Common Cake Decorating Mistakes – And Their Easy Solutions
How To Manage Crumbs When Cake Decorating
Have you ever been decorating a cake and everything was going smoothly, then all of a sudden you notice crumbs in your beautiful icing mixture? When this happens you can ruin the whole effect of your cake. There is a way to combat the dreaded crumb problem when decorating your cake; the method is called a 'crumb coat.' A crumb coat is a thinner mixture of the exact same icing that you use on your cake. You can thin the mixture down with whatever liquid you have used to make your icing, for example water or milk. The icing has to be thinned down just enough to cover the surface of the cake with a thin layer.
Once you have applied a crumb coat to the surface of your cake you will then need to let it set awhile. Place your cake in the refrigerator and let it set overnight, or for at least an hour or two. Don't be overly concerned if crumbs get into your crumb coat, as the crumbs will become "glued" into the surface of the cake. Once set the surface will be ready to decorate. By following these instructions you will win the war on crumbs!
Beating Bulging Cakes
Often people who decorate cakes are faced with the problem of their fillings bulging out of the sides of their cake. Luckily there is a remedy for this little cake decorating disaster. Below are some helpful tips to stop the dreaded cake bulge.
* By baking your cake in advance, for example the day before, you will firm the cake up, and give it time to settle down. Freshly baked cakes tend to be unstable and won't hold fillings as well as settled cakes.
* Another procedure that can be used to stop fillings from overflowing or bulging is to use piped icing to create a dam. This will act as a barrier and keep your fillings from bulging out the sides of the cake.
* After you have created your icing dam, you can then cover the whole cake with a crumb coating; a thinned down version of the icing that you intend to use to decorate your cake with.
* Once you have done a crumb coating of the cake you will find that refrigerating the cake overnight, or for at least 2-3 hours will help the icing to firm up. This will reduce the likelihood of bulging also.
* Once the cake has had time to firm up in the fridge, the dams that you put in place and the crumb coat will stop the cake from bulging.
Follow these steps and you'll be well on your way to having beautiful bulge-free cakes!
Freezing Cakes To Save Time
Finding the free time to prepare a specialty cake can be a frustrating task. Thankfully, the practice of freezing cakes has become an invaluable tool for the novice and professional alike. Just think, you can have a cake baked and ready for decoration weeks before the special occasion.
Some cake makers shy away from freezing cakes due to the fear that their creation might dry out. If the proper method is not utilized, that fear will be justified. The key lies in how you wrap the cake. It's also important to postpone the decorating process until the cake has fully defrosted. Icing tends to "sweat" and become gooey when a cake is left out to defrost. Air and moisture will eventually ruin a cake. To keep the air out, wrap three layers of sturdy cling wrap around the cake. Then just prior to freezing, wrap one layer of aluminum foil over the cling wrap. This storage method helps keep the moisture and flavor from escaping.
Allow the cake to slowly defrost at room temperature for 1-2 days before the event. Do not decorate the cake until it has completely thawed. By following this method cake decorating should be easier and quicker, especially if you are put on the spot to make and decorate a cake at the last minute.
Colorful Wedding – Thinking about red color theme wedding
A color theme wedding is selected by some to match everything: from wedding dresses of the bride and groom, invitation cards, decorations and accessories, such as flowers , serviettes and much more.
Create your budget; choose your favorite wedding color and find the best suppliers for your wedding cake and decoration flowers. Here you will find some collected ideas for your red wedding celebration.
1.Invitation for your wedding
When you plan your wedding and want to stay on a red wedding theme, we should start with the invitation.
Invitation cards, response cards, marriage announcements should be in red color. You can also choose red letters with a contrast instead of red cards. That is up to you. Be creative.
2.Wedding dress
I suggest using a red corsage for the bride on her white wedding dress and for the man a red rose for his black suit. Red colored flowers are very common in nature and you will find a big selection of different kinds.
3.Wedding Aperitif / Drinks
Offer your guests a red aperitif, when they arrive at your wedding party. For example: mix a Glass of Champaign with a cherry liqueur. It is tasty and will have the right color for the theme.
You can also choose simple other drinks (i.e. cherry juice) without alcohol, for those, who are not allowed to drink alcohol.
