Bianca's Garden

Birthday's has always been a big event in my family. We always celebrated it. There was always a birthday cake, a noodle dish (for long life) and other yummy goodies.

Birthday cakes where homemade and a shared effort. I used to enjoy making them. I baked the cake and decorated it. After a while my brother took on the cake making and I did the decorating.

Since moving to Canberra I have not been party to the birthday cake making event. It was 10 years since I baked a cake. I used to make butter, chocolate (dark and light), marble, happy day, mango sauce, mayonnaise, fruit cakes, etc. I used to love baking.

Cake decoration was another aspect of this experience that was so fulfilling. It allows you to be a child and explore your imagination.

On July 10, 2010 I made my first birthday cake in 10 years. My gorgeous godchild Bianca had her 6th birthday and I decided that it was about time that I rekindle my passion for making cakes. Out came the mixer, the mixing bowl, spatula, measuring cups, measuring spoons, baking tins, wax paper and scissors.

From the shops I got some butter, chocolate powder, eggs, milk, sugar, salt, baking soda, and baking powder. Then it dawned to me. Yikes I have forgotten how procedural and precise cake making is. Patience is the key. I relearnt skills like measuring, shifting, creaming, aerating, folding, mixing, pouring and baking. That is a good start. LOADS of Patience is required. You cannot hurry a cake.

Mixing the icing was fun. I love this thing. Took some butter, some milk, some icing sugar and blended it till it has reached a consistency required to create that gloss. Add a bit of red to make it pink (granted it is salmon pink).

With a spatula I applied the icing. Tried to smooth it out. Memories of how hard it is to smooth out the icing came flooding back. ARGGHHHH!!!!!! Lucky i did it relatively well.

I was going to make the flowers but ran out of time. I am so thankful to places that sell pre-made pieces. Got a 24 pink flowers. Lady was so thrilled to see a guy doing cake decorating that she gave me extra. Bless her soul.

A bit of time, a bit of imagination, a bit of pizzaz viola BIANCA's Garden.