How to Choose the Best Tasting Cakes

Cakes come in different sizes, shapes and flavours. They are now creative wonders and bakers are like master craftsmen, who can make any wish come true when it comes to cakes. A few years ago, this was not the scene with fewer options in cake flavours and designs. All you could order was a butter cream cake or a plain dry white cake that honestly was just not worth the calories. With plenty of options available, customers are also perplexed how to order the best tasting cake. We help you with a few tips.
Choosing the right flavour for the special occasion is critical and perplexing. Besides choosing the colour, size and tiers, choosing the flavour is also an important task. Before jumping into conclusion and deciding a flavour, it is necessary to do your homework and know how many types of relishing flavours are available other than conventional choices.

Taste the cake
Tasting is the best part of choosing a cake. You probably already have an idea of what the cake will look like on the outside, but it's also important to know what it tastes like on the inside. If you're going to have a combination of flavours, taste them all - don't presume that chocolate cake will be good no matter what. However, it is better not to taste too many combinations or flavours at one sitting. It can be overwhelming to your taste buds and it can also be too rich for your tummy.
White cakes
For weddings the first choice is a white cake. It is a classic cake and the good thing is you do not have to compromise on the flavour. You can choose a white almond cake or a simple vanilla cake. They have a hint of the nuts. Include white chocolate chunks inside the cake for a surprising taste.
Light coloured cakes
Light colours like light pink, lemon yellow and nutty green are flavoured like fruits depending on the colour. There is nothing wrong in choosing fruits for flavours. However, the downside is sometimes the flavour will not go well with the icing on the cake.
Chocolate cakes
Chocolate cake is a popular choice for any event. You can order a dark or rich chocolate or truffle. Since chocolate is a universal favourite, the cake will certainly be appreciated by the guests.

Multi-flavoured cakes
These are also preferred by many. You can go for a marble cake and give flavoured batters in the form of swirls. The cake will look pretty with distinct colours. The cakes can be multi-layered, too with each tier having varied flavours.
Carrot cakes or fruit cakes
A carrot cake or fruit cakes are a good choice and gives a surprise taste for the guests. The cakes should have good icing layer and cream. However, do not expect all the guests to appreciate it. Cheesecakes and Tiramisu are also a popular choice and you can select a variety of flavours. If you are choosing a cheesecake, serve it with toppings of fruits and cream. It will look and taste wonderful.

How-To: Inverted Chocolate & Vanilla Cupcakes

These cupcakes can be quite tedious, but they are always a hit whenever I make them. These are chocolate cupcakes with a vanilla frosting and a chocolate topper and a vanilla cupcake with chocolate frosting and a vanilla topper. I find that most people like the mixture of the two flavors, but you could always customize and make whatever combination best suits you and your guests. Please do not be alarmed by the number of steps in the recipe. It looks like a lot, but it does not take as much time as one might think, and from my own experience I definitely think that following all of the steps are well worth the results.
Ingredients needed for the chocolate cupcake:

2 teaspoons of baking powder
¼ teaspoon of baking soda
1 1/3 cups of all-purpose flour
¾ cup of unsweetened cocoa powder
A pinch of salt
3 tablespoons of softened butter
1 ½ cups of white sugar
2 eggs
1 cup milk
¾ teaspoon of vanilla extract
Ingredients for vanilla cupcakes:
¾ teaspoon of baking soda
A pinch of salt
1 ¼ cups of all-purpose flour
4 tablespoons of butter
1 cup of white sugar
2/3 cup of milk
2 eggs
1 egg yolk
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
Ingredients for chocolate frosting recipe:
1 cup of unsweetened cocoa powder
5 cups of confectioner's powder sugar
1 ½ cups of softened butter
½ cup of milk
½ teaspoon of espresso powder
2 teaspoons of vanilla extract
Ingredients for the vanilla frosting recipe:
3 cups of powder sugar
1 ½ teaspoons of vanilla extract
2 teaspoons of milk
1/3 cup of softened butter
Ingredients needed for cupcake toppers:
Chocolate candy melts
Vanilla candy melts
Piping bag with a small tip (2)
Wax paper
Once you have made both the chocolate and vanilla cupcakes and both the chocolate and vanilla frosting, you may being preparing and putting together the final product. Grab the set of chocolate cupcakes and the set of vanilla frosting. Frost each cupcake with a generous amount of frosting. Now repeat the steps, but with the vanilla cupcake and the chocolate frosting.

