Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Princess Peach from Super Mario Galaxy

It is nice to see friendly sibling jealousy and rivalry. Remembering the good old times between my younger brother, younger sister, and myself, how we had the same rivalry. When I made Lorenz’s Pokemon Ball birthday cake, Alyssa wanted her birthday cake to be the same as her older brother. I was in Dallas, TX taking Lauren’s Cake Sculpting 301 class (yet, another cake muppetizing technique) during my niece’s birthday, Alyssa.


During Aly’s birthday, she was upset that Aunt Evelyn was there on her birthday dinner and forgot to make her a cake when Aunt Evelyn promised her one. So, the following day after I arrived from Dallas, TX, I made her Princess Peach cake first thing in the morning. Then, I delivered the cake to her in the afternoon. It was a joy to see another child smiling at my creation. She was embarrassed at first, but I see how happy she was to see her favorite Nintendo DS character to be her cake. It was so worth it to make another kid smile in spite of the long and late travel coming back from Texas.


Muppetizing with Lauren Again - Cake Sculpting 301

This class was to teach a new technique to make a muppet cake with one leg sticking out. The technique of applying modeling chocolate over the rice crispie treat is the same as the technique taught during cake sculpting classes 101 and 201. What is different from the previous classes was the technique of using air brush. In this class, we had to opportunity to airbrush our monster muppet.

For my monster muppet, I wanted to make Sully, from Monster, Inc. movie, but since I only have limited to finish my muppet, I had to simplify my monster muppet. My flight going back home to NJ is scheduled at 7:00PM. I was able to somehow finish my monster cake before leaving the class. Voila! Here’s my monster muppet cake:


Again, like as always, Lauren is a good teacher. She made the class fun and interesting. She is a great person. We went to Chik-fil-a for lunch. Then, head back to class quickly so I can finish my muppet before leaving Dallas to NJ. I had once more a blast in this class! It was fun! Hope will see her again!

Juvenille Diabetes Research Foundation Donation Cake

A colleague asked if I would like to donate food and/or money to raise funds for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). Instead, I donated my time to make a custom cake for the fund raising event.



Weeks later after the event, our company released the Winter 2010 Magazine, a Quarterly Global Publication with the picture of the cake I made for the foundation. I like how they named me…. “Nicknamed Cake Boss.” This is flattering news!

Louis Vuitton Speedy Bag Cake

My mom’s best friend, Aunt Rose, is celebrating her 60th birthday. My asked me to make a cake for my aunt. Aunt Rose loves designer purses. Who ladies doesn’t like designer purses? I have been long so eager in making a Louis Vuitton purse cake. This was an opportunity to make one for my aunt.

Closer look of the cake.

One of my good friends, Anne, loaned me her Speedy LV purse so I have a replica for the cake I will be making. During pictorial, I place the LV purse next to the LV purse cake to compare my work. It was close enough, but the cake a bit short (ran out of cake to carve).


According to my mom, my aunt was so happy that my mom was so generous for buying her a LV Speedy bag. As she lifts the handle of the purse, it broke! She was astonished that the purse’s handle broke. To my amusement, she didn’t know that it was a cake!!!! My aunt then decided not to touch the cake or worse cut the cake. She wants to preserve the cake. Oh, well, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AUNT ROSE!!!



Muppetizing my baby nephew, Jian


My baby nephew, Jian, turned two, the terrible two. Since I recently completed the Cake Sculpting Classes by Lauren, I applied the techniques I learned from her class to make a muppet cake for Jian. My nephew loved his cake! He can’t help himself poking the muppet. He also loved the cake balls. The cake balls were his birthday favors.



The Number #1 Dad

The idea of making a horse from modeling chocolate as a cake topper was a challenge. I have never made anything that look so real. I usually make cake toppers that look cartoon. When I started sculpting the horse, my husband’s first impression was… “What is that? Is that a dinosaur?” …then we laughed together. Two hours after from continuous working, I called him from our home office. He was speechless at first as he stares at the horse, then repeatedly say “Oh, wow! Oh, wow!” He was impressed and amused at the outcome of the horse, a.k.a Dinosaur!



