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"The Magic Touch"
Diane Shavkin's
Wonderful World of Cake Decorating

A Sharing Site for the Sugar Enthusiast

A Shopping Cart will be Coming Soon

Books & Products for the Sugar Artist

Visit the International Cake Exploration Societe (ICES) web site.

This is a sharing organization for all levels of the sugar art. The annual 2008 ICES Convention & Show is in Orlando, Florida. Bring your family. Convention Hotel is the Contemporary Resort. The Over Flow hotel is The Polynesian. Rooms are booking super fast. You must register before you can book your room(s). Visit the ICES web site for more information including special ticket rates to Disney World.

The California Cake Club
Mini Classes & Demonstrations
The Riviera Hotel & Casino; Las Vegas, Nevada
Thursday, July 31-Sunday, August 31, 2008

Instructors
Zang Beg, Linda Bills, Debbie Brown, Susan Carberry, Norm Davis,
Christine Flinn, Janet Forster, Toba Garrett, Diane Gruenberg, Linda Hermann, Nicholas Lodge,
Amy Malone, Celicia Morana, Colette Peters, Geraldine Randlesome, Linda Reese, Ruth Rickey,
Becky Rink, Kathy Scott, Fran Shanholtzer, Steve Stellingwerth, Diane Shavkin, Bronwen Weber,
Marsha Winbeckler, Roland Winbeckler

CCC Cake Camp Web Site: http://www.cakecamp.com/

Decorators Question/Answer Column
Compiled by Diane Shavkin NY
Questions & Answers

Cake by Carolyn Lawrence, Missouri

Wedding Cakes
by viewers of my web site

Pictures

Sugar art Work & Sketches by Diane Shavkin, New York
Pictures by Steve Shavkin, New York

	Ice Cream Treats		Designs on a Rolled Fondant Cake
	Royal Icing Lattice Umbrella		Large Sheet Cake
	Cake or Gum Paste Hat		Matching, Blending, Petal Dusting
	Rolled Fondant Cake Designs		Chocolate Cake/Apricot Filling
	Butter cream Side Designs		25th Wedding Anniversary Cake & Topper
	Butter Fondant Hand-Molded & Buttercream Fall Leaves		Gum Paste Cake Topper
	Baby Themed Cutout Cakes		Royal Icing Bridges Sugar Molded Bells
	Baby 2-Piece Outfit Sheet Cake		Buttercream Side Designs
	Gum paste Dress		Gum Paste Borders
	Covering Cake Boards		Side Designs/Accurate Measuring

Holidays by Diane Shavkin, New York
Pictures by Steve Shavkin, New York

	Butter Fondant Hand Molding		Instructions
	Pumpkin & Ghost Cutout Cake		Halloween Favors
	Piped Christmas Candles & Pine Branches on a Buttercream Cake		Buttercream Turkey
	A Quick & Easy Cake to Decorate		Easy Fall & Halloween Cake
	Christmas Santa Moon Keepsake Cake		Cornucopia

Candy Work by Diane Shavkin, New York
Pictures by Steve Shavkin, New York

	Chocolate Covered Pretzels		Chocolate Covered Cookie Treats
	Marshmallow Treats		Solid Chocolate Candy Pieces from Left-over, melted chocolate
	Bridal Topper		Candy Roses
	Chocolate Houses Holidays & Special Occasions		Candy Heart Favors
	Christmas Chocolate Houses		Easter Chocolate Houses

Original Sketches by Diane Shavkin

	Love Sketches
	Bridal Shower/Wedding Sketches
	Bells Sketches
	All About Baby Sketches

Easter Sugar Art

Panoramic Easter Peep Holes	Char	Instructions
Upright Panoramic Easter Eggs	Diane Shavkin	Instructions
Gumpaste Miniatures & flowers for Panoramic Easter Eggs	Diane Shavkin	Instructions
A Variety of Panoramic Easter Eggs	Viewers	Pictures