Benefits of Yogurt

Yogurt is a tasty and healthful delight.
Yogurt's got protein and bone building calcium. It helps you lose weight and keep away a cold. The health benefits of yogurt are so notable that many health-conscious people make it a daily habit. Whether eaten as a meal or a snack, yogurt offers you a wealth of nutritional benefits. It's also a resourceful food that you can eat with different fruits and mangle nuts; use to make dressings for salad, enjoy in a dessert parfait; or incorporate into protein shakes and smoothies.
Several Benefits of Yogurt
• Mechanisms
Low-fat yogurt is usually a certainly crammed inside protein but low in calories. High-protein diets will certainly help throughout as the stress loss coming from reducing appetite along with boosting metabolism. the body has lots of energy in order to digest it, increasing the calorie burn from the day. Yogurt is usually filled with vitamins. One serving is a significant source of potassium, phosphorous, riboflavin, iodine, zinc, and vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid). Yogurt also contains B12, which maintains red blood cells and helps keep your nervous system functioning properly. "Vitamin B12 is found mostly in animal products, such as chicken and fish, so strict vegetarians can easily fall short,

• Reduced Disease Risks
Women who eat yogurt often have fewer chronic-disease risk factors, which can enhance their quality of life and increase their life expectancy.
• Ticker aid
Another good reason to heart yogurt: "Consuming fat-free and low-fat yogurt may help lower your risk of developing high blood pressure. Special proteins in dairy regulate BP, and high levels of calcium, magnesium, and potassium contribute to the blood pressure-lowering effect.
• Craving Control
Protein, abundant in yogurt, helps increase satiety and therefore helps women control their overall calorie intake for healthy weight management.
• Yogurt is less difficult to be able to digest as compared to milk.
Many people, who cannot bear with milk, either because of protein allergy or lactose intolerance, those people can enjoy yogurt. The culturing method makes yogurt more digestible than milk.
• Yogurt use in Recipes
Yogurt works as an alternate ingredient in all sorts of recipes. Plain yogurt can take the place of cream in a pinch. You can also alternate a complementary flavor of yogurt for some of the oil or butter called for in a muffin, brownie, or cake recipe. It can replace all of the fat.
The yogurt is healthiest and use well with many different dishes.
Yogurt increases the intake of calcium and B-vitamins. The lactic acid in the yogurt helps to absorb in the digestion of the milk calcium,

women eating yogurt regularly were actually taking with an higher variety involving calories and still dropping fat at the higher rate as compared to their counterparts.
If you want the most benefit from yogurt, prefer the low fat, plain, unsweetened kind and flavor it with fresh fruit or honey or eat it on the side of various dishes. Use yogurt in Breakfast
Breakfast promotes weight control by reducing hunger and helping you make healthy food choices later in the day.
Yogurt is a tasty foodstuff to quench your sweet tooth. It has both stuffing enough to be able to satisfy and low-calorie enough to manage your waistline.
Here are a few benefits of yogurt for your growing kids.
• It's loaded in calcium

Low-Sugar, Gluten Free Alternatives to Your Favorite Desserts

Yeah! Who doesn't love homemade Classic Chocolate Chip Cookies? Well, these classic cookies are low in sugar & gluten free. They only have about 7 grams of focused carbs! See below how it's done.
Prep Time:
Minutes to Prepare: 12 mins.
Minutes to Cook: 12-14 mins.
Number of Servings: 26
Ingredients:
13 oz Almond Flour
1/2 cup Erythritol Sweetener (can use splenda)
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 egg
1 stick salted butter
1 Tbls vanilla
1/2 cup Sugar Free Chocolate Chips (any brand is fine)
1/8 cup Water
Directions:
Soften Butter, mix in 1 egg, water, vanilla. In a separate mixing bowl, whisk together almond flour, salt, baking soda, and erythritol. Add wet ingredients to dry, then stir in chocolate chips. Scoop with a small scoop onto parchment lined baking sheets (so cookies do not stick).

