What I learn't at PC headquarters...

I know it's been nearly a month since my trip to Sydney but I have been so busy with orders that I haven't had time to update, so here goes!

First we started with a round explosion cake, we did this in one day. I called mine "ode to the cupcake". It was a great starting point and a great way to be introduced to the basics.

Then on Tuesday we worked up to a square. Now a square is quite a bit harder then a round. You are wanting to keep your edges crisp and clean and aviod tears and rips on the corners of the fondant. This was a massive day...as well as ganaching and covering we learn't how to make the bow and model a figure. Suffice to say we left very late that day!

Wednesday, I was so looking forward to wednesday! We got a bit of a break and did a baking demo, some more figure modeling and different piping techniques. And the absolute best part of the day was lunch with Paris Cutler owner of Planet Cake! We chatted over lunch and she let us in on a few trade secrets as well as some very funny bridezilla stories :o)

Thursday and Friday where big days! We completed our training with a square 2 tiered magnolia cake. Learning how to make a sugar flower was fantastic, something I have wanted to try out for a while. And my squares while not perfect where definately improving! We learnt some very useful tips and tricks!

I thought with my knowledge of cuppies I would have an edge but seriously this cake business is a whole new ball game, and with me being a perfectionist I found it a little stressful at times. But oh my gosh it was so worth it and I can't wait to hopefully get back next year to complete the intermediate course!

Happy Caking,

Heading back to Planet Cake!

At the beginning of the year I headed down to Planet Cake in Sydney to complete their first cupcake boot-camp. I gained so much knowledge and experience and had a fantastic time doing so.

I remember talking to the teachers at lunch about my big cake "phobia" they thought I was crazy. Fast forward a few months and I started taking more of an interest in big cake decorating, I still loved my cuppies but something was drawing me in .

Then I had people asking if I would make cakes for them and I started dabbling with family cakes and what would you know but I loved it! You might think it's all the same and I guess to an extent it is but as with cupcakes there are lot's of tips and tricks to learn and develop.

So lucky ducky little ol me is heading back down to Planet Cake! I have not been able to wipe the grin off my face. I will be there for 5 whole days, working in the same kitchen as the amazing PC decorators. I am doing the beginners intensive course where I will make a round and a square cake and a 2 tiered square cake. I am so freaking excited!

I will be back before I leave to show you all a christening cakes I am doing this weekend then I'm off! So sad I'm gonna miss my boys but it will all be worth it. Oh and I have scouted out a new cupcake shop in Sydney so I will have to write another cupcake review.

Happy Baking,

Kate xo

Back from the big smoke

Hi Everybody!

Sorry it has taken so long to report back, I did a huge post and lost it! Argh!

Anyway I’m back from Sydney, and had an absolutely fantastic time! Of course everyone was lovely and I learn’t so much. It’s funny how I used to look at cupcake photos and think how the hell did they do that? Now I look at them and can figure out exactly how :o) They did go through quite a bit of basic information which was good even if you already knew things, it was great to speak to the other ladies and learn a few tips as well as share some. The most exciting part for me was working with the fondant, something I have always been afraid of! I have no idea why I think it’s just because it’s something I have never worked with. It was also great to learn how to ganache and cover the cupcakes which is something I had been dying to learn. Everywhere I look now I am inspired and see patterns and designs I could turn into cupcakes, I even got a design idea off the bottle of bodywash in the shower this morning!

Now I just have the huge task of slowly collecting all the equipment I need (and want!) so I’m hoping to get some orders soon so I have an excuse to buy stuff! It’s so hard when nothing is available here and everything has to be ordered, although I have found a local supplier of fondant which is good.

With thanks to the help of my biggest supporter I have my paperwork all ready to submit to council. There will need to be a few changes to my kitchen (I believe) but nothing we can’t handle (I hope!) I am not going to send it in until we get back from Perth as I have been told they usually contact you 10days after getting the application so I obviously want them to be able to contact me. This is going to work, it has to! I am desperate to start advertising and getting my name out there, it will come in time.

