Hints and Allegations


Hints and Allegations

Baking is really easy most of the time. The hard part is following the instructions. As with nearly most things, practice makes perfect.

You do NOT have to put your bowl and beaters in the freezer prior to making whip cream.

Vanilla Sauce=Creme Anglaise
Sweetened Whip Cream=Chantilly Cream

It is always advisable to coat your mixing bowl with lemon juice prior to making a meringue, just to make sure there isn't any fat left in the bowl (say from the last buttercream you made).

In my humble opinion, American Buttercream is the reason why many of us don't like buttercream. Take the time to learn how to make Italian buttercream; it's worth it.

Invest in an ice cream maker (I got mine for $35 on sale during the off season). The difference will amaze you.

Regardless of what Food Network chefs and my own instructors have taught, you can refrigerate batter overnight that contains baking soda or baking powder in them and still achieve a good rise in your baked products.

Pre-scooping cookie dough and freezing them until your ready to bake them off is a very good thing indeed.


2.24.2011

A new way to make bread

Wow! It's been awhile. I am finally recovering from a sourly mix of pneumonia and bronchitis.

Needless to say, I've spent a lot of time lounging around reading. One of the books that has intrigued me is Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day by Jeff Hertzberg and Zoe Francois. I have made their master recipe, and it was quite good. I really like the idea that I premake my dough and then pull it out 40 minutes or so before baking. However, I will not be convinced until I try some of their other recipes (these are very small loaves, and I need to play around with the recipes). The secret is that you use a wet dough. It is almost poulish-ish (starter) like in consistency. Stay tuned.

Other books read during the last month:
Garlic and Sapphires - Ruth Reichl
Watier Rant - The Waiter (Steve Dublanica)
Zingerman's Guide to Good Eating - Ari Weinzweig
Major Barbara - George Bernard Shaw
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