Teenager Christmas cup cake class

Just a short blog, Logan Hyperdome library have places still left for the teenager cupcake classes this Tuesday 14th and Wednesday 15th .Please contact the library direct to book Telephone 3412 4120

Date: 14/12/2010 Start Time: 4:00 PM End Time: 6:00 PM  Attendee must be between the ages of 10 Years and 19 Years old.


Date: 15/12/2010 Start Time: 2:30 PM End Time: 4:30 PM  Attendee must be between the ages of 10 Years and 19 Years old.

Calling all budding junior masterchefs! Join in a fun, hands-on workshop on how to ice and decorate Christmas Cupcakes with local cake decorator, Jackie Thompson. Please bring your own 4 uniced cupcakes to the event and a box/ container  to take them home . Every attendee from both groups   also goes into a prize draw to win an additional lesson with Jackie .

December 2010
I hope you are all preparing for the Christmas season and making the most of your time with your loved ones.I have had a very busy couple of months and some very magical things happening, that will be in my next blog!

New cake classes and a new schedule are listed for 2011 in my cake class section so have a look.

Firstly I want to tell you about The Packaging Place www.packagingplace.com.au

Gary Lyon, the owner has available the extended tier cake boxes suitable for either 2 or 3 tier stacked cake, perfect for transporting   larger cakes to their venues.I was given his contact details by Kellie one of my students and I tried contacting him and failed several times and left messages for him. Eventually I spoke to him direct and we organised a meeting time.I explained that my family members bring the boxes over from the UK as they are readily available there to buy, but because of packaging size the postal service  will not post out to Australia.

I  showed him the box design and after several test designs and cups of coffee later, (with no cake  I might add! diet is going well!)  We had designed the prototype.The box retails for around $20 and you can buy an extender if needed. I still place a large square cake board in the base of the box and then some gripper matt, than place my cake in the box, if it is a round cake board , this stops any soft corners when carrying the box.The box is an 18 inch square box.

 It also  has an easy flap opening, so the box can slide open for easy access.The Packaging Place also sell cupcake carriers with insert cards in the cardboard boxes, much more suitable than the plastic cupcake  carriers, for our humid climate. The business also has a good selection of ribbon and variouus smaller cake boxes and cello bags and lovely packaging. Please mention my name if you place an order as I would like my next order for free!!!!!

Last weekend I attended a workshop organised by Mary Of Merrivale cakes and Crafts, Mary thank you and Sheryl for your kind hospitality.
The lovely, funny  and creative John Quai Hoi, from Melbourne, was the trainer for a two day workshop in Highfields. The workshop, coordinated by Merivale Cakes and Crafts, attracted twelve Brisbane and Toowoomba experienced decorators.
Whilst I was attending we got to use a product called Menina Flower paste which was a really fine processed flower paste and the best I have used in a long while.It also available  in some beautiful colours too. This was kindly donated by Filomenia and John the owners of  http://www.harttoheartcakes.com.au/  for further details of this great Australian made product and you do not need an ANB to purchase from them.


I have also been busy with more new cake  classes and the Chocolate panelled workshop which I cancelled in July was rescheduled in November and we had great results, photos to follow soon.
I have added some recent made cakes  photos to the right and as you can see a mixed selection of some beautiful cake designs, made.

Ronald Mc Donald House has 2 centres in Brisbane did you know? one based at Herston (Royal Brisbane and Womens Hospital and Royal Childrens Hospital) and one at the Mater (south Brisbane) and also one in Townsville.
They offer a home, away from home for families of seriously ill children who are undergoing medical treatment at nearby hospitals.You can donate your time, subject to being checked, donate your skills, cooking, reading, donate  tinned and non perishable food,books,  toys and gifts to be wrapped for Christmas and childrens birthdays .I visit the home several times a month as all the cakes I make in a cake class, I  donate and are enjoyed by all!

It was only by chance I watched the  Millionaire programme a couple of years ago on television,  which featured one of the houses in Brisbane.This touched my heart because my son Adam was very ill when he was a baby and my husband and I had to travel to London several times to Guys Hospital and the Maudsley and we were fortunate to  stay at my Aunts house in London, otherwise we would have been financially drained by hotel bills for the weeks of tests and scans. Adam  is fine now, the only side effects is an untidy bedroom!!!!Apparently there is no cure!!!!


