Have you ever tried brush embroidery?

This video from Wilton has inspired me to give it a go. Have you ever tried it?

Kiwi Cake Decorator - Suzie Toms

It's that time again! to profile another Kiwi Cake decorator. If you'd like to be featured here. Send me an email sandra@kiwicakes.co.nz.

Today I ask the questions of Suzie Toms. Suzie recently relocated to Cambridge from Devonport and lives there with her three boys.

Please give use details of your online sites (website, facebook page, blog etc); Suzie's Cake Creations, http://www.suziescakecreations.co.nz/  http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/SuziesCakeCreations the Blog is coming soon!

How long have you been decorating? I have been making birthday cakes for friends and family for over 10 years and started Suzie's Cake Creations just under 2 years ago.

What is you favourite thing to bake & decorate – why? I love to make 3D Birthday cakes for children - especially for pre-school children who are always delighted to recognize their most favourite characters in cake!

What got you started in baking/decorating ? A desire to make great birthday cakes for my children.

What are your top 5 decorating tools you cannot live without? My ball tool, my rolling pin, my spatula, a good sharp knife and my sieve.

What do you do when you’re not decorating ? When I'm not decorating I'm spending time with my children, family and friends, keeping house, gardening, reading and watching movies.

What are some of your favourite creations you’ve created ? My Dragon cake - made for a 70th Birthday for a much loved grandmother who was always affectionately known as the dragon.

The Beatrix Potter Christening cake because of the huge satisfaction I felt with the creation of the characters.

And my first 3D Tigger cake because it was such a success!

What is you favourite Cake, cookie, or cupcake flavour? I love a good lemon madeira with white chocolate butter cream - delicious!

If you could have someone make a cake for you, what would it be like? It wouldn't matter what it was like because it was made for me and that doesn't happen very often!

You offer an edible image printing service, direct to the public - can you tell me a little about this and why you enjoy doing it? I've only just begun to offer edible images - http://suziesedibleimageservice.webs.com/ - I like to offer my clients and customers a full and professional service.

Stylish Blogger Award



Gosh I've received the "Stylish blogger award" and I've now to follow these instructions (Or goodness knows what will happen to me - sounds like fun though)

1) Thank and link back to the person who awarded you this award

2) Share 7 things about yourself

3) Award 15 recently discovered great bloggers

4) Contact these bloggers and tell them about the award

1) Thanks Bec from Stilleto Studio blog  Bec sends me great posts on what she's been up to, I've enjoyed reading her blog.

 

2) Well anyone who regularly reads this blog will know a lot about me already, so I'll give you the sort of info that I might almost call secret

1. I adore PASTA - I could eat it every night for dinner and never get sick of it, I particularly like it with pesto.

2. I was once upon a time a manufacturing jeweller.

3. I have an addiction for "Body Combat" a Les Mills exercise class.

4. Once of my favorite sweets is marzipan and anything to do with marzipan

5. I prefer to make sweet dishes, but when I cook I love to make fiddly things - like  hors d'oeuvre's or appetisers

6. My favourite flower is the Arum Lily

7. My favourite colour is green, I even had a green wedding dress, back as a spring chicken when I got married in 2000 at 24.

 

3. Wow awarding 15 recent blogger's (some might not end up being so recent.)

1. Monica from Delissimon - Many of you may remember Monica from "NZ's hottest home baker". Monica was actually one of my first commenter's way back when I started this blog, in the first few weeks, I think it was just me and Mon! We have regular cyber chats, I am glad she is in my life.

 

2. Flo from Flo's a Scrapin  Flo and I got to know each other, when Cricut Cake was released. Flo's knowledge of all things paper related in Cricut, opened my mind to what was possible in icing and then some. I 've learnt so much from Flo. 

 

3. Evelyn from Fun Decorating I'm loving the chance to showcase some of my customers blogs! - I enjoy checking out the latest creations here.

 

4. Nici from Nic Nac Noodle Nici is based in Taupo and  this could have been one of the seven things I could have told you about me.................. Nici and I flatted together in our youth for a few years, I still see Nici's mum and sister daily, as they work at the local Post office. Nici's party planning news and ideas are awesome. Her site is the one I go to, when my children consistently pick a theme I don't stock. Lately I've been loving her party food ideas.

 

5 Cakes by Anne another of my customers blogs. Anne runs cake decorating classes. We met at a recent conference, she's one fun lady, we often chat on the phone.

