make your own edible arrangement

SWEET treat today! GUEST POST, Chef Jess of Sarno's Sweets

So, the nice, warm weather is finally here to stay.  Having some summer parties and need some cute, easy ideas for what to serve?  I love the edible arrangements and actually just sent one to my mom for mother's day. :)  Those beautiful fruit arrangements are the inspiration for this post.  It's so easy to make your own!

Take some fruit, whatever you like, lets say pineapple, cantaloupe, grapes and strawberries.  Cut up the pineapple and cantaloupe into cubes.  Put two of each fruit on a long skewer.  Next, take a whole pineapple, and cut off the bottom so that it stands up straight.  Once you have all your fruit on skewers, poke them into the pineapple all over.  It will look something like this. I didn't make this one, but just so you get an idea.

Yes, I know, not quite as gourmet as a real "edible arrangement,"  but it's cute and easy enough for everyone to do themselves.

Now, need a dip for your skewers?  Here's an easy one.  Take a container of plain yogurt, add a couple spoons of mayo (yes, mayo) and a little honey for sweetness.  Want it a little sweeter?  Add a little powdered sugar!

There!  Done!  Now you have an awesome display for your next summer party!  Enjoy!

YUMMY! Thanks for sharing Jess!

Fondant Creations

We are in for an awesome treat today!  JESS is here with a few fondant pointers!  I have only attempted one cake with fondant.  It did turn out really cute BUT there were tears shed in the process!!  Let's hope with Jess' help we can avoid a few tears!

Sorry to keep you waiting!  Finally, here is a short tutorial on how to make a fondant creation to get you guys started.  I'm going to show you how to make a fondant cat.

Animals are usually really simple.  You can start with just two little balls for a body and head and just add features to create the animal you desire.

First, you take a small piece of fondant.  Work it in your hands until it is nice and soft, you don't want it to look dry and cracked.  Add a small dot of color, it doesn't take much.  Splash a little powdered sugar on your work surface so the fondant doesn't get too sticky.

Work in the color until it's even and the fondant is nice and smooth.

Next, separate your fondant into one bigger piece for the body, a slightly smaller piece for the head, and a very small piece for legs and ears.  Then, roll your body piece into an oval shape.  Roll it firmly in your hands to avoid lines and creases.  I like to put a small stick into the body to help hold the head on.

Roll your head piece into a nice ball.  Attach it to the body with some simple syrup (sugar water).

To make the legs, I like to roll out one long piece, then cut it.  It's a fast, simple way to do all the legs at once and enables you to get equal size pieces.

With a little shaping, they become legs. :)  Attach these with simple syrup.  Take a knife or sculpting tool to add indentations to make these look like paws.

Next, take a toothpick or sculpting tool to add eyes.  A tiny piece of pink fondant makes a nose.  Make two small triangles and make indentations in the middle to make ears.  Again, attach with simple syrup.

Finally, I take edible ink markers (which you can pick up on line or at Michaels), and I add the final details to make my little kitty complete!

See how it just really turns him into such a cute little cat?!  Good luck and have fun with your own creations!

She makes it sound SO easy, doesn't she! 

Thanks JESS!

Sister Sister

Most of you know my sis, but if you don't here she is!

Jess, me and Derick @ my totally RAD 80s party!!

Everyone knows that I am domestically challenged so Jess is here to through in a little FLAVA to my blog!!  YEA, maybe I will learn a thing or two!!

So, I'm Fallon's sister, a pastry chef and cook.  I'm going to be doing a section every once in a while about something food related! :)  Hopefully, I will be able to help out anyone who is interested in cooking or baking with some good tips! To let you know a little about myself, I have been a cook and pastry chef for about 12 years.  I currently work as a cook while I'm trying my hardest to get a cake business going!  Wish me luck! :)  This post may be helpful to anyone who likes to decorate cakes.  I'm going to give you some tips on fondant.

 I love fondant, and do many decorations using it.  Even if you hate fondant, and don't want to completely cover a cake in it, you can still make some amazing decorations with it, and kids love it!  You want to get a good quality fondant if you can, most likely from an online site.  If you just dabble in cake decorating, and don't want to spend a lot of money, you can definitely just get a box from Michaels, it just requires a little more work and care. 

 If you're using fondant from Michaels, you will want to make sure you knead it, work it with your hands, and get it nice and soft.  If you are finding it really dry, you can add a little touch of shortening, and work that in, but sometimes, just the warmth of your hands will be enough to moisten it up. Having a good quality fondant just eliminates some of this aggravation.  If your fondant is dry, all of your pieces are going to be cracked.  If you are coloring it, you will want to have some powdered sugar handy as it will get very sticky.

Once your fondant is ready, take out the piece your working with, and keep the rest covered.  Now, you can roll the fondant out and cut it into some cute decoration, flowers, hearts, butterflies, anything!  Or, you can make some awesome 3D pieces.  Say you're making a fondant animal.  I usually start with the body.  I cut a little candy stick (found at Michaels) and put it in the center for support.  This will hold the head on and also keep the animal upright.  Then, I make the head, arms, and legs.  I attach all of the pieces using simple syrup (sugar water) which acts as an edible glue.  Then you just take sculpting tools and add details, fingers, toes, any indentations you need to make.  Another great thing to have is edible ink markers which allow you to actually draw on the fondant, great for faces!

I am making a cake this weekend, so I will post some step by step instructions and pics of the fondant work I'm doing, which hopefully will give you a better idea.  I encourage you all to try out fondant next time you're making a cake for someone special.  It's so fun and creative.  It's like being a kid and having play-doe!  You might find something you love!

I'm throwing in a few pics!

CAT-5's bday cake from her tea party (which means Jess busted this out from MY kitchen...whoa)

A+F turning 30

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