Of course during dinner do not forget to open red wine or red champagne bottles and offer those to your guests.
4.Wedding Decoration
Red should be also the outstanding color for all decorations including the bride's banquet.
To get sure that red are been seen well, use white color for the contrast. For example white table clothes with red decorations and accessories. Decorate the table with red flowers, red candles, red napkins and use red ribbons, wherever do you think it is necessarily.
Or the other way around: Choose red table clothes with white decoration and flowers for the table. That is outstanding elegant and beautiful, too.
5.Wedding Menu
Even by choosing the meal, you can offer your family and friends a special dinner, which stay on the red color theme.
As a starter you choose a tomato salad and follow up with the main menu and you might serve a roast with red cabbage beside. Finish the menu with a red pudding or vanilla pudding with red cherries on.
You should ask a chef or catering service, what kind of food will match the red color theme and combination of the food best.
6.Wedding Cake
Wedding cakes can be made in any color combination and variety of shapes and decorated with delicately handcrafted sugar flowers, intricate piping, modeling, pretty patterns, hand painting and much more.
Find a excellent baker for a delicious wedding cake in your region. My suggestion: White wine apple gateau with 3 or more layers, all cake decorations should be in red. Your guest and you will never forget this wonderful red theme wedding day.
Many pictures will be taken from your unique wedding - making it unforgettable for you and your guests.
Cowboy Birthday Party Supplies For A Buckaroo Fun Day
Your birthday party planning doesn't have to be like corralling wild horses. You can tame that effort with ease, thanks to Cowboys party supplies.
Everyone can get dressed for the occasion with any of these great choices. The Straw Cowboy Hat comes in sizes that will fit boys, girls, Moms, or Dads. For the little birthday buckaroo, there's a cotton Cowboy T-shirt that will fit just fine. Complete the ensemble with a Red Bandana and a Cow Print Vest.
You can get the complete look in one package with the Cowboy or Cowgirl Costume. The set includes a great lookin' hat and some faux-suede armbands and vest. Stick on the rodeo buckle and strap on those cow print chaps. For yourself, pick out a Bull Rider's Costume that includes a belt buckle, black faux-leather vest and some chaps trimmed in blue. Pull on some boots and then it's time to start your kids cowboy party!
Now that everyone is dressed for the party, pick out some Cowboy party decorations. You can get a Cowboy Centerpiece as part of the Deluxe Pack or separately. Place some Cowboy Blowouts next to each plate so each guest can toot when the cake arrives.
Once everyone is seated serve the refreshment in a big Western Boot Cup. These 7 1/2 oz plastic beauties are perfect for serving all kinds of things - juice, water, or even a ginger ale float. Be prepared for a stampede since everyone will want one as a keepsake.
You can calm them down by handing out Cowboy Sticker Sheets. Fold them into a Favor Box along with a replica of Cody the Cowboy or Charley Horse. Empty favor boxes feature those two great characters (along with their friends, Curly Bill Cactus and Fernando Snake on the side). Now you can bring out the cake and sing "Happy Birthday".
Make sure the party room is decorated with plenty of inflatable balloons like the ones that come in the Deluxe Pack. You can make your life easy with a Disposable Balloon Helium tank. Scatter them above the corral and get ready for a fun time.
The Charley Horse Pinata will raise those good spirits to a whoop. This 20" high item holds a ton of candy or small toys for all the party guests. Or, choose Curly Bill Cactus for your pinata instead. Either way, once the birthday boy or girl yank the string you'll hear tons of rowdy shouts as the goodies come tumbling down.
Cowboy birthday party goods make it easy to arrange the best darn celebration you ever did see. Whether it's the tablecover, the centerpiece, the huge personalized Charly Horse Banner, or any of the dozens more accessories, your party planning chores are over, pardner. Get set to raise the roof off the barn.
Clearing Out Your Kitchen Cupboards
A problem commonly found in the average household is not having enough cupboard space to store everything that we have. Although the ideal solution would be to build more cupboards, that is not always possible or practical. And even if we were to construct more cabinets or put up more shelves, chances are that we would then find ourselves putting more things inside them and the problem would not go away.
