Rum Cake: From Scratch Taste without Baking from Scratch

By Dylan Deleto

Rum cake is one of my family's favorite desserts for the holiday. Everyone loves it and many have begged for my recipe, which I happily share. One of my wife's friends actually wanted to market my cake. However, I am not in the commercial baking business and so I passed on the idea. When I originally started baking rum cakes, I baked them completely from scratch. To save time, soon I came up with a way to prepare my rum cake in only about 10 minutes using store purchased baking mix, without sacrificing any of the magic of my cake.

My secret is start with a box of cake mix as a base. I always use Duncan Hines. I guess you could use any box mix. I stick to either the Yellow Butter Recipe or the French Vanilla mix. I recommend that you try both. The texture of the cake is slightly different depending on the mix. The yellow cake mix makes a more traditional version but the french vanilla is really good too.

I tend to make of a number of variations of the cake by adding or omitting nuts and/or pineapples. The main version of the cake includes pineapples with nuts on the bottom. I am really the only in family who likes the nuts so I typically leave them out. When I do add nuts, I prefer black walnuts. Sometimes, I use different flavored rums as well: spice rum, vanilla rum, banana rum, etc. The rum sauce is optional after the cake is done. I don't think it is a rum cake without the sauce soaked into the cake.

The beauty of my recipe is that the cake tastes really great and can be prepared in about 10 minutes. Then it requires about 1 hour to bake in the oven.

The aroma of the cake leads people into the kitchen and you will have to fight them off to avoid cutting the cake before it cools. It tastes really good once the rum sauce soaks in. The only problem with the cake is that you will probably end up baking 2 or 3.

Now that you can't wait to taste this great holiday treat. I will be happy to give it to you for free. Just join my site, Building Leaders of Tomorrow and then send a private message to RumCake, a user on the site, after which you can have the recipe in your hands within minutes. If you hurry, you can get it before the new year. - 29884

About the Author:

Please visit and join the first Social Network for Leaders and leaders under development. The goal of this site is to develop and engage future leaders and assist the leaders of today. Join to get your free Rum Cake recipe.

Home Ice Cream Makers - What's The Best Ice Cream Maker For Home Made Ice Cream

By Freddy McCandless

Long ago, it used to be a treat to go out for ice cream. Then ice cream could be purchased in supermarkets and people would take it home to eat as a treat. Then all sorts of companies like Ben & Jerry's start unleashing quirky (and some would say downright dangerous) varieties onto the market.

Well it's come a full circle now and people can make their own home made ice cream. They can even get books of recipes for famous varieties from ice cream luminaries like Ben and Jerry. If making ice cream at home sounds like a fun thing to do then check out what kind of ice cream makers are available and how they work. This article will review the main types of ice cream makers and give you a better idea of what you need to make ice cream.

There are really 3 kinds of ice cream maker. The old fashioned maker is slightly more complicated than the more modern types because everything was pretty much done manually.

The concept of making ice cream is to freeze a cream mixture whilst aerating it or allowing air to pass through the mixture. The aerating process ensures that the ice crystals are not to big and the ice cream has a soft and consistent texture. This process of aerating and freezing the mixture concurrently is perform by placing it in a cold environment and passing a paddle through it.

The older machines (and retro inspired machines of today) use a manually churning process. This is simply a handle that allows the ice cream maker (person) to turn the paddle in a vat or bowl where the mixture resides.

The vat or bowl where the mixture reside is enclosed with a coolant. This, more often than not, needs to be added by the maker every time they want to make some ice cream. Hand churning is a great way to make ice cream but it is probably far more hard work than using a modern machine.

The more contemporary machines use an electric motor to perform the churning. This is obviously an easier way to make ice cream but requires electricity to work. Of the modern machines there are two systems that cool the ice cream (or freeze it to be more precise).

The first uses what is referred to as a double insulated bowl, meaning that it has an inner and outer surface with coolant liquid in between. This coolant has to be frozen solid before you can start to make the ice cream. The biggest problem with this system is that the coolant needs to be frozen and this can take many hours (approximately 8 hours for most machines). And if you only have one bowl then you have to refreeze it each time you want to make a new batch. However these types of ice cream makers are generally far cheaper than the other type.