The three beautiful sisters, Jenny, Jean, and Janet, asked me to make a cake for their dad’s 70th birthday. Asian, like me or in general, doesn’t like sweet icing on their cake, such as the American Buttercream. We made changes from traditional butter cake to chiffon cake and American buttercream to seasonal French-style chestnut buttercream.


I am glad to hear that their father was very happy with his surprise birthday cake.

Muppetizing with Lauren Again - Cake Sculpting 201

Day 2 - I can't describe how sweet Lauren is... a free dinner from her. She even offered to get me lunch for Day 2 class. I couldn't ask for more. For my Cake Sculpting 201 class, she suggested me to muppetize my husband, which I planned to muppetize my niece, Mieka.


My husband loves to grill, cook, and bake. Since he's a foodie, I decided to dress my muppet as a chef, which suits him perfectly. I had a great time muppetizing my husband.



This is Lauren, me and my muppet during the Cake Sculpting 201 class. She is such a good teacher. She made the class interesting and fun!

Traveling Suitcase

This is the bottom tier of the cake I decorated for the Central New York 2010 Cake Decorating Competition located in Ithaca, NY




My First Cake Decorating Competition at Central New York 2010 Cake Decorating Competition

It has only been 5 months since I made my first Yankee Jersey fondant cake when I competed for this cake decorating competition. The competition was held at Ithaca, NY on Sept. 2010. There were 35 competitors from the Beginners, Intermediate, Advance, and Professional categories. I competed for the Intermediate since I only have 5 months worth of part time cake decorating experience. The theme of the competition was about "Nursery Rhymes."

The nursery rhyme I chose was “Pussy cat, Pussy cat.” The rhyme is:
"Pussycat, pussycat, where have you been?"
"I've been up to London to visit the Queen."
"Pussycat, pussycat, what did you dare?"
"I frightened a little mouse under her chair"

The suitcase design signifies travel, where pussy cat travelled to London to visit the queen. The top tier is the London Castle. During the competition, I didn’t have enough time to make the queen. The queen was made last. It didn’t have the same quality as the rest of the cake.

Before the announcement of winners, I also competed for the "30-minute" cake decorating challenge. I was lucky to win 1-hour Fairy Cake Decorating Class.



I took home the Gold Medal for the Intermediate Category. It was so worth it! I also took home silicon molding that is used in making flower and leaves gumpaste and an autographed book of How to Make Flowers and Roses. I was there for the experience and the Gold Medal. I will be back for the next competition and hope to take home the Gold medal for the Advance category...


This picture was the winning cake. It was a fun and friendly competition!



My supportive husband drove straight from work to home (over 1.5 hrs drive with rush hour traffic) to pick me up. Then, we travelled together to Binghampton, NY. We drove over 4 hours to a hotel in Binghampton, NY for a night. It was a very long day for us. My little sister, Andrea, tag along as well. Glad to have my family on my side.....I love my family!


Muppetizing with Lauren - Cake Sculpting 101

I never knew who Lauren (from Lauren's Kitchen of Fancy Cakes by Lauren) was until I watched one of the Food Network's episodes. To those who don't know her, she is a Food Network Gold Medalist from the Sponge Bob Cake Challenge Episode and known for muppetizing the judges during the Sesame Street Cake Challenge Episode where she won the Silver medal.



I was so happy that my loving husband sent me to Sugarland, TX to take her classes. In the Cake Sculpting 101 class, I decided to muppetize my nephew Jian. In the Cake Sculpting 201 class, I decided to muppetize my husband David. I was so glad that I was able to take back nice presents for them.




These classes were my first ever after learning the basics from taking Wilton's Basic Cake Decorating Classes. Lauren is a good teacher. She made all her classes a fun class! I hope to be given another opportunity like this. The class tuition, airfare, food, and lodging could be expensive, but the knowledge is priceless! Thanks again Lauren for such a wonderful and fun class! I can't wait to take learn new muppet technique.

Pokemon Ball Cake


It was my Godson and nephew's, Lorenz, 7th Birthday. We celebrated his birthday at the Eagle Rock Resort in Pennsylvania. Lorenz loves pokemon. He can name Pokemon characters so easily. I decided to make him the Pokemon Master Ball with tiny newly added characters.



