Gene and I are on a short road trip and I have been away from the kitchen for a couple of days. Yesterday, as Gene drove, I started watching Julie and Julia on my laptop. The battery went low and I had to turn it off. After we arrived at the hotel, I finished watching the movie in two installments, before and after dinner. I enjoyed it more, even with the interruptions, than the first time I saw it and I noticed things that I hadn't noticed during the first viewing.
I noticed that during the movie, we rarely saw Julia's (Meryl Streep) feet. I assume that they had her wearing lifts to make her taller and wanted to hide that. I didn't even remember the Saturday Night Skit being in the movie, but that was priceless!
I also didn't remember Julie's disappointment that in the beginning nobody was reading, following, and commenting on her blog. For the first time, I realized the ego-centrism of the whole blogging idea. At that time, I didn't write a blog, or even plan to. But now that I am, I would love to have more "Followers" and "Comments". While I do enjoy the "It's all about me!" concept, I'd also like for other people to share their experiences through their comments. So please, I am shamelessly asking that if you are reading this, please become a follower and leave your comments. Some of you email your comments, and I certainly appreciate that too. I am willing the relinquish my IAAM attitude for the greater good. Well, maybe that's overstating it a little!
I am not so self-absorbed and ego-centric as to think that a publishing company will contact me....but one never knows, does one?
Happy New Year everybody! Have fun, but be safe.
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
After Christmas
Well, Christmas is over and the Christmas decorations are down and returned to the attic. Things are getting back to normal again. I cooked and baked my brains out for the past two weeks and much of the fruits of my labor are still in air-tight containers on the kitchen counter.
About a week before Christmas, I began preparing by making the menus for the two big cooking events; Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Next, I made photocopies of all the recipes I would need and put them into a loose leaf notebook. I picked up the notebook idea from listening to Mario on Martha Stewart on XM. Then I made my grocery list. Grocery shopping happened in two installments. Gene and I made one trip to Wal-Mart on Sunday evening and then I finished at Publix on Monday afternoon.
On Monday morning I began my cooking by making the cornbread for the dressing, using my mother's recipe. I enjoyed using the food processor to cut the celery and onions! When I cut up the vegetables for Jane to make the Thanksgiving dressing, I didn't have the food processor and did it by hand. The celery and onions were a lot more uniform for the hand-cut batch, but I figure by the time they get mixed up in the finished product, nobody notices. I also made the first of THREE Red Velvet Cakes, and this brings me to the theme of this entry.
I found a recipe for red velvet cake in a church cookbook that I had never used before. The recipe called for oil and the cake was two layers that looked more like a pie. In fact, I stored the cake in an old Tupperware pie keeper. What a disappointment. On Tuesday, I used a recipe from another church cookbook that called for more flour and oil for the shortening. But the recipe called for 3 8-inch round pans. Again, the batter was LIQUID, and the layers were flat. Another disappointment. Finally, on Christmas Eve morning, after doing considerable research, I found a recipe in the Laborers of Love cookbook, published by First Baptist Church in Phenix City many years ago. Ellen Stamp had a recipe that used Crisco for the shortening rather than oil. I expected that would make a difference and I was not disappointed. The three layers were taller and the cake was delicious. I'll stick with that recipe in the future. I might add that Ellen is almost family. Her niece, Lee, is my daughter-in-law. This must mean the that the best recipes are found within the family. Would you agree?
I also baked a caramel cake, using Bobby's (Deen) Caramel Cake recipe that I had downloaded from Food Network. I was pleasantly surprised with the results. I never doubted that the recipe was a good one, but since I had never attempted a caramel cake, I didn't have high expectations for my skills. The caramel icing was a little difficult to spread. Next time, I'll monitor and adjust the recipe to make the icing more spreadable.
For those who are interested, Santa didn't come through with the spice rack. That could be because he doesn't read my blog. However, my friend and Gene's high school classmate,Linda Tucker told me that she had one at home that she would let me have. I'm going to encourage Santa to buy it from her as a New Year's gift to me. By the way, Linda is the only person I know who orders more from QVC than I do. Seriously, the brown truck must stop at her house every day.
