Cake/ Food Stories

Cupcakessssssss!

Can you teach an old dog new tricks?

Now don’t take me wrong, I’m not saying I’m an old dog or anything like that.  I think I may still have a few new tricks in me.

Lately, it seems like I tend to get obsessed with things. For instance, cooking for the blog, trying to make my camera take better food pictures, and taking computer classes at the Apple store.  Now I’ve started a miniature fairy garden and ordered my first house for it and now I’m trying to figure out how to make a miniature pond and table and patio for the fairy garden.

Now if that isn’t enough, three weeks ago, I started cake decorating classes at Hobby Lobby and then turned around and signed up for fondant and gum paste classes the following day. I must have been nuts at the time.

I’ve been catering for 20 years and one thing I have always wanted to know how to do was to decorate a pretty cake and hey, why not learn to make fondant covered cakes and flowers at the same time.

So with one week of classes to go, I’m now faced with the final day of class. For the decorating class next week I have to show up with a two layer cake with a crumb coat and ready to decorate. Now you may wonder what a crumb coat is. Well, besides the classes and cake tasting for my daughter’s wedding, I have gotten hooked on watching cake shows on TLC like Cake Boss and Fabulous Cakes. Not that I need anything else to occupy any of my time, but I am picking up some cake decorating lingo and “crumb coat” isn’t a coat with crumbs all over it but a thin layer of frosting that is put on a cake to cover up any crumbs before putting on your final layer of frosting.

Now if all that isn’t enough, I had a baby cakes class a couple of days ago at our local Viking Cooking School. Petit Fours has always been on my list of “must learn to make” baked items. I don’t think they turned out that great and I may need a lot more practice before I get them just right.

No recipe here because believe it or not I used a boxed cake mix and will be using that also for those two cakes I have to do next week.

The point of this whole story is that you are never too old to pick up a few new tricks or hobbies. I just have to learn not to do them all at the same time.

Sunflower with Nutella center. Chocolate covered sunflower seeds would look really cute for the center.

The little pink pearls are balls of gum paste that we rolled in pearl dust.

Ok, so these aren’t the prettiest cupcakes in the world. But they are my first attempt at doing something other than smearing frosting on top.

Hope you enjoyed the pictures. One of these days maybe that camera will learn a few new tricks.

6 Comments

  • Reply
    sherry kana
    March 27, 2011 at 6:11 pm

    It’s interesting thatI have always wanted to complete a delicious cake with a creative visual. I’ve also wanted to make those pretty petit fours. Baking is not an obstacle, and I knew I could take cake decorating classes, but didn’t know if it would be what I was looking for. Now, I will take those classes! Your cupcakes are gorgeous! My favorite is the last cupcake, I think it is a hyacinth. GREAT job.
    Your fairy garden project sounds like fun! You’re so funny.

    • Reply
      Sherry
      March 30, 2011 at 7:49 pm

      Sherry, I finished my fondant class today and will add that picture to the above cupcakes. I ended up loving these classes and have signed up for the flowers and cake decorating classes that start next week. Will be doing more flowers and royal icing which I have also never done. You would love the classes. I come out with frosting all over me though.

  • Reply
    sally
    March 28, 2011 at 2:40 pm

    Your cupcakes are delightful! Now, what is your fairy garden like? Is it a garden in miniature…outdoors or indoors…I love fairies so am curious. Sally

    • Reply
      Sherry
      March 30, 2011 at 7:51 pm

      Sally, thanks for the comment on the cupcake. Look back tomorrow and I will add my fondant cake to the above pictures. My fairy garden is in miniature and if you want I can email you all my sites. I have ordered a couple of fairies, I have build a river with blue sea glass, ordered one house, and some other accessories, hung a fairy door on one of the trees and can’t wait to get it occupied with fairies. –Sherry

  • Reply
    Cookie
    May 6, 2011 at 6:24 am

    Hi Sherry: I’m enjoying your site and was surprised to see some of your cupcakes posted already. You were a great student and I’m looking forward to teaching you more decorating techniques. Love that Banana Puddin’ recipe!!!!!

  • Reply
    shonda
    December 13, 2012 at 6:21 pm

    awwww…i think they’re pretty….i want to learn…..but i want free classes

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