Green Tea Spiral Pastry

I made this spiral pastry which I thought looked so beautiful. The different layers turned out quite nice. It was not hard to make but from memory the outcome was a little bitter. I added a little too much green tea powder at the time. The pastry was filled with red bean paste.

Pipeworks with a mini cake

Had a light fruit and covered with RTR. After it had hardened, piped some icing.
I first attempted with a shell border and a grapevine design. The icing was too wet and couldn't control it. It didn't turn out the way I wanted,so wipe it off the cake and started again.

Second time round I piped a pearl border. The sides a decorated with a five pointed star and fleur de lis. The upper edge is with a herring bone and topped with hearts.
I feel it turned out much better than my grapevines.

Hugen's First month celebration cake

Hugen's the name of Yvette and Jimmy's new born boy. I decided upon making toy blocks. Originally was going to make three large blocks. I was stopped as I was told they already had some cakes ordered. So I downsized to one larger block and made smaller blocks from the remaining cakes from my 20cm tins.
I baked up a madiera butter cake and layered wit lemon butter cream.
The blocks turned out nice except I few of the corners wasn't quite level. I smoothed out the cake with my cake smoother and then topped the cake with a chocolate bear. The smaller cakes were not as nice. Attempted to cover up as much as I could.
Everyone was surprised the cake was made by myself.
Took about half a day and turned out to the be the centre piece for dessert table. I am happy with the outcome.

Tiffany-like bag cake

Got an order for a birthday cake from a work colleague. She ask whether I could pipe words on a cake, I said yes and she left it at that.
Thinking about it I thought I would give the bag cake a twirl. The inspiration is the Tiffany bag, The difficult part of it was the upper part/lip of the bag which I used tissues to support whilst the icing hardened.
Then the rest was more or less decorations. I made a ribbon gift box and topped the bag with thinned flower paste to look like tissues.
The problem which I am learning from is the side of the cake was rough and that is because I forgot to utilise my smooth tool.
The outcome turned out great for my first bag cake.
The cake itself was a cherry ripe chocolate cake layered with dark chocolate ganache.
I have thoughts of making some chocolate treats now.
In a few days I have to make a 1st month cake for Yvettes new bord Hugen, what should I make..thinking, thinking...

Lindy Smith Workshop

Attended a Lindy Smith Workshop to see a master at work.
It was just wonderful. The little sugarart bags she created was just amazing and inspiring. I can't wait to try these onto a cake.
The techniques and advice she gave is so invaluable. I am so happy with my path.
Must give thanks to my teacher John for organising this event.


OpArt


Some more OpArt


One of little bags






Lindy Smith

Father's day

Father's day has come and gone, this time I decided to make a choc strawberry cake. Funny thing is I am not a fan of strawberry but it is fav'd by other's. Can't force my opinion on to others.
I first made up a choc cake and filled it with whipped cream and fresh strawberries. Topped it with choc mouse and fresh whole strawberries.
To finish I got some fresh rose leaves from the garden and painted it with tempered chocolate and finally wrapped it with a strip of chocolate.
Chocolate with strawberries.. What do you think?

Cupcake success

Yay, baked up two batches of cupcakes and brought them to office. From my feedback it was enjoyed by all.
Made up a batch of Lemon and Lime cupcakes topped with lemon lime butter cream. The second batch was a triple chocolate cupcake. Chocolate muffin with choc bits from my belgium chocolate supply and then topped with dark belgium choc ganache piped onto it...Yummm!