birthday dessert ideas: March 2013

Cake Decorating Made Easy with Edible Inks

If you've become a fan of the cake competition shows, you know how intricate and time consuming it is to create a designer, custom cake. Some come away from watching these shows with the impression it only takes the hour long show to produce these cakes, but in reality, many cakes take upwards of 30 hours to create. When it comes to implementing designer touches, there are a few exceptions to the rule. One way to give the impression you've spent countless hours decorating a cake is to use a designer print or photo that has been printed in edible ink on to an icing sheet.

Let's say a mom wanted to make her daughter's wedding cake but only knew some basic cake decorating techniques. She could step it up a notch by using the daughter's wedding stationery as a design inspiration and scanning the design into the printer. The printer would then spit out an icing sheet with an edible design. That design could then either be directly applied to the sides of the cake, cut into shapes with scissors or a punch or applied to fondant or gum paste decorations which would just bring a hint of the design into the cake.

You are certainly not limited to scanning. Any photo already in your computer or downloaded and any print you download can be sent to the printer. Personal photos can be used to top a cake or incorporate into picture frames to adorn the cake.

Taking the design skills a step further, you can take any design you print out on the icing sheet and run it through an electronic cutting machine. The machine can be used for more difficult designs with small, precise cuts or to neatly cut out letters in certain fonts. The electronic cutting machine comes with some pre-programmed patterns and other cartridges are available, to do scrolls, repetitive patterns that would take forever to cut by hand, numbers, etc.

Even if you want to create your own hand-drawn design but need to create multiples of it to put on the cake, scanning it and printing out as many as you need is so much faster and convenient than individually creating them on the cake. You can hand paint a design on paper, scan it and the icing sheet will reveal your brush strokes, making it look like you hand painted the design on the cake.

Edible inks not only make the cake decorator's life easier; they open up so many advanced design possibilities the decorator may never have attempted with other mediums.

Theresa Happe is a cake decorator who enjoys working with edible inks and icing sheets to create custom designs for cakes.

The Combo Of Coffee Cake And Coffee Cups Perfect To Relax After A Busy Day

Christmas and New Year celebrations are all over but not the partying time, it never ends. Every day is part day; you just need to find a reason with positive mind set. Partying is not only attending and enjoying the massive gathering with vibrant mood; you may enjoy some moments with your family members also with same spirit. Forget the concerns about the budget and enjoy at yours best. Is it really possible? Yes of course it is with nice collection of coffee cake and coffee or tea cups.

Enjoying every sip of favorite beverage at terrace or in lawn with homemade perfect coffee cake is a special liking for most of us. The pleasure of this small cost activity becomes multiple times higher if we have nicely shaped coffee or tea cup in hand. So, the presence of 2 or 3 different types of coffee and tea sets is necessary to enjoy the relaxing moments of life when you return home after long rush of busy day. Keeping the collection of cups and mugs up to date is not a costly affair; instead, it is a specific task that needs little bit concerns for some insignificant looking but important aspects.

When we roam the city stores or surf from one online store to another, we come across variety of cups and mugs. Most of these look impressive and ignite the desire to have these instantly. But do you know that nice looking coffee cups or tea cups may not be best buy from paid dollars? Yes, it is not compulsory that all the models from famous brands would be really a good addition to glassware collection. Similarly it is not sure that a nice looking cup would be really comfortable to handle and sip the drinks from. Then, consider following few issues before placing the order for any cup set.

Base should be broad enough to give the filled cup a good stability. It is not necessary that only round base are good; stability depends upon the height and the shape at upper end. Rectangular and contour edged tea cups are also in fashion. The theme is another major issue which most of us miss. The pattern and design over the cups should match with our likings or hobbies. Season can also be considered but the cup sets bought on this basis seem odd in other season. The handle is another aspect that needs special attention. All the long handles are not good; the space may be too much congested to accommodate two fingers.

About the Author:- James J. Steve is writing the articles for coffeecakes.It offers christmas cakes that include our best selling gourmet best Stroopwafel,Coffee Cake ,Whiskey Cakes,fruitcakes,Dutch Cookies,Wall Glass,Tea Cups, Tea Cups, Whiskey Cakes and much more. Rate this Article

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Jons Smithjen has published 5 articles. Article submitted on January 25, 2013. Word count: 422

Toasted Marshmallows and Our Meals

The marshmallow has been a toasted favorite for years. Children love making smores and adults love adding them to desserts such as sweet potato pie. Regardless of their application, it is a fact that marshmallows have been around for much longer than you might expect.

To start with, the history of the marshmallow is actually very different from what it's known for today. In Ancient Egypt, it was applied for both its medicinal and flavor abilities. Originally, the marshmallow was an extract from the mallow plant, which is renowned for its ability to ease a sore throat. The mallow root was squeezed, releasing a substance that had several applications. Because pharaohs were required to speak to large audiences, this often left them hoarse, in which case the mallow came into popular use.

The Greeks also put the plant to use, including the leaves as an extract to reduce muscle aches, burns, and even alleviate severe medical conditions such as bronchitis. But, in these particular cases, they relied primarily on the leaves to make a marshmallow tea, rather than a sweet treat.

Since then, the marshmallow has undergone recipe changes and seldom includes mallow extract in its composition. There are various recipes, many of which include gelatin, sugar, and often vanilla extracts, which vary according to the producer, but have become extraordinarily popular in Asia.

The popularity of the marshmallow has grown so much that it even has its own dedicated holiday in Japan. In 1978, as an answer to those who gave chocolates and sweets during Valentine's Day, March 15 was designated as their National Marshmallow day to pay homage to the women of Japan.

