POPS! ICY TREATS FOR EVERYONE By Krystina Castella

DVD Review: TOPSY TURVY CROOKED CAKES and Gumpaste and Chocolate Modeling Clay By Carrie's Cakes

I love TOPSY TURVY CROOKED CAKES and new ideas in cake-decorating and I have read so many books and always thought that the instructions were not easy and clear for a beginner cake decorator like me to do by myself, so no question of me teaching other's . While I was on hunt to get information on learning and understanding how this topsy turvy cakes were made I stumbled upon carrie's cakes website. Yesterday, I received 2 DVD's from Carrie's Cakes

1. TOPSY TURVY CROOKED CAKES

2. Gum Paste and Chocolate Modelling Clay

I have watched her DVD's 3 times till now and I must say she is amazing as a teacher. Her Topsy Turvy Cake method and Gumpaste and Chocolate Modelling Clay DVD's are the best and the most amazingly simple method to work on and  I am so sure that I  never or will ever come across any DVD's or books that will have such simple techniques to make such a difficult and complex looking cake with so much ease.

Her DVD's are one of the best that I have ever watched in Cake-Decorating till date. She has shared all her recipes of making Fondant, Ganache, Chocolate Modeling Clay , Making bows, Quilts, Edible Pearls, Various kinds of flowers, Embroidery  and also has shown using different techniques for decorating and finishing your cake with "Total Confidence".
Carrie is a wonderful Cake-Decorator and it is proved by her work and recognition in cake-world however she is also an otstanding teacher and her DVD'd proves that. I am so thrilled to have these DVD's in my collection or else I would have wasted so many cakes and money to say in frustration of learning these techniques. All the Cake- Decorator's must invest in these DVD's and get this incredible source of knowledge where Carrie shares tips, tricks and methods of simple and easy way of Cake-Decorating. She also has various other DVD's available so there is something more to learn from these DVD"s for all level of Cake-decorator's which you can find here.
I am very curios to know what all information and techniques she may have shared in her other amazing DVD's. Believe me this will be the best investment you will ever do in learning Cake-Decorating.

About Carrie:  Carrie has spent the last 30 years traveling across the United States and Canada to learn the best techniques used to create classic style masterpieces. She continues her travels year after year to ensure her customers have access to the latest trends and designs. Carrie has hosted classes for designers from as far away as South America (Brazil) and the Middle East (Kuwait).

Each of these classes include intense step-by-step workshops where Carrie demonstrates the techniques while working side-by-side with the students to ensure they come away ready to use the techniques for their special events.

Each class is an intimate and semi-private event; Carrie limits the classes to no more than 5 students.

“Your Class Your Way…” Carrie has years of experience traveling to teach the Art of Cake Design. Host a class with Carrie as the instructor at your location!

If interested in learning from Carrie, Class details can be found here.

Pros: Tips, Techniques, Recipes and amaxing information shared on decorating these cakes
Cons: None
Overall: Outstanding DVD"s

Picture and Author Info copyright of Carrie's Cakes

Special Thanks to Carrie for her generosity in sending and being a sponsor of our blog and helping us.

ALL cakes CONSIDERED by Melissa Gray

All Cakes Considered is a wonderful book by Melissa Gray, Who works at National Public Radio's and known as Cake Lady. As the author mentions, even if you love your job still no one likes to work on Monday. So one day, she baked a cake and brought it in on a Monday, She started a tradition of bringing in a different cake every Monday. No repeats and nothing dull. In this books she talks about "How to use this book" , "Equipments you will need" and "Introduction to Cake Baking" starting recipes with The Man Catcher- Sour Cream Pound Cake .She has some delicious cake recipes you would want to make while reading this book such as Key Lime cake, Chocolate Pound Cake, Coffee Spice Cake, Peach cake with Cream Cheese Frosting and many more. She also has recipes of cake from famous personalities like Paula Deen ad Martha Washington and many more. So this book would serve you with recipes from Melissa Gray as well as from known personalities.She also has recipes for cowboy cookies, Peanut Butter finger, Fried pies and so on in a section " OH...you'd better believe it happens...The Mistress of Cake Sometime Gets Sick of Cake".
This is a great book for beginner and there is always some tips and tricks and recipes that intermediate and advanced baker's would love to learn and try.

About the author:Melissa Gray is National Public Radio's Cake Lady. Every Monday she brings a cake to the office for her colleagues at NPR to enjoy. Hundreds of Mondays (and cakes) later, Melissa has lots of cake-making tips to share. With more than 50 recipes for the cakes that have been dreamed of and drooled over for a lifetime—including Brown Sugar Pound Cake, Peppermint and Chocolate Rum Marble Cake, Lord and Lady Baltimore Cakes, Dark-Chocolate Red Velvet Cake, and Honey Buttercream and Apricot Jam Cake—All Cakes Considered is an essential addition to every baker's library.
Melissa Gray is a producer for National Public Radio's All Things Considered.

Pro's: Good book with recipes for cakes and cookies from the author and known personalities.
Con's: All cakes do not have pictures.
Overall: Good Book

Books can be purchased at Amazon, B&N and Chronicle Books.
ISBN 9780811867818
ISBN10 0811867811

Picture and author bio copyright of Chronicle books.
Special thanks to chronicle books for review copy.