Lorenz's cake was chocolate cake filled with chocolate filling. The Master Ball's cover was made with gumpaste-fondant mixture.
Happy Birthday, Lorenz!

Cindy and Simon's Wedding



High school sweethearts and cousin Cindy and finace Simon finally tied the knot. My husband and I gave this cake for our wedding gift for his sweet cousin, Cindy and Simon. Not only we made the 4-tier wedding cake, we also made them a snowboarding cake, since they love to snowboard.

Best Wishes! Congratulations, again!

India Cricket

CK is a big fan of the India's finest cricket player named Tendulkar Sachin. My good friend, Medha, and I decided to surprise him with a simple cricket bat cake with a cricket ball made of rice crispie treats. Unfortunatley, I forgot the cricket ball at home when I brought the cake to work for CK. CK was so surprised and was very happy.


The cake was a chocolate cake filled with French mocha buttercream. The cricket ball was made with Rice Crispie Treats. The cake was airbrushed with brown food coloring.

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Sushi Boat

Spring break was over. Tina was leaving Brooklyn, NY to Buffalo, NY to go back to Medical School. Aunt Many asked to make a cake for her daughter's birthday / farewell barbecue party. Aunt Mary know that Tina loves sushi especially the Ebi, a shrimp sushi. We designed a Sushi Boat cake with different kinds of rolls, hand roll, and sushi.


The cake was a butter cake filled with French mocha buttercream. The wasabi, ginger, the fishes were made with fondant. The rice from the the roll / sushi was made from Rice Crispie Treats. The fondant on the sushi boat was airbrushed with brown food coloring.

ARR-TU-DEE-TU (R2D2)


Our friend asked to make a robot cake for her boyfriend's 18 year old nephew. At that time, I was up for any challenge. My husband always put me into test, so I took the challenge. First, I started making a prototype. The prototype was made off 2 x 8" round, 1 x 8" hemisphere, and 1 x 1" round cake dummies. Red and yellow LED lights were installed for the eyes. The sound system was made from a speaker module that I purchase from Radio Shack. You can actually see the R2D2 miniature toy on the cake board.


I actually made the R2D2 cake, but didn't have pictures. My old camera was broken. The R2D2 cake was made with chocolate cake filled with vanilla buttercream. The droid's head was airbrushed with silver food coloring. Some parts of the cake were painted with edible silver paint.

Elmo Cake

This cake was made for my sister's friend's daughter. Abigail was turning 2 years old. She loves Elmo.



The cake was chocolate cake with French Vanilla buttercream. Elmo was made from Rice Crispie Treats supported by a dowel. The plush dolls and miniature toys were mine. I will save these toys when I have my own kid. Sesame Street never goes out in style anyway. I knew them when I was a kid.

My Little Sister's Fifth Grade Graduation


My little sister Andrea, not so little anymore, was graduating from 5th Grade. I couldn't think of anything, besides a book and cupcakes kid's hair different ethnicity, for her graduation cake. At first, my sister didn't want any graduation party and she changed her mind 3 days later. Decorating cake and cupcakes was not easy to pull, especially I was cooking a noodle dish and a rice dish for her party.

Andrea loves chocolate cake. Her cake was chocolate cake filled with chocolate filling. the cupcakes were also chocolate filled with chocolate filling and adorned with royal icing, Fruit Loops, Cherios, Juicy Fruit gum, or candy sprinkles. Th cupcake idea came from one of the books: "What's New, Cupcake?" or "Hello, Cupcake!" by Karen Tack and Alan Richardson.

Emma's Gift Box, Baby Shoes, Pacifier, and Game Cube

The first thing I noticed. When I took this picture, I forgot to remove the napkins that were supporting each bow.



I know we struggled making this cake. We have thrown 8 cakes (4 x 6" and 4 x 10") before he realized the mistake. When my husband baked the cakes, he accidentally grabbed the container containing the bread flour instead of the container with the cake flour. To cut the story short, I found out he was using the wrong flour. You would laugh to see his face! His face was so red in frustration! It's a lesson learned... read!