Bake at 350 degrees in the oven for 10-12 minutes. Enjoy!
________________________________________________________________
Ooo-lala! This cheesecake recipe can be incorporated into your Rennix Weigh plan!
It is quite thick and as it cools, it becomes even more dense. Sometimes I like to top it with blueberries! I make it with an almond crust, but it can also be made with other types of flours to fit within your weight loss plan (talk to you health coach). Nia's Sugarless, Gluten Free Cheesecake is one of our team's favorites and often made during the holidays or other special occasions.
Ingredients:
• 3 packages (1 and 1/2 lbs) cream cheese (room temp.)
• 4 eggs (room temperature)
• 1 and 1/2 teaspoon (1/2 Tablespoon) vanilla
• 1 and 1/2 teaspoon (1/2 Tablespoon) lemon juice
• 1 and 1/3 cups sugar equivalent of artificial sweetener (I personally like liquid sweetener for the smoothness)
• 1/4 cup sour cream
Crust:
• 1 cup almond flour
• 2 Tablespoons melted butter
• 2 Tablespoons sugar equivalent in artificial sweetener
Preparation:
Heat oven to 375 F.
Making the Crust: Combine the ingredients for the crust, and press into the bottom of a springform pan
Bake for 8 to 12 minutes, until perfumed and just beginning to brown. (Set aside)
Raise oven heat to 400 F, or lower to 350 F if you're using a water bath (see below).
Make the Cheesecake: Put the cream cheese in a mixing bowl, and beat until fluffy. Add the other ingredients, scraping the bowl and beaters each time (this is key), and fully incorporating each ingredient. When all ingredients are combined pour the mixture on top of the cooked crust in the pan.
Instructions for using a water bath: Wrap the bottom and sides of the springform pan in foil, put it in a baking pan and pour boiling water around the sides. Bake at 350 F for 60 to 90 minutes, checking often. When the cake is firm to touch but slightly soft in the center, or the center reaches 155 F, remove from the oven.

Instructions for non-water bath: For this method, you start the cake at a high temperature, and it slowly drops.
Bake for 60 to 90 minutes, checking often after an hour. When the cake is firm to touch but slightly soft in the center, or the center reaches 155 F, remove it from the oven.
Chill the cheesecake completely in the refrigerator before cutting - this will take at least two hours. Top with fruit, if desired.
Makes 16 servings
Nutritional Information: Each serving has 2.5 grams of focused carbohydrates* plus 1 gram of fiber, 6 grams of protein, and 221 calories.

Things You Should Know About Online Cake Delivery Services

A celebration is incomplete without cakes. Be it a birthday or a wedding anniversary celebration or a promotion party or Baptism, you need a cake cutting ceremony to make the festivities more joyful. Now, ordering cakes has become a hassle-free affair. Thanks to online cake delivery services, which enable you to place an order at the tap of your finger and get it delivered whenever and wherever you wish.
You can order custom-made cakes or any exotic cake in a matter of hours. For all those who lead busy lives, online cake delivery is a blessing.
Before ordering cakes online, you need to know a few things about online delivery services.

It is a viable option
The hectic pace of today's 24-hr lifestyle leaves people with hardly any time to spare to go all the way to a shop braving heavy traffic to order a cake and then go back again to collect it. Online cake delivery service is a more viable option for urbanites.
No compromise on quality & taste
Some of the best cake shops have online delivery. So you can be assured of the quality of the product you order. You can select from a range of quality to celebrate any occasion without the worry of how it will taste.
Fast delivery
With the online cake delivery services you will never miss the opportunity to send a delicious cake to your loved ones. To be more precise, you can place an order and get the cake in no time. There is hardly any waiting period. Just order cakes from the privacy of your home or office, and it will be delivered in a few hours.
No need to plan beforehand
It is not possible to plan all special occasions beforehand. What if you got an unexpected hike or promotion and you want to celebrate it with your colleagues by cutting an exotic cake? You don't miss such special occasions if you order a cake online.

