Sunday, May 9, 2010

A Celebration Cake and a Giveaway

Happy Mother's Day!

My Wilton course 3 is over. Although I am pretty excited that I do not have to make anymore vegetable shortening type buttercream, I am pretty sad it is over. I met some wonderful people in my class.

Course 3 is all about fondant. Fondant may taste pretty bad but it sure looks pretty on a cake. Its so smooth and so versatile. There are so many things you can do with fondant. I am so excited to make cakes for my kids but that is some time away.



Since our final cake was about fondant I decided to make some real buttercream with real butter. I wanted to make a lot to ensure I had enough to cover the two layers. I made a vanilla and Frangelico buttercream that was pretty tastey. But really how can you go wrong with a little sugar, egg whites and a ton of butter. Wrong maybe in the health department but oh so right in the taste department.

I made the buttermilk cake that I had previously posted. It really is a wonderful, sturdy, great tasting cake. Since I have used it twice now I guess I must like it. I put Nutella between the layers and frosted with the buttercream. Then of course the fondant. Topped with some flowers I made in class, along with one or two that my instructor shared with me and some quick buttercream (the vegetabe shortening one) that I made in class. I still have to practice my roses but I am getting a little better. (A little).

Frangelico and Vanilla Bean Buttercream
You can halve this recipe. I wanted a lot of buttercream to make sure I had enough to cover my two cakes.

8 ounces of egg whites (about 7 extra large eggs)
2 cups granulated sugar
1 pound butter
2 tablespoons Frangelico
1 vanilla beans worth of seeds scraped

Whisk egg whites and sugar together in the bowl of a stand mixer and place over a saucepan of simmering water. Continue whisking while the mixture heats up to about 140 degrees F. If you don't have a thermometer, the mixture should feel warm to the touch. Remove from heat and place bowl back in stand mixer. Let the whisk beaters run until the bowl feels cool to the touch. Begin to add the butter in pieces. Make sure all of your ingredients are at room temp. Once the butter has been added and fully incorporated add in the vanilla seeds. Finally the Frangelico. Don't worry if the mixture curdles. Keep beating it will come together.

Without further ado...

After 500 posts I think it is time for a celebration.  My blog turned two back in early February but I thought I would wait until my 500th post to celebrate.  So here I am cake in hand, want a piece?  Oh, that's right this is the internet- we can't do that.  No matter, I will put the cake aside and send you a little gift instead.  Here it is:


Here is what you have to do to enter:

1. Enter your name one time only.  Duplicate entries will be deleted.
2. Tell me what are the three vegetables or fruits that you most look forward to in the Spring and Summer?
3. The giveaway is open to US and Canadian residents only.  

4. The deadline for entries is Wednesday May 12th at midnight.

Full Disclosure:  Everything I am giving away has been bought by me.

23 comments:

Cristine said...

Congrats on 500 posts and your cake is beautiful!

I look forward to strawberries, blueberries, and cherries! I miss the fresh cherries from the markets in Germany! :)

ann low said...

Congrats on your 500th posts and your fondant cake looks so..so..beautiful! I'm impressed!!
Happy Mother's day to, Lori ;)

Megan said...

You make me want to go play with fondant!
I cant wait for strawberries, peaxhes, and tomatoes. If I could pick a 4th, it would be cherrys!
h
Congrats on 500! Thants quite the milestone!

Ingrid_3Bs said...

Holy Moly 500? Congrats.

Your cake looks amazing! You did an incredible job.

I'm not keen on veggies so much but give me fruits....lots of berries! :)
~ingrid

grace said...

500 posts?!?! wowza! your cake is just exquisite, and that buttercream sounds deeelicious! the three foods i look forward to most are fresh corn, blueberries, and tomatoes. it's hard to limit it to three, but there ya go. :)

Lucy..♥ said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Lucy..♥ said...

Congrats on 500 posts!!!!

