An 80th Portrait Cake

80th Birthday Cake

I got asked to make a birthday cake for a lady who was celebrating being 80 years young.

This cake is a vanilla Madeira cake. It had a lemon buttercream dam in the middle, which contained within a thick layer of lemon curd. The outside was then covered with the lemon buttercream. I piped a few very simplistic designs around the edge.

This lady loves yellow roses, so I made sure that there were lots of roses, in different hues, and in the middle of all these flowers was her portrait.

It’s the first cake that not only did they say wow, but actually got teary eyed. It was an honour to make this cake, and thrilled that it was loved by the entire family.

This cake also got the biggest positive reaction from my own personal Facebook page. So I must being doing something right….

Until next time, happy baking 🙂

Sides of cake

Election Day Cake Stall Cupcakes

Election Day Cake Stall

My daughters go to a wonderful little school. And even though I can’t stay behind and help with reading, or help in class, I can make cakes.

So whenever there is a fundraiser for the school, I will normally be in the kitchen baking away.

So this fundraiser I made some simple chocolate cupcakes, with a buttercream swirl, Cadbury’s large chocolate buttons, and some all important glitter. And the school were selling these at $3.50 a cupcake.

After I made them, I decided to make my Mum’s favourite cupcakes, which are these.

My Mum’s favourite

Ironically they took longer than the school ones. My girls love making these, and more often than not will have glitter almost everywhere, except on the cupcakes!!

I live across the road from a private caterer, she makes the most wonderful food, and amazing pastries. However on this day she popped around and asked if I could make her some pigs for a birthday cake that she had an order for.

Fondant pigs

Now some of you would remember that I had made 2 pig cakes previously. And each time I make my little piggy’s they just get better, and better. And it was a very unique experience to just sit there and make the decoration without having to do any of the baking or decorating. So I took my time, and made sure the details were just right.

The difference between the pigs above and the pigs in the swimming pool cake are huge. It definitely shows, that my techniques, and attention to detail, are improving on each cake that I make.

I wonder what I will make next?

Until next time, happy baking 🙂

Hand Painted Tie Dye Cake

Tie Dye Birthday Cake

First I must say this, that Jack & Holly are not twins, in fact they are best friends having a joint birthday party. And they both wanted a Tie Dye cake.

I got to hand paint the design, which I really enjoyed doing, as there is fluidity to the brush strokes. In turn has made me more determined to start hand painting more intricate designs on cakes. However all in good time.

I kept the design fairly simple. On the sides though half is a pink strip of fondant, and the other half is black fondant.

I’ve made a few cakes for this family now, and it makes a change from all the girly cakes, this way I get to have some young males ideas.

I wonder what they will ask for next??

Until then, happy baking 🙂

The Seven Deadly Sins Cupcakes

Gluttony

Not my usual request for a cupcake themed design, and I must admit I asked for help in design elements from friends.

So I broke it down to the basics, gluttony, it had to be a thick layer of ganache with a flake on top, with a glimmer of gold glitter.

 

 

 

 

Wrath and Greed

Next was Wrath, for this I used design elements to signify the devil.

Greed – I always think of money, not sure why, when it greed can be attributed it lots of different ways in life.

 

 

 

 

 

Lust

 

Lust – Was an idea from the lady who wanted the cupcakes.

She wanted red lips on a plain background.

 

 

 

 

Envy

 

 

Envy – Again was the ladies choice, simply green lettering on a plain background.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sloth

 

 

Sloth – for this I think of lazy, so I decided to make a conch potato, in it’s most literal of sense.

A potato on a couch.

 

 

 

 

Pride

 

Last but not least, Pride – I asked for help on this one from my friends. I asked  what Pride meant to them. I actual got quiet a few different answers. But I leant more to Pride in your appearance. So I made fondant version of a mirror. In hindsight I would love to make this again, still a mirror design, but would put more detail in it.’

 

 

 

The top cake

To finish the seven deadly sin cupcake tower, I also made a 6 inch top cake.