Enticing cakes at affordable prices
Just because you are ordering a cake online doesn't mean that you will have to pay a lot more. The prices for a cake you get to buy at a cake shop and from an online cake shop are all the same. You will find cakes in different price ranges online. Online delivery services give you the advantage of convenience, too.
Easy payment options
Most online cake shops provide different payment options. You can use all the major credit and debit cards. They also have cash on delivery options. You can choose whichever option is most convenient to you while ordering the cake.

Easy Fruit Salad Recipes for the Healthy Sweet Tooth

Each fruit provides a different taste to satisfy different palettes and also gives various vitamins and minerals. Fruit salads are a popular dessert not only among weight watchers - they satisfy your sweet tooth and at the same time provide the body with essential nutrients!
Here are 4 easy, must-try fruit salad recipes:
Fluffy Pistachio Fruit Salad
What you need:

• 2 bananas, sliced
• 2 1/2 cups crushed pineapple with juice
• 2 cups fruit cocktail
• 2 cups miniature marshmallows
• 1 1/2 cups mandarin oranges
• 1 1/2 cups frozen whipped topping, thawed
• 1/2 cup instant pistachio pudding mix

Combine crushed pineapple and pudding mix in a large mixing bowl. Mix well. Stir in whipped topping then bananas, fruit cocktail, marshmallows and mandarin oranges. Cover and refrigerate for 2-3 hours before serving.

Very Berry Salad
What you need:

• 1 cup fresh blueberries
• 1 cup fresh blackberries
• 1 cup fresh raspberries
• 1 cup fresh strawberries, quartered lengthwise
• 1 teaspoon white sugar

In a medium glass bowl, mix together blueberries, blackberries, raspberries and strawberries. Sprinkle with white sugar. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving.
Herbed Fruit Salad
What you need:

• 2 kumquats, seeded and chopped
• 1 pear, peeled, cored and chopped
• 1 cucumber, peeled, cored and chopped
• 1 1/2 cups water
• 1 1/3 cups quinoa, rinsed
• 1 cup coarsely chopped watercress
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 2 1/2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

With the 1 1/2 cups water, bring the quinoa to a boil in a medium saucepan. Reduce heat to low and stir constantly for 10-12 minutes. Remove from heat, drain and allow to cool. Mix together kumquats, cilantro, olive oil, lemon juice and kosher salt in a small bowl. Set aside to steep. In a large bowl, combine pear, cucumber and cooked quinoa. Add the dressing to the bowl, stir then serve.
Butterscotch Fruit Mix

What you need:

• 4 apples, diced
• 2 cups frozen non-dairy whipped topping, thawed
• 2 cups crushed pineapple with juice
• 1 cup dry roasted peanuts
• 1/2 cup instant butterscotch pudding mix

In a medium bowl, combine diced apples, peanuts and pudding mix. Mix until ingredients are thoroughly combined. Add whipped topping and crushed pineapple to the mixture then stir. Cover and refrigerate overnight before serving.
Take a break from the usual green salads and cater to your sweet tooth with these easy fruit salad recipes - they're easy to make, unique and good for your health! You can never go wrong with fresh and all-natural fruits especially when you're eating them as a treat!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9559490

8 Easy Dessert Decoration Tips

Whatever the occasion, birthday party, wedding reception, get-together or baby's baptism - the dessert is often the star of the party. A delicious dessert makes a perfect end to any celebration. Presentation is just as important as taste.
Here are some simple tips on how you decorate your favorite desserts:
1. Pick a subject
Before you start with the decoration of the course, make a subject which will complement the general theme of the party or occasion.
2. Make it colorful
A splash of color will bring your desserts to life. Choose colors that complement one another. Explore different shades and tones as long as they complement one another. It would be one best act to attract guests and keep their mouth-watering.
One amongst the simplest ways to decorate a cake or course is with fruit and nuts. For instance, use berries for a decadent semi-sweet chocolate cake, or sliced pineapples, mangoes and peaches for a refreshing tropical fruit trifle. Shred lots of colorful gems and sprinkle them over the dessert. Or cut some nuts like cashew, almonds and scatter them over your sweet dish to add that touch of elegance.

