Welcome
It certainly has been a busy summer. Gone way too quickly. It seems that only a few days ago I was making plans to relax and have some fun. Now its time to get back to reality and get to work. I am happy to say that work now includes the Cakewalk Chicago retail in Chicago. The store will open officially in October and will be full of great tools for cake and cookie decorating, candy making, gifts for your favorite baker and goodies to inspire you to bake up some fun.
I spent much of the summer searching for great ingredients and equipment and improving my skills in classes from some of the best sugar artist instructors. I even visited no less than 10 cake decorating stores in 5 different states to be sure that I didn't miss a thing.
You'll be amazed by the tons of great products I've found from manufacturers like Wilton, Lorann, Sassafras, Ateco; and hard to find items like great tasting chocolate fondant, luster dusts, European gumpaste tools, heirloom quality baking equipment and much more. You're gonna like what you see.
Lori
Cakewalk Chicago and Edible Bouquets, Inc.
Making Every Celebration a Success
Whether it's for birthdays, anniversaries, a new baby, someone special, holidays, corporate gifts, or for no occasion at all -- the perfect place to find that perfect gift is at 1805 West 95th Street (95th and Wood) in the Historic Beverly Community. . Beginning October 2004 Cakewalk Chicago. will shacking up with Edible Bouquets, Inc. When you enter this vanilla scented wonderland you will be inspired to let Cakewalk, Inc. help you to "Bake Up Some Memories" or Give the sweetest gift of an Edible Bouquet . Learn more by visiting the Edible Bouquets Inc. website at www.1985.candybouquet.com or www.cakewalkchicago.com.
Cake Club Meeting -- It's About Time!!!
Saturday, September 25th 2:00 pm
1805 W. 95th Street (95th and Wood)
This meeting will be a great opportunity to meet others interested in baking and decorating Even if you don't have much experience we look forward to seeing you there.
Information from other cake clubs will be available and discussion will center around how to organize and maintain a new Chicago Cake Club. Refreshments will be provided Please RSVP to info@cakewalkchicago.com if you would like to attend. Looking forward to seeing you there !!!
Food Facts
Will the Real Vanilla Please stand up?
When buying extracts should you splurge for the label that reads pure vanilla? The unadulterated version may cost up to twice as much as the imitation, but the payoff is in the flavor. Natural vanilla extract is the real deal and is made from the fruit of a giant orchid from Madagascar, Mexico, or the Caribbean. The harvested vanilla beans are crushed and steeped with alcohol to create pure vanilla extract. Artificial or imitation vanilla is made entirely from synthetic sources, most of which are by-products of wood pulp in paper manufacturing. Vanilla flavoring is a combo of real and artificial vanilla. adapted from The Inquisitive Cook
Check out the May 1995 issue of Cooks Illustrated to for a rating of vanilla extracts.
What's Cooking?
Vanilla Sugar
1. Split one vanilla bean in half and scrape the seeds from each half
2. Cut the two halves into about ½" pieces.
3. Add the pieces and the seeds to three cups of granulated sugar in a glass jar.
4. Tightly close and store for one week, shaking occasionally.
5. Sift the sugar as you use it, returning the beans and seeds to the jar. Add more sugar to the jar. This may be repeated over and over for 6 months or so, or until the flavor of the vanilla bean weakens.
Vanilla Sugar can be used for flavoring fruit and beverages such as coffee and tea and can be used as replacement for vanilla in recipes calling for both vanilla and sugar and is great in Panna Cotta . Panna Cotta, a molded chilled dessert popular throughout Italy, is easy to make and can be prepared in advance. It looks and tastes wonderful with fresh berries or serve with your favorite chocolate sauce.
Panna Cotta
1 cup whole milk
1 tablespoon unflavored powdered gelatin
3 cups whipping cream
1/3 cup vanilla sugar
Pinch salt
2 cups assorted fresh berries
Place the milk in a small bowl. Sprinkle the gelatin over. Let stand for 3 to 5 minutes to soften the gelatin. Pour milk mixture into a heavy saucepan and stir over medium heat just until the gelatin dissolves but the milk does not boil, about 5 minutes. Add the cream, honey, sugar, and salt. Stir until the sugar dissolves, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove from the heat. Pour into 6 cups or ramekins so that they are 1/2 full. Cool slightly. Refrigerate until set, at least 6 hours.
To serve panna cotta, dip the cups in hot water for 10 seconds, then turn the panna cottas out onto dessert plates (or, serve in the cups). Top each panna cotta with berries
In this Issue
Did Ya Know?
Winners Circle
Food Facts
Recipe Corner
Need A Reason to Celebrate?
Inspiration for 2005
for ideas for your next occasion check out the Cookies for Her Majesty on page 39..made by yours truly for this publication.
Winners Circle
What a great way to develop your skills and get cool prizes.
• Kaiser Bakeware Recipe Contest enter to win free bakeware at http://www.kaiserbakeware.com
• Kids submit a recipe that is fun to make, has interesting ingredients, and tastes good and win a free membership in the Kids Cooking Club.
http://www.kidscook.com/funstuff.asp
•"Mom's Best" Cake Recipe win a three-night spa getaway visit http://magazines.ivillage.com/countryliving
Did Ya Know?
Vanilla is the only edible fruit of the orchid family, the largest family of flowering plants in the world.
Put a little vanilla in tomato sauces to neutralize the acidity
Burn your tongue on pizza or other hot food?
Put a few drops of vanilla on your tongue to ease the pain and soothe the burn.
For more fun vanilla info visit www.vanilla.com
Do you have?
A cherished baking memory?
A favorite Frosting?
A great recipe to share?
A great way to celebrate birthdays?
A photo of your decorating work?
We like to hear from the people who take the time to visit us Online. Take some time to sign the guest book. Your feedback and input is important and your comments, ideas, suggestions and requests play an important part in how Cakewalk, Inc. can serve you better and we love to hear about your baking projects. It’s important to us for you to let us know what products, services, or classes we can offer that will help you in your creative efforts.
At the end of each month, one name, from all of those who have signed The Guest Book during the month, will be drawn to receive a candy making kit. Click on the link below to enter to win. Your Page
Fall Class Schedule
Wilton Course 1
Four 2 hour sessions
Wednesdays - November 3, 10, 17, 24
Creepy Candies Parent/Child
Eyeball Bon - Bons, Witchy Wands and more
Saturday, October 30th 11-12:30 and 2-3:30
Cookie Decorating Essentials
Saturday, December 4th
Kids Cookie Decorating
Saturday, December 18th
For Sale
Cake-n-Bake
Webb City, Mo
Cake Decorating Supply Shop with residence.
This shop comes fully stocked with great customers, full inventory and a very impressive personal collection of the owners bakeware and decorating tools. For more information call Jeanette Perry 417-673-8337