I hope everyone had a wonderful, happy Christmas! And I hope everyone has a safe and happy New Year!
About a week before Christmas, I began preparing by making the menus for the two big cooking events; Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Next, I made photocopies of all the recipes I would need and put them into a loose leaf notebook. I picked up the notebook idea from listening to Mario on Martha Stewart on XM. Then I made my grocery list. Grocery shopping happened in two installments. Gene and I made one trip to Wal-Mart on Sunday evening and then I finished at Publix on Monday afternoon.
On Monday morning I began my cooking by making the cornbread for the dressing, using my mother's recipe. I enjoyed using the food processor to cut the celery and onions! When I cut up the vegetables for Jane to make the Thanksgiving dressing, I didn't have the food processor and did it by hand. The celery and onions were a lot more uniform for the hand-cut batch, but I figure by the time they get mixed up in the finished product, nobody notices. I also made the first of THREE Red Velvet Cakes, and this brings me to the theme of this entry.
I found a recipe for red velvet cake in a church cookbook that I had never used before. The recipe called for oil and the cake was two layers that looked more like a pie. In fact, I stored the cake in an old Tupperware pie keeper. What a disappointment. On Tuesday, I used a recipe from another church cookbook that called for more flour and oil for the shortening. But the recipe called for 3 8-inch round pans. Again, the batter was LIQUID, and the layers were flat. Another disappointment. Finally, on Christmas Eve morning, after doing considerable research, I found a recipe in the Laborers of Love cookbook, published by First Baptist Church in Phenix City many years ago. Ellen Stamp had a recipe that used Crisco for the shortening rather than oil. I expected that would make a difference and I was not disappointed. The three layers were taller and the cake was delicious. I'll stick with that recipe in the future. I might add that Ellen is almost family. Her niece, Lee, is my daughter-in-law. This must mean the that the best recipes are found within the family. Would you agree?
I also baked a caramel cake, using Bobby's (Deen) Caramel Cake recipe that I had downloaded from Food Network. I was pleasantly surprised with the results. I never doubted that the recipe was a good one, but since I had never attempted a caramel cake, I didn't have high expectations for my skills. The caramel icing was a little difficult to spread. Next time, I'll monitor and adjust the recipe to make the icing more spreadable.
For those who are interested, Santa didn't come through with the spice rack. That could be because he doesn't read my blog. However, my friend and Gene's high school classmate,Linda Tucker told me that she had one at home that she would let me have. I'm going to encourage Santa to buy it from her as a New Year's gift to me. By the way, Linda is the only person I know who orders more from QVC than I do. Seriously, the brown truck must stop at her house every day.
I hope everyone had a wonderful, happy Christmas! And I hope everyone has a safe and happy New Year!
Monday, December 21, 2009
A Letter to Santa
Dear Santa,
Christmas Day is just five days away and I have shopped, wrapped, cooked, and baked. Now, if it's not too late, I have a special kitchen request for myself. As I was mixing the batter for my last batch of Vanilla Spritz Cookies, it became abundantly clear that I need a Spice Rack! I had the butter and sugar beating in the mixer and reached into the small cabinet nearby where I keep my spices to retrieve the cardamom and salt. Now let me say that my spice and seasoning collection has vastly increased since I started my new cooking hobby. Typically, the item I need is far back in the small cabinet and and I either have to remove all the items to get to it, or make a big reach over the other items. On this occasion, I chose the reaching over method, and the results were catastrophic! Not catastrophic compared to global warming or war, but on a much smaller, personal scale. In the process of grabbing the cardamom I knocked over the pepper mill. This is the one I ordered from Food Network after I saw Paula Deen use it. The pepper mill is designed so that the pepper corns are housed in a reservoir at the top of the device with a plastic cover. I had recently filled the reservoir, so it was almost full of peppercorns. When the pepper mill hit the counter top, the top came off and you can guess what happened next. Now Santa, I have really tried to be good this year, but at that particular place and time, and under this set of circumstances, I probably didn't demonstrate my best behavior. Most of the peppercorns fell onto the floor and the counter top. However, several fell into the cookie batter. Thankfully, peppercorns are large enough that I was able to remove them all. I think! But, just in case, if you should find a brown, BB sized object in your Vanilla Spritz Cookie, its just there to add a little extra spice!