3. Make it creative as a painting
There are many ways to compose a plate. Think about the plate as if it is a blank canvas or as if you were composing the frame for a photograph. Adding totally different textures to the plate adds excitement to the visual charm of course. To illustrate, you could make some meaningful drawings suiting the theme of the party with your candy pieces over the topping of the cake.
4. Contrast temperatures
There is nothing like pairing a slice of warm pie or a fruit tart with a cool scoop of frozen dessert. Combining temperatures are often easy; however plating will need some thought. Don't place your course on a hot plate. Frozen dessert can soften too quickly. A chilled plate could also be useful once plating cold desserts, whereas hot ones can just do fine for many cakes or pies.
5. Create a focal point
Using an element in your dessert as a focal point can help give your plating focus. Just like any other centerpiece, it should be one that fits and blends well with the overall presentation of the course. Remember, the centerpiece will be the focal point of the dessert so you need to invest a good amount of time and energy into planning for one that will attract your dessert. Some nice ideas embody an outsized chocolate fountain, a transparent jar crammed with fruits, ice sculpture etc.
6. Garnishing desserts
Think about the eater once adding finishing touches to your plate. Keep in mind how the garnish will function on the finished plate. Garnishing your desserts with chocolate curls, Cocoa powder/icing sugar, berries, dried fruits, mint leaves, fruit slices and nuts adds a touch of glam to your desserts.

7. Be consistent
When plating desserts for a crowd, be consistent in your style and in serving size. It is often confusing to see totally different presentation on every plate, and no-one likes to see the plate across the table with a serving double the dimensions.
8. Pick eye-catchy desserts
Last and undoubtedly not the least, you must choose eye-catchy courses to place in your dessert. With the exception of the centerpiece, this stuff is the most ornamental item which will create the dessert look decadent and luscious.
Enjoy making the delicious dessert for your party!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9533269

A Reliable Bakery Shared Some Tips For Baking The Best Cakes

A cake is definitely a welcome sight at almost any get-together, elegant or casual, small or large. Bear in mind that cakes today are mixed, shaped and baked in different ways; however, there are several important basic principles applicable to every cake.
With the invention of baking soda and baking powder, baking cakes has become popular during the Industrial Revolution. Cakes are now quite easy to make. Also, ovens started to have more temperature controlled settings. And this means people could already leave their cakes to bake without the need to watch them over constantly. Most important, railroads or ease of transportation has made ingredients easy to source and are much cheaper.

How To Bake The Best Cakes
Do not use cold eggs if you can avoid it. Apart from brining the butter to room temperature, it is also important for you to do this with eggs. This will help emulsify the mixture properly. If you are short on time, consider placing the eggs in a warm bowl of warm water for about 10-15 minutes.
Properly measure the flour. A trusted bakery suggests that you spoon flour into a dry measuring cup. Be sure to sweep off the excess with a knife. Do not scoop it directly from the bag because the flour can become compacted. And this will cause you to get more than what you need for the recipe.
Butter the pans using a pastry brush. If you choose to do this, you will be getting better coverage. Also, it will make buttering parchment very easy and fast. You just have to swipe the brush over a tablespoon of soft butter, then to the pan or paper.
As much as possible, you must place the pans to the center of the over. The pans must not touch one another or even the oven walls. In case your oven is not wide enough to put two or more pans side by side, consider placing them on various racks and slightly offset. This will ensure proper air circulation.

Ensure even baking by rotating the pans. Remember though to do this only when the cake is set. This means it is about two-thirds of the way through the baking time in order to prevent collapse. If you are using more than a single rack, it is a good idea for you to swap the pans.
Cool the cakes upside down. This will ensure that the top area is flattened out. And this will create easy-to-stack disks for layer cakes. In case the top of a cake is rounded still, consider slicing it off using a serrated knife.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9592956

3 Sweet Treats You Can Make Using Your Grill

Everybody likes sweet treats. Add a unique smoky flavor to your dessert dishes by throwing them on the grill. These goodies will remind you of the delicious campfire treats everyone used to enjoy during childhood. Try these quick and easy grilled dessert recipes that kids and adults alike will enjoy:
Butterscotch-Covered Grilled Pineapples
What you need:

