Happy Father's Day!

 

As Father's day was fast approaching I was debating what to make for my husband this year. You guessed it, normally it was cakes anything from Cherry Chip, German Chocolate to Peanut Butter Cake. But this year I wanted to make something extra special. I dogged through tons of recipes until a dessert I haven't made before "Strawberry Jell-O Delight" jumped out at me.  I found out that Strawberry Jell-O Delight was a childhood favorite, his mother made him. So what better way to celebrate him then by making something he already loved.

 I want this day to be super special for my hubby because he is a fantastic Super dad. He make sure we have everything we need.  My Husband takes care of everything when I'm down like a champ. Couldn't get through a day without him by my side, he is a cheerleader, cuddle bug, and warrior. Great Dads are this everyday for their children, I'm so glad that mine got a good one.


What's your favorite Dad moment?  My favorite dad moment, when I was growing up was going to basketballs games, yelling over everyone, and stuffing our faces with Hot Dogs.
We all need to show the Dads in our lives how much they mean to us, and cherish every moment.
I love this imagine, I think it  says it all..

Don't forget to say Happy Father's Day to your Dad.  Make plenty of memories!!! 

Top Secret TIP

     

My students all ask me if "I know a trick that keeps their bags clean?" That's piping bags: disposable, feather weight, and etc. This tip will save you money. THIS IS  A MUST READ. 

Here's what you'll need : saran wrap, icing( homemade or store bought), any piping  bags.  

What I am about to share with you all is top secret, so listen closely.
 Let's get Decorating.

Here's step 1:  Place about the size of sheet of paper of saran wrap on the counter. Then take some icing from your container.  Place icing on the saran wrap. As shown in the photo. 

 

Now step 2 : Take your icing and roll it long ways like cookie dough. As shown in photo below.

Now step 3: Get your piping bag (any type). Take the top of the bag,  roll it down like a cuff around top of hand. Now get your icing that is rolled into a log like cookie dough shape. Place one end down into the bag, pull the saran wrap string all way through the coupler. As photo demos. 

Now your final step:  Cut the end off the saran wrap that is coming out the coupler or tip. As shown in photo below. Pip your decoration as normal. Then just remove the saran wrap piece, while keeping you bag clean. 

My 2  favorite reasons for this trick is Easy clean up, and I can do this with multiple colored icing and get multi-colored decorations. As shown in the photos below.   

Keep Decorating!! :)

Mother's Day treats

 " I Thought better late then never, Sorry for the late Post, had some technical difficulties."

As I prepared orders for this upcoming Mother's day, I thought we all need to show our hero mom's how much we care. A great way is making our mom's something with our hands. My way is to satisfy all their sweet teeth with things homemade and scrumptious. 

 

My number one choice is Chocolate cake with Ganache and Red roses.  Cuz who doesn't love chocolate, right? I make this every year for all those special Mother's I know. This poem says it best: by Helen Rice.

So remember, cherish your mother's . Always tell then how you feel,  and Give them sweet treats.

 I hope all you Mother's out there have a blessed and relaxing Day! 

  

How to make Cake Mix Taste Better aka Bakery Style

 

Who doesn't love cake, right? We all want our families to love what we make. We don't all need to prefect our baking for our family to love our cakes. Make your Cake mix taste Incredible with some simple Swaps!!

 

Here are a few of my Favorite No Fail swaps to make your cake mixes  Taste Great!

 

• Buttermilk or milk : replaces water , adds volume, density , flavoring
• 2 Tbs - 1/4c Mayo : this is just an addition to the other ingredients this make your cake taste more homemade
• Adding a pudding packet and 1cup Sour Cream an addition to other ingredients can add needed moisture
• Using butter in place for your oil is a flavor enhancer, it adds richness.
• And 1-2 extra eggs yolks: make for a richer cake. The extra yolks add density and moisture.
• 1-2 Tbs of Flavoring makes taste more homemade.
• The flavor agents in the box mix are old and tend to lose flavor as they sit on the store shelves
• 1/8-1/4 cup of Ice Cream make a cake taste rich this would be flavoring corresponded to cake mix.  
• For Chocolate Cake Mix use Hot water for the Water: it allows the Chocolate to bloom therefore producing a deep chocolaty flavor.
• Sprinkle the top with Sugar: This is a Top Secret trick: Listen closely. Sprinkling the top with SUGAR not only gives it a sweet crunchy texture but the weight of the sugar prevents the cake from rising too much while it bakes.
•  Pour the cake batter into two cake pans and sprinkle the top with sugar. It’s important for your cake to rise but you don’t want it to rise too much or you will have to cut off a lot of it when you begin to layer it

 

 Fun Ways to Use Cake Mix

 

Apple Pie Spice : Use a spice Cake Mix , 3eggs, 1 Can Apple Pie Filling mix then top with a 1/4cup Sugar mixed with 1/2tsp cinnamon , 1/4 nutmeg mixture then Bake

 

Banana Bread : Yellow cake mix , mix ingredients ,3-4 Overripe Banana

 

Pumpkin Cake : Yellow cake mix, cake mix ingredients add these 1 tsp Cinnamon. 1/2 tsp Nutmeg, 1/4tsp Ground Clove, 15 oz can of Pumpkin Puree. Bake as instructed

 

Cherry or Strawberry Cheesecake Cake Bars: Yellow cake mix, 2 1/2c Quick Oats, 3/4c Butter,Pie Filling in choice Flavor. Oven 375 Mix together the cake mix, oats, butter until no more dry mix is left. press out evenly into a pan then top with the pie filling. Use the remain dry mixture to top as a crumble then Bake for 18-20 minutes.

