My Newest Project is Complete...

Yeah, I KNOW. It Looks like it's from a Pier One mag, huh? 

I'm in love. 

Coloring the MM Fondant! :)

Ok, I'm a nut.. But coloring fondant.. (or one GIGANTIC marshmallow blob) is SOOO much fun! (To avoid the massive amount of work that follows, read the bottom of my post for quick coloring instructions)
First, knead the fondant to soften it up..
I usually lay it out in one big strand and then fold it in half..
(Um.. why do I have a fart face on?)
Next, add the color in and continue to fold in halves while mixing and kneading. I just keep making the fondant in one big string and folding it into each other until the color starts to blend..
now the color is coming through..
Almost done!
Here is the final blob.. It really reminds me of 'Slimer' from Ghostbusters... or a huge snot?.. Guess we'll stick you something less gross lol
The aftermathhhhhhh
Cheezzin
"Who will I get to clean this mess??.... Mikkkkkkeee!! " lol

Ciao4now..
--Sticky Steens

** Quick coloring instructions-
Microwave your marshmallows... Once they reach the melted stage (and before adding powder sugar)  add your food coloring. Blend the color into the melted marshmallow until desired color is achieved and then add powdered sugar and knead with shortening as usual. This will save your hands and arms SOOO much extra work! ;0)

Frosting I made for Tess' Wedding cake

I swear at one point I'll end up posting all the pictures I took while making her wedding cake lol.. If I could only find the time!! (Until then, you'll just have to take them in spurts! hehehe)
This is a Strawberry Cream Cheese frosting that is now my new favorite!
It's been a while, so I can't give the exact measurements of everything... BUT I'll try to give an idea. :)
The main ingredients used were one jar marshmallow fluff, 8 oz cream cheese, and I wanna say 2 sticks of butter (salted).
Then just add powdered sugar until it's a thick mix. I know I used more than a two pound bag and it made a ton of frosting.
After getting it to the right consistency, I added some Strawberry flavoring until I achieved the verry berry taste I was aiming for.
It also gave it a pretty pink color.. ;0)
That's all there is too it! So goooooo make some!
--Steenerz

A trend. . . that has gone WAY too far! lol

It's the HAWT trend in the area to pimp out old rides and throw huge rims on them.. This is nothing unusual... BUT, when you have a lift and your car is taller than most trucks... I think you've taken it a little TOO far.. lol :::::Thro some deees on it:::::
Me and Mike were driving the other day.. and I saw this car from the road.. I was laughing SOOOOO hard, I HAD to get him to turn around so I could get a picture,,, and he'd be able to share this laugh with me!

Uh.. yeah.. This is real.

There wasn't even a step to get into it... Guess you have to jump?

Awe... mini Mike.. LOL

If we were to be in an accident with this car.. let's just say we would lose our heads in the battle.

*Enjoy!*

---Steens :)

Happy Birthday Mikey Poo!! (8/5/08)

My Mike had his 22nd birthday on Tuesday and I wanted to share some pictures of the cake I made him. .. We went to Outback Steakhouse for dinner then went back to relax at the house... Little does he know he still has a gift in the mail!! ;0)

I love this picture! Makes my cake look like it's in cake heaven! lol
Awe.. it looks so pretttty.. I think this was the quickest cake decorating I've ever done lol
Special delivery for Mizzzzike.
I was gonna try and cheat every way possible... BUT Walmart was out of boxed funfetti mix..(yeah.. the one store that normally has 50 of everything!!!!) So I had to make my own..It turned out great though :) I did, however, use boxed fondant.It was my first time with that... and from now on,.. if I know the person is NOT gonna eat it.. I'm taking the cheat way!!! lol.. Making that marshmallow fondant.. and working my butt off just so people can peel it off and toss it, isn't worth the effort!
Yum!

He approved. Guess we're good until next year.. :)
***Disclaimer-- If the mess in the 'man cave' computer area of this picture burns your eyes out, I cannot be held responsible lol!
Smoochie Boochies!
-Steens

<--- She's Slackin..

Ok.. So I'm lame lol I've been so wrapped up in real life, I've forgotten about my Cyberworld one. :0p Anyways.. I should be posting a ton of new stuff.. and finishing up the wedding cake tutorials!
Bueno!
Christina

Supporting Our Troops and Our Country! :)

Here are some photos from the rally we had outide of Ft Bragg on Wednesday against the Westboro Baptist Church. My grandmother wanted to come SOOOOO badly. She holds her citizenship in this country high because of all the work it took for her to become and AMERICAN.

Me and my grandma out supporting our country and the wonderful troops who protect it.
Grandma getting her mack on.. lol..

