11th May - Friday Freebie!!

May 11th 2012 - Friday Freebie!

We will be running the Friday Freebie competitions from our blog as we are not allowed to run competitions on facebook anymore :( but anyhoo we are giving two sets of baking cups away a lovely blue stripe and soft pink stripe from the Paper Eskimo range.

These lovely cases are from the Paper Eskimo Range and are that extra something special you need to finish off a special order.

For a chance to win a pack, comment under this blog post and answer the question below.
Two random winners will be announced on this blog, so check back here on Sunday to see if you have won!!

Question: What has been your biggest baking disaster to date?

Looking forward to hearing your stories!

Different designs can be bought from the Cake Decorating Company

http://www.thecakedecoratingcompany.co.uk/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=4466&ref=14


Rosie xx

May Cupcake Classes in Enfield

Cake Masters ~ Cupcake Classes

Classes on 12th May and 13th May - Spaces available

Please call 07791892930 to book your space now.

You will learn a variety of skills that can be transfered across to other cakes you make and will give you all the skills you need to create gorgeous cakes.  The workshop will cover the following: 

• Colouring fondant icing with sugarflair/wilton colouring
• Different colouring effects
• Using and decorating with dusts
• Making sugar paste suitable for modelling (for items to put on top of cup cakes)
• Stencilling with buttercream
• Stencilling with lustre dusts
• Making large roses free hand
• Making mini roses
• Using a ball tool to create delicate layered flowers
• Using cutters
• Using moulds
• Sugar paste modelling
• Covering cupcakes with patterned sugar paste, embossing
• Piping butter cream using a 1M tip, and using the rose nozzle

£10 discount on classes - reduced price £60

For more information and pictures of student cakes please visit www.cakemasters.co.uk or email bookings@cakemasters.co.uk

Win tickets to Birmingham Cake International ** Cake International Quiz **

Hello!

We hope that you have enjoyed the Cake International albums on our facebook page www.facebook.com/cakemasters

We thought that by uploading the albums in small chunks over the week it would allow you to appreciate some of the hard work gone into making each cake as well as the incredible level of detail on some of the cakes.

We have decided to run a quiz based on the Cake International photo albums uploaded.
You will need a keen eye and will need to look carefully through the photos for your answers :)

Prizes are courtesy of the ICHF the organisers of the show and will be two pairs of tickets to the show in Birmingham this November

Good Luck!


1. What colour are the cases used for the beautiful origami cupcakes?
2. What miniature food item is on the plate of the cupcake decorated with a pink and white checked table cloth?
3. How many knights are standing guard at the castle door?
4. On the lower level of the castle, what is the knight in shining armour giving to the lady dressed in red?
5. What is in the left hand of the musician coming through the castle curtains
6. What four instruments are being played round the side of the castle?
7. How many balls is the jester juggling on the top level of the cake?
8. What green charm is used on the white leather handbag?
9. How many shoes are displayed on the cake with the stacked shoe boxes?
10. What colour is the butterfly on the top tier of the Queen of Hearts 3 tier square buttercream stacked cake?
11. How many white skulls are included in the colourful royal iced collar from Emma Mathews?
12. What colour string are the two black cats playing with?
13.  Who is the cake decorator that produced stunning black and white royal iced pieces for the cake international show?
14. What insect it perched on the tall frog bride's wedding dress?
15. Who produced the 5 tier white cake with an embossed union jacks tier?
16. Cups of tea, slices of swiss roll, doughnuts and a cake are served, how many jam sandwiches are also on the table?
17. Whose fish and chip shop is open for a birthday celebration?
18. Where is piglet on the Olympics cake?
19. Who made an awesome fish bowl cake?
20. How many carrots are ready to be harvested at Paula's Farm?
21. What item has been left on the pavement of Jubilee Close?
22. How many shortbread biscuits are on the plate at the fairy tea party?
23. How many mini cupcakes are on the table at the fairy tea party?
24. What is the colour of the ivory dragon's eye?
25. How many mice have successfully tied up the cat?


Please email all answers to bookings@cakemasters.co.uk with the subject title "Cake International Quiz".

Good Luck!!!!


Closing date: 31st May 2012

LONDON Cake International ~ Queen of Hearts Couture Cakes

Rather than batch load photos on Facebook I just thought I would blog a little about the Cake International show this weekend.

One of my highlights of the show was meeting Valeri and Christina from Queen of Hearts Couture Cakes.

Their stall showcased their awesome buttercream master skills as well fun and friendly demonstrations of how to pipe awesome buttercream roses and other flowers.

Here I am with the girls!

Here are some of their amazing buttercream creations:

There are more photos of their stall in a special individual album on my facebook page!

www.facebook.com/cakemasters

Rosie xxx

Cake Masters Exclusive: Silicone Plastique

So I had a go at using Silicone Plastique and it is fabulous stuff from the Cake Decorating Company!!

The Cake Decorating Company is where you can buy Silicone Plastique:

400g of Silicone Plastique, £24.95

http://www.thecakedecoratingcompany.co.uk/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=4443&ref=14 

200g of Silicone Plastique, £14.95

http://www.thecakedecoratingcompany.co.uk/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=4442&ref=14

You can use silicone plastique to make your own moulds, I made these fabulous ones- perfect for valentines :)

It is amazing the level of detail that can be can be transfered across.
I used small instrument charms and was amazed how all the little keys showed up in the mould.

