February 25th, 1999 topic tonight:  OPEN MIKE -  ASK QUESTIONS OR TELL US AN EXPERIENCE YOU HAVE HAD"

This chat was OPEN MIKE, so I have simply arranged the log so you could read it better. 

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Jimmilton4:  Looking for a pattern for sunflowers for a birthday cake I am desperate
CCChefDol:  Jim...have you checked the Wilton yr book? People make sunflowers all dif. ways.
Jimmilton4:   no where can i find the book? I have looked in all the book stores around here but found nothing
CCChefDol:  Yr book is on sale at http://www.sugarcraft.com or at your local shop. You need to try cake supply shops
Jimmilton4:  I have tried the cake stores here in town but they do not carry anything flowers. They do not have any
CCChefDol:  not flowers...directions for making them
Jimmilton4:  can you give an idea on how to make a sunflower ?
CCChefDol:  I'd make them right on the cake either with tip 81 or a star tip...pull straight out from the center in either case...real dif. methods those 2
CCChefDol:  ...anyone make sunflowers here?
Cakestmper:  Use a leaf tip, Jimmil, pull out long yellow leaves in a circle
CCChefDol:  ...from the center out, right? cake
Cakestmper:  right, dolores

Roca Karen:  wanna know my favorite cake in whole WORLD? Angel food, whip cream frosting, cherries on top
Cakestmper:  Yes, Roca, don't keep us in suspense!
Cakestmper:  that is heavenly, but needs chocolate sauce
CCChefDol:  ...good light dessert Roca
Roca Karen:  OHOHOHOH Hershey's dribbled on top!

CCChefDol:  CCChefpwd couldn't be here tonight. She is trying to catch up on a cake she must have done in the morning...that isn't even iced yet. She is frustrated as you might guess
GOOO8:  late nite for Earlene then
CCChefDol:  all night I bet GOOO
Cakestmper:  If the lights burning late, I'm working on a cake
CCChefDol:  she even put one cake in the freezer and forgot - its frozen. She must thaw it before she can use it

Tuppy 2:  Dolores,  Do you know who Jan Svenson is??  She's from England...
CCChefDol:  not for sure Tuppy, why?
Tuppy 2:  I was just wondering if anyone has taken classes from her....
CCChefDol:  Tuppy, does she come to the US?
Tuppy 2:  yes...
CCChefDol:  then she is probably a pro. you could take 10 classes all on the same subject and still learn something...we all do different
Tuppy 2:  The cake club here in Phoenix is having mini classes this weekend and she will be teaching..
CCChefDol:  Tuppy, those mini classes are fantastic...take all you can...thats where I met bridal...and
Tuppy 2:  I'm taking the gumpaste classes...My first attempt...
CCChefDol:  thats good Tuppy...one thing we ALL have our own way of doing
Bonnie1066:  whats gumpaste?
CCChefDol:  gumpaste is like candy clay. You can mold dolls, flowers and all sorts of things with it.
LuvaKat:  gumpaste is edible fimo

CAKES:
Roca Karen:  what about the Jell-O drizzled cakes, anyone have suggestions?
Cakestmper:  Jell-O poke cake is great, gotta keep in fridge
Mslgeo:  Roca sounds like too much Jell-O
StarCook 1:  Never did the Jell-O one only the pudding poke ones
Cakestmper:  Should be cool, at least.
Roca Karen:  do you do the pudding same way?
Cakestmper:  Yes, star
Roca Karen:  I want my 9 yr old to do it for Easter
Cakestmper:  Great start for child, use cool whip for topping
StarCook 1:  Did the pudding poke one for my friends from Japan
Roca Karen:  YES!
Bag1321:  Karen..came in late...what cake for Easter?
Roca Karen:  Jell-O or pudding...9 yr old making

CAKE:
Bonnie1066:  i made a cake this week and it was unbelievable - only has two ingredients. It was soooo light and delicious...-just a box of angel food cake mix and a 20oz. can of pineapple. Mix those two together and put in a 13x9 pan bake 350 for 25 min. When cooled and ready to serve top w/coolwhip. Its awesome. That's it.....people at my work devoured it in 15 min. First time i ever made it ..got recipe on Internet
Bridal1:  Yes, Bonnie, my daughter has made that cake.  Very good.
Asb81:  mix dry angel food cake with pineapple, thats it? What kind of pineapple, chunks or crushed?
Bonnie1066:  just canned pineapple in juice crushed
MHohimer:  I assume you don't grease the pan - and is it a one-step angel food?  Crushed pineapple?
Bonnie1066:  i just sprayed the pan with a little pam
Asb81:  crushed pineapple or just pineapple juice
Bonnie1066:  crushed pineapple in own juice 20oz can

