For many novice bakers, baking cakes may not be the problem. Finding recipes or decorating may not be the problem either. Their biggest problem may be keeping cakes from sticking to cake pans. In this article, I'm going to give you 5 useful tips to ensure your cakes never stick to your cake pans.
1. Make sure to let the cake cool the proper amount of time.
If the cake is sticking to the cake pan, the first thing to look at is whether or not you're letting it cool sufficiently. Most recipes suggest cooling the cake on a rack about 5 to 15 minutes, then running a knife around the edge before turning it out of the pan. Just by taking these steps, you can prevent your cakes from ever sticking.
2. Use a mixture of equal parts flour, vegetable or canola oil, and shortening.
If you're unsure what to grease your cake pans with, try the above mixture. Blend the ingredients thoroughly and use a pastry brush to apply to your cake pans. Once the cake is done baking, you can then place the cake pan on a cooling rack. Allow it to cool as recommended in tip number 1 before removing it.
3. Cut a piece of parchment paper and line your cake pan with it, and dab some butter under and on top of the paper.
This is a neat trick I learned from a good friend, and seems to work flawlessly every time. It's like "insurance" that the cake will come out. When you remove the cake it should come out of the cake pan quite easily paper and all. Then, all you have to do is peel the paper from the cake.
4. Don't let the cake cool too long.
Some bakers may be letting their cakes cool too much. Most cakes should be removed from their cake pans after 5 to 15 minutes, but definitely within 30 minutes of cooling on a rack. Anything after that may be detrimental. However, some recipes call for letting your cakes cool a bit longer. If that's the case, then just follow the recipe instructions. Unless the recipe calls for it, stick to tip number 1.
5. Use aluminum foil to line your cake pans.
This is similar to using parchment paper, but is a more cost effective alternative for those frugal bakers out there. Aside from being cheaper, you can also mold foil a little tighter to the pan than with parchment paper. Foil works best for round and square cake pans. You can line your pans with foil enough to reach up and over the sides. You may even use the extra foil as a type of "handle" to help lift the cake out of the pan.
I know how frustrating it can be to have your cakes stick to your cake pans. You can now use my 5 tips in any combination that makes sense to ensure that your cakes never stick to your cake pans again. Instead of tearing up that cake as you try to remove it from its pan, you can ensure an easy and simple release, ensuring your cakes always come out looking as good as they taste.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Veronica_Elena
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Learning the Two Simple Methods of Cooking Couscous
One of the best alternatives for traditional pasta, couscous is a special type of wheat that is commonly used in dishes that originated from North Africa. Many people agree that this wheat goes well with delicious fish viands, as well as dishes that have hot and spicy flavors. In addition, everyone can eat couscous for breakfast by adding milk and other fruits to the wheat. However, to those who are health conscious they can always add delicious and nutritious salad dressing to this wheat to improve its taste. For individuals who have interest in exploring other uses of the wheat, it is best that they try these two sumptuous couscous recipes, namely Plain Couscous and Couscous With Olive Oil.
Learning the Basics in Cooking Plain Couscous
The easiest way of cooking couscous is by preparing and serving it to people very plainly. When cooking plain couscous, it is important to prepare a tasty and savory sauce that will be mixed with the wheat, since the sauce will be the only source of flavor in this dish. Combine couscous and sauce in a pan and boil for several minutes. The heat must be turned-off when the mixture reaches boiling point to avoid couscous from becoming over cooked. Before letting the mixture stand for another five minutes, it is important to cover the pan to prevent the wheat from being contaminated. Serve the dish immediately.
Knowing the Steps for Cooking Couscous with Olive Oil
Another simple way of cooking couscous is by preparing it with olive oil. Pour at most two tablespoons of olive oil in a pan. Heat the pan in a medium low fire for several minutes. As an alternative for olive oil, it is best to use vegetable oil. Put couscous in the pan and sprinkle with salt to improve its taste. Constantly stir the wheat. When the color of couscous appears to be golden brown, pour boiling water. Before turning the fire off, provide a cover for the pan. Let the dish stand in the pan for at most ten minutes. Transfer the dish in another bowl and serve immediately.
Important Tips in Cooking Couscous
For individuals who have interest in cooking couscous, there are some important tips that they should consider. Instead of boiling the wheat in plain water, they can use juices, chicken stock, and beef stock as alternatives. Additionally, to those who like to prepare couscous with olive oil, they can always add pine nuts to enhance the flavor of the dish. Furthermore, the use of some herbs such as rosemary, basil, oregano, marjoram, and thyme is encouraged to improve the taste of the wheat. Finally, when it comes to preserving excess couscous, they should always place it inside a container and put in a refrigerator to retain its freshness.
Cooking couscous is very easy and simple. In addition, it is not time consuming, which means that everyone can prepare couscous dishes. By following the procedures in cooking these two recipes, people can add new flavor and taste to the traditional way of preparing this special kind of wheat.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Peter_Garant
Learning the Basics in Cooking Plain Couscous
The easiest way of cooking couscous is by preparing and serving it to people very plainly. When cooking plain couscous, it is important to prepare a tasty and savory sauce that will be mixed with the wheat, since the sauce will be the only source of flavor in this dish. Combine couscous and sauce in a pan and boil for several minutes. The heat must be turned-off when the mixture reaches boiling point to avoid couscous from becoming over cooked. Before letting the mixture stand for another five minutes, it is important to cover the pan to prevent the wheat from being contaminated. Serve the dish immediately.
