BSG International Exhibition, Telford

Now where did the last week go?  One minute we're at Telford in the cold and the wet and the next it's hot, hot hot and the Exhibition's been and gone.

I didn't see much of the show as I was on the Demonstrator Training Stand most of the weekend but there was some fantastic work on show, including this Wild and Wacky Novelty Cake which won Gold and Trophy:

I also liked this cool rock star rhino which was awarded a Silver:

 Wirral BSG won Gold and Trophy with their take on Afternoon Tea:

 And I think the BSG Forum Members did a sterling job for a group of people who hardly knew each other and, in many cases, had never met:

I think special mention should go to all the children who entered the competition, including my son who was Highly Commended for his Fish in the Tots division:

 And finally, Best in Show was this beautiful Wedding Cake:

I wish I'd had more time to say 'hello' to my virtual friends, many of whom said afterwards that I was busy every time they walked by, and see a bit more of the show.  I hope you enjoyed this whistle stop tour, more photos are on facebook.

BSG International Exhibition

Not a lot to report this week.  I've been non-stop caking, preparing my pieces for the BSG International Exhibition at Telford next weekend.

Pleased to say that one piece is finished, one just(!) needs the piping and the third, well, I've cut the pastillage.  I'm hoping to be finished by this time tomorrow so watch this space, as they say!

More Chocolate!

I think I've got the bug!  I bought some more moulds and had another play.  It's very calming...

Anyway, a larger shoe:

A chocolate heart:

And some quick photos showing some of the steps:

I tempered some white chocolate and piped or drizzled it into the moulds 

Once that had set, I filled the moulds with tempered milk chocolate 

After a couple of minutes, I poured the chocolate out, leaving a shell.  This one has hardened as I photographed it later

I turned the moulds over and left the chocolate to set 

It's difficult to see but as the chocolate sets, it pulls away from the mould slightly

Once it was completely set, I gently twisted the mould (the small one cracked because I was impatient) and the moulded shapes dropped out.  Then I placed them on a heated baking tray for a couple of seconds, enough to melt the chocolate, and stuck the two halves together