It was this event that made it clear to me that when I saw the spice rack advertised on QVC's "In the Kitchen With David Show", which aired recently, I should have placed the order. Heck, I've order almost everything else David Veneble has offered, why did I pass on this one?!!
Santa, if you are reading this letter, and if it's not too late, please add this to my list. I can be very specific. It is available at QVC.com. It is item K10133, 16-Jar Orbit Spice Rack with Lazy Susan Base, and the price is $39.75, plus taxes and shipping. It is not longer available on Easy-Pay, but if you pay with a credit card, it will be delivered before Christmas. I would be happy to receive if after Christmas.
Now I'm about to to get into the kitchen and start my baking and cooking and I'll not use the reach over method of spice retrieval to gain access to my spices and seasonings.
I hope everyone has a great Christmas week!
Christmas Day is just five days away and I have shopped, wrapped, cooked, and baked. Now, if it's not too late, I have a special kitchen request for myself. As I was mixing the batter for my last batch of Vanilla Spritz Cookies, it became abundantly clear that I need a Spice Rack! I had the butter and sugar beating in the mixer and reached into the small cabinet nearby where I keep my spices to retrieve the cardamom and salt. Now let me say that my spice and seasoning collection has vastly increased since I started my new cooking hobby. Typically, the item I need is far back in the small cabinet and and I either have to remove all the items to get to it, or make a big reach over the other items. On this occasion, I chose the reaching over method, and the results were catastrophic! Not catastrophic compared to global warming or war, but on a much smaller, personal scale. In the process of grabbing the cardamom I knocked over the pepper mill. This is the one I ordered from Food Network after I saw Paula Deen use it. The pepper mill is designed so that the pepper corns are housed in a reservoir at the top of the device with a plastic cover. I had recently filled the reservoir, so it was almost full of peppercorns. When the pepper mill hit the counter top, the top came off and you can guess what happened next. Now Santa, I have really tried to be good this year, but at that particular place and time, and under this set of circumstances, I probably didn't demonstrate my best behavior. Most of the peppercorns fell onto the floor and the counter top. However, several fell into the cookie batter. Thankfully, peppercorns are large enough that I was able to remove them all. I think! But, just in case, if you should find a brown, BB sized object in your Vanilla Spritz Cookie, its just there to add a little extra spice!
It was this event that made it clear to me that when I saw the spice rack advertised on QVC's "In the Kitchen With David Show", which aired recently, I should have placed the order. Heck, I've order almost everything else David Veneble has offered, why did I pass on this one?!!
Santa, if you are reading this letter, and if it's not too late, please add this to my list. I can be very specific. It is available at QVC.com. It is item K10133, 16-Jar Orbit Spice Rack with Lazy Susan Base, and the price is $39.75, plus taxes and shipping. It is not longer available on Easy-Pay, but if you pay with a credit card, it will be delivered before Christmas. I would be happy to receive if after Christmas.
Now I'm about to to get into the kitchen and start my baking and cooking and I'll not use the reach over method of spice retrieval to gain access to my spices and seasonings.
I hope everyone has a great Christmas week!
Friday, December 18, 2009
More Christmas Cooking
Yesterday was a busy day. It involved most of the activities associated with Christmas, including watching children's Christmas programs, shopping, cooking and looking at Christmas lights.
The day began at Wynnbrook Baptist Church for Alyssa's Christmas program. All the children in the K-3 through K-4 performed. There were so many children and of course it was wonderful. The theme was wishing a happy birthday to Jesus. Age-appropriate. At the end of the program, the children, parents, and grandparents returned to their classrooms for a birthday party for the baby Jesus. The whole event was wonderful.