Regardless of location, it is obvious that the marshmallow has been a symbolic sweet throughout time, and has made a mark in the books of history. For this, it has earned recognition and honor that can only be expressed by enjoying a dish that incorporates some toasted marshmallows. And while we may consider the only place a campsite favorite, we can always rely on our West Texas caterers to whip up a dish that puts this age-old favorite to tasty use.

As for those who enjoy the marshmallow here at home or in the back yard, we are truly able to understand what it means to spend some time roasting a few sweets together. After all, it's not always about the sweetness of the treat. It all comes down the experience we share together.

Happy Easter!

Desde criança que adoro ninhos. Lembro-me de os encontrar, muito raramente, no jardim da minha avó, e adorar pensar nos passarinhos que ali viviam. Por isso, acho lindos os ninhos de Páscoa, com os enfeites típicos desta época e, preferencialmente, cheios de doces!

Aqui decorei um dos ninho com umas latas antigas e fiz um centro de mesa com uma peça vintage, cheia de chocolatinhos... Também podem ver algumas das minhas fotos de Páscoa na revista Gatherings Magazine - Spring Issue 2013 (nas páginas 72-74). Uma revista fantástica, vale a pena visitarem! :)

Desejo-vos uma Páscoa muito feliz!

I love birds nests ever since I was a kid. I sometimes found some on my grand mother's garden and I remember imagining the little birds living in such a cute little space... So when Easter comes, I find decoration with nests a lovely way to bring happiness into our home.

I decorated the first nest with a few Easter vintage tins and I also used the yellow bird ceramic centerpiece, filled with chocolates. You can see some of my Easter photos on Gatherings Magazine - Spring Issue (pages 72-74). A wonderful magazine that is worth a visit! :)

I wish you all a very happy Easter!

Where Do You Get Your Maryland Crab Cakes?

If you live in Maryland, you know the treat of going down to a seafood market (SM) at Baltimore Harbor and getting delicious crab cakes (CCs) from a waterman who has made them with fresh, locally-caught crab. If you don't live in Maryland, however, it becomes a little more complicated to decide on the best place to get your Maryland CCs. Ultimately, though, there is only one answer that makes sense: getting your CCs straight from the source so you can also enjoy the freshest ingredients and the best local flavors. Fortunately, thanks to the Internet and the ability to order your Maryland CCs and have them overnighted to your home, it is now possible for people throughout the U.S. to get their CCs from the home of the very best CCs.

Where to Get Maryland Crab Cakes
Ordering Maryland CCs online direct from a seafood market in Maryland only makes sense. After all, if you buy CCs from the grocery store or even from local SMs, it can be difficult or impossible to tell where the crab meat comes from or how fresh it is. The CCs may have been made with pasteurized or frozen crab and, if so, they simply won't have the same delicious taste and texture as crab cakes made from fresh-caught crabs. CCs from local restaurants or your grocery store might even be made with imitation crab meat instead of with real jumbo lump crab or backfin crab.

Choosing a Seafood Market

Once you have made the decision that you will order your Maryland crab cakesdirectly from a SM in Maryland, the next thing to do is to find a seafood market that can provide you with what you are looking for.

In order to choose one, you'll want to look for the following features:

You want a seafood market that ships CCs overnight. The SM should offer this as a routine service so you can rest assured they have perfected the technique for safely sending the CCs through overnight mail.You want a seafood market that is run by a waterman. When you choose a SM run by a waterman, you know they are catching their own crabs to use in the CCs. This ensures you really get fresh local ingredients.You want a seafood market that promises that crab cakes are made with only real Jumbo Lump or Backfin crab that has never been frozen or pasteurized. After all, the point of ordering mail order crab cakes direct from Maryland is to get the CCs fresh.You want a SM that prides itself on its CC seasoning. The crab meat and the spices and seasoning used are the two determining factors that can take a CC from ordinary to extraordinary.

If you order your Maryland crab cakes over the Internet direct from a SM that offers all of these features, you can rest assured that every CC you try will be truly delicious.

Peanut Butter Bananas Foster French Toast

We eat breakfast for dinner quite often. But do know you what's even better than that? Brunch! Brunch means you get to eat tasty breakfasty items in the morning but get to sleep in later than usual.

The kids had a sleepover with several of their friends. We all stayed up way too late and enjoyed sleeping in. I love to cook for a larger group so when Eggland's Best invited me to try their eggs again and host a brunch, I knew that this was the perfect time to do it.

Did you know that all eggs are not created equal? When compared to ordinary eggs, Eggland’s Best eggs contain:

· 10 times more vitamin E

· Double the amount of omega-3’s

· Twice the amount of vitamin D

· 3 times more vitamin B12

· 25% less saturated fat

I notice a difference when I use Egglands Best eggs. They seem to cook up fluffier and just taste better. Check out Egglands Best website or their facebook page for delicious recipes.

My kids declared this the best french toast they ever had. They syrup is truly scrumptious! I used chunky peanut butter so the texture wasn't as pretty but I received no complaints. We also enjoyed fresh fruit and a ham, egg and potato casserole that I will share in a couple of days.

Egglands Best sent me this wonderful gift package. The bag is waterproof and my daughter now uses it as her swim bag. The bowl is very thick and sturdy and is a fantastic mixing bowl. Egglands Best wants to give you an opportunity to get one of these gift packs along with some free eggs. Just check out their tasty recipes on the Egglands Best website and let me know which recipe looks good! I'll pick one winner by next Friday the 5th to win this awesome gift package. Giveaway closed.

