I Made A Cake For My Brother's Welcome Home Party...

Decorating By FromScratch Updated 4 Jun 2007 , 11:56pm by debster

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FromScratch Posted 3 Jun 2007 , 11:34pm
post #1 of 20

My brother just got back from Iraq so we had a cook out and I made a cake for the party. I took inspiration from Creative Pastries's USMC Logo cake and I didn't do too bad of a job. My MMF was VERY dry and hard to work with.. SUCH a pain in the butt. It cracked around the top and was very hard to smooth, but I got it on decently. I made chocolate MMF for the black area and hand molded the Eagle Globe and Anchor. I was running out of time and patience by the end of it all. I lost a day of work because I had to pick my sister up at the airport so it was rushed at the end. The rop border is a little screwed up in one area because it's thinner than the rest of it and it kept breaking from the dry fondant.. SUCH a pain.. did I mention the dry fondant was a PAIN??? icon_wink.gif Anyway.. here is a picture of it.
LL

19 replies
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gailsgoodies Posted 3 Jun 2007 , 11:37pm
post #2 of 20

It turned out GREAT!! thumbs_up.gif I'll bet your brother loved it!!

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cakesbyjess Posted 4 Jun 2007 , 4:37am
post #3 of 20

Your cake is fantastic! What a great job!!! Thank goodness for your brother's safe return home from Iraq.

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ShirleyW Posted 4 Jun 2007 , 4:45am
post #4 of 20

It's perfect. My son was a Marine too and this touches my heart. I am so happy your brother is home safe and sound on U.S. soil again. Semper Fi!

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beany Posted 4 Jun 2007 , 8:13am
post #5 of 20

Wow that looks fantastic. Well done.

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idoweddingcookies Posted 4 Jun 2007 , 8:23am
post #6 of 20

You're cake gave me goose bumps.. icon_biggrin.gif I'm so happy to hear you're brother is home safe and sound as well. tell him thank you for his service to his country..
I live in Canada but am very grateful and proud of all the young men and women who put their lives on the line for ALL of us!

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grama_j Posted 4 Jun 2007 , 9:32am
post #7 of 20

Your cake turned out just great ! And so did your brother.....thank God ! Tell him "THANKS" for all he and his brothers and sisters in arms are doing for US, and many other countries..... God bless them all..... usaribbon.gif

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weberm05 Posted 4 Jun 2007 , 10:02am
post #8 of 20

Great job! icon_smile.gif

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gismo12002 Posted 4 Jun 2007 , 1:10pm
post #9 of 20

I think you did a awesome job! Well done!! Be proud! As the saying goes--we judge our work to much! You may have seen something wrong--but others don't! Great job!

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FromScratch Posted 4 Jun 2007 , 3:41pm
post #10 of 20

Thanks everyone for the sweet comments. I really wanted this cake to be just perfect for him. I was an hour late to the party finishing it up and I got dressed there.. LOL. I wanted to paint the yellow with gold luster dust but I did't have time so I just brushed it on dry.. and I also wanted to make a rope border for the bottom of the cake too, but the fondant was SOOOOOOOOOO uncooperative. I am totally buying fondant from now on as it's much more consistent. I made MMF before and it was much better. But I was rushing and added too much PS.. icon_cry.gif . Everyone was very impressed with it. Thanks again everyone..

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marccrand Posted 4 Jun 2007 , 4:09pm
post #11 of 20

First, I'm glad your brother is home safe.
Second, sorry you had so much trouble with the cake, but it looks fabulous!
Third, I too have had trouble with the MMF being so dry and cracking and generally being very difficult to work with. I've read a couple of things on here that I think I did wrong. The marshmallows shouldn't be completely melted in the microwave, just almost melted and then stirred until it becomes a paste. And the amount of powdered sugar is usually the most you would need. It shouldn't be added all at once, maybe 3/4 of what's called for and then more depending on how wet it is.

I haven't had occassion to try MMF except the once when I had so much trouble, but I've read these suggestions and taken note when (if-now I just buy SatinIce) I need to make it again.

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gunnersgirl5578 Posted 4 Jun 2007 , 7:35pm
post #12 of 20

I absolutely love your cake! I am so happy that your brother made it home safely. My husband is a retired Marine, and our 2 sons are Marines. My daughter in law's brother is a Marine also, and they have asked me to do a cake for his return home in early July. If you don't mind, I would love to use your idea.

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FromScratch Posted 4 Jun 2007 , 8:04pm
post #13 of 20

Of course!! It would make me so happy if you used my cake as inspiration.. I never imagined someone would do that. If you need any info let me know.. not that it's a hard design.. LOL. Tell your sons (and your husband DIL's brother too) that we are proud of them.. it takes a lot to go into the armed services and we owe them a debt of gratitude at the very least.

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Carson Posted 4 Jun 2007 , 8:08pm
post #14 of 20

The cake turned out great despite all your problems! I bet no one else noticed a thing wrong. When I make MMF I melt the marshmallows only until they are very soft, and when stirred they all completely go into the thick liquid form. Then I add approx half of the PS and add more as I mix. I find that I almost never use the entire amount of PS. If it does get too dry, I will melt more marshmallows to add or a bit of water. Everytime I have gone exactly by the recipe it has never turned out great, I've always had to modify it.

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SpudCake Posted 4 Jun 2007 , 8:58pm
post #15 of 20

Welcome home to your brother. You must be thrilled. BTW...your cake is awesome.

Joanne usaribbon.gif

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cakenutz Posted 4 Jun 2007 , 9:05pm
post #16 of 20

welcome home to your brother great great!

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mkolmar Posted 4 Jun 2007 , 9:06pm
post #17 of 20

As a former Marine myself (as well as DH) Congrats on your brothers safe return and on the cake! It looks great! I just love the look of this cake, does the EGA proud.

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twindees Posted 4 Jun 2007 , 9:06pm
post #18 of 20

Your cake looks awesome. Thank God your brother is home. usaribbon.gif

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Chrisi Posted 4 Jun 2007 , 9:10pm
post #19 of 20

I grew up as a USMC brat, and my broteher joined too. So I am pretty partial to this design. I am very thankful your brother made it home safe and sound. SIMPER FI !!

You did a fantastic job on the cake. thumbs_up.gif Remember, it's not he cake that matters, it's that your brother is home. icon_wink.gif

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debster Posted 4 Jun 2007 , 11:56pm
post #20 of 20

Very nice job, give brother a hug for me and say thanks, I pray for them on a regular basis.

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