Please contact the Ronald MC Donald House Managers for further information.
RMH Herston Geraldine Donaghy 07 3257 0328

RMH Mater Vicki Meyer 07 3163 8606

RMH Townsvill Helen Tarttellin 07 47755600

Spring has sprung!

Well I have been a little slack in writing these posts but anyway I am back on track!

My beautiful Mum passed away in July and nothing could  have prepared me for it. I always talk about my Mum in most of my classes, as she has always encouraged me with my cake business. Mum  was always for me to be  working at home and being with my family more, instead of the long and late shifts as a chef. Mum always encouraged me to be creative as a little girl, nothing electronic in my day! and was a big  fan of my baking and cooking attempts even at my young age.

For the past few years I have been recording  my cake decorating of my cakes and deliveries to all the beautiful wedding venues with my dvd camera  and then posting  them on  to my Mum who lived  in the U.K. Great armchair viewing of  the Gold coast, Mt Tamborine and the Sunshine coast. venues.She said it was better than any tourist commercial of Oz,after watching all the dvds I made!

After receiving another DVD she told me on the phone, how improved my cakes were, from being baked in the  oven. I asked her what she meant and she replied so smooth and spotless. I had to laugh, as the DVD had footage  filmed of ganached cakes ready to be covered with sugar paste! I laughed and said I wished they did turn out of the oven allready ganached but that was another part of the cake decorating! if only!

My Mum eventually went into a nursing home and was watching another dvd of mine,decorating a Mad Hatter as she was intrigued as to  how it was stacked together and she asked me to record it as I made it. She told me as she was watching the DVD   a care worker came into her room  with a cup of tea.
 Mum  explained that it was her daughter ,decorating the cakes on the television. The carer replied yes dear of course it is, Mum  thought she must probably think I am loosing my marbles!

Mum said the timing on the DVD was perfect,as I then spoke directly  to the camera  and said  Well Mum this is the finished result I hope you have been paying attention as there will be questions when I call you next! The carer was gobsmacked and sat with Mum and watched a few more minutes of the DVD  and Mum told me the carer  ate  some humble pie! Now thats the magic!

So a few close friends have known about my Mums passing and sent me beautiful cards, some  gave me a beautiful vine which I have planted in my front garden . Everyday as I walk pass it, it is in a sunny spot just where my Mum always liked to be in life and is a gentle reminder of making each day count in life.Thank you for all those well meaning cards and emails.


I have tried to catch up with all business  correspondance and emails and with the support of my lovely hubby and son and  I am now back on track!

For those students that I cancelled classes with, nearly all did not want a refund  and  so re booked for another class and have since attended, thank you for your well wishes too.

We are, each of us, Angels with only one wing and we can only fly by embracing and supporting each other.  Luciano De Crescenzo.

Debbie Brown in Brisbane

Friday 2nd of July 2010

The last few weeks have been like a whirl wind I was very happy to sign up for all 4 Debbie Brown workshops that Sarah-Jane from Cake That, organised to be at the Mantra Hotel in Brisbane.
I had a great 4 days  just playing with sugar paste no surprises there! Some of my good friends( who I have met through my own classes ) were great playmates! and we were up for the challenge with working with styrofoam instead of yummy chocolate cake anyway a few pictures are on the right.

I had a fabulous spiders web cupcake tower to create for a lovely bridal couple and  a few more traditional Wedding cakes to bring me back down to Earth!

 Okay so I have  a few scrap bookers that follow my blog so listed below might be of some interest to you.

You are invited to the following event:



Scrap for a cure -OVARIAN CANCER CURE.12 hour scrap booking and papercraft expo.

$40.00 perhead which includes a light lunch and BBQ dinner



Date:Saturday, July 17, 2010 from 10:00 AM - 10:00 PM (GMT+1000)


Location: Strathpine Community Hall
Cnr Mecklam Street and gympie Road
Strathpine

Tickets on Offer.
Call Michelle on
0458 437 440 or
Email: scrapforacure@gmail.com
www.ovariancancer.net.au

For all of those with children, wishing you all a good school holidays and do some baking, cupcakes cookies whatever you like and add that  extra free  ingredient that all goodies should have ....love.

Great news the PA S biggest morning tea raised $4,500.thank you for all that made a difference.

Queensland Cake Decorating Association's (QCDA) annual show at Mt Coot-tha.

This coming weekend.

