I keep eyeing off an airbrush ( I feel like a kleptomaniac when it comes to cakes.. I want every new toy!) 
I colour my icing cos I wasn't sure how well the airbrush would cover cutout sections of cake and the like. Do you use it for all your coloured cakes or just some?
I keep eyeing off an airbrush ( I feel like a kleptomaniac when it comes to cakes.. I want every new toy!)
I colour my icing cos I wasn't sure how well the airbrush would cover cutout sections of cake and the like. Do you use it for all your coloured cakes or just some?
Hahahah join the klepto club, if it's shiny oh heck even if it's not if it's cake related I pretty much want it!.
I've only used my airbrush twice, one on the blue and yellow car (on the blue bit) and the purple baker's doll dress, I'm still getting the hang of it, in the next couple of weeks I'll be done with major orders and am hoping to gather some styro dummies and try out some different techniques that I can then photograph and put in my portfolio, but also to get some practice and to try a few things that are no big deal if they don't work out. Also I want to do some mini christmas cakes for presents so that will be a good opportunity to try stuff out as well, particularly I'd like to try an airbrushed scene background with sky and grass, to see how it all works out!
I might be using the airbrush for the cake I'm working on now I haven't decided I just painted some panels black with a sponge, *mental note buy more makeup sponges* I used that technique on my Johnnie Walker cake and really liked it, it gives a nicer coverage and less streaking than the brush method, and a different texture than airbrushing....
hehehehehe am I off the subject or did I just write a novel! hahahahaha.
Lili, raspberries ? yummo ! do you use fresh or frozen ? I'm a "box cake extras " virgin - but I will give it a go now ( maybe I just don't like who I make them for !!! 
haha )
Bakels has a "factory " in Brisbane - my teacher Sue gets all her mixes from there.
When their new White choc. ganache becomes available, I'm getting some of that - tastes delicious ( Sue had samples from a tour her cake club went on )& it's not see- through on a dark choc.cake***phew !!****well, I'm excited !!!! 
I don't use extenders,I would like to try them but we don't get all the flavoured coffeemates here 
I hear you on the streaky painting thing. I have done a car cake recently and painted the windscreen black and then silver. It worked really well for the appearance of windows but showed me that I am no Leonardo Da Vinci with a paintbrush.
I have had an airbrush for almost two year and haven't even properly used it!
I have no idea how to use it... do they run classes anywhere? Cause I am clueless... I will start trying to learn how to use it in the xmas holidays! I like your idea Nicole of just practising on dummies! I have a few that I covered and that was as far as I got!
Once I get back into making cakes more often I will look into the Bakels mix, sounds much easier!! (Esp putting in the caramel top n fill, yum!) I presume it works just like a regular mix, you add oil, water, eggs ??? How long does the 15kg pack last for?? (that is a LOT of cake!)
I got some AWESOME filling stuff from Bakels in NZ, a friend over there sent it to me. It is technically a truffle filling, but it comes in white, milk and dark chocolate and is shelf stable (and tastes AWESOME on ice cream hehe). I got some of the white and it works really well as a filling for cakes. She just sent me the 1L to try, it also comes in like a 4 or 5kg pail, I think, but you can't get it in au, I don't know why, it is an awesome product!
where do you get your 15 kilo bag from???
and that top n fill idea... YUMMMOOOO will have to try it!!
Lilis : I buy 15kg bags of Bakels mixes from a cake supply store in Sydney. The Alpine white mix is $78 I use it for White mud, caramel mud WASC etc etc. Here is Bakels ph no : 1300368394 (its on the bag) Maybe they can tell you where to get it in Melb HTH
they also have it in mississippi mud and fruit cake
Henfresh at schofields is the cheapest, they are the cheapest, you can also get your plastic icing from them at $35 a box, the bakells white. They have a whole range of stuff, delivery is around $12.00 in the sydney metro area. I live near bankstown so its cheaper for me time wise and fuel wise to get them to deliver. I dont have the number at hand but they are in the white/yellow pages
Wow thats so cheap. I usually buy mine for $50! and I use a 7kg box every month! Where is Schofield? Do they have a website?
no website, they are at schofields which is an outer suburb of sydney, between kellyville and penrith. They are a bakers supplier, they sell all sorts of stuff. Last xmas I got my mixed fruit for $33 for ten kilo, it was sunbeam. No cherries, I added a pack of cherries per kilo and I got beautiful mixed fruit about $1.40 cheaper a kg than the supermarket.