Cookie & Gingerbread Decorating	Autumn Carpenter, Indiana	Instructions
Thanksgiving Cookies/Rolled Fondant Plate	Autumn Carpenter, Indiana	Instructions
A Christmas Cookie Bouquet	Autumn Carpenter, Indiana	Instructions
Gingerbread Bags to Fill	Autumn Carpenter, Indiana	Instructions
Patriotic Cookie Bouquet	Jeannine Norder, Michigan	Instructions
Gingerbread Wreaths	Chris DeVico, North Carolina	Instructions
Tea Cup Cookies	Chris DeVico, North Carolina	Instructions
Fondant Bonnet Cookies	Cindy Sciaroni, Missouri	Instructions

Gum Paste Red Roses	Tracy Unsworth, New Zealand	Instructions
Gum Paste Poinsettias	Nicholas Lodge, Georgia	Instructions
Chrysanthemum	Nicholas Lodge, Georgia	Instructions
Red Waratah	Lexie Picken, Australia	Instructions
Gum Paste Columbine	Beth Parvu, Ohio	Instructions
Passion Flower Wedding Cake	Scott Clark Woolley, NYC	Instructions
Gumpaste Roses	Mona Landers, Texas	Instructions
Cake in Florist Box	Mona Landers, Texas	Instructions
Gumpaste Baby Bib Cake Using Diane's Sketches	JoEllen Simon, Nebraska	Instructions
Rolled Fondant Graduates	Ruth Rickey, Oklahoma	Instructions
Rice at Weddings	Gayle McMillan, Louisiana	Instructions
Lace Work & Filigree	JoEllen Simon, Nebraska	Instructions
Chocolate Rose & Leaf	Vi Whittington, Indiana	Instructions
Party Favors	Millie Hohimer, Missouri	Instructions
Royal Icing Woodgraining Effects	Keith Ryder, Virginia	Instructions
Run Sugar Valentine Card	Jo Ellen Simon, Nebraska	Instructions

HERSHEY'S "PERFECTLY CHOCOLATE" Chocolate Cake Ingredients:
2 cups sugar
1-3/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup HERSHEY'S Cocoa
1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1-1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1 cup milk
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup boiling water
"PERFECTLY CHOCOLATE" CHOCOLATE FROSTING(recipe follows)
Directions:
1. Heat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour two 9-inch round baking pans.

2. Stir together sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt in large bowl. Add eggs, milk, oil and vanilla; beat on medium speed of mixer 2 minutes. Stir in boiling water (batter will be thin). Pour batter into prepared pans.

3. Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pans to wire racks. Cool completely. Frost with "PERFECTLY CHOCOLATE" CHOCOLATE FROSTING. 10 to 12 servings.

VARIATIONS:
ONE-PAN CAKE: Grease and flour 13x9x2-inch baking pan. Heat oven to 350° F. Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake 35 to 40 minutes. Cool completely. Frost.

THREE LAYER CAKE: Grease and flour three 8-inch round baking pans. Heat oven to 350°F. Pour batter into prepared pans. Bake 30 to 35 minutes. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pans to wire racks. Cool completely. Frost.

BUNDT CAKE: Grease and flour 12-cup Bundt pan. Heat oven to 350°F. Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake 50 to 55 minutes. Cool 15 minutes; remove from pan to wire rack. Cool completely. Frost.

CUPCAKES: Line muffin cups (2-1/2 inches in diameter) with paper bake cups. Heat oven to 350°F. Fill cups 2/3 full with batter. Bake 22 to 25 minutes. Cool completely. Frost. About 30 cupcakes.

"PERFECTLY CHOCOLATE" CHOCOLATE FROSTING

1 stick (1/2 cup) butter or margarine
2/3 cup HERSHEY'S Cocoa
3 cups powdered sugar
1/3 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Melt butter. Stir in cocoa. Alternately add powdered sugar and milk, beating to spreading consistency. Add small amount additional milk, if needed. Stir in vanilla. About 2 cups frosting.

