CSN stores has recently given me the opportunity to review the CucinaPro Pasta Fresh Machine (retail value $41.99) and Trenette Pasta Attachment (retail value $17.99).  Pasta machines can be very useful when it comes to rolling out fondant.  I have to admit, it did make a bit of a mess but, it definitely cut my decorating time in half.

My Experience

I cannot say enough that I was very excited to review a product like this.  I absolutely love kitchen gadgets that are useful in both cooking and cake decorating.  A pasta machine is definitely one of those items so there is no need to feel guilty about spending the money.  Before I begin, I would also like to mention that this is my first time EVER using a pasta machine.  It was a bit of a trial and error experience and probably the reason for the huge mess it left my kitchen.  Check back again soon because I will be updating this post with my 2nd experience.



My first step was to clamp the machine to the counter and generously coat it with powdered sugar.  This prevented the fondant from sticking and made a little bit of a mess.




Before moving on, I kneaded the fondant so that it was pliable and ready for decorating.  I then set the machine to setting #7 (the largest setting) and sent the fondant through.  That was it...The fondant was ready to be cut or shaped any way I desired.  In this case, I cut it into long strips and made ribbon roses which you will see on the finished cake.



I also wanted to try the pasta attachment.  The fondant pasta I will be specifically making is trenette pasta.  My thought was that if everything worked correctly, I will be left with long, even strips of fondant.  To do this I sent another piece of fondant through the rollers.  It was still too big to use the attachment so I lightly rolled it up, set the machine to setting 5 and rolled out the fondant again.  It was now ready to send through the trenette pasta attachment.  At this point I lightly rolled up the fondant again making sure there was enough powdered sugar to keep it from sticking to itself.  I then dusted the attachment and sent the fondant through.  As you can see from this picture, it worked exactly as I planned.  I used these strips to make stripes on the side of this cake.



This pasta maker was a big help and is definitely something I will use again.  During the quick process, my only frustrations were the huge mess and the fact that the handle kept popping out and falling on the ground.  But, as I mentioned before, this could be due to my inexperience with pasta machines.

Here is a picture of the final cake that was made using this pasta machine.  It was easy to use and I highly recommend this product to anyone looking for an inexpensive pasta machine.  To purchase this product visit www.csnstores.com.

Sugar Plaques

Small Plaque (3 inches or smaller) $5.00 Medium Plaque (4-5 inches) $8.00 Large Plaque (6 inches or larger) $11.00

This week I will be putting the spotlight on another home bakery, Sugar Winks.  Cat specializes in cakePOPS (Wait until you see these!) but she also decorates cakes and bakes all kinds of goodies



There is so much detail in these Yo Gabba Gabba cakePOPS.














Cute chick and egg cakePOPS for Easter.














These are my favorite! 










And now for a few cakes...


Keep up the great work Cat!

These shoes were used on a Wizard of Oz themed cake but I can make a variety of styles and colors.  At the time of purchase please describe the shoes as best as you can in the notes to seller.  It is always an added plus if you can provide a picture.  If this is possible, please mention it in the notes to seller as well.

Gumpaste Shoes

1 Shoe $6.00 Pair of Shoes $12.00

I made this cake for the daughter of a family friend.  It was so much fun to make and with a little bit of carving confidence, you can make it too!

Not feeling confident enough to make the gumpaste shoes? Make decorating this cake even easier by purchasing gumpaste ruby slippers from Piece of Cake Decorating!  We sell edible images for your sugar plaque too!

You will need...

2 1/2 sheet cakes (each 2 inches tall)
large cake board
yellow, red and green buttercream icing
gumpaste ruby slippers (click to view my Ruby Slipper Tutorial)
Emerald City icing plaque (click to view my Icing Plaque Tutorial)
tips #3 and #233
toothpicks
any straight edge


Directions:


Step 1

A few days in advance make your gumpaste shoes and Emerald City sugar plaque.  If you decide to purchase these items, make sure to plan ahead.



Step 2

Level, tort and fill your cakes.  Stack the cakes on your cake board and cut the cake to look like a winding path.



For another version of this cake visit http://sugaredblog.blogspot.com.

