Choosing a Cake Topper to Show Off Your Personality

 By Jamie Balzan 

Photo: weddingfavorsunlimited.com
 
Wedding cakes are an important part of every wedding reception. They express the personality of the bride and groom and provide a point of interest for the guests as they wait for the couple to arrive at the reception. In addition to the design of the cake and decoration of the cake table, the cake topper is another representation of the happy couple.

Traditionally, toppers for wedding cakes usually feature statues of a bride and groom. They can be standing side by side like in a wedding ceremony, dancing, holding hands or even sharing a kiss. Usually they are made of crystal or ceramic and are fairly formal.

However, not all cake toppers have to be so traditional. Brides and grooms with a sense of humor might want to pick a more non-traditional topper like a bride holding onto the leg of a runaway groom or a bride holding a frightened groom in her arms. If the couple is known for being funny, this is a great way to carry their personality into the décor of the cake.

Cake toppers can also be customized for the bride and groom. They can be made to specifically match a couple's appearance including hair color, eye color, etc. Couples who are in the military can choose a figurine in a military uniform or couples that enjoy a particular sport or hobby together can have a topper made showing them enjoying that hobby.

Besides the typical bride and groom figurines on wedding cakes, there are other options, both with figurines and without. Cake toppers with more old-fashioned looking couples, cartoon-like figures or even abstract figures can be used. Or for those who don't want to necessarily have a couple on their cake topper, a simple topper displaying the couple's initials can be used or flowers can be used on top of the cake to replace a topper altogether.

The most important part of choosing a topper for wedding cakes is making sure it fits in with your theme. A bride and groom having a Disney-themed wedding might want to have Mickey and Minnie Mouse dressed in a tuxedo and a wedding dress. For a Christmas-themed wedding, the topper could be of Santa and Mrs. Clause or even a snowman and snowwoman.
Brides and grooms of every type can find toppers for wedding cakes that will fit their personality, their theme and their budget, the possibilities are endless!

So if you are have a low budget for your wedding cake than Fortress cakes in Sydney is your best bet. You can also check out their other cakes like kids birthday cakes. http://fortresscakes.com

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Cake Decorating With a Silhouette Cameo Cutter

 By Theresa Happe 

Photo: sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.ne
 
Imagine you were a cake artist who had to create a 5 tier wedding cake with the same design print all around the sides of every tier. The time involved in doing hand painting could be several days and make the cake price prohibitive for the bride. But the bride doesn't have to sacrifice the design of her dreams because she can't afford it. If, instead, the design in printed on edible icing sheets, the bride gets exactly what she wants at a fraction of the cost.

Wedding cake orders have been bigger, more elaborate cakes since the cake competitions started airing on television. Brides used to accept the plain white buttercream cakes that came at no additional cost from the wedding caterer. But, now the cake is a big part of the wedding theme and the biggest focal point after the bride and her gown.

Taking any design, the icing sheets are adhered to the sides of the cake using a bit of piping gel. Nut, more intricate designs are possible by using the electronic cutter machine with those printed designs. A machine equipped cake a special needle design for cutting cake decorating mediums is the Silhouette Cameo cutter.

You can cut an infinite number of patterns using this machine by either buying cartridges or downloading software. The machine connects to your personal computer where you can even enter custom designs to cut out.

Icing sheets aren't the only medium cake decorators cut with the Silhouette; everything from gum paste, modeling chocolate, marzipan and fondant can be thinly rolled on the accompanying mat, slid into the cutter's slot and trimmed into custom decorations.
On a smaller scale, imagine filling an ordering for a matching Louis Vuitton handbag and shoe cake. You could scan the design and cut out all the LV logos and other symbols that make up the design, saving hours required to either pain the or cut them by hand.
For those who don't like their handwriting or just want to cut out monograms, the Silhouette is ideal. The machine costs about $350 and comes with a software program for your desktop and instructions for use.

Before this machine was ever used for cake decorating, it had been used with a different type of needle for paper crafts. Wedding cake designer, Linda McClure, adapted the machine for use with cake decorating materials.

It does take a bit of practice to get used to using the machine. Both fondant and gum paste can be sticky and freezing them a bit will allow them to cut cleaner instead of sticking to the cutting needle. Once the design is cut, you can use a pointed object such as a scriber to lift the design then apply it to the cake with a dab of water.

There are infinite design possibilities when working with the software from pre-programmed designs to ones you scan or download. Technology has found its way into the cake decorator's kitchen.

