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I believe that salt is to food, what food is to life. In right proportions, it can heighten the taste of what you eat..and in the wrong - destroy! Even the most delicious sweets come added with some salt...to taste!

As for me, I've never enjoyed cooking. And as contrary to my owning a food-blog as it may sound, I always think about daily, routine cooking as a chore. But my tryst with the pots and pans began when I got a kitchen all to myself...I began experimenting and exploring new worlds in my own home. Some outcomes were excellent and some plain disasters. Then sprouted the need to keep track of all those good ones...and hence this blog!

Here, I share those experiments that pleased more than one palate!




February 22, 2010

A Date with Fondant!

Ever since we got to the US, I have always been hooked to watching Food Network. There hasn't been one passing day where I've not dreamt about cooking this or eating that dish that they make. But above all else, if there is one thing that really caught my attention was the shows that showcased cake decoration. I still continue to remain spell bound by the perfection with which those professionals work. Come November 2009, I was way to infatuated by everything that meant cake decoration since I always LOVE to bake. I had worked with plain old icing before and I wanted to graduate a step further and try my hand at fondant. For weeks, I spent time online researching ways of making it and where I could procure ready-made fondant. I did get lucky soon enough and found out that they sold it at art and craft stores! What an absurd place to sell cake decorating material I thought at first, but later I realized it does take an artsy person to work on it, which explains why its sold there.

I know I should have put up these pictures soon after I made them. But, I was way too busy gorging down good food that the festive/new year's season had to offer! Too many parties and too much good food in a short span of time. I did put up these pictures on Facebook but I'm not sure why they did not find a spot on my very own blog. So, here I do justice to my date(s) with fondant. Better late than never, they say!

The first cake you see is the one I made for Christmas. I'd like to call it 'The Season Of Giving', since X'Mas is all about giving presents and sharing love with kith and kin. It is a French Vanilla cake with a layer of Strawberry Cream and covered with fondant.



Although the box said I can use the fondant for one cake only, I had enough left over to make another one. And since New Year's was around the corner I grabbed the opportunity and baked this as a surprise for my friends who threw a party on New Year's Eve. This one I call - 'Wildflowers to Welcome 2010'!



I cannot wait to get my hands on more fondant (My hubby hates it because our kitchen turns into a bakery with confectioners sugar all over the place when I'm working on fondant cakes and he does not get meals on time since I am so engrossed with this!)....But, I will have to wait a tad bit longer. Boo hoo!

Hmmm, orders anyone?

4 comments:

  1. WOW! This looks really good!! Envy you guys in the US for having baking aisles in all super markets and Food Network too!!

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  2. Yeah, its amazing... the stuff we get out here. All you need is some creativity and you can be on a roll. But, I think we are getting a lot of stuff in Namma Bengaluru these days too. I remember when we were there just 4 years ago, it would be strange to find fresh strawberries...as if they were something exotic! But, with time all these 'rare' things are gaining popularity, which is good for us food-bloggers!!

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  3. Ohhhh!! I came here to make a comment, but I see Suma already beat me to it!! SOOOOO unfair!! :0PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP Your cakes look AWESOMEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!! :0)

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  4. Tx, Sneha ...for hopping on to my space! We'll stay connected.

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