Here is the Henfresh website http://sydney.citysearch.com.au/E/V/SYDNE/0011/70/09/
Google is your friend...
Here is Bakels website... http://www.bakels.com.au/ I actually sent my boyfriend to them to pic up some powdered egg white... I have a big tub of it for $50... it works great when I am trying to make royal to stick things on stuff, not sure if I would use it for a meringue, it smells a bit, but I don't think it would affect the taste, I just haven't done it!
I usually buy mine for $50! and I use a 7kg box every month!
Holy Cow!!! 
Boy do you get ripped off !!!
I buy from Dijon Foods at Castle Hill in the Industrial area near Victoria Avenue. I think at the moment it's $37.00. (for white)
Barbara - your husband does bathrooms/toilets ??!!
does he have a clone ? 
jules 06 - Unfortunately no clone. He is all mine!! Our friends husbands always razz him and give him a hard time because they say that he is making life difficult for them. All their wives are expecting the same from their hubbies.
I think it is because my DH was housebroken by the time we got married. He is originally from Malaysia and he did his Uni studies at Monash. Living away from home forced him to learn how to look after himself. Lucky me got to reap the rewards of his student days.
Hi to all!!! My husband came home for lunch a little while ago... and he is always harping on that I mustn't put too many electrical appliances on at once..... Anyway.... forgot what I had on.... the dryer... dishwasher... and then put the oven on for baking.... so 5 mins after he walks in the door... all power goes!! Well one has to then go outside to fuse box, unlock with key and reset....... so ..... do you think we can find the key??? Here is where my husband is a bit defective.. he has a short temper and starts swearing... walks up and down driveway 5 times ranting & raving with various keys... all wrong.... then the lecture starts re' electrical appliances. I have learnt to ignore him during these rants because then he comes up sheepishly and apologises for being such an a*****e!... All this time I am thinking about my cakes, and imagining if we can't find the key how do I move forward with baking........ SO, luckily he finally finds correct key and all is well... dishwasher and dryer now off. And my baking can continue
i try to avoid ironing.. its bad for my... insert body part here...
Also, what pan size will i need for about 110 people? coffee portions. i'm going to do a slab, glaze with a jelly or jam and cut into squares then pipe a rosette of buttercream onto it. i think that would look neater.
I am also thinking of doing 2 smaller slabs as the bride loves choc (of course) but the groom loves orange and poppyseed. then ice with 2 different icings. I just dont know what size pan i need. i know theres a thread here somewhere but my brain cant come up with the right combinations of search words to find it!
WOW girls, so much to catch up on! - my life is hectic at present - so wish I didn't have to turn up to work (only doing 3 days per week) BUT really seem to resent having to turn up somedays!!
My Kenwood is FAB - about 10yr old now - No KA around then - so there was no dilemma in deciding.
My justification to my husband for purchasing all my cooking gadgets (or anything else for that matter) is to give the price equation in "slabs of beer" - like "oh don't worry honey it's only 5 slabs of beer" hahaha HE WOULD NEVER BAULK AT THAT! or complain - that's only a month's worth of normal drinking and a bit of a "tie one on" with a mate!
Just think what I can buy monthly!
MARIA - OK miss budget queen - How about using this thread to set up a "preferred suppliers" list - never heard of either the place at Schofields (which is probably one of the CLOSEST suburbs to me and didn't think there was anything there) nor the place you have referred to in Castle Hill.