Theresa Happe is a cake decorator and fan of IcingImages.com where you can find the Silhouette Cameo Cutter

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How to Make a Yummy Lemon Cheesecake that is Diabetic Friendly

Author: Linda Wilson

Photo: cwebnews.com

Receiving a diagnosis of diabetes usually means a change in lifestyle and diet.  If you are like me--I have a terrible sweet tooth!--I had this mental image of all things sweet and good disappearing from my diet.  Imagine my surprise to discover this is not true.  In fact, doctors and nutritionists recommend eating fresh fruit.  And there are many ways to make delicious diabetic desserts.  As with all foods, we diabetics have to watch our portions and even more so with sweets.  Do not make this cheesecake and eat it all before bedtime!  But incorporated into a healthy diet, you should be able to enjoy it.  With its sugar-free ingredients and fresh fruits, it is healthy and tasty enough for anyone!

DIABETIC'S LEMON CHEESECAKE

1 1/4 graham cracker crumbs*

1/4 cup Splenda granular

1/3 cup butter, melted

1 pkg (3-oz) sugar-free lemon gelatin mix

2/3 cup boiling water

2 bars (8-oz each) light cream cheese

6-oz. lite/firm silken tofu

grated rind of 1 lemon

juice of 1 lemon

1 cup sugar-free frozen whipped topping, thawed

Fresh fruit of your choice, optional

In a small mixing bowl combine the graham cracker crumbs, Splenda, and melted butter until mixed together well.  Using the back of a large spoon, press the mixture on the bottom and up the sides of an 8-inch springform pan.  Chill the crust for about ten minutes.

In a blender container mix the lemon gelatin mix and the hot water; slowly add in the cream cheese and the tofu.  Continue to mix until smooth.  Pour the mixture into a large mixing bowl and add the lemon rind, lemon juice and the thawed topping.  Pour into the prepared pan, smoothing the top.  Chill for 4 hours or more.  Before serving garnish with more whipped topping and fresh fruit/fruits of your choice, if desired.

*If you cannot use crumbs made from graham crackers, make your crumbs from sugar-free butter cookies or sugar-free vanilla wafers.

Serves 12.

Enjoy!
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/desserts-articles/how-to-make-a-yummy-lemon-cheesecake-that-is-diabetic-friendly-2246584.html

About the Author

A grandmother with diabetes along with other autoimmune diseases, I enjoying sharing my recipes and diabetic tips on my blog at http://diabeticenjoyingfood.blogspot.com
   

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The History Behind Cake

 By Emma Darling 

Photo: 25.media.tumblr.com
 
The very first cake was a Viking dish known as Kaka. This was a patty of what was presumably meat, but sweetened with flour and honey. These early cakes wouldn't have been anywhere near as nice as those we enjoy today, but for the Vikings they would have made a hearty treat which gave them the energy to fight and acted as a special treat for them to have instead of their regular heavy meat diet.
Since the Viking Kaka it has been discovered that other cultures also had their own cakes.

The Greeks used to make a cheesecake from goat's milk called Placenta, which is very similar to the cheesecakes eaten today. The similarity lies in the need for the base to be made and baked separately prior to the cheese being added and the entire cake being cooked for its finish.

Modern day cheesecake went through a long process before it became so good. William Chester of New York stumbled upon the invention of unripened cheese, which other dairy men soon came across. This led to the invention of pasteurised cream cheese, and a form of it which became the most used soft cheese in cheesecakes in the world, Philadelphia.

In ancient Rome, bread dough was sometimes enriched with honey, eggs and butter before being baked. This made a sweet and cake-like baked good for people to enjoy as an alternative to some of the other sweet food they may have eaten at the time. This would have been thoroughly enjoyed by the wealthier citizens in ancient Rome, as they would have been the ones who could afford to spend the extra money on the added ingredients.

Early cakes produced in England would have been very different to the ones enjoyed today also. These cakes were essentially bread, as were most cakes in those times and the times before. The ways to tell if what was baking was a cake or some bread was by the shape, as cakes were often flat and circular, or by the way they were being baked, as cakes were turned over once in cooking, and bread remained in the same position.

During the renaissance sponge cakes became popular. These were cakes leavened with beaten eggs, and some think they were possibly made in Spain as a sweet treat. Currently cakes are widespread, and people can buy them ready made from a shop should they need one, taking away the fun of making them in a sense.

