January 1, 1999 Cake decorating chat - OPEN MIKE, A lot about ICES and some very important corrections to an article by Earlene.

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CCChefPwd: How many of you received the new issue of American Cake Decorating Magazine this week. I have a couple of articles in there and there are a few errors.  I thought I would
CCChefPwd: give you guys the corrections and then you can pass them on.
Swtelegnt: Yes I did I love all of your articles pwdr, and the interview was wonderful
KatsKakes: That would be great, pwd.  I thought the articles were very good!
KatsKakes: Got mine


This is the scheduled cake decorating chat hour.  Welcome and do feel free to join in.  We do have open mike tonight so we can discuss anything you would like. Dolores is having a family party at her house tonight so she won’t be joining us.
I do have one fairly lengthy thing I would like to share with you.  This week you may have received your new issue of the American cake decorating magazine.  I had a couple of articles in there and there were a few mistakes made.  I would like to give you the corrections for those and then you can share those with other decorators in your area.

On page 21, first column, second paragraph, center I did not make the statement . " for me, that’s from scratch." or mean to imply  that meaning in any way.  At least 75% of the cakes that my customers order are from "doctored" cake mixes.  I only have three recipes that I make from scratch.   I try to give my customers the best tasting, moistest cake possible.  If the best white cake I can offer them is from a cake mix base that is what I use.  If the best carrot cake is from scratch that is what I use.
 
In the AOL chat conversations and on Dolores’ bulletin board we have found that this subject (scratch versus cake mixes) is a real sore spot for some decorators.  We have those died in the wool purists that feel that the only "really  good cake" is a cake from scratch.  They really do give those of us who use lots of cake mixes a bad time.  They feel they we are giving our customers inferior products when we use the mixes.  Dolores and I both feel that the mixes and the scratch cakes have their places.  In the long run it is a choice by each individual baker and decorator in what they offer their customers.  One is not necessarily better than the other.
 
Page 21, second column, bottom paragraph.  It reads cut eight 7",…….. that should have read cut eighteen 7", ….anyone following those instructions is going to come up very short of loops for this puffy bow .

Page 21, third column, top paragraph.   It reads  loops and 13 assorted......   should read;  loops and 5 to 7 assorted...... Or 7 assorted...... At least this error will  give them more than they need. So that isn’t such a bad mistake.

Page 22, first column, in the Italian cream cake recipe,  it states measure 8 c. Cake flour and 8 c. Regular flour.......     it should read:  measure 3 c. Cake flour and 3 c. Regular flour
That would make a huge difference in that recipe.  If you know of other cake decorators in your area please let them know about this mistake.  The 16 cups of flour would be a huge waste of ingredients.

They seemed pretty bored so I didn't put this info on.  I didn't think it that important to correct this info.

Page 35, third column, attendance will  be one-third less than that, more if mostly family is invited.
because this was a phone interview I can understand her not stating what I meant.   Actually in this Lubbock, TX area I only recommend that they order cake for one third to one half of the total number of people they have invited.  Because I noticed that most other decorators gave much higher estimates such as in the 66% to 80% of the total number of people invited she probably thought she misunderstood me.  No big deal.  I find that even using these lower guidelines for the amount of cake they need - most of them have plenty of cake left.  The only time a customer ran out of cake was when she invited 600 people and ordered only enough cake for 100 just because she didn’t want to pay for more cake.  That was her choice.  She didn’t care if they ran out of cake.  We can only guide a customer we can’t make them follow our guidelines.

Of course in your area the guidelines may need to be different.  We each must help the brides according to our past knowledge and experience.

Thanks for letting me make those corrections now what would you like to discuss tonight…..


Swtelegnt: pwd I can let a lot of people in the NW know your corrections, though our news letters
CCChefPwd: Thanks.  They will print a correction in the next issue but that is two months away

PjW10: Earlene, Your cake in the new cake mag is beautiful
CCChefPwd: Thanks.  That was fun to do.  I still have the bow from the top to use on a cake ordered for January

JMars42606: What magazine was this in?
CCChefPwd: That is in the new issue of American Cake Decorating
JMars42606: Do they have a web address? How can I get this?
CCChefPwd: JMars you can go to American cake decorating site online and order it online. If you want this new issue I would look in a Michael’s store to find one.
JMars42606: Thanks so much. This has been great but husband is 30 min late. He may be trying to call and I am tying up the line I will defiantly pick up the mag at Michael’s till I get a scrip

