Hi Everyone,
I just cracked open my new copy of "Sweet Celebrations...The Art Of Decorating Beautiful Cakes" by Sylvia Weinstock. WOW! Just the recipes alone was worth the $28 USD.
She shares her scratch recipes for several types of cakes, along with frostings, fillings, washes, etc. She also gives input on how to assemble different types of cakes and the info you need to make her gorgeous gum paste flowers. I saw her a few years back on Oprah and I remembered her for the absolutely jaw-dropping cakes that she makes for celebrity weddings and such.
Her flowers are out of this world. This book is a must have for your recipe archives.
And since I have skimmed through it several times, I have finally come to the conclusion that I have been torting my cakes all wrong for quite some time. I could never figure out how people were making the 4-6" tall cakes that were perfectly level. I've been fixing many a crappy tortes with lots of icing. Apparently it is ok to use as many cakes as you need to get the perfect 1/2 layers...all of which combine to create a fabulous level cake. Sometimes my brain thinks too much...I think! 
Anyway, it is a simply fabulous book...got it on Amazon.com Enjoy!
I also got this book recently. I bought it on half.com relatively cheaply..
It's dated 1999, and I have to say it's a bit outdated as far as design go. I like getting ideas from books but , although her flowers are pretty, there is nothing in there that I haven't seen many times over. I was glad to have it , at least, for the recipes.
I'm sure a newer publication by Sylvia might hold some fresher ideas.
I have this book too! It is definitely one of my faves!!!
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