Knowing the Steps for Cooking Couscous with Olive Oil
Another simple way of cooking couscous is by preparing it with olive oil. Pour at most two tablespoons of olive oil in a pan. Heat the pan in a medium low fire for several minutes. As an alternative for olive oil, it is best to use vegetable oil. Put couscous in the pan and sprinkle with salt to improve its taste. Constantly stir the wheat. When the color of couscous appears to be golden brown, pour boiling water. Before turning the fire off, provide a cover for the pan. Let the dish stand in the pan for at most ten minutes. Transfer the dish in another bowl and serve immediately.
Important Tips in Cooking Couscous
For individuals who have interest in cooking couscous, there are some important tips that they should consider. Instead of boiling the wheat in plain water, they can use juices, chicken stock, and beef stock as alternatives. Additionally, to those who like to prepare couscous with olive oil, they can always add pine nuts to enhance the flavor of the dish. Furthermore, the use of some herbs such as rosemary, basil, oregano, marjoram, and thyme is encouraged to improve the taste of the wheat. Finally, when it comes to preserving excess couscous, they should always place it inside a container and put in a refrigerator to retain its freshness.
Cooking couscous is very easy and simple. In addition, it is not time consuming, which means that everyone can prepare couscous dishes. By following the procedures in cooking these two recipes, people can add new flavor and taste to the traditional way of preparing this special kind of wheat.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Peter_Garant
What Can You Make With Different Shaped Cake Pans?
There are so many shapes of cake pans available, it can be overwhelming trying to decide on which one to choose. Today's cake pans come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and most are intricately detailed as well. This is a boon to bakers, and cake decorators who can take their baking and decorating to the next level.
The myriad of cake pan shapes allow you to create just about anything your imagination can dream up...
For example, you can create football, soccer ball, basketball, or baseball shaped cakes. These are perfect for the athlete in your family, or the sports fan. You can easily throw a themed party based on their favorite sport, and top it off with the appropriately shaped ball cake.
You can bake a cartoon, TV, or movie character cake. There are various cake pans available in various character shapes. For example, there are Disney characters available, or even Sponge Bob Square Pants. If your kids love Sesame Street, there are several cake pans available for them too. I'm talking about such lovable characters as Elmo, Big Bird, Oscar the Grouch, and many more.
There are also car shapes out there. These can be baked for the NASCAR lover, or for anyone who gets a kick out of cars. It can be for an adult, or child. Anyone who loves cars will enjoy a car shaped cake, and you can bake it with a car shaped cake pan.
For those train lovers, and they can be quite the avid fan, there are even train shaped cake pans. There are many train hobbyists who collect train sets. Now, you can take that hobby and bake them a train shaped cake that they'll love and enjoy.
There are even more risqué shaped cake pans for adults. These can be used for adult themed parties such as bachelor, or bachelorette parties. They add a nice touch to an already fun evening, and imagine the hilarity associated with such and adult shaped cake.
This is a great time for bakers and decorators. Just about anything your imagination dreams up, you can create with the various cake pans available. Your only limitation is your level of creativity. By using any of the various cake pan shapes, you can easily bake an exotic looking cake, or you can even bake something more traditional if you prefer. It's completely up to you.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Veronica_Elena
The myriad of cake pan shapes allow you to create just about anything your imagination can dream up...
For example, you can create football, soccer ball, basketball, or baseball shaped cakes. These are perfect for the athlete in your family, or the sports fan. You can easily throw a themed party based on their favorite sport, and top it off with the appropriately shaped ball cake.
You can bake a cartoon, TV, or movie character cake. There are various cake pans available in various character shapes. For example, there are Disney characters available, or even Sponge Bob Square Pants. If your kids love Sesame Street, there are several cake pans available for them too. I'm talking about such lovable characters as Elmo, Big Bird, Oscar the Grouch, and many more.
There are also car shapes out there. These can be baked for the NASCAR lover, or for anyone who gets a kick out of cars. It can be for an adult, or child. Anyone who loves cars will enjoy a car shaped cake, and you can bake it with a car shaped cake pan.
For those train lovers, and they can be quite the avid fan, there are even train shaped cake pans. There are many train hobbyists who collect train sets. Now, you can take that hobby and bake them a train shaped cake that they'll love and enjoy.
There are even more risqué shaped cake pans for adults. These can be used for adult themed parties such as bachelor, or bachelorette parties. They add a nice touch to an already fun evening, and imagine the hilarity associated with such and adult shaped cake.
This is a great time for bakers and decorators. Just about anything your imagination dreams up, you can create with the various cake pans available. Your only limitation is your level of creativity. By using any of the various cake pan shapes, you can easily bake an exotic looking cake, or you can even bake something more traditional if you prefer. It's completely up to you.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Veronica_Elena
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