Ariel doll cake - my first attempt at a doll cake

I used my huge cupcake tin (spray and dust with flour)

Cover the entire doll up to the arm.  Keep the hair wrapped up until presenting the cake.

I thought it would work to put the layers in this direction; the bottom of the cupcake pan facing up 

I iced the cake bottom (after trimming and using icing to stick it to the cake board). I cut out the center for the doll

I used the pieces from the top of the bottom layer to build up the base.

Use thick blobs of icing to fill in the spaces where the top and bottom layers meet.  You can then connect the blobs to avoid pulling crumbs.  This can be used s a crumb coat.  I did refrigerate to set this icing.  I covered over it with another layer of icing.

I should have trimmed off the edge to make the dress flow better....

Use tiny amounts of dye on a tooth pick.  You can add more colour if needed.

I wanted a similar colour to the dress.

Add caption

Put blobs of icing on the cake and connect the dots. I use an off set spatula.

Yeah, I made it this far!!  not happy with that ridge at the top.  Use icing to put a top on the poor lady...

I tried to pipe shapes on the cake to match the dress......

I started by using tweezers to add the detail on the dress.....

It is supposed to be a shell border on the cake. I was not happy with the lower front decorations...

Coconut macaroons p 50 in Company's coming Cookies

Left over egg whites from making a key lime pie.  Page 50 of Cookies by Company's Coming.
Mix the measured sugar and cornstarch in a bowl.

Follow the instructions.  This is a cooked meringue, I place my steel bowl over a pot of boiling water.  I have never owned a double boiler.

Use the longest coconut you can buy.  Mine was from Save on Foods. Fold the coconut in.

If you want perfect, round cookies use a wet finger to push the coconut in.

Crispy on the outside and soft inside.

I stagger the cookies so the air can circulate around them.  Flat cookie sheet, not a rimmed jelly roll pan.

Pastry - single crust for Key Lime filling

Roll the pastry on floured parchment; roll it larger than your pie plate (include the height of the side and a large overhang)

Trim any of the larger pieces off. Don't worry about the cracked pieces. You can use water to join them together.

Be careful not to stretch the pastry.  I drop mine onto the plate from the parchment. Tuck the overhanging pastry in until it matches the edge of the pie plate.

crimp the edge of the pastry.

I weight the pastry down with a matching pie plate instead of using pie weights when I bake the shell.

The shell did shrink in one spot.

What went wrong?  I used a recipe for key lime pie which said 9" pie plate. It will take alot of whip cream to hide this mistake.

I used a 9" pie plate with a higher rim!!!  These 2 pie plates are the same size......

Roast Beef - easy Sunday meal

I seasoned a top sirloin roast. added chopped turnip, whole brussel sprouts, whole small carrots, onion wedges and small, whole coloured potatoes.  I did add water o the bottom of the pan for gravy.  I use parchment paper so I don't have to scrub the pan!

Spinach salad - orange segments and praline pecans

Quick fix. Pre-washed box of spinach leaves, drained tin of orange wedges and praline pecans. Choice of Peach White
Balsamic OR Raspberry vinaigrette. 

Toss the leaves with dressing. place in bowl and top spinach with pecans and oranges. You could add slivers of red onion.

Poached eggs - silicone cup

Spray the cup

Place the egg into the cup (before placing cup in the boiling water). Cover the pot with a lid.  

Lift out the cups when your egg is cooked to your liking.

Finished ......

lemon meringue pies - my brother requested these for his 70th Birthday party.

home made pastry - Canadian Living sour cream pie crust (lard & butter). The pastry shrunk on this shell.  I forgot to weigh it down using a pie plate, like in the photo.

Fresh squeezed lemon taste!! from Safeway 

I used extra liquid egg white to create a high meringue top, 2 whites were not enough.

I used the box mix to make 4 pies (quick and easy). A friend suggested I add lemon juice for the initial 80 mL water
perfect, tart lemon flavour.

I used my hand mixer for the egg white. Beat until foamy, slowly add sugar.

I use my HUGE glass measure to make the filling in the microwave; instructions are on the box.  

Connect the dots of meringue so you do not pull on the hot filling.  I did not worry about the pastry pulling away from the pan. IT was covered with meringue.

I made 3 pastry shells and one graham wafer.  

I use my toaster oven for everything.

graham wafer crust

so many egg shells......

I labelled the really tart pie. The bottom left was the graham crust.  I bought 4 matching glass pie plates at the local hospice store.