To trim down your storage needs properly, the best thing to do is get rid of some of the things that you own. This does not necessarily mean throwing them away, but putting them to good use. Here are some ideas:
- Check all food items in the cupboard and see whether there is anything that has gone past its expiry date. If so, it should be thrown out as it will no longer be fresh.
- If you have some open packets, how about making something from them and using them up straight away rather than letting them sit in the cupboard until they become unusable? For example, if you have open bags of sugar, flour, and cocoa, mix these ingredients with margarine and eggs, pour them into some cake cases, and you have cupcakes. Cupcakes are so easy to make that they a great and tasty way to get rid of surplus cake ingredients.
- Similarly, bags of cornflakes or puffed rice can also be used to make breakfast cereal cupcakes adding some honey or jam as an easy cupcake frosting if you have a sweet tooth. Bags of peas or lentils can be put to good use as a pan of soup, and so forth. You can always find some simple, easy recipes for using up surplus packets and foods in the cupboard.
- Do you have too many pots and pans? If so, and they are very large, you could put them in the garden and grow plants in them. This looks attractive, and they are not put to waste.
- Surplus china plates can be hung on the wall as an interesting, country-style design, rather reminiscent of Grandmas kitchen.
- Spare jars can be colored and used as a decoration, either empty or with different colored sand within.
- Take a look and see if you really use some of the things that you have in your cupboard. Be honest and ruthless in your survey. If you are holding on to things that are broken or that you dont need anymore purely for sentimental reasons, then it is time to get tough because you need the space that they occupy.
- Reorganize the things that you are keeping so that you will be able to use the space that is available as efficiently as possible. Make neat piles of your dishes and saucepans, and stack objects that can be put one inside the other.
- Designate cupboards and label them so that you can navigate your way around the kitchen far more easily.
Searching out storage space in your kitchen does not have to be arduous or difficult. All it needs is creativity and efficiency, and you will soon find that you have the space that meets your needs.
Conquering Fear Step Away From The Panic Button
All of us are born with a set of instinctive fears- of falling, of the dark, of lobsters, of falling on lobsters in the dark or speaking before the Rotary Club, and of the words "Some Assembly Required." - Dave Barry
Where all else fails to stop us from achieving what we want from life, fear steps in. We experience fear on both conscious and unconscious lelimiting emotions we possess. In some cases fear is justified, and even healthy. For example, a person contemplating crossing a busy street will harbor a healthy fear of being struck by two tons of rapidly moving steel commonly known as a motor vehicle (at least, if he or she is a reasonably sane person who understands the basic laws of physics: moving car + walking person = splat). This fear breeds caution, which causes the person to look both ways for oncoming traffic and wait for an appropriate time to venture across the road.
However, unjustified fear- which can be just as crippling and realistic as justified fear- is more often the case when fear is a factor. Not many people risk their lives on a regular basis.
Humiliation, rejection, and failure top the list* of limiting fears that can be overcome with practice and determination.
* Actually, spiders top the list of fears for most people. Arachnophobia- fear of spiders- is the most common type of fear in the world. However, fear of spiders is completely justifiable, as spiders are creepy eight-legged insects with fangs, alien eyes, and a tendency to drop on you out of nowhere.
One of the easiest and most successful methods of dealing with fear is exposure therapy, which is actually facing your fears one small step at a time. If you don't feel you can handle exposure therapy alone, enlist a friend to participate- especially if you can find a friend who doesn't fear the same things you do. With exposure therapy, the objective is to experience fear to a small degree several times, so that each time it becomes easier to conquer. (Please note that exposure therapy does not apply to every situation. For example, if you are afraid of flying, it is not recommended that you leap from successively higher perches and attempt to become airborne.)
Here are some ways you can implement exposure therapy for the Big Three fears:
Humiliation
" Wear your slippers to the grocery store. If you're feeling ultra-brave, scuff your feet across the floor to call attention to your slippers. If you're feeling ultra-timid, go to a grocery store far enough from your house that the shoppers will probably never see you again.
" Sing at a karaoke bar. While you're sober.