TECH CAKE QUESTION:
Tuppy 2:  Does anyone have trouble with that bulge on the sides of the cake??
CCChefDol:  tuppy...put the 2 layers together and leave them UNICED several hours... and never have humps on the cakes... and bottoms UP
LeighDigg:  why un-iced dol?  What does that do specifically?
CCChefDol:  Why...the HUMP is because the cake settles and pushes the icing out...wait til it settles first and it won't have the bulge
Tuppy 2:  Someone told me to mix some cake and Icing together.... then frost the side of the cake with it... your supposed to use the tops you cut off....
Themecakes:  Dol - crumb coating is o.k. though right?
CCChefDol:  I never do. I crumb coat and go back and finish all in one step
Bridal1:  I never crumb coat Tuppy
Themecakes:  I thought crumb coating was to 'seal' in the flavor and prevent cake from getting stale??
CCChefDol:  Theme...that's like putty, making the cake nice and smooth I think

Jimmilton4:  does anyone know how to use the metric measurements because I have wonderful recipe for a Swedish Princess Torta
CCChefDol:  Jimm...the metric wonder cup does this for us yes

TECH CAKE QUESTION 2:
Bonnie1066:  what would cause a cake to fall in the center -sides stay up center falls?
CCChefDol:  Bonnie...either not done...or you added some wrong ingredient...or missed adding one
Bridal1:  Bonnie, probably cake not done in center before you took out.
Bonnie1066:  seems to be done when its cut
LuvaKat:  bonnie...cake not done
Bonnie1066:  top was really brown though -looked too done
CCChefDol:  cake is not done...what recipe are you using Bonnie?
Jimmilton4:  you need to get magi- cake so you wont have a hump in the cake
CCChefDol:  to test for doneness BONNIE: press your finger lightly in the center...if the cake BARELY springs back up, its done...take it out
Bridal1:  I prefer to use the cake tester for doneness, but whatever works.
CCChefDol:  I sure don't have time for cake testers!
CCChefDol:  let us know Bonnie
Bonnie1066:  i will

DOS-TEXAS:
CCChefDol:  I'm doing a wedding cake demo at DOS in Lubbock TX on March 7th. I'll be icing the cakes and the whole bit...anyone that can attend
Cake Wmn:  Dol, is it the same demo from convention?
CCChefDol:  yes Cake...same...unless Earlene does something different LOL...she's baking my cakes
Swtelegnt:  that was a great demo Dol!
Themecakes:  Dol - you should look into getting 'live video' for your website.
CCChefDol:  we have a video...sells good but I think its boring...3 hours. I think live video would crash my site for some. One gal can't open pages now
Themecakes:  3 hours!!  How much??  (I don't think it would be boring)... i don't think I talk enough while I do the cake
CCChefDol:  i don't know prices. Its on the web site on BOOKS

BUTTER-REFRIGERATION:
GOOO8:  Some of the various icing recipes I've seen call for a decent amount of butter.  Does this mean you should refrigerate the cake for safety or can it stay out a few days? I use water usually but was thinking of trying something different
CCChefDol:  GOOO...butter tastes wonderful, just don't expect the decorations to be quite as precise
LuvaKat:  refrigerate it
Themecakes:  gooo - I think the sugar acts as a natural preservative....
CCChefDol:  no, butter won't melt...it just melts in the bag and causes trouble...won't spoil or  anything
GOOO8:  Butter sure makes it soft.
Themecakes:  I just tested some buttercream I made over a week ago - it still tastes/smells/seems fine!!
GOOO8:  thanks, that's what I needed to know.
LuvaKat:  and expensive
CCChefDol:  you could even use milk in icing and it won't spoil
OnlineHost:  Icing Wiz has entered the room.
CCChefDol:  theme...it would eventually smell strong...like shortening but never spoil
LeighDigg:  i use whipping cream and it doesn't spoil
CCChefDol:  if you add powdered sugar to whipping cream it will last a few hours. I've done that

