APRIL 2006

Greetings from The Cake Lady! Welcome to the first edition of our monthly newsletter! My mission is to provide helpful hints for you creative Do-It-Yourselfers, as well as to highlight our latest products, special offerings and news!

If you are making a chocolate cake for someone special, try one of the many delicious cake mixes on the market today. But make sure you know what kind of chocolate lover your someone special is before you get started! It could mean a world of difference in baking the right cake. Do they enjoy a smooth milk chocolate or are they more of a rich fudge kind of chocolate lover? Do they have a mild palette or do they love dark chocolate? What about white chocolate or chocolate chips? German chocolate or red velvet? The possibilities are endless, but with a little planning, youll be able to select the best cake mix for you. Tip: Bake your cake until the edges start to pull away from the pan and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. All ovens vary in temperature, so start checking your cake five minutes earlier than box indicates! Dont over-bake it! Chocolate Cake

Icing a cake can be a stressful event, especially if youre worried about cake crumbs mixing into the icing. This is a common problem, and there are two actions you can take to avoid it: 1. Make sure your icing is the right consistency for spreading. If its too thick, it wont spread easily. Simply add a few drops of water to thin out the icing, if needed. 2. Never let your spatula touch the cake! Heres how: Place a dollop of icing on the top of the cake, right in the center. Using short sweeps with your spatula, push the icing across the cake, never taking your spatula to the end of the icing, thus never touching the cake. If you need more icing to push around, put another dollop on the cake and start over. After the top is covered, run your spatula over the top of the cake to remove any excess icing and smooth out the top of the cake! Icing a Cake

SAVE YOUR $$$ New cake decorators (do-it-yourselfers) spend a lot of money on things that are not necessarily must-have items. Each month Ill touch on one product you might think you need, but Ill show you what I use instead… The Un-Wilton Way MY SUBSTITUTE You can accomplish the same thing with a serrated knife straight from your kitchen cabinets, and it doesnt cost you a dime! Make sure to keep your fingers out of the way! APRILS ITEM The little saw thats supposed to be so good at leveling off the top of your cake…

Aprils Challenge: Donate Some Time… Volunteerism is a very important way of life. Its a win-win situation, making you feel good about yourself while helping someone else along the way. This month I challenge you to bake a cake to brighten someones day. Drop one off at a nursing home, daycare facility, or your local volunteer firehouse (had to plug that one…my husbands a volunteer firefighter and volunteer EMT). Worried about those cake crumbs? Bake cupcakes instead. Instead of icing, lay down a doily and dust with powdered sugar. Carefully lift up your doily, and youll have a beautiful design! If you dont have time to bake a cake this month but would still like to donate one, call me and Ill be happy to bake and deliver it for you. Challenge of the Month

The Cake Lady is in the News! Read the latest article about The Cake Lady in the Weddings Magazine of the Evansville Courier & Press: The Latest News Testimonial Thanks for the picture. It means so much to me to have a picture of her on her 21st birthday! ~ Linda Note from a satisfied mom after The Cake Lady sent her a photo depicting the personal delivery of the cake mom ordered for her daughters 21st birthday while away at college.

Aprils Special: Free Balloon Bouquet! What would a newsletter be without a Special Of the Month? Throughout the month of April, mention this offer and enjoy… A FREE BALLOON BOUQUET with every GOURMET BROWNIE PIZZA you order! Special of the Month Gourmet Brownie Pizza Balloon Bouquet

While The Cake Lady is known for her delicious cakes, she is also experienced in party planning, event decor, and balloon art & design. She can even arrange a singing telegram or a photograph to be taken upon delivery. Just ask! For weddings The Cake Lady offers delectable wedding cakes, crisp table linens, high-impact balloon designs, and themed table decorations. For corporate parties, birthdays, holidays, and anniversaries, order a unique theme cake with a logo, character, or any requested design. Find out more about The Cake Lady by visiting her website: THE CAKE LADY SANDRA HILE, Owner Tel: (812) Cell: (812) About The Cake Lady