Kuushi, I've only seen one or two episodes! They're obsessed with making a million pounds aren't they LOL.

My comedy shows of choice are (currently) Episodes, Modern Family, Stella, Big Bang Theory, and Uncle (Just one episode, where on earth are the rest!!). Episodes is seriously good! I can't wait for Downton Abbey and Midwives to come back!!! 

i love stella! I think im a bit like her sister in law  ..you know..the alcoholic funeral director! haha!

I didn't know who Matt Bomer was until I just googled him, I use to watch him in white collar. I thought charlie hunnam was the original Mr Gray.

LMAO Nanny.

What is it about a wasp that can squeeze its way through a tiny opening in the window, but headbutts itself for hours trying you get out?

Haha Tiddy, I love Stella but had to get the sky cut off so can't watch it anymore, I love big bang theory, Mrs browns boys, modern family and miranda. Is uncle the one with the kid called earl, all episodes were on a while back if it is that one which I think it is because I like that one to. I absolutely love call the midwife and downton abbey and my fav at the moment not that there's much on is Nashville I love it.

Right of to the pictures now will speak to you lovely people later 

LOL Nanny you'll kill me

right im off to ninja this washing machine cake! will catch up again later 

AMatt Homer, he's OK I guess, abit of a chocolate boy tho!

omg i just spat coffee all over my screen!

LMAO! It's a good thing you have a washing machine then eh tidds? 

A

I did Kathy, it was a "second" cake at a wedding. I was so worried about it drying out. I wuss a guest at the wedding so we had to go the night before. I therefore cut the tiers at home then wrapped tightly in cling film. It was decorated with fruit and cream just before the event. Talk about stress as it wasn't cut until the evening. Maybe to be sure you could brush with a syrup.

ARofl nanny :-D

Episodes is great petite - I loved the fight at the end of the first series, creased me up. Modern family is just one of the best shows ever.

Tiddy, what should happen when you do a cake at that speed is that we all look and go 'oh that's lovely' whilst thinking 'yeah, that looks like it took 5 minutes'. What actually happens is we all go 'that's awesome' and think 'Wtf, how is it so neat in that time? Does she employ elves on crack?'

Quick question guys.

When you level off your cakes, do you do the edges? If so how do you do yours?

Kuushi, I never trim the sides unless I'm trying to fit the cake onto the cake board. Is that what you're asking?

AWell no not really.

I'm suffering ATM from some buldging and I think it could be down to not trimming the sides?

AI was told never fill to the edges kuuushi.

Does that help nanny?

Might actually be that. I was told from an online video to pipe at the edge and then put the cream inside the circle/square and put the cake on top.

Haven't done that before just on the last cake, and it feels buldgy to me. No I know it's buldgy.

How can I get a very smooth finish?

And shes back, cake is carved and ganached  my daughter came in the cake room to watch (older one that requested it) there then resumed much giggling as i filled the hole id cut for the door with ganache! Literally everything I said had her in fits. I had to tell her to go away in the end 

Kuuushi for normal cakes i never trim the sides but obviously with the carved ones that doesnt apply so not much help im afraid

when i do a normal cake i dont go to the edges when i fill. I split into 3 not 2 and firmly press each layer. That generally makes the filling smoosh to the edges on its own so if i did fill to the edge to begin with i would have a problem with bulging also :)

Thanks Tiddy, just feels like I've been doing it wrong for ages but really it was only recently I took that "tip" yeah thanks for the tip love!  

Actually watching some of the free videos from Paul Bradford. It's nice to see it done properly and the way you do it so give you a boost!

AI also put a light book on top too. I know some people pipe a dam of stiffer buttercream, but I'm too lazy to to that.

Kuushii, I read a thread on bulging once and I'm fairly sure it's normally due to cake settling. I always let my cakes settle by filling (I've always filled to the edge and in fact the filling spills over- this will add to your confusion!!) and crumb coating and then letting it settle overnight. If I'm pressed for time or I can't be bothered waiting overnight, I put a piece of parchment paper on top of the cake, place a cake board on top, and a book on top of that. If the cake bulges after placing a book on top after a couple of hours, take off the book, board and parchment paper and smooth the sides. Then cover with buttercream/ganache as usual. 

By placing the book on top, you push out any trapped air inside the cake which as I understand is the main cause of bulging.  

What filling did you use?

Kuushii, also what Tiddy said. I've 'smooshed' cakes before by placing parchment paper and cake board on top of a cake, and pressed down quite hard!

Nanny, me too! There's enough to do without having to make a separate batch of buttercream to use as a dam! Obviously there are cakes fillings where this is the only choice!

AHi all... Just finished making my dinosaur...:)

Kuuushi, I also don't trim around the cake. But I do pipe a dam in ganache or stiff bc if the customer doesn't like chocolate.

Jean, I haven't done a naked cake, but read many posts about brushing sugar syrup on each layer can keep it moist. :-)

AUsed basic raspberry jam and vanilla cream. I've never rested the cake before. Do I fill and stack, crumb coat and then let rest?

Sorry I'm sounding quite thick

AI torte the cake twice, so I have three layers. Then first filling bc and the next filling jam. Then put a thin layer of ganache around the cake just to cover where the filling layers are ( not sure whether this make any sense). Not a full crumb coat. Cover it in cling film and leave it overnight. Next day ganache the whole cake cover and decorate.