students ask for diabetic frosting recipes.  So I asked my fab cake friends and collected these recipes...

DIABETIC BUTTER CREAM FROSTING
2 1/2 tbsp. flour
1/2 c. butter
10 (1 gram) packets Equal (sugar substitute)
1/2 tsp. vanilla

Combine water, dry milk and flour, and stir until smooth. Cook, stirring constantly, over medium heat until thick and smooth. Or cook in microwave on high for 2 minutes, stirring every 30 seconds. Place container in cold water and stir until cool. Set aside. Cream butter and Equal until light and fluffy. Add cooled sauce, 1 tablespoon at a time, while beating at medium speed. Add vanilla and beat at high until light and fluffy. Refrigerate unused portion. Return to room temperature.

DIABETIC CHOCOLATE FROSTING
1 oz. unsweetened chocolate
6 tbsp. evaporated milk
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. liquid sweetener
Melt chocolate over water. Stir in milk, mix and cook until thick. Remove from heat and add vanilla and sweetener. Add a little water if it's too thick.

Candy Cane Cookies (A New Christmas Tradition)

My grandmother has sent us a box of homemade cookies every year since my mom and dad got married (that was 1981). Due to illness this will be the second year without grandma's cookies.

So I started thinking, I can't do what she did (she made something like 20 varieties, baking all year (ok, maybe not ALL year) and freezing them until it was time to box and ship them to EVERYONE) but I can start small.

These Candy Cane Cookies are easy for the kids to help with and I can send them along with the Candy Cane poem.

The Legend of the Candy Cane  Look at the Candy Cane What do you see? Stripes that are red Like the blood shed for me White is for my Savior Who's sinless and pure! "J" is for Jesus, My Lord, that's for sure! Turn it around And a staff you will see Jesus my shepherd Was born for Me!  This was originally posted on my personal blog on December 2, 2008. 

Gingerbread House

I found LOTS of videos for making a Gingerbread House and wanted to share...

Dyann Bakes - Overview...



Supplies...



Start with a good base...nothing ruins a great cake or Gingerbread house faster than an ugly or flimsy base...



Of course you need a Gingerbread Recipe...my favorite is the Wilton Grandma's Gingerbread...http://www.wilton.com/recipe/Grandmas-Gingerbread
(don't want to bake gingerbread?  scroll down...

Helpful Video from YouTube member cgtlv:


And icing...Royal Icing...http://www.wilton.com/recipe/Royal-Icing (HOT TIP: Make sure everything is grease free when making Royal Icing!)

From YouTube ExpertVillage (actually they have SEVERAL videos I want to share...)


And patterns...

Another helpful Video from YouTube member cgtlv:


King Arthur Flour PDF Booklet


Wilton 1974-1 (PDF) 
Wilton 1974-2 (PDF)
Wilton 1977-1 (PDF)
Wilton 1977-2 (PDF)

Ultimate Gingerbread Designs Barn           Barn Instructions
Ultimate Gingerbread Designs Church       Church Instructions
Ultimate Gingerbread Country Store          Country Store Instructions
Ultimate Gingerbread Designs Elf House   Elf House Instructions 
Ultimate Gingerbread Farmhouse              Farmhouse Instructions
Ultimate Gingerbread Pixie House             Pixie House Instructions
Ultimate Gingerbread Row House             Row House Instructions


OR use Graham Crackers!



And MORE Ideas...

Wilton Gingerbread House Ideas
Wilton Ways to Decorate Gingerbread Houses

Cake Decorating Basics: Parchment Bags

I used to despise parchment paper cones.  I hated making them, I hated using them and most of all I hated TEACHING people how to make them.  But the more cakes I decorate the more I have come to appreciate and even prefer the humble parchment paper cone.

Here is a page from an OLD Wilton Course one book that shows you how to make parchment cones.

And here is a great video, no this is not me...why re-invent the wheel (or re-make the video)?

How to Make a Paper Cone

New Cakes are Fun Classes Coming SOON!

I am starting my OWN classes at Park Place Baptist Church in Norfolk!

Autumn Gerbera Daisy Cake - come learn how to make the Gerbera Daisy in a variety of sizes and arrange them on a cake. Course will cover covering a cake and cake board in fondant, fondant borders including pearl strands and punched and stamped border.
Four Hours $65, I supply all cutters for class use.

Fall Foliage create a two- tiered fondant covered cake with fall sprays of gumpaste bittersweet, acorns and fondant multi-colored leaves.
Four Hours $65, I supply all cutters for class use.

Bridal Favors - wedding favors out of fondant including place settings, candy dishes favor boxes and more.
Two Hours $35, I supply fondant and gum paste.

Roses - this hands on workshop demonstrates a quick and easy way to make gorgeous rose buds and roses out of gum paste.
Two Hours $35, I supply fondant and gum paste.

Please e-mail me for registration information.