Grandma's got a 'tude' lol She couldn't believe how disrespectful these people were..
It's a beautiful thing to see all sorts of people come together over something they all take pride in.. in this case..The USA.
Look at Hlify... she's so excited! :)
Look at them over there.. ::shakes head:::
Grandma loves her country!
If you read this and are a real Baptist, please understand it was NOT a rally against YOU..

These people only wear that name.. but they are FAR from Christians... There website is Godhatesfags.com and if you research them, you will see why I am against what they stand for..

Baking the Cakes,, Filling,, and Icing :)

Pt 2 of Tess' Wedding Cake..
So we've pre-made our fondant and now it's just chillin out in the fridge on vacation...
Now, we make our cakes! Ok, so at this point, I've made my batter.. I've tried a billion recipes, but for a stacked cake.. you MUST have a dense cake! The recipe I used was perfect for this job! Here they are baking away :)
One of the red velvet layers and one of the chocolate layers.. I used a chocolate pudding mix in the red velvet to make it extra lush!Here are the cakes just waiting in the fridge.. firming up and cooling down from the hot oven. (awe and look at my fondant balls... now they have some friends! yipee lol)
A close up of my raspberry filling for my devils food cake layer. I think that layer was my favorite. 'Hey, this is your cake talking... Are you gonna cover me up or what?!!' I guess it's ready for the second layer of chocolate cake? hehehe
Cake casualty!!! Call the MEDIC!!
Now the cake is happy and complete.. I stuck the second layer of cake on top of the filling and gave it a nice coat of chocolate icing.
Here goes my first layer of french vanilla cake with strawberry filling and a strawberry cream cheese frosting :)
Plopped on the second cake layer.. threw on a crumb coat and here it is chillin in the fridge... my cakes definitely love me lol
Here's the strawberry layer after its final icing coat. :)
*sigh* For the last (top) layer.. I made a rich red velvet cake with fresh cream cheese frosting! Yum Yum in my tum tum lol
After I finished the filling, icing, and stacking.. These guys went back to their home in the fridge until fondant time!
Here's a pic of the crumb coat waiting...
and the finished products.. (minus the white layer.. it's only got a light crumb coat on)
My poor kitchen takes such a beating! lol..
Welp, that's all for this section.. I'll be back with how I made the strawberry cream cheese frosting and some more good stuff... ;0)
--Steens

Quick and Easy Marshmallow Fondant!

Fondant is the most TIME CONSUMING things to do when making a cake....
Which is why, if I decide to use it, I make it a few days in advance.
I'm going to show you how to make Marshmallow Fondant.. (It's SO much tastier than the boxed stuff, and a LOT easier)

Here I have all my ingredients laid out..

You'll want the following:

• 
  
  
  A bag of mini marshmallows
  
  
• 
  
  
  A 2 lb bag of powder sugar
  
  
• 
  
  
  A cup or so of Crisco (or vegetable shortening)
  
  
• 
  
  
  A big arse bowl lol
  
  
• 
  
  
  and about 2 tsp water
  
  

***NOTE-- when buying ingredients, make sure to buy the higher quality ingredients.. You DO NOT want to skimp... otherwise you'll end up with some crappy fondant that feels like sandy, gritty, dough... NOT pretty on a cake :)

Dump the marshmallows in a big bowl... and drop in about a tsp or 2 of water
Grease your counters extremely well.. this is where you'll dump your hot, sticky, marshmallow mixture in a few minutes.. and this will save you more mess.
Stick the bowl in the microwave and heat in 30 second intervals... opening and stirring after each one. (usually takes about 2 1/2 mins)
Once you're marshmallows look like this <---

(**The easiest way to color your fondant would be to add your coloring paste at this stage and blend it into the melted marshmallow, THEN add the sugar **)

It's time to pour in the powder sugar... add a little at a time until you've put in the whole bag.
Stir stir stir..
THEN!, Grease the hellouta your hands (unless you want this hot sticky stuff to stick and BURN your hands... believe me.. it hurts and feels like melted plastic!) Oh yea.. and take off those rings! ;0)

Now dig your hands in and finish mixing .. It should start looking like a big smooth dough ball..

Knead away all the lumps until all the powder is blended and smooth.. and you've got one elastic ball of marshmallow.. (add Crisco throughout to keep it from sticking and to make it stretch without being dried out I usually end up using the whole cup of Crisco... )
When your done kneading, (about 15-20 mins), generously coat your ball in Crisco and wrap in plastic wrap...
Store in the fridge until you're ready to color and use it! :)
The end!
-- Steens