Wilton Decorating Basics: Week 3

This week in class we set out to learn a few different flower types and also decorated cupcakes. Some of the flowers looked a little old fashioned, but there was one I thought were really cute. This is the flower you can see on my cupcakes below.

For my cupcakes I decided to make yellow cake with chocolate butter cream frosting. I filled the cupcakes with Boston cream filling using the Wilton bismark tip. They are my cupcake version of a Boston cream donut!

Chocolate Covered Bacon

This week I wanted to try to combine two already delicious foods: Chocolate & Bacon. I have had bacon chocolate candy bars before, and I have heard of bacon slices covered in chocolate before and thought, it can't be to hard to make!

I cooked the bacon in the oven until it was crispy. Then I went to melt the chocolate chips. I tried using the double boiler, but the chocolate melted then turned hard and was a big mess. I put the mess in the microwave to try to melt it again, and it burnt. I was out of chocolate chips, so I ran to the store to grab more, and I picked a bag that had microwave instructions on the back. Turns out my issue was that I was microwaving them on full power, not half power as recommended.

Once I finally got the chocolate properly melted I dipped the bacon and Wala- Bacon Covered in Chocolate!

After tasting this bacon, it became clear that the ratio of bacon and chocolate was off. There was to much chocolate flavor and not enough bacon. 

A few days later I needed to bring a treat to work to celebrate a coworker's promotion, so I decided to try again. This time I used my Wilton decorating bag and drizzled the chocolate on the bacon. It tasted great and the ratio was perfect.

Wilton Decorating Basics: Week 2

This week at class we frosted the cake we were instructed to make. I made a funfetti cake at the request of my husband and his coworkers and frosted it with Wilton buttercream. We then learned about dimensional piping, and got a chance to try the technique on our cake. I decided to pipe a fish! Overall class two was fun. Next week is flowers and cupcakes!

Month 2 (2011) - Sloppy Joes

This month as part of my new years resolution my husband decided to make me try a sloppy joe. I cannot remember the last time I had a sloppy joe, if ever, but I remember the smell making me nauseous in the past.


I took a bite, and although it didn't smell good, I realized that it wasn't as bad as I thought. I wouldn't say that I like it, but it was tolerable.  I think it would be a lot better if we made our own sloppy joe sauce. We used Manwich and I didn't like the fact that there were chunks of onion and something else in the sauce.


Assuming we make our own sauce, my husband might be able to convince me to eat this every once in awhile (and by that I mean once or twice a year- I didn't like it that much!)

I give this meal a 5 out of 10.

Wilton Decorating Basics: Week 1

I was really excited to start my Wilton cake decorating class. The 1st week went well, except when I first arrived, the other 11 women all had a decorating kit, along with some sugar cookies. I asked the instructor if we were supposed to bring anything, and she informed me there was a list of items to bring for the 1st class that the cashier at Michaels was supposed to give me when I signed up. Since I never received that list from the cashier, I had to purchase a few things before starting the class (pre-packaged frosting and a practice board), but I already had most of the tips and other decorating tools I needed so it wasn't so bad. My advice is that if you are going to sign up for any class at Michaels, make sure to ask if there is a list of supplies you need to bring!

The class started with the instructor showing us how to ice a cake, and how to fill the icing bags properly. She also reviewed a buttercream recipe and showed us how to adjust the thickness. We practiced making stars using Wilton tip #18, and then we got to decorate the sugar cookies we were supposed to bring. The woman next to me was nice enough to give me a few of her sugar cookies since I was unaware I was supposed to bring any, which was very nice of her.

I look forward to the 2nd week, where we actually get to decorate a cake. I have to make the cake and frosting at home and then bring it to the class. I plan to make a cake with a fish on top! I will definitely be posting pictures of that one in my next Wilton Decorating Basics blog entry!

Football Themed Cupcakes

Today is Superbowl Sunday and as usual, we are having people over to watch. I had to make some cupcakes for the occasion! After searching online for football themed cupcakes, I decided that I needed a way to make grass for the field. I headed to Michael's (with a printed coupon of course) to purchase the Wilton Grass Tip. Next I had to think of something to represent a football. I thought about sculpting tootsie rolls, but while at the grocery store my  husband pointed out some chocolate covered peanuts that would work perfectly! It took me a few hours, but I think the finished product is super cute! I am ready to watch the game (or commercials...) with friends and eat some good food!