A Stress free Way to deliver a cake!

Do you just dread cutting dowel and stacking tiered cakes....Do you hold your breath until your cake is safely delivered?

Well, now there is a product the help alleviate the headaches of stacking tiers and avoid shifting during delivery. Stress-free Cake Supports are true to their name! It takes the worry from shifting or sliding tiers! Arlene Haase is pictured here with her creation---the "Stress-free Cake Support System".

Here's how they work..

1. Instead of pushing in and cutting dowels, just center the stainless steel ring over the tier and make a slight impression to mark your spot.

2. Push a bamboo skewer into one impression to figure the depth of your cake.  

3. Mark the skewer and using a ruler, measure the depth.

4. Then use the plastic dowels closest to your depth. You can order them in any size. I have three different sizes.

5. Screw in the plastic legs to the stainless ring measuring to the the exact depth.

6. Then just center over the top of the cake and press in.

7. Pipe a line of buttercream over the ring and place the next tier on top of the ring.

Repeat the same process for the next tier, until your cake is stacked.

Not only does this system save time, but the energy of worrying about the stability of your tiered cake!

Now the cake is complete and ready for delivery....stress free!!

Click on this link for more information about using and ordering Stress-Free Cake Supports:

http://www.weddingcakesupports.com/

I recommend this support system for any tiered cake!
 Every cake decorator deserves the ease of Stress-Free Cake supports.

Spooktacular Halloween Cupcakes

How fun is Halloween. This year, I would like to

share the step by step instructions to create

Fun and Spooky Cupcakes!

You will need:

2 dozen of your favorite cupcakes, baked and iced

Airbrush

Americolors Airbrush colors

Avocado, Violet, Orange

White and Black Confectioner's Melts

Plastic Piping Bags

1-1/2" Egg Molds

White and Black Candy Clay*

1" and 3" circle cutters

#8,#4 Piping Tips

PME Wheel Cutter

* Candy Clay Recipe

I used a half recipe and have some left over.

(Be sure to Check out A&H CakeDesign for

Americolors, PME tools and Ateco Cutters.)

 Melt 1/2 cup white confectioner's melts. Pour into a plastic piping bag and

cut off tip. On Parchment paper, pipe 8 lines intersecting in the center, as shown above.

Connect the lines, creating a "spider web".  You will need two dozen webs.

Make extra to allow for breakage. These are easier to handle if piped in heavier lines.

Allow to set and carefully lift off parchment paper with a thin spatula.

 With remaining white chocolate, fill 8 egg cups.

Allow to harden then pop out of mold and set aside.

Wash and dry chocolate mold.

Melt 1/2 cup black confectioners melts and fill 16 cups.

Allow to harden and set aside.

 Roll out white candy clay on surface dusted with confectioner's sugar.

Using 3" circle cutter, cut 8 circles.

 Stand white egg on end and drape the 3" circle over it, creating

a ghost's body.

 Set aside and allow to firm.

 Using the black candy clay, roll out between sheets of wax paper
Cut a 1-1/2" wingspan using the PME wheel cutter.
Make 8 batwings

These do not need to be perfect. In fact the presentation

is much cuter if they all are a bit different.

Place 8 eggs, narrow end up, over the wings and allow to firm.

They should attach to the chocolate, but if they are difficult, you

can use melted chocolate to attach.

Using the 1" circle cutter, cut 8 circles.

Using the large end of your piping tube, cut 8 circles.

Score the wings, as shown above. ( Please forgive the blurry photo!)

Then cut down the center, creating a set of wings.

Place on the sides of  8 black egg, narrow end down.

Set aside.

Using the large end of your piping tube, cut a curve from both

sides of the 1/2" circles.

Cut in half, as shown, using the PME wheel cutter.

These will serve as ears to the bats and owls.

Set the ears in place.

Roll out white and black

candy clay somewhat thin.

Using the end of the #8 piping tube

Cut 16 circles for the owls eyes.

Then cut 16 pupils using the end of the #4 piping

tube as your cutter.

Place the black pupils on the white eyes

and set in place on the top side of the owl.

Cut 8 more circles using the #8 piping tube as the cutter.

Cut evenly in half and place, as shown, to create eyes for the bat.

Cut 16 Black circles using the #8 piping tube.

Set in place on ghost, as shown.

Spray 8 each of the cupcakes in purple, orange and green.

Carefully place the spider webs in place. Expect breakage.

Then set the owl, ghostie, and bat on top of the cupcakes.

Now go PARTAY!!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

Tutorial and Photography by Jacque Benson

All Rights Reserved 2010

This material may not be reproduced without

permission from the author.

The Very Pink of Perfection

In the pink.

" An expression of the perfect condition... especially health."

It seems from the time of birth, a little girl is surrounded by the color pink!

She sees it everywhere! She is dressed in pink ruffles and lace

and bombarded with pink icons.

Long ago, I remember my parents surprised me one spring day.

I came home from school on my 9th birthday to find my room completely remodeled in pink. 

 Pink chenille bedspread, pink dotted swiss sheer ruffled pullbacks

on the windows and a pink swag lamp in the corner.

I was in "little girl heaven".

 

And as I grew older, the color pink came to symbolize everything beautiful and feminine.

But the color pink is not just juvenile.

It is classic.

Miley Cyrus said, "Pink isn't just a color, it's an attitude!"

Maybe she is right. 

 Pink is a sexy and sophisticated color that grows with the girl into womanhood.

Who coined the phrase, "Pink is the new black?"

or how about just pink and black?

That does it for me.

The late Alexander McQueen was quoted as saying he was "the pink sheep of the family."

I guess pink IS the new black.

“The tones of gray, pale turquoise and pink will prevail.”

 Christian Dior

May it be so.

“Yeah, baby! I didn't get to keep the pink baby doll outfit,

but I wish I did because people are always telling me

 I should wear it."

-Austin Powers

I believe in manicures.

 I believe in overdressing.

I believe in primping at leisure and wearing lipstick.

I believe in pink.

I believe that loving is the best calorie burner.

I believe in kissing.

I believe that happy girls are the prettiest girls.

I believe that tomorrow is another day

and I believe in miracles."

- Audrey Hepburn