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

[Jamestown1630]

Sorry; I meant a video cab view - a camera in the front window of the front car of the train, seeing what the driver sees.

[Jamestown1630]

One of my husband’s favorite things - especially at Christmas - is Brandied Cherries - nice over ice cream, or in cocktails; but I think the Husband Unit would eat them out of a bowl ;-)

https://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/brandied-cherries/9ed6a684-54de-4fca-a878-06f0101f1982

[mylife]

I just jumped trains as a kid.

Would hop off at the edge of town.

[Aliska]

Except I love love white bakery cake with the original frosting that comes in a bucket. It's pretty dry but I love it. I do have a recipe for a wedding cake that calls for white cake mix plus extra flour plus almond extract. The latter you have to be super careful not to get too much.

I haven't made it though. So many good ideas.

[Jamestown1630]

You dangerous boy, you!

[mylife]

I miss trains

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PUpJyUtD-N0

[Jamestown1630]

My girlfriend from High School used to call those fancy cakes from the grocery store ‘Crisco Cakes’ - because the icing was usually made from that.

She laughed at them - but I think her wedding cake was probably iced with the same, because that’s how they did things back then ;-)

https://www.crisco.com/recipes/buttery-cream-frosting-1329

[mylife]

I always came home LOL

[Jamestown1630]

My favorite song that mentions a train - (my high-school Cherokee-boy sweetheart used to sing it for me):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oyTOZCfp8OY

[mylife]

I did not know Hank was Cherokee

Dated a Buffalo gal once, she could not sing for spit, course neither can I LOL

[leaning conservative]

Huge cookie lover here. Please put aside a plate of snickerdoodles & sugar cookies & I will be over later to pick them up. ; )

Oh, & thank you.

[mylife]

One of my faves

Greenville Trestle High

Gnight and Happy Holidays

[leaning conservative]

That is my husband’s favorite & I have never made one. I showed him that picture & he said, “That is the most beautiful cake ever!” Next March I am baking it for his birthday!

[Jamestown1630]

I don’t know that Hank was a Cherokee - but my boyfriend was!

(And that song is an example of American poetry of the common man.)

Go to sleep, now, darling.

G’nite!

[Diana in Wisconsin]

And to think I used to SCOFF at Snickerdoodles! The older I get, the more I appreciate a well-made, hand-crafted cookie. ;)

[Aliska]

Where's the recipe that goes with the photo you posted? My daughter and I think that one is the prettiest (I thought I had it but it was decorated slightly differently). Thank you.

[Jamestown1630]

The photo came from Wikipedia:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Forest_gateau

But there are lots of recipes, and wonderful, different ways to compose and decorate the cake. Just do a search.

[Aliska]

That's true. The first fancy cake I made with flowers I learned how to make on it (yellow roses, my fav) then donated to the cake walk at my kids' school, it had Crisco frosting. A friend taught me from a demo she saw at church. I still have a recipe I have used within the last few years with half Crisco and half butter. Think it is called Kittencal's Bakery frosting.

I didn't know how to pipe with bags and tips back then. Just how to make roses with one tip and a flower nail.

I hope I don't screw up the cherry tapioca. Put in the sugar last and I want the pearls translucent but not to cook away. Might have used too much sugar. Sour cherries and that tart juice are super sour and hard to taste when it is so hot.

I made the milk and egg tapioca with my other box of large pearls, used the whole box. When it takes a long time to cook and involves a lot, no point in just making a little. It keeps for several days. Wasn't bad.

My daughter left and said I have a baby possum under my porch. I will have to put out more treats at night.

[mylife]

Nothing to do with cakes but Lord I miss Frank Zappas wit.

Stunning guitar work here...

Muffin Man

[Aliska]

Oh, thank you! I went to that site and all I saw were lots of pretty icons.

I'll find a good one.