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Using Flavored Chocolate in your Designs

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 14:06:52 +0000

By Matt Kemberling on Flickr

Chocolate seems to be an ingredient that combines with pretty much any flavor combination with great results including bacon in one bizarre cupcake experiment which was too trendy to be a long lasting traditional flavor. This seems to be the idea behind a company called Komforte Chockolates which has come out with some rather amazing flavor profiles. These could be exactly the type of ingredient that elevates cakes to something truly unique when used as an ingredient. Simply try your favorite cake recipe with the addition of one of these bars instead of your usual chopped chocolate and see what the results are in the end.

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Tips for Tempering Chocolate

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 13:53:20 +0000

By Robyn Lee on Flickr

Before wonderful cake decorating supplies were available for budding cake designers we had to do a great deal of work ourselves such as tempering chocolate. The reason we temper chocolate is to create a shiny, crisp product. This was not a job that most people attempted right off the bat because tempering had the reputation of being quite difficult. It actually isn't if you follow a few rules and the resulting chocolate can be used to create wonderful design elements such as run outs, interesting gnarled tree trucks and sculpted roses....

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Interesting Cake Idea

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 13:37:59 +0000

By Eldriva on Flickr

This cake looks like something out of a fairy tale wedding and is simply too fragile appearing to cut. Wedding cakes can have completely different looks and can be covered completely with decorations such as cookies, feathers and shards of white chocolate. Indulge yourself and have a cake that truly reflects who you are and your theme.

Quitting your Job with a Cake

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 22:48:14 +0000

Have you ever thought about quitting your job using a cake? Probably not, but this is exactly what a man named Chris Holmes used to resign from his job in the United Kingdom Border Force in England to pursue a career in cake decorating. It was probably the best letter of resignation his boss ever received!This was also a brilliant marketing tool for anyone starting a cake design business.

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Breaking a Cake Record

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 22:25:08 +0000

By Poppalina on Flickr

Many people find it difficult to create large cakes that feed about 100 people in their ovens at home because large sheet pans REALLY don't fit in a standard oven. So how would you go about creating a cake that weighs more than 20000 pounds? This is exactly what Dana Herbert will be attempting in October in Las Vegas with the help of several other chefs. Dana Herbert is a chef who won "Cake Boss: Next Great Baker".

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A Winning Cake

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 22:03:42 +0000

By Ween Nee on Flickr

What is one of the most well-known quotes in history concerning cake? Of course it would be the often misquoted Marie Antoinette's "Let them eat cake" ...

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Is the Cupcake Trend Over

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 21:31:53 +0000

By fiveforefun in Flickr

Everyone likes cupcakes, right? Well the businesses that have cropped up everywhere devoted to these sweet tempting treats seems to point to that fact. Cupcakes speak to most people about childhood and there is something undeniably charming and precious about delectable cake topped with swirling peaks of icing. Shows such as Cupcake Wars have driven the interest in cupcakes and created a trend for weddings and even corporate events.

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Cakes that Shock

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 21:16:41 +0000

By Charles Burns on Flickr

Most cakes are designed to be beautiful and pleasing to the eye; however, sometimes cakes are meant to shock and be frankly disgusting. These cakes have realistic dismembered body parts, zombie faces and creepy crawlies made from fondant, gum paste and piped icing. Some people even have these types of designs for their trendy wedding cake if the theme and personality of the couple is a good match.

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Nut Free Cakes

Sun, 31 Mar 2013 02:28:28 +0000

Many people seem to have nut allergies these days which can limit the ingredients in many desserts and cakes. I know my kids have been banned from taking peanut butter sandwiches or any other nut laden snacks to school until this past month when they switched schools. It is a luxury to be able to whip up such an easy lunch in the morning.However, since there are so many nut allergies it is important to understand the difference between nuts.

All nuts are not created equally. Peanuts are actually not nuts but rather are legumes, similar to peas and beans, but the protein in them has the same structure as nuts. This means many people who have peanut allergies are also allergic to tree nuts such as pecans, almonds and hazelnuts.These types of allergies are potentially fatal so it is important to be aware of all aspects of producing your cake to avoid accidental contamination. Things to look at that you might not think of could include:

Ingredients such as flours and oils that may contain nuts
Equipment you have previously used with nuts or peanuts
Ingredients produced in facilities that also processes nuts
Ingredients such as coconut,gianduja, cake mixes, candy, flavored coffee and some alcohols

Cakes for Men

Sun, 31 Mar 2013 02:10:05 +0000

It will be my fathers birthday in just over a week and I want to make him a special cake because number one he is my father and number two he will be a robust 78 years old this year. That deserves a special cake in my book.

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