There is so much going on!

Valentine's Day - everyone will be making chocolate cakes, chocolate covered strawberries, decorated cookies, candies and all things sweet for their sweethearts. I have included some recipes and ideas for you.

The Cake Show February 23 and 24. This is a weekend long event filled with all things cake related - cakes to view, competitions, demonstrations, vendors and so much more. Look below for more information and be sure not to miss this event!

After the Show, Nicholas Lodge, Earlene Moore and Autumn Carpenter will all be teaching classes. This is such a great chance to take a class from one of these amazing decorators right here in Austin!

Try the Mint Chocolate Cookies - they are so good!

Work on your entry for the Cake Show, be sure to make plans to attend. We will see you at the Show!

Some great new items have come in lately. There is a new Valentine Gift Kit from Wilton to make great heart- shaped cookies. New gold and silver crystal sugars that really do look metallic. A great new Gifts from the Kitchen book by Wilton. Cookie mixes from Penny McConnell of Penny's Pastries and more. Check these items out and come into the store to see what else is new.

The weekend of February 23 and 24, 2008 will be filled with sweetness as sugar artists descend on Austin, TX to participate in the That Takes the Cake! Sugar Art Show & Competition.

The competitors will carefully transport their completed sugar art entry pieces and set them up for display. The entries are then judged by a distinguished panel of sugar artistry professionals. Hosted by Austin's Capital Confectioners Cake Club, the Show is open to the public and encourages participation by people of all ages and skill levels.

With over 200 competition entries, tasting competitions, on-site contests, demonstrations and vendors, this show offers a weekend-long extravaganza for any sugar art enthusiast.

The Showcase Demonstrations on Sunday include an all-star line-up of sugar artists and demonstrations.
3-D Sculpted Cake and Airbrush - Bronwen Weber, the Food Network's most medaled Challenge competitor and Executive Pastry Chef from Frosted Art Bakery, Dallas, TX;
Chocolate Transfers - Autumn Carpenter, third generation confectionary artist and cookbook author from Fort Wayne, IN;
Easter Gingerbread Project - Steven Stellingwerf, gingerbread expert and cookbook author from Sioux Falls, SD;
Spring Cake with Patchwork Cutters - Nicholas Lodge, world famous cake decorator, instructor and author from Norcross, GA;
Lace on Cake Techniques - Earlene Moore, legendary cake decorator and technique innovator from Lubbock, TX.
Do not miss the opportunity to see all of these masters, register today!

The show is being held at the beautiful facilities of the Austin's Texas Star Meeting and Event Center, 11810 Manchaca Road, Austin, TX 78748.

A schedule of events, complete competition rules and event registration are all available online at the link below. We hope to see you there!

Nicholas Lodge, Earlene Moore and Autumn Carpenter are all staying after the Cake Show and teaching classes!

Nicholas Lodge is teaching a 2-day, hands-on Wedding Gumpaste Flowers class. The flowers will include an orchid, lily, ivy stephanotis with buds, leaves and more. The class is 9 am to 5 pm February 25 and 26.
More Information and Registration

Earlene Moore will be teaching her signature Buttercream Side Designs on Monday, February 25th from 9 am to 5:30 pm. Piping, using mats, stencils and textures will all be covered.
More Information and Registration

Autumn Carpenter will be teaching 2 Cookie Decorating classes. On Monday, February 25th, the morning session is Classic Cookie Decorating and the afternoon session is Cookie Bouquets.
More Information and Registration

Do not miss this opportunity to take a class from one of these master decorators!

Valentine's Day, time for chocolate covered strawberries! Why pay outrageous amounts for just a dozen strawberries when you can quickly and easily make you own? This How to Sheet covers Chocolate Covered Strawberries and Tuxedo Strawberries. strawberries. We use the Guittard A'Peels candies for dipping - it makes the project easy and delicious. You can get extra fancy and sprinkle the just dipped strawberries with nuts, sprinkles, gold or silver sugar crystals, shredded coconut - oh, the possibilities...

Chocolate ganache makes a great icing. It is especially popular around Valentine's Day. Poured onto a cake it makes a beautiful and delicious shiny glaze. We get lots of orders for chocolate heart shaped cakes, strawberry filling, chocolate buttercream icing, covered with ganache and topped with chocolate covered strawberries. A true chocolate lover's delight!

These cookies are just so delicious! This is such a good combination - Nabisco Famous Wafers, Guittard White Chocolate A'Peels and peppermint. It is so easy to make these cookies. It will take no time for you to make a batch - but it will also take no time for them to all be gone!

Here are our February classes. Check the link below for other classes scheduled into March and April.
Cookie Bouquets with Jennifer
Monday 2/4 - 6 pm to 9 pm
Wilton Course 1 with Cathy
Tuesdays 2/5, 2/12 & 2/19 - 9 am to 12 pm
Wilton Course 2 with Sallia
Tuesdays 2/5, 2/12 & 2/19 - 6 pm to 9 pm
Cookie Bouquets with Jennifer
Thursday 2/7 - 10 am to 1 pm
Petit Fours with Michelle
Thursday 2/7 - 6 pm to 9 pm
Giant Cookie with Jennifer
Saturday 2/9 - 9 am to 12 pm
Chocolates with Jennifer
Saturday 2/9 - 2 pm to 5 pm
Cupcakes, Cookies and Candies with Jennifer
Monday 2/11 - 10 am to 1 pm
Chocolates with Jennifer
Wednesday 2/13 - 10 am to 1 pm
Wilton Course 1 with Michelle
Wednesdays 2/20, 2/27 and 3/5 - 6 pm to 9 pm

Click the link below to see all of our scheduled classes.

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