https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=4795527502377&set=pcb.742452699176708&type=3&theater
I love to learn and I love to learn things that I love. I had taken a cake decorating class way back in 2008. I was keen on baking cakes and decorating, but the simple task of cleaning up the decorating tips, for some reason - though it is not a surprise that such a reason should exist for somebody with obsessive compulsive inclinations like me - daunted and overwhelmed me!
But these cakes were made of fondant and seemed like I may not have to clean decorating tips after all. My interest was piqued. I liked the challenge. So it immediately went on my list. This was in 2014.
I researched. I was not keen on going for classes, because time was sparse; I had had my second son only a few months ago. But thanks to the internet and the multitude of resources, I did not even have to step out of the house to equip and prepare myself.
For me everything starts with a mental process, before the physical realization of it.
The picture on Facebook posted by Manashi Deshpande of her "Under the Sea" Cake and Cupcakes was both the inspiration and the goal, or at least the like of it.
I am immensely grateful to Craftsy and the instructors who put up their comprehensive lessons for free.
I discovered Basic Fondant Techniques with Elisa Strauss, a free mini-class on Craftsy - http://www.craftsy.com/lecture/free-mini-fondant-techniques/2618.html. My then 4-year old son would insist on watching this instead of his current favorite cartoon series. We cuddled up next to each other and together we devoured the class videos.
Fabulous Party Cakes and Cupcakes by Carol Deacon that I checked out from the library lay on the table beside my couch - for 12 weeks - the maximum time I could borrow the book at a stretch. I thumbed through it once, but its presence there filled me with a warm feeling of anticipation. My son even picked out the cakes he wanted me to make from this book. But his interest moved on. So did time. But the seed was sown.
This year, I decided I would bake a Pocoyo theme birthday cake for my second son's 2nd year birthday. Without further thought, I headed to Michael's and went ahead and bought the supplies.
Wilton Decorator Preferred Fondant - White, Primary Multipack and Natural Multipack
Wilton 40-pc Alphabet Number Cutout
Cake tins and a bunch of cookie cutters,
I went and borrowed the same book from the library. Just looking at it felt like puzzle pieces were falling in place.
These two videos for Pocoyo Fondant Cake helped immensely. Thank you, Tartafantasia.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7h_U2LzwkhE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7oJeQFdi0Qk
One night, I made the characters in fondant. The night before my son's birthday, I baked the cake and made the frosting and put it all together.
From start to finish, the process flowed like peace.
Chocolate Cake : http://foodess.com/recipes/moist-chocolate-cake/
Chocolate Frosting : http://foodess.com/recipes/fluffy-chocolate-frosting/
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| Pocoyo |
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| Elly |
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| Pato |
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| Loula |
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| Sleepy Bird |
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| Pocoyo Theme 2nd Year Birthday Cake |
It made my day when my 2-year old squealed in delight, patted, showed-off and called out the names all the characters. I loved watching my sons pick apart ears, letters and heart and pop them into their mouths. I loved watching them poke the cake, swipe the frosting that oozed out and lick it off their pointer fingers. All this, way before we got ready to cut the cake.
And as a lagniappe, a cake in his favorite heart shape with his favorite Magic School Bus topper made with fondant for the loving, lovable big brother, Krish. He rolled out and cut out the hearts from fondant and decorated the cake himself.
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| Heart Shaped Magic School Bus Theme Cake |
Go for your dreams! Derive joy, give joy.