Peanut Butter Bananas Foster French Toast
Adapted from Picky Palate

4 large eggs
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
6-8 slices bread (cinnamon bread or French)
Butter
1 cup pure maple syrup
3 tablespoons creamy peanut butter
1 teaspoon vanilla or rum extract
1/4 cup heavy cream
2-3 cups sliced bananas depending on how many you like

1. Preheat large skillet over medium heat.
2. Place eggs, cream brown sugar, cinnamon and vanilla into a large mixing bowl. Whisk to combine. One at a time, dip each slice of bread, both sides into egg mixture. I used both French bread and cinnamon bread. Add a tablespoon of butter into hot skillet to melt, swirling pan. Add egg dipped bread slice to skillet, cooking 1-2 minutes per side or until golden brown and cooked through. Transfer cooked piece of toast to a clean plate and repeat until all bread has been used.
3. Place maple syrup and peanut butter into a skillet over medium heat. Stir to melt peanut butter into syrup. Stir in vanilla then heavy cream. Let mixture bubble for about 5 minutes, stirring often to thicken. Add sliced bananas and cook for 1 minute. Pour peanut butter syrup sauce and bananas over warm French toast. Serve immediately.
Makes 6-8 servings

“The Eggland’s Best coupon, information, and two gift packs have been provided by Eggland’s Best.”

An evening unveiling the Magnum

Who can say no to Chocolates? or for that matter Ice Creams, especially with Summer waiting to sneak up on us? Right! That is exactly what went through my mind when I saw the email invite to the Launch of Magnum Ice Cream event.

On 27th March’13, evening I landed at  The Hyatt Regency,Teynampet,Chennai along with few other Foodies and bloggers. 

The session began late, instead of 7.30 pm, it started at 8 pm and then went on for a good hour. We had a blast during the one hour session, tasting different kinds of chocolates, ice creams, making our own Sundae and having a few minutes with the Chef. Oh, and we noticed the place was packed with quite a few Page 3 celebs, including Actor Prashanth [who just stood in the background] and I did spot Arya as we were leaving the Hotel. 

The evening began with an introduction to Chef Abhiru Biswas of Barry-Callebaut. After giving us a sneak peek into what to expect, he asked us to turn out attention to the 3 bowls in front of us. They were labelled 1, 2 and 3. We tasted the chocolate chips in the 1st one, and then had to describe the taste; the same followed on 2 and 3. Finally, we were quizzed on which one we thought was the Belgian, Swiss and the French. Not many got it right, but it was fun guessing.

So, if you are a chocoholic but have no idea what is different between the different kinds, here goes, 

 No.1 The Belgian Chocolate has the perfect blend of all that makes us go ga ga goo goo over chocolate- sweet, dark, bitter, smooth and chocolate flavours. 

 No.2 The  Swiss Chocolate was smoother, creamier and milkier in taste

And finally No.3 was the  French chocolate was very dark and very bitter.

Now, moving on the highlight of the evening, the unveiling of the Magnum Ice cream. From the renowned brand of Kwality Walls, Magnum is a new line of ice creams made with Belgian Chocolate. It comes in 3 varieties- Classic[ good ol plain vanilla], Almond [ the outer chocolate had a lovely almond crunch in it] and the last one was Chocolate Truffle [ chocolate all the way through]

Just like the taste differs in the 3 kinds of chocolates, the ice creams too were different. The Classic was smoother, creamier and quite good. The Almond was less sweet but filled with bags of flavour and finally, the Truffle was rich chocolate in and out. 

So, after we dug into the Classic choco bar, the Chef announced there was a fun activity up for us in the audience. There was a sheet of paper with about 20 ingredients on it. We had to pick 5+ a sauce and create our own Sundae. Whoopie, what fun! The sheet was passed around and we finally had our ingredients -

Orange Cake

Rosemary

Black Pepper

Chocolate Sauce

Crushed Hazelnut

and Kiwi slices. 

Since Rosemary was not available, we substituted it with Mint and for the ice cream, we chose the Almond bar. 

Took us about 5 mins, a whole bunch of us all pepped up, shouting out orders to those who were layering the ice cream, and finally it was done. We named our creation "Harry's Citrus Burst". Why Harry? well, the connection to Magnum gun from the movie Dirty Harry.   

The Emcee and Chef went around tasting the sundaes, but after about 2 tables, they left it to us to taste and pass judgement. Ours was quite good, I just felt we should have done away with the Orange cake [it was dry]. I loved how the Black pepper worked beautifully with the ice cream. Am definitely going to sprinkle some next time I bring home an ice cream. 

Soon, the event was nearing its end and we noticed most of the crowd disappear. The bunch of us piled onto a table, and started shooting questions to the Chef, satiating our thirst. 

Priced at Rs75, these yummy desserts will be available at the nearest Walls outlets soon. Get ready to beat the heat~!! 

Celebrate Fall with Delicious Pastry Flavors

Fall is here and it's time break out the long sleeves and pack away the summer clothes. It's also time to bring certain spices and recipes to the forefront of your kitchen. Just like Halloween decorations, there are also certain flavor combinations and cake recipes that represent the season to its fullest.

All seasons should be celebrated with foods that coincide with the weather and holidays, but there is something truly special about Fall-themed foods. This goes far beyond candy corn and candied apples. If you'd like to truly see how fall can be celebrated in food, you'll see it very clearly in bakeries and pastry shops. Sample a slice of their heavenly pumpkin spice cakes or other pastries to get a glimpse of the flavors of the season. Pumpkins spices and flavors are obviously a staple of any fall dessert recipes, but fall tastes go far beyond this.

Carrot cake is also fairly popular to many families at this time of the year, When joined with other fall flavors, namely pumpkin and ginger, carrot cakes can make a very delicious addition to any party or get together. Cake bakeries show this flair in a variety of ways and are up to the challenge of incorporating any flavor profile into their pastries.

