For the same reason that powdered-sugar-and-water “five finger” icings taste floury and chalky: uncooked cornstarch. Powdered sugar is about 3% cornstarch, which keeps it from clumping up into a solid mass in the bag. Normally, because powdered sugar is used as a garnish, dusted onto cookies, waffles and the like, we don’t notice it. However […]
READ ONMen eat more meat, frozen pizzas, frozen burgers and frozen burritos while women eat more fresh fruits and vegetables, a new study says. However men are also more likely to eat asparagus, brussels sprouts, peas and peanuts. Who knew? www.nytimes.com/aponline/us/AP-Diet-Eating-by-Sex.html?scp=1&sq=who+likes+asparagus&st=nyt
READ ONNext stop on the fondant tour (which I guess has only two stops) is rolled fondant. Rolled fondant has become incredibly popular over the last twenty years or so. It first rose to prominence in the wedding cake industry, draped over large cakes to give them a perfectly smooth appearance. Now of course you see […]
READ ONI couldn’t agree more. Check out this very charming article in this week’s New York Times.
READ ONI hope other history buff/bakers out there are as impressed as I am with the new HBO series John Adams. The first two episodes began airing this week, with more to follow. I confess I’ve lingered over both the last few evenings, savoring every last historical morsel. It’s well past time someone gave Mr. Adams […]
READ ONSo when last we left off I’d made a batch of poured fondant and left it sitting in a plastic bag on the countertop. Today I’d like to show you how you use that block of sugar putty on an actual cake. Of course most of the time bakers don’t use poured fondant on large […]
READ ONOh yes, sugar and fondant. When I left I was about to answer a question that had come in, specifically: if sugar turns opaque as it cools, then how are clear hard candies made? Ah yes, very interesting question. For the answer it helps to look at a chart that shows the various phases that […]
READ ONIt’d be fun to hold a yearly contest for the least Irish version of Irish soda bread. For trust me ladies and germs, nobody — not even the Irish — want to eat the real thing. Taste it and you’ll understand why. Real Irish soda bread is dry, hard, mealy and packs a nasty alkaline […]
READ ONAll you non-Catholics out there may not be aware of it, but St. Patrick’s Day has been canceled for this year. Yes you heard right. Easter being so early, St. Patrick’s Day falls on the first day of Holy Week, so the Pope made the executive decision to ban the observance of St. Patrick’s day […]
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