My FIRST Fondant cake!

I wanted to make my friend a cake for her surprise party yesterday and my sister made a very cool fondant cake a couple weeks ago and she inspired me to try one. I never really thought I would try one so this was definitely going to be a first.You have to make the fondant icing a day or two before and it is so easy and CHEAP! I had no idea how cheap it was. My sister found a yummy recipe on http://whatscookingamerica.net/PegW/Fondant.htm This woman makes a fondant that actually tastes good! It is made merely of marshmallows and powdered sugar. Most nasty tasting fondants have some type of yucky frosting glue in them and they taste bad. This so didn’t!

Here are the ingredients for the frosting…

So ridiculously cheaper then buying it from a bakery.

All you do is melt the marshmallows for 30 seconds at a time in the microwave (16 oz bag) and then add 3/4 of the powdered sugar and kneed it. This is the hardest part as this stuff gets stiff but it is kind of fun too and messy! The lady on the web site says add the whole bag of sugar eventually but I made 2 batches of this and my fondant worked better leaving it at 3/4 of a bag.

I also did one batch with Jet puffed marshamallows and one with the generic store brand (half the price) and both batches turned out exactly the same.

This is the finished product after 10 minutes of kneading!

This goes double wrapped int he fridge for at least a day (it can stay in there quite a long time if needed).
Then you put it in the microwave for 10-20 seconds and knead it again til it is a nice stretchy texture. You may have to add 1/2 tsp of water at a time to get it back.
Every time you knead the frosting you coat your hands with shortening and a lot! Coat the surface you are kneading it onto as well. That is why the shortening is in the first pic, it’s for the hands and counter.
Roll it out with a roller. I bought a fondant roller for $5.99 at the local meijer store here or you can use a regular roller. The only thing I would do different next time is buy a large roller because I could not use the measuring bands for the large fondant but could use them on all the decorating parts!
When you get it about 1/8 inch think you very carefuly place it on the cake. It wills tick to the counter so make sure you are using cornstarch underneath (generously) and on your roller so you can pick it up. I treid just using the powdered sugar at first and realized real quick that cornstarch works much better and does not add any taste to the fondant.

Make sure when you roll it you measure the cake and roll it at least 1 inch larger then you need. I placed the cake on a piece of cardboard so I could easily lift it up onto a paint can to trim the edges nice and close with a sharp knife. Then I transfered it to the larger base that I foiled so I could add a border.

Now you can decorate.

I kneaded color into my fondant with regular baking food coloring. You want to store it white and color it when you are ready to decorate.

Then I used a pizza cutter to make ribbons and cookie cutters to make circles. Add a little water (very little) to make it stick and just be creative! You can buy some rollers to hel make fancy edges but cold not find any locally so I just used straight edge. I want to buy a roller for next ti me though:)
To make a bow you simply take small piece of fondant (5 inches) and make a loop and store them on the sides (not in the fridge but room temp (for 12-24 hours). A day later you can stick them to the top of the cake where ever you want. I tried to do this with pure water at first but decided to use fondant instead. I just took a piece of fondant (size of a quarter) and kept adding water until it was more runny and added it to the top of the cake and the bows stuck beautifully!

The tissue is in there to help it keep it’s shape. Be careful though, if the fondant is too wet the tissue sticks!
Here is the finished product. Not too bad for a first (I don’t think anyway)!

You have to use dowels or something like that to help the two layers not slide around.

What I did not do (and I will next time) is keep the top layer on some type of hard round surface before I dowel it on a cake. I will probably just purchase something that is made to layer cakes. The next day when I took the cake out of the box at the party the bottom layer sunk a bit because the top was so heavy, but I still got a lot of compliments on it so it was no big deal.

DO NOT store this cake int eh fridge or in plastic. It must be stored in room temp and in a box so it does not sweat!

There you go…Happy decorating everyone!

I will try this again fro my daughter’s April birthday!

It was a fraction of the cost of buying it pre-made!

Tawna
I am posting from amazon what I am buying before I make my daughters cake but you don’t NEED them but it will make it easier!
I am torn between the two ribbon cutters. I think it may be more benefiical to buy the more expensive one because it “looks” like you can do more edges with it. I need to check that out! I am now going to be always on a “mission” to find the smalles cookie cutters I can find, and a variety, so I can have many options rather then just circles to add to my future cakes.