 

Cake mix Cinnamon rolls : Yellow cake mix, 2 1/2-3c  Flour, 1 Packet of regular active dry yeast, 1 1/2c warm water, 1/4c of melted cooled butter, 1/2c packed brown sugar, 1 tsp of cinnamon 1 Tub of Betty Crocker Cream cheese Frosting. 

• Grease a 13x9  or 2:9 inch pans with cooking spray. In a large bowl combine mix, 1c flour and the yeast. Add the water , stir with a spoon until forms a ball. Add the remaining flour, 1/4c at a time stirring after each addition, until forms a soft dough ball. you may need all of the flour. Cover with plastic let rise for 1 hour. Preheat oven to 375. Meanwhile melt butter and in a small bowl mix with brown sugar and cinnamon until a spreadable consistency. On a lightly flour surface roll out dough into a rectangle piece then brush with butter mixture add raisin if you want. Then Roll up starting with long end tightly. Cut into 12-14 rolls, let rise for 30 minutes. Then bake for 8-10 minutes until golden brown. Spread with frosting and serve warm or at room temperature.

Any Flavor Muffin Mix Base: Cake mix, 2 Tbs Flour, 3 eggs, 2/3C Milk, 1/3c Vegetable oil, 1 Tbs Baking Powder: Bake for 25 minutes At 325 degrees

• Chocolate Muffin can be Chocolate cake mix, above ingredients then add 1 1/2c chocolate chips ( I like the mini)
• Blueberry Muffins use white cake mix, above ingredients then add a 12-16oz of frozen blueberries or fresh that have been tossed with 2 Tbs flour( this keeps them from sinking to bottom )
• Cinnamon Streusel: Use spice cake mix add above ingredients then topped with a Streusel Mixture made up of cold Butter, Brown Sugar, Cinnamon.  Then bake all these as above instructions

 Applesauce Cake: Yellow cake mix, 1 1/3c Applesauce, ( I like cinnamon) 3 eggs, 1/2c butter melted, 1 tsp Cinnamon, 1 tsp Apple Pie spice mix then Bake at 325 for 20 minutes. Top with a simple Powder Sugar Glaze: 1 C Powder Sugar, 1tsp Vanilla , a little milk 1tsp at a time until get a drizzle consistency. Top the cake with it and Volia!!!

 

The Art of Buttercream

Today we're having the Buttercream talk. If there is one thing I know it's ... Buttercream. I've made literally hundreds of batches. I am positive I could make this blindfolded.
   Buttercream also know as butter icing is a type of icing used inside cakes, as a coating (meaning to cover the cake) and as decoration.  It's made by creaming together the butter or fat with Confectioner Sugar (aka Powder sugar). Coloring and Flavorings  are often added such as chocolate, fruit compotes or various extracts. Buttercream is a common popular topping for cupcakes, cakes, and other desserts.


Lets get started with a no Fail Buttercream Recipe.

First we are going to use the creaming method:meaning we are going to break down our Fat. In this recipe it is Crisco Shortening and Butter. I use Salted butter, it helps to cut some of the sweetness. Usually this takes 1-2 minutes on a Stand mixer speed 2 or 4.  If you don't have one you will need at least a 325 watt hand mixer and your speed is only going to be 1 or 2.

The next step is to add your flavoring. This can be in any combination for an example: can be vanilla extract , butter and almond extracts. the only requirement is that they equal you flavoring measurement.

Then I always use a piece of saran wrap and wrap it around my Kitchen Aid mixer. This is to prevent a powdered sugar blitzed.  I mix in the whole 2 pounds of Powder Sugar slowly .  If you have a hand mixer i would mix 1-2 cups at a time.

 Optional: You can add Meringue Powder ( powder egg white) this helps preserve you recipe. this allows you to leave you buttercream out overnight without it going bad. 

 As I am mixing the powder sugar in I start to add my liquid slowly about 1-2 tablespoons at a time. This in my case is always whole milk but you can use water the same way.

Now you have a great icing for any dessert. 

Here are few facts:

• Your need to cover your buttercream so it doesn't crust over. 
• Buttercream can left out overnight without refrigerating…the sugar and the Meringue Powder  acts as a preservative.
• Basic Buttercream recipe can be changed by adding Flavorings: Peanut Butter, Fresh Fruit, Nutella, and etc..
• Buttercream can be stored airtight in the fridge for up to 2 weeks,  honestly I always use mine within a few days.
• Buttercream can be stored airtight in the freezer for up to 6 months.
• When icing a cake, if I beat the icing on low for 10 minutes my icing becomes whiter and a smoother texture.

Decorator's Buttercream 

Ingredients

1 STICK BUTTER 

1 1/2 C Crisco Shortening 

1 1/2 Tbs Vanilla extract( or any flavor combination)

1 2 lb bag or Confectioners Sugar ( Powder Sugar : 10x means sifted ) 

1/8 -1/2 C milk

Optional: 3 Tbs Meringue Powder

Directions:

1. Let you butter sit out to come to room temp and to soften. DO NOT put in the microwave. If you do not have time to wait, cut the butter into smaller chunks.
2. Cream the butter and the shortening until s
3. oft and creamy in the mixer. Usually takes 1-2 minutes. Remember if you don't have a stand mixer , you can do this with a 325 watt hand mixer. 
4. Add the vanilla or any combination for flavoring . Usually 1 minute.
5. Add in the Powder sugar the whole bag. Unless you have a hand mixer then add 1-2 cups at a time. If I am going to add the Meringue Powder, ii would add it now as well.
6. Add the milk 1-2 tablespoons at a time until you get the desired consistency.