MY 1ST ATTEMPT AT BAKING A TOPSY TURVY CAKE

Last Sunday was Super Bowl XLVI and my niece’s birthday and … it was also my first attempt at a Topsy Turvy cake. I got the pans last month and was ready to try it out. I love the way these cakes look, and the bakeries charge a lot for them.

I had decided that I was not going to use store bought fondant as I feel It just doesn't taste that good and I think homemade must be better. So I started out baking the cakes. These cake pans are much larger than normal and so I needed a lot more cake batter. That also requires a longer cooking time.

The first one came out okay, the second cake was raw in the center, and the topper cake was fine but I soon realized that I should have started this cake the day before and now I only have a two layer cake. Its 12:00 noon and I still need to make my fondant … yikes!!!!

Above you see the first layer, the unfrosted second layer & the finished one.

The recipe for the fondant is very simple: 4 cups of miniature marshmallows, 2 tablespoons of water, and a pound of powdered sugar. You melt the marshmallows in the microwave (takes about a minute) and then add your coloring and flavor.

You add in the powdered sugar until it's a bread-like consistency then take it out of the bowl and knead it just like you would bread dough. You will need another pound of powdered sugar for your hands and the table. Keep putting in more powdered sugar until it stops sticking on your hands.

My first batch stuck everywhere. I thought it was ready but when I tried to roll it out, it stuck to the parchment paper, the roller, and my hands. It stuck so bad I had to throw everything away and start all over!

It's now one o’clock and my party starts at 2:30. I whip up another batch, powdered sugar is now everywhere. This batch of fondant works and I am able to get it on the cake.

Note to Self:  Never try to cut a Topsy Turvy cake in layers to add pudding or frosting that will just cause it to slide. Too late for mine, as I already cut it and inserted the pudding. Now I just have to work with it. Second layer goes on and I add the fondant. Cake starts to slide and …  It’s now almost party time!

 I prop it up on one side and hope it does not slide further. Next time I will start the day before.

Everyone said it was a cute cake.

I thought it just looked a mess!

The homemade fondant tasted way better than the store fondant and the cake itself was delicious. Don't judge a cake by the way it looks. Sorry the pictures are not well focused but I did not want to get powdered sugar on the camera.

Anyhow, I hope everyone had a great Sunday and enjoyed the Super Bowl and of course all those great commercials. Click the link if you missed any or want to see them again.

Today is Monday and I have been out showing homes in Lakewood. I love that we are known as tree city USA. Have a great week everybody!

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Free Ride From Long Beach to Catalina On YOUR Birthday!

To celebrate it’s 30th Anniversary, Catalina Express is giving away a free ride from Long Beach to Catalina Island.This is available to anyone who wants to go to Catalina Island ON THEIR BIRTHDAY … Just pre-register on Catalina Express’s website to get your round-trip free pass!

Hurry because this offer won’t last forever it expires on April 30, 2012.

Just like how this offer for a free ride to Catalina will expire … the low interest rates we are seeing for homebuyers WILL NOT LAST FOREVER! If you are thinking about buying a home … I am one of the top producing agents in the Long Beach and Lakewood area and would love the opportunity to help you.

If you are thinking about selling your property, once again, I can show you how I use innovative and unique marketing strategies to get my seller’s properties SOLD!

Got Questions? … I have lots of Ideas and Answers for You! 562.882.1581

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Lucky to live in Long Beach

Being so lucky to live in Long Beach, I have been in and around Long Beach the past couple of weekstrying to figure out what to highlight in my blog, we simply have too much good stuff in our city.

These pictures that I am posting today I took around the Queen Mary and the Pike area. I will be posting more as I visit different places. Although; I have been selling homes in Long Beach for over 25 years and know the area well, I thought that others who are thinking about moving here might enjoy these pictures.

First time home buyer

After 25 years of showing buyers around I understand their fears. Knowing that I understand their fears and telling them that is not so easy. So after pondering on what is the best way to help a buyer understand the first time home buyer process, I decided to develop a video series using the buyers that I have sold homes to. I hope that you enjoy watching this video. I will be posting more in this series later on. Please feel free to give me a call or email me if you have any questions.

 See what this first time buyer has to say!

It’s Time for Christmas Tree Recycling in Long Beach & Lakewood California

Several years ago I read a very cute poem about how a Christmas tree who didn’t understand how he could go from being the center of attention and so loved and adorned to being striped of all his fancy attire and then thrown out onto the sidewalk and abandoned.

Christmas tree recycling is a relatively new event but one that I welcome … to have our Christmas trees serve a new purpose somehow takes the sting of letting it go a little easier  

And so the time has come for this ritual to begin again … I am always saddened by this act; this tree which has brought so much pleasure into our lives that we must now say goodbye to … it seems being sentimental about turning the lights out for the last time runs parallel with “get this thing out of here … I want to get the house back to normal”

Long Beach has a wonderful website with information on tips about Christmas tree recycling and more to the point … have your tree at the curb Saturday from 7 am on and it will be picked up

Lakewood has their own program and Christmas tree recycling information on their website as well. I hope you will join your neighbors in recycling your trees.

Allison Van Wig – Realtor Serving the Long Beach & Lakewood Areas can be reached at 562-882-1581 or by visiting www.SuperBroker.com

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Great things to do in Long Beach at Christmas time!

Wednesday nights are reserved for our fitness walks. A few of us have committed to walking every Wednesday and trying to get at least two more walks in on our own during the week. This week I wanted to try and do something a little less strenuous as my niece is nine months pregnant. We want to keep her walking, but we don't want to induce labor! It has been a few years since I have been down to Naples Island at Christmas time, and thought that this would be a great time.


We met at 6pm and parked the car on 2nd st. Walked over to the island and it was beautiful. Every home was decorated with a different motif. They even had a Griswold's home! The gondolas were out gliding down the canals, the electric boats had people waving, and my favorite was the bicycle boats. A dozen of the bike boats were out on the water all decked out in Christmas lights. I defiantly would like to do this for my Birthday ...

Several organizations had the children singing carols, and a band was playing holiday music. Some homes had coffee set up and were giving the donations to charity. It was a great night, free, and about a three mile walk with some stairs. I think if you are in Long Beach you should not miss this!
Check out some of the pictures I took as we strolled along the canals.

Pictures are not that great, taken with my phone. Next year I will be taking my good camera.

English Toffee

It's that time of the year again for cookies and English Toffee. Last week we had the cookie bake off, this week it has been English Toffee. I made two different varieties, we had almonds with the milk chocolate and dark chocolate. It is a very easy recipe.

Two cups of real butter

Two cups of sugar-I like using the bakers sugar as it's a finer sugar and melts better.

a tad of real vanilla (maybe 1/4 teaspoon) too much and your toffee will be too soft

Do not add salt if you do not want to, I add about 1/4 teaspoon of smoked sea salt.

Cook to a rapid boil constantly stirring. The candy thermometer should read 325. Carefully watch the colour of your toffee. You are looking for a light brown. Pour over sliced almonds and your chocolate drops, add sliced almonds and chocolate drops to top. Put it in the refrigerator to cool and use an ice pick to break it. Use parchment paper in your pan and it will come right out.

Have a great Holiday and Happy New Year!