decorated carrot cake

Dried royal icing flowers

I looked on line for inspiration.

Random placement of flowers & leaves

So many ideas for a border......

royal icing flowers (they dry out and you can store and use them later)

decorating bags with nibs.  No need for a coupling if you are not changing tips.

Recipe for using egg whites or meringue powder (on line or on container)

Royal icing must be stored under a damp towel (or paper towel). I found Wilton products at a dollar store!

A variety of leaves. Add colour with a tooth pick (new one after each use).  You can make it darker if needed.

drying on wax paper

I use a curved rose tip/nib, not a straight one. Excellent tutorials on line.

I made small and large, in 4 different colours.

stop when you feel the flower is large enough.

Dried flowers, I let mine dry overnight.  

Cream cheese icing with the dried flowers arranged.

Leaf design on the top, shell on bottom.

Buttercream icing - Anna Olsen....decorating the Red Velvet Cake

I did not add lemon, just the vanilla

Pot of simmering water, egg white and sugar in the steel bowl. Stir constantly, no taking a break!

Beat until double the volume (meringue), I put stars beside the 6 minutes in the directions

Room temperature butter; cut in small pieces so it blends in faster and smoother.

It comes together very quickly!

Thick and smooth, spreads easily.

I was disappointed with the colour and the dense texture.

Flip the cake upside down, cut the rounded top off first if necessary.

I made a 1/2 cake...4 people. The icing was so rich we had a small piece each.

I like to put lots of icing on top, then push it over the sides. I find it easier. Most instructions say sides first, then top.

I used a huge star decorating nib (the icing is very thick).

maybe too much icing......

The vertical line was from a bamboo skewer (I drove the cake to Burnaby and I wanted to stabilize the layers)

red velvet cake by Anna Olsen

Always use the exact amounts in baking and follow the method.

I did not make cupcakes!  I made 2 x 8" round and a tiny spring form pan.

I sifted dry ingredients together as instructed.

Butter, sugar and egg, I added the red dye instead of using raw  beets. 

Liquid and dry ingredient separately.

Alternate wet and dry.  3 dry, 2 wet.  Start and end with dry ingredients.

Pans are ready to go.

Because the batter is shallow, I decreased the baking time.

Slicing and storing a (hot) deli turkey

Eat cooked deli meats while hot or cool them quickly

I kept the juice form the tray. Sharpen your knife every time you use it. I like thin blades from Henckel

I like slices for dinner and for freezing.  To make a meat pie cut the turkey into cubes.

Lay the pieces in layers so they can cool quicker in the refrigerator, cover and cool.

Pork & vegetable skewers

Small potatoes cut in half

red pepper, cleaned

Cut vegetables into chunks. I also used zucchini

Soak bamboo skewers so t hey do not burn during cooking

I tossed vegetables in olive oil and Johnny's seasoning (Costco products)

It says BBQ so I did....I used tenderloin

I slices the tenderloin in half, they cubed 

I used the pre-made teriyaki.  Marinate in marinade......

Alternate ingredients

We used the foil, slotted tray instead of the grill 

Ready to serve