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TOP OF YOUR AOL MENU, CLICK ON <<FILE>>, SCROLL DOWN TO <<LOG MANAGER>> CLICK ON OPEN LOG...... AND SAVE-AS ---ANY NAME ...CAKECHAT.LOG (ETC) IN A FOLDER (DIRECTORY) ... AFTER YOU EXIT AOL YOU CAN USE ANY WORD PROCESSOR TO OPEN AND READ IT.

LATER WE WILL HAVE 'OPEN MIKE' AND WE WOULD LIKE IT IF YOU WOULD ADD YOUR INPUT, PLEASE.. IN THE MEANTIME, YOU ARE MOST WELCOME TO ADD COMMENTS AND TO ASK QUESTIONS.

THIS WEEK WE MUST USE OUR NEW NAMES APPOINTED TO US BY AOL.. DOLORES777 IS CCCHEFDOL AND PWD SUGAR IS CCCHEFPWD. THIS IS AN AOL THING. WE HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH IT. I LIKE THE NAME OKAY THOUGH : )

PWD SUGAR (OR) CCCHEFPWD...CAN'T BE HERE. SHE IS ON A MUCH NEEDED TRIP TO VISIT WITH HER FAMILY.

My answer to this question is a HUGE AND RESOUNDING <YES>. All it takes is your own ambition and perseverance, like for any other business you would have.. Take classes, learn new techniques, then practice them well. Your success depends on you. This isn't like crafts that take forever then 'maybe' they sell. You'll always have orders for whatever cakes you make to sell. I truthfully don't know an easier way to make money at home! You just have to want to.

At first, you will just be amazed that anyone actually asks you to do them a cake. But the word gets out and you get better at your decorating, both. It took me several years to get really busy. The first year I probably had one cake a month, then the next year one cake a week, the next several cakes a week. You can see I did start off slowly. Back when I started (1965) people didn't do cakes in their homes. But we had a very bad bakery in town (which helped me immensely!)

CAN I?: That is a BIG <YES>. Some people are more artistically inclined than others. For this reason some people accomplish more techniques and do it better. But the main reason that I think some people never get to be really good at cake decorating is that they don't give the learning process enough time. At first you must try practicing over and over - the same things. And take all the classes. If you don't do this before you get a full fledged business going you will never get good. You won't have time. Over-work and burnout are vicious problems.
   ONE INCIDENT FOR EXAMPLE: This couple (husband & wife), took my entire 12-week class session. After about the 8th week, they were getting orders from where the husband worked. Several cakes for the same day. About 3 weeks before the 12th week course ended, the husband took orders at work for Box-of-roses cakes....50 of them! - for Mother's Day (=$1,000.00)! This was very stressful. They barely could make suitable roses and barely could ice the cakes nicely. But they did it. After about 6 months they became so stressed out they quit doing cakes at all...oh, once in awhile I see them in here, but rarely. A shame, they sure had a good thing going. They invested money in all the tools and they don't use them.

Gigimama: I couldn't imagine doing 50 cakes for the same day, especially so early!
CCChefDol: Gig...my daughter does that every Fri-Sat!
Icing Wiz: some of my students take on wedding cakes before there ready I end up helping usually
STAT91: I can get stressed doing one cake, the planning then decorating I enjoy the finished product.  Can't believe I can be so talented
Gigimama: STAT, Know what you mean; I amaze myself sometimes! One of my first cakes was a wedding cake, major burnout! Didn't do another cake for months after that!
CCChefDol: Gig, that’s a bad way to start...don't have to tell you I bet it was 2 years before I did a wed. cake
Icing Wiz: I waited a year of doing all occasion cakes before I took on a wedding cake.  I never do something I am not sure of
Gigimama: My sister asked me to do her wedding cake-that's how I got started in this. But when I started my "business" I vowed no to do one for the first year

