I should have used a lot more of both to really get the flavour. :) The penuche frosting was SO good though and easy to make. It went well with the spices in the batter.
The cupcakes were a lot better than the loaf as the batter was very dense and, in my new oven, whose idiosyncrasies I'm still trying to figure out, the bottom was under baked. Perhaps because I put the loaf and muffin pans on a baking sheet.
It is not necessary to pipe everything. A product that looks home baked is very enticing. I bought nicely decorated Safeway cake for the last time. Actually my husband bought it. I was under the weather and we were getting unexpected company and he wanted to help. Well you know that cake with all its rosettes went into the bin two days later. Now more than ever the home arts are important. I would have been happy to partake in this feast with you Maria. Too bad you live on the other side of this great country of ours. Everything looks so good.
I'd like to learn how to pipe and decorate the way those cakes are done, even though I know the frosting is make up of fat to which sugar and food colouring has been added. But as we know the attraction is visual first. :)
Maria - before my oldest girl got married, I took six two-hour cake decorating sessions through Park and Recreation. We used packaged cakes [which I am allergic to - something in it gives me severe stomach pains] - and I learned various techniques of cake decorating. I don't use a fraction of what I learned, but the course sure took the challenge out of cake decorating. My family ate one cake, the rest my husband took to work and put it down in the lunch room. The cakes went like wildfire. As long as you have somewhere to donate the cakes you will decorate, it will be fun. I have not regretted taking those sessions. I find cake decorating is much like turning a plain woman into a beautiful bride. If your community center doesn't offer cake decorating, inquire at craft stores, or suggest the community center to start one.
Thank you for the suggestion. I'll start looking for any classes at the city web site. In the past my searches led to interesting classes but the time always conflicted with work or when I have to be home in the evenings waiting for work calls. Nothing ever seemed to be offered on weekends.
I have never used a cake mix. I think in Europe they are not as popular as in North America. Most people either bake or buy cakes (though I know cake mixes exist in every supermarket). I wonder if I wouldn't buy this one only for the funny cake server ;-) I did buy once a huge tin of Italian cake (awful!) but the tin was beautiful and I am still happy with this buy. In my opinion your cake and cupcakes were beautiful as they were even without the frosting. Sissi
Thank you for the comment on the baked goods. The colour was pretty but there wasn't enough sugar in the cakes so I had to add more after the fact. Plus it gave me an excuse to try a frosting that I found intriguing.
My SIL was given the cake mix as a Xmas present ... it was probably BOUGHT for the cake server ... and as she very rarely bakes, she thought I'd appreciate it more and actually use it. It was very nice of her to send it my way. As to the other gift, which came from her garden, although I should have used it first as it's perishable, it was just not as appealing as a cooking ingredient. :)
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The cupcakes were a lot better than the loaf as the batter was very dense and, in my new oven, whose idiosyncrasies I'm still trying to figure out, the bottom was under baked. Perhaps because I put the loaf and muffin pans on a baking sheet.
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It is not necessary to pipe everything. A product that looks home baked is very enticing. I bought nicely decorated Safeway cake for the last time. Actually my husband bought it. I was under the weather and we were getting unexpected company and he wanted to help. Well you know that cake with all its rosettes went into the bin two days later. Now more than ever the home arts are important. I would have been happy to partake in this feast with you Maria. Too bad you live on the other side of this great country of ours. Everything looks so good.
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Thank you for the lovely comment.
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My SIL was given the cake mix as a Xmas present ... it was probably BOUGHT for the cake server ... and as she very rarely bakes, she thought I'd appreciate it more and actually use it. It was very nice of her to send it my way. As to the other gift, which came from her garden, although I should have used it first as it's perishable, it was just not as appealing as a cooking ingredient. :)
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