Hiya,

An epic weekend...
of preparation and baking.

A large three tiered stacked cake for EF to have displayed with champagne for celebrating 50 years of opening.

Then 500 cupcakes, one for each student.

All with edible printed disks of their specially designed logo.

How did they pick me out of all the companies?
Well, technically they didn't.

The catering company, actually the

RATHER GOOD CATERING COMPANY.

recommended me.

I had made a cake for the P.A. of the Director at short notice a few years ago, then a second cake a year after that. As with my work I often get repeat custom, but not on a yearly basis.

It was quite an undertaking and I made samples, discussed colour schemes and what would look best within the remit I was given.

Working third party is always a bit more difficult as information is relayed at a slower pace, as well as working with the catering company within their terms.

I happily made a sample of cupcakes with a larger and slightly smaller logo to see the preference.

Once EF had decided on the larger cupcake logo, it was all prep to have cake cases, boxes etc... delivered. This would not normally be an issue, but smack bang in the middle of wanting to order everything I was having a few days off for my birthday, as well as requiring everything to be delivered at least the weekend before.

Organisation was key, but luckily the items I required from Ebay could now be sent to Argos. Who would have thought this would have worked so well with timings for me.

Cases, boxes, lustre spray, wires, piping nozzles, etc...all delivered to an Argos where MR Cakes 2 Party 4 could collect for me on the way home from work.

Edible print and new inks ordered for the 500 disks that required printing before hand, as well as cutting out icing disks for them to go on.

The edible disks are fantastic, but they don't like sitting on butter cream.
FYI it took 7.5K of icing to cut 500 disks from.

Once these had dried, I had to place the prints on to the disks.

All this prep work really did come in place when I had made the cupcakes, including vats of butter cream pre made. I was unsure who much I would need, but filled a few large tubs to keep me going at the start at least.

Again this really did help when preparing all the cupcakes.

I used foil cake cases, these tend to keep the cupcakes fresher and less likely to peel, plus they look good in gold.

The large cake could be made a few days in advance, so was filled and iced, this keeps the cake fresh, once it had settled I stacked it, left it to settle again, before finishing the decoration.

Once the tiered 10,8,6" cake was boxed and safely out of the way I made a start on the cupcakes.
A few years ago I made 700 cupcakes and was less prepared, I didn't know about cupcake boxes, I didn't have the cupcake tins and borrowed some from friends.
This all helped me prepare, as I couldn't use some of the borrowed tins as they didn't even bake the cupcakes properly.

I also knew it would take all day to average 400 cupcakes, but with making the large cake I was 2 hours out.

I had planned on making just over half the cupcakes required on the Sunday, with the whole order needing to be ready by 4 p.m. on the Monday.

I was hoping that the fan ovens and elements would play nicely, especially as the element in one oven had just been replaced two weeks ago.

My luck held and I managed to make just over 300 cupcakes on the Sunday, totally finished and boxed.

With slight trepidation of the cases I was using I got up on Monday to start, I was slightly concerned as white cake cases were required, but they were showing the colour of the cake through and didn't look professional, so I chose an Ivory, that matched the gold, and the gradient of the logo...

All worked well and I managed to get cracking, all 160 (ish eggs)

The order was ready just before 1 p.m. with a quick clear up and floor sweep I could enjoy some lunch, before getting nervous of collection.


The lovely Nell, who had recommended me came to collect the cake and cupcakes, saying I was going to make her look so good.
I nearly cried in relief! I was so tired, and can't believe I had done it.

The whole order would have been slightly easier had I not had a long weekend off prior to needing to get going.

I haven't had any feedback as yet, but as samples were given I am quietly confident...
I will continue the post on another blog, with timings etc...

For now I have to get to baking this weekends cakes.

baking dreams come true...

Alex

Hello,

Wow, wow, wow....

A good start to the year, okay it is quiet and busy weeks as always.

Still wow, wow, wow...

Thank you to the customers who are out there routing for me, being return customers and recommending me.

Yes, YOU! THANK YOU.

It is like a ripple of water, I am the central circle, I make a cake for you, you pass on my details, cards, then those people contact me and the ripples go further and further out.

It is so much appreciated...

baking dreams come true...

Alex

Hello,

Welcome to 2015.

Wow, what a fantastic start.

I usually take the Christmas holiday's off, but started back a few days early. I made a birthday cake for Max, he was celebrating his spy party. I made a suitcase, with a bomb, dynamite, spy glass etc... which was great fun.
I got a late order for a 21st as she came home for the weekend to spend it with family, black cake with gold text. Very classy.

This week I had a quieter week, well until all the orders rolled in.

Yay, It was great to help people last people. All was going to go to plan. Until, drum roll...I had no electric. Ahhhh!!!

How could this happen, luckily I didn't have to bake that day. I did however have to ice a cake ready for Tuesday.
Now something that I never thought I would type is, how to ice a cake with torchlight, yes, torchlight.

The darkest winter morning of the year and a cake to be ready for that p.m.

It is amazing how much we rely on electric. I didn't have much charge on my mobile, the landline wasn't working.
I had stupid thoughts, like it is okay. I can boil water on the hob for a cup of tea... no, it's electric.

Luckily we got it diverted for the evening, which meant a shed load of baking... as they had to come back the next morning and re routing it.

I had a plan to go to a friends to fill and ice the cakes, I wrote a list of what I would need to take. An unbelievable amount is needed to fill and ice a cake. I didn't have to do this in the end. Which was lucky as while filling and icing the cakes I kept thinking, I would have missed this xxx and this xxx.

luck played a big part in me not having a meltdown, and planning on how to not let down my customers.

What a start to the new year...

Baking dreams come true...

Alex