SUPPLEMENTING: If you want, you can supplement your income (and help get the word out about your cakes), by also making candies. Making candy with compound coating chocolates is so easy. It takes no skill and very little time to learn. Shops are usually plenty willing to help you get started. Many offer learning videos. While you are learning: Easy candies, such as peanut butter cups, a rose in bride's colors, chocolate covered cherries, lollipops, mints, etc., can be made with compound coating chocolate. A candy business expands so much faster than cake decorating. It takes no skill. Candy making is very seasonal though. Christmas, Easter and possibly Mother's and Father's Days will be the busiest, with Christmas being by far the best. Time-wise, its easiest because candies can be made several days to weeks ahead.
   Business-wise its better because you can make candies without pre-ordering. Some candy makers make several kinds of candy then take or send them to work to sell via husband, family or friends, to sell. You collect money as people buy the candies then and there. They eat them and come back to buy more!    Of course, you can use coating chocolate in bride's colors to make decorations such as hearts for the cake too. This is easy and fast decorating.
   * SUGARCRAFT'S CANDY BOOK EXPLAINS IN GREAT DETAIL HOW TO MAKE CANDIES. IT EXPLAINS EVERYTHING FROM HOW TO HANDLE THE CHOCOLATE TO ALL MY FAVORITE RECIPES. IT EVEN INCLUDES A SECTION ON COOKED CANDIES TO HELP YOU EXPAND YOUR HORIZONS ONCE YOU GET STARTED. $4.99

EPre361706: what’s a good way to get started with orders any ideas
EPre361706: where do you get compound any catalog ect.
CCChefDol: EP...online from me even...at http://www.sugarcraft.com
WHISLTER: candy and cake compliment each other
Lgjjyoung: I like doing candy molds its an easy way to accent a cake
LauraJMD: What's the going rate for homemade candy?
CCChefDol: $7.00 per pound here...and up
Icing Wiz: EP Country Kitchen, Wilton etc.
Gigimama: I charged $10/lb for fancier candies
BadVegie: <~~~always raises prices during holidays
CCChefDol: you should get as much as you can -whatever you think is fair
EPre361706: what do you charge for cakes and do you do alot of fondant
CCChefDol: charge for cakes...more than the bakeries, even to start
Cheryl 719: is that available online CCChef?
CCChefDol: http://w3.one.net/~proicer/index.html
CCChefDol: My candy recipes are all available on my web site
TC135A: how do you temper chocolate and why?
CCChefDol: TC...no tempering needed with coating choc.
Minna111: The best of all candy classes I ever took was from Mildred Brand of Country Kitchen - so complete - she touched all phases of candy making
CCChefDol: Me too Minna...where I met you I think? Lucky we had Mildred for a teach...she retired now
Minna111: Probably, took my first class from her before MI show in '76

BACK TO CAKES:
EQUIPEMENT: Your cake decorating shouldn't cost an awful lot. But you will need basic tools: Pans, good food colors, bags and tips. I wouldn't go overboard on buying a lot of character pans either. I sure didn't...didn't have them anyway LOL. You might not use most of them once you learn other ways of doing a cake. 'Fad' pans become out-dated and dead weight...except for the collector value. There ARE some pans that are useful for many different occasions. SOME OF THOSE ARE: The PETITE DOLL PAN, BOOK PAN, Ball Pan, etc. And of course a full set of ROUND PANS. Also RECTANGLE PANS - for at least 3 sizes of cakes; quarter sheet, half sheet and full sheet (put 2 half sheets together for a full sheet).
   PETITE DOLL PAN: I made a book using this pan to make 100 little characters. Most of the time character-shaped cakes aren't large enough. This pan solves that dilemma. You can set these cakes on any other shape or size....make a bridal shower cake and have the bride and bridesmaids, etc.
   BALL PAN: Besides the 'ball' it was made to serve for, I use it for the top of a wedding cake too. I bake just a little batter in the pan and turn it over on the top of the 6" cake. I ice it and add icing flowers....sure beats having real flowers soaked with insecticide on my cakes! Besides, your cakes will look much prettier with YOUR icing flowers.
   BOOK PAN: You can almost incorporate the book cake into any occasion. The edible Images fit perfectly. Or you can make a drawing. Makes a great 'bible' cake. If it is too small, there is a 2-mix book pan. Or, just place the book cake on a 12x18 cake. This gives you even more decorating potential.