Everyone loves cake, and Emma Darling is no exception. She really like to have some edible treats and cakes with her when she's writing, which is mostly what inspired her to write this article on the history of her favourite snack.

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How to Choose Your Wedding Cake Design

 By Deziree N Valdez 

Photo: pad1.whstatic.com
 
Planning a wedding can take a lot out of a bride to be, especially when it comes to the odds and ends, one of them being your wedding cake. Many brides make the mistake of waiting til the last minute to apply the finer details of the cake, but this can become a danger zone if you wait til the end to start planning. This may seem overwhelming at first, but with these few tips and tricks, designing your very own wedding cake brings out the fun and creative side to planning.

One of the many perks to designing your own wedding cake is the sampling of the many delicious flavors of cake. This is one of the very first things you do in order to start the planning process. Select your favorite bakery and make an appointment for you and your groom to go in for a sampling date. For our more bold couples, choose a few flavors to mix together or layer the cake with several different flavors to add a unique surprise for your guests. For our more laid back couples, decide between one or two flavors at the most to start the building process of your cake. Once this step is done, it is time to get creative!

One of the best things you can plan on doing is viewing fun photo galleries of cake designs that inspire you both. This is a great way to get an idea of what you are looking for. Simply narrow down the color selection by matching them closely to your wedding colors, decide on how many tiers you both want to have, and get a good idea of personal things you and your fiance like to share together. Bring this in to your baker and piece together the elements to match to the theme of your wedding. Your professional baker will be able to guide you along the way as well to bring out the absolute best features in your cake design.

The best part of designing your own wedding cake is adding in your personal touches. Incorporate memories you both have shared over the years together and add them to your cake. Add a fun cake topper to symbolize your relationship or add a few design pieces throughout your cake design to tell your story.

Every cake has a story and the best part of getting to design your own cake is the ability to tell what you two share together all in one piece. After choosing your favorite flavors, ideal design, and adding personal touches, you can book your cake in advance and cross it off your ever-ending to do list! Always remember to make your cake absolutely memorable for not only you both, but for you guests as well. Get creative and inspired! You only get married once, so why not go all out and let your imagination come to life?

For additional information on wedding advice and planning, contact Reception Hall International- your Banquet Hall in Atlanta, to speak to one of our professional Event Planners today. We are always here to help our bride's and groom's plan every step of their special day,from the beginning to the end, to make it everything you both have dreamed of.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Deziree_N_Valdez

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Baking Homemade Brownies

Author: Miguel Fernandez

Photo: jackiesantos.com

Baking homemade brownies is one of life's sweetest delights. The smell of the brownies baking in the oven never fails to attract every family member to the kitchen to await the finished treat. When they are finally done it doesn't take but a few seconds for them to disappear, having been devoured by everyone who could get a hold of one.

The only hard part of preparing brownies is the preparation and the cleanup afterward. It takes longer to prepare and bake brownies than it does for them to be eaten, especially if they come out delicious. For this very reason many people prefer to buy brownies from the store and miss out on the deliciousness of home-made brownies. Following these simple tips ensures that you will have delicious brownies that the whole family can enjoy with little or no hassle.

1. Don't over mix when preparing the batter and if possible mix the batter by hand. This will ensure that the brownie does not come out bland or too dry.

2. Spay the bottom of the pan with non-stick cooking spray, making sure to cover the surface evenly. You can also dust the pan lightly with cocoa powder. Using cocoa powder ensures that you won't have white residue on your brownies as you would if you were to use flour.

3. Follow the recipe instructions carefully especially the temperature and cooking time instructions. To test if the brownies are done stick a toothpick into the brownies. If they come out clean it means that the brownies are done.

4. If you want to keep the brownies from over-drying you can wrap them with plastic wrap and put them in a zip bag for added protection.

As a final tip: enjoy your brownies with your whole family, give them as gifts, share them with your co-workers, and don't forget to make plenty for everyone.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/cooking-tips-articles/baking-homemade-brownies-3926520.html

About the Author

For an easier way to bake brownies use a perfect brownie pan, the brownie pan with divider to get perfectly cut brownies.
   

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Why Personalised Chocolates are the Ideal Gift

Author: Peter Barker

Photo: cdn-17.create.net

The average chocolate consumption per person in the United Kingdom every year is 11 kilograms, which actually makes the country the joint highest chocolate lover with the Swiss.  And they really take some beating when it comes to chocolate that is renowned across the globe!