CHOCOLATE LOVERS CAKE
Cake & Recipe from Rebecca Garcia of Texas
Picture by Rebecca Garcia of Texas

1 Chocolate Cake Mix
1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk
1 (3.4oz) instant chocolate pudding

2 cups milk
1 tub (8oz) Cool Whip, thawed
1 bar Hershey plain chocolate bar shavings

Preheat oven to 350. Bake cake as directed on package for 13x9-inch pan. Cool 15 minutes. Poke holes about 2 inches apart on top of the warm cake with handle of wooden spoon. Drizzle sweetened condensed milk evenly over top of cake; let stand until milk has been absorbed into cake. Place in refrigerator until completely cooled. Mix instant pudding with 2 cups milk and then spread over cake. Place back in refrigerator about 30 minuts. Spread Cool Whip over top and then sprinkle with chocolate shavings.

Hershey Kiss Roses - A Mother's Day Bouquet

10 wooden skewers or 18-gauge florist wire
Red and silver Hershey Kiss candies

Green florist tape
Silk green leaves with wired stems

Pull tiny labels from each Hershey Kiss. Stick two foil- wrapped Kisses together, bottom to bottom. Insert the skewer into the tip of one Kiss and at this point begin winding florist tape down the skewer. Add several leaves along the way.

Chocolate Covered Truffles - An Easter Sweet Treat

1/4 C. butter or margarine
1 1/2 lb. real semisweet chocolate
3/4 C. non-dairy coffee creamer, any flavor

1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 1/2 lb. real milk chocolate for dipping
1 C. finely chopped chocolate, milk or semisweet for decoration

Melt semisweet chocolate in double boiler over hot water. Heat butter, creamer and vanilla in another saucepan to 125 degrees on a candy thermometer. Add to semisweet chocolate all at once, beating until smooth and creamy. Chill in refrigerator until nearly set but still pliable. Beat with mixer until light and fluffy. Spread in 9 inch buttered pan until set enough to roll into ball; dip in melted chocolate. Sprinkle generously, or roll in, chopped chocolate.

Chocolate Mousse Falling in Love Pie

Pie made by Diane Shavkin, NY
Picture by Steve Shavkin, NY

9-inch baked pastry shell 1, 14-oz. can condensed milk (not evaporated) 2/3 C. water

1 (4 serving) pkg. chocolate pudding mix (not instant)
1 1-oz. square unsweetened chocolate
2 C. (1 pt.) whipping cream, stiffly whipped

In large saucepan, combine condensed milk, water and pudding mix; mix well. Add chocolate. Over medium heat, cook and stir rapidly until chocolate melts and mixture thickens. Remove from heat; beat until smooth. Cool. Chill thoroughly; stir. Fold in whipped cream. Pour into prepared pastry shell. Chill 4 hours until set.

Note: Diane used a crushed, Oreo crust which may be found in grocery stores. She saved some of the whipped cream to used as a topping and added the Hershey chocolate kisses for decoration.

Hints, Ideas/How-To's	Run Sugar Work Instructions	Petit Fours Instructions
Tips for Cookies/Icing/Glazes	Scone Recipes/Helpful Hints	Substitute for Ingredients
Transferring Images to Cakes	How to Make Bow Loops	Show Hints

Cake Decorating Recipes	Recipes for Cake Decorators	Decorators Buttercream
Poured Fondant Icing	Rolled Butter Cream Recipes	Cold Porcelain/Similar Recipes

Carrot Cakes	White Cake Recipes	Doctored-Up Cake Mix Recipes
Black Tea Cake	Popcorn Cake	Fruit Cakes & Jar Cakes
Variety Cookies/Decorations	Australian Recipes	Cake Truffles from Cake Scraps
Pound Cake Recipes	Cake/Punch/Ice Ring Dessert Recipes	Recipes for Diane/Steve's Anniversary
Gingerbread Recipe	Punches/Non-Alcoholic Beverages	Recipes for Purim

Cream Cheese Frostings	Dark Chocolate Frosting Recipes	Layer Cake Fillings
Cookie Icing/Glazes	Whipped Cream Frostings	Wedding Treats
Uncooked Fondant	Thanksgiving Entertainment
	Halloween Page 1	Halloween Page 2