NOW, HOW DO I GET ORDERS?:
1. MY FRIENDS: My friends told each other. Word-of-mouth is your best advertising source. Never forget that advertising costs money, so remember your friends with special cakes or other compensations.
2. YOUR KIDS: When your kids have a birthday party and their friends come, they'll see the fantastic cake and tell their moms. This is basically how I got started. The kids all wanted one of my doll cakes!
3. MAKE SOME POSTERS and post them around town. I put some in Laundromats...a great place, since people have lots of time to spare while their clothes wash. Put posters on grocery store bulletin boards if you can too.
4. BE SURE YOUR NAME AND PHONE NUMBER GO OUT WITH EACH CAKE. Maybe you want to have cards made. But don't include your address, just for safety's sake. CARDS: When you do a wedding cake DO leave some cards. Just a few, so they'll be sure and disappear before cake cutting time. People will be ever so grateful for this.

Gigimama: The initial supplies required aren't that much, but the more you do, the more you want!
Bridal1: If you go to ICES convention, you want it all!
Vicake: and you never get over it, huh gals no matter how long you decorate
CCChefDol: Right Vi, I bet I buy books at ICES!!! LOL
Vicake: I always come home with a suitcase full of books, lol
Gigimama: That's why I had to start selling my cakes, to expensive just as a hobby!
CCChefDol: I didn't dare get too much...had to make money for the kids

FOLLOW A FEW RULES: Become consistent with your cake mix brand and your icing recipes before you get too deep into this thing. People will become familiar with your icing and rave about it to their friends. They become very disgruntled when you try to change recipes!
YOUR HOURS: I always kept strict hours that people could depend on me being home. I chose between 4 and 6 PM. This was when I was making dinner anyway and needed to be home. This way, I could go away all day long, just so I was home when I promised I would be. This worked out well for years. As the kids got older, I could even be gone between 4-6PM if the kids were at home.
   Saturdays were mostly spent either delivering wedding cakes or having appointments with brides. I allowed one hour for each. It was nothing to have 5 per day. One hour is usually enough, unless you know the cake may be super elaborate, then you may need to give it more time. But they won't stick around too long when the next couple arrive. This keeps things going smoothly for you.
KEEP ORGANIZED: Start a picture album, file your cake patterns where you can put your hand on them fast, box up any plastics you keep on hand and label them. If you must store pans in boxes, label the boxes as to what pans are in what box. We started a reference file ...listed all the cute ideas. You can use Microsoft WORD to do it. Just be sure to keep everything on one line. You can alphabeticalize it if you keep each idea on one line. We use this file over and over again. It needs updated when you get new books, but what you already have will always be there even if you don't update it ever.

ITS OPEN MIKE TIME: DO YOU HAVE SOME TIPS AND HINTS FOR PEOPLE JUST GETTING STARTED?

VALRIOS1: I used rice paper on a cake and when we cut the cake still the paper was hard, it didn't get soft. Is that normal?
CCChefDol: doesn't get soft...rice paper. The edible images DO get soft though.
VALRIOS1: oh, thanks Dolores
Vicake: did you put piping gel on your rice paper?
VALRIOS1: that’s why I was expecting this to melt into the icing, but it looked pretty good anyway
CCChefDol: I put p. gel on mine, front and back
VALRIOS1: i used food coloring markers
Vicake: I avoid rice paper like the plague except to make butterflies
VALRIOS1: you outline your picture Dolores?
Minna111: rice paper can be so versatile!
CCChefDol: VAL, that’s good sometimes and the gel other times. Pwd sugar makes butterflies like you disc
EPre361706: how
CCChefDol: I outline, yes, with icing sometimes
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Minna111: royal wafer paper is good way to have edible decorations on hand ahead of time
VALRIOS1: the fill in with piping gel?
CCChefDol: yes VAL...nice for church window this way
STAT91: rice paper - food coloring makers - we are really out of it in
Hawaii. We must be in a different country. We haven't even heard of this stuff.
We have the every basic stuff
VALRIOS1: where do i get royal wafer paper?
VALRIOS1: i just learn something new Dolores, thanks
CCChefDol: Minna...whats with the 'royal;' rice paper? make the paper?
Minna111: royal wafer paper is something you make. You just need to get a good catalogue from a supplier and have it shipped.  Fist you draw your picture on wafer paper and paint it in. Then you cut out design and turn it over and cover back with royal icing and dry. You then have standing designs such as figures of animals, people, etc
EffieGreen: Minna, why cover the back with royal?
CCChefDol: oh - like Mary Beth Enderson...took her class
Minna111: Effei to make them stand
Minna111: Yes, CCC this is Mary Beth's technique
Vicake: They stand up like a figurine if you paint with royal icing
CCChefDol: still have my puddle faces made in her class
Minna111: CCC - love those in the center of daisies on a baby shower cake!
CCChefDol: Minna, right, really cute. I still show them in class...ohhh… they are in Wilton's course 2 now!!!!
Minna111: I seemed to have forgotten all those useful techniques once I started using airbrush!

