Wow I’ve learnt so much since I’ve been here in Sydney on my Australian cake adventure. The seminar has whizzed past…… I’ve met lots of amazing people, seen some incredibly detailed cakes, found out about how cakes are created here and sampled the most popular flavours.
Did you know that sugarpaste has its origins here in Australia? From what I have discovered so far it was the Country Woman’s Association (CWA) – similar to the Woman’s Institute (WI) in the UK – who first spread the word about sugarpaste in the 1950’s, although it could have been earlier. A couple of ladies I spoke to at the seminar remember being taught to use sugarpaste at this time. I am hoping to find out if anyone here knows more details…..I’ll just keep asking….if you happen to know more please leave a comment below.
Regards flavours, I have fallen in love with orange and poppy seed cake – what a wonderful combination, I can’t wait to try out a few recipes – I just hope I can recreate the flavour and texture of these cakes, once I’m back in the UK. If any one knows a good recipe they are willing to share please get in contact.
Another Ozzie favourite is chocolate mud cake covered in lashings of chocolate ganache! I’m still not 100% sure about the ganache myself, its a lot of chocolate!!! However I understand that due to climate, butter creaming a cake can sometimes lead to problems so ganache is one solution that seems to work. At yesterdays work shop at Iced Affair, we used prepared ganached cakes to create my art nouveau lilies cake and I must admit, because the ganache sets hard it did make rolling the cakes very easy.
If you missed me at the seminar in Sydney and are not joining me in Queensland then why not catch a dem in Melbourne. I’ll be at John Quai Hoi’s new Shop – Cake Delights, 219 High Street, Preston, Melbourne Tel:944 23 994 from the 9th – 12th September
Hope to see you there
Lindy
Elizabeth Solaru says
Thanks for sharing Lindy. Sounds like you are having a whale of a time. I would love to know how to do the marbled effect on the Tulip cake on IcedAffair’s website. Any tips will be deeply appreciated.
XXElizabeth
Lindy Smith says
Hi Elizabeth
Thanks for your comment, I’m having a very interesting time and learning so much about the challenges faced by Australian cake decorators. I’ve just left Iced Affair and flown up to Brisbane for the next leg of my trip. Which page of the website are the tulips on? Couldn’t immediately find them – may be because the screen of my little notebook is so tiny!!!
Leonie Newton says
Hi Lindy and Elizabeth,
First Lindy let me say how much I enjoyed seeing your demos in Sydney – made your books come to life – have a lovely photo of the two of us as well.
I think the tulip cake on Iced Affair is not marbled but in fact pattern paste.
Kind regards, Leonie
Leonie Newton says
Orange/Poppy Seed Cake
Preheat oven to Moderate/prepare 22cm round cake pan with baking paper.
Combine 1/3cup poppyseeds with 1/4 cup milk and let stand 20 minutes.
Beat 185g softened butter with 1 tblspn orange rind and 1 cup castor sugar with elec beater until light and fluffy, beat in 3 eggs one at a time until just combined between additions.
Transfer mixture to a large bowl, using wooden spoon stir in 1+1/2 cup self raising flour + 1/2 cup plain flour + 1/2 cup almond meal, + 1/2 cup orange juice + poppy seed mixture. Spread into prepared pan and bake 1 hour. Recommended option if not icing: 1cup castor sugar+2/3 cup orange juice+1/3 cup water heat without boiling until sugar is disolved, then bring to boil and reduce heat simmer uncovered without stirring for 2 minutes – pour hot syrup over hot cake. Serves 16. Enjoy!
Lindy Smith says
Thank you so much for this, I can wait to give it a try once i’m back in the UK
Lindy
TIP for non Australians, an Australian tablespoon = 5 teaspoons and not 3 teaspoons as in the UK and US
Lindy Smith says
Hi Leonie
I think you’re correct about the tulips, as I know Evan has been experimenting with patterned paste from the book by Geraldine Dahlke
I’m also pleased to hear that you enjoyed my Sydney demos, I loved giving them!
If you’d like add the photo you mentioned too your comment, just email it over and I’ll upload it!
Best wishes
Lindy
Elizabeth Solaru says
Thanks for the response all! I’ll try and get my hands on the book. Leoni, thanks for the recipe. I will definitely be trying it soon.