Fall also brings to mind carnivals and fairs to a great deal of the US. So it only makes sense that caramel apple would find its way into any fall cookbook. Bakery stores offer delicious variations of this classic flavor in cakes and cupcakes and any other pastry you might need.

This is also a great time of year to tell your children the tale of the gingerbread man, as gingerbread is a great way to celebrate fall and even the approaching winter and the kids prepare for Christmas. Festive outfits for these gingerbread man can brighten any child's day, making the treat easy on the eyes as well as the stomach!

For a more refined and adult taste, spice rum cakes are also a very good recipe option for fall desserts. A tasty spiced rum cake with rum glaze is a delicious way for the adults to enjoy the flavors of fall as well.

Whatever your taste buds may feel about the fall season, cake shops and bakeries are sure to please any taste. From adorable pumpkin cupcakes for the kids to enjoy, to comforting spiced apple pies, they're are ready to help you get into the fall spirit with a variety of delicious pastries!

Looking for the best bakery shop Brooklyn to create the ultimate Fall pastries that will stun your guests, make them lick their plates and ask for more? Visit Duet Bakery Boutique and have all of your sweet fantasies come true in the expert hands of Chef Diana Rodov and her staff.

Giving Thanks for Cupcake Creativity

Preparing for Thanksgiving can be hectic, especially for the cooks. This year, why not get the kids involved. Your neighborhood bakeries are always full of creative ideas, and Thanksgiving is no different. With some of these awesome cupcake ideas for a Thanksgiving treat, your kids will want to be just as involved in preparing the Thanksgiving meal as they are in eating it!

While putting desserts together for Thanksgiving, keep in mind that desserts are meant to be fun. There is no need to stick with elegance and refinery when wrapping up a huge dinner or lunch. Letting the kids get involved in desserts can make the holiday a bit more special and give them a true sense of creativity.

So try out these three Thanksgiving cupcakes as a finisher to your Thanksgiving meal:

Candy Corn Turkey Cupcakes

These are simple to bake and so much fun to decorate! Just whip up some chocolate cupcakes, top them with some fudge frosting, and then use candy corn pieces for their tail feathers and beaks. For their eyes, you can probably find decorative sugar bits at your favorite local bakery, or maybe even use miniature marshmallows. These are a huge hit for the kids because of the variety of sweets in one single dessert!

Turkey Cupcakes (With Nutter Butter Bodies)

This is another simple set-up that your kids will love to help with. Again, we start with a traditional chocolate cupcake with chocolate icing. You can even throw some chocolate sprinkles on them to give the ruffled appearance of feathers. Then stick a Nutterbutter cookie vertically near the front of the cupcake. Use white frosting for the eyes and fruit roll up strips for the feathers and beard. These look so cute that you may not want to eat them!

Cherry Pie Cupcakes

These are fun to make and downright delicious. Start by baking a batch of cupcakes with vanilla frosting. Top these with a layer of buttercream icing and then use real cherry pie filling to cover this. Using vanilla icing, create a lattice pattern on top of the cherry filling. The end result should look like a mini cherry pie. You might want to make a lot, as these tend to be a delicious crowd favorite.

For more fun ways to bake for Thanksgiving, see your local bakery stores. Surely, they know their way around a holiday table. They'll not only have great ideas, but incredible recipes and specials you can choose from.

Looking for the best bakeries in Brooklyn to create the ultimate Thanksgiving treats that kids will love? Visit Duet Bakery Boutique and have all of your sweet fantasies come true in the expert hands of Chef Diana Rodov and her staff.

It's Time To Say Hello With Christmas Cupcakes

Christmas cupcakes for the occasion is a lovely sojourn with appetizing creams and caramels. It's like celebrating with taste, and making the occasion best with several cake making tips and ways. Making a snowman Christmas cupcake is all so very easy. You just need to know the ingredients required for the purpose. To give shape to the particular cake the things that you need include icing sugar, apricot jam, white marshmallows, eatable silver baubles, strawberry belts of the red candy variety, dried coconut and to add you also need to arrange for hot water.

Making of the Snowman

To prepare snowmen Christmas cupcakes, you first require heating the oven to a temperature of 180°C, 350°F. You need to fit the cake papers well on the holes, or else there can be problems when the cake starts settling down. Take a mixing bowl and start mixing sugar and butter. Beat well till the batter is light and creamy.

Then it is time for you to beat the eggs well after you have completed stirring the flour. Remember to add vanilla extracts and baking powder and continue hitting the batter until it turns absolutely smooth. After you have well applied the mixture into the cup holes, you should allow them to get baked for twenty to twenty five minutes. Once ready you would know as the cakes would rise and turn golden automatically. You can use the coconut, apricot jam and marshmallows for perfect garnishing of the snowmen Christmas cupcakes.

The Mood for Chocolate Mud Cupcakes

You can even make Christmas special with the chocolate mud cupcakes. These are even referred to as holiday cakes and to make them you require chopped butter and Lindt dark chocolate stuff. You should also arrange for instant coffee powder, coffee liquor, plain flour, cocoa powder, egg, brown sugar, hot water and chocolate curls for stupendous cake decoration. You would also necessitate preparing the chocolate ganache with Lindt dark chocolate accompanied by sour cream.

For the mud Christmas cupcakes you need to heat the oven at a temperature of 160°C. You can use one of those muffin pans with the paper cases placed in style. Take a medium sized saucepan to make a perfect amalgamation of butter, hot water, coffee liquor, coffee powder and chocolate, and stir the ingredients well over low heat. After the batter is completely smooth stop applying heat. Then it is time to add sugar after which you should leave the batter aside to cool for four to five minutes. Apply the blend over the already prepared pans and allow it to be baked for 15 to 20 minutes. The process is completed with the making of the chocolate ganache which should be spread well over the cupcakes.