• 2 pineapples, peeled, cored and sliced into 6 spears
• 3 cups vanilla ice cream
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup butter plus 6 tablespoons
• 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
• 2 tablespoons white sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1 pinch salt

In a small saucepan, heat 6 tablespoons butter, white sugar and nutmeg over medium heat, stirring constantly until sugar has dissolved, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and brush pineapple pieces with the mixture. Cook pineapples on a pre-heated grill over medium heat, covered, turning occasionally until lightly browned, about 6 to 8 minutes. Place pineapples on a platter and set aside. Heat remaining 1/2 cup butter in a saucepan then add brown sugar and whipping cream. Bring to a boil while stirring constantly. Remove from heat then stir in vanilla extract and salt. Serve grilled pineapples with cream mixture and vanilla ice cream.
Honey Lemon Grilled Banana
What you need:

• 4 bananas, peeled and sliced in half lengthwise
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons honey
• 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
• Splash of fresh orange juice

Place banana halves in a large sheet of heavy-duty aluminum foil. Sprinkle with brown sugar, honey, lemon juice and orange juice. Wrap aluminum foil over bananas to create a packet. Place packet on a pre-heated grill and cook for 2 to 3 minutes over medium heat.
Grilled Mint and Cheese Peaches
What you need:

• 4 peaches, sliced in half and pitted
• 8 mint leaves
• 1 1/2 cups soft goat cheese (chevre)
• 2 tablespoons skim milk
• 1 tablespoon honey

In a small bowl, combine cheese, skim milk and honey. Set aside. Cook peach halves cut side down on a pre-heated grill over medium heat until grill marks appear, about 6 to 8 minutes. Place grilled peaches on a platter and fill each half with 1 tablespoon of the cheese mixture. Garnish each peach with a mint leaf before serving.
Make something sweet and scrumptious using your grill for a more enjoyable backyard barbecue- try these healthy grilled dessert recipes that everyone will definitely love!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9580323

Tips To Use And Care For Your Ice Cream Maker

Ice cream makers are great additions in your home, especially if you love the soft cold treats. There are so many models to choose from and by looking at the different features you should be able to select the most suitable for your needs. After investing in a reliable equipment for your ice cream making efforts, you will need to use the properly and also accord it the care and maintenance it deserves so keep getting the best from it.
With proper usage you will enjoy smoother finished textures instead of soupy ice creams. Regular washing and proper care on the other hand ensures food safety, your ice cream maker needs proper cleaning and sanitization and it helps to know how to go about it.
Tip 1 - Read the directions of use that come with your machine. Even if you have used one before, it is still very important that you go through the manual because models can be s little different. Using manufacturer guidelines keeps your machine in top shape and ensures you enjoy perfect desserts every time.

Tip 2 - Chill your ingredients before you churn. Pouring warm ice cream base into the machine only means that you have to wait longer for cooling and churning to take effect and this can affect finished product quality depending on the type of machine you have. To enjoy smoothest textures it helps to first refrigerate liquid before freezing.
Tip 3 - Freeze your canister ahead of time. Some machines require that you freeze bowl or the canister before the process. Ensure therefore, that you give it a full day in the freezer so by the time you make your next batch it is ready.
Tip 4 - Let your mix-ins come last. If you love your ice cream with nuts or chocolate chips or other kinds of mix-ins, do not add too early. It is best that you add them when your ice cream is about done. Remember the machines are not designed for the harder ingredients so only add a few seconds before you stop the process.
Tip 5 - Never overfill the machine. Air is needed during the churning process to give it that light, soft texture instead of ending up with a solid block. Ensure therefore, that you only fill canister halfway.

Tip 6 - To clean the machine, start by emptying and wipe any hardened ice cream off the scraping blades. You should then flush water until you can clear water coming out.
Tip 7 - Take the machine apart following the manual so you know which parts are detachable for washing. You can then use warm soapy water to clean freezing chamber. If it does not have wash cycle setting, you can use a kitchen scrub brush to clean inner moving parts. You can add bleach to kill bacteria, but then you must soak all parts for at least 30 minutes, then rinse with clean water and dry on clean towels.

When looking for the best ice cream maker, you can use ice cream maker reviews to important details about each top model so you can make the best decision in the end.