After we left the church, Gene and I went to Publix and shopped for baking stuff. I had nothing sweet in the house! I baked the much-discussed cream cheese cake and chocolate peanut crock pot clusters. I know that's not the official name, but that pretty much describes it. Those are very popular around the house with the children and grandchildren. I got the recipe from Mother. She made them too and loved them. I remember our last Christmas together. About a week before Chritmas, I was spending the night with Mother. I had shared the recipe with my friend Bea Riley. While I was at Mother's, Bea called to ask me a question about the recipe and told me that she had come up with an alternative to dropping the candy by teaspoonfull onto the baking pan. The recipe makes a huge amount and Bea said that she just plain ran out of patience and just poured it all onto the baking sheet and broke it into bite-sized pieces. I shared this method with Mother, and she approved!
After Cassidy got out of school, she and I went to see Alyssa at gymnastics and then went Christmas shopping for Cassidy. You know when girls get to be 11 years old, they like to pick out their own clothes. I had planned to buy Uggs for her, but she found a jacket at Kinnuken's she liked better. It made her happy, so it made me happy! We were happily surprised to find they Kinnuken's had a huge new shipment of those rubber bracelets that children like to wear. They even had collegiate ones and we bought Auburn ones for Cassidy and Chandler. I really don't get how things can become so popular, but it's fun to share these things with children.
The busy day ended with Chaz' Christmas pageant at Glenwood. The students in 5th and 6th grades did a performance of "Christmas in Reverse". It was very well done, with costumes, recitations, and good music. I was very impressed with how well the students learned their music and lines. They did a wonderful job and we enjoyed it very much.
Looking at Christmas lights was limited to "oh, look" as Cassidy and I drove home after shopping.
After Chaz' pageant, Gene and I came home and I cooked bacon, eggs, and pancakes. Yummy! Then I went to bed. It was a great day.
I hope everyone will have a great day. It's raining again, so be careful.
The day began at Wynnbrook Baptist Church for Alyssa's Christmas program. All the children in the K-3 through K-4 performed. There were so many children and of course it was wonderful. The theme was wishing a happy birthday to Jesus. Age-appropriate. At the end of the program, the children, parents, and grandparents returned to their classrooms for a birthday party for the baby Jesus. The whole event was wonderful.
After we left the church, Gene and I went to Publix and shopped for baking stuff. I had nothing sweet in the house! I baked the much-discussed cream cheese cake and chocolate peanut crock pot clusters. I know that's not the official name, but that pretty much describes it. Those are very popular around the house with the children and grandchildren. I got the recipe from Mother. She made them too and loved them. I remember our last Christmas together. About a week before Chritmas, I was spending the night with Mother. I had shared the recipe with my friend Bea Riley. While I was at Mother's, Bea called to ask me a question about the recipe and told me that she had come up with an alternative to dropping the candy by teaspoonfull onto the baking pan. The recipe makes a huge amount and Bea said that she just plain ran out of patience and just poured it all onto the baking sheet and broke it into bite-sized pieces. I shared this method with Mother, and she approved!
After Cassidy got out of school, she and I went to see Alyssa at gymnastics and then went Christmas shopping for Cassidy. You know when girls get to be 11 years old, they like to pick out their own clothes. I had planned to buy Uggs for her, but she found a jacket at Kinnuken's she liked better. It made her happy, so it made me happy! We were happily surprised to find they Kinnuken's had a huge new shipment of those rubber bracelets that children like to wear. They even had collegiate ones and we bought Auburn ones for Cassidy and Chandler. I really don't get how things can become so popular, but it's fun to share these things with children.
The busy day ended with Chaz' Christmas pageant at Glenwood. The students in 5th and 6th grades did a performance of "Christmas in Reverse". It was very well done, with costumes, recitations, and good music. I was very impressed with how well the students learned their music and lines. They did a wonderful job and we enjoyed it very much.
