Victoria Sponge Cake - EGGLESS Vegetarian/Vegan

You won't believe its vegan, a creamy rich sponge cake that everyone will love. Serves: 12 approx Preparation: 20 mins Type: Vegan, Vegetarian, Halal, Kosher pareve passover. Cooking time: 45 mins Ingredients: 6 tbsp potato starch, 175g self raising flour, 175g vegetable margarine, 175g white vegan sugar, ¾ cup water/soya milk, 2-3 tbsp jam, Extra margarine and flour for greasing Many thanks to Ms N Fisher for her help with this video.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXXoaI3Gb9M&hl=en

When Love Is In the Air

We all know about June weddings. Anniversaries
are also a great way to celebrate life. During the
warm weather, it is sometimes easier for families
to get together for one of the monumental dates -
such as 25, 50 and 75 years. They are special
indeed and need to be treated as such.

Buffets with a touch of elegance are always a sure
fire way to success. A menu featuring family favorites
as well as coconut ice cream balls tinted in the color
of the wedding party (taken from photographs if it is
a surprise). Assorted "tea" sandwiches, golden wedding
rings (recipe on bottom), and fruit or frosty punch. A bit
of lace and hearts (no, it's not corny) and a cake a bit on
the shy side of a wedding cake, but just as special.

The invitations should be silver for 25 years, gold for
50 years and diamond for anything over 60 years.
Candles, roses, and old photographs dress up the
table and add to the memories. Using the family
silver service and punch bowl will also give everyone
a feeling of special. The day, like the original wedding
day, will be remembered in the hearts of the wedding
couple, but also in all the guests that are invited.

There can be a gift table, but usually gifts are not necessary.
A nice touch would be if those invited gave something
nostalgic, something that the couple would find endearing,
or even amusing. If you go to second-hand shops, there are
so many items that are a token of the past. They can be
cleaned up, polished, painted, or decorated. These small
but dear gifts will just add more love to the occasion. So, when
anniversary bells ring, give the best anniversary buffet. It is
worth the work and the thanks will be the true smiles of
appreciation from everyone.

Wedding Bells:

1 8-oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened, maraschino
cherry juice, unsliced sandwich loaf
Thoroughly blend cream cheese w/enough cherry juice to make
it of spreading consistency. Slice the sandwich loaf thinly. With
a cookie cutter in the shape of a bell, cut the bread. Spread
filling on the cut-outs. Trim with cherry slices if desired.
A tasty treat that is also a fantastic decoration.

Golden Wedding Rings:

1 3-oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened, 3 tbs. mayonnaise, 1/2
cup chopped pecans, 1/2 cup drained crushed pineapple
Blend cream cheese and mayonnaise (or use salad dressing
of your choice). Add the nuts and pineapple.
Bake your favorite nut bread and use a 1-lb. coffee can.
Fill each can 2/3 full. When cool, remove from the can and
slice thinly. Remove center from each slice with a doughnut
cutter. Spread generously with the cream cheese mixture.
Or, you can use regular bread and slice with the doughnut
cutter, remove center, and spread with mixture. Lay on a bed
of parsley and you have a beautiful table setting that will add
eye appeal to your buffet.

©Arleen M. Kaptur
August, 2007

A History of the Elegant Flan

Mexican flan is one of the most popular and well-known desserts from south of the border. This dessert is a sweet custard topped with caramel sauce. It is made in the homes of rich and poor alike. It also has a long and colorful history that reaches all the way back to ancient Rome. Romans first began keeping chickens and when they ended up with a lot of eggs, they borrowed from the Greeks, mixed them up with cream, and came up with a custardy dish. They usually made theirs savory rather than sweet.

Rome shared this recipe as they conquered Europe. When Rome fell, the custard recipe they developed flourished throughout medieval Europe. As the recipe was adapted, more sweet versions were created. In Latin, this dessert was known as flado, for custard. In French, it became flaon and eventually it came to be called flan.

Eggs were considered to have healing benefits, so flan was served to aid the liver, kidneys, and chest as well as to increase fertility. Flan spread across Europe, satisfying hungry bellies everywhere. Spain developed a sweet version topped with a caramel sauce. The recipe was brought to the New World when the Spanish arrived in Mexico.

