Wilton - Advanced Course

Class #3 in the Wilton series starts on Tuesday...I can't wait!

Reach a new level of decorating sophistication with the beautiful flowers and techniques in Course 3. Begin with intricate accents such as embroidery and lace, stringwork, garland and ruffle borders. Discover the beauty of decorating with rolled fondant — for covering cakes with an immaculate smooth surface and shaping fun figures and elegant flowers. Add several new icing flowers to your repertoire, including lovely holiday blooms like poinsettias and Easter lilies. Complete your course by assembling and decorating a towering tiered cake with beautiful stringwork, flowers and borders.

Cake Balls

My friend Mary Ann told me recently about the latest fad to overtake the cupcake: Cake Balls. I was intrigued. So, I gave it a shot today. My plan was to make eyeballs for Halloween...red velvet cake, white chocolate, m&ms for the eyes, and red chocolate for the veins. My chocolate wasn't smoth like Bakerella's balls
(http://bakerella.blogspot.com/2007/12/red-velvet-cake-balls.html), so I need to work on my technique. And, they looked nothing like eyes. But, I had fun and they tasted great...I'm sure the office will like them tomorrow.

Tip - Wilton Flower Forms

Wilton sells a set of flower formers that are used to give your flowers a realistic shape. Suggestion: cut a paper towel roll in half...and save $6!

New Toys

To compliment my new hobby, we've added to the family. We had a GE Profile for ~18 months. After a series of repair visits, we have done away with the old, and brought in a new Kenmore Fridge. The full size fridge on top has already been a tremendous life saver with regards to sheet cakes...I look forward to putting it to more good use.

Longaberger - 'Eat' your heart out!

So, the final cake for Wilton II was the BASKET WEAVE decorated with Royal Icing flowers and a color flow bird. I'm not a fan of Royal Icing...I don't think it tastes great. And, because it dries quickly, it's not as forgiving...you get the picture. MAS FRUSTRATION! In any case, I took my basket weave cake to work on Friday...it was a hit. Someone asked which bakery I got it from.

Nothing like a little buttercream to boost your self-esteem.

Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee

My aunt had 'Total Knee Replacement Surgery'. Poor Aunt Bernie. But, Aunt Bernie's poor health gave me a reason to try out piping gel again. I downloaded a picture of 'knee anatomy', traced it, and labeled the various parts. It was fun...and, got a good laugh from Aunt Bernie. She is now ahead of schedule on her recovery. Who needs chicken soup when you have Buttercream!

Dallas Cowboys - Piping Gel

During Wilton I, we learned how to trace with piping gel. So, for practice one Sunday, I tried my hand at the Dallas Cowboys Star on Redskins v. Cowboys Sunday.

I was happy with my first attempt at tracing...but, the Cowboys lost. So, I guess Buttercream is the new Jessica Simpson.

My portfolio begins...

I completed the 'beginner' Wilton decorating class: I give you the Sugar Rose Bouqet with practice writing...

I promptly sent my first cake to Mrs. Lang...she replied, "Keep up the good work. I love seeing your pictures."

And so it begins...

On Thursday, 9/25/08, I took my first Wilton Decorating class at Michael's. My intent: perfecting the sugar rose. Result: a new love affair with Buttercream Icing.

As an unruly 8th grader, I participated in my church's youth group. At different events, my friend's mom, Mrs. Lang, would bring chocolate chip cookies flavored with orange extract. I complained at the time (I lacked civility in my youth), but it has always stayed with me: Orange Chocolate Chip Cookies. Now, I've never made those cookies, but for me, it always stuck out as an opportunity to be creative in the kitchen. (It should be noted that Mrs. Lang, more than 10 years later, baked/decorated my wedding cake/groom's cake...what a legacy!).

When it comes to being an artist, I'm not one. I've always envied my father, an artistic doodler, and my friend Mary Ann who designed and made her own prom dress. What I would give to have that kind of talent.

And then, one night in my Kitchen Aid mixer, butter met powdered sugar...