Looking at Christmas lights was limited to "oh, look" as Cassidy and I drove home after shopping.
After Chaz' pageant, Gene and I came home and I cooked bacon, eggs, and pancakes. Yummy! Then I went to bed. It was a great day.
I hope everyone will have a great day. It's raining again, so be careful.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Nothing In Particular
Last night Gene and I attended the Lakewood Golf Course annual Christmas Party. Every year at this time they have a low country boil and barbecue. Attendees are asked to bring a side dish or dessert. For the first time in years I didn't have to prepare anything special. I had chocolate peanut crock pot candy, vanilla spritz cookies, chocolate wreath cookies, and half a pound cake. I sliced the pound cake in to slices (it looked ugly but tasted fine) and put the cookies and candy on a plate and away I went. Fun! I'm going to be busy today, but plan to bake and replenish my supply of Christmas foods on Thursday afternoon.
I had an exciting experience yesterday while riding in the car. When I'm out driving around I listen to Martha Stewart radio on XM. In the afternoon a guy named Mario Vosquez (sic) hosts a show and has guests who are chefs or writers of cookbooks on a wide range of different topics. Yesterday his guest was the author of a cookbook about baking bundt cakes. As I have discussed here, I have had a problem with my bundt cake sticking. I called the Martha Stewart number ( I have it on my car phone speed dial) and got through. The person who answered the phone took my name, my location, and asked me what my question for the guest would be. After being on hold for a minute or two, Mario, the show host, said; "And now we have
Dianne from Alabama who has a question for our guest". I explained that when I use a stone (Pampered Chef) bundt pan, the cake has a wonderful, soft crust, but the crust remains stuck the pan when I take cake out, and asked what the cause could be. She advised that if I prepare the pan as directed (greasing and flouring) the problem in probably the pan, and advised me to to just back to an aluminum pan. I must add that my sister, Jane has given me just the same advice a few weeks ago. Jane, I think that qualifies you to write a book on get on a radio baking advice show, don't you??? When Martha Stewart Living Radio calls to invite you to come to NYC to be on the show, just let me know if you'd like a travelling companion.
Today I'm going to Mathews to be photographed. You know it's a tradition to hang pictures of old, retired, principals, and now I guess it's my turn. I hope the photographer can air brush! Then going to a luncheon with the Mah Jongg Mavens. AND it's not raining!
Have a great day everybody!
I had an exciting experience yesterday while riding in the car. When I'm out driving around I listen to Martha Stewart radio on XM. In the afternoon a guy named Mario Vosquez (sic) hosts a show and has guests who are chefs or writers of cookbooks on a wide range of different topics. Yesterday his guest was the author of a cookbook about baking bundt cakes. As I have discussed here, I have had a problem with my bundt cake sticking. I called the Martha Stewart number ( I have it on my car phone speed dial) and got through. The person who answered the phone took my name, my location, and asked me what my question for the guest would be. After being on hold for a minute or two, Mario, the show host, said; "And now we have
Dianne from Alabama who has a question for our guest". I explained that when I use a stone (Pampered Chef) bundt pan, the cake has a wonderful, soft crust, but the crust remains stuck the pan when I take cake out, and asked what the cause could be. She advised that if I prepare the pan as directed (greasing and flouring) the problem in probably the pan, and advised me to to just back to an aluminum pan. I must add that my sister, Jane has given me just the same advice a few weeks ago. Jane, I think that qualifies you to write a book on get on a radio baking advice show, don't you??? When Martha Stewart Living Radio calls to invite you to come to NYC to be on the show, just let me know if you'd like a travelling companion.
Today I'm going to Mathews to be photographed. You know it's a tradition to hang pictures of old, retired, principals, and now I guess it's my turn. I hope the photographer can air brush! Then going to a luncheon with the Mah Jongg Mavens. AND it's not raining!
Have a great day everybody!
