Thursday Sept 6th Classes Cancelled !

Hello Everyone,

Just a quick update, the classes scheduled to start Thursday September 6th at Michaels have been cancelled. In order for me to hold classes students need to sign up at least  2 days prior to the class.

If you had been planning on attending these classes contact me so that we can schedule a new date for you.

Tara

How Much Batter Do I Use to Fill A Pan?

Hi Everyone-

This weekend in class we had a cake come in that was supposed to be a 9 inch square cake with two - 2inch tall layers. Instead when she baked it her layers came out only about 1" tall. Given that she was using the same cake recipe as she had in prior class the problem had to be with the amount of batter she used to fill each pan. Whenever you use a new pan you need to look up the amount of batter it takes to fill the cake pan ( remember, each pan should fill to half full in order for it to bake properly).

So I have attached the link to Wiltons chart for filling pans- that are 2 inches deep. This chart can also be found in your Wilton Yearbook.

http://www.wilton.com/cakes/making-cakes/baking-party-cake-2-inch-pans.cfm

Happy Baking!

It is football season again .. here is the formula for Gamecock Garnet Icing!

Hi Everyone-

As many of you know I am from California.. so I am an adopted Gamecock fan but, I am already getting questions in class about how to make the perfect Gamecock Garnet Buttercream Icing. This is a tip from Kim A. , the evening instructor at Michaels on Harbison.

For Gamecock Buttercream start with white butter cream icing and add a large amount of Wilton Burgundy Color. Once the burgundy is mixed in add a small amount of brown. Remember to let your icing sit for a few minutes to make sure you have just the right "Garnet" for your creation. Remember earlier posts on this blog have great recipes for butter cream icing!

Saturday Classes at Michaels Start in September!!!

Hello Everyone-

We are trying something new at Michaels on Harbison Blvd.  this September. If you have never taken a cake class because the days were just wrong for your schedule-- we now have a Saturday class. We will be starting with Wilton Decorating Basics on  Saturday September 15th from 10 am- 12pm.

Contact me if you are interested in attending or go on down to Michaels and sign up.

Tara

New Classes for August 2012

Hello Everyone-

Here is the schedule for August. You can register at Michaels or OC Tech now! Looks like for the next few months it will be just cake classes. For those of you who still have not come back for Course 4- I have one scheduled and would love to have you back in class.

We also have a new project classes at Michaels too!

OC Tech 

Decorating Basics
Tuesdays starting August 21, 2012 from 6-8 Pm.
This is Course 1, where we learn the basics of decorating a cake with Butter Cream Icing. We will learn shells, stars, drop flowers and the Wilton Rose. For registration and pricing please contact Rhonda Hewitt at (803) 874-2443.

Michaels on Harbison 


4 week classes start Thursday August 2:


Course 3- Gum Paste & Fondant
10:00 am- 12:00 pm 

Course 4- Advanced Gum Paste 
1:00- 3:00 pm

I am also offering Sunday classes that will start on Sunday August 5th:

Course 1- Decorating Basics 
10:00 am -12:00 pm

Course 3- Gum Paste & Fondant
1:00 -3:00 pm

Course 2- Flowers & Cake Design
3:30-5:30 pm

Project Classes at Michaels


Kids  Super Cakes
Tuesday August 14th
10:00 am - 12:00 pm

This is a class designed for kids to stack and decorate their own cake in class. Parents of course are welcome to come help and enjoy a little decorating too.

Tiered Cakes/ Tall Cakes

Tuesday August 21st
10:00 am -1:00pm

This class is for advanced students only! Anyone who would like to construct their own tiered cake is welcome.



Happy decorating---

Tara

 

June & July Classes

Summer Cupcakes

June 24^th, Sunday 1-3 Pm

This class is a one session project class where we will learn to make S’ Mores and Ice Cream Cone Cupcakes. Class is open to anyone- you will go home with a dozen decorated cupcakes. Tuition is $15.00.

July Classes:

Tuition is ½ off- 4 week classes if you sign up before July 23^rd ($22.50).

Sunday Classes start July 1^st and continuing on the 8^th, 15^th, 22^nd.

Flowers and Cake Design- Course 2

1:00-3:00 Pm

This class is open to students who have taken Course 1 ONLY. In this class we learn to work with Royal Icing to make beautiful flowers!

Decorating Basics – Course 1

3:30-5:30 Pm

This is the basics class. We learn to use butter cream icing to cover and decorate a cake.

Thursday Classes start July 5th and continuing on the 12^th, 19^th and 26th:

Flowers and Cake Design- Course 2

10:00 Am- 12:00 Pm

This class is open to students who have taken Course 1 ONLY. In this class we learn to work with Royal Icing to make beautiful flowers!

Gum Paste and Fondant- Course 3

1:00 Pm- 3:00 Pm

This class is open to anyone. We learn to use Gum Paste and Fondant to make beautiful flowers and cover a cake.

Project Classes

These are one time classes that allow you to learn skills you did not learn in Course 1-4.

Kids Cupcakes

Tuesday July 10^th

10:00 Am- 12:00 Pm

This is the kid’s version of our Summer Cupcakes class. All kids are welcome. Children under age 14 must be accompanied by a parent. We will learn how to make S’mores cupcakes and an Ice Cream cone cupcake. Tuition is $15.00.

Fair Cakes

Tuesday July 17^th

10:00 Am-12:00 Pm

This is the class that will teach you how to design and cover your decorated cake for the State Fair. Cakes are done on Foam core and not real cake, this class will teach you the tricks to covering, cutting, and designing your cake for the fair.  I will also help you enter the correct category and answer any questions regarding decorating cakes for the fair. Tuition is $20.00.

Gum Paste Sculpting

Tuesday July 31^st

10:00 Am- 12:00 Pm

This class will teach you the basics of sculpting small animals and cake toppers for your cakes using Gum Paste. No cake experience is necessary. Tuition is $20.00.

Sweetcakes- Advanced Gum Paste Flowers Tip

I always say I learn more from my students than they learn from me and in this weeks Advanced Gum Paste class we all learned something new:

Do not paint your flowers using water and Wilton colorings if you are on South Carolina Well Water!!

The results of painting with South Carolina well water are the same as making butter cream icing using well water-- IT DOES NOT WORK!! As many of you know the iron in our well waters will cause butter cream icing to separate,  and we learned this week that painting with this water will leave orange iron stains on your beautiful flowers!!!!

I don't know if this holds true anywhere else in the world but, for us it does.