The Wilton Method Course Two: Flowers and Cake Design

I took the second Wilton Course to build on what I learned in the first one. Unfortunately, I don't have any pictures from the first three classes because they didn't end with anything worth shooting. Mostly, we practiced making flowers from royal icing and tracing patterns with buttercream icing.

For the final project (class four) we had to decorate a cake with the techniques of our choosing. I made some royal icing flowers the night before but didn't really have a plan for the entire cake. Here's what I ended up doing:

I really like the basket weave white-on-white look, but I'm not sure the cake works as a whole.

I'm glad I took both classes. I would recommend the in-person classes to anyone who likes to bake but isn't innately good at frosting and decorating. It helped to have an instructor guide me through each flower and border. Plus, each class ends with a snack!

Maybe 11

Here is another batch of audiobooks! This is a very important post since it's being posted from my phone! Hello future! I'm here!

1: The Secret History of Wonder Woman
  Jill Lepore

2: I Must Say 
My Life as Humble Comedy Legend
  Martin Short

3: The Work
My Search for a Life That Matters
  Wes Moore

4: The Good Lord Bird: A Novel
  James McBride  

5: The Professor and the Madman
  Simon Winchester

6: Loving Someone...
  Julie Fast

7: Yes Please
  Amy Poehler

8: American Lion
  Jon Meacham

9: Shotgun Lovesongs
  Nicholas Butler

10: Everything I Never Told You
  Celeste Ng

Oscar Poll - Winner!

Don't Let's Start

I thought I would have to hold off on posting the latest list of audiobooks, but I just finished book #10 earlier in the week for my book club. Even though it's been a while, only two of these books are from the monthly club - I skipped November (too depressing of a book) and December was a paper book with no audio counterpart. And of course, I listened to Serial (and other podcasts) which kept me away from my books.

1: How to Talk So Teens Will Listen & Listen So Teens Will Talk
  Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlich

2: The Circle
  David Eggers

3: Think Like a Freak
  Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner

4: God Save the Sweet Potato Queens
  Jill Conner Browne

5: Creativity, Inc.
  Ed Catmull

6: The Round House
  Louise Erdrich

7: Unwind
  Neal Shusterman

8: Oryx and Crake
  Margaret Atwood

9: The Magicians
  Lev Grossman

10: Cold Mountain
  Charles Frazier

Plants vs Zombies

These cupcakes and cake were for my littlest nephew's Plants vs. Zombies themed birthday party. I frosted and my sister decorated with the rolled buttercream fondant made (and dyed!) by yours truly.

Sunflower, Peashooter & Corn Gunner vs. Zombies & Conehead Zombies

My nephew made the paper decorations that topped the game board cake. He is a very talented artist!

Dem Bones

This cake was a commission for a teenager's birthday. I don't think it was part of a larger pirate-themed party, but you could certainly adapt it for that use.

I found a template online and used the transfer technique I learned in my Building Buttercream Skills class to decorate it. I thought it turned out really nice and I heard that the birthday boy loved it!

Flag Cake (Blueberries and Cherries)

The Fourth of July Flag Cake was a little different this year since I used buttercream frosting and cherries instead of whipped cream (or Cool Whip) and strawberries. There was no substitute for the blueberries. I also gave it the right number of red and white stripes, which came out crooked even though I made hash marks. Maybe we'll try it again next year.