The Other Exciting Cupcake Models

The ingredients for the Christmas cupcakes are more or less similar. The exceptions lie in the final garnishing. For instance, when you sit to prepare the Santa hat cupcakes, you should make use of frosted red buttercream to give shape to the hats. For an exciting Christmas tree cupcake decoration, you can even make use of festoons like star and silver balls to make the cake shine for the occasion. The kinds of Christmas holiday cakes are made to look pretty in all plausible manners. To make the cake appear different in its kind you can set to decorate with reindeers and penguins. In fact, the cupcakes meant for Christmas are the cutest stuffs to be served on the occasion.

Jacob Reed has worked as a renowned Christmas cupcakes maker for a period of time. He has some of the most wonderful holiday cake recipes in store to share.

Kettle Tea & Desserts, Chennai

I'm a little teapot,

Short and stout,

Here is my handle, (one hand on hip)

Here is my spout, (other arm out with elbow and wrist bent)

When I get all steamed up,

Hear me shout,

Tip me over and pour me out! (lean over towards the spout)

This is what i was reminded of when i heard the name "Kettle Tea & Desserts". Friends of mine had mentioned this place, and I also know they had a Tea making workshop couple of months ago. I drink tea, once a day, but now that has changed. I start the day with green tea and also have one more sometime during the day. And have also begun exploring the various brands and flavours available, the latest being Twinnings Mango, Orange & Cinnamon, thanks to a friend [she sent me a goodie basket for some help I did]. Without digressing further, when Nishanth mentioned the meet planned at Kettle, I instantly said "Aye aye cap'n" and looked forward to the evening. The only place that serves up a variety of tea in Chennai was Cha Bar, in Oxford Book store. Unfortunately they shut shop and we lost a nice cafe.Used to be among our favorite haunt. sigh...

Tucked away in 10th Main Road in Anna Nagar, it is on the road next to RR Donnelley in Shanthi Colony [past Shree Mithai]. Located on the 1st floor, you need to climb up the stone staircase to reach the Tea house. The light, the colours and the space instantly catches your eye. It resembles a small house, with multiple rooms. As soon as you enter, on the right is where the cold stone ice creams are made, when you proceed further inside, you see the counter meant for Tea, displaying containers of varieties of Tea [20 in total], and a blender as well. There is seating in all the rooms, 2s, 4s or more. Apart from these 2, there is a room tucked away with sofas that can accommodate about 10-15people. When the weather is pleasant, or during the evenings, you can enjoy a cup of tea sitting in the outdoor seating area. I wonder if the Metro work noise spills over here, might be a pain.

The room had pastel shades of the wall, and beige colour sofas with a huge center table. We were all packed around it, with a few floating in and out. The menu is quite extensive, not restricted to Tea alone. They serve a variety of Pastas, lasagne, sandwiches, desserts and cold stone ice creams. We were welcomed with the Black currant Tea- it was yumm, though a tad sweet for my liking. It was also the 1st time I tried the scones, they were interesting and I did like them, they were served alongside butter and jam.

The Tomato Basil soup was a hit among most of us, only suggestion was to use plain butter and not salted button on top. Next up were the salads, us vegetarians got a Sprout Salad - a good, healthy option/also a filling meal/snack. Suddenly i noticed a plate with neatly arranged triangle slices of mushroom on toast, followed by the the egg white omelette served with grilled tomatoes on ciabatta bread (looked more like a hot dog bun), these two were alright! In between the food, I ordered a cup of Chamomille tea that I really liked it especially with honey. Another sandwich we tried was the Pesto Paneer Sandwich - it was alright,I felt the paneer was chewy & dry , and so it was difficult to eat.

Wait, we were not done. There were a few non veg dishes that floated by, a chicken salad served with banana fritters. Another dish that came along was the Lasagne, which was quite delicious and the pasta stood its ground, but then the Curried Pasta, a Pasta that tasted like an Indian korma, something I've never had before came along making us wonder what was going on in the Chef's mind.. It is good for those who like Indian masalas and flavours. I dint take a fancy to it!!

The sips of tea in between the bites was good, kept us all happy and feeling light.The only tea that was bleh was the Organic white tea- it dint have any taste, felt like I was drinking hot water. Wonder why?! A friend infact commented that it was her favorite and normally quite flavorful.

"Woah that looks good"- yes that is what came to my mind when I saw the desserts placed on the table. Some of the desserts were excellent. The Tiramisu was nice, I fell in love with the "Love for Strawberry Ice cream" served in a waffle cup and actually liked the Oreo ice cream as well. Oh, how can I forget the Carrot cup cake. The expresso brownie was also good, while the Pot de crème had a weird texture and was not a favorite among the lot. Hang on, I know there was one more dessert, ah yes- White Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake, it was quite good. Few other teas that the group ordered were Masala Chai and Assam tea.

Overall, it is a fun place to hang out or hold a meeting at. Do visit, am sure you will enjoy Kettle.

Location:

Kettle Anna Nagar, No 3362V, AE Block,

10th Main Road, (Near Anna Nagar Post Office)

Anna Nagar West,

Chennai - 600040

Hours of Operation

7 days a week

11:00 AM – 11:00 PM

Call Us!