I apologize for the quality of the photo, I was rushing to get everything boxed and forgot to do my normal photo shoot of the entire display.

This had to be (at that stage), the strangest request in cupcake designs. I say at that sage, as you’ll see in the coming weeks, the cakes are definitely not the usual tier cakes.

Until next time, happy baking 🙂

My daughters 5th birthday – she wanted a 4 tier cake with hanging crystals!

My Daughter’s 5th Birthday Cake

About 2 months before my daughter’s birthdays. They start to doodle some designs and will give a rough outline for what they would like. This time however my youngest had very definite ideas about her cake.

It had to be 4 tier, and it had to have crystals hanging from it!

Her last cake was quite a delicate affair with hundreds of mini flowers in 5 shades of pink graduating down in colour. And only 1 tier. However this time she was after a more of a statement cake.

Due to the fact that she had invited her friends from kinder, this cake had to be chocolate.

The colours are from another cake she had seen online, in which she loved the mix of pink, green and the purple.

I was still feeling jet lagged from my trip to the UK, and so I found myself a little out of time, I recruited 2 of the Mums, and my Dad to roll lots of little balls, to surround each tier of the cake.

We had lots of kids here, and their parents stayed as well, so this cake was eaten pretty quickly. And only one tier was left to share amongst ourselves and my neighbours.

With the last crumb washed away, my daughter then announces that next year she wants an 8 tier cake!!!

Until then, happy baking 🙂

Happy Birthday to my little girl xx

A UK Wedding Cake.

the finished cake

Back in the July last year I got a wedding invitation – asking if I would attend the wedding of my best friend from primary school. Of course I had to say yes. Not only would I go to the wedding, but I would be able to catch up with my family and other friends.

About 3 days after the wedding invitation, I got asked if I would make the cake. So I decided to make this my gift to the lovely couple.

So this cake has approx 12 months planning on and off. To make the cake I managed to stay with another friend who has a big mixer (definitely required with a 4 tier cake), and she is a chef who also makes cakes for friends and family.

I had given a list of ingredients for my friend to get in the UK. The only prep I did before I left was to make the two different coloured chocolate roses. As they take a little time. I wrapped them up and hoped they wouldn’t get crushed during the flight.

Canterbury cathedral – a day out in Canterbury

So after landing I spent the first week trying to get over jet lag,  reacquainting myself with some of my favourite foods (that you can’t get in Australia), having a pint at the Kings Head in Deal, and checking out some local areas including Canterbury.

Having gone to stay with my chef friend, it was time for me to get to work on the cake.

The bottom tier took 3 hours in the oven due to its size! I kept the tiers simple flavours, except the top-tier which the bride had requested that it should be traditional fruit cake with a marzipan layer.

This cake took 2 and 1/2 days to complete – the biggest cake I’ve ever attempted.

Finished

The hardest thing for me was the chocolate. I use a different brand – which I find it quite easy to work with, yet the chocolate I used was completely different, and didn’t like to set hard. Which made the panels a little difficult to finish.

Chocolate handmade roses

The bride had requested dark purple roses, which I made in chocolate. The flowers arrived from Australia in my suitcase surprisingly ok. I had lost 10 in flight, but fortunately I didn’t need those ones anyway, even if I had, all you have to do is squash them back up and redo.

The bride and groom loved the cake, and people said it tasted as good as it looked. I was just relieved to be able to make a huge cake, that was done without my tools, kitchen or chocolate!

At the venue

Just me, dressed up and ready to go to the wedding.

Dover beach

Dover Harbour

I had a fantastic time in the UK, and caught with my lovely family and friends. Arrived home exhausted!

Only had a week to recover from jet lag (again) before I had to make the next cake. However that is in the next blog.

