29th April 2011 - Cat and Frog cake

Tomorrow is the birthday of Ad's girlfriend, and he asked me to make a cake for her with frogs and black cats (one adult and one kitten).  Those where the only specifications given and rest was up to me.  I like it when the design is left to me because I can play around with things I haven't done before. 

The first new thing I tried was the carving of the cake into a small hill.  I needed to leave enough space for the frogs and pond. 

Secondly (other than the small rocks on the Rabbit cake),  I tried marbling fondant with great success.  The Pond was marbled with two different blues, and the Throne of the Frog King was black and white mixed until all the white turned grey so it would look like stone.

Thirdly I wanted the Lilly pads to look wet.  I painted over all three three pads with edible glue which achieved this look with great effect =].

4.5 hrs from start to finish =] =] =].

The marbling effect turned out great.

Frog King with Robe and Crown on an
ancient stone Throne.

25th April 2011 - Electricians Retirement Cake.

I was asked at work by one of the electricians if I would be able to make a Decorated cake for one of his colleagues who is retiring as of tomorrow.  I had to do a little bit of research for this cake as I don't know what equipment is specialised to electricians. 

I stuck to the basic stuff like wire snips and needle-nose pliers and the likes, as well as some caps, fuses and a gadget I can't remember the name of now but it measures eclectic currents in wires... Electromitor maybe??  He also wanted a little man in his dark blue overalls and hairnet if possible with his toolbox lying nearby.   I think I did everything he asked for and a bit more.

6hrs to make - I'm getting quicker.

A bit of research needed.

1st time using edible metallic dusts.

23rd April 2011 - Easter cake and easter cupcakes

I made cupcakes and a disk decorated Victoria Sponge cake today.  The theme was Easter with obvious reasons.... Its Easter =].  I did small chicks, full bunnies, bunnies popping out of and into the ground and Easter baskets filled with different coloured eggs.

The Victoria Sponge Cake was only partially decorated in Fondant because my wife and kids don't really like the taste but still wanted a decorated cake.  I don't know what this type of partially decorated cake is called so I called it a Disk Decorated Cake for reasons you will see when you look at the pictures.

Fun and simple to make.

Only took about 2.5 hrs for All cakes.

Disk Decorated Cake.

18th April 2011 - Cow cake, rabbit cake and rocky road muffins

This weekend was a bit busier than I thought it was going to be.  I didn't think I had a cake to make for anyone this week so I told Emma from work that I would make her Double Cow Cake this week... She asked me to make it for her about two months ago but she said she was in no rush and to just do it when I got the time.  Well this weekend was that time!!! 

Then when walking the dog on Sunday, Lel asks me if I could make another cake in time for Tuesday because it was Lorna's Birthday.... A bit more time would of been nice and when I got home I was a little stressed with the time I had to do both cakes.  I had already told Emma I would be delivering her cake on monday night and now I had to have a second ready for the latest 5pm on Tuesday.

So I did what any pure blood Englishman does when stressed..... Sat down with a brew (and one of the Rocky Road Muffins my wife made).  After a relaxing brew I got too it.... baking cakes, mixing buttercream, rolling icing and making cake decorations and models.

As I mentioned earlier I did a Double Cow Cake for Emma.  For Lorna I did a Rabbit next to a little pond with ducks, (because its spring), holding a Butterfly.  I also surounded the cake in butterflies because if you haven't guessed already Lorna likes butterflies.

Throughout the cake process my wife cleaned up after me time and again to the point I though I would soon have to pay her a full time wage...... I Love my wife X X X !!!

Rocky Roads made by my wife Lel X X X.

Destress with one of these and a Cuppa Tea mmmmmm.

15hrs in Total for both cakes.

5hrs sleep, all day decorating cake and then nightshift...

Book title "The Big Story".

Vanilla Sponge and Vanilla Buttercream in both
cakes with Stawberry jam.

Both cakes finished by 8:30pm on Monday

Thx Lel for my tea, Cuppa's, snacks and cleaning
up after me for two days X X X.

6th April 2011 - Heart shaped cake with Roses and a Smurf.

Well I got an order from a work mate a few days ago for a pink, girly, heart shaped cake with I Love You on it.   Ohhh and with a blue and white Smurf on it somewhere.  Why a Smurf??? His girlfriend whom the cake was for likes girly things and Smurfs.  I couldn't just slap a smurf on the cake any old how (Heheheh slap a smurf, would its face go red or a different shade of blue/purple???)..............

............... Anyway the cake!!! I decided that the Smurf should be doing something on the cake and the best thing I could come up with so it looked like it was meant to be there, was make it look like it was planting some of the flowers onto the cake straight from plant pots... Well look below and see what you think.... I also took some pictures of what the cake would look like if the Smurf was not part of the cake.

7hrs to make (inc Smurf)

Handmade and painted Roses.

Blue Smurfs and Pink cake don't go!!!