The 3 day show is a great place to meet and view other peoples talent and also sit in and watch the demos, have a cuppa and a piece of cake of course! Afterwards have a wander around the beautiful gardens.

Queensland Cake Decorating Association's (QCDA) annual show at Mt Coot-tha.
The cake decorators association also display their groups creativity and the displays are absolutely lovely.You will also have the opportunity to purchase cake decorating tools and some great books also.

The show is open at the following times
Friday 18th June 12pm -4pm
Saturday 19th June 9.30am -4pm
Sunday 20th June 9.30 am to 3.30pm
Admission Adults $3
Children and mature people! $1

Biggest morning Tea.

New cake classes are now  listed for June, July, August and September 2010. Go to my cake class page on my opening page of my website.

Friday 4th June 2010

I was very happy to be involved and  sponsor and judge the novelty cake entries at the  PA Hospital biggest morning tea. What great entries, including an amazing 3D building cake of PA hospital and some saucy cupcake with various staff members. I donated a shoe and shoe box cake that was then  auctioned for much needing funds.

Assisting the now  very famous Dominique Rizzo, I first met Dominique 3 years ago as we are both involved in The  Learn cook and Dine programme at Kitchenware-plus, she was not at the superstar status she is now! and watch out for her first new book later on in the year. I cannot wait a genuine book of receipes she creates, written by a genuine hands- on passionate foodie.

We had a a great time together with the task of judging  and tasting the huge array of cakes pastries and slices! Sometimes my life is so harsh!!!!!

The amount of yummy chocolate  delights was all too much! beautiful biscuits, slices cakes, cupcakes, even fudge  and brownies were all tasted and judged and then tasted some more! They were then sold and the mornings events raised much needed funds to the ongoing  cancer research.Thank you for all those that supported this morning.

The last few weeks have flown by, busy with classes, cakes and  cake demonstrations at 2 more  of my local librarys and I was met with a warm welcome, thank you.Both dates were fully booked out and its amazing how many other interesting topics the librays have going on so check out their websites for more details.

I still get a little nervous at the beginning and then after a few minutes of speaking ,I crack my classic joke  " as you can tell from my accent I am not from around here.......I am from Daisy Hill "  and that will normally break the ice! (English humour!!! cannot get away from it!)  The event at Springwood library even  got a mention in my local paper and  its only taken me 6 years!

I often get asked do I miss chefing and the answer is yes. After watching Masterchef the other evening, I am now going to say no! They were creating canapes for  a cruise ship moored in  Sydney harbour.This reminded me of when I was head chef at a restaurant in Thornlands a couple of years ago.
We secured the contract to cater for the Redland Bay Film festival awards and I had to cater for 290 guests and staff.

The amount of planning and preparation that took in creating all that food! With 3 chefs assisting me and my fantastic apprentice Tiegan, who now works at Sirromet, pulled out all the stops and we worked  like a well oiled machine thankfully with no misfires!

The venue was a  Stradbrooke  car ferry that was converted into a floating red carpeted restaurant .We had a portable kitchen installed with ovens that kept  stopping and starting  throughout the service! We actually sailed out into the bay for the duration of the evening and so everything had to be onboard, now that took some planning ! and as you might  know by watching the Masterchef show, time is always against you. Anyway the night was a blast we had all been working 12+ hours and endorphines kicked in and everything went perfect .
 I really felt for the contestants of the Masterchef show as that particuliar challenge was a really  hard
challenge!Well done.


Now we are into the cold season remember kindness is contagious , so pass it on.

Brisbane cake blog Tuesday 4th May 2010


The P.A Hospital are having the Greatest Morning Tea Thursday 20th May 2010

Celebrity and Brisbane Chef  Domique Rizzo will be hosting and judging the bake off in which 3 categories for contestants to enter by paying a $10 registration fee to enter one category and $5 for each one there after.

The categories are as follows.

1. Cakes

2. Biscuits/slices.

3. Novelty/ decorated cakes.

Clich the link below for more information for registration.There are some great prizes on offer including a cake class  voucher of mine!

http://www.pafoundation.org.au/.



Its been a mad hatters week! With Tim Burtons Alice in Wonderland in mind I created a great cake for a lovely young ladies 16th birthday, check out her rabbit ears!She really had a Mad Hatters tea party.

I have also  been busy with classes, new students all very eager  and  what great results as you can see.


A quote I smile everytime I read is, The reason why Angels fly is that they take themselves so lightly..................