Until next time, happy baking 🙂

Birthday Cakes

The Lone Kangaroo

My last blog talked about my training for a 50 km walk, and I was talking about Birdsland (one of our training areas). I found this photo that I had taken and thought I would share with you all, as I feel incredibly blessed and lucky in the area where we chose to live. I originally lived in the UK, so seeing Kangaroos on my walks still amazes me, and I’ve lived here over 7 years now.

Back to the cakes.

First – a buttercream rose – giant cupcake

Buttercream rose – giant cupcake

Buttercream rose – giant cupcake

Second – Pigs in a mud filled swimming pool. The teenager who asked for this cake, wanted pigs in mud, but not a farmyard scene.

Pigs in mud filled swimming pool

And third – a disco inspired cake. My friend Seventies inspired birthday cake that the Mum wanted me to replicate from a google image. The original design is from Sugar Siren Cakes QLD.

For Chelsea

I made these cakes, whilst cramming for my driving test, and getting ready for the UK trip. Cake it seems like buses, you wait to make one for ages, and then they all come at once.

Until next time, happy baking 🙂

 

Taking The Right Step with Go The Extra Mile Challenge

 

Go The Extra Mile – start line

I haven’t been on here in ages!

Now normally I don’t do personal photos, however this one is an exception. As not only was I working, baking and being a Mum, somehow in between all that, myself and my walking partner in crime managed to train for a 50 km walk.

GO The Extra Mile is run by Focus on the Family Australia. Which is a not-for-profit Christian organisation dedicated to solving real life issues and offering relevant, practical support for all members of the family.

They tackle the challenging issues of teenage suicide, binge drinking, drugs, pornography, depression, bullying and teenage sexuality head on. They focus on academic and research excellence and their major programs undergo ongoing validation by independent experts. They concentrate on preventative education to help parents and teens recognise and stop crises before they happen.

We managed to train for this event in 12 weeks! We completed the walk in 11 hrs 39 mins, and raised some money for charity.

Go The Extra Mile

My health last year was pretty dodgy, so in January I decided enough, was enough and promptly went for a 12km walk through Birdsland (ironically you see lots of kangaroos, not so many birds).

I continued walking just to get healthier and, then I got my partner in crime, who is fantastically supportive. From there we decided to challenge ourselves. And we can talk until the cows come home about everything and anything! Which is important considering we were walking non-stop for up to 9 hours.

We’ve decided that 50 kms isn’t enough of a challenge, and so we are now training to walk 100 kms.

I would suggest to anyone out there, that if your feeling not so good, that taking a stroll will definitely make up feel better. I feel healthier, refreshed, and my body relaxes after a long walk.

It was a beautiful day for a 50 km stroll

Not only have I been busy with training, but I have also made lots of cakes. I even flew to the UK to make my best friend from primary schools wedding cake.

So there will be lots of blogs heading your way.t

Muesli Recipe and a Chocolate Cake Display

Sandra V Window Display – Tecoma, VIC, AUS

Well here is my chocolate cherry cake on display at Sandra V’s. The display will be up until Mothers Day – 12th May for those who have forgotten.

I really like my cake in a window, and have a vision that one day I’ll have a huge chocolate window display with some really cool cakes, and sculptures. The ones where it makes kids and adults alike stop and stare. Until then…..

Our family muesli recipe

This is my recipe for homemade muesli :

* 1 1/3 cup oats
* 1 1/3 cup quick oats
* 1/3 cup almonds – roughly chopped
* 1/3 dried apricots – roughly chopped
* 1/4 cup sultanas
* 1/4 cup dried cranberries – roughly chopped
* 1/8 cup pumpkin seeds (pepitas) – roughly chopped
* 1/8 cup dried blueberries
* 1/8 cup sunflower seeds
* 2/3 cup bran
* 2tbsp wheatgerm

– Mix all together and put in tupperware type of cereal container.
– You can add milk, or have it with yoghurt and add fresh fruit if you wish.

I brought large quantities of the ingredients, and just repeated the recipe until I had run out.  We ended up with 5 batches, in 2 containers. Mr Hollipops says (in his own words) “this is bloody lovely.”

