Originally Posted by Sam_paggers

The show at the NEC looks fantastic! Can I ask do any of you go to this and would you nromally take a friend or family emmebr along? Not sure i have anyone who would enjoy it and am dubious about going it alone!

Off topic, but the eurovision cupcakes cake out pretty well...for a first go at fondant on cupcakes, i was happy
http://cakecentral.com/gallery/2045126

xx

I went on my own on the Friday and Saturday and then went with my boyfriends sister, who enjoys doing cakes, on the Sunday. I was a bit anxious going on my own, as it was my first year going. I'm so glad I did now though. I was able to get there when i wanted (pretty much 1st in the queue lol) I was able to get free stuff from stands for being one of the first hundred to buy something there. I was able to go where I wanted without having to say is it okay of we...? First. When I had lunch I shared a table with some lovely old ladies and talked cakes with them lol. I could go to the stands and watch them demonstrating without being worried if who I was with was getting bored. I could leave when I wanted. I guess I just liked being able to make decisions without having to check with someone else, control freak ... Lol I'm going again this year, the NEC is only 40 minutes away from my house. I think I'm going to enter 2 competitions this year too. I've got the design sorted for one cake, but keep changing my mind for the other. So many different techniques I want to try.

HI Chiggs, welcome to the thread.

I know few people who have used wilton candy melts and they don't like it. I found these ones on CAke Decorating Company. But I don't know whether they are good or not. Here is the link for you,

http://www.thecakedecoratingcompany.co.uk/catalog/index.php?cPath=338_340


About silicone moulds, there is a company called Alphabet moulds and they have great selection. I just had a look at the sea shell mould and its great too! They had a stall at the NEC last year. You can find them on Design a cake website!

At my local hobby craft in Bristol they had a whole section selling items needed for cake pops including candy melts.

I know what you mean!!! They don't have the first impression baby mould at the moment and I am waiting for them to have it in stock. Then I will do a very big shopping!!!!

Originally Posted by Davwattie

Had a delivery of supplies today and have got the coloured regalice in the new style pack which is supposed to be a 'new recipe'

It definitly feels softer than it has been lately but from looking at the ingrediants all i can see different is the water now comes before the vegetable oil

Hopefully it will stop it being dry and crumbly

I use to buy 10k boxes of regalice direct from renshaw (they were local) many years ago, butonce the supermarkets started selling it (regalice but its dr oetker now isnt it?), was so much cheaper that I buy ot from there, either morrisons or tesco, so havent used actual 'renshaw' regalice for years now (probably about 10 years!!) is it a lot different?

Originally Posted by sanmarco5

Quote:

Originally Posted by Davwattie

Had a delivery of supplies today and have got the coloured regalice in the new style pack which is supposed to be a 'new recipe'

It definitly feels softer than it has been lately but from looking at the ingrediants all i can see different is the water now comes before the vegetable oil

Hopefully it will stop it being dry and crumbly

I use to buy 10k boxes of regalice direct from renshaw (they were local) many years ago, butonce the supermarkets started selling it (regalice but its dr oetker now isnt it?), was so much cheaper that I buy ot from there, either morrisons or tesco, so havent used actual 'renshaw' regalice for years now (probably about 10 years!!) is it a lot different?

i didn't know dr oetekers is the same as renshaw regalice...?? i was actually ooking at the cheapest options for icing yesterday, as i currently just buy what i need from Sugarshack (im local) at 3.70 p/kg. on cake stuff website they have it cheaper when you buy in 5 or 10kg boxes, about £3.20 p/kg, but they also offer a cheaper version of "covering paste" which they claim is just as good as regalice, but comes to only £2.20 p/kg - has anyone used this? I'd like to try it to compare to regalice but with P&P and buying the 5kg box it would be expensive just for trialling, so wanted to see if anyone had any experience with it?

Originally Posted by idontknow

Quote:

Originally Posted by sanmarco5

Quote:

Originally Posted by Davwattie

Had a delivery of supplies today and have got the coloured regalice in the new style pack which is supposed to be a 'new recipe'

It definitly feels softer than it has been lately but from looking at the ingrediants all i can see different is the water now comes before the vegetable oil

Hopefully it will stop it being dry and crumbly

I use to buy 10k boxes of regalice direct from renshaw (they were local) many years ago, butonce the supermarkets started selling it (regalice but its dr oetker now isnt it?), was so much cheaper that I buy ot from there, either morrisons or tesco, so havent used actual 'renshaw' regalice for years now (probably about 10 years!!) is it a lot different?

i didn't know dr oetekers is the same as renshaw regalice...?? i was actually ooking at the cheapest options for icing yesterday, as i currently just buy what i need from Sugarshack (im local) at 3.70 p/kg. on cake stuff website they have it cheaper when you buy in 5 or 10kg boxes, about £3.20 p/kg, but they also offer a cheaper version of "covering paste" which they claim is just as good as regalice, but comes to only £2.20 p/kg - has anyone used this? I'd like to try it to compare to regalice but with P&P and buying the 5kg box it would be expensive just for trialling, so wanted to see if anyone had any experience with it?

