I thought I would take some time to reflect and share with all of you why I am doing this. I have been thinking about this for a few days and I really think there was just some point in college where I would take on making dinner for my roommates, but had this obsession with trying to make something different. I was always trying new things, and even though I had some failures (I actually remember trying to puree undercooked potatoes in the blender for twice baked-totally disgusting!!). But, where it really all came together was Nena's wedding!!! See beautiful pic below...
I started Michael's Craft store cake decorating classes because I thought it would be fun, but really, I wanted to be able to make Nena's wedding cake for her as a gift. Well, here was my very first class result:
Not too bad, but I mean, I was just learning how to put icing in a bag THEN, Nena got engaged!! I thought I would have more time than that!!! So, she definitely took a risk on letting me attempt this very hugely massive feat, but I was determined!!
I just took it one class at a time... and here are a few of my creations..
Learning the basket weave, one of my favorites!!
Top of the basket weave. Flowers made with royal icing.
My first cake using fondant (rolls out like playdough and can make some really cool decorations, but TASTES like playdough!!)
My final cake after Course 3 (12 weeks total of classes at this point) and my first tiered cake with royal icing flowers (I will try to ignore the bad icing job I did-ahh!)
I then took a Fondant and Gum Paste class where I learned a lot of cool flowers and better techniques of covering a cake, etc... And, then it was time for Nena's showers and wedding!!
Even though I did take a lot on for these events, I had so much fun creating the menus and trying out some new ideas I had. Here are some pics from the showers...
Columbus Shower (brunch-type foods)
The fruit display (I LOVE making these for some reason)
Cleveland shower (picnic theme)
Oh yes! Another fruit display!
Pulled out the cake decorating tips for these babies!
The fondant shoe I randomly made as decor.
(My first time trying a looks-like-something-other-than-cake cake!)
Then, it was time for the big one... a four tiered wedding cake with fondant flowers, plus 2 extra huge two-layer sheet cakes (final hear count for the wedding about 275, I think?). I took a week off of work and was saved by mom's double ovens for the baking, which took the most time. And, with help from my Michael's cake decorating instructor who set up my cake at the reception hall (since I had other stuff to do, like be the maid-of-honor!), this was the final product!
I of course remember every flaw and think about what I should have done differently, but I was really proud of myself for this!! And, although it was a lot to do, I remember just loving being in the kitchen with my game plan, some good music playing, and just knocking it out!
Since then (over three years ago) I have only made one other tiered cake. This one was out in California, for a co-worker's mom's surprise 50th birthday party. The colors were red, black, and gold and they let me do whatever, so it was fun coming up with a concept and surprising them! Here it is:
And, finally, the last cake I have done was for the Dining Out dinner for the Air Force last fall here in Shreveport. The idea was already conceptualized and they just needed help executing (meaning, I took over and did everything!! That's my OCD side coming out!)
This was Chad's squadron's emblem on top of an outline of the states they forecast for)
So, I haven't really made anything on a larger scale for about a year now, so I am really itching to make a mess in a kitchen!! Hopefully, I haven't lost my skills... maybe it's like learning to ride a bike?
Look my next post, "Saying Goodbye to Shreveport" coming soon!!
LOVE THEM ALL!! The shoe is just so amazing.
ReplyDeleteI have to agree with you, fondant is really neat to look at, but it tastes like crap. I just don't get it! I want buttercream, every time!