Welcome to the Cake Decorators Q&A

Does Hamish have an identity problem? Is he not a Bull or Steer, or are all cattle called Cows in Scotland? A handsome beast nonetheless which I shall set about next month 🙂

Hi headrabbit,

Hamish is a Scottish Highland Cow or Coo as they’re referred to sometimes. Here’s a web page with a bit about ‘Highland Coos’ http://www.highland-coos.com/about.htm

Good luck with the cake! 🙂

They’re all coo’s up here 🙂

And I thought the Scottish Education System was the best in the world 🙂

Ahh ’tis that, but a coo’s a coo none the less

Or as RB might have said, “A Coo’s A Coo For A’ That”   🙂

Hi Guys

You are sooooooo funny, love the humour, that’s what we need, someone to give us a laugh! Keep it up!!!!  BTW I know nothing about Coos except to run like mad if I see them, not the best thing to do!!

Hi headrabbit

Have tried your web site but can’t find an email for you. Would still love to try your recipe. Have just got home after a short break, am in baking mood!

Sorry, the email address is right at the end of my slide show at www.pinkrabbits.org.uk/cakes, but [email protected] will reach me. Get in touch and I will send my favourite chocolate mud recipe. Same goes for any other bakers who might be interested in a chocolate cake recipe with a “shelf life” of 4-5 weeks. Currently in training for tackling Hamish the Heeland Coo for my daughter’s birthday on 22nd October. Wish me luck 😉

Hi Headrabbit
Just had a look at your site, great cakes, love the camper van, and was interested to see the tardis too, as I’ve just been asked to make one.
Sharon 🙂

Hello Sharon,
Good luck with the Tardis – if I can be of help, please don’t hesitate to ask.
Make sure your cake is fairly firm – with the cake standing “on-end” and the layers of sugarpaste went on (around a Kilo altogether), mine developed a list which had to be shored up! Great if you’re doing the Leaning Tower of Pisa, but not good for Tardis! 🙂

Hi Headrabbit, I don’t think they want a very big cake, so thought I’d just do 4″square, 8″ tall, but wondered if it might be a good idea to freeze each side piece for about 5-10 mins, before placing around the cake. I also loved the way you added the picture to the top window 🙂

X

Hello Sharon,
Your 8″x4″ dimensions look to be quite stable so no worries there.
Freezing the side pieces sound brilliant – when I do mouldings or modelling, I always put the bits in the freezer for a while to firm them up so your idea should ensure your side components don’t distort or collapse before you’ve been able to anchor them to the side of the cake. Building a “vertical” cake is much more challenging than the normal shapes so improvisation is very much the order of the day.
Do let us see how your Tardis turned out, won’t you – I think the difficulty of this project is underestimated.
Re the picture in the window of my Tardis – if you don’t have the luxury of an edible-ink printer, a bit of rice paper or Lakeland edible paper, and a few inexpensive edible felt-tip pens can produce amazing results.
My view is that cake decoration at Paul’s level is an art-form of its own and therefore the only boundaries are your imagination and ingenuity, so be bold!
Good luck and “may the force be with you” – oh! That’s not Dr Who, is it? 🙂 Never mind – you know what I mean. 🙂
David

Thanks for the encouragement David, trouble is, when you first start doing cakes, like me, then friends and family think you can do anything LOL
x

Well you can, can’t you? 😉