The other type have a dedicated refrigeration unit or freezer in the machine. This gives you the ability to make delicious ice cream from the off in no more than 30 minutes. This kind of machines are more suited to large enterprises like ice cream shops or even restaurants, but some also exist for the home. Obviously the complexity of these machines means they are the most expensive and generally reserved for professional use. - 29884

About the Author:

A great small home ice cream making machine is the cuisinart ice cream maker. If you are looking for a bigger model then you can't go wrong with the ice 30bc cuisinart. Check out the discounts on these models.

Halloween Candy - It's Not Only For Kids!

By Sean J. Patrick

Yes, of course, when you think about Halloween, you think of little kids dressing in costumes and going door to door to gather bags of Halloween candy. And with some more days till 'dress up time' - you better start thinking about what you are going to give to those children ( yes, the giant youngsters too ) and if you're going to buy bulk candy for that party of yours. We have everything you might ever need to give the children - no matter if they're nine or ninety!

Gum - a candy custom that everybody loves! But we've put a twist on it!

With such a big amount of different tastes, consistencies, colors and sizes, who can resist this chewing sensation? From Adam's sour apple gum ( don't you just love that name? ) to a Guitar Key Chain with bubble gum picks (yes, we are serious - cool huh?) and everything in the middle, who can resist these tasty flavors that burst in your mouth? Our Halloween candy is a sure fire hit for your vacation festivities!

Buy in bulk!

When you would like to satisfy each single person on your list and all those small ones who will arrive on your doorstep, ordering bulk candy is the smartest way to buy. With such a large amount of different taste buds and everybody having their own preference, bulk candy puts a grin on everyone's face! There's candy coated, soft candy, hard candy, chocolate candy ( do not even get me started with the different types of chocolate ), licorice candy and every type of Halloween candy you can think of! Many of those types come in assortments so you have a wide selection of flavors and colours. And do not forget the chocolate rocks! Yes, you heard right - chocolate rocks!

Halloween candy is fun! ( Yes, for adults too )

Naturally, what would Halloween be without the normal candy corn? This Halloween candy puts a grin on your face, reminding you of this time of year and the colours of autumn. Don't forget to add those to your list as well as our Monster undead candy, Halloween Pez candy and Trick or Treat Mix! We have so many more that it would probably take forever to list them. Just come on over and read around. We promise you that regardless of what age you are our Halloween candy will put a smile on your face! - 29884

About the Author:

To get additional information about bulk candy, visit CandyDirect.com.

Sugar Cookies: Make Your Family Happy With These Treats

By Jack Markson

Sugar cookies have been a favorite of children and adults for years. The simplicity of taste and ease of making them enables them to be made even by those who are not expert cooks. Sugar cookies are also very versatile. They can be made round or in different shapes. They can be sprinkled with plain or colored sugar. They can be decorated with colored icings and decorated with chocolate chips and candied fruits. No matter how you serve them everyone will want more.

Sugar cookies have been made for quite a long time. The modern recipe was invented by immigrants coming from the Dutch lands to America and eventually called Pennsylvania Dutch. The recipe was very popular and soon it was known all over the world. Pennsylvania adopted the cookie as the state cookie in 2001.

Some say that the sugar cookie started way before that. They surmise that around the 7th century someone decided to make small cakes that were made in order to test the temperature of the oven. They did not want these cakes to go to waste so they sold them as small cakes which were made from sugar. In France small sugar cakes were called gimblettes and in Italy they were called cimbellines.

On variety of sugar cookie is fluffy and light and they become quite tall while in the oven baking. There is a bit of crunch to the edge but the middles are soft and sweet. Another variety is made where the cookie is a little harder and crisp. Both are wonderfully sweet and tasty.

In many recipes you roll the dough flat and use cookie cutters to cut it into different shapes. These type are favorites for many different holidays. They can be made into hearts on St. Valentines Day. They can be cut out in bunny or egg shape for Easter. Pumpkins can be cut out for Halloween. Cut out turkey cookies to celebrate Thanksgiving. The most popular are made a Christmas in various shapes including Christmas trees and Santa.