Renshaw started selling regalice in boxes in the supermarket many years ago, as i said probably about ten, it was Renshaw branded, but after a few years changed to Dr oetker, its called Regal Ice, I hardly made any cakes for years so wasnt really up on anything, and just assumed Dr Oetket bought out Renshaw initially, but since obviously found they hadn't, but I still use it & it works for me. Might have to buy a proper packet iof regal ice one of these days see what Its like, might find out I have been missing out all these years! LOL

cake stuff sell a sample pack of all 3 of their sugarpastes for £1 if thats any help x

Not sure but it has a lovely vanilla smell

Originally Posted by Davwattie

Quote:

Originally Posted by sanmarco5

I also use to buy a brand (in box 5 k boxes) called pastello, was cheaper than regalice, softer & more pliable, smelled gorgeous! is that whats now called covapaste?

Not sure but it has a lovely vanilla smell

Yeah pastello was like that, tasted really lovely, and was a lot softer & more stretchy but also dried out faster if i remember rightly

HI there, I tried it ones. But I didn't like the taste. You can use Trex (vegetable fat) for Hi - Ratio shortening and use any flavouring instead of cream bouquet.

But I found this website, which sells US products and they do have Crisco. Here is the link for you to see.

http://www.americansweets.co.uk/american-shortening--oils-76-c.asp

HTH.

Originally Posted by allaboutcakeuk

Quote:

Originally Posted by sanmarco5

Silicone moulds - I want some silicone seashell moulds (not for anything specific, just fancies making some seashell cupcakes or something!) & was wondering if anyone has ever made their own?
I know the moulds are pretty expensive, and the silicone putty to make them with is around £20 for the smallest size, but wondered how many moulds this would make (think it is 250g), and if it's worth doing, don't want to waste £20 on it then it doesn't work!
Otherwise can anyone recommend some nice realistic seashell moulds?
Thanks

Hi there, I bought a set of seashell moulds from Hobbycraft they weren't that expensive and a good size with starfish etc included too

I've never made my own but think I would if I couldn't find what i was looking for

Do hobbycraft stores sell a lot for cake decorating? I am trying to talk DH into taking me to one next weekend but its like an hour & half round trip LOL, they dont have much on their site so wondered if its worth the trip?

Mine has a few tools, tips, cutters and sell some of the coloured regalice packs but everything is so expensive I only get from there if im really desperate, the market is closed and i havent time to wait for internet deliveries.

The small packs of regalice are about £2.50 a pack when i can get it for £1.35 from sugarshack

I do get alot of ribbon from there tough they have so many to choose from.

Originally Posted by Davwattie

Quote:

Originally Posted by sanmarco5


Do hobbycraft stores sell a lot for cake decorating? I am trying to talk DH into taking me to one next weekend but its like an hour & half round trip LOL, they dont have much on their site so wondered if its worth the trip?

Mine has a few tools, tips, cutters and sell some of the coloured regalice packs but everything is so expensive I only get from there if im really desperate, the market is closed and i havent time to wait for internet deliveries.

The small packs of regalice are about £2.50 a pack when i can get it for £1.35 from sugarshack

I do get alot of ribbon from there tough they have so many to choose from.

hhhmmm probably not worth the trip then, might have to try & find a nice big sugarcraft shop to visit instead, anyone know of any in the east sussex kent area that are worth a visit? I have none locally & fancy a browse round a nice shop!!

sugarshack ...are they good, i had a look but found their site quite difficult to navigate (maybe just me) postage cost seems quite good though

I would be inclined to use RI as it sets like cement and dowel like in regular stacking. I probably would set up on site though I wouldn't want to risk transporting it in one piece. The boards we have are really quite thick so unless you can get something similar to what is stated online I don't know if you would be able to get the dowel through those boards.

yes their website is awful to use...but i can say their store is great as in has everything you need and more. they've recently extended it and you can spend a lot of time and money in there...one tip though, if you do have anything specific in mind, try and find it on their website and see wat price they have it listed for and quote that to them if you find it more expensive in store, as they will probably offer you the net price.

im lucky im 5 mins drive from them

Originally Posted by bashini

Quote:

Originally Posted by Katiedoll

Hi This is my first post so apologies if I'm interrupting something. I love this UK thread and have a couple of questions I'm hoping someone can help me with. I want to find a really smooth buttercream recipe and the one everyone mentions is Sugarshack's. Does anyone know what the UK equivilents would be to Hi-Ratio Shortening, Creme Bouquet flavouring and Viva paper towel (for the smoothing process). Has anyone tried the recipe and is it as great as everyone makes out? Sorry for all the questions!

HI there, I tried it ones. But I didn't like the taste. You can use Trex (vegetable fat) for Hi - Ratio shortening and use any flavouring instead of cream bouquet.

But I found this website, which sells US products and they do have Crisco. Here is the link for you to see.

http://www.americansweets.co.uk/american-shortening--oils-76-c.asp

HTH.

Thanks for the info Bashini. I think I'll look for a different recipe because I'm not convinced about using shortening rather than butter. Does anyone have an alternative to Sugarshack's recipe?