I think this one turned out cute. It is for a boy baby shower. They requested blueberry filling...I had never done that in a cake, but it turned out yummy! I think that will go on my "make regularly" list!
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Baby Shower
I think this one turned out cute. It is for a boy baby shower. They requested blueberry filling...I had never done that in a cake, but it turned out yummy! I think that will go on my "make regularly" list!
County Fair Update #2
So I go to pick up my county fair cakes today...second and third place, and ask if I can see the scorecard and how they scored. The teenage girl helping me said there are no scorecards, the judge just writes down what place the cake is. Then she says, "I was there...I can tell you what she said..."
Oh please do.
Are you ready for this???
My third place cake...the crooked one...was painted fondant, and I wanted it to look like watercolor. The judge was displeased b/c she could see white through the paint. Um, no you can't. The paint is less in some places, just like in watercolor. She was also not happy with silk flowers. I like real flowers, but they sure wouldn't have held up now, would they? Also, the judge did not like the fact that I used a ribbon on the cake.
But here is where I am really, really ticked. The reason my dog cake didn't place first is b/c in the judge's opinion, all of that could not have been made in cake. Then she asked the audience if any of them could do it, and they all said no, so she decided it couldn't be done. Of the five audience members, one told me she was going to enter a cake, but it collapsed since it was her first time working with fondant. Again, THERE WERE NO OTHER CAKES ENTERED!!! Please tell me how ANY of these people were qualified to judge. I mean, seriously...I can't paint a Picasso, but it doesn't mean it can't be done.
Now, the house is actual cake. The dog, of course, is fondant, as is the mailbag. The hydrant, bone and ball are styrofoam, which is fine according to the rules as long as it is something that COULD be achieved with cake. I have in fact done all those shapes in cake. I did not choose to do that for the fair 1. Because I didn't have to, 2. The transportation would have been a nightmare, 3. I have seen what the cakes look like after being on display...people poke them and ruin them...I didn't want MY name on a ruined cake, with people saying it looked like crap! 4. Once you drop off your entry, it is out of your control. Trust me when I say that people who don't know cakes do NOT carry them properly.
I am just so, so irritated. I think next year I will make a three tier buttercream white wedding cake, sixties style, on the plastic columns, and since our county is so hick and conservative I will make the wedding couple be two dudes, just to mess with everyone. Maybe I'll put a big ol' rainbow in the background, too.
And with that, I will close out my drama on the county fair!
Oh please do.
Are you ready for this???
My third place cake...the crooked one...was painted fondant, and I wanted it to look like watercolor. The judge was displeased b/c she could see white through the paint. Um, no you can't. The paint is less in some places, just like in watercolor. She was also not happy with silk flowers. I like real flowers, but they sure wouldn't have held up now, would they? Also, the judge did not like the fact that I used a ribbon on the cake.
But here is where I am really, really ticked. The reason my dog cake didn't place first is b/c in the judge's opinion, all of that could not have been made in cake. Then she asked the audience if any of them could do it, and they all said no, so she decided it couldn't be done. Of the five audience members, one told me she was going to enter a cake, but it collapsed since it was her first time working with fondant. Again, THERE WERE NO OTHER CAKES ENTERED!!! Please tell me how ANY of these people were qualified to judge. I mean, seriously...I can't paint a Picasso, but it doesn't mean it can't be done.
Now, the house is actual cake. The dog, of course, is fondant, as is the mailbag. The hydrant, bone and ball are styrofoam, which is fine according to the rules as long as it is something that COULD be achieved with cake. I have in fact done all those shapes in cake. I did not choose to do that for the fair 1. Because I didn't have to, 2. The transportation would have been a nightmare, 3. I have seen what the cakes look like after being on display...people poke them and ruin them...I didn't want MY name on a ruined cake, with people saying it looked like crap! 4. Once you drop off your entry, it is out of your control. Trust me when I say that people who don't know cakes do NOT carry them properly.
I am just so, so irritated. I think next year I will make a three tier buttercream white wedding cake, sixties style, on the plastic columns, and since our county is so hick and conservative I will make the wedding couple be two dudes, just to mess with everyone. Maybe I'll put a big ol' rainbow in the background, too.
And with that, I will close out my drama on the county fair!
Thursday, June 12, 2008
County Fair Drama...Er...UPDATE #2
Here are Emma's FIRST PLACE ENTRIES! That's right...the cookies DID place, after all. Not sure what happened there.
When we went to the fair today, my cakes were way off to the side in the back, and my crooked cake was facing the wrong way!
These people's priorities are in the wrong place. There is something wrong when cows are front and center and my cakes are in the back!
Editing to add...for those who don't know my family, Emma is my five year old daughter. She loves to bake and loves to do any kind of craft.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
County Fair Update
I just noticed that my last post only had a picture of the BACK of my crooked cake. Oops.
Well, you would think I would have good fair news to report...after all, my two cakes were THE ONLY ONES ENTERED!!! Alas, I did not win first place. The doghouse got second in its class, and my crooked cake got third in its class. I was confused, so I asked the kid working where the first place cake was. He said those were the only two cakes. Um, HUH?!? He said that even if there are only a few cakes, if the judge doesn't feel the cake warrants a first place, she won't award it.
Whatever. The cake deserved first.
This is why I seldom compete for anything. I am letting this one bad judgement question my cakes! I mean, come on!
I am so not entering anything again.
On the plus side, Emma's cake won first! Of course, it was the only one entered as well, but apparently that is no guarantee! And only one other cookie was entered, that one got first and her cute and YUMMY cookies (the ones people beg me to make) didn't even place. WHATEVER...
Sunday, June 8, 2008
The County Fair
The first two were a joint effort with Dennis and I. The doghouse is cake, the ball, hydrant and bone are fondant covered styrofoam (could use crispy treats but they would be too heavy to cart around), and the mailbag is gumpaste. Dog is fondant (didn't Dennis do a good job carving?!?!).
The second cake is mine...it is all stryrofoam, so I can keep it!
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Desiree's Wedding Cake
I wish we were better phototgraphers, and could get the angle right. I was pretty happy with how this cake turned out. Believe it or not, the cake actually was level!
Poor Dez...most of us dream about our wedding day for a long time. This wedding was planned for the very beautiful Iris Gardens. It is full bloom right now and gorgeous. Alas, we woke up to rain! Fortunately, there was a backup venue available. Not what the bride would have chosen, but hey...if you end up married at the end of the day, I'd call the wedding a great success!
Happy Wedding Day, Dez!
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