Geek Week!

Well, I managed to get one post up in July! hashtag winning! Between Fourth of July, Comic-con, Maine, and general shenanigans, the blog kinda fell to the wayside. But - I have a few posts coming up - on the previously mentioned Comic-con and some fun themed parties I'm in the process of planning. Until then... it's GEEK WEEK on YouTube!

They've got some great programming up including this Choose Your Own Adventure! Super cool right? I've been having a lot of fun watching the Geek Week videos. Not to mention productive at work!

Wednesday Review: Fun & Original Character Cakes

Fun & Original Character Cakes by Maisie Parrish is a wonderful book! 

What I Like:

·         It's another British book! We get to read about sugarpaste, colours, and humour! While there are weird terms I don't know like "tylose powder" and "gum tragacanth" (I'm assuming they're just the British way of saying things instead of baking terms I'm not familiar with) they are fully explained in layman's terms in the book.

·         This book is a wealth of information. It tells you how to color, store, and paint fondant. It includes tips on how to store, transport, and cut your cake after it's made. It also has a section dedicated to the equipment you'll need to make the models complete with labeled pictures and explanations.

·         Recipes! You know by now that I love when books include recipes. There aren't a ton of them but there is a paragraph included with the benefits of each kind of cake (how long it lasts, easy storage etc). Of course there is a fruit cake recipe. (ahhh the English.) And because I love all things miniature, I'm excited that there is also a recipe for mini cakes (though why it’s a different recipe all together I'm not entirely sure.) There's also a recipe for pastillage - remember when I had no clue what this was? Well along with the recipe is an explanation that it is a form of sugarpaste that dries very hard. Also - edible glue recipe. Need I say more?

·         There are over 30 individual characters described in the book and they all seem relatively simple to make. As Maisie puts it: "everything starts with a ball". There is a mini tutorial on how to make a mouse, monkey, lion, elephant, rabbit, crow, and dog before you even get into the project instructions. The characters are all very cartoonish which I love.

·         The instructions are very easy to understand and really break it down into a step by step process. I also love the fun tip that dry spaghetti can be used to support the fondant models. SO COOL.

·         "A little More Fun" section at the end of each project suggests ways to decorate cupcakes and mini cakes with the same theme to compliment your cake.

·         There is a list of suppliers in the back which include both UK AND USA (as well as a few other countries) And woohoo! There's a store in Springfield! I will soon be very poor.

What I don't like:

·         I have a love hate relationship with the Brits. While some of their crazy lingo is explained for us yanks, you may still need to Google some of the words/phrases. It's also measured out with the metric system - grams pshhh. While the amount in oz is also given, there is a disclaimer that it is not precise and I'd prefer it all in cups and teaspoons anyways.

Per usual, there isn't a lot I can find that I don't like about this book. It has fantastic tips, goofy characters, great pictures, and I want to go home and start baking immediately. 

Wednesday Review: Sweetopia.net

Mixing it up a bit this week and reviewing another crafting blog!! Sweetopia.net is a website that features the baking creations of a woman named Marian. This woman is seriously talented - also, I'm pretty sure she's Canadian, thus furthering my love for the great country to the north.

What I like: 

·         AWESOME AWESOME AWESOME cookies. And wonderful pictures of them as well.

·         She uses a Kopykake projector to trace images onto cookies. I WANT ONE.

·         There are video tutorials and step by step instructions for many of her cookies.

·         Contests!

·         She highlights mostly cookies, but does cakes, cake pops, cupcakes, and more!

·         There are a lot of recipes included on her site - there are even gluten free options.

What I don't like:

·         Again, just from my own experience - where does one find the time/patience to do this much decorating!?!? I guess she may only do a few cookies at a time, which is a little more do-able, but still - this woman must have the patience of a saint! 

This is such a fun website to look through. Many of her cookies were featured in a book that I reviewed earlier - 1,000 Ideas for Decorating Cupcakes, Cookies & Cakes. Someday… I'll get to this level of expertise! 

