Bake me, I'm yours-- collection : infinite ways to indulge in cupcakes, cookies and chocolate

## chocolate heaven... Chocolate instantly conjures up a variety of images, whether it's hunting for chocolate eggs at Easter, giving a box of truffles to your sweetheart on Valentine's Day or simply indulging with chocolate fondue at a girls' night in. As a self-taught cake decorator, my interest in decorating with chocolate began eight years ago with an increasing demand from brides for chocolate wedding cakes. Through my usual route of trial and error I have enjoyed designing some spectacular creations in chocolate over the years, and I now hope that I can share my creative insights into chocolate design with you. In the front section, you will find a range of tasty recipes for cakes, brownies, bites and truffles. Discover all the essential techniques, including how to temper chocolate, use chocolate paste and achieve fabulous results with moulds. When it comes to decorating with chocolate, the possibilities are endless. Experiment with a myriad of patterns and colours using transfer sheets to bring a whole new dimension to your creations and learn to create a range of beautiful, realistic flowers from chocolate paste, including three of my favourites: roses, orchids and gerberas. 9 1 basics basic tool kit The following is a list of equipment frequently used in the book, most of which can be found in good sugarcraft stores. In addition specific requirements are listed in the recipe 'you will needs' and suppliers' abbreviated details follow in brackets where applicable. ## store them away Once you have made your chocolates or cakes, always store them in cool, dry, dark conditions -chocolate will melt very quickly if left in direct sunlight. Avoid refrigerating your chocolate as it will begin to gather condensation when returned to room temperature. Excessive moisture will cause 'sugar bloom', meaning that the sugar rises to the surface of the chocolate causing discolouration. Chocolate absorbs odours so do not store it near anything with a strong scent. Dresden tool 1 for making markings on paste, used in conjunction with the sugar gun Glue stick for attaching ribbon to cake boards Greaseproof paper 2 for lining cake tins Icing sugar 3 use when rolling out chocolate paste to prevent it sticking to the work surface Kitchen roll for wiping up any spillages Knife 4 sharp and non-serrated, for cutting out shapes Paintbrush 5 for dusting and painting Piping bag, disposable 6 for piping tempered chocolate Plastic side scraper 7 for trimming chocolate paste on cakes Palette knife 8 for spreading chocolate and applying buttercream Rolling pin 9 for rolling out chocolate paste Scissors 10 for cutting transfer sheets to size Smoother 11 for creating a smooth, even finish when covering cakes with chocolate paste Tape measure 12 to measure transfer sheets Work board, non-stick 13 used for rolling out chocolate paste basics Tempered chocolate is useful for attaching edible embellishments, such as the coloured circles on the Easter Extravaganza cake. ## tempering chocolate Chocolate contains cocoa butter crystals and tempering is a process of heating chocolate so that these crystals are uniform. Correctly tempered chocolate will produce an end result that is smoothtasting, crisp, even-coloured and shiny, while incorrectly tempered chocolate produces a dull or streaky end result often referred to as a 'bloom', which while not inedible, does look unsightly and will taste grainy. Incorrectly tempered chocolate will not set very well, will 'bend' rather than 'snap', and will not release easily from moulds, so before placing chocolate into a mould ensure it is correctly tempered. This title contains over 200 recipes, sugarcraft techniques, designs and ideas for quick, easy and fun baking. It includes three titles - Cookies, Cupcake and Chocolate - favourites with home bakers and sugarcrafters of all abilities and taste. Stylish and high-quality design and photography make the book a visual feast and a worthy gift. It is presented in a gorgeous slipcase - the perfect gift or self-indulgence for anyone with a sweet tooth. * Cupcakes has sold over 5000 copies in the UK alone* Contemporary designs for all projects of all scales, levels of expertise and occasions * Individual titles sell at 9.99 each, making this an indulgent package at a great price