It’s important to have a balanced diet with plenty of exercise, so even though I make these big chocolate cakes, which my family do on occasion get to sample or have their own, we as a family like to eat healthy and keep active.

For example, my husband runs marathons & ultra marathons, my eldest plays tennis, my youngest runs everywhere!! And I do my long distance walking. We allow ourselves some junk food, but the majority of the time it’s pretty healthy. I also make my own sauces so that I know exactly what is going into the food.

On that healthy note, I really need to start my day, things to do, and people to see.

Until then, happy baking 🙂

 

 

 

Chocolate, chocolate everywhere

It started with a kiss – 4 tiers of 100% pure white chocolate decorated cake.

I’ve decided that as much as I like working with fondant is that I much prefer working with chocolate.

My decision is based after making the above cake. This is 4 tiers tall, and everything you can see on the cake is chocolate and more importantly edible.

Cocooned in chocolate

The whole cake is encased in pure white chocolate, which acts as seal to keep the cake moist underneath.

Once I had covered the cake I then went on to make the flowers. I chose roses and chunky looking cherry blossoms. I did make up a batch of pink chocolate to make flowers out of, however once I started to put the flowers on the cake, it just didn’t look right.

After making the flowers I made numerous chocolate fans to encircle the cake on each tier, that I would eventually place the flowers, cherries, leaves and banners on.

Some people paint the lettering on while the banner is on the cake, maybe one day I’ll do that. However at this stage I prefer doing the lettering while the chocolate is flat on some greaseproof paper. To do the lettering I used a candy colouring gel which is oil based, as the normal colouring pastes are water based and don’t work on chocolate as well.

Once all the elements were prepared, I then started to play. First went on the fans, then the banners. Followed by the flowers. Occasionally I would step back for the table and check the cake out from a different perspective, so that I could see what I needed to do next and where to put things.

What I love about using chocolate though is just how quick it is to assemble, once all the elements were prepared the cake only took a couple of hours to complete.

And Mr Hollipops says there is less washing up when I use chocolate than when I use fondant.

My favourite part of the this has to be the cherries. Fun to make, fun to look at and fun to eat. In saying that I don’t (apart from chocolate) have a particular sweet tooth and rarely eat my own cakes.

This cake has had the most positive attention from all the cakes I’ve done, it has done very well on Facebook. I even had a comment from Dan Lepard who is an award-winning baker, host of The Great Australian Bake Off who has said my little cake is beautiful.

For those who know me, I don’t usually handle compliments well, and usually brush them off with some sarcastic comment, or joke. In this instance I was genuinely shocked. I didn’t expect it to receive any comments, let alone from a professional baker, so it has made my day.

The Cherry cake is displayed at Sandra V’s in Tecoma. Sandra has a 1950’s vintage store, it has so many cool things in there, from shoes, dresses, poodle skirts and much, much more. She recently made me a 50’s type apron (image below), which you can have custom made to your needs. She can also make dresses & skirts. Sandra is a very talented lady when it comes to a needle and thread. The window display is all for our up and coming Mothers Day on the 12th May. So pop along and see if you can grab your Mum something beautiful from Sandra V.

Sandra V handmade apron. Loving the Heart 🙂

It’s fairly quiet on the cake front for the next few weeks, which is a blessing as I am in training for a 50 kilometre walk – called Go The Extra Mile, which raises awareness for Teen Suicide.

Last Sunday myself and my friend walked 42.3K (Marathon distance) our last big walk for our training. We now get to taper down the distances, so this week we’ll walk 25k. Which will give my toes a much-needed break from blisters!

In the meantime, I have yet to test drive the BOSCO mixer, so I had better find a really cool recipe and give it a whirl. Looking forward to putting up my review for all to see. I like the fact that BOSCO is Australian owned.

My next blog will have the muesli recipe, as I couldn’t find the notepad that I had written the recipe for this blog.

Until next time, happy baking 🙂