KatsKakes: I absolutely agree with your statement on cake mixes, pwd.  They get such a "bad rap", but in some cases, they do make excellent cakes.
Swtelegnt: I use mostly cake mixes that I dress up, nobody so far can tell the difference
KatsKakes: People swear that my cakes are from scratch - actually, almost all are mixes.
CCChefPwd: You and I both KatsKakes
Dzigncakes: I like D.H. mixes for my cakes.
MHohimer: I really haven't tasted a bad cake using mixes when they are doctored up.
JMars42606: The most popular private bakery in our area uses mixes though she would never admit it.


OPEN MIKE:
CCChefPwd: It is open mike tonight so if you have anything you want to ask or discuss just let us know. Happy New Year everyone - hopefully it will be a great year for all of you. Your schedule should slow down a little now with the big chocolate push over.
Shavkin: First time I've been here in months.
CCChefPwd: You have been busy with your chocolate
Shavkin: Extremely so.

JMars42606: I found out about this chat on Dolores' site
CCChefPwd: Good JMars.......  Dolores is having a family party at her house tonight so she won't be
JMars42606: I hate to here that I was looking forward to telling her  how much I enjoy her site
JMars42606: Are there any long time I.C.E.S. members here
CCChefPwd: I am a charter ICES member.
Shavkin: joined in 1982
CCChefUrb: what's ICES
MHohimer: I joined in 1983
Shavkin: The International Cake Exploration Societe
JMars42606: I have only gotten to about three of the sites I wanted to see/ I've only been online for 3
days. My mom was a charter member I think, Becky Gardner
JMars42606: Well, I just haven't gotten around to it but I have not been in the cake world for a while and now that I am back I want to join. My mom and me are from Ga.
CCChefPwd: JMars there is so much on here for cake decorators now.  You will have fun checking them out
JMars42606: I almost came out of my chair when I checked out deco pac and saw the photocake item
CCChefPwd: If you have been out of the cake world for a while you will be amazed at the new stuff
available to all of us now.
JMars42606: I grew up in the cake business. She had a shop called Celebration Center. I do something now. Quite different though. I work in a retail bakery.

KatsKakes: Millie - how are things coming along for convention - looking forward to coming to KC again!!
MHohimer: We're making progress on Convention plans.   Expect registration forms to start coming in, now that the holidays are over.   Will look forward to all of yours.

KatsKakes: Has anyone heard how Caroline is doing.  I've missed the last couple of chats, but heard she was having some problems
CCChefPwd: I haven't talked to Carolyn this week.  The last note I had from her sounded like she was still doing all right
MHohimer: Carolyn is doing fair.   She keeps having these spells where the mucous collects in her throat and she feels as if she is choking to death until she gets it coughed up.   Very frightening.
KatsKakes: Good news - she's such a neat lady!!
KatsKakes: Millie - would you tell her that Kathy from Omaha said "Hi" and that I'll keep her
in my prayers - Thanks.
CCChefPwd: Sounds horrible for her Millie
MHohimer: She's very worried about it.
CCChefPwd: I'll bet.   We all need to keep her in our prayers
MHohimer: I surely will, Kathy.  And, yes Pwd, it is terrible for her.
MHohimer: Yes, we do and she really appreciates all concerns.  I haven't talked to her today.

Shavkin: How do we ck out my web page in the Cooking Club area?  I know the newsletter is put in there each month.  I use one of the issues of the newsletter and revise and edit it for the aol cooking site.
CCChefPwd: I found your page today by just going to the Keyword - Cooking club and your web site, my web site and your newsletter are all listed.