The following Soft Sugar Cookie recipe is made with confectioners' sugar instead of granulated sugar. They come out soft and fluffy. Do not try to use cookie cutters with this recipe because the cookie is to soft to make them that way.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. In a mixing bowl cream one half pound softened butter then add one cup confectioners' sugar gradually. Add one egg, one teaspoon vanilla and mix well. In another bowl combine two cups flour and one half teaspoon baking soda. Mix well and start adding gradually to the mixture containing the egg. Once it has all been incorporated scoop out teaspoonful and shape into a one inch ball. Place two inches apart on a greased cookie sheet. Take a fork and press each ball flat. Bake for about six minutes and remove from oven and let sit for five minutes. Remove cookies to a cooling rack. You can sprinkle each cookie with a little bit of granulated sugar before putting them into the oven if you would like. This makes about 5 dozen cookies.

The next recipe is a sugar cookie that is rolled flat and cut with cookie cutters. Using a large bowl take 1 and one half cups flour and sift it with two teaspoons of baking powder and 1 half teaspoon salt and place aside for later. In a bowl for the electric mixer place one cup butter and gradually add 1 and one half cups of granulated sugar. Beat until the mixture gets light and fluffy. In a small bowl beat 2 eggs. Add to the mixer with 1 tablespoon of milk and one teaspoon of vanilla. Slowly add 1 and a half additional flour until incorporated. The dough should not be stiff, but smooth so if it starts to stiffen stop adding the flour. Roll the entire bowl of dough into a ball and place it in wax paper to be placed in the refrigerator for a whole hour. Take out of the refrigerator and roll to about one fourth of an inch thick and use cookie cutters to cut out shapes. Sprinkle them with sugar or leave them alone to be decorated with colored icing after cooking. Put the shapes on non stick sprayed cookie sheets and bake in a 400 degree F oven for about 10 minutes or until the edges become lightly brown. Leave them on the cookie sheets for about 2 minutes then remove to a cooling rack.

Make sugar cookies a treat for your family. They will love finding them in the cookie jar. You can make them for holidays in different holiday shapes or enjoy them any time. - 29884

About the Author:

You can make Sugar Cookies that will look beautiful and taste fabulous! Visit our site and find Sugar Cookie Recipes from all over the world!

The Modern Ice Cream Machine

By Wally Clydesdale

Although summertime is almost over, it's not time to store away your ice cream maker--pumpkin ice cream anyone? Or if you don't own an ice cream machine, if you look around, you may find some good end-of-summer sales and be able to pick one up for really cheap. But how do ice cream machines work?

Virtually all ice cream machines function the same way. You take an ice cream mixture, lower the temp of the mixture until it's almost frozen while at the same time beating air into the mix.

Although home ice cream machines vary in size and operation, there are basically only three kinds. The first kind is probably what you remember Grandma using on Sunday socials. They use rock salt and ice to get the ice cream mixture to a low enough temp.

Next comes the more recent style of machine. This one features a bowl that you freeze for at least' hours, before making ice cream. A plus to this kind of machine is less mess than the traditional style.

Then there is the compressor-style ice cream maker. With one of these, you can forgo, the mess of rock salt and ice, as well as having to plan ahead for freezing your bowl insert, by using a machine that has its own built in freezer compressor. Homemade ice cream any time you feel like it.

Fresh ice cream anytime--what's the catch? Well for starters, a compressor-style machine is really expensive. Then there are some models that don't have a removable mixing bowl and that can make it difficult when it comes time to clean up.

There you have it, the three basic kinds of ice cream makers along with how they work. Like I mentioned before, summer is gone but that doesn't mean your ice cream machine isn't as useful. Pumpkins and sweet potatoes are in season and are great in ice cream. You can also use regular vanilla to top pumpkin pie. - 29884

About the Author:

Wally Clydesdale's knowledge in ice cream extend back to childhood. He is currently a writer of Ice Cream Maker Basics.com where he is called up to write about electric ice cream makers

Enjoy the Retro Candy Flavors of Yesteryear Now

By Charlotte Broomen

Harking back to the good old days of our youth brings back a lot happy recollections. Tossing the ball in the park, staying up late at a buddy's house, or maybe family trips spring to mind. One memory in particular that brought a smile to my face was reminiscing about when my buddies and I might pick out our favorite candies from the neighborhood candyshop.

Modern day sweets just don't seem the same. There's something about retro candy that makes us all just smile. Moderncandy are no match to the likes of : Teaberry gum, Necco wafers, Boston Baked Beans, root beer barrels, or Abba Zabba. Each one of these tantalizing candies makes us think of different happy childhood memories.

