Cake people - can I have some help please?!?

[dizzydixies]

I've been asked to do the birthday cake for my aunt's surprise 60th birthday party (approx 60 people)

now, I can bake a cake, make a cheesecake and turn out some reasonable stuff but my skill (ok patience) doesn't extend to cake decorating and I'm not sure I can pull this off

I have just under 2 weeks (its needed on 29th)and have a bit of time to practice but I don't know what to make

can I have your tried and tested cake recipes/ideas please?!

I don't mind trying one big cake or two (one for presentation and one for precutting to pass out) or a couple of different types of cakes to cater for people's tastes (do you think the hotel might allow this or is only one cake allowed)

AARRGGHHHHHHHHHH why did I say yes [meep]

Dizzy - no, that was because you had somehow slipped off my 'mates' list (used because I am probably identifiable by my cakes ) - try again now.

As for issues - well the beauty of decorating cupcakes that way is that they don't have to be perfect underneath (trim volcano tops off before decorating)

Could be using the Kenwood - are you using balloon whisk or the K beater (, BTW - that or a Kenwood are on my Christmas list but I am not hopeful)

That or a kitchenaid [duh]

I'd offer my bit, but clearly you've either forgotten who I am or I'm not worthy!

Just so you don't think I've really got the hump, I am actually on my way to bed now! See you soon!

maureen [meep] was looking for you in the bar a couple of nights ago to beg/plead and borrow advice

stealth the balloon whisk - having not read the instructions I presumed that was the way forward

am LOVING your cakes btw - there is no way I can come up with anything like that I'll add some of my efforts but they're nothing like those!

and just so you know the Kenwood is the first present (birthday OR christmas) that dh has got right for the last 10 years!!!

oh I have 2 kitchenaid pans and I LOVE LOVE LOVE them but they were wedding presents so if broken never to be replaced

the problem last night wasn't that the cupcakes weren't perfect, the red velvet ones literally exploded

the vanilla ones were fine so there is SOME hope

You are forgiven, as always! What have you decided on then?

I think if your cakes are exploding it might be worth trying the 'K' beater instead.

What's the plan, then?

oh god I don't know, am tempted just to buy one from a friend's cafe, she sells the most gorgeous cakes

this week alone I have to

a. drive 2hours tomorrow with baby and dd2 to stay with my dad who is going in for surgery on thurs - leaving DD1 with DH for 5 days

b. be with dad in hosp for 5 days (private hosp so no restricted visiting hours) with baby too whilst leaving DD2 with my aunt

c. cope with going home for first time since mum died in July

d. cope with mum's birthday on Sun

when I get back up road (afte another 2hr sodding drive) DH will be back at work doing 10hr shifts until Sat morning, which is when we have to head back down

ah cripes I don't know, I would like to do it but the cost of all the practising and what if I get it really sodding wrong?

now all that being said, can I really be arsed practising enough to make a cake nice enough to be presented on my aunts special day for her and 60 of her nearest and dearest?

God what a nightmare week. If cake-making is satisfying and soothing for you, then do it and we will (she says, committing Mo to this too!) talk you through it - otherwise go and see your friend and see what she can come up with.

lol, am a pathetic chicken

I'll phone friend and make sure she has something on standby, I shall take until Sunday (which is when I return back home) to get over yesterdays disaster and then shrug them off and start again

got a nice recipe for hummingbird cupcakes which I'd like to try out

and in the meantime can always order some lovely shiny muffin cases as 'preperation'!!!

have put up photo of Halloween offerings - not that I should as in comparison to you lot I should be saying that DD1 made them

Not at all - it's daunting. Friend on standby sounds like an excellent compromise.

Hummingbird cupcakes sound intruiging and shiny cup cake cases would get used sometime (and can be gloated over in the meantime )

I love the ghosts - did you throw a halloween party then, you brave woman?

lol, I like your thinking!

right am off to pack, won't be back online till Sun and by then I shall have a positive mental baking attitude!!!

thank you

You didn't say it meant a week offline

Good Luck - I hope it all goes well, and that DD2 and LO give you lots of hugs and snuggles when you need them.

Yes, I'll be here... Don't push yourself too much though, Dizzy. It sounds like you've got a tough week ahead.

But listen, I've said it before and I'll say it again, any homemade creation, however bad you think it is, is far more appreciated by the recipitant than you may think.

Take care of yourself this week, chick.

Maureen, you wouldn't say that if you saw my red velvet cupcakes from last night - even DH was dubious and he has a stomach made from aspestos!!!!!

Stealth, there is one laptop in my aunts house and my two cousins fight over that enough without me wading in too! I could go online at my dads house but I don't really fancy being there on my own which is why am staying with my aunt and DH won't let me bring MY laptop home with me as he needs it to study - cheek of him

yes halloween party was thrown as DH wouldn't take wee one out guising, which is fair enough she's only 5 and we do live in the North East of Scotland

8 adults, 10 kids, 2 babies and a dog - it all got very messy!!

Maureen will you send my love to the bar ladies, I promise to be more present when I get back

Of course. I haven't been there all that much myself. I'm too tired to speak/type these days!

thank you, right I REALLY do need to go and get all set up for journey tomorrow before DD3 wakes up and needs fed again

take care and thank you, both of you

right cupcakes are in process

have practised some vanilla ones and some hummingbird ones

red velvet cupcakes tomorrow

and I thought I'd decorate them all differently and display them on glass stand tower and red cake stand tower?

does anyone know how to make the topping/frosting that can be piped and swirled onto the top

will icing do the trick or is that too runny?

I always use butter icing.

What are hummingbird cupcakes?

lol seeker, I thought they were something I'd missed but apparently they're not very well known

have posted them in recipes as they are YUM and very very easy