JMars42606: Has anyone actually tried the Photocake  machine or something like it?
CCChefPwd: I know Dolores has one of those she recently purchased.  But it may be another brand
JMars42606: I understand there are two or three maybe more. I wondered about the results

CCChefPwd: Diane give your web site address
Shavkin: http://members.aol.com/shavkin/index.htm

Shavkin: Let's talk about gumpaste and gum trag.
Shavkin: I've been trying to find a place to purchase it at a good price since my supplier does not
carry it any longer.
CCChefPwd: Diane I know at the last convention.  Nicholas told me that he has switched to using
the tylose pwd for his gumpaste
MHohimer: I heard that info too Pwd.
Shavkin: I found two, but have to find out what minimum order they will sell it to me for.
Dzigncakes: What is tylose pwd ??
CCChefPwd: I use CK's GP mix and it works great mixed with a little of Bakel's
Swtelegnt: I don't know about anyone else, but I love the tylose gum paste
CCChefPwd: Tylose Pwd I understand is another gum pwd that give the elasticity to our gumpaste
Shavkin: Where do u get that and how much?
Swtelegnt: Tylose is a name brand of cmc
NOTE: Sugarcraft carries gum trag, but it is now called vegetable gum. But Gumtex by Wilton is gum trag and it works very well. In fact, theirs is my favorite gumpaste recipe of all time. I have that recipe for Gumpaste on my website at: http://w3.one.net/~proicer/index.html under RECIPES

BS1128325: have anyone ever heard of hoppin john
CCChefPwd: I have heard of hopping john
BS1128325: i need help some one
CCChefPwd: But I don't know the recipe for it.
JMars42606: What is hoppin John
MHohimer: I've heard of it but don't know the recipe either.
BS1128325: do you know some one who do
MHohimer: Check the Internet - you will find all kinds of recipes.
CCChefPwd: CookNRedHd have you heard of hopping john
BS1128325: where should i go
CCChefPwd: Go to keyword Cooking club and then look in the recipe section
MHohimer: Enter Hopping John Recipe in the address block & click find or go.

Dzigncakes: Two yr ago a made New Year ball cake was the hit of the party.
Ball pan from wilton.decoration buttercream icing and gold drage as lights.
CCChefPwd: Did you try to make it like the Times Square ball

LeoLady68: Help I am looking for a recipe for dirt cake or know as dirt salad. Made with pudding cream cheese oreos cool whip
MHohimer: Yes, if you will e-mail me your address I will send it to you.
Swtelegnt: I'v seen the recipe before, you might try the Internet - Kraft might have the recipe

CCChefPwd: I love the sharing - It is just a little harder in this medium.  Someday we will be able to
CCChefPwd: have graphics on here to and then won't that be fun

CCChefPwd: Did any of you check out my grand daughters Christmas cookie projects on the AOL chat listings
Swtelegnt: yes pwd I saw it , in fact my daughter thought it was great
CCChefPwd: It was there first big projects to make.  It took them three afternoons to complete those.
They sure had fun making those
CCChefPwd: We need our kids and grandkids to be able to see that children can do neat things in our sugar world
Swtelegnt: my daughter loves the cake shows in our area, she loves making her "fake cakes" for them
CCChefPwd: I think the girls want to do a graham cracker village next year with who knows what
their imaginations will come up with in the next year. These kids are a sugar world future.  It needs to be fun for them so they can learn to love this sugar world to.
CCChefPwd: How old is your daughter?
Swtelegnt: She can't wait till she is old enough to go to an ices convention. She's 10, and growing like a weed
CCChefPwd: You don't think she is old enough to go to an ICES convention?
MHohimer: Sure she's old enough to go to Convention.
Swtelegnt: no, but you will all meet her at the show in Portland in 2001
Dzigncakes: i would like to go to an ICES convention any of them in New Jersey?
MHohimer: Convention was in Baltimore a couple years ago and will be in Nashville 2002 - that's the closest so far.
CCChefPwd: All you have to do Dzigncakes is attend one. There is so much to learn and share every year you won't want to miss another one
Swtelegnt: if you haven't been to an ICES convention , you gotta go. My first time ,it was unbelievable
CCChefPwd: It is a non-stop packing your brain with cake decorating info
PjW10: I can't wait for KC!
Swtelegnt: I enjoy them every year, and everyone is fun to meet, and get to know
CCChefPwd: Not far away - get those entries ready for the cake and sugar displays. It is like a family reunion and all the family loves cake decorating
CCChefPwd: PjW10 she is in our Convention state this year and helping get us organized
MHohimer: I am Registration person for Convention this year.

Dzigncakes: did anyone  make gingerbread houses this year?
Dzigncakes: i made about 5
Swtelegnt: I made a village, or if they were put together it would make one

CCChefPwd: Thanks for being here again tonight.  See you next week.  Happy New year to you all and have a very joyous and prosperous New Year