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![]() Moderators: Moderators Jump to page : 1 Now viewing page 1 [25 messages per page] | View previous thread :: View next thread |
Wellness -> Diet and Nutrition | Message format |
Cyndi![]() |
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Expert Yogi Posts: 5098 ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Location: Somewhere in the Mountains of Western NC | Sponge Bob Banana wrote on another page... "My daughter and I are planning my youngest's birthday party. We always like to try something new and different, and this year we'd like to serve everyone their own personal mini birthday cake for dessert. We plan on starting the experiment this weekend, playing around with different recipes and molds. If we can get past that stage, we'll eventually have to figure out how to decorate the cakes. Any advice or suggestions? Thanks!" Cyndi responds: Lori, you must go get a copy of the Joy of Cooking, by Irma S. Rombauer, Marion Rombauer Becker and Ethan Becker (2nd version for Ethan, he's the son of Marion, I think?). Every Mother should have this book. It is the basic kitchen cookbook. There are 2 versions of this book, with the first one printed in 1931. Ethan came along and revamped some of the recipes and made them more modern and took out alot of the fat and made them healthier. He also added Indian, Thai, Chinese, Greek and others to it as well. This is really a *true* basic book to have handy, it has everything and answers every question you could possibly ask. There is a recipe called the "White Cake". This is the one I recommend for Birthday and any Holiday mold cakes. Then there is the "Yellow Cake" which follows and it is also a good basic cake. If you can get a hold of the Old Version, the White cake has a version that is especially designed for molds and is enough for a 7-cup capacity mold. These recipes can be modified to use Organic foods, produce, unbleached flours and natural sugars. You have to be careful about how much you alter cakes because they can be tempermental, like sugar for instance. I use natural organic sugar, but not dark brown sugars with these kinds of cakes. You cannot reduce sugar amounts in these recipes more than 1/4 to 1/2 cup otherwise you will not get the right texture. Also, for cake baking on rainy days, it is not advisable, otherwise you will have rising problems and it will be flat. If you can't find these books or don't have time, and are interested, I will post them later, or send me an email and I'll forward them to you, let me know. As for the mini-birthday cake...Williams Sonoma has these cute little loaf pans that I use for Banana Nut Breads. These are very nice pans, you get 4 for $24, and they are made out of a nice non-stick material that will last forever. I highly recommend these for mini-cakes. Not sure about the round, cause I never explored small mini-round cake molds. Back to the Joy of Cooking...I personally use both books. The first version was given to me a long time ago and was my inspiration in learning how to cook and cook well. The information is priceless in these books and it cuts the confusion of information on the internet. I can't tell you how many times I've had a recipe on the internet that failed and when I went back to my JOC books, I discovered Why it failed and ended up with their recipes. I also subscribe to Southern Living as the recipes are also tried in their kitchens and they do a good job and have good judgement about food before placing them in their magazines. I like their annual recipe book too, which always has at least something that your're looking for. I do however modify some of their recipes that call for mixes and processed things. They're getting better about the items they use and select for their recipes. Geez, this would be a great homeschool class together. Today we made GingerBread with Black Strap Molasses. It was good and healthy. I was in Whole Foods Market yesterday and bought some of their Ginger Bread. After I ate it, it was good, but I said, I can make this...and so much better and CHEAPER!! ![]() ![]() Edited by Cyndi 2006-02-07 1:50 PM | ||
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Kabu![]() |
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I consider baking a Math and Home Ec. project. ![]() Thanks for the info. I have 2 very basic cookbooks that I love and can probably get some recipes from them. I also have some smaller molds that I think I can work with, but we'll see this weekend. The key is to get the right temp and time for the smaller cakes so they don't dry out (or burn ![]() The decorating is going to be a hurdle for me. We were playing around with the idea of using fondant (never done it before) and maybe decorating with the pretty confetti and stuff they sell. | |||
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jeansyoga![]() |
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A while back I saw some Martha Stewart magazines that had ideas for decorating individual cakes and cookies (I think it was for wedding showers, though). If you find yourself in a bookstore, flip through her magazine and/or books and I'm sure you'll find lots of neato ideas, if perhaps a little labor-intensive. Sorry I can't be more helpful, I'm better at eating cake than decorating it! | |||
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Kabu![]() |
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Ha, me too! I found some info online about fondant and how to play with it. We're going to try making practice cakes this weekend. I also found a bakery online that does custom mini cakes at $25 per cake. ![]() Edited by Kabu 2006-02-08 2:51 PM | |||
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Cyndi![]() |
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Expert Yogi Posts: 5098 ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Location: Somewhere in the Mountains of Western NC | You know what, I forgot about Martha. Thanks Jean for reminding me of her. Yes, absolutely, Martha Stewart is one of the best chef's I know. I couldn't believe how they put her in jail and all that crap. Martha Stewart ROCKS!!!! Lori, are you interested in the baking business now too?? | ||
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fechter03![]() |
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Extreme Veteran Posts: 475 ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Location: canada | i thought you wanted to actually bake yogis.. ![]() | ||
