Weekly Cooking (and related issues) Thread

[Jamestown1630]

Recently – for some reason that I can’t even remember now – I was looking for information on Germany’s Black Forest. Many of the links that came up were for the famous Black Forest Cake – an extravagant confection of chocolate sponge cake, ‘kirschwasser’ and cherries. Definitely a 'celebration' cake, and it looks very nice for Christmas.

Here, from Genius Kitchen, is a ‘from scratch’ recipe:

http://www.geniuskitchen.com/recipe/authentic-black-forest-cake-schwarzwald-kirsch-kuchen-343698

and here is one using prepared cake mix (includes a little history on the cake) from What's Cooking America:

https://whatscookingamerica.net/History/Cakes/BlackForestCake.htm

I may have been looking up the Black Forest because I’ve become entranced by train driver’s view videos of trains in Europe. This one on the Bergen line in Norway makes you feel as if you're really there - a nice way to enjoy a snowstorm without being in it. For some reason, I just like having this on the television as I putter about the house. (Warning: it's a 2-hour video; but it doesn't take long to get into the storm ;-)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=facDr2lTAUM

-JT

[Diana in Wisconsin]

I owe it all to the mule, LOL! :)

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Thanks for the kind words on my cookies! I’ve been making those varieties of cookies for so long, I could do them in my SLEEP! My current obsession is the PERFECT Sourdough loaf. ;)

I just got home from spending the day with my Mom baking cookies. We had a houseful, and it’s just gotten to be utter chaos. She’s taken me aside (she is 80, her husband is dying of cancer, but hanging in there for now) and she said this is probably the last year she wants to do this.

She’s downsizing dramatically after my step-Dad passes, so today was bittersweet. But, I, too, am ready to hang it up. It’s different when you have a lot of kids or Grandkids around, I think. The older I get the SIMPLER I want my life to be. :)

[Liz]

It looks adorable when finished.

[Aliska]

Yes I was thinking lights but too difficult for a cake unless there is some special kind, worry about shorting with twinkle lights. One Christmas village I got was just the buildings but one had pine trees which was really cute. I believe it's the same cake pan with the center building cut off and pine trees added from a different pan or otherwise.

I would get the heavy platinum pan if available. And use the Baker's flour cooking spray unless you know something else would work as well. Silicon haven't gone that route yet, hear it's good. My three are Nordic Ware and heavy, not necessarily all platinum. But any metal should work if prepped right.

I think the village is adorable. Here is the one with the pine trees (I think the photo is the kind that you can't {easily} embed.

https://www.everythingkitchens.com/nordic-ware-cozy-village-pan-81948.html

You might find something if you google lights for cakes. Walmart has these:

"Illuminate floral arrangements, centerpieces and even place settings with these Non-Blinking Mini Party Lights. They have an exclusive rubber gasket that allows for submersion in fish tanks, ponds and pools. These white party lights can last up to eight hours. They have a built-in loop for convenient hanging and are ideal for holiday, seasonal and party occasions. Darice Non-Blinking Mini Party Lights, 12/pkg:"

A little pricey and all you need is a kid to choke on or swallow one. I'm a negative thinker when it comes to a lot of things :-(

[CottonBall]

My gosh, I have to get it now! And I can do that kind of decorating! A shaker of powdered sugar and then we have snow all over :-)

So which one do you think, the metal one or the silicone one?

Do you have a full-sized Silicon bundt pan, that once I figured out it’s peculiarities I have had great success with. So maybe that one.

[Aliska]

The words were well-deserved. They look SO appetizing and um spotlessly clean. Don't know why I think of stuff like that.

So sorry about your stepdad and cancer is so hard. It will be hard on all of you but especially your mom.

You are on the right track with simplicity; I should have downsized and now I can't and will need help getting stuff out of here. And my neighbor across the street, people have been coming and going. Estate sale. Well maybe he went to a home. Well, he died in October. We weren't overly friendly, but he was a nice man. Now I am the last one in my whole neighborhood. Have seen so many go. And some I don't even know what happened to them because I'd chat a little but didn't get super friendly with most, used to when younger.

I think you should just downsize the cookies ;-(. Make one or two a day and give them away or have in case somebody stops by. But everything is different now with visitors and holidays.