Oh and back to Sydney for a moment. I visited 3 different cupcakeries which I will review in my next post. And I went and had breakfast at Adrino Zumbos cafe one morning before the course and it was lovely, something I had wanted to do for a while. It was so nice to have time to myself and to not have to cook or cleanup after anybody, I did miss my boys but not too much :o)

I have some cupcakes planned for this week and I will be trying a new buttercream method which I learn’t at PC, so I will be back asap with my cupcake reviews.

Happy Caking

I am addicted to PC courses now and am desperate to go back and lean more!

Mind the terrible piping, thats really something I need to practice.

Back in the game...

Ok, so I know I haven’t posted anything on my blog for a very long time and I apologise.

Christmas was hectic, I baked my arse off! (Well not really, but wouldn’t it be nice if you could do that!) I made chilli jam, gingerbread, my Christmas cookies, pudding truffles, rum balls, apricot balls, baileys balls, peppermint bark, white Christmas and baileys rocky road fudge. And I can’t forget my gingerbread cupcakes, they are my new favourite flavour. Photos to follow.

The thing is even with all that baking which I love I just lost my mojo. My last few batches of cupcakes where duds, and I just felt like a failure. I have never had a problem with papers coming away but every batch I have done lately the papers are coming away and I don’t know why. My recipe hasn’t changed and I am using the same papers as always. I have researched on the net and everyone seems to have a different theory on why this happens. I hope to get answers at Planet Cake.

I can feel myself slipping back into the old Kate, the one who had no self confidence and gave up everything the minute it got too hard. I can feel myself getting scared about Sydney, I was so bloody excited but now it’s only a week away I am doubting myself. What if I can’t keep up? What if they see what I can do and laugh? I know that isn’t the case but these stupid thoughts enter my mind.

And then I’m worried about when I come home, then what? I can’t advertise or sell my cakes because my kitchen isn’t licensed. Everyone supports me and tells me my work is good, I just wish I felt the same way. The council are being a pain and giving me conflicting information about getting my kitchen approved and I have as usual given up. There are 2 ladies selling cupcakes in Cairns already and that really upsets me, I wanna give them some competition! My work is so so different to theirs and I wanna be able to get out there and show it! I just wish I could stop doubting myself and hitting brick walls.

Anyway enough of that rot! I’m changing my attitude! With a week to go until I leave I need to change my way of thinking, 2010 is the year I finally start doing what I love. I’m going to be more open to things and just enjoy life. Once I am back from Sydney with my mind full of information and the dive I need I’m pursuing this licence and getting this little business going!

So then I’m off, I fly to Sydney on Thursday 14^th to have a day of shopping and cupcake eating and then my course starts on Friday. I come home late Sunday night and am having Monday off to spend with my baby boy! I will write a post about my experience when I get back and lots of photos, can you believe they let you take photos during the course!

I feel more positive already!

Soda Pop!

Hi!

Sorry haven't posted in a while! Anyway this past weekend my little sister had a rock'n'roll themed party, of course it was my job to make the cupcakes!

I decided to make some Sundae style ones and saw this recipe for Creaming Soda Cupcakes on NQN that I really wanted to try. I made a batch of IMBC (as I had baby shower cupcakes to make too) and flavoured some raspberry and some vanilla.

And here is the result...

With a cherry on top!

As mentioned I did make some baby shower cupcakes too but I left the good camera at Mum's so couldn't take any photos. They where chocolate with mint bc and vanilla with vanilla bc, baby blue buttercream with handmade blue and yellow sugarflowers.

Now for my EXCITING NEWS!!!! I am going to Sydney, to do a course at Planet Cake!!!!! I am so excited. over the moon...it is a 3 day workshop all about CUPCAKES!!! I think I have come as far as I can teaching myself so I can't wait to be shown hands on some new amazing skills!!! Sorry for all the !!!!!! but did I mention I was EXCITED ;o)

It is lovely rainy weather, perfect for baking...