Home Made Gift

After my first attempt, I was itching to get started on another cake.  I thought I would scale this one down a bit - and practice a few new techniques, focusing on creating a clean, fun cake.  This cake was only 1 tier (3 cakes of the same size stacked).  I think I actually had a harder time with this one than with my first 3 tiered cake.  

The original plan was a hat box present with the lid partially open and tissue paper peeping out - i.e. 4 cakes, but I ruined the last cake I baked when taking it out of the pan.  So, I had to edit my cake a bit and decided to ditch the open lid idea and instead place "tissue paper" around the base of the cake.

The fondant was testing me this time.  The texture was a bit off.  Seemed dry, yet was sticky - it didn't make a lick of sense... but I was hoping with everything I was putting on the cake, I could disguise that.  Also, covering a tall, skinny, round cake was much more difficult than I anticipated.  Oh well, I'm learning along the way.

 Everything on the cake is edible - but not sure I would be so brave (ha ha ha).  

If I were to do this all over again, of course there are a lot of things I would change.  At any rate, it is fun to practice and learn from my mistakes.  

It's a good thing there are several birthdays in September in my family... Many birthday cakes for practicing with ;)

xoxo,

Tam a Lam

Piece of Cake?

I have been so intrigued with cake decorating ever since the boob tube made it popular.  This whole new world of fondant and various shapes, designs and colors absolutely blew my mind.  Up until that point, all I "knew" about decorated cakes consisted of flowers, frilly foo foo grandma piping, and plastic figurines. Now, thanks to Duff Goldman, I'm hooked.

I know, I'm a total nerd - I mean, cake decorating?  and now blogging about cake decorating?  But I can't help it... something about the craft, or about taking something like - cake and making it look like something completely different... there is just an art to it that I'm totally addicted to.

So for the last couple of years, I've watched cake artists on the tele in complete aw (even sucking my hubby in to my weird obsession), when one day, I thought "maybe I could do this?..."  Needing an outlet, working full time with a new baby at home - it was not a bad idea.  With the help of google, and a local cake decorating store - I began my journey.

Having never used fondant before, and having never stacked a cake before - what did I decide to do for my first cake?  Well, use fondant on a giant 3 tiered cake, of course!  The cake didn't turn out spectacular by any means, but never the less I'm proud.  No tears in my fondant, and the tiers did not collapse...

I'm so excited to keep learning the art, and sharing this fun hobby with family and friends!  Feel free to tag along on my ride with me.

- Tam a Lam