Ph: +91-44-2622-3006/07

Email: info@thekettle.in

Disclaimer:

The reviews posted on this blog are based on my personal experience. Also remember that restaurants and eat outs sometimes change with time, so does their food and service. So, kindly consider these factors while visiting the places. Remember, no two palates are the same. Bon Appétit :-)

Cake Recipes Easy Way to Prepare Astonishing Food

Enjoying one of the Cake Recipes is quite a wonderful opportunity for the users because they are quite famous during birthdays and special events. The black forest category is one of the most famous Easy Cake Recipes which is prepared by the mixture of milk and chocolate all mixed into one. The coconut angel cake is one of the most prolific and amazing food which is closer to the heart and mind. It is made up of Betty Crocker food mix which is enmeshed with lime juice to provide awesome flavor in the bargain. Simple cake recipes include the usage of like peel along with the frozen whipped cream which would go a long way in providing spectacular results. Flaked coconut is one of the most important ingredients which is used by the people in preparing different types of culinary.

Cold water is mixed with the cakes to get the better taste and make it soft in the process. The cake is sliced into 3 layers and the bottom is one forts served to the guests. It dissolves into the mouth providing wonderful flavor. The layers are placed one above the other and are considered to be the epitomes of taste in an impeccable way.

Cake Recipes are mixed with the coconut to provide the impeccable taste in a wonderful manner. Rasp berry poke cake is a super delicious dessert quite famous among the people. Water along with vegetable oil are mixed together to deliver a frosty mixture so that people are able to enjoy the delectable taste in an impeccable manner. The oven is pre heated to a certain temperature and gelatin is stirred to add up to the mix without any hiccups. The cake is baked for a certain period of time and then it is allowed to cool. It is one of the most important easy Cake Recipes because the mixture is garnished with rasp berries to deliver the best performance. The oozing delight is freshly served to the guests and they relish the awesome appearance as well as the cuisine. Cakes are considered to be the potential sources of energy with the toppling dissolving into the mouth, compelling people to ask for more. In the modern world which is moving at a very fast pace, simple cake recipes are blessing in disguise because people do not need elaborate preparation to make them. They are at the service within a stipulated time frame and could be used as dinner along with the dessert.

Nikita Verma writes about many Indian food recipes related subjects like healthy and easy food. She has gained proficiency in various sections like Cake Recipes , chocolate recipes, Dessert Recipes etc. Rate this Article

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Nikita Verma has published 238 articles. Article submitted on November 04, 2012. Word count: 414

Wedding Cake Toppers And Unity Candles Are Essential Parts Of Your Celebration

Making arrangements for a wedding can be difficult. You are entering a new phase of life and you want to make it special. Making it exceptional in regards to every single detail is absolutely important. One such important detail that you must not miss out are wedding cake toppers. It represents the togetherness of the new couple. A cake without a suitable topper will ensure that the wedding reception arrangements are not done in vain. You don't have to think deeply but select wisely so that the topper can add the perfect meaning to your marriage celebrations.

You can surprise the guests with a soulful topper or something which is vivid and will help you to cherish the day for a long time. These will help to spread love and romance and add value to the wedding. Don't forget to flaunt these at your wedding reception. You can even go for customized ones that are available at quite a few online stores. Besides the conventional toppers you can find various incredible and interesting toppers as well.

There are serious wedding cake toppers which usually indicate the traditional ones. If your partner has a good sense of humor then you can go for the funny toppers that indicate the figures of the couple in doctor's attire. Other topper ideals include sceneries and animals etc. Don't limit yourself to the conventional ones when you are going for the toppers. You can add your own taste and themes to the current ones. You can put in a few additional toppers such as decorative crafts or something that represents your preference. However, you must ensure that whatever you choose it should reflect your togetherness.

Other items that you must not forget when making arrangement for your marriage are the wedding unity candles. The color of the candles has to suit the ones used in the decorations. The candles can be purchased before ensuring that they are everything that they expected them to be. The candles are a wonderful marriage custom which can be seen in most celebrations. It is now becoming more and more popular in the present times.

In certain situation there is only one candle but in some other events you will find three. A single candle symbolizes the uniting of the lovely couple. The lighting of the candle represents the friendship, affection and support shared by the happy married couple. You can go for the personalized wedding unity candles which feature a stylized couple. The candles add a little character into your ceremony. Go for a striking design that will give a modern look to the conventional picture of the couple. You can also go for heart filigree which is a beautiful accent to your ceremony. Personalize with your date, name and decorative monogram for an exquisite candle.

How to Make Delicious Bundt Cakes Without Any Hassle?

Most of the people love Bundt cakes, not just because these cake recipes are moistest and delicious, but because they are easy to make and require little or no decoration. They can use any one of the fancy bundt pans available on the market and make impressive bundt cakes without putting any major efforts. Bundt pans are special cake pans meant to bake up traditional ridged round cakes. Due to their ridged or fluted designs, they can easily give an attractive shape to the finished cake. The bundt pans have a hole in the center which helps circulate the hot air around and across the cake and make it bake evenly. The pans now come in so many creative designs but with the more complex styles people face the problem of cake getting stuck in the pan. They need to use the right tools and some useful tips to remove the cake properly from the pan. The tips are as follows:

Use a non-stick cooking spray. Sprinkle some non-stick vegetable oil on the bundt pan. You can also use a non-stick cooking spray like Bakers Joy for good results. Then, brush the sprayed oil into the grooves of the pan with the help of a pastry brush and keep the pan facing downward on a paper towel so that the excess oil can drain away. You need to avoid using a spray containing lecithin as it may build up on the baking pan over time.After greasing, dust or flour your cake pan and make it ready for baking. After greasing the pan with small amount of vegetable shortening, you must dust it lightly with flour. Just drop a tablespoon of flour into your greased pan, gently shake it and tap the pan multiple times with your palms, until the flour is distributed evenly over all surfaces. Once you finish, turn the pan upside on your work surface to remove extra flour.Or dust your bundt cake pan with finer bread crumbs instead of flour. You can also dust the pan with finer bread crumbs. The dry bread crumbs will work better than flour.Bake the cake and let it cool for 10 minutes before taking out of the pan. Pour the batter slowly into the pan and put it in an oven. Bake it for the specified time and allow it to cool 10 minutes or more if required. Use hot pads to lift the pan and mildly shake it to loosen the cake from all sides. You can also run a plastic knife or rubber spatula around the edge of the cake to help it loosen from the sides of the pan.Invert the cake, continue cooling and drizzle or dust. Invert the baked cake onto a cooling rack or plate and continue with cooling. Dust the cake with finely powdered sugar or drizzle some chocolate or caramel sauce over the top.