Friday, December 11, 2009
Chocolate Wreath Cookies
I baked chocolate wreath cookies yesterday. I love using the cookie press! I found the dough for the chocolate cookies much easier to work with than the spritz cookies. However, the spritz cookies taste better. I have found the cookie press much easier to use than I expected.
By the way, just to warn you....if you buy a new fancy, schmancy stand mixer it will probably have a shield and pour spout to go over the bowl. When I got my mixer, unpacked the parts,and read the instructions, I didn't think too much of those items. I just put them into a drawer, thinking they were an unnecessary annoyance, just put in to increase the cost of the appliance. Well, it turns out that's not the case. When I used it for the first time, mixing the butter and suger were a breeze. Then came to time to add the eggs and flour. Well, just let me say, I learned in a hurry that the shield and pour spout are necessities! When I put in the flour, it went everywhere. The mixer, which is black was almost white, and the stove top, which is also black was covered. The television in the corner was covered, as was the counter top. I wish I had taken a picture to post, but I was in such a state of shock that I didn't think to do a thing. I wiped my face and eyes and wondered if I needed to sift more flour to replace what was splattered all over the kitchen. I have learned my lesson.
Tonight I'm going to make cheese straws I think. I'm also going to wrap gifts. I have actually completed almost all my shopping. Toys R Us had a sale beginning at 3:00 today, and I WAS THERE! Along with 95% of the population of Columbus, GA and Phenix City, AL. Alyssa was with me and felt that it was important to maintain a civilized disposition and set a good example for a 4 year old. One of the items that was advertised in the paper today was not even in the store, but an associate told me that "the truck is coming Saturday night". Of course the discount price goes away Saturday night at closing. I wondered if they had just removed the Disney Karioke Systems to the back of the store to avoid selling them for $10.00 less than the regular price. Tis the season to be a skeptic!
Have a good weekend everybody!
By the way, just to warn you....if you buy a new fancy, schmancy stand mixer it will probably have a shield and pour spout to go over the bowl. When I got my mixer, unpacked the parts,and read the instructions, I didn't think too much of those items. I just put them into a drawer, thinking they were an unnecessary annoyance, just put in to increase the cost of the appliance. Well, it turns out that's not the case. When I used it for the first time, mixing the butter and suger were a breeze. Then came to time to add the eggs and flour. Well, just let me say, I learned in a hurry that the shield and pour spout are necessities! When I put in the flour, it went everywhere. The mixer, which is black was almost white, and the stove top, which is also black was covered. The television in the corner was covered, as was the counter top. I wish I had taken a picture to post, but I was in such a state of shock that I didn't think to do a thing. I wiped my face and eyes and wondered if I needed to sift more flour to replace what was splattered all over the kitchen. I have learned my lesson.
Tonight I'm going to make cheese straws I think. I'm also going to wrap gifts. I have actually completed almost all my shopping. Toys R Us had a sale beginning at 3:00 today, and I WAS THERE! Along with 95% of the population of Columbus, GA and Phenix City, AL. Alyssa was with me and felt that it was important to maintain a civilized disposition and set a good example for a 4 year old. One of the items that was advertised in the paper today was not even in the store, but an associate told me that "the truck is coming Saturday night". Of course the discount price goes away Saturday night at closing. I wondered if they had just removed the Disney Karioke Systems to the back of the store to avoid selling them for $10.00 less than the regular price. Tis the season to be a skeptic!
Have a good weekend everybody!
