A Harebrained Idea?

[elizw]

i have found that my smbc is foolproof....it is toba garrett's recipe. one thing i do different is that i let my butter get to room temp (VERY SOFT). it is so soft i don't even cut it into pieces. i add a pound at a time (3 pounds total). i know, i know you aren't supposed to do that but it seems to be creamier and silkier. maybe it's just me!

[cupcakeshoppe]

i tried it twice i think. i used the 1-2-3 recipe. the first time it turned out great but tasted way too buttery for me. and it kept sliding off the cupcake. the second time i wanted to make it white so i tried the "violet cancels out yellow" tip and IT DID NOT WORK. so i threw that batch. it just seems like a waste of ingredients to me, butter and eggs aren't cheap.

BUT! I am determined to try again. Any suggestions as to why it didn't work for me? LOL

[elizw]

try this.....

1 16oz carton of egg whites
3 1/2 cups sugar

whisk in bowl over double boiler until sugar is melted

remove from heat and beat into a meringue

add 1 lb soft butter (unsalted)

whip

add another 1 lb soft butter (unsalted)

whip

add 1/2 lb shortening

whip

add another 1/2 shortening (optional)

add flavoring

i have used this once for a wedding cake that was going to be in a warm spot in august! the shortening kept the icing whiter and i didn't melt. normally, i use all butter and no shortening.

[cupcakeshoppe]

i haven't seen a recipe with shortening before. do you have a recipe like that in... cups? or how many egg whites that will be?

[elizw]

i believe the egg whites would come to 1 1/2 cups and the butter/shortening is 1lb of butter is 4 sticks of butter. so i would add 8 sticks of butter and then start adding the shortening until it is looking the way you want it to.

[cupcakeshoppe]

thanks for clearing that up. am gonna give this one more try. thanks again!

[elizw]

you can add the tiniest speck of violet like you tried before. i think it does take the edge off of the yellow. however, wilton's violet is a better violet than americolor. i think americolor violet has too much blue in it. just my opinion though.

also, i've added 1/2 batch of smbc and 1/2 batch of traditional buttercream (conf. sugar) together to get a slightly sweeter but still silky icing.

[Jazz2U]

If you have kids in school, invite the parents and teachers. Not everyone can bake or has the time.

Good luck!

[k_anncookies]

Speaking of school, if the school ever does a fundraiser bake sale, offer to bake some things and be sure to put your info on all the baked goods you do!

[Jazz2U]

I don't know if you saw my thread about the show on Style Network called "Peter Perfect". He is actually a salon owner but he goes to businesses that need a boost. He did a cake shop which only made cakes to order and redecorated the place & gave the some other things which helped increase their business four fold! The last thing he did, which I thought was great, was invite party planners for a tasting.