Because many of these candies are not available in stores it got me thinking, wouldn't it be great to celebrate these retro candy favorites? One idea that came to mind was to buy lots of old fashioned candy from the internet and throw a party with a nostalgic theme. With the holidays approaching, this is going to be a wonderful. Not only does candy function as a great treat and decoration, but also it is the ideal talking point.

When guests notice some of the candies they haven't tasted in years they will have to try some. Everyone seems to have a tale of their favorite childhood candy. Another way to party with nostalgic candy is to send it as a gift. There are websites that sell hard to find candy piece by piece or in bulk that is smartly prepared into a gift box. What a great way to send a salutation to a buddy or anyone else.

There are some gift boxes that have about fifteen different types of retro candy that many of us haven't seen in ages. The fun part was trying each retro candy and remembering those times as a kid. Who would not be thrilled getting some of their old time tops as a present?

We adore old time candy not just for the memories but also because it tastes good too. Young people these days still get excited over gum cigarettes, circus peanuts, gold mine gum, or rock candy.

These are some of many concepts to bring back some great retro candy. No matter your preference of candy it is just plain fun! More than just eating candy, sentimental candy provides stories and entertainment with friends, children, neighbours, or collegues. Give it a try and expect a real large smile! - 29884

About the Author:

Before you buy anything on the Internet, make sure you visit the old fashioned candy store the best website for retro candy on the Internet.

Try These Original Desserts

By Katie Rogers

Everyone loves a good dessert. What better way to top off a nice meal than by finishing it with a sweet, guilty pleasure?

With so many different dessert varieties, it's sometimes hard to think about an original creation that will taste great. It's always easiest when we're ordering them off a menu! Thankfully, they're a lot easier to make than it seems.

If you're looking for an original dessert dish that deviates from the norm, you might be interested in trying out any one of the following three suggestions. Be creative and you can even expand on these.

1. White chocolate mousse. You're used to eating regular chocolate when it comes to mousse, but white chocolate mousse can be just as delicious, or even more so depending on who you ask.

While it tastes great on its own, it never hurts to add some more ingredients here, as things like caramel, syrups, and more all go really well with this dish.

A second dessert dish that goes over really well at parties is the ice cream martini. You're basically serving ice cream inside a martini glass, which looks much more appealing than ice cream in a cup or a bowl.

Some people like to take it to the next level, throwing in additional toppings like nuts, hot fudge, and whipped cream. The dessert truly becomes a sight for sore eyes.

Lastly, there's the mango rose filled with ice cream. This has it all. It has the aesthetics, the great taste, and even some fruit for health benefits. Believe it or not, it's pretty easy to shape the mango as you need to here.

Fill it up with ice cream or sorbet. Whether it's vanilla or something more adventurous, you'll have a sweet, tasty treat on your hands. Highly recommended for anyone who likes a mango. - 29884

About the Author:

About this writer: When she's not dreaming about desserts, she's writing about prices of diamond drop earrings and cheap pearl drop earrings.

The Greatest New Ice Cream Flavors

By Nicholas McMillan

Ice cream is one of those things that people will never stop loving. Or I'll never stop loving it at least. I've been eating it my whole life, and my love for it hasn't faded one bit since my childhood. It's truly my junk food of choice when it comes down to it.

Besides the classics, there are also plenty of newer ice cream flavors that'd be pretty easy to miss if you weren't getting it as often as I do. While I love the classics and they'll never get old to me (chocolate is still my number one flavor when it comes down to it), there are some great newer flavors worth trying out.

Anyway, here are some new ice cream flavors that I've tried over the course of the last year and I've really enjoyed them. If you're an ice cream lover like I am and want to expand your palette, try these out as I'm sure you'll find them to be pretty interesting.

The brown sugar flavor by Haagen Dazs is a can't miss. If you like something sweet, this is a great flavor that truly tastes like the brown sugar you'd use baking cookies as a kid growing up.

Another really interesting type of ice cream was the fleur de caramel. I don't kid when I say that it's one of the most unique types of ice cream I've ever tried, as the blend of the sweet caramel mixed with salt results in a really unique flavor.

This makes it really interesting, as the salty and sweet mix really hits the spot. I think you'll find this one to be very different from other ice creams that you typically try.

Sticky toffee pudding is another flavor that I truly find to be amazing. If you're a toffee lover, this will hit the spot.