In fact, 90% of all adults in the United Kingdom admit to eating chocolate regularly, but why? Chocolate offers one of the most luxury indulgences for a price that everybody can afford. As this is the case, sales of chocolate have continued to increase even during recent tough financial times. With the above in mind, it is all too easy to get lazy with your choice of chocolate gifts if you are buying a present. Buying a box of chocolates and giving them away does not show much effort on your part. Just because chocolate gifts are simple, it does not mean that you cannot put some thought into them.

What is the solution?
The solution is very simple. If you buy personalised chocolate, it shows that you have put some thought into the gift. People love personalised chocolate mostly because it is unexpected. A personalised solution can contain a message that means something to your partner, and this can really make the difference.
With personalised chocolate wrappers, you can give your partner a tasty gift that they can also cherish and have as a keepsake as well. By putting in that extra effort and thinking outside the box you are showing the person that you are buying the gift for that care, and, at the same time you are still buying a quality chocolate gift that you know they will love.

In fact, personalised chocolate bars are ideal for a variety of events. As well as giving them as presents you could also give them away in party bags at children's parties and even provide them at weddings for something a bit different.

One thing is for sure... Chocolate will always be a winner when it comes to treating people or giving them a gift on a special day, event or to mark a special occasion.  If you can provide your family, friends and colleagues with a personalised chocolate bar as a reasonably inexpensive gift it can become priceless to the person receiving it!

At the end of the day, chocolate gifts will continue to provide people with a unique solution for a wide range of events and will always be a firm favourite across the generations and for all ages.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/chocolate-articles/why-personalised-chocolates-are-the-ideal-gift-6466556.html

About the Author
Peter Barker is the Founder of The Chocolate Wrapper - the UKs leading on-line store for personalised chocolate bars

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How to Choose Your Wedding Cake Design

By Deziree N Valdez  

Photo:
 
Planning a wedding can take a lot out of a bride to be, especially when it comes to the odds and ends, one of them being your wedding cake. Many brides make the mistake of waiting til the last minute to apply the finer details of the cake, but this can become a danger zone if you wait til the end to start planning. This may seem overwhelming at first, but with these few tips and tricks, designing your very own wedding cake brings out the fun and creative side to planning.

One of the many perks to designing your own wedding cake is the sampling of the many delicious flavors of cake. This is one of the very first things you do in order to start the planning process. Select your favorite bakery and make an appointment for you and your groom to go in for a sampling date. For our more bold couples, choose a few flavors to mix together or layer the cake with several different flavors to add a unique surprise for your guests. For our more laid back couples, decide between one or two flavors at the most to start the building process of your cake. Once this step is done, it is time to get creative!

One of the best things you can plan on doing is viewing fun photo galleries of cake designs that inspire you both. This is a great way to get an idea of what you are looking for. Simply narrow down the color selection by matching them closely to your wedding colors, decide on how many tiers you both want to have, and get a good idea of personal things you and your fiance like to share together. Bring this in to your baker and piece together the elements to match to the theme of your wedding. Your professional baker will be able to guide you along the way as well to bring out the absolute best features in your cake design.

The best part of designing your own wedding cake is adding in your personal touches. Incorporate memories you both have shared over the years together and add them to your cake. Add a fun cake topper to symbolize your relationship or add a few design pieces throughout your cake design to tell your story.

Every cake has a story and the best part of getting to design your own cake is the ability to tell what you two share together all in one piece. After choosing your favorite flavors, ideal design, and adding personal touches, you can book your cake in advance and cross it off your ever-ending to do list! Always remember to make your cake absolutely memorable for not only you both, but for you guests as well. Get creative and inspired! You only get married once, so why not go all out and let your imagination come to life?

For additional information on wedding advice and planning, contact Reception Hall International- your Banquet Hall in Atlanta, to speak to one of our professional Event Planners today. We are always here to help our bride's and groom's plan every step of their special day,from the beginning to the end, to make it everything you both have dreamed of.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Deziree_N_Valdez

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How to Make a Yummy Lemon Cheesecake that is Diabetic Friendly

By: Linda Wilson

Photo: cwebnews.com


Receiving a diagnosis of diabetes usually means a change in lifestyle and diet.  If you are like me--I have a terrible sweet tooth!--I had this mental image of all things sweet and good disappearing from my diet.  Imagine my surprise to discover this is not true.  In fact, doctors and nutritionists recommend eating fresh fruit.  And there are many ways to make delicious diabetic desserts.  As with all foods, we diabetics have to watch our portions and even more so with sweets.  Do not make this cheesecake and eat it all before bedtime!  But incorporated into a healthy diet, you should be able to enjoy it.  With its sugar-free ingredients and fresh fruits, it is healthy and tasty enough for anyone!

