Silicone rolling mat

I have to say, having the right tools (and of course, knowing how to use them) is vital. The silicone rolling mat is my recent important purchase.

Silicone rolling mat by Sugar Impression.

A good investment.

I'm not sure if there are other similar ones out there apart from the Wilton wheel but this, my friends is essential for working with fondants. I decided to get one (even when that means burning a hole in the pocket) as i find the Wilton wheel - which i got it from my Course 3, doesn't really do the job in making the friend's butterfly cake and after experienced hell when i was doing the cousin's animal themed cake without one of these.

You still have to dust good when rolling fondant, but it makes the job much, much easier.

Line impression

Here's a tip on how to get line impression on your fondant cake at a fraction of the cost.

As an alternative to the Line impression mat like the one here,

Impression Mats
(cost about RM35 each)

... use this:
the roller for rolled pineapple tart (tat gulung)
(bought at RM6 which u can get from almost any baking shop)

Very cost effective, wouldn't you say so? Plus, it comes in handy when i need it for a tart gulung. Ok, let me rephrase that, that's IF i ever need it for a tart gulung ;p

p/s. just found out that it only costs RM4.80 at Tesco! Ciss.. daylight robbery!!

Bake-Even Strips

If you read further on my entry about my nephew's birthday cake, you would know by now that my oven does not work properly since then. Baking cupcakes is fine probably because they are smaller in size thus, it doesn't really leave a significant impact. But if i were to bake larger cakes, they wouldn't rise accordingly even after i turn the pan the other way round after half baking time. They still result in my cake being slightly lopsided if not at all. I was already considering to get a new oven, planning on building a cabinet just for this purpose and to stuff in my baking apparatus and what not until i discovered the 'Bake-Even Strip'. I tried it for the first time to bake for the PIBG cake and hey, it worked like a charm! (though i still have to turn the pan this time but still it helps).

They are sold in a pack of 2s and 4s. The price of 2 strips is about RM45 and RM90+ for the 4s. I'll settle for this at the moment as opposed to having to spend RM5000 for a new oven and a built in cabinet :)


(please don't be alarmed by the colour of the cakes in the photos above. The strip does not alter the colour of your cake. The one in the oven is a buttercake while the one that is done is a chocolate cake. I just forgot to take a before photo of the choc cake :) )

Tool Caddy

In my attempt to re-organize all my baking and decorating stuff, i finally succumbed to the idea of getting myself the tool caddy. Pro or not, i need to get my kitchen organised!

There are a few that you can find in the market but me, being someone who prefers things to be compartmentalised, ended up with the Ultimate Tool Caddy by Wilton (supplies not included). I've been eyeing it, but the price had put me off until i thought it was time i NEEDED it (and by then, the price has gone up by RM20, thank you very much!).

Now that that's done, i think i still need to get one of those plastic drawers from Giant. Maybe two. Tool caddy not enough!!!

Sama tapi tak serupa

These Lightning Mc Queen cakes were also done using a rented pan from ICCA. I have done 2 Mc Queens so far and the second order was requested to be done no different from the first one.

But of course u can never produce the exact same thing, right?

(Done in Chocolate chip butter cake with buttercream and a candy bar for the writing/printing).

p/s: from my (little) experience, i notice that chocolate chip usage is not very ideal when using novelty cake pans. It makes it more difficult to release the cake from the pan.

The beginning is not the end

This kid's birthday was what had me started. After taking proper considerations (and ignoring a VARIETY of suggestions from both the mother and grandmother), i decided to go with what i had in mind all the while (Please DON'T do this to your customers!) - with some extra extra. The cartoon character was chosen by the mother, though - even before i attended the very first class, if i may add. Yes, it was that advance!

Elmo face cake plus little cupcakes and a dialogue bubble were eventually the end result.
(Novelty pans such as for this Elmo cake can be rented at International Centre of Cake Artistry - ICCA). The dialogue bubble can be done using the same cake pan, even when your oven is NOT working properly. No kidding! All you need to do is improvise! ;D Read about it here.

The mum seems happier here than the kid :)
Happy birthday, kiddo.
Elmo loves you!