The one thing I have learned so far is there is alot more people out there like me than I htought!

I am just so happy that I found this site. I have been so busy trying the great hints I have found on just this one thread - One question tho - someone refered to cupcake cakes ???? Would one of you kind people tell me what that is?

Yippee! my turn now but guess what, almost everything I have been turned on to has been mentioned already and that's ok because I too am so grateful for all the hints and suggestion's and I can't leave out the recipes that are here. I am soooooo addicted to CC and I know I'll never be able to stop and I don't want to. I just want to thank everyone for sharing with people like me (a cake decorating newbie)all that you know and more. There are however a couple of things I guess I havent gotten around to reading about yet and they are the Spackle Spatula, the bubblegum roses and also the Tootsie Rolls/starburst roses. Can someone help me? I did notice a lot of people saying something about the vanilla-caramel creamer and I think I will try that in a cake and see how I like that. Thanks again everyone for pics, recipes, tips and just being a great group to be a part of.

Zina B

Hi ratio shortening (good bye Crisco)

I love this website and this topic!!! I don't post much, I'm more of a stalker on here, but I have to say the flower nail trick and the foam paint roller to smooth frosting ( I just read that one, can't wait to try it) are the best tips I've heard. Thanks all for all the great advice!!!

For me it wasn't a baking tip or recipe. Reading other peoples' customer "problems" opened my eyes on quite a few issues I hadn't run into yet. (And hope I never do)

Example: Would you ever dream a client would order two wedding cakes, keep #2 overnight, and RETURN it the next day saying it was unacceptable? Oy!

Oh my God I just read that MMF has meat in it I am trying not to throw up I am a vegetarian and did not know that I am crying right now.
My fave is {or was }MMF.

Its great to share ideas with people who have the same interests as me.

Gotta love that homemade cake release - I learned about on this thread and used it today. Works wonders!!!

MMF has meat? what is immortalove88 talking about....anyone know? Oh what is homemade cake release?

Marshmallows have gelatin in them, which is generally derived from cattle. Thus, they are not vegan.

There are vegan and Kosher marshmallows, using some form of plant substitute, such as agar, but I don't know if they would work for MMF. (Since marshmallow fluff will work, I see no need to experiment.)

RP

I know this sounds like "ditto" to so many other threads, but I think the best trick I've learned here is that no matter what problem I've got, there is someone who has a solution I may not have thought of. Even though I've been doing this for 36 years, there is still more to learn .... thanks, one and all, for all the great help!

For people who didn't see my original post - marshmallows have gelatin in them. Gelatin is made from boiling the skin, bones, ligaments, etc., from animals. (Sounds gross, huh?) So, vegetarians don't eat anything with gelatin. There are some marshmallows that don't have gelatin, but they're hard to find. The ones you find at the grocery store do have gelatin. I make MMF using marshmallow creme or fluff, which does not have gelatin, and it works great. Vegans would still have a problem, though, because it does have egg whites.

MMF!!! Both the taste and texture are so much nicer than regular fondant!

I have heard a lot of people mention the Paper towel trick - does anyone use the wilton fondant smoother with the paper towel? It works much better for me than just using my hands.

Yes, I always use the fondant smoother with my viva. No finger indentations this way!

Here's the "recipe" for the cake release:

Equal parts crisco, oil, and flour. Mix well together and brush onto pan lightly covering entire surface. Make sure you get those corners good though. It works like a charm and is nice and easy

Hands down MMF. It's the best fondant ever. Cheap, yummy, easy to work with. YAY!! LOVE it. Also? I let my kids use it for playdough- then they can eat it and it's okay!

Melvira's paint roller buttercream smoother....

Ok, I am still a bit new to this site but I have quickly fallen in love with it! All of the tips are great! One that I just read from a prevouis poster was using a flower nail to center a cake, how great is that? I am always looking for ways to make my cakes more level so I cant wait to try this tip out!
Also I loved the fondant bow...it is sooo pretty, cant wait to try it either.

Viva method, flower nail trick & cake extender. This site has helped me soooooooo much it's unreal. Everyone on here is great!

The Mevira Roller is one of the very best, but everyone has had something good to offer & I just want to say thanks to you all.

Is there a like to How to make a cake extender??
Thanks!

Mine is kind of broad. But I think the fact that no matter what I am looking for, someone on this site will have a link or a source where I can find what I am searching for.

My two favorites are the Melvira method and the flowr nail and I have learned so much more from this thread.

Thank you all. I love this site.