DIABETIC'S LEMON CHEESECAKE

1 1/4 graham cracker crumbs*
1/4 cup Splenda granular
1/3 cup butter, melted
1 pkg (3-oz) sugar-free lemon gelatin mix
2/3 cup boiling water

2 bars (8-oz each) light cream cheese
6-oz. lite/firm silken tofu
grated rind of 1 lemon
juice of 1 lemon
1 cup sugar-free frozen whipped topping, thawed

Fresh fruit of your choice, optional

In a small mixing bowl combine the graham cracker crumbs, Splenda, and melted butter until mixed together well.  Using the back of a large spoon, press the mixture on the bottom and up the sides of an 8-inch springform pan.  Chill the crust for about ten minutes.
In a blender container mix the lemon gelatin mix and the hot water; slowly add in the cream cheese and the tofu.  Continue to mix until smooth.  Pour the mixture into a large mixing bowl and add the lemon rind, lemon juice and the thawed topping.  Pour into the prepared pan, smoothing the top.  Chill for 4 hours or more.  Before serving garnish with more whipped topping and fresh fruit/fruits of your choice, if desired.
*If you cannot use crumbs made from graham crackers, make your crumbs from sugar-free butter cookies or sugar-free vanilla wafers.
Serves 12.
Enjoy!

Linda Wilson
A grandmother with diabetes along with other autoimmune diseases, I enjoying sharing my recipes and diabetic tips on my blog at http://diabeticenjoyingfood.blogspot.com

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Easy Cupcake Decorating Tips

By Kathy Baylor  

Photo: womansday.com

Need cupcakes for an event, party, birthday, holiday, or just for fun? Maybe your child has a birthday party at school and you want to send something special for a treat. Or a friend is celebrating a birthday or anniversary. Your child received a perfect report card! Maybe a family member got a new job, or sold their house. Cupcakes are a perfect and easy way to celebrate! You can buy cupcake decorations, and that is a good option, but you can also find great cupcake decorations in the grocery store.

Jelly beans are one easy option. You can sometimes find really pretty and unusual colors in the bulk section of your supermarket. Place a few of these on top of your frosted cupcake. Arrange them in a circle and place several in the center. You now have a flower! Use green jelly beans for a stem and leaves. You can use other candies to decorate cupcakes also, such as M&Ms and melty mints.
Do you have a football lover in your family? Frost your cupcakes with green frosting, and use chocolate covered almonds as footballs.

Frost cupcakes with chocolate icing, cover with crushed chocolate sandwich cookies to look like dirt, and place a gummy worm on each cupcake. This is a great idea for kids, and the crushed cookies add a different flavor and texture to your cupcake. An advantage to this method is that you don't have to spend a lot of time frosting the cupcakes, as the crushed cookies will cover the icing.
You can sometimes find small marzipan fruit shapes in the grocery store. Use the crushed cookie idea from above, and place the marzipan fruits on the top of the cupcake. This is a great cupcake decorating idea for someone who loves gardening.

If you are looking for something more elegant, try a perfect fresh raspberry on top of your frosted cupcake. How about sliced almonds placed in a circular fashion? Use a grater and a chocolate bar to grate a shower of chocolate on top of the cupcake. Any of these ideas will also enhance the taste.
There are a variety of sprinkles, edible confetti, and candy shapes that you can use to add a festive air to your cupcakes. Cupcake sprinkles such as jimmies and non-pareils come in a surprising array of colors. You can also find heart, diamond, and round shapes in edible confetti. Pre-made sugar flowers are an easy and elegant touch, perfect for birthdays, Mother's Day, showers, and weddings. Try a colorful cupcake baking cup to add another level of decoration to cupcakes.

Use your imagination, and impress your friends and family. For a selection of easy decorating options, please check out http://www.vanillaraincupcakesupplies.com for a variety of items that will help you look like a professional cupcake decorator.

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Your Search for the Best Gluten-Free Cake Ends Here and Now!

 By Christopher Praizner 

Photo: cakesplus.com.au
 
If you are looking for the best gluten-free cake, you have come to the right spot. Not only you and your family would enjoy this amazing cake but you spare yourself from the discomfort gluten may give you. Who wants to look for another cake when all you need is right here?