Indiana500: how about having kids take some flyers to school and around neighborhood
Minna111: Being unlicensed is a dangerous situation now-a-days. Back when I started, it was OK
Gigimama: and word-of-mouth is too slow.  People don't talk to each other in this area!
Vicake: Health Dept., strict here they would be on you in a minute if you put up poster
Indiana500: yes I guess Minna, health board can be strict
EPre361706: do you have to have a license
VALRIOS1: i only bake for family and friends special occasions, and mostly is my gift
CCChefDol: word of mouth is good...you need that time to study
Icing Wiz: all my cakes are word of mouth I have to turn cakes down
CCChefDol: Health dept>: I don't think you'll need to worry unless you really get a bus. going
Minna111: I got a good business established by taking cakes to school functions
Gigimama: My daughter's not in school yet, so that cuts back on my opportunities for promotion
Icing Wiz: I am thinking of sharing a lisc. kitchen with someone since it is so expensive here to get started
Vicake: Take small cakes to doctors, dentist , bank, wherever you go to an office
CCChefDol: Icing, if
Minna111: gigimama, does your school have bake sales? - donate a cake!
Vicake: Well most dental offices have a lot of working gals who order cakes
Gigimama: I don't have school-aged children, and there are so many schools around, I really don't know what they do or when
Minna111: gigi watch your local paper and look for bulletins at supermarket
Icing Wiz: I took free cake to the office of a big paddlewheel boat that has weddings on it I got 5 job that.
CCChefDol: bridal shows are good ways to get bus too
Msdebicaks: Street festival & green markets on Sat ams are always looking for baked goods
CCChefDol: Msd...good to bake cake in ice-cream cones for that

MRS T 123: can I ask a question from you cake people? I am looking at a Kitchen Aid mixer. Any strong opinions amongst you folks?
Gigimama: Kitchen Aid is the best!
CCChefDol: MRS...don't get the very cheapest model! Even it won't last maybe
VALRIOS1: love my Kitchenaid,
Lgjjyoung: I love my Kitchen Aid
EffieGreen: Mrs get the 5 qt. if you can afford it!
Icing Wiz: I have had mine 7 yrs no problems Knock on wood
Minna111: MRS buy the 5 quart!
Minna111: Mine is 27 yrs old
MRS T 123: that's what I am looking at - the pro model w/ the 5 qt. bowl
CCChefDol: Min KA didn't last too long when I got the cheap one
MRS T 123: does 259 seem like a good price?
RachDminor: thanks, Dolores .. I've just been looking at the cheaper one
Gigimama: For a 5 Qt? Yes!
Minna111: CCC i assume the first ones, yrs ago, were equal to good ones now
MRS T 123: I kinda thought so
VALRIOS1: i have a very antique one, maybe 30 years old, still works, is just for deco in my kitchen, and also
Gigimama: I paid $200 for the 4-1/2, not the cheapest
Vicake: Mine is l5 years old never gave me a minutes trouble
VALRIOS1: a 5 year old, that i always use
CCChefDol: Minna...don't think they had that cheapo til recently...fooled people
MRS T 123: so general consensus is that I should get the pro model with the 5 qt. bowl for 259?  Right?
CCChefDol: gwet the one that is at least over $200.00
Devonpeter: When I bought my K5 I had to return 3 of them because they were out of alignment
Gigimama: Yes, MRS T
CCChefDol: Ours is the colored one and it is okay for our high volume
MRS T 123: Ok - tomorrow it is mine !!   YEAH !!!
CCChefDol: But we use a 20 qt mostly
VALRIOS1: mine cost me 189.00 on sale , i order form Spiegel catalog, and at the time they had free shipping
Minna111: the good thing about KA is that they can be repaired over and over if need be
CCChefDol: VAL...bet that’s the one that doesn't last...cost $125.00 and up to repair I found out
RachDminor: I've heard of people loving ones they inherited 20 years ago which were then 35 years old ;)
VALRIOS1: kitchen aid ultra power ksm90
MRS T 123: thanks for the help
VALRIOS1: i had it for maybe 6 to 7 years now, it is the same style at sears , but there fro 259.00