I've got grandkids but something went wrong with me and the anxiety, losing my son, a huge family legal battle, tore the family apart that was already not good with some relationships of insensitive people some downright evil and troublemaking. I shut them all off to protect myself from any more pain of that kind. Just associate with the two daughters I have left (try to keep them at arm's length) and some of their children that are close by. I never heard of anybody like me. I prayed for others who wanted grandkids so badly and mine came too soon before I had my son raised, then one problem after another with their damn boyfriends. Just had enough of it, didn't grow up that way. Being divorced for so long hasn't helped, have to cope with it all myself, the emotional part of relationships.

I just do not have the emotional reserves and haven't for a long time. I enjoy the simpler things when I can, my cat, feeding the birds and a few critters, things like that.

[mylife]

Not a date fan, I could take them or leave them but it sounds OK

[mylife]

One thing is certain, we all like Christmas baking

I miss Kolache slathered In butter, warm, with coffee

https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/hungarian-nut-rolls

[Diana in Wisconsin]

I was talking to one of the gals that baked cookies with us this year and she’s estranged from her daughters over her divorcing their Dad long ago.

I think it shows a lack of maturity to NOT want your parent/s to be happy in life. Kids can be so selfish. Been there, done that, too. Nobody wins, but what in life IS fair? Not much!

I’m a HUGE bird feeding fan, too! I like to make my own suet and I always keep the feeders full. The birds right now are pretty DULL, but the Cardinals and Blue Jays and Woodpeckers are slowly returning!

[Liz]

Silicone pan....but I would still spray it well to make sure the cakes separate from the pan.

You have to outline some areas in icing....then shower on the conf.

[miss marmelstein]

Powdered sugar is great on gingerbread - sometimes simple is best. The gingerbread I made today was too heavy on the clove. I don’t think I really like clove that much. I should have substituted mace or nutmeg.

[miss marmelstein]

Thanks for the recipe! I may give that a try. Of course, I love clotted cream - although not that stuff you see at Wegman’s or Whole Foods.

[mylife]

I revised this once with Pecans to introduce Texas to My traditions

flop! it was good but they don’t get it!

We use ground walnuts and sugar or poppyseeds or apricots, and the most recent variation is cottage cheese an Pinapple

[Flaming Conservative]

One of the easiest, yummiest cakes I’ve ever had, is the pineapple cake made by mixing 1 box of “add water only” Angel food cake mix (use dry), mixed with 1, 20oz. can of crushed pineapple. (I don’t think it would work with anything else but pineapple, if you want “fruity” cake. I tried a fruit cocktail cake once, using just that, and a white cake mix. It was heavy, and not very tasty, but then, white cake mix doesn’t have the egg whites in it, like Angel food mix does, and fruit cocktail is mostly pears, and they’re kinda bland). Anyway, for the pineapple cake, mix it together (directions say don’t overbeat, but I beat it on medium high for a minute or two). You can bake it in a 10 cup bundt or tube cake pan, or a rectangular pan, but you have a cool it upside down, or it will sink. DO NOT spray the pan, or it will fall out when you cool it. 350° F. or 325 in toaster oven, for 40 minutes. It is moist and delicious. Just be sure you don’t over bake it, or it will be not as moist or yummy. I cooked mine in a 3 inch deep 11x7 aluminum pan that I bought to fit my toaster convection oven. I almost never use my big oven anymore. My kitchen doesn’t get hot, and things cook a little quicker and at a lower temperature. Best $39 I ever spent. (Aldi brand) Merry Christmas everyone!

[mylife]

Simple is almost always BEST

[mylife]

Look up “pig Picken cake”

Crushed pinapple, Mandarin oranges, vanilla pudding.... Easy

[Flaming Conservative]

I’m not much of a cookie baker, but if you like fudge, the world’s easiest, yummiest fudge is 2 ingredient fudge. Mix one can (12 oz) sweetened condensed milk, and 1, 12 oz bag of semi-sweet chocolate chips. (You can use whatever kind of chips you like, for peanut butter, milk chocolate, chocolate mint, etc. fudge). Heat it on high for 30 seconds in microwave, til chips are melted. Takes my microwave about a minute and a half, total, Stir after each 30 seconds you need. Add nuts if you want after final stir, pour into buttered 8x8 inch pan, cool in fridge til firm.

[mylife]

Just do the pig picken cake in a flat cake in a flat cake pan

[miss marmelstein]

Yup.

[mylife]

Dunno what to do with anyone this year so its just money and distance