If anyone else tries this please share your first experience with both myself and my readers. Add a link in your comment where we can go see the cake.

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Oh what a Beautiful morning , oh what a beautiful day!

I just keep singing this over and over today….I have to remember that every day is a blessing! Here was my day.
Woke up 6am to head to a conference to flood watches all over. Ton’s of rain. Debated for while whether or not to drive the hour and 15 minutes, but I did.
When I did decide to leave (which was 30 minutes later then I should have) I walked out to the car, in the rain, and spilled my coffee all over me and my unbrella while getting int he car. Postponed me a little long of course.
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Drove to the conference with not issues and the rain let up a bit so that was good.
Had a hard time sitting and staying awake during it. had to stand for the last hour (InterStim implant still does not like me to sit in hard chairs too long).
Drove home while trying to pry eyes open, but made it.
Made a lopsided cake for my friends surprise party. But it still looks pretty good for my first time.
We met my father-in-law for dinner and on the way home we hit a huge pot hole and we got a front tire that we had to change, at night, in the cold rain, with two kids in the backseat, on the on ramp to the freeway. Oh and I now have $12 in my bank account and my car takes only high performance alloy wheel tires and they are at the cheapest $99 each. You do that math!
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This is not my actual tire, I did not have the camera with me, I just wanted to add a picture here for visual aid!
Made homemade rolls for the party too (yes from scratch)!
Spent another 60 minutes cleaning up and taking some ibuprofen so my back and legs will quite hurting and now it’s 1:15am!
Time for BED!
Really, I am not stressed or upset. The old me would have been but I have been pretty good all day long. I have been living a very stressful schedule the last few days but I have been surprisingly calm.
I know my friend will appreciate all my hard work and that is why I did all this work. the cake may not be a masterpiece but was made from the heart. it’s my first so just think what my 2nd, 3rd, 10th will look like…sweet!
I am positively thinking that my tire will be reparable. It is always a good possibility that it just go bumped off the bead and can be repositioned. Hay, why not, it can happen?!!
I smelled like coffee all morning long in my conference. Hay, better then the guy who smelled like BO a few seats back! It least my coffee smelled good!
Now off to bed and gearing up for an awesome Sunday (well it’s Sunday now so rest of Sunday)!
Have a wonderfully positive Sunday everyone! I guess I can’t post this til late Sunday because I don’t want my friend to get any hints towards her surprise party today. So when you read this I will be home and in bed again awaiting Marvelous Monday!
UPDATE:
Well it’s Sunday morning and the tire is checked and…..it cannot be fixed. I am trying very hard to stay positive today, I really am. It is hard. With $12 in the bank how am I suppose to get a new tire? On top of that my coffee maker broke this morning and will not make ANY coffee at all. Should I spend my last 12 bucks on 10-12 days worth of coffee?  Hmmmm decisions! Oh wait, don’t I need a car to get coffee?!

I am in the process of looking for my happy place today. It will definitely be a huge test for me today!

I hope you all are having a great day!

You here tings happen in three’s right? Well number three: I washed my favorite zip  up fleece on Sunday because it smelled like coffee and when I took it out of the dryer the zipper had melted and broke. I can still wear it but I cannot zip it up.

I think I am done, my 3 things have happened and now I am done!!! Facing Monday with a clean slate AND coffeeless!


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Well I made it.

Well…I did go ahead and in the rain to my meeting and it was not so bad. made it there fine but a little wet is all.

The day went pretty good, just tired and had a lot to get done to get ready for Sunday. Late Saturday night our wonderful pot holed freeway decided to take my tire hostage. It is not fixable either so now I have the spare tire on my car that is going to have to stay there for awhile because funds in the bank are very dry right now! Oh well right or AND the coffee maker broke this morning too so now I am tired and cranky! Trying to see the good side of things though, remember…I am being Mrs. positive!

Anyway, anyone have an old coffee maker they want to sell me…cheap?! LOL

Isn’t it funny how I was so worried about driving in the morning in the rain and it was 12 hours later that the roads got the best of me? It always happens when you least expect it!