I Heart Cake is a home bakery in Great Falls, Montana.  Charli is a very talented decorator that specializes in custom cakes...my personal favorite. Here are just a few cakes I have selected from her gallery.  Check out the cake boards in all of these cakes.  Charli doesn't miss a single detail.





Where's the tequila?!?  What a cute idea for a cake!











This looks just like my son's toy!  He would definitely be jealous.














I love all of the details in this cake...especially the notepad.
















Way too cute!  This is a great cake for any Halloween party.
















And finally, in honor of St. Patrick's Day next month...

Brush piping gel all over the shoe, inside and out.  Finally, roll the shoe in red sugar crystals.  All mistakes should be hidden and your shoe will sparkle in the light.


For another great gumpaste shoe tutorial visit www.how2cakes.com.

Sugar plaques can be made a number of ways but the easiest is to use an edible image.  Below you will find the steps taken to make Emerald City in the Wizard of Oz cake pictured above.

You will need...





white gumpaste
edible image(s)
Exacto Knife
piping gel
decorator's brush
2 wooden dowels (optional)
white candy metls (optional)






Directions:

Step 1





Using a Exacto Knife, cut out your image and remove it from the backing paper.








Step 2

Roll out you gumpaste to at least 1/4 thick.  You can make it thicker but it will take longer to dry.

***Decorator's Tip*** It is important to use white gumpaste because it will not take away from the color of your image. Gumpaste will also harden faster than fondant.


Step 3

Place your rolled out gumpaste on a cake board or cookie sheet.  This will ensure your image does not tare or become distorted.  Then, with a brush, cover the back of your image with piping gel.

***Decorator's Tip*** Make sure you apply the piping gel as close to the edge as you can.


Once your image is covered, place it on the gumpaste and cut it out using your Exacto Knife.

***Decorator's Tip*** Notice how I have left a strip of gumpaste hanging below the image.  This is an optional step.  It was done because Emerald City will be standing up on the cake and I wanted the sugar plaque to sit in the cake a bit so it would survive delivery.





Step 4 (optional)




After a day or two, the gumpaste will be dry enough to add dowels to the back.  To do this you melt white candy melts and coat the top of your dowels.  Place the dowels on the back of your image at the appropriate height.  For extra security, add a little more chocolate over the dowels and let dry.







You are now ready to place your image(s) on your cake!

This week's feature goes to a fellow New Jerseyan.  Anne Heap is the owner of Pink Cake Box in Denville, NJ.  Her business began as a two person operation run from a restaurant kitchen.  Today she has a store front and 10 talented decorators and bakers to help.  After seeing her work, it is no surprise she has become so successful.

These first two cakes are absolutely amazing.  I've looked at them several times already and I still can't tell they are cake!




Because I am currently making my son's first birthday cake, I was drawn to her children's cakes.  These put my cakes to shame.



Isn't the dinosaur fantastic and the hat is too cute!

















Any little girl would love this cake!















I chose this next cake for all my Yankee Fans out there.



These are just a few of her cakes. Visit PinkCakeBox.com to see their extensive cake galleries.

Since I began decorating cakes I have heard about the "Viva Paper Towel Method"  but have never tried it until now.  Basically, Viva Paper Towels are made without design so when pressed on an iced cake, the buttercream smooths out.  In two easy steps, you can have a smooth, professional looking cake.



Step 1

Ice your cake as you normally would but this time, allow the buttercream icing to crust up.  It is hard to judge how long this will take but it is an important step.  Here I played it safe and let my iced cake sit over night.








Step 2




Once your buttercream has crusted, there are two ways you can use the paper towel to smooth your icing. The first uses your fondant smoother (left picture).  I like this tool because it keeps the surface flat.  The second method uses your hand (right picture).  This is a little tricky because you need to be sure to keep your hand and fingers flat and apply equal pressure but the natural warmth of your hand helps.  Both methods work so it is simply a matter of preference.


 


In this picture I have used the Viva Paper Towel on the right side of the cake.  It is easy to see that the icing is much smoother.










Once you are done, your finished cake should look something like this...