My daughter is getting ready to graduate high school, and is going for her bachelor's degree in "Pastry Arts Technology".

I ask her all the time what she would like for a graduation present (from high school) and she always says a hot pink Kitchenaid mixer (That's my girl! )

Besides that, I want to start collecting supplies and books for her.... Any suggestions? Tips? Anything she can do this summer before she starts college to better prepare her?

The Essential Cake Decorating Guide is a very informative book . Hope this helps!

OK thank you!

Not a cake book, but Real Simple has a guide book for new college students - a "how to do everything that your Mom taught you, in a dorm" book. I just graduated from college, and didn't have a cell when I first lived in the dorms. My parents phone bill was huge from me calling home to ask how to do laundry!

For cake books, I love Confetti Cakes and Beautiful Cakes by Peggy Porschen.

"The international School of Sugar>craft" series of three books by Nicholas Lodge and janice Murfitt are indispensable. As is Toba Garrett's "The Well Decorated Cake."

Your daughter is a smart girl! I decorated my whole kitchen around my pink KitchenAid. I have the light pink.

My new favorite book is The Essential Cake Decorating Guide. I love it, every decorator should have it.

I'm a fan of the Wilton Encyclopedias. You can usually find them on Ebay.

I don't really have that many, but what i do have is couple of collette peters books. Amazing and i reference those books all the time for ideas and recipes on frosting, gumpaste, fondant, etc. Very inspirational and pretty much got me hooked.

Not to mention , this little awsome place called cake central. Priceless!

Although not a cake decorating book, The Professional Pastry Chef and the Advance Pastry Chef by Friberg are my husband's pastry "Bibles". Great information on technique and incredible recipes. Always the first books he recommends to any future Pastry Chef. Good luck to your daughter.

I seearched at Amazon for Essential Cake Decorating Guide. There were several listed by different people. Which ones are you guys referring to?

While we're on the subject of books... I'm REALLY enjoying my first tries at gum paste flowers and would really like to pursue becoming an expert at them. What is the best instructional manual on learning to do these well?

First & foremost "The Cake Bible" , followed by "The Pie & Pastry Bible" both by Rose Levy Beranbaum. And if you can find it, the 1960's edition of "The Fannie Farmer Cookbook". It gives you a good base on cooking & baking even if it is an outdated edition & has been revised many times.

First & foremost "The Cake Bible" , followed by "The Pie & Pastry Bible" both by Rose Levy Beranbaum. And if you can find it, the 1960's edition of "The Fannie Farmer Cookbook". It gives you a good base on cooking & baking even if it is an outdated edition & has been revised many times.

Ahh you guys are AWESOME! Thank you!

And the really cool thing, she works at the library, so I can get her to check them out for a sneak peak before purchase!

Ya know, they would also make good graduation gifts for her when friends and family ask what she needs! YAY!

She wants a hot pink mixer like the one in my avatar, but from what I read, that color has been discontinued....bummer!

It was easy when I knew exactly what color she wanted, but it's difficult picking out another color. They have so many awesome color choices, I can't make choose! I'm a Libra... <this one, or that one....this one, or that one....>

try looking here for your colour. You could try calling them to see if they have it. They carry rare and discontinued colors.
I was gonna say see if you could have it shipped to you, but they are also in Ohio, maybe they are close to you?
http://www.kitchenaid.com/flash.cmd?/#/page/inside-kitchenaid-experience-center

Thank you!!!

I was looking at JCPenny and they have a color called grape that is really cool, and somewhere, can't remember where, I saw a really pretty bright blue.....and lime....and orange.....LOL... I saw one on HSN called Buttercup that was really pretty, too....

My friend has one that is black and has flames painted on it. Another friend has one that is painted to look like Eddie Van Halens red guitar.

Anyone else have their's customized?

I want the gorgeous Copper one I saw in the window at the mall before Christmas... http://www.homeclick.com/web/catalog/product_detail.aspx?pid=199054&chnl=cse&ven=googlebase&cat=Housewares%3ASmall%20Appliances&brnd=KitchenAid&itm=199054KSM152CP%7CCustom%20Metallic%20Series%20With%20Pouring%20Shield%20Stand%20Mixer%20-%20Satin%20Copper&CAWELAID=167183063

But I'm not sure I can convince DH my current one is no good because it's just not as pretty

Oh I have that Kitchenaid Mixer! Keep looking, my husband was able to find it for me right after it was discontinued. It's the perfect color, good luck finding one!

Isn't the hot pink called Boysenberry or something like that??

I'm 99% sure it's called Cranberry. Even though that doesn't fit the hot pink color at all, lol.

yeah! That was it!

Thanks!

The 2003 essential cake decorating guide is the one I have.

The 2003 essential cake decorating guide is the one I have.