Welcome to the Cake Decorators Q&A

Hello Jacbissell

The bow cake is one of the early tutorials, the newer ones have ingredients and tools list just below the video. The team are working toward adding ingredients lists to the older videos. CMC powder is the same as tylose These products are added to sugar paste to make it stronger for the making of models, flowers and other decorations like the bow. To make your own gum paste 1 teaspoon of the strengthener to 250g sugarpaste kneaded well in will make many decorations. Another strengthener is gum tragacanth, this is a natural product unlike the other two which are chemically produced. Gum paste made with gum tragacanth should be rested for 12 -24 hours for best results, the others can be used straight away. Some times it may be necessary to add a little more of the powders when making bigger models. If you look here http://www.cakeflix.com/questions/clarke-baxter you will find more information and recipes for making gum paste.

You will need to buy red fondant. So about 100g for bow with pinch of cmc powder 750g fondant is enough for 8 inch cake 300mls cream to 600gms choc for ganache should do it I think Paul said 1 pt cream to 3 pints choc but his accent floored me

Thanks Hilary. I think it would be really helpful if the amounts needed were specified with each course for us beginners! What is cmc powder?