 

6. Sondra at Sweet Bites Cakes I love her novelty cake work, another lovely lady, I've had the pleasure of working with.

 

7. Vanessa at Bella Cupcakes Her blog has recently had a makeover. Many of you will be familiar with her work. Her work is unparalleled in my mind. If I was getting married (already did that - I would order my cake from Vanessa)

 

8. Glory from Glorious Treats does amazing things with cookies & cakes. She plans stunning parties and her floristry is awesome. I have in the past commented on Glory's facebook, flickr & blog. But she's such a popular lady, I'm but one of her many fans. Glory is very generous with her time, ideas and free printables she creates & shares.

 

9. Haniela from Haniela's food & photography she has in the past very kindly permitted me to share some of her tutorials with you all here on my blog. Her amazing photos always accompany her generous tutorials, you could learn alot from Haniela.

 

10.  Delish Cupcakes Colleen and Kathryn are two awesomely awesome girls who work together over on the North Shore (Auckland). Get yourself over there for one of their wonderful creations that change daily.

11. Bullrush Chocolates - these girls make everything sound like fun (even when they are not having fun)

12. Baking for Hospice Because I admire the amazing work they do and there never ending enthusiam for helping others (due to the nature of this blog - I won't be able to get them to particpate in this project -as the blog is showcasing the baking only)

13. Mrs A. in the Cove an amazing blog I admire for her dessert tables. Every time I view them, I want an excuse to make one.

14. Sequin Corner Cakes Kasey, yet another Kiwicakes member, I just sneaked a look and she has a great tutorial just listed recently. Kasey recently was drawn to have her photo showcased int he Kiwicakes newsletter.

15.Tales from a Cafe chick I enjoy reading this blog immensely, always humourous, sometimes thought provoking. Even better for those in Wellington, as great eats tips are often given away.

Kiwicakes 5th birthday

It's that time again! - Kiwicakes is turning 5. And we're running our annual birthday cake competition. Click here to see details of the 3rd birthday cake winner and here for the 4th birthday winner. I strongly encourage all past entrants to enter again, as when I think back on all the entries, it is with fond memories. I would have been proud to have any of the entries, as the winning cake.

I'm asking anyone interested to design a birthday cake for Kiwicakes 5th birthday party. Your cake should echo what you feel epitomises Kiwicakes. Your design ideas can be sent to me in any form, for example, a sketch or even a photo of a previous cake you've made, feel free to add written notes describing how you might alter the cake from your photo, or what elements in your sketch represent. The winner will be required to bake & decorate the winning design.

Be sure to include what flavour(s) the cake will be and the approximate size of finished cake.

Where to send it

You can email your ideas to me at sandra@kiwicakes.co.nz or post to me snail mail at Kiwicakes, Po Box 4441, Kamo, Whangarei. Entries close March 31st 2011. Please include your telephone number with your entry.

The details

There are no design limitations for your cake, you can make it as big or as small as you like. However there is a limit of $50 for cake ingredients. I felt by limiting the cost of ingredients, this would allow design talent to shine through, rather than lots of expensive ingredients. The winner will be reimbursed for ingredients, to the value of $50

The winner will be required to make bake & decorate the winning design, during the month of April, at a time to suit them. I will then arrange for the cake to be collected from their home town for delivery to Kiwicakes.

I'll be loading the entries to the Kiwicakes blog (without the entrants names - so you can all remain anonymous) so that anyone interested can check them out.

Terms & Conditions - Kiwicakes 5th birthday competition

Prize is $500 worth of cake decorating supplies, chosen by Kiwicakes - delivered to the winner, at a destination within NZ. Prize is not exchangeable for cash.

Winner is required to bake and decorate the winning design during the month of April 2011 to receive their prize.

Cost of ingredients up to the value of $50 will be reimbursed by Kiwicakes.

Competition is open to all residents of New Zealand (pick up address for cake must be within New Zealand).

The winner agrees to their name & photo of cake being used for publicity purposes.

Entrants designs will be loaded to the KiwicakesNZ blog.

Winner will be posted to Kiwicakes blog and will feature in a future edition of the Kiwicakes newsletter.

Entries close March 31st 2011

Ingredients substitutions

An awesomely handy chart to have - from the people at the Chelsea Sugar Company

Self-raising flour 1 cup self-raising flour = 1 cup plain flour + 1½ teaspoons baking powder.

Butter 250g butter = the same quantity of margarine or 7/8 cup of oil (if recipe required melted butter).

