"Simple and easy cake designs and techniques to make your job easier" Easter ideas coming up!" 

So many of you have asked:: here is the way to our cake decorating area of AOL again: From the AOL opening screen, use Keyword 'Cooking Club', In the top center 'brown' box, click on 'Cook's School', Then on Cake decorating Online...here you are...now add to your <favorites> with the little <red> heart at top of screen you are on. DO visit 'Discuss Cake Decorating' Add your input please. We have a great time there. 

• DONNKIM: What are lace points
• Dolores777: Lace pieces are the same...those little royal icing lace points we attach to mostly rolled fondant cakes. Wilton calls them lace pieces
• POURQUOI8: My teacher says that there is a difference, maybe in size? Does anyone Know where I could find this information? (NO, sorry)
• DONNKIM: like a ruffle or lace that sticks out around the cake?
• (From Dolores) I don't know of a difference. But we'll try and remember to ask Pwd sugar when she returns, just to make sure.

• Lhamby7231: what about making roses? I'm having a hard time making them
• Dolores777: making roses???
• Dolores777: practice and the right consistency of icing are 2 suggestions
• (From Dolores): I didn't think I had the chance to answer your rose question thoroughly...so As well as practice and the correct icing consistency, here are a few other tips: (If you ignore either of the items below, your roses will resemble cabbages.
• 1. The MORE you want your petals to look 'open' the more you turn/twist your tip out away from you For the very last petals, the tip will be turned over almost flat to the nail.
• 2. You MUST touch the part of the flower that's already made AT ALL TIMES!
• 3. (Maybe this should have been #1): Try to add the bud, 3 petals (last overlapping the first), now add 5 more petals (last overlapping the first), now add 7 more (last overlapping the first)...IF you didn't have room for 3-5-7 petals around your bud...you are making your petals too long.
• 4. Another tip...Each time you add a petal, if you continue on around after you stop squeezing out icing just a little, petals will look more ;finished' and not be sticking out in your way for the next petal.

Before we start <<next>> week we'll have Panorama eggs for you this week 'easy' stuff.

DONNKIM: I made a Mug of Beer out of the Golf Club pan. Cute!

• Happcook: Dee re:carrot cake recipe, what temp and how long should it bake
• (From Dolores) Bake at your regular temp...325-350 degrees, depending on your oven (If it runs a little hot etc).

• DONNKIM: How can I get white cakes not to stick so much. Other flavors don't do this? Why is it that it sticks so much more?
• Dolores777: Use a little more grease/flour Kim. I use a commercial pan spray. It works very well. DO you use the oil called for?
• DONNKIM: yes
• MapLag7: i've never tried that baker joy, does it work good?
• JPine52625: baker's joy good, has flour in it as well as oil
• Dolores777: Spray is MUCH better. You won't have the crust that comes off in your icing. The pan spray we use is Karp's commercial brand. We tried several before we decided on this one. It works the best of them all.
• CarolA5238: It's a lot neater than greasing and flouring.
• AlcantD: I alway's get a funny taste when i use spray on my cookie sheet,
• Dolores777: Maybe you need to try a dif. brand
• Alc JPine52625: have noticed the store brand spray tasted bad
• Dolores777: JP I wouldn't use that. We tried MANY before we settled for the best one
• Lhamby7231: I like the Mazola brand
• DB4MB: Do you use dawn's buttercream too, Dee?
• Dolores777: yes DB PSTRY 8: yes karps spray is better than bakers joy
• DB4MB: Oh, Karps makes the BEST pie filling bases!!

• Dolores777: I use Bettercreme...it comes frozen and you just whip it
• DB4MB: where are you purchasing "bettercreme" from?? is that a Rich's product?
• (From Dolores) We sell Bettercreme in 1-qt cartons. You whip it while frozen. The more you whip, the stiffer it becomes. This is what in-store bakeries use for 'whipped' icings.
• DB4MB: Do you use regular buttercream to ice with, Dee?
• Dolores777: Yes, mostly I do. But when requested we use Bettercreme. Someone said in some areas the brand is Pastry Pride
• DB4MB: Yes, I have used both brands and Bettercreme is the better tasting one!!

WHEN IS IT DONE? Your cake is done when ...it is done....Box or recipe directions are guidelines. You must also test. TO TEST: Press your finger lightly in the center of the cake (last part to be done). If the cake BARELY springs back up it is done. Testing heavy cakes is different. Then a cake tester may be your best tool. If the cake clings to the tool, bake it longer.