PISTACHIO BUTTERCREAM:
Lappey1:  does anyone have a great recipe for pistachio buttercream
Icing Wiz:  Pistachio buttercream? what about pistachio mousse?
Icing Wiz:  16 oz whipping cream/pkg instant pistachio pudding
Lappey1:  don't know if it will hold up
Icing Wiz:  It is very thick and you could probably use it to ice the outside of a cake
Themecakes:  what flavor cake would you use w/pistachio?
Icing Wiz:  If I can use it in Florida I am sure you can use it where you live
LeighDigg:  pistachio cake - i use the pudding in a butter recipe cake mix
Icing Wiz:  white/pistachio/butter cake
LeighDigg:  i use the mousse for filling

HANDMADE FLOWERS:
Lappey1:  does anyone do handmade flowers
CCChefDol:  Lappey...from gumpaste maybe? At the last teacher's meeting we always have a lesson of some kind. Last time we learned wilton's new method for making gp roses
Swtelegnt:  lappey, witch kind of hand made flowers are you looking for - which flowers are you interested in?
Lappey1:  yes, gumpaste. I'm interested in how you price
CCChefDol:  Lappey...they need to cost more than real flowers.
CCChefDol:  Earlene and I will be doing the chat together week after next at her house!
Lappey1:  I won't miss it
CCChefDol:  Its kinda easy for me to price GP flowers since we also sell them. We import them.... and we just charge the same if we make our own too. I think an orchid is $5.00 or 6
Lappey1:  I wish people knew the work that went into them! I'm tired of whiners!
CCChefDol:  Lappey...you just must be patient and build slowly...Earlene sure built a good business and she gets paid well now
CCChefDol:  I've heard people say they did rolled fondant cakes for the price of buttercream just to get started
MasterKake:  Earlene is a wonderful person
MasterKake:  thanks for showing us how to cut a wedding cake in the magazine
CCChefDol:  Master...where did you see this? ACD?

LauraJMD:  Dol.. did you talk about a pan coating before....flour.. oil..???
CCChefDol:  pan coating...we all have our own special formula...
CCChefDol:  but mine is equal parts flour and Crisco, then cooking oil til just right
LauraJMD:  Dol... what consistency should it be?
CCChefDol:  not runny, thinner than Crisco. Whip it with mixer...til it looks like cake batter consistency. It'll work great Laura...but I use Karp's professional pan spray now

MawsCookin:  I need recipes for  biscotti
CCChefDol:  Maws...biscotti is all over internet but I don't have it handy now

ICES:
CCChefDol:  hi Bridal...wonderful you are back!!!! How was midyear?
Bridal1:  Midyear was very nice and Detroit will be a great convention place.
CCChefDol:  bridal...I can't wait for Detroit. There is a BIG shop there I want to visit...at least I he
Bridal1:  Millie needs all your registrations - demonstrations list is almost ready and you can be first to receive the demo forms to get tickets.  Cannot get demo tickets until you register
CCChefDol:  bridal...did you get to look around at shops or anything?
Bridal1:  No, Dol, we never got out of the hotel.  It is 72 floors high!  I was on 64th!
CCChefDol:  Bridal...I promise I'll send in mine asap...got to get the class done first
CCChefDol:  LOL...but there was an elevator, right?
Bridal1:  Oh, yes, lots of elevators.  If there was a fire, we'd be in big trouble!
Bridal1:  Not sure Millie - still not great, but been up most of day - not doing anything though. I was reminding them to get registrations in as demo letters are about ready.
Bridal1:  I think the Reps had a fun time, though.  They made table favors and lots of stuff.
CCChefDol:  Lets all welcome our ICES president>>>KIM FESS!
Kimfess:  It went really well.  Thanks, Delores.
Bridal1:  Yeah for Kim!!!
Kimfess:  Hi everybody!
Bridal1:  GOOOO, we're sure glad you're coming to KC
GOOO8:  I want to meet all of you patient teachers and friends.
Bridal1:  Were you at Midyear Master?
MasterKake:  You got that right we have big plans for you in 2000
Bridal1:  What's your name Master?
MasterKake:  Yes I was at MID YEAR Did you like the valentine boxes? I'm Annie Howard
Kimfess:  The valentine boxes at Midyear were beautiful. Thanks!
Bridal1:  Hi Annie.  Yes, I loved the Valentine Celebration and the Sweet Adelines
Bridal1:  I can't remember you by name Annie, but hope you are coming to KC
MasterKake:  I'll be in KC Annie
Bridal1:  What committee are you on Annie?
MasterKake:  Tours

SweeteJstc:  what's the best way to round a dummy for a fondant cake?
SugrBakrs:  I usually cut the edge off with scissors then roll it down with a small rolling pin.  Sweete