Out with gluten-free cake mixes and in with do-it-yourself gluten-free cake recipes like this gluten-free lemon cake. The secret of this lemon cake, though free of gluten, is still moist is mashed potatoes. Additionally, it is not even hard to prepare. It only needs 30 minutes to prepare and 40 minutes to bake. One tip that sure will make a difference. Since you will be using potato in this gluten free cake recipe, it is best if you use a potato riser for mashing the potatoes to make them smooth and silky.

When you are looking for a gluten-free recipe, you need to take note of the type of flour you can only use. There are several gain types that you can actually use. You can use corn, rice, potatoes as well as the one that is derived from cassava, tapioca flour.

Here are the things that you need:

* 1 bar of butter or 200 grams of softened butter
* 200 grams caster sugar
* 250 grams of mashed potatoes
* 175 grams of ground almonds
* 4 tablespoons granulated sugar
* 2 teaspoons baking powder (make sure that it is gluten-free)
* 4 eggs
* Lemons zest (not more than 3 lemons)
* Lemon juice (one lemon)

Here is what you need to do:

1. You need to preheat the oven at either Gas 4 or 1600C. You also need to line and butter a 20-centimeter cake tin.

2. Meanwhile, mix the caster sugar and butter. Beat them until they are light and fluffy. As you are beating them, gradually add the eggs, making sure that you have beaten them one by one before adding them gradually into the butter and sugar mixture.

3. Next, add the almonds, the mashed potatoes the baking powder as well as the lemon zest. Make sure that the mashed potatoes are finely mashed.

4. Pour the mixture into the cake pan. Make sure that the mixture is even and levelled. Bake for 40-45 minutes or it becomes golden brown. One way to determine that the cake is ready to remove from the oven is to insert a toothpick or a skewer in the middle of the cake. If it comes out clean, the cake is already cooked all throughout.

5. Cool the cake in room temperature. Transfer it to the wire rack after 10 minutes.
To make the lemon drizzle:

1. Dissolve the granulated sugar in the lemon juice. Make sure that the sugar has completely dissolved before pouring it on the cake. It is best to use spoon to spread the lemon drizzle over the cake. Make sure that you drizzle the mix down to the sides of the cake. Also, the cake should be completely cooled before slicing. This cake can be divided into 8 slices.

Learn more about gluten free cake mixes. Stop by Chris Praizner's site where you can find out all about best gluten free cake and what it can do for you.

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Baking Different Types Of Cake For Different Occasions

 By Emma Darling 

Photo: yahoo.getit.in
 
Birthdays can seem like they're all celebrated the same way, going out for a meal with friends or family and ending the night by going to the pub for a few drinks. For many this can become almost like a chore, and they'd much rather get together with a group of people and go out somewhere new that they've never been to before. As a way of changing different celebrations people could try a number of things, making suggestions is the most obvious, but also deciding to bake a different kind of cake, which could spark everyone into realising they always do the same thing for every occasion.
A victoria sponge cake is the staple English cake, and always appreciated by anyone who eats it. These are usually baked for people's birthdays, and can seem like a really boring cake once you've had it a few times. To mix things up, baking a different cake for birthdays is a great start, but ensure victoria sponge cake is still used for occasions such as christenings or baptisms, as these are occasions not many people celebrate, meaning the cake will always be appreciated.

Birthday cakes can be switched to something slightly more obscure, such as peach filled cupcakes. These are simple cupcakes made with a sponge recipe, however they contain a peach in the middle which is still slightly gooey, meaning there's a surprise at the centre of every cupcake for people to discover as soon as they bite into it. These can be lightly decorated with icing and candles to make up the numbers for a birthday cake, and they introduce fruit as a treat to children, a concept not commonly taut with foods such as chocolate so freely available.

Key lime pie, whilst not necessarily being a cake, can be used to spice up celebrations such as anniversaries for someone's parent's wedding or their own. Since the cake has no specific occasion to be used for, it could form the basis of meeting new people. As new neighbours move onto a street people could go over to them with a key lime pie as a sort of house warming present, since it has key in the name. This works as a great ice-breaker and could make people feel very welcomed onto the street of their new home.

Changing the use of cakes like this is the first step on the road to having a range of new and different celebrations for different occasions. It's always nice to slip back into the old routine and have victoria sponge with a birthday, but many people want to change things up, and this is a tame and subtle but effective way of doing so.

Emma Darling has written many articles about different baby topics, she's most recently been working on articles involving baking products from a baby boutique online as she is enjoying her baking with her two daughters.