• MomaB14: Could someone tell me, is there an ICES chapter in Spfd, MO?
• MomaB14: Who, please? I have asked where I took my classes and they acted like I was stupid.
• (From Dolores) All ICES info is in our 'Discuss Cake Decorating area, posted by Pwd sugar on AOL). It gives you full details to join and also gives you a complete rundown on attending the convention. Pwd worked very hard on this! As for where to find in YOUR state (I do think your teacher was not an ICES member...but I can't believe anyone doesn't know of it who teaches classes!)...Try asking a state rep from your state of from another state....SOME always attend these chats. I'm sure they can tell you the name of your state rep, as well as about any 'happenings' for your state also.
• Dolores777: look on your ices newsletter, for phone# 's to call for info. They will be most happy to tell you.
• DPAULW: Momma try calling Karen Ramsey at 914-776 2650 shes a Florida rep, but has USA list
• Dolores777: you can also visit the ices web site at: http://www.ices.org

• CarolA5238: Dolores, I had a problem with my cake sagging in the middle.
• Dolores777: It just wasn't done Carol...unless you added some additional ingredients to the mix that confused the baking process? They have fantastic cake photos on the ices web!

• AlcantD: Say Dolores777. Just a question here. What is the best brands of pans we could use.?
• Dolores777: I use mostly Wilton, but we've even had Parrish make us some. We had them make us a 'box of roses' pan. Parrish has odd size pans CarolA5238: I like Wilton too. CakeCottag: I like Wilton

• DKaiser221: Dolores do you use a specific brand of cake mix?
• Dolores777: Duncan Hines mostly. But I also use Dawn in 50 # bags too
• AlcantD: I like Pillsbury
• CakeCottag: Betty Crocker is the BEST!
• Kittyba014: anyone in particular or all....(All - for me, (Dolores)
• DB4MB: Mutifoods, have you ever tried them, Dee? They make a very fine grade white cake mix
• Dolores777: I did. but its who we can get it from good and fresh
• ILENE0617: ]I tried Multifoods....didn't like the flavoring they used in mix
• Dolores777: I've tried altering flavors but I don't now
• Dolores777: I do like Dawn and we get raves

• EmThomas: Just have to brag, unusual cake-my dh is a nursing student, asked me to do a cake with an anatomically correct cross section of the human heart- ended up doing it free hand from a picture little ekg strip around the sides

• 1 Yellow cake mix
• 2 pks (4 oz ea) Lemon flavor JELL-O
• 4 Eggs
• 1 cup Water
• 1/4 cup Vegetable oil
• 11/2 cup Cold milk
• 3 1/2 cup COOL WHIP; thawed (8 oz)
• 2 2/3 cups BAKER'S ANGEL FLAKE Coconut
• Ribbon made of rolled fondant (optional)
• See Gumdrop Flowers below.

• Dolores777: I've seen these gum drop flowers at ices...they are quite nice
• CarolA5238: Dolores, you can make a rose out of gum drops too, right?
• Dolores777: Yes, but don't expect perfection

EKiser: Dee I used a grass tip instead of coconut for the cupcakes

• MamaRugRat: Yes and cookies and two bunny cakes.
• FunLearner: We're making a panoramic egg...
• DONNKIM: Thinking of hollow eggs this weekend
• Lhamby7231: Yes, I use the candy molds from Wilton
• JPine52625: doing the lamb cake
• Dolores777: We're making panoramas too
• DONNKIM: also using candy molds for butter on Easter Sunday
• CarolA5238: I 'm making bunny pops with the new wilton molds for easter.
• CKATHYNOT: I love that idea of using candy molds for butter. Can't wait to try it
• DB4MB: I would use that idea if I had Southwest decor........

• DB4MB: Dee, can you recommend a cake idea for a elegant housewarming?
• Dolores777: A house cake I would say...OR I made a teepee and wrote "happiness is a new teepee" with 2 little Indians...so cute and added marzipan fruits MamaRugRat: Wilton had a cute house warming cake idea in one of its yearbooks. It was a dalmatian holding a letter in its mouth showing the new address.

• LfaChef: any know where I can down load some master cook recipes?
• (From Dolores) Try my food links from my web site. I saw one someplace and was all the format they had. I wasn't looking for it, so I have no idea where. I use Meal Master.