Have a great day everyone!
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This is how I feel today!

Tawna

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To drive in the rain or not to drive in the rain, hmmmmm….

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Well it is 6:30am on Saturday morning and I am suppose to be on the road in an hour to drive to a c conference 70 miles away. The problem is that we have flash flood warning all day long here and everywhere between me and the conference. How much do I want to drive there? Not so much.

I used to have not qualms driving in rain until I moved to the Midwest and the rain is much different here. Hydroplaning is very common and seeing a few inches of rain settled on the freeway and even more on the back roads is also very common.

So sitting here listening to the coffee pot brew and wondering…”how bad do I want to go to the conference today?” My thoughts are “Not too bad.”

I guess I will check the weather again at 7:40am and if the flood watches are still in effect then I guessed the only thing I am sacrificing today was sleeping in!

Have a wonderful day everyone!

Link up to my weekend blog hop at http://tawnasplan.blogspot.com/ open til Sunday.

Tawna

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Blog Hopin this weekend!

Just Married with Coupons

Tawnasplan

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Positive thought about confidence!

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“If you don’t have confidence, you’ll always find a way not to win.” – Carl Lewis

This quote came from a blog frog friend of mine. She posted it in my positive thought/affirmation group. You should join us, it’s free and we love positing positive thoughts only! Check out my side bar for the link (look for the frog button)!

Have a positively beautiful weekend!

If you want to blog hop this weekend join me on my own personal hosted blog hop open now til Sunday!
Tawnasplan

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Positive thought for today!

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Today’s thought:

Today I can lament over all that my parents did not give me when i was growing up or I can feel grateful that they allowed me to be born!

Author unknown

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Blog Hop week 6!

Rules are easy:
1. Follow my blog and 2 Co-Hosts through GFC
2nd co-host changes weekly so be sure to follow new co-host if you link up weekly!
2. Grab the button and put it in a post or on your sidebar and let us know where it is. This will help the hop grow and gain us all new followers. It’s a Win, Win for everyone!
Tawnasplan

Please play nice and follow our simple rules!
Last rule:
Follow and have fun meeting new and amazing bloggers.
HOP is open from Friday to Sunday!
2nd co-host changes weekly so be sure to follow new co-host if you link up weekly!

LINKY TOOLS IS HAVING AN ISSUE AND NOT DISPLAYING THE FIRST 12 BLOG IMAGES BUT THE LINKS STILL WORK SO PLEASE STILL VISIT! HOST AND CO-HOST ARE FIRST 3 SPOTS!

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Week 5 REST day, yes I so need it!

Oh today is the last day of week 5 and REST day, yes REST! I am still so freaking sore I welcome this rest!
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You actually have the option for P90X to Rest or Stretch. Oh heck no…the stretch does feel good but it is a stinking hour long, I am resting today baby!Back on the saddle tomorrow. I do love you P90X but love that you give me a rest day every 7 days!

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24 hours for a refund! What the….It’s MY Money, give it back now!

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Actually it’s not really a refund, the bank put my $23 check through for $73. I called them and they said “Oh we will credit that extra $50 back to you right now but you probably won’t see it for 24 hours. “Really…what happens if I go negative because of this check int eh next 24 hours?” That is what i said. The banker told me that “we will credit you back any fees.” That sounds fair to me for the credit part but you (the bank) take out money  immediately all the time so why can’t you fix your mistake immediately? Seriously…ridiculous!

My bank is actually a very good bank and they have taken care of me pretty well in the past, so that is why I am not mentioning what bank it is in this post but I am frustrated about the 24 hours today. When you live paycheck to paycheck, 24 hours can do a lot of damage!

My positive thinking says “don’t worry about it, it will work it self out.” That is what I am going to do and not worry about it form this point forward.

I have posted about refunds before. With how good our technology is, there is no real good excuse for any refund to take any time at all. It is all computer generated, it should be immediate. If they can take my money immediately, they can refund me immediately. PERIOD!

Have a wonderful day!

Tip of the day is-Always check your bank account twice a day, in the morning and at night. I always find the mistakes within minuted of them happening because I am an obsessive checker. Hay…I have had my credit card number stolen 3 times. It is a lot easier to charge  you back the money the same day then wait til later!

Tawna

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