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Christmas Cooking Has Begun
I am conducting a little action research to bake the Cream Cheese Pound Cake to be perfect. I baked it Sunday, Monday, and Wednesday. Each time I used Aunt Birdie Lou's Cream Cheese Pound Cake recipe from Cindy Aman's cookbook. Each time, I tweaked the baking temperature and cooking time just a little and recorded the baking information and the results. I have thought for a long time that my oven might not be calibrated correctly. I purchased an oven thermometer at Target and when I tested the oven temperature using it, the result showed that the actual oven temperature was about 25 degrees cooler than the displayed oven temp. The Sunday cake was a big disappointment. I pre-heated the oven to 325 (the recipe advises 300), the make up the 25 degrees, and the cake browned too quickly and the final result was a heavy cake, not tall and fluffy. It never did really rise. I used a Pampered Chef stoneware bundt pan. On Monday, I set the oven to pre-heat to 290 degrees, since the cake browned too fast on Sunday I added 30 minutes to the cooking time. The cake rose nicely in the oven, the color was good, just the right shade of golden brown, but when I removed it from the Pampered Chef bundt pan, it fell all apart. I think that is my own fault, for trying to take the cake out of the pan while it was still too hot. I had planned to make a trifle, since the cake was torn up anyhow, but the cake itself tasted good, and Gene and I have just grab hunks of cake to eat when we want it. On Monday at lunch, Ferrel Nix, Jeffrey Popp, Peggy Bladen, and some others of us were discussing the pan I used. I had never considered that the pan would make a difference, but I decided to test this on my next try. When I baked the cake on Wednesday, I changed the pan to a regular tube cake pan, and set the oven to pre-heat to 300 degrees and the recipe advises. I was amazed as I peeked through the window at how high the cake rose for the first hour. As it went into the last 30 minutes, the cake began to fall just slightly. Since I thought this might be a result of being undercooked, I extended the cooking time to an additional 30 minutes (total cooking time was 2 hours). The final result was a cake that was the best of all three. I have no idea how it tastes. I took it to Faye to be used at a luncheon she is givin on Monday, and I think she plans to freeze it until then. I did advise her to cut it first to see how it tastes. Just in case, I'm going to bake the cake again on Sunday, set the temp to 300 and cooking time to 1hour 30 minutes, just as the recipe advises, and use the tube cake pan again. I'll post the results.
I have no idea what causes the temp differences between my oven and the oven thermometer I bought. Gene has theory (of course) that the thermometer I bought at Target might not be right, and I guess he could be right. I believe that the oven doesn't maintain the correct temperature, and/or that it heats inconsistently.
One problem I have had consistently is that when I remove the cake from the pan, the crust sticks to the pan. The degree of this happening varies from minor to a LOT. Does anyone know why this happens?
Yesterday, as I was grocery shopping, I struck up a conversation with an lady who appeared to be in her late 70's. She looked like she was one who might have baked many cakes in her years. She said that she had baked many cakes, but that she finally gave up on pound cakes because the results were so inconsistent. Well, that is revealing! I told her that my goal is to bake the perfect cake and then I'll quit! We had a nice conversation and she shared that once she has seen a recipe that advised to start the cake baking in a cold oven. Has anyone seen this recipe? I might like to try that.
I know that by now the readers' eyes must have glazed over, so I'll just end by saying that last night I baked Spritz cookies, and they are yummie! These might be Gene's favorites. I posted about baking those earlier. Today, I'm planning to bake chocolate spritz cookies.
Goodbye for now.
I have no idea what causes the temp differences between my oven and the oven thermometer I bought. Gene has theory (of course) that the thermometer I bought at Target might not be right, and I guess he could be right. I believe that the oven doesn't maintain the correct temperature, and/or that it heats inconsistently.
One problem I have had consistently is that when I remove the cake from the pan, the crust sticks to the pan. The degree of this happening varies from minor to a LOT. Does anyone know why this happens?
Yesterday, as I was grocery shopping, I struck up a conversation with an lady who appeared to be in her late 70's. She looked like she was one who might have baked many cakes in her years. She said that she had baked many cakes, but that she finally gave up on pound cakes because the results were so inconsistent. Well, that is revealing! I told her that my goal is to bake the perfect cake and then I'll quit! We had a nice conversation and she shared that once she has seen a recipe that advised to start the cake baking in a cold oven. Has anyone seen this recipe? I might like to try that.
I know that by now the readers' eyes must have glazed over, so I'll just end by saying that last night I baked Spritz cookies, and they are yummie! These might be Gene's favorites. I posted about baking those earlier. Today, I'm planning to bake chocolate spritz cookies.
Goodbye for now.
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