" Choose one completely inappropriate article of clothing (a Dr. Seuss hat, a big pair of fuzzy mittens in the middle of summer, a headband with bumblebee antenna) and wear it in public as long as you can. This is not only good exposure therapy- it's fun!
" Join a local Toastmasters club or offer to give a public presentation on an area relating to your expertise at a library or school. Public speaking is an excellent channel for exorcising humiliation, especially if you do it on a regular basis (that's speak in public, not humiliate yourself).
Rejection
" Call up a deejay at a local country radio station and request a song by Metallica or Ozzy Osbourne. Be aware that you will be rejected; you might be laughed at and rejected, and there is a possibility you may be laughed at and rejected on the air.
" If you're single, use an online location service like Classmates.com or PeopleFinder.com to find an old school classmate you used to have a crush on. Contact them and ask for a date (or just initiate a conversation). If you're married, contact an old school classmate and invite them to lunch. At worst they'll say no; at best, you will have rediscovered a friend.
" Write a poem or a short story and try to submit it to a newspaper or magazine, or enter a writing contest. If you aren't rejected, become a writer immediately.
Failure
" Try to nail Jell-o to a tree.
" Buy a new video game and attempt to win it in one sitting. If you play video games on a regular basis, buy a video game that's different from the ones you usually play (for example, if you enjoy fighting video games, try a quest-driven format. Or video chess.).
" Start a new hobby that requires creating an end product, such as knitting, model kit building, or cake decorating. Please note that if you are working on your dietary habits, it is not advisable to embark on cake-decorating exposure therapy to combat fear of failure. You will feel obliged to consume your failed attempts. Instead, try vegetable sculpture or fruit bowl arrangement.
" Challenge Jeff Gordon to a stock car race. This will also help overcome your fears of rejection and humiliation, as at least one of them is bound to happen.
Conquering your fears is like climbing a mountain - do it one step at a time.
You can determine your own form of exposure therapy by coming up with ways to face your personal fears one small step at a time. If you can't think of anything, ask a friend to help. Most people are more than willing to try something new, especially if they get to watch you do something entertaining.
NOTE: These exercises are not intended as a substitute for professional psychiatric care. If your fears are extraordinarily strong and interfere with normal functions or daily activities, you should seek the advice of a certified psychiatrist. Self-induced exposure therapy can be effective in reducing or alleviating normal fear, but should not be used in cases of mentally crippling or trauma-induced fear.
Cookie Girls offers cupcake decorating classes London that are fun and educational
Founded by Xanthe Milton, Cookie Girl has gained cult celebrity in London's Notting Hill. With exquisitely tasting treats from the wealth of that Cookie Girl has in the repertoire from the bestselling recipe book Eat Me, you can be sure to find something to tantalise your taste buds. Eat Me was so popular it soared in the top twenty bestsellers charts and lead to author Xanthe Milton's numerous appearances in the media.
Due to the success of Eat Me Xanthe Milton was asked many times for the secrets of her baking prowess. Responding to the growing demand to share her superior baking techniques Cookie Girl decided to start baking and cupcake decorating classes London. Passing on her skills to a hand-picked and personally trained team these baking and cupcake decorating classes London are vastly becoming the toast of the town.
The cupcake decorating classes London that Xanthe Milton runs allow each participant to reach a new level of professional cupcake decoration. These cupcake decorating courses London teach every participant to pipe to perfection, make flowers from sugar paste and ice with flair, using a variety of different techniques. Cookie Girl guarantees that every person that completes these cupcake decorating classes London will have a wealth of newfound knowledge to take their cake decoration to new heights.
Indeed, these cupcake decorating classes London make superb gifts for anyone with a love for baking, Offering the choice of either two hour or full day cupcake decorating courses, Cookie Girl's flexible service caters for most anyone's budget or time frame. In addition, these cupcake decorating classes London make ideal days out with friends, events for businesses, or more sophisticated hen do celebrations for a blushing bride to be and her bridal party.
For more information on the range of cupcake decorating classes London or the Cookie Girl herself then you need just come and visit us online at: .
