Can't Stand the Heat...Stay out of the Kitchen

My husband took a photo of this poster in one of the baking supplies stores we visited this month.  I agree with the message, but before good things happen at a bakeshop, we bakers need to withstand the heat in the process.  Lots of sweat, labor, and hard work are required before achieving the sweetest result.  Below are the recent cakes I made, and I faced some troubles while making them, but I didn't even know why.

I had to deal with humidity while making the cake above.  I am using marshmallow fondant for every cake I make, and for the very first time, I had a problem working with it to create a ribbon topper design.  The fondant turned out so shiny and moist that it almost melted instead of drying and setting hard.  It was a rainy week, and I found out that in humid conditions, marshmallow fondant behaves this way.  I am so glad that the customer who ordered the cake understood the situation.  I couldn't find all the necessary ingredients to make fondant using gummix, which I had tried making before.  I had no other choice but to change the design.

Note that the whiskers were computer edited.  I sensed something was wrong with the cake after finishing it.  I tried to ask my staff what was wrong, but she couldn't figure it out.  So, I went to bed to get a good night's sleep, and when I woke up the next day ( pick up date), I discovered what was missing - it was the whiskers!   I used my daughter's Hello Kitty pillow that night, and she was also wearing Hello Kitty pajamas.  What a coincidence!  I managed to add the whiskers before the customer picked up the cake.

This was a rush order from my brother's classmate.  I informed them to place the order in advance, especially if they wanted a fondant design.  They didn't visit the bakeshop, so I expected they wouldn't pursue a cake order.  Then I was surprised to hear that they placed an order at another branch, requesting a stiletto shoe cake design; it was Friday night, and they wanted the cake by Sunday.  I couldn't do that because of the limited time, so I looked for an alternative to create the shoe, and this was the result.

I'm currently finding it challenging to work with a baby bump. However, I still truly enjoy my time in the kitchen, not just baking.  That's why I'll continue to be in the kitchen, even though it's incredibly hot (it feels like the heat in the workspace is intensified, perhaps due to my pregnancy) because I know I'll end up with something wonderful from it!

Life is sweet!!!