You are likely to get the compliments as you serve the perfectly prepared bundt cakes to your friends and family. Even better, you can shop for these tasty cakes at reputed bakery stores online. Apart from bundt cakes, they trade in baby shower cupcakes, birthday cakes, wedding cakes and many more. Even though you don't know how to make cake, they would let you enjoy a wide range of cake recipes at reasonable price.

Jacob Reed has been associated with gourmet and baking business for several years. He specializes in providing exclusive tips on making and purchase of bundt cakes , birthday cakes and baby shower cupcakes . Rate this Article

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Jacob Reed has published 20 articles. Article submitted on October 31, 2012. Word count: 555

Creating Artistic Cakes with the Silhouette Portrait Machine

Silhouette Portrait Machine is extremely useful to the craft lovers. The machine has the ability to ease the process of craft making. But have you ever wondered the extensive range of design possibilities with the Silhouette Cameo Machine. Can you imagine decorating a cake with the help of this innovative craft cutter? The answer to this should be a yes. It is possible to create decorative and various other embellishments that goes on cakes with the help of the Silhouette Portrait Machine.

Icing sheets are used to make various designs that go on the surface of the wedding cake. These icing sheets are made to be strong enough to go through the electronic cutting machine. The very first step in making the cake is to understand what the client wants. The requirement of the bride is taken into consideration and picture references are asked so as to recreate or design cakes that will blow them away.

The company offers several templates and designs to the customers. One can pick and choose from the designs and download the one that meets their fancy. For instance ruffled borders can be created with the help of the images that are available. These are not actual ruffled sheets but give the illusion of being so. The scalloped design is apt for it and this can be easily made by using the Silhouette Portrait Machine software. Several scallops can be cut out from the icing sheets in various colors like gold, red, sliver and the likes. These can be layered on the various tiers of the cake.

The Damask design template also helps in creating a damask patter on any tier of the cake. It adds a regal touch to the cake. The cut out of the Damask designs could be in any color or shade. This can be placed on the surface of the cake and adds a more realistic feel. There are made from icing sheets that are edible hence one does not have to worry about any health scares.

The initials or the names of the bride and the groom can also be monogramed onto the cake. This adds a personalized touch and adds more meaning to the cake. After the design has been cut one has to remove the backing paper vary carefully otherwise it may crack. Use a shortening to gently brush on the back of the design. This will help the design to stick well on the cake.

How Important Are Wedding Cake Decorations?

The wedding cake goes back as far as the Roman Empire. Throughout the years, it has become the focus of a variety of customs and traditions. Around 1900 years ago, the Romans began baking wheat and salt into a small cake to be eaten. During the ceremony, the groom would eat part of this cake and then break the rest over his bride's head. They were made of wheat, a symbol of fertility and prosperity and taken as a sign of good fortune and a blessing for long life and many children.

When it comes to choosing a cake and decorations, there is a wide variety of styles from which to choose. Start your selection process by browsing through as many wedding magazines as possible; they will all undoubtedly have plenty of fine examples to tempt you. You can narrow down your selection to your top five favourites and then sit down with your partner and have some fun!

It is the most exciting and talking point for the guests at the ceremony. The appearance of cake should tempt the guests to taste it. It should be properly placed on the cake stand. The table where it is placed should also be decorated as per the theme and other decors.

The ceremony of cake cutting marks the beginning of the married life of the couple. It is the symbol of celebration and happiness. It signifies love and fidelity for each other. This ceremony takes place either at the end of the wedding ceremony or at the reception party thrown by the couple.

Since nothing is created in stone, any cake you find can always be altered to better reflect your own tastes, personality and relationship. Make each layer a different flavour or change the colours for instance. Remember, there are some spectacular wedding decorations out there so let your imagination run riot. Some people like the traditional topper on their cake while others prefer more modern styles. If you do choose to go the topper route, there are numerous fun, fanciful and creative ideas available today.

Most wedding cake decorations consist of flowers made of icing or silk. Itwill provide both of these. Another option is fresh flowers. These will need to be ordered from your decorator. There are countless designs for the wedding eating piece. To choose your design look through as many books and magazines as you can.

Another popular trend includes selecting the cake with a monogram or photographs of couple imprinted. You can even opt for large multi- layered cakes based on the themes or even decorated with many accessories.

Wedding cakes decorations are in constant process of transformation as people's tastes change. It has evolved from its traditional form of white simple wedding cakes to spectacular sophisticated ones

Nitrous Oxide Cartridges Delivering More Colors To Your Celebration

Last week, it was our first marriage anniversary; we were very much excited for the celebration plans. We wanted to make this memorable moment for us. We did various arrangements full of diversity. Then, we planed about the menu but we wanted to offer something different, mouth cherishing and budgetary also.

It is a fact that a celebration is not complete without the presence of creamy dishes on tables because all are fond of creamy dishes. Nowadays, readymade whipped cream available on stores in different packaging under different brands is not much reliable. Despite paying heavy, we cannot be fully assure of its quality. For this, we were discussing with our neighbor that how we can get best whip soft white cream. The experienced couple at once suggested to buy a set of cream dispenser and Nitrous Oxide Charger. They were very sure for the results and the perfect match of requirements. Really, the suggested items were new to me. Ultimately, when we experienced this, it was awesome.