Absolutely beautiful cake, very impressive..... kudos!!

My favorites & limited to 3 are: asparagus, vine ripen tomatoes from my garden, & strawberries.

Happy Mother's Day, Lori!!

Tiffany said...

Congratulations on your 500 posts! That's a lot. I am most looking forward to raspberries, strawberries and blueberries. I love summer fruit!

LittleRed said...

Well congratulations & Happy Mother's Day Lori! I had a fondant cake for my wedding just because I liked the looks of it. I don't find fondant very tasty, but I'm told there is a marshmallow fondant you can make that is better tasting.....but I've never tried it:) Your cake looks fabulous:) Hmmm spring fruits and veggies that I favour....I'll go with Strawberries (even though I'm mildly allergic) rhubarb, and asparagus.

Dana said...

I literally Thank God that you posted the vanilla buttercream recipe!! Will be using it this weekend and I can't wait! My 3 favorite spring/ summer items are strawberries, peaches and cherries. If I could include more, I'd have to say...just about everything else. Nothing beats fresh produce!! Happy Mother's Day and congratulations on 500 posts!

jastembo said...

congrats on the 500th post and finishing your class.

i look forward to sour cherries (oh what a short, short season), blueberries and real watermelon w/ seeds.

Taste of Beirut said...

Lori

That cake you made and the fondant flowers is just amazing! It could be sold at a cake shop! (I know 'cause I did work at one a long time ago)
Are you going to be doing it as a business? If so you will be successful
Thanks so much for what you wrote on my blog; your words really touched me.

Elaine said...

Summer Squash, homegrown tomatoes and Texas Hill Country peaches!

Yum!

kat said...

That buttercream sounds so good & your cake is beautiful! Happy 500th post!

As for your question, in the spring I look forward to ramps & peas & in the summer cherry tomatoes off the vine.

Katy ~ said...

Not entering your giveaway as I have been so very fortunate in the past, but wanted to thank you for offering such a fine giveaway.

Your cake is beautiful. Gosh, I wish we had classes like that here as I would love to be able to make such a beautiful cake.

My favorites: corn on the cob, field-ripened strawberries, peaches.

Ronda said...

Congratulations on your 5ooth post, that is a big one! Gorgeous cake too.

So many fruits and veggies, but I'll go with watermelon, fresh corn on the cob, and tomatoes!
XOXO

Lauren said...

Beautiful cake!

I look forward to strawberries, peaches, and corn on the cob.

blueberryeyeslauren@gmail.com

Rachel said...

Congrats! 500 posts. WOW. And that cake is gorgeous. Seriously makes me want to take a decorating class. I am most looking forward to strawberries, corn on the cob and fresh basil.

♥Sugar♥Plum♥Fairy♥ said...

Wowowow, 500 posts!!!!
thats awesome!!
And the beautiful cake sure does toast to a beautiful celebration!!
Great going gurl!!
U have worked so wonderfully with d fondant and the buttercream!!
Am absolutely impressed and loved where u reached at Wiltons ,coz i remember ur thoughts ,when u joined!
Love love the giveaway and would lve to win!!
Well i sure do love berries of all kinds,they are so so pretty and so versatile while baking and at pancakes too:-))

chow and chatter said...

wow what a cake you deserve a big pat on the back!

Chats the Comfy Cook said...

Five hundred posts is impressive. Congratulations on a lot of effort and enthusiasm. If the cake is an example of what you can do, you have earned your posts and ability.

I love the giveaway. It is one of the better ones, at least, for me.

I can't wait for peaches, strawberries and beautiful red tomatoes that taste real. If I can add a 4th, make it corn.

Barbara Bakes said...

Your cake is gorgeous. What a great talent to have. Congrats on 500 wonderful posts. I'm all about summer fruits, Bear Lake raspberries, fresh from the tree peaches and local watermelon.

Murasaki Shikibu said...

What a beautiful cake! Great job. :D