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GreenJello![]() |
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Cyndi - 2006-02-08 5:27 PM I couldn't believe how they put her in jail and all that crap. Martha Stewart ROCKS!!!! Well..... there was that whole breaking the law bit.... Her being a very public person probably didn't help much either. The prosecutor was really counting coo on that one, and probably sent a very strong message that all the bubble shenanigans were over for a bit. | |||
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Cyndi![]() |
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Expert Yogi Posts: 5098 ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Location: Somewhere in the Mountains of Western NC | Well, they didn't put your favorite bubble shenanigan Gov. Arnold in jail for wrecking his HD, putting his child in danger, driving without a license. Then having the balls to say, "I never thought about it" to the public. Yea right. Like if that were me, they'd book me on the spot and throw away the key...but, I'm just a pawn in their malicious game....so are you GJ. | ||
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GreenJello![]() |
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Cyndi - 2006-02-08 6:45 PM Well, they didn't put your favorite bubble shenanigan Gov. Arnold in jail for wrecking his HD, putting his child in danger, driving without a license. Not my favorite, please don't put words in my mouth, or I'll consider it a personal attack. Then having the balls to say, "I never thought about it" to the public. Yea right. Like if that were me, they'd book me on the spot and throw away the key...but, I'm just a pawn in their malicious game....so are you GJ. Nope, not a pawn, or at least not completely. It's hard to deal with the power of our times, but we all have to to some extent. Edited by GreenJello 2006-02-08 8:36 PM | |||
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Kabu![]() |
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Fechter ![]() | |||
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Cyndi![]() |
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Expert Yogi Posts: 5098 ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Location: Somewhere in the Mountains of Western NC | Fechter, it's all a matter of perception. For instance, for a person like me who does stay in the kitchen 85% of the time, that is a normal title...I am a Baking Yogi. Now, for someone who has no idea about the kitchen. I am quite sure that may be a scary thing to look at, | ||
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fechter03![]() |
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Extreme Veteran Posts: 475 ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Location: canada | Cyndi - 2006-02-09 9:25 AM Fechter, it's all a matter of perception. For instance, for a person like me who does stay in the kitchen 85% of the time, that is a normal title...I am a Baking Yogi. Now, for someone who has no idea about the kitchen. I am quite sure that may be a scary thing to look at, actually cyndi, i do spend a lot of time in the kitchen..just don't do that much baking, ![]() | ||
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Kabu![]() |
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Well, we did the fondant thing (ended up making mini cakes for Grandpa's b-day). The cakes were adorable, but we discovered fondant is a bit too much to eat along with the cake it covers. But it's excellent for making decorations! It's basically edible play-doh ![]() I've heard homemade fondant is much better tasting ~ will have to give that a whirl next. So... mini cakes: *thumbs up* store bought fondant: *thumbs down* except for decorations | |||
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Rhachel![]() |
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I don't know about where you are but in LA, cupcakes are HUGE! They're easy to make, much cheaper, and have endless decorating possibilities. There's a place not far from me called Auntie Em's that makes gigantice Red Velvet cupcakes with sour cream frosting..... (Sound of door slamming and car starting) | |||
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Cyndi![]() |
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Expert Yogi Posts: 5098 ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Location: Somewhere in the Mountains of Western NC | You haven't lived until you've tried the *real true* Red Velvet cake from South Georgia. There's still a couple of old ladies around that make these famous cakes, we used to order one every Thanksgiving from this one lady who made these. She really had a secret ingredient that we still can't figure out to this day!!! Although, I did manage to get the original recipe from my chef guru, ![]() | ||
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in early spring, you can sometimes find hot-house pansies. my HFS sells them (organic raised) this time of year. you can cut them fresh and put them on each cake. pansies are edible. it's the easiest decoration in the world. my cake won the prize at my MIL's church spring thingy. i made a white cake with white icing and then placed a few fresh pansies on the top and around the base. It won "best decorated" and "best white cake recipe." thankfully, my MIL's 'chocolate with PB icing" won for best chocolate cake. because if i'd won and she hadn't, it would have been grief for a long while. She insists that i join these contests with her as bonding experiences, then when i win, she sulks for months if she doesn't. bleh. anyway, easy decoration--pretty and edible. | |||
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Cyndi![]() |
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Expert Yogi Posts: 5098 ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Location: Somewhere in the Mountains of Western NC | Yep, deer eat my pansies in the winter and the cats mess up my flower beds...therefore, I have only small amounts in the pots that they refuse to come onto the porch and eat, those are what left for house decorations, not for cakes, ![]() ![]() | ||
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Never have had the Red Velvet Cake, but I would prefer the cream cheese frosting, please. Sounds divine ![]() Cyndi, my kitties love to drink form the running water also. I can just see yours drinking from the turtle's mouth! My drink from the bathroom sink. Drives me crazy ![]() ![]() Edited by namaste2 2006-03-09 10:07 PM | |||
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