THE MAT

The answer to all my problems: THE MAT.

After all my struggles covering cakes with fondant, I started looking for tips online and stumbled upon "THE MAT". With a very important cake due next month to celebrate the long awaited arrival of my niece, it has to be perfect so the pressure is on to prefect the icing.

Some pros may refer to this as cheating but I'm happy to be called a cheat if this mat works as good as the video suggests:


Of course I'm sceptical, it wouldn't be the first product I've bought that looks great but in real life doesn't work. However, for £24.99 I think it's worth a try. I also like the hygiene aspect of it and not being left with a table covered in icing sugar to clean up at the end.

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P R I M U S

A Primus cake for a Primus fan and Mr Chris to the rescue again, what would I do without him!

This cake was going well until I fell ill mid creation with suspected food poisoning (not my own cooking I'd like to add!). Fortunately I had baked the cake and made the models the previous evening, but I had to leave Mr Chris to cover the cake and put it all together the next day. I think he did an amazing job and he still managed to take care of me at the same time.



The fondant astronauts are based on the huge inflatable ones from their tour and t-shirts. I like to think they show an improvement in my modelling skills thanks to the magic ingredient, Tylo powder, and a nice set of modelling tools from Mr Chris.


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How to make Modelling Paste

After making a few fondant models and finding it quite difficult to work with, I have discovered the fondant needs a little something extra in order to turn it in to modelling paste, or gum-paste as some refer to it.

This YouTube video gives a really good demo on how to create modelling paste by adding Tylo powder:


I picked up a little tub (85g) of Tylo powder for £3.65 from my local cake decorators shop. I consider that a bargain as it'll last a considerable time and I now have a little stash of modelling paste ready for when I need it.

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Spiral Cake

Firstly, I have to confess I stole this idea from CakeCentral, but it was the perfect cake for Mr Chris' Dad who is a very keen walker.

The cake consists of two Victoria sponges, one on top of the other, and the spiral path has been carved as detailed in the link above.
Cutting in to the cake was a little frightening but actually went quite smoothly. 

The icing as usual was a nightmare, especially as the cake was so large, but Mr Chris stepped in to lend a hand and we got there eventually.

The final result with all its trimmings... 





Not my best modelling work as it was a warm evening and with the added food colouring my fondant was too sticky, but I did find a nifty tutorial on YouTube for creating the trees (even if they did turn out to be the same size as Mr Fred).












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