Wednesday Review: Knitting on Top of the World

Knitting on Top of the World: The Global Guide to Traditions,Techniques and Design by Nicky Epstein is a very large hardcover book with amazing designs.

What I like:

·         The book is divided into different parts of the world - Windswept Isles, Old World, Mediterranean, Far East, and the New World. Each section begins with an overview of that area, giving a short history of knitting, what influenced popular patterns, colors, and designs in that part of the world.

·         The design projects in each section tell you which country it's from and what kind of experienced knitter you need to be to complete the pattern (novice, skilled, or master).

·          Each design has great photos that look like they came out of a Vogue magazine. The patterns are pretty easy to read and the graphs are in color which is very helpful.

·         There's a good variety of projects - cardigans, shawls, mittens (one's called "Princess Bride Mittens" how can I NOT make these!?!), caps, camisoles, capes, socks, bags, and even a stuffed animal.

·         Many of the patterns have flair like pearls or metallic yarn weaved in which look pretty cool.

·         Because I'm an anglophile, of course my favorite section is the "Windswept Isles." It's full of fair Isle, aran, and argyle patterns. LOVE.

·         The last section is dedicated to abbreviations, a glossary, and techniques. Always helpful to have this in a book!

What I don't like:

·         Some of the designs are just plain weird. I don't know if it’s because the designs are foreign and I'm just not used to them, or if some of them are just too artsy-fartsy.

I would knit probably 85% of this book. Most of the designs are breathtaking. So far I've only made one thing from it, but it is by far the coolest thing I've ever knitted. Check back tomorrow to read all about it ;)

Wednesday Review: Hello, Cupcake!

Hello, Cupcake! by Karen Tack & Alan Richardson is definitely one of my favorite decorating books. For those of you who live in DC, it's not affiliated with the Hello Cupcake bakery in Dupont. The book contains amazing pictures and easy to follow instructions on how to make ridiculously awesome cupcakes. 

What I like:

·         The book starts off with helpful decorating techniques. They boast "no baking skills or fancy equipment required!" which is true as they use Ziploc bags for pretty much everything - to fill the cupcakes papers with batter, to melt chocolate, and to apply frosting.  By cutting the corner off the bag, icing can be easily piped on the cupcake. Different sized and angled holes create the same effect as Wilton tips. It's definitely a cheap alternative to pastry bags. Though I usually end up cutting the hole too big or at the wrong angle, so I still prefer the Wilton tips. But I guess practice makes perfect!

·         They show how candy (M&M's, taffy, cereal, sprinkles, Runts, and circus peanuts to name a few) can transform your cupcake from ordinary to extraordinary.

·         The book describes how to decorate normal cupcakes, mini cupcakes, cupcake pull away cakes, and use other things for shaping your design like Twinkies, mini donuts and donut holes.

·         A lot of the designs involve melting chocolate wafers to draw different designs like wings for butterflies or bones for cupcakes that look like fried chicken. Don't worry if you're a terrible artist, the book provides templates that are easy to trace.

This isn't from the book, but a good picture of using melted chocolate 

wafers on wax paper to make different designs. 

·         There are ideas for your typical cupcake worthy days/events such as Easter, 4^th of July, Halloween, Christmas, baby showers, and weddings. And then there are just bizarre ideas like making your cupcakes look like corn on the cob, fried chicken, or billiard balls.

·         The book also provides recipes for several cakes and frostings and a sources page for where to buy ingredients and decorating tools.

What I don't like:

·         Most of these cupcakes are pretty time consuming to make so you have to either plan in advance or find a friend to help you make them.

·         I can't think of an occasion to make cupcakes that look like fried chicken or spaghetti and meatballs.

Obviously over all this is an amazing book and I highly recommend it to the cupcake enthusiast. It not only gives you great specific ideas, but also tips you can use to design your own fun and creative cupcakes. Karen and Alan's website has fun videos and more tips. They also have 2 more books - What's New Cupcake? and their newest (which I just got in the mail this week!!) Cupcakes, Cookies & Pie, Oh, My! So look for those in future Wednesday Reviews!