Candy Recipes	Diane's Creamy Fudge Recipes	Brownie Rum Balls
White Fudge Chocolate	Candy/Truffles/Fudge Caramels	Deb's Truffles Recipes

Two Doll Cakes	Shirley Jackson, Michigan	Instructions
Making a Doll Cake	April Shavkin, Georgia	Instructions
Doll Cake with Ruffle on Dress	Debbie Sand, California	Instructions

Elephant Cake	Ada Anieves	Instructions
Armadillo Cake	Janette Pfertner, Texas	Instructions
Roundup of Sculptured Cakes	Janette Pfertner, Texas (Janette Demonstrated This On The Food Network "Unwrapped")	Pictures
Fish Cakes	Kyle Foster, Oklahoma	Instructions
Rolled Fondant Clown	Tracy Unsworth, New Zealand	Instructions
Novelty Cake Pictures	Ada Anieves	Pictures
Table Setting Cake	Keith Ryder	Instructions
Pool Cake	Diane Burke, Connecticut	Instructions
Baby in Bassinet	Shirley Jackson, Minnesota	Instructions
New Year's Eve Clock	George Fowler, Iowa	Instructions
Cross Cake & Edible Bead Borders	Vi Whittington, Indiana	Instructions

The Jewish Wedding	Linda Rodin, Florida	History & Crafts
Cakes for Jewish Occasions	Linda Rodin, Florida	Pictures
Shavlot - A Jewish Holiday	Linda Rodin, Florida	History & Crafts
Purim - A Jewish Holiday	Linda Rodin, Florida	History & Crafts
Chocolate Houses - Chanukah	Diane Shavkin	Instructions

	Making a Loop Hanger Towel Rack	Marida Binsted, Virginia	Instructions
	Using Diane's Original Sketches to Make a Baby Cake	JoEllen Simon, Nebraska	Instructions

Hearts & Flowers Wedding Cake	Susan O'Boyle-Jacobson, Minnesota	Instructions
Tiger Lilies Cake	Jane Cisneros, Arizona	Instructions
Cake Displays	Pam Weston, Washington	Instructions
Cake Pictures	Gloria Griffin, Canada	Instructions
Wedding Cakes	Eunice Borchers, South Africa	Pictures with Descriptions
Tiered Hawaiian Cake	Pam Greenwell, Florida	Instructions

Lace Layon Cutouts Cake	Cathy Fiebe	Instructions
Create-A-Lace in Butter cream	Michaelle Stidham, Michigan	Instructions
Create-A-Lace with Ribbons	Michaelle Stidham, Michigan	Instructions
Lace Impressions & Ruffles	Roberta Griffins, Minnesota	Instructions
Food Color Painting	Jo Ellen Simon, Nebraska	Instructions
Buttercream Borders	Buttercream Borders	Instructions
Rolled Fondant Cake Painting	Tracy Unsworth, New Zealand	Instructions

Tropical Bridal Shower Cake	Pam Greenwell, Florida	Instructions
Sweet 16 Cheer Leader Cake	Shirley Jackson, Michigan	Instructions
Cowboy Themed Cake	Shirley Jackson, Michigan	Instructions
Wafer Painting	Darlene Horner	Instructions

Australian Recipes	Leslie Picken, Australia	Three Recipes
Chiffon Cake	Michaelle Stidham, Michigan	Instructions
Basketweave & Chocolate Dipped Cherries	Mona Landers, Texas	Instructions
Decorated Chocolate Cake	Vi Whittington, Indiana	Instructions
Cake Scrap Desserts	Michaelle Stidham, Michigan	Instructions
Grooms Cakes with Fresh Fruit	Earlene Moore, Texas	Instructions

Chocolate Truffle Containers	Gloria Griffin, Canada	Instructions
Chocolate Candy Box & Roses	Mary Gallagher, Pennsylvania	Instructions
Truffles	Gloria Griffin, Canada	Instructions
Candy Train	Shirley Jackson, Michigan	Instructions

This web site has been created by Diane Shavkin of New York
"The Magic Touch"
www.shavkin.com
dshavkin@optonline.net

The Company that provided the Counter on my index page requires a link to their site.