By using Nitrous Oxide Charger we can get whipped cream in just 7 to 8 minutes. It is pure and homemade so you do not need to worry about hygiene and purity like factors. Cream charger is known as cream canister, nitrous oxide charger and whippets etc. It is a 8 cm. sized cylindrical shaped tool. It contains about 8 gm nitrous oxide gas a colorless gas with sweet taste. Food grade N2O has been tested by many worldwide laboratories and has been proved that it is not harmful. Nitrous Oxide Cartridges are easily available in the markets in many colors so we can purchase according to requirement. We may store it easily so no need to go market immediately when required. It comes with long expiry like 18 to 24 months.

The major advantage is that by the use of Nitrous Oxide Cartridges, we may get pure and fresh whipped cream in exactly desired flavors. When we started to use it, we really enjoyed the concept behind the design of cream chargers. We prepared whipped cream in many flavors for our party and without spending much of time in kitchen.

Jonnie Allen working with whipped cream direct for last ten years and have a wide knowledge of Soda Siphons, Whipped Cream Chargers, Cream Chargers, Soda Chargers, Nitrous Oxide Cartridges , Cream Dispenser, Nitrous Oxide Charger and Cheap Whip Cream Chargers etc. Rate this Article

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Jonnie Allen has published 4 articles. Article submitted on October 19, 2012. Word count: 356

Cheesy Parmesan Penne with Bacon

My children love mac and cheese. For the longest time, pasta was just about the pasta and the cheese. Nothing else in there. It's only been fairly recently that they will accept foreign material in their pasta with cheese. And by foreign material I mean chicken, bacon and red peppers.

This also has what I call grown up cheese. Lots of freshly grated parmesan topped with melty provolone cheese. You could use Jack cheese but I just think that provolone has so much more flavor.

This makes a lot of food. Two whole 9 x 13 pans. When I cook, I like to cook a lot. Feel free to halve the recipe but otherwise you can pop the second pan into the freezer for another night. The leftovers from the refrigerator are awesome as well. So go ahead, make both pans.

Parmesan Cheese Penne with Bacon

1 1/2 lb. cooked shredded chicken
1 lb. bacon, crumbled
2 boxes (32 oz) penne pasta, cooked al dente
1 1/2 red bell peppers, diced
1 1/2 cups parmesan cheese, freshly grated
1 1/2 tsp. paprika

12 slices of provolone cheese, for the top

Sauce:
2 tbsp. butter
1 tbsp. garlic
1/2 cup of chicken broth
1/2 cup white wine or marsala wine
1 tsp. dijon mustard
1 tsp. salt
3/4 tsp. dried rosemary
1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper
5 cups heavy cream

Cook chicken. I cooked mine in the microwave in a covered dish for about 10 minutes until done, sprinkled with a bit of salt and pepper. Then I used the broth from the chicken in the pasta dish.

Chop and Shred:
Chop red peppers.
Grate parmesan cheese.
Cook bacon. I cut the bacon into chunks first and then cooked the bacon.
Cook the pasta and drain.

Sauce:
Saute garlic in butter. Add chicken broth and wine, mustard, salt, rosemary, cayenne pepper, and heavy cream. Cook to a soft boil but stir constantly and don't over boil. It will thicken slightly but not completely. This is okay because a lot of it will soak in to your al dente noodles.

Combine everything with the paprika together. You'll need a pretty large bowl for this. Pour into 2 - 9 x 13 in pans that are sprayed with cooking spray.

Cover with foil and bake at 375 for 45 minutes. Remove foil, top with slices of parmesan cheese. Continue baking for another 15 - 20 minutes.

If you're only cooking one pan, cover the other pan tightly with foil and freeze. Thaw before baking.

Fruit And Nut Cake - Making Holidays Special

Cakes are one of the most favorite delicacies for people all over the world. People enjoy cakes on all sorts of occasions. It is also worth mentioning that cakes are not new but centuries old. Christmas is one of those occasions when the biggest and heaviest cakes are made. A definite reason cannot be established for why you prepare the heaviest cake on Christmas, but it is a really enjoyable for everybody. Fruit and nut cake is one special type of cake that has been the favorite of people for long. Similar is the case of fruit and nut log, which are snacks, made from some real dry fruits.

Most of the times, people presume that they can enjoy a fruit cake only at Christmas time. This is not the case though. Basically, making a fruit cake is a long job and requires a lot of patience. This is because all the fruits and nuts to be added to the cake need have to be soaked in either rum or brandy for a few days beforehand only. Another alternative that you have at your disposal is to reach the nearest confectionary store and buy a cake. Though, it is very widely known that a homemade cake is far better than the one bought from market.

Another fact worth knowing about fruit cakes is that in many countries you can eat Fruit Logand cakes only during holidays. Also at many places, people try to avoid the use of alcoholic beverages such as rum or brandy in preparing the cake. They generally prefer fruit juices so that the cake can be eaten by even those people who don't drink alcohol.

Eating cakes on special occasions have become a tradition now. This tradition has seen a lot of changes lately. People are getting more aware of their health and physique. People are always on a look out for healthier snacks but that doesn't means that fruit cakes have lost their sheen in anyway. Also, fruit cakes have an advantage. A piece of cake that has been prepared in alcohol would stay fresh for almost a year so you don't have to worry about the cake getting stale or anything as such. All you have to do is to enjoy your piece of cake.

Pastilla Nash is one of the Leading company who Offers Prune and Walnut cake and Fruit and nut cake for Dinner Party and some special party at affordable price.