In Mexico, the flan was elevated to a new level. Mexican flans may be made in a special pan called a bain marie. This is a pan that has a spot for the flan as well as an attached outer pan for water. Using this pan, you can cook a flan either on top of the stove or in the oven. If you do not have a bain marie, you can use a dish made of porcelain, glass or any other material that will not cause the custard to stick. This dish can be set in a roasting pan with water inside and baked.

Ramekins are often used to make individual flans, even though the sight of a large flan is impressive. Flans are not difficult to make as long as the instructions are followed carefully. The ingredients are simple and the results are elegant. What more could you want from a dessert?

Vanilla is the traditional flavor of a Mexican flan. Only use fresh vanilla bean or the best of real extracts! You can find other flavors, however like pistachio, coconut, pumpkin, lemon, or almond. All flavors are topped with the delicious caramel sauce that is the true signature of a Mexican flan.

Flan is obviously one of the most famous Mexican desserts. It is known the world over for its creaminess that cools the palate after eating a spicy dish. Serve flan as a wonderful ending to any meal. Not only is it sweet, it is nourishing as well. Those eggs and milk are good for you.

So, try making a flan at home. Go ahead, do not be afraid. This simple dessert can take some practice to truly master, but it is worth it to give your family and friends an elegant dessert. Serve it up on special occasions or just because it sounds good. You will be adding flan to your list of desserts that are tried and true.

Famous Cookbooks on Gourmet Cakes

Gourmet cakes are delectable desserts that can be bought in stores. It can be given as a gift, as a dessert, or for anniversaries, birthdays and other special celebrations. You can also bake one yourself and save a lot from it. You can look into recipe books to guide you.

Here are some of the famous gourmet cake recipe cookbooks:

Junior's Cheesecake Cookbook

This cheesecake recipe cookbook made by Beth Allen and Alan Rosen contains 50 delectable recipes for cheesecakes, New York style.

This is based from the best cheesecake selling restaurant known as Junior's Restaurant. They are now revealing their all-time favorite recipes so that everyone can enjoy their award winning cheesecakes. Some of the cheesecake recipes they included are the All Cream Cheese, On a Sponge Cake Crust, and No Sour Cream among others. This is from the Junior's Original New York Cheesecake, which started everything, up to the cheesecakes with a twist in flavor like Rocky Road, Pumpkin Mousse and Banana Fudge.

It also includes small cheesecake recipes like Little Fellas to their newest creation, their Skyscraper Cheesecakes with layers of cake flavors like Lemon Coconut, Carrot Cake and Boston Cream Pie among others.

This recipe book was released just last October 2007. It is illustrated with English texts. It has about 176 pages. The author of the book is Alan Rosen, Harry Rosen's grandson. Hence, Harry Rosen is the founder of Junior's Restaurant situated in Times Square, Grand Central Station and Brooklyn.

The Cake Mix Doctor

This recipe book was made by no less than Anne Byrn. The book mainly focuses on cake recipes with a touch of doctoring for the actual package. This is thru touches of cocoa powder, sweet butter, poppy seeds, and eggs, vanilla yoghurt, grated lemon zest and sherry that make up the delicious Charleston Poppy Seed Cake.

With the recipes in this book, even beginners can learn recipes like Toasted Coconut sour Cream Cake and Devilishly Good Chocolate Cake to Caramel Cake, Holiday Yule Log and various cheesecake recipes. There are also sheet cakes, coffee cakes, bars and brownies and pound cakes.

The book comprises of 175 quick and easy-to-cook cake recipes. The foods are tender, moist, deep, rich and even complexly flavored. This is all thanks to Anne Byrn, a self-described purist and award-winning food writer. Her recipes promote ease-of-use, convenience and dependability. It also has a Q&A portion where in all possible questions and tips about cooking cakes are indicated. This recipe book comprises of 464 pages in paperback material. It was published last November 1999 in English text.

Southern Cakes: Sweet and Irresistible Recipes for Everyday Celebrations

This recipe book was written by renowned cooking teacher, Nancie McDermott. Residing in North Carolina, she was able to make this book possible with the help of Becky Luigart-Stayner, a photographer of various magazines and living in Alabama.