The last one I'll mention before you run out and get ice cream now is Oreo Outrageous. Baskin Robbins makes this flavor, and it's truly one of my new favorites. Much better than cookies and cream in my book. - 29884

About the Author:

About Nicholas McMillan: While he's definitely an ice cream lover, he also writes regularly about the Little Tikes country kitchen, and the Little Tikes Prep and Serve Kitchen.

Cake Decorating Equipment: Figure Out What You Need to Become an Expert Cake Decorator

By Maria Campbell

You need the right kind of cake decorating equipment to perfect your cake decorating skills. Paddles and icing smoothers are some of the essential cake decorating equipment.They come in handy especially if you are decorating a cake with various kinds of frostings and icing.

You may also find a rolling pin to be useful. However, plastic ones usually aren?t strong or heavy enough to get the job done, so you may want to go with a marble rolling pin. It?s hard and heavy, and is a much superior choice to both plastic and wood. It is also cold, which is a great asset when fondant is concerned.

Even though you shouldn?t use a cheap rolling pin, you can get away with using a plain mat, just as long as it?s flexible. Mats can come in handy for rolling out icing. Some of them come are made to grip table surfaces in order to prevent slippage. You may want to consider getting this type of mat if you don?t feel like chasing it all over the table!

One type of cake decorating equipment you really need to get is a good turntable. Since cakes can be heavy (i.e. wedding cakes), you will find a turntable to be very helpful. If you can afford to do so, invest in a good, study model, as some cheap turntables are known to tilt too much.

You can not imagine decorating a cake without the spatula or the palette knife. Metal spatulas are the choice of professional bakers.

For creating delicate designs on your cake- such as icing shells, scrolls or snail trails a piping set with various sized nozzles could be your best choice of cake decorating equipment.

For your paint brushing needs, you can use both fine-tipped and broad ones. The fine paint brushes can be used for brushing sugar and crumbs out of the way and for applying thin lines or decorations. The broad brushes can be used for clearing away debris off the board.

Other cake decorating equipment you might need are- the flower nails, silver pins, food coloring and decorator tips. All the cake decorating equipments are affordable and available at a local cake supplies store as well in on-line stores. - 29884

About the Author:

Finding Cake Decorating Equipment does not have to be a difficult task. You should be able to buy a set of items to get you started. If you go to the store and buy individual items, you will likely spend a ton more than you should spend. Buying a good quality starter set is the way to go!

Delicious Desserts Made Easy

By Kristen Thorpe

The main purpose of dessert is to help the digestion process of the previous meal. Desserts should not be heavy or else it would do the opposite. Eating desserts with fresh fruits- sliced and mixed is a good and healthy treat. It will refresh your taste buds and your digestion of the meal you just had will be easier and quicker too. You can always add some kind of dressing or sauce to bring an extra essence and also, choose fruits with more anti oxidants.

The bananas Senegalese is a very popular dessert and it can be made with quite an ease. Just five main items will be needed to prepare the entire recipe; such as, bananas, maraschino cherries, butter, green mint and brown sugar. First the bananas are split in half, which have to be cut- lengthwise.

When you are done with all the bananas, place them flat side downward, on the serving dish. Add the green mints prepared, by pouring them on top of the bananas and make sure to spread evenly as you do this. Now pour some brown sugar and mix them up and be careful not to break the banana shapes. Place this in the broiler flame and wait for about 7 minutes. Afterwards, you may serve it while it is warm.

To serve a family of six, a quick dessert made with cherries will do magic for you. This dish or food item needs cherries, ice cream, rum and brandy. First you have to extract the juices of the cherries by draining them and you then place them on a chaff dish. Mix them together and pour the rum and brandy on top. Do this as per your taste. You can also use a little amount of the cherry juice. Boil it for a couple of minutes and then place it on the ice cream. This has to be served individually, for 6 persons. You can make it at the dinner table after the main meal, since it will not take much time.

The Eve's dessert is very delicious and you can make it with in a jiffy. You will need cherries, apples, strawberries, sour cream, melon balls, brown sugar and macaroons. If the macaroons are not so fresh, then they can be served as large crumbs, sprinkled on top. Mix the chopped apple and the peeled cherries; in the serving bowl place all the ingredients.

After mixing the macaroons with brown sugar and sour cream, you may then add the fruit mixture to it. Place the whole thing in the refrigerator to complete the preparation. Keep in mind that the preparing and making process of any type of desserts require you to have kitchen tools and equipments ready- at all times.

