Frangipani Tutorial

Frangipani, a common tropical flower found scattered on both side of an avenue giving off sweet perfumed scent. Colour variations include white with yellow centre, which is the most fragrant, pink and dark red. Frangipani also symbolizes "shelter" as in "I will shelter you from all evils". It probably explain why some associate it to graveyards as frangipani trees are commonly found in Malaysian graveyards. Elsewhere, the Polynesian custom, frangipani is used for leis and given to one another as a sign of affection. The Hawaiians also give out leis during occasions such as birthdays, graduations, weddings, funerals and retirement parties.

Below is a tutorial on frangipani which is a really easy flower to make and the result is just so sweet.

Roll out gumpaste, not too thin.

Use a tear drop cutter to cut out 5 petals.

Dust both sides of petals and arrange them in a fan shape. Press the sharp ends together to prevent movement of petals in the next step.

Roll holding the sharp ends. Ensure point A reaches point B.

Pinch the ends together and trim off the pointed end.

Open up petals and rest them to form the shape. I use a Ferrero Roche chocolate container.

Leave to dry. Once dried, dust with lusture dust and a paint brush. Start from middle of the flower and brush out.

The end result.

The Oldest Trick in the Book - Rum Balls

Popularity of Rum Balls goes back to the 1960s, a favourite festive dessert during holidays or Christmas time. Some says its another version for Bourbon Balls, originated from the Irish. Both rum and bourbon consist of alcohol, as where it derives its name from.

Below is the non-alcoholic version which I call it Chocolate Balls. It is normally done with leftover cakes or cake scraps.

Firstly, melt cocoa powder with hot water until a watery consistency like below. I use good quality cocoa powder like Van Houten.

Pour in cocoa mixture into cake scraps.

Use fingers to press cake to ensure liquid is absorbed therefore making the whole cake mixture as shown below.

Mixture must be sticky so that it could be rolled into a ball and chocolate rice could stick on to it as below. I like to make them bite size where you could pop the whole thing in your mouth.

Place them into pastry cups.

Fun with Topsy Turvy Cake

Conducted a topsy-turvy cake project over the weekend. Also known as Mad Hatter cake as in the Alice in Wonderland tea party session with Mad Hatter, March Hare and Dormouse.

Carving the shape the shape of the cake. Look at the amount of cake carved out in the purple basin. Will be converting them into Chocolate Balls next.

Decorating the different layers with funky designs. Undecorated, they look like round single seater couch.

Evelyn and Haslinda with their topsy-turvy cakes.

Cupcakes with Principals

One of our college's annual event is the Principal's Lunch, where we invite all Principals and Counselors from nearby secondary schools for a get-together. It is an opportunity to provide an update on our college happenings as well as get to know the latest development in local schools. During the event, we would include a talk or workshop which defers every year. This year, its a Hands-on Cupcake Decorating Workshop. A brief on simple piping techniques and effects of different piping nozzles were given, follow by hands-on decorating session. Each participant gets to decorate 4 pre-baked cupcakes using different colours of buttercream icing with different nozzles.

It was one of the "Destress and Get Creative" session. Principals are known to have a fierce, strict, and in control persona when we were students. Its great to see a different side of them, enthusiastic, creative, fun and full of jokes.

Me in action. Photo taken by Cecilia, one of my HND Hospitality Management student.

Principals in action.

One very happy Principal.

How to Make Gum Paste Lace Butterfly

Just got myself a box full of butterfly cutters of different sizes and shapes. So, now I'm having a butterfly craze!

This is the finished product where I dust them with lustre dust using a big blusher sized brush. I call them Spring Butterflies.

Equipments to prepare: rolling pin, flower former, folded paper, dusting pouch, butterfly cutter, tips and white flower stamens.

Tips used are 1, 2, 3, 104, 101, 81 and 97.

Firstly, roll out the gumpaste.

Cut out the butterfly using the cutter.

Dust cornflour or icing sugar on both sides to ensure it is not sticky.

Use various tips to cut out designs.

Fold the butterfly and place them on the folded paper on a flower former.

Mold the body and stick in the feelers. Run blade across the body to make horizontal lines. If you prefer white butterflies, then this is it!

Another variation is the Summer Butterflies below.

Yellow Orchids on a 4-tiered Wedding Cake

This is the outcome from my 20 pieces of yellow moth orchids made from gum paste. Amazing transformation into a 4-tiered wedding cake by Nina from CyberCake.

More pictures of the cake can be found here

Yellow Moth Orchids

Had an order of yellow moth orchid from Sharifah for her wedding in KL. Yep, just the flowers...as the her 4 tiered wedding cake will be done by Nina in KL.

Preparing the orchid throat.

Attaching the throat to the lip.

A whole box of petals to be attached.

The end product.

When flowers are the be transported, it is wise to ensure that the wire stem is taped down onto the container to prevent them from sliding and knocking into each other during the trip. I learned the hard way. :(

Here's a look at my other moth orchid. You will notice I curved the petals out this time. Both varieties are correct, which do you prefer?