You will love the cake recipes of Southerners, especially the chocolate goodness of the Mississippi Mud. This book consists of 65 recipes like Peanut Cake, Humble Pear Bread, Jelly Rolls and Jam Cakes among others. It even has a whole chapter for coconut and chocolate cakes. You will also learn from its section on Baking 101 about cake basics and finishing touches such as frosting the cakes. It also has tips on storage, assuring fresh and long-lasting flavors for every slice.

It was published last June 2007 in English. It has 168 pages and paperback bound.

Recipes For Delicious Pies That Are Easy to Make - Gelatin Fruit & Cream and No Crust Coconut Pies

Pies make wonderful desserts but some people think pies are hard to make and stay away from them, usually because they have trouble making the pastry crust. Here are some pie recipes that are easy but very tasty. Surprise your family and friends with one of these pies are your next get-together! Choose from an easy Gelatin Fruit and Cream Pie made in a graham cracker crust or this No Crust Coconut Pie which makes its own crust while baking.

GELATIN FRUIT AND CREAM PIE

4-oz cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1/2 cup thawed frozen whipped topping
1 6-oz graham cracker pie crust
1 pkg (4-serving size) gelatin (use flavor to compliment selected fruit)
1 pkg (4-serving size) vanilla cook and serve pudding and pie filling
1 1/4 cups water
2 cups sliced fruit (your choice)

Mix together the cream cheese and powdered sugar in a large bowl until well blended. Stir in the whipped topping. Spread in the crust and refrigerate.

In a medium saucepan, mix together the gelatin, pudding mix, and water until smooth. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture just comes to a boil. Remove from the heat and allow to cool for 5 minutes. Stir in your selected fruit. Spoon the mixture over the cream cheese layer. Refrigerate 4 hours or until set. Garnish with whipped cream and a slice of the selected fruit, if desired. Store leftover pie in the refrigerator.

NO CRUST COCONUT PIE

4 eggs
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 cup butter, melted
1/2 cup flour
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups milk
7-oz flaked coconut

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

In a medium mixing bowl, mix together the eggs, sugar, butter, flour, vanilla, and milk. Mix together well. Stir in the coconut with a spoon. Pour into 2 9-inch pie pans. Bake at 325 degrees for 45 to 50 minutes.

Enjoy!

How to Create Various Types of Wind Chimes

In Ancient China, wind chimes were used in the temples and official ceremonies. Later on, this instrument found itself moving to the Eastern Asian neighbors as an instrument that played part in Feng Shui.

It was believed to carry good health, fortune and prosperity through the beautiful tunes it created as the wind passes through the chimes.

Wind chimes are is easily assembled. Often, materials vary from natural stones, bamboo, coconut or sea shells. Others use steel, ceramics, metal or glass to form different elegant styles. Still others combined a number of materials to come up with lantern chimes.

A guide in the art of crafting wind chimes

In coming up with the chimes, hollow wood tubes or rods are employed and painted with varnish. Painting is important to keep the materials safe from the destructive elements of nature such as heat and water since they are are placed outside of the house. With paintings, wind chimes are assured of servicing for a long time.

Glass is one of the most favorite materials used in making wind chimes due to its easy availability and it comes in different forms: bottles, crystal and depressed, or even better, vintage. These glasses are then tied up using strings that should not easily break because if they do not, the glasses which it is supposed to tie up would easily fall to the ground breaking these glasses.

To create deep solid tones, one should use metal as the material. By adjusting the angle of certain placements of the components and the way the materials are tied up, the tune alters. Plus, the kind of metal affects the tune.

Now that you have an idea on the materials, you may want to choose your own kind of wind chimes from the idea above.

To provide you with variety, you can check out some magazines or periodicals, then make a list of the necessary materials that fancy you. After the materials are acquired, you are now ready to create your own tune using the wind chimes.

Best Cupcake Recipe - Part 2

www.momisblogging.com , It's a versatile recipe - I have omitted the white chocolate out before and used the sponge to make apple sponge - it was YUM!, http



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTMa0QEgUPE&hl=en