As you can see, in order to make desserts, you would need your kitchenware handy. They will make your creations much better in taste and in form. Can you imagine trying to whip something up with your bare hands? That would entail extra hours into making and baking whatever dessert you plan on preparing. Have convenience by having a complete set of kitchenware. From pans, pots, skillets, rolling pins, ice syringe, and so much more- you will surely finish in a short period of time. Just think of them as your kitchen buddies; ready and to help and serve you whenever they are needed. - 29884

About the Author:

If you're making something rich and chocolate, why not serve it with some delicious fresh juice made in a Black and Decker Citrus Juicer. Or, for a cool treat, make a fruit smoothie in your sturdy electric kitchen blender.

How to Find the Right Wilton Cake Supplies if You Want to Become an Expert Cake Decorator

By Maria Campbell

Cake decorating is a very fun hobby, although you need to make sure you always have enough supplies on hand in order to enjoy your hobby. Whether you want to bake and decorate cakes for your own enjoyment or to impress friends and acquaintances, you need to order quality supplies.

Wilton has been the household name with professional cake decorators for years. The Wilton cake supplies, equipment and tools are made of high quality materials and also affordable. There is a reason why their name is well known among new and experienced cake decorators.

You will find all the tools necessary for your cake decoration at Wilton. The metal spatulas are heavy and will help you get that smooth finish of icing without much effort.

Wilton Cake Supplies also sells pre-packaged assorted cake decorating tools. It is cost-effective and also saves you the trouble of looking through the catalog. It is usually best to have a whole set ready to use rather than purchasing each item individually. The kit should have at least pastry bags, tips, tubes and couplers.

They sell pastry bags of various sizes and materials like the nylon pastry bags, canvas pastry bags and even disposable pastry bags. They are easier to use, clean and reuse. They can be used with different sized couplers and tips for piping icing.

They offer cake turntables and stands simple enough for your cake decorating hobby and they also carry turntables for professional bakers. They are priced accordingly yet pretty much affordable.

At Wilton supplies you can find all the tools for the special cake you are baking- you will find quality supplies even to decorate a wedding cake.

You can order Wilton Cake Supplies online now. You can browse through the catalog and find all that you need for your project. Find all the tools necessary to create your fabulously decorated cake that will be the talk of your friend?s circle for quite sometime. - 29884

About the Author:

There are a ton of Wilton Cake Supplies that are available for sale. They make tools for every level of cake decorating experience. There are even whole sets that you can purchase if you need a good all around basic set of tools. Check them out at www.CakeDecoratingLessons.net.

Who Else Wants to Learn Cake Decorating Techniques?

By Maria Campbell

Picture this: You have invited your family and friends over for a special event. You have prepared a cake that could easily grace the cover of a cooking magazine. When you explain that YOU made this cake, their jaws drop in amazement. Can you imagine the feeling of pride you will have?

Whether you?re brand spanking new to cake decorating or simply want to refine your skills, you can learn everything from basic techniques to more advanced ones right on the computer sitting in your own house.

There are a few simple things you can do for making cake decorating techniques easier to learn. For instance, you need to make sure you?re using the correct pastry bag. You shouldn?t use large bags, as they can be awkward to handle. When starting out, smaller ones will make adding color and writing a lot easier.

There are a few easy things you can do to make cake decorating techniques easier to master. For example, you must make sure you?re using the right pastry bag. You should not use large bags because they can be awkward to handle. When beginning, smaller ones will make adding color and writing a lot simpler.

Another thing you can do to ensure that your practicing goes smoothly is to learn to cut the pastry bag correctly. It has to be cut so that it fits the coupler perfectly. Don?t forget that the larger end of the coupler faces up towards the tip of the bag. Place it down inside and then slice the end of the pastry bag so that the smaller end of the coupler sticks out a tiny bit.

It may take a few tries before you learn how to prepare the pastry bag and coupler precisely, but once you get the hang of it, it?ll make learning cake decorating techniques A LOT easier! Cake decorating instructions can call for thin, medium, or thick consistency icing. As a beginner, you may find assessing the correct consistency to be confusing, but you?ll catch on.

It might take a few tries before you feel like an expert on how to prepare the pastry bag and coupler precisely, but once you get the used to it, it will make learning cake decorating techniques abundantly easier! Cake decorating instructions can call for thin, medium, or thick consistency icing. As a newbie, you might find assessing the right consistency to be quite confusing, but you will catch on quickly.