Have used Bakels before and their products are good - not what you would expect from a packet mix (more industry use than domestic) I must admit I have a real CACK at the yank CC's who rave on about homemade cakes and then you go to their recipes and it is a box of this and a jar of this! Only recipes that seem to use REAL ingredients are Aussie origin. OOOOOOOHHHHHH I can feel the lightning bolt heading my way!!
Hey Toni - My husband didn't like my joke -
"Whats the difference between a teabag and a wallaby" - Teabag stays in the "Cup" longer!! hahaha - looks like we'll have to barrack for Argentina now!!
Pam!!! I missed you and was just thinking yesterday.... someone is missing from the important daily conversations that go on here!!!! You are also usually the only one up when I am still up late at night here. Well... you and Maria that is!! I thought your joke was funny...
I currently have a caramel mudcake in oven... due out in 5 min... I hate how you may not have to do a cake for a couple of weeks... and then 2 or 3 orders arrive all at once!!
Now although I love the idea of airbrushing... and think it looks fab... I can't justify buying something else when I still have loads to learn with the more basic stuff.. I will look like those people who go skiing with all the expensive gear.. but then when they hit the slopes... can't ski at all. So ... the airbrush will have to wait for now.
So Pam... what's up??? What do you do for work???
Morning Toni - Just BUSY lovie - like the rest of us!! What do I do? Ex-Chef currently working in Real Estate - because I got sick of working nights, weekends AND when everybody else was having a fun time!! Did it for nearly 20 years AND when women were not considering equal in the kitchen - No Kylie Kwong's or Nigella's then!! Only cakes I do these days are for family (but a BIG Irish family!) and friends (and they seem to come out of the woodwork when they know what I do) but must admit that todays style of cakes are much more fun to do!
What's got me on the hop at the moment is daughters wedding plans - Unpaid Personal Concierge, I think I am at the moment! No really - I have a great level-headed young lady to deal with - No bridezilla happening - just a little too laid-back and "it'll be right Mum - stop stressin!" style for my liking. Don't think she realises that the great old country family wedding that she in proposing requires a LOT of prior planning and thought - and not done at the last moment. Have been shovelling barrowloads of topsoil early this morning trying to get the bare patches filled in the lawn where the marquee is going. Sure she will notice this!! NOT!
Anyway back on the cake front, anybody know where you can get the embossing mats from the Country Kitchen Sweet Art site (6 for $55) - I had an order for $105 and they wanted over $200 for postage!! yeah right - we are NOT the moon!! They had some really great products.
Hey Toni - love the roller that you did your Barbie dress with - was it easy to use?
I need inspiration for the wedding cake - my daughter wants me to do something along the lines of the wedding dress cake - embossed top tier with pearl buttons - by spottydog, whose assistance was NOT forthcoming. Doesn't like the middle or bottom tier - thinking drapes or maybe dots/other piping?? Any ideas - sweetastisse - yours looks great! your comments on top tier and covering the top tier would be appreciated (without doing as two separate cakes like yours)
OOpps - sorry girls - just realised my post has become a NOVEL
Pam... I'm sure your daughter appreciated everything you are doing for the wedding... but does she think counrty wedding means no planning?? Tell her it takes loads of planning to produce the 'natural, relaxed... not too planned look'. The roller is great to use... but best with small areas. The hard thind I find with any patterned roller is maintaining the same pressure... you will notice a line going down Barbie's dress.. that's where I hesitated or something. If you mess it up.. you can't go over it again... and you have to roll up your fondant and start again. Barbie's dress was attempted after a couple of attempts... and that line seemed so insignificant by the third go. Practice will make us perfect I suppose. When is the wedding again??? I know you have mentioned it already but sorry..... have forgotten. So will the geese have ribbons round their necks???