EPre361706: cake mixes or homemade which
Minna111: EP depends on you alone,
Minna111: EP what your customers like best

LeighDigg: getting so much cake stuff accumulated using the Rubbermaid large containers 25 gal and up to store things in
Icing Wiz: I am using my laundry room and closets for all my stuff my Husband is building a closet in
Lgjjyoung: My cake stuff has taken over my bedroom - no garage
RachDminor: I've been doing that for my candy molds and cookie cutters (from Sugarcraft .. yay!!! ;0)
LeighDigg: don't have one..  Using several Rubbermaid’s and shelves in closets at this point

Lgjjyoung: How do I keep my icing from cracking as it dries
CCChefDol: Lgjj...cracks because the cardboard isn't sturdy enough maybe?
Icing Wiz: Your Icing Cracks?
EffieGreen: My icing always cracked when the board flexed.  I switched to
masonite boards.
Lgjjyoung: I know that was part of the problem
LeighDigg: If I have someone who doesn't want to spend a lot for cakes but wants butter in buttercream.  Is it bad to use for icing cake and using Crisco buttercream for decorations?
CCChefDol: Leigh, that’s as you should do
Icing Wiz: I use "homestyle" like in our books Sherri to ice cakes using butter flavored Crisco plus country morning blend(instead of butter) the decorators Crisco only for borders flowers etc
LeighDigg: I always do the "extra special" with whipping cream. Just didn't want to be considered cheap, but it does add up - just like the way it tastes better
Icing Wiz: I can't use whipping cream too soft for me I guess it is hotter in Naples
RHarte9451: Keep the whipping cream over a bowl of ice and add some bar sugar so it holds up
VALRIOS1: i only use pastry pride to ice and decorate my cakes, never had a problem, as long is not during summer and outside

Limey20: Do u have any cakes that use beer in them?
CCChefDol: Limey....Pwd sugar has some that use home brew - has on her web site

Gigimama: Is there a preferred size for a round cake for a show?  Is an 8" ok, or should I do bigger?
CCChefDol: Gigi...doesn't matter to the judge how large or small, only how well and original you do it
Gigimama: good, I just want to do a small one.  I'm entering my second show next week, got 2nd place at my first last month!
RachDminor: wow, congratulations, Gigi! I'd be psyched :)
CCChefDol: Gig, be very neat, original, good colors etc like that