Whether you want to learn basic cake decorating techniques or more advanced, intricate ones, you need to accept the fact that you probably won?t learn everything in just one night. You may find yourself talented at one style but not so much with another style. Just take your time, don?t get discouraged, and good luck! - 29884

About the Author:

Mastering cake decorating techniques does not have to be difficult! Here's a thought: Get a comprehensive online course, take it in the privacy of your own house and then make a fabulous cake for your extended family. They are going to be STUNNED when they see what you can do! Hey, you can even turn it into your new house business and make extra cash each month!

Lemon Bars - Delicious

By Jack Smith

Most kids like chocolate chip cookies or peanut butter cookies, but I always preferred lemon bars. I remember as a young kid, I'd go crazy to get my hands on lemon bars. Funny thing is that they are easier to bake than cookies. Here are 10 great tips for baking better bars.

The first thing I like to make sure of when baking is to follow the recipe. You have to make sure you use the same size baking dish as listed in the recipe. Try not to vary. Any variations in baking pan size will throw off baking times and will affect the texture of the lemon bars. For example, if the pan is too large the dough will dry out and the bars will be too thin. On the contrary, if the pan is too small the lemon bars will become gummy in the center or more cakey than they should be. If you follow this tip, you'll be happy with the results.

If you are worried about the bars sticking to the pan, you can line the baking pan with heavy duty aluminum foil to insure easier removal later and you'll be glad you did because it's a pain trying to get some baked goods out of the pan in a pretty manner. You can also use butter to grease up the baking pan. Just be sure to use a lot of butter to grease the pan.

Everybody wants lemon bars that are pretty just like in the magazines. For bars that you can boast of and pretty enough to package up and give away, use a large sharp chef's knife to trim away the outer dry edges of the bars before cutting them, wiping the blade clean with a damp towel after each cut will help keep them pretty. Follow this tip and you'll be happy with the results.

Never use diet or whipped margarine or any product labeled "spread" in your lemon bars, the results will be awful. Like any other cookie dough, be sure once you add the flour to the batter (as well as other dry ingredients) you don't over-mix the dough. Too much handling will develop the gluten in the flour producing tough bar cookies. - 29884

About the Author:

Try these awesome lemon bars.

Need Ideas for Birthday Cake Decorating? Check Out These Great Ideas for a Kid's Birthday Party!

By Maria Campbell

Trying to think of birthday cake decorating ideas? If you want to prepare a cake for a kids birthday party, you need to make sure its memorable! If theres one thing kids love about birthdays (other than presents), its the cake. Instead of going to the store and buying the same ole cake that all kids get, you should make a special, unique one!

The internet is full of cake decorating ideas for all kinds of themes. It does not matter if you want to make a cake for a boy or a girl, you can find all kinds of ideas and supplies needed to make just about any cake. All of the decorations can be found online!

One well known theme for girls is the Disney Princesses. You could decorate a cake using all of the princesses or even just one, such as Cinderella, Ariel or Belle. There are instructions online for making these cakes, but you will want to purchase the decorations so that you can put the figurines on it for your little girl to keep.

There are lots of birthday cake decorating ideas for boys as well. Boys seem to love cakes that are themed around superheroes. Of course, Spiderman cakes are super popular as well as Batman. There are many themes to choose from when it comes to boy cakes.

You can never go wrong with cupcakes, either. The great thing about cupcakes is that you can make each one unique if you want, whereas you can only do so much on one cake. You can make a batch of cupcakes and decorate half for girls and the other half for boys.

If you want to make a cake that both boys and girls will love, you can always go with Looney Tunes characters. Animals are also a popular theme that all children love. There are plenty of cat, dog, and tiger birthday cake decorating ideas for you to check out.

Go ahead and ask the kids what type of cake or cupcakes they would like. You could even have them help you! Sharing your hobby with your children will be a fun family project, and they will love making their own cake! They can show it off to their friends at the party.

You can use frosting thats already made, or you can make it yourself. Its up to you whether you want to start completely from scratch or buy some of the ingredients already prepared. Either way, youll definitely want to get all the decorations, including: stencils, food coloring, figures, sprinkles, and so forth. - 29884

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When you are searching for birthday cake decorating ideas, you need to figure out where to find the right supplies at the best prices! Did you figure out that you can also get online cake decorating lessons?

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