This was our gift for Jenny, my husband's cousin's wife, for her surprise baby shower. Her sisters coordinated the surprise baby shower in New York. Jenny loves butter cake than chocolate, so we made her a butter cake filled with French Hazelnut buttercream for the top tier and butter cake filled with French Chocolate buttercream for the bottom tier. The All Star baby shoes and pacifier were made from gumpaste-fondant mixture. The cube was made from Rice Crispie treats and adorned with fondant decorations.

Young Fashionista

Words has been spread about my cake works. My husband's colleague asked if I can made a surprise cake for her daughter, Cassandra, for her 19th Birthday. She wanted similar to the previous black Chanel purse cake that I made for Joy, but in pink.





I made two cupcakes for Cassandra with the extra batter from the cake. Her mom wanted a chocolate cake filled with chocolate filling. Everything on the cake board are edible.

Home Improvement Dad

In our group at work, we're festive / family-oriented and we like to celebrate simple occassions to boost everyone's morale, but not lately though. This time, it was Matt's birthday. His wife, who works with us in the same company, mentioned that he likes home improvement shows, and not much about sports show. I came up with this idea to make him a Tool cake.


The cake was butter came filled with chocolate filling. The tools were made of dark chocolate molded in the "tools" chocolate molds. The tools were painted with edible silver food paint.

Cheeseburger, again!


John and Sara had a summer party. This time I had to think of an idea that matches the barbecue theme. Since, I made a "cheeseburger" cake before, my husband wanted me to make it again. Coincidentally, the cake board matches John's table cloth. It was a laugh.


The cheeseburger cake on the left was chocolate cake a chocoalte cake filled with French chocolate buttercream. The cheeseburger cake on the right was a butter cake filled with coffee buttercream.

Muppetized Mieka



I am an avid fan of watching Food Network Challenge and the Ultimate Cake Off. One of the few episodes in Food Network Challenge that was aired was the Sesame Street competition. I liked the idea of how Lauren from Lauren's Kitchen muppetized the judges. So, I attempted to make my first muppetized cake of my niece, Mieka.



It didn't quite turn out how I wanted it to be, which means I still have a lot to learn about cake decorating techniques that were not taught in the Wilton Cake Decorating Classes. This is my lovely niece, Mieka. Picture was taken at my wedding.




Cheeseburger

My husband wanted to tweak his butter cake recipe that he's been using when baking cakes. He baked a butter cake utilizing his modified recipe. Took him by surprise when I decorated his trial cake and transformed it into a "cheeseburger" cake.

When he came out from his home office, he told me, "This is wrong. This is deceiving. This is not right." Of course he was proud to share this cake with his colleagues at work.

The cake was a butter cake filled with mocha buttercream. The fries, olives, onion, lettuce, tomato, and cheese were made from fondant. The mustard and ketchup were made from royal icing. The bun was airbrushed with brown food coloring.

NY Jets Helmet and Guinness Pint Glass Cakes

These two cakes (NY Jets helmet and Guinness beer) were our surprise gift for a good friend, John. The cake was originally designed as a Guinness Pint Glass cake. The cake was so moist and dense that it the dowels at the bottom layer of the cake were wiggling from the weight of the top cake. The cake had a weak structure. My fear happened, like any other cake decorators, the bottom cake gave in and the top cake fell. With a luck, I was able to grab the top cake. This cake was the top part of the "supposed" pint glass cake.

I didn't want to present this cake to John, instead in less than 4 hours, I was able to come up with a NY Jets Helmet cake from the remaining cake for the Guinness Pint Glass Cake.

Viola! Here's the alternative surprise cake for John. After all, both cakes were served.

John is a NY Jets and loves to drink... Not only he loves to drink vodka-tonic and Guinness, he prefers his coffee with Bailey's Irish Cream. Both cakes were Guinness cake filled with Bailey's Irish Cream buttercream.

2-Tier Cake for Wilton Class

I took the first Wilton Cake Decorating Class back in March 2010. I finished all four certifications by May 2010. I took these classes to satisfy my curiosity. My grandparents and parents were bakery owners and cake decorators. I was curious if I inherited their skills to artfully design and decorate gorgeous cakes. I still have long ways to go and a lot more to learn.


This was my first 2-tier cake I put together in 2 hours to complete the last Wilton Cake Decorating Class on May 26. I am glad with my decision to take the Wilton Cake Decorating classes. It was worth it!