RachDminor: I've just gotten the bug to make a piano out of gingerbread ..
inside the piano pan.  Think it will work? (the curves and all)
RHarte9451: how about all 88 keys  lolol
CCChefDol: YES Rach...sounds like fun
CCChefDol: and you've got a good knowledge of gingerbread
RachDminor: It does, huh, Dolores? :) ...   a student just challenged me and I realized I have the pans now!
Minna111: Rach, I think cardboard templates would be better, make squares of gingerbread and cut when freshly warm out of oven Neat straight lines.
RachDminor: Minna, getting the vertical curves right, though, is where the pan can help, I'd think - I THINK ... I'll try it ... the top I'll just cut out, but I want the body, too
CCChefDol: Rach wants it to be rounded maybe. I think it would work...love gingerbread
Minna111: Rach if you cut when warm you get perfect curves and straight lines makes assembling easy
RachDminor: Oh, Dolores ... you use cookie cutters AFTER baking, don't you?
Minna111: Rach try my method, you'll be pleasantly surprised
Minna111: Rach made gingerbread everything for many years
CCChefDol: Rach...I just cut it out, then bake...trim after baked if nec
RachDminor: Minna, I see how it would work with the top, for example, but not the sides.
RachDminor: ahh, Dolores, I thought you baked a "sheet" of dough, then cut it while warm
Minna111: Rach for sides, cut strips and place on pan, when warm to cool in shape
RachDminor: I'd never heard of that .. read it somewhere -oh, what a GREAT idea, Minna ... duhh .. thank you! :))
CCChefDol: noooo Rach, sorry thought you knew already..read my GB pages...tells you the quick way
RachDminor: That's what I do, too, Dolores ... thought maybe a better idea had come down the pike :)
Minna111: Rach you can make many shapes this way, used to make silos for farm houses this way
RachDminor: I'm more and more serious about cookie bouquets and gingerbread ...
Minna111: Rach they go good in our area, flowers in flower pot
RachDminor: I only knew about draping the dough over a foil-covered oatmeal box, say ... geez, thanks, Minna - it's so obvious now, but I didn't think of shaping it around the pan while warm ..
CCChefDol: yes Rach...you can until it gets brittle
Shavkin: What are u all talking about shaping in pan, etc.?
RachDminor: neat, Dolores
RachDminor: Shavkin, I want to make a piano out of gingerbread
CCChefDol: Gingerbread Diane
RachDminor: now that I play out my idea of baking it inside the piano pan, it would melt down .. lol
RachDminor: Thanks ... I understand fully now .. wow .. this'll be fun
Shavkin: I onced judged something in gingerbread - slippers- incredible!
RachDminor: slippers?   geee
Shavkin: It was in Canada.  It was sooooooooo great and impressive that we gave it "most original".
CCChefDol: see Rach, they must have baked it as one piece
Minna111: You can make anything from gingerbread I LUV doing gingerbrea!
Minna111: Rach get those embossed sheets for dollhouses, bricks, etc and press onto warm gingerbread and you have fabulous designs
RachDminor: embossed sheets, Minna?  oh, please tell me
Shavkin: Will do, Carolyn.  Gloria will be there and so will Kathy S.
Shavkin: In fact, Kathy is demonstrating gingerbread houses - with lights!
Minna111: Rach you know those pieces for dollhouse building, brick patterns, etc?
RachDminor: I have a couple thousand rubber stamps and want more and more to
find ways to use them with cakes, cookies and chocolate ...no, I don't, Minna
Minna111: Rach roll out dough and press those into dough for designs
RachDminor: sounds FUN!
CCChefDol: Rach...wonder why you couldn’t use those on cookies
Minna111: Rach yu have to visit dollhouse shop and see
RachDminor: are they in craft stores for dollhouses?
Icing Wiz: Karen Ramsey cakestmper loves rubber stamps for cakes
JWGPKG: I was about to say the same thing, Icing. She's "stamp" crazy!
Minna111: Rach that's another idea, yu can use stamps for dough
RachDminor: Yes, Minna ... I textured some walls with stamps  .. haven't explored all that much yet
Minna111: Rach I used to cut designs in cardboard and press edge into dough: eg. scallops

Thursday, April 23, 1998 at 9 PM ET in the  Kitchen Conference Room -- Cake Decorating with CCChefDol and  CCChefPwd:  "OPEN FORUM - YOU ASK THE QUESTIONS AND WE WILL TRY TO GIVE YOU AN  ANSWER OR TO FIND A SOLUTION FOR YOU." But I'll be here and I'll try to also have a few special fun things for you.