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Cake Decorating With Edible Paper

By Theresa Happe  

Photo: bakedecoratecelebrate.com
 
We may be headed in the paperless direction in work, home and office environments, but not when it comes to desserts. If you can create it with paper, you can make it edible and a print, photo, pattern, words, etc. can be incorporated into cakes, cupcakes, cookies and other desserts. Edible paper is really an icing sheet, icing rolled out very thin. Anything you can do creatively with paper can be done with edible paper.
Printed Designs
The printing of any design, whether it's scanned or printed from your computer, can be done in edible ink on to an icing sheet. The icing sheets come in both legal and letter sizes to fit in your printer. The printer you use must be devoted to this type of printing because the toxins from regular ink should not touch food products.
The same technique applies for transforming any photo in your computer into an edible one. You've probably seen this on cakes from Baskin Robbins and other custom bakeries. You can create them yourself on a full icing sheet or icing sheets that have been pre-cut to standard photo sizes. You can then take those images and apply them to buttercream or fondant cakes or to gum paste. You can create a picture frame out of gum paste, too, which can stand on top of the cake.
Cutting
Icing sheets come in a variety of colors and in chocolate. They can be embossed, quilled, stamped, or simply cut with scissors to create any shape you want. Let's say you want to decorate a cake with hearts. You could take red and pink icing sheets and cut out hearts either with scissors or a punch, found in most craft stores.
For $10, you can get a bucket of different plastic craft scissors in Michaels. They have all different types of designs to create zigzags, wavy lines, etc. Any of these scissors can be used to cut out a border for the side of the cake, create a lattice pattern, create boxes, etc.
The list of possibilities is endless. In fact, if you look around your craft store, you'll find all kinds of inexpensive tools that can be used to transform icing sheets into fabulous designs for your baked goods.
If you're already experienced in cake decorating, you'll be amazed what you can do by combining printed icing sheets with isomalt. You can create jewelry by punching out circles of a design and then putting them in the silicone molds. You can cut out letters and apply isomalt over it to make interesting, 3D words or monograms.
Paper may be going out of style for most, but it's just picking up momentum in the cake decorating world.

Theresa Happe is a cake decorator and fan of Icing Images, where you can find edible paper and supplies for printing and cutting it.

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Tips on How to Successful Bake a Cake

By John H Cooper  

Photo: deliciouskitchen.com.a
 
I really do enjoy baking and like many people the enjoyment is just as much in the appearance of the finished articles and seeing how much people are enjoying it as how it tastes to me. I love the step-by-step preparations and that little panicked moment you get when you wonder whether it'll turn out how you plan. I think it's great that you can start off with a normal run of the mill Victoria sponge and turn it into something amazing which suits the occasion it's made for.
If you're new to baking or simply love learning new things I hope you enjoy the following suggestions and tips for baking. I'd love to hear anything you may have to suggest too as I always love to learn. Enjoy!
Things to consider when baking-
• Although nuts are lovely and the perfect accompaniment to many flavours in food if you're baking for people you don't know it's wise to avoid them. You may have someone who is allergic and it would be a shame to create a situation when you could simple miss them out of the recipe.
• Don't forget that cakes carry on baking for a few minutes after they come out of the oven so if they look almost done it's probably wise to bring them out and they'll finish off as they're cooling off on the rack. There is nothing worse than a dry cake!
• Always bake more if you're decorating them! Whether it's due to practicing your decorating design or clumsiness it's always wise to bake a few more cake popes or cupcakes just in case you have to through some away.
• Don't forget it's always worth spending an extra few minutes greasing your cake tins. Like most people I've been known to rush this part of the recipe; thinking it's not important and it's slightly boring but if this isn't done properly all the hard work you've gone to in baking the cake goes to waste because your cake will stick to the case and fall a part which is no good.
• Spend a little while decorating your cake, it doesn't have to be much but a little decoration on top really gives it the wow factor! People eat with their eyes before their mouths so if it looks amazing, it'll taste amazing!
• Learn when enough is enough! It's a little like decorating a Christmas tree, you can get a little carried away and before you know it, it looks a little overwhelming. Keep it simple yet beautiful.

For a variety of cake pop recipes please check out my website.