Cool Themes to Choose From For a Baby Shower
If you are to host a baby shower, one great idea to make the occasion more fun and memorable is to put up a theme. Baby showers these days are often theme-based, so why not plan a little bit of that as well? Decide upon the theme that would be perfect for your friend's baby shower. When you choose a theme, make sure that she will appreciate it. Most of the time, a baby shower theme is chosen depending on the mom's personality, likes, or even hobby. The theme you choose will tell you the type cake, decorations, invitations, games, and favors to purchase. Also, you should take into account the sex of the upcoming baby before you make your final decision.
There are plenty of cool baby shower themes to choose from, if you find the mom-to-be a pretty cool one. Cool themes are fun that both the expectant mom and guests will enjoy. One of the coolest baby shower themes is the Hollywood theme. You can be very creative in working this theme out that you can even request the guests to come in their Hollywood-like attire. They can wear fancy dresses and accessories. Decorating the venue in Hollywood theme is actually pretty easy. For example, you can include pictures or posters of famous Hollywood stars with their children. You can find baby shower supplies in Hollywood theme at most party stores in your local area. For the baby shower cake, you can have that made that depicts a famous Hollywood mom or the Hollywood hills which perfect for the theme.
Another cool baby shower theme would be rubber duckies. This one makes a really cute theme for a baby shower. Rubber duckies are easy to be included in different parts the baby shower. You can use them to decorate the tables by creating floating rubber duckies centerpieces. Simply have some clear glass jars or if you have a number of small fish bowls, you can use them instead. Fill the jars with an enough amount of water so that the duckies can float. You can color the water using blue food coloring and you may also include a few crystals or stones to add an underwater feel to the centerpieces. It's a good idea to incorporate some oranges or yellows on the table for example orange or yellow plates or cups. Some of the great food selections to serve here are crab cakes, cheese and crackers, cupcakes with small rubber duckies on the top, brownies and cookies, and croissant sandwiches. For the drink, you can serve a blue punch with of course rubber duckies floating or use a bowl with rubber ducky design.
When looking for baby shower supplies for a themed baby shower, consider browsing online. Today, there are lots of online vendors that sell different baby shower needs, from baby shower invites, decorations to games and favors. Online, you can also find a plethora of baby shower gifts to choose from, which are available in different themes as well.
Coconut Cream Pie Recipes
Coconut cream pie recipes are a great way to make a dessert thats easy but looks impressive. Even coconut cream pie recipes that are all from scratch can be assembled in under an hour, and if you use some time-saving tricks you can cut that down in half.
The first part of all coconut cream pie recipes is the crust. Use a commercial baked crust if you need to save time, but homemade crusts taste better. A simple one can be made by crushing one package of graham crackers and mixing with one stick of softened butter, and then pressing it into the pan.
A more traditional pie crust is made with 1 and a quarter cups flour, teaspoon salt, half a cup of vegetable shortening and 3 tablespoons ice water. Mix everything together except the water, making the mixture resemble coarse crumbs, and then drizzle the water over the dough. Knead until the dough makes a ball, then roll out into a circle with a rolling pin and coat the bottom and sides of a pie pan with it. This pie crust will work with any coconut cream pie recipes you might find.
The next step in coconut cream pie recipes is the filling. One way to do this from scratch is to use 3 cups half and half, 3 eggs, a cup sugar, four tablespoons corn starch, one teaspoon of vanilla extract and a cup of toasted coconut flakes (bake them in the oven on 350 degrees for 15 minutes). Mix all the ingredients except the vanilla and coconut in a saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly until the mixture starts to boil and thicken. Remove from heat and then add the vanilla and most of the coconut (save a little to garnish the topping with). Pour on top of the crust and refrigerate for several hours.
If you dont have the time to do this, any coconut cream pie recipes can be adapted using a coconut pudding mix. Try a smooth and creamy one like Rawleighs coconut dessert mix and add the toasted coconut flakes to it and no one will know that you werent slaving over a hot stove for an hour.
Finally, top the pie with Cool Whip and sprinkled the rest of the toasted coconut on top, and youll have a pie that compares favorably with the best coconut cream pie recipes.
College Graduation Party
A college graduation party can be a brilliant chance to have fun with the graduate perhaps for one last time living at home. They are about to go off to a new career so it does need to be a good one.