Pam... I'm sure your daughter appreciated everything you are doing for the wedding... but does she think counrty wedding means no planning?? Tell her it takes loads of planning to produce the 'natural, relaxed... not too planned look'. The roller is great to use... but best with small areas. The hard thind I find with any patterned roller is maintaining the same pressure... you will notice a line going down Barbie's dress.. that's where I hesitated or something. If you mess it up.. you can't go over it again... and you have to roll up your fondant and start again. Barbie's dress was attempted after a couple of attempts... and that line seemed so insignificant by the third go. Practice will make us perfect I suppose. When is the wedding again??? I know you have mentioned it already but sorry..... have forgotten. So will the geese have ribbons round their necks???
No Toni - don't think geese AND a wedding go together! tooooo many city slickers that are scared of them!! I WON"T tell them about the snake we had in my son's bedroom! Weeeellll maybe I WILL tell some guests! 
1ST MARCH 2008 is the big day - I know it seems a LONG way off but if I take out the weekends that our birthdays fall on Daughter1 on Friday, Son following Sat, Daughter 2 Nov 25th, husband Dec 3rd MINE Dec 8th - Xmas shopping then the customary COUNTRY XMAS AT THE DOYLE'S (65 family for lunch) New Year and business shut-downs over Jan - IT DOESN'T SEEM that FAR away!!
Garden, Marquee, table settings, food, cake, bridal shower, shopping for everything for reception ALL on my TO DO list!
REALLY sad part is - I think I LOVE IT!!!! Been an events planner my whole life UNPAID that is! Just stressin that this time I might have bitten off more than I can chew ( and boy I am good on the tooth!)
Morning ladies! Or afternoon for you toni! I agree wit you pam about the "homemade" cakes on this site, add a can of caramel filler, some coffee whitener.... i worry for americans and the amount of stuff they put in their cakes, did you see the cornflake candy thread, someone posted a recipe which had
1 cup Sugar
1 cup Karo Syrup
1 1/2 cups Peanut Butter
4 cups Cornflakes ... man thats alot of sugar! where as our equvalent is
4 Cups Corn Flakes
1/3 Cup sugar
90g Margarine/Butter
1 Tbs Honey ( thanks to feefs)
Anyways! Your daughters wedding sounds o so fun! my sister is engaged and already we have a bridezilla, she was engaged a month ago and wants to be married in april and doesnt seem to care where the money is coming from!
And also wants to put me and my red hair in emerald green satin! kermit much?? lol
Maybe that is why your daughter is relaxed.... because she knows what an amazingly capable mum she has!! Time flies... so I agree... it will be here before you know it once Christmas is over.
Well... off to bed for me .. it is 11:50pm.. just wrote my to do list for tomorrow,.. busy busy... waking up will be difficult I think!!!!
Buona Notte!!
Morning All!
I picked up my airbrush complete with compressor and courier delivery for $225. If you want me to look up the details of the seller let me know, I'm pretty sure they are regular sellers.
Umm what else oh yes I've seen Toni's roller on the Blossom Sugar Craft site, heheheh there's over $200 bucks of stuff sitting in my shopping cart, but I haven't used half the stuff I've bought so keep talking myself out of clicking the checkout button!
Oh and I don't understand that word i-r-o-n-i-n-g. Since my mum died and I have no one to tell me you can't wear THAT like THAT! I don't touch the thing. It's not all bad though, I just take an extra 5 minutes to hang stuff on hangers and the like when they are wet and they dry beautifully, no ironing required. Actually it's a prerequisite for any potential men in my life...... Hi I'm Nicole, Hi I'm [insert name], Interested? Sure! Good, do you iron? No...... *see Nicole's dust* hehehehehehehehehehehe!
Jules, I use frozen raspberries or strawberries for cooking, fresh for decorating. My doctoring of box mixes extends to adding different flavours, that's about it. I added a pudding mix and an extra egg and couple spoons of flour to a chocolate cake mix a few weeks ago. Turned out ok.
We really should start a list of good/reasonably priced suppliers. I personally have none, but I think it's about time I started sourcing stuff.
Quote by @%username% on %date%
%body%