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World's Most Popular Cakes

By Jamie M. Turner 

Photo: podcast.ukma.kiev.ua

Cakes are probably one of the best inventions in the world. Perhaps the best invention since sliced bread - and not before because many cakes are reliant on bread for their mixture. There are countless different types of cakes and they are perfect for a range of different situations and to celebrate a range of different special occasions. It's not coincidence that it's traditional to enjoy cake on a birthday or at Christmas - it's because this is one of the most enjoyable and decadent ways to eat for a special occasion. Cakes are the bane of dieters and while many people have difficulty giving up their chocolate and alcohol, it's often the cakes that they really can't stop cheating with and that they find themselves constantly steeling slices of.
There are also many different kinds of cake and different people will have different favorites. There is no one who doesn't like cakes, because there are so many different kinds of cakes that you will be sure to like at least one of them.
Being able to supply cakes is something that everyone needs to be able to do to make a good host. If you want to make someone feel happy and comfortable in your home then offering them cakes is ideal. It's the perfect desert for after dinner and is expected to a degree, and if you don't offer a cake many people will be disappointed. Finally you need to be able to offer cakes on birthdays and Christmases and if you're a parent this is especially important.
To offer the most popular cakes you need to find either the best cakes manufacturer in your area, or you need to learn to make them. You also need to know which cakes are the most popular ones that you are likely to have the most luck with. Here are some of the world's most popular cakes to help you choose.
Chocolate Cake: This is the truly indulgent cake for those who aren't watching their weight. The combination of chocolate, sponge and icing is one that is hard to resist and just the texture of the creamy chocolate on the top and in the filling is enough to make most grown adults drool.
Sponge Cake: Sponge cake is light and sweet and this makes it perfect comfort food that doesn't leave you feeling very stuffed and heavy. It also goes perfectly with custard, and can form the basis of many other kinds of cake.
Apple Crumble: Many people like apple crumble because it allows them to believe that they are getting one of their five a day (though it's nice, attempts to convince yourself that apple cakes are healthy are somewhat futile). While this isn't true however it's certainly healthier than a lot of other cakes and it is also sweet in the natural and delicious way that apples are.
Carrot Cake: Many people are confused by the fact that a cake can contain carrot - a vegetable - and still be tasty. Actually though this contrast works perfectly and you'll find that it is completely delicious and something a bit different and not quite as sickly as many other cakes.

One thing I don't often look forwad to is birthday cakes that look good but don't taste yummy. I think the taste is more important, even when it comes to wedding cakes.

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Cake Decorating Ideas and Options

by: jakekennedy

Photo: cakeideas101.com

Cake decorating is a hobby and a delight for all seasons. What better way to keep the family happy than to bake them a sweet tasting cake for that special occasion, or maybe just to show you care.

It is important before you even begin to bake your cake that you decide what you are going to actually decorate it with. You have a variety of options.

Most cakes are commonly topped with icing or frosting of which there are a multitude, including Buttercream Icings, Caramel Icings, Peanut Butter Icings and many, many others. There is also fondant, marzipan and butter cream which are also types of icing. Other icings to consider which aren't so common are those made with a mixture of sugar and cream cheeses. The simplest icing you can make is called Glace and is basically made with water and icing sugar.

The ingredients of your icing consist of sugar, water, butter, egg whites and milk. I would imagine most homes would have a plentiful supply of these ingredients but it's always a good idea to check before you get started.

The finished cake can also be garnered with sprinkles which are little piece of candy and add a nice texture and decoration to your cake.

If you are going to turn your cake decorating into a business or even a common feature of your home life then there are tools you can use to enhance your cake decorating abilities. Two of the most used are piping bags and syringes. These are basic tools that shape the icing as it come from the bag onto the cake. Examples of tips for your piping bag or syringe are drop flower, leaf, basketweave and round.

You should also decide how many layers your cake is going to have. A wedding cake for example usually consists of multiple layers, each getting smaller as the cake reaches the top. We've all seen them! If you are baking a simple cake at home then you are going to keep it to one layer. Birthday cakes are usually a single layer also.

Layered cakes usually have some sort of filling in between each layer like cream, or custard.

Thinking of baking a cake for your kids next birthday party? These cakes should be made considering the points above but the occasion itself obviously has to be taken into consideration when choosing your toppings, covering and layering. Birthday cakes are usually made with colored frosting with some novelty toys used to put atop the cake.

Valentine cakes which wouldn't have been considered a few years ago are now becoming popular. In this case one would choose the appropriate color and topping for the occasion with those little added extras that are going to make the cake special.

Whatever the occasion, like any hobby, the more care you put into your cake decorating, the more you will ultimately get back.

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