The very thought of a graduation party can have the parents of a college graduate in a state of anxiety. What will be the best way of having the party and how do we make it safe are simple questions that may well be asked. The thing to remember is that there are sophisticated adults about to head off into a new career. Next week they may be running a team, for example. For a relatively brief moment they are enjoying life in a carefree way. What you actually do about having a graduation party will very much have to fit in with the graduates schedule. Undoubtedly they will have at least one party at college and be pretty busy saying goodbye to their close friends. The fun will be ongoing for a few days. Perhaps that is why you should arrange a family type party, or something similar at your home, timed for their visit.
The first thing to do is find out what the graduates plans are. Their schedule between college and starting work will be key. Grab the chance to have them home for a few days and discuss with them what kind of party would suit them perfectly. Once you are agreed then you can get to work arranging the party. We offered to have our son and a few of his closest friends for a few days to join us in celebration. That worked well as they were able to experience our local town and beautiful beach. Our town is very friendly and everyone made them feel welcome. We loved having them to stay.
Clearly once you decide to have the party then you need to get on with the decorations and all the other details. First off you do need to come up with a general theme if you are having one at all. The theme can be all over the place or even just be something that is quietly part of the party, perhaps just a couple of posters and the cake decorations. Say the graduate is going to be a vet. The cake can have some vets equipment made of fondant, perhaps a cow if they are going to work with farm animals and also have the congratulations message. The rest of the decorations can be a combined effort of vets and graduation. Here and there you can have congratulations balloons, banners and messages with graduation caps and scrolls on them. Also there can be posters of farm animals, fields, a vets clinic and even some famous vets clinics from some movies. You may take it further and ask the guests to come in some kind of costume. Also you need to get on and prepare the food, favor bags, games, music, prizes and normal decorations. All parties have banners, balloons and streamers. How far you go with the theme is a personal decision. I try and have a more all encompassing theme if I have a big guests list and they will like it. For family and a few friends only I would be more low key although still making a big effort.
I hope you can come up with some great college graduation party ideas to delight your graduate.
Consumer Spending at Hanukkah
Hanukkah Fun is a great source for any and everything related to the Hanukkah holiday. From games and activities to invitations and stories, Hanukkah Fun has it all. Hanukkah Fun, is the ultimate Hanukkah website offering an abundance of Hanukkah ideas, games and party planning ideas more than many other sites combined. From and song lyrics to Hanukkah decorations and party planning, Hanukkah Fun is the premier home of any and all things related to this special Jewish holiday. With consumer spending down and finances tight, Hanukkah Fun is a great option for many families. Hanukkah Fun not only offers an assortment of Hanukkah games and activities it also provides a wealth of knowledge and information about this traditional Jewish holiday. Additional information can be found outlining the beginning of the Hanukkah tradition to stories and discussions about present day Hanukkah celebrations and activities. Hanukkah Fun provides not only insightful and informative information; it also provides a variety of resources and links that will enhance any Hanukkah celebration and help families reduce spending. Hanukkah Fun is divided into five areas all related to celebrating this very special Jewish holiday. Hanukkah Decorations: Decorating for Hanukkah has never been easier than with Hanukkah fun. This informative site has ideas for everything from Hanukkah party invitations to Hanukah loot bags, all of which will make decorating for Hanukkah much easier. Hanukah Party Planning: Planning and organizing a Hanukkah party for family and friends is a piece of cake with Hanukkah Fun, this website has a variety of ideas and suggestions all designed to make planning a Hanukah party stress free. Hanukkah Songs & Lyrics: Singing and celebrating Hanukkah with family and friends can only get better with an assortment of Hanukkah related songs and lyrics. From, Hanukkah, oh Hanukkah to If I Had a Driedel, the songs found on Hanukkah Fun will make the celebration fun for the whole family. Hanukkah Games: Hanukkah Fun has directions for games such as, Spin the Dreidel and Hide the Chocolate Gelt, along with many other traditional and non traditional Hanukkah games. The Jewish Yiddish Fun Dictionary: Hanukkah Fun offers online access to The Jewish Yiddish Fun Dictionary. Not only will this provide a variety of information it will also offer hours of conversation and fun. "