I have created this video which shows how I made the moulds and then decorated the cupcakes :)

The Cake Decorating Company is giving all Cake Masters fans an exclusive price for Silicone Plastique:

Enjoy the video!

http://www.thecakedecoratingcompany.co.uk/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=4442&ref=14

400g of Silicone Plastique £24.95

http://www.thecakedecoratingcompany.co.uk/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=4443&ref=14 

200g of Silicone Plastique £14.95

Glitters and disclaimers

How many of you use gorgeous glitters on your cakes?


We asked our fans on www.facebook.com/cakemasters

79% of you said no; 15% said that you did and 6% only used glitter if the customer asked for it.




Glitters labeled up as non toxic are not edible and should not be eaten.

On a range on glitter dusts available the following disclaimer is in place- pay particular attention to the last sentence:

"NON TOXIC GLITTERS (NON-TOXIC - not harmful)

Non toxic glitters can be used on decorations that are easily removed. If consumed, then the product will cause no harm and will simply pass through diring digestion. This product can not be classed as edible as this would mean it is digestible and is classed as a food, therefore we simply have to label it as “Non-Toxic”

I don't use glitters on my cakes, although I was given some fabulous red glitter in my Jane Asher goodie bag from the Cake Crawl that I organised earlier this year, and I always ensure that I use pasta as support and not cocktail sticks.

For those of you who have businesses, it would be a good idea to have disclaimers in place that customers sign so that they know there are non-edible products on their cake. You could even use some of the wording above to ensure that that recipients of your cakes are fully informed.

Things you might like to consider in your disclaimer are:

- plastic toy decorations

- non edible toppers

- jewels and beads

- glittered toppers

- wired decorations

- fresh flowers

- ribbons

Here is an example of a disclaimer used by the owner of Cake-y-licious- Louise
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cake-y-Licious/195415793833442

******DISCLAIMER: ******
The Food Standards Agency has issued a notice of an enquiry regarding the use of glitters used on cakes and cupcakes

These Non-Toxic glitters, which have been used in baking for many years, have now been put under testing to meet with EU laws. The Glitter is safe to be ingested as it is Non Toxic, however because the body cannot digest the glitter (i.e. it passes through your digestive system unchanged) it cannot be classified as a ‘food’ and has therefore been classified as ‘For Decoration Purpose Only’

For Decoration Purpose Only: - The Non Toxic Glitters can be used on decorations that can be removed from the cake/cupcakes prior to eating. NOT sprinkled directly onto the cake/cupcake.

This has caused a lot of debate and discussions on Cake Decorating forums the last few days, with people trying to find an ‘Edible’ alternative that offers the same quality of sparkle, to sprinkle directly on the cake/cupcake – unfortunately there are none!

Therefore should you order a cake that requires that extra bit of sparkle, I will be able to offer you the following alternatives, until such a time as the Food Standards Agency re-classifies the non-toxic glitter or a suitable substitute comes on the market.


1. Non Toxic Glitter can still be used as long as the decorations are removed prior to eating – this may mean a slight adjustment to your cake design
2. Edible Magic sparkles http://www.magicsparkles.com/gallery/gallery-photos
3. Pearl Lustre Spray – which gives a subtle shimmer
4. Coloured Lustre Dusts & Paints – Which give a shimmer
5. Coloured Sugar

I apologise for any inconvenience caused and would like to stress again that these glitters will not cause harm if ingested. However we all have to follow Environmental Health and FSA Guidelines

Customers: - I would be happy to answer any questions you may have regarding this

Always be wary of items that you put on your cake being food safe.  I have seen people put fresh flowers directly onto cakes, when you must put a protective layer between the cake the the non-edible decoration- like a piece of acetate (clear plastic sheet).

Here is the link to the FSA document about non edible items on cakes

http://www.food.gov.uk/multimedia/pdfs/enforcement/enfe11035.pdf 

What are your thoughts on glitters?

Madagascan Vanilla Pods

Some studies show that in the last 4 years the price rises have resulted in a 30% drop in the use of natural vanilla worldwide. However, the market for gourmet-grade whole vanilla beans is on the increase, especially in Europe where high-quality food ingredients have been popularised by numerous celebrity chefs. Americans are the biggest consumers of real vanilla followed by France, although the appreciation of French vanilla’s qualities are now being felt in the United Kingdom as the imports increase considerably. The trend away from additives and preservatives has led to an appreciation of the pure elements of food and healthy eating and has seen a rise in consumption over here.

As mentioned earlier, 97% of all vanilla used in products are synthetic and those that use real vanilla are therefore few and far between. Imitation vanilla is manufactured either from clove oil (eugenol) or as a breakdown product of lignin from a conifer (e.g., spruce, Picea). 

Pure vanilla chemically has over 200 elemental chemicals that give it its taste and smell, and it is impossible to mimic this 100% today. The main compound that gives real vanilla its taste is called vanillin. Madagascan vanilla has 3 times as much vanillin concentration and therefore taste) compared to its nearest competition the Mexican Bourbon variety, and this is why it has such a reputation.


The cakedecorating company have a lovely range of this product:


http://www.thecakedecoratingcompany.co.uk/catalog/index.php?cPath=358&ref=14 

In the Amersham People

A small article about our classes! YAY!

http://www.amershampeople.co.uk/Calling-hobbyists-bakers-amp-home-makers-monthly/story-14060291-detail/story.html

Tiny Shoe Cutters

Frances McNaughton is just brilliant and I just love her tiny shoe cutters! She demonstrates in these videos how she makes her fab range of shoes.

I am selling these shoes in my facebook shop for £8 :)