Egg 1 whole egg = 2 egg yolks + 1 tablespoon water.

Caster sugar place white sugar in a food processor and pulse for approximately 1 minute until the grains are finer.

Dark Brown Sugar 1 cup Dark Brown Sugar = 1 cup Caster Sugar + ¼ cup Treacle or Golden Syrup.

Soft Brown Sugar 1 cup Soft Brown Sugar = 1 cup Caster Sugar + 2 Tbsp Golden Syrup.

Milk 1 cup blue or light blue milk = ½ cup water + ½ cup evaporated milk or cream. Alternatively use soy milk.

Buttermilk 1 cup buttermilk = ½ cup plain non-fat yoghurt + ½ cup milk.

Sour cream 1 cup sour cream = 1 cup milk + 1 tablespoon lemon juice or white vinegar stirred through and allowed to stand for 5 minutes to sour.

Baking powder 1 teaspoon baking powder = ¼ teaspoon baking soda + ½ cup buttermilk or sour milk and reduce the liquid in the recipe by half.

Cornstarch 1 tablespoon cornstarch = 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour.

Lemon juice small amounts of lemon juice e.g. 1 teaspoon can be substituted with vinegar. 1 tsp lemon juice = ½ teaspoon vinegar.

Honey 1 cup honey = 1 cup & 2 Tbsp of sugar + ¼ cup of the same liquid used in the recipe.

Unsalted butter – many US and UK recipes call for unsalted butter. You can buy unsalted butter in NZ, however regular butter (salted) is fine to use in your recipes.

Shortening 1 cup shortening = 1 cup butter or margarine.

Cinnamon 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon = ½ teaspoon ground all spice.

All Spice 1 teaspoon all spice = ½ teaspoon ground cloves + ½ teaspoon cinnamon

Photo updates for Purple Cake Day

I thought you might enjoy seeing some photos from this weekend past of the purple cupcakes, that were created for Purple Cake Day. Each weekend Purple cupcakes are being created and sold in Nelson, culminating in Purple Cake Day March 1st. For more details go to the Purple Cake Day website. I'm proud to be the one responsible for all the lovely volunteers being covered in Rainbow Dust glitter.

I'm busy planning my own Purple Cake Day celebrations. At the moment I'm thinking purpe Rain cupcakes (like the cocktail)

Purple Cake Day



Kiwicakes is proud to be the cake supplies sponsor for Purple Cake Day. I've spent some time corresponding with Emily, the incredible woman behind the initiative and after hearing her story I wanted to be involved immediately. Kiwicakes has fitted out Purple Cake Day, with EVERYTHING purple I could possibly think of and then some. I can't wait to see some of the purple creations made throughout February and on Purple Cake Day - March 1st 2011.

Emily & her daughter Alyahna

Purple Cake Day is an idea conceived by Nelsonian, Emily Sanson-Rejouis to celebrate the spirit of her daughters, Kofie-Jade (5) and Zenzie (3), who were lost with their father, Emily’s husband Emmanuel, in the Haiti earthquake in January 2010.

It is inspired by Kofie’s compassion for children less fortunate and by Zenzie who wanted not one, but two purple cakes for her 4th birthday.

Immediately following the earthquake, Emily established the Kenbe La Foundation (‘Kenbe La’ means “Never Give Up” in Haitian Creole), a registered charitable trust, to provide educational opportunities for children in need. The Foundation has since established Purple Cake Day as a specific day to celebrate and connect children from around the world.

Funds raised by the Foundation in 2010 and 2011, including those raised by Purple Cake Day, are going towards the Foundation’s current project of building a school in Leogane Province, Haiti, one of the regions most severely affected by the earthquake. The Kenbe La Foundation has already provided and coordinated direct support to the Source of Hope School in Tom Gato Community, Leogane. The school supporting 120 primary level students with 5 teachers was completely destroyed in the quake. The Kenbe La Foundation has arranged educational resources, clothes, ShelterBox tents for temporary classrooms and teachers salaries. To read more about Emily’s story and the Foundation go to http://www.kenbelafoundation.org/

Purple Cake Day Blog can be found by clicking  here and  from here you can download an educational pack for incorporating Purple Cake Day in to schools.

Emily's story features in the February issue of next magazine. Julie Le Clerc has created a purple cupcake recipe, which features in next magazine you can get it here

Ideas for how you can get involved are here

Photos in the post and on Purple Cake day's website are credited to Daniel Allen Photography.