• EmThomas: Cakes, I will be doing it with a 12" round, thinking of using a loaf pan for the bathtub
• Cakestmper: I used the mini egg pan for tub, smaller bell for shower CarolA5238: EVer make a baby cradle with the mini egg pan.

• SUSPIRO2: Hello, Never have done a stacked cake, which is better frosting before or after stacking
• Cakestmper: Frost stacked cakes first, before stacking
• (From Dolores)...Put the layers for each tier together with frosting or filling between them, then definitely frost before stacking...also IMPORTANT for stacked cakes - Wrap cardboards all in foil top and bottom, so they won't soak up grease from the icing...OR the cake will appear lop-sided as it sets awhile. AND....be sure you lay a circle of plastic-wrap down before placing the cake above so icing won't pull off when cake is disessembled!

• DONNKIM: How do you make the gumballs so iridescent? Where do you get powdered irr. ?
• (From Dolores) We carry this. Actually it is used more for gum paste.
• Cakestmper: I used the powder iridescent painted on with vodka, used 3 hand fulls.
• DONNKIM: yes, it is cute but very small on too large a cake Lhamby7231: painted on with vodka?
• DONNKIM: What does the vodka do besides add moister, Good flavor I assume?
• Cakestmper: its used for gumpaste, you mix the powder with vodka, the alcohol evaporates

• CarolA5238: Look in the 1991 yearbook for bunny cars, they are fun to make.
• CakeCottag: How much do you sell the bunny cars for?
• CarolA5238: I sell for 1.oo for the lg. and .50 cents for the sm.

• MamaRugRat: DB4MB: The Dalmatians cake is in the 1996 Wilton book in the Valentine's Day section. He's dressed up as a special delivery dog. MomaB14: Speaking of Dalmatian, have you all seen the Disney 101 Dalmatian pan that Wilton put out-- it is not in the yearbook
• DONNKIM: Gotta watch doing copy written cakes and selling them
• MamaRugRat: Edible Images are safer.

• Cakestmper: Here's a quick Easter treat. We dipped the marshmallow bunnies in chocolate, added
• Cakestmper: the eyes, and a sugar egg lay-on You can put them on a sucker stick, and the bunny shape is good
• JPine52625: ca also dip in candy melts or and other brand of coating chocolate

• MamaRugRat: Does anyone know why Wilton sells cake boards, but no boxes to go with them?
• (From Dolores) Thats because your postage would be too high...or theirs if they charge a flat fee. You can usually get those locally.

• Matho89979: I can get to the web page but can't view anything
• (From Dolores)...BEWARE THAT IF YOU FLUB UP AND CHOOSE THE WRONG VIDEO, YOU CANNOT GO BACK INTO WINDOWS UNTIL AFTER YOU GO <BACK> TO Windows Setup AND CHANGE TO A GOOD DRIVER! You can always safely change back to VGA.
• Just a guess...if NO pictures show...it is probably because you have not allowed enough colors to be configured in your Windows Setup. (I think you must have 256 colors enabled before you see graphics in Windows..... If you are using a driver which allows 256 colors, it will be so noted beside the driver chosen. On most systems today, you are likely to have a driver which allows 256 colors...even in 8 bit. I use 24 bit with the video card I have and Windows 95...must have Win95 to use 24 bit. It is best to choose the monitor driver (of the video card) for the video card you are using, rather than plain VGA also.
• To change video using Windows 3.1, exit Windows and go to a DOS prompt. Next. Do cd/ if you are in any directory other than Windows. If you are at c:>/ prompt only, you need to type: cd windows then type Setup. This brings you to the screen to reconfigure your choices. In other words, you must be in your Windows directory. This is where the Setup file resides.
• TO DO: Arrow down/up to Video Display (from the list). Press Enter. You will see all the video drivers that already exist on your system. You may need your book which came with your video CARD to know which driver is compatible. Arrow down to the driver you wish to use and press Enter. This will re-configure your system to using this driver. If though,
• YOU HAVE Windows 95, go to Control Panel, then Display...and choose the proper Video Driver. ...may need your Windows disk OR the disks that came with your video card. ONLY drivers for YOUR monitor will work!
• NOTE: You need to display "256 colors" to see most graphics. Pwd sugar had this problem, but she uses a Mac. I gave her some "PC" hints and she figured it out...IF you have a Mac.