Archive for January, 2010

Christmas Cakes- Making Christmas Merry

Tuesday, January 12th, 2010

Christmas is the most beautiful time of the year. There are twinkling lights everywhere. Trees decorated with tinsel balls, shiny stars and tiny Santa Clauses are a magical sight. The traditional Christmas feast too is as eye-catching as mouthwateringly delicious. So it’s only apt that when you’re having a Christmas dinner or gifting someone a cake at Christmas time, you choose a cake that’s as cheerful and beautiful as the season.

Christmas cakes are of many types. An all-time favorite is the traditional plum cake. This cake dates to long, long ago when people began adding plums to the cakes they baked in winter. Plums were rich in energy and perfect to eat when the temperature dropped and the weather turned cold. People loved eating these cakes as treats on such days and especially around Christmas time. And over the years plum cakes became part and parcel of the Christmas tradition.

Another cake that people love to have on their Christmas platter is the Yule Log. This cake is made to look like the traditional log of wood that is burned in the fireplaces of people who live in European counties at Christmas time. This cake usually has a chocolate frosting which resembles a log of wood.  Christmas holly is often added to give the cake a cheery festive look.

Since Santa Claus is the most famous character associated with Christmas, people love having him on cakes. The red and white colors of Santa’s clothes when made from red and white icing look wonderfully delicious.

People also love to see cakes in the shapes of Christmas trees. These cakes look especially beautiful when placed next to a real Christmas tree!

Cakes that are coated with marzipan are also much-loved at Christmas time. Marzipan made from finely ground almonds, egg white and sugar is a scrumptious Christmas sweet. When rolled in to a fine layer and coated on a cake, marzipan turns the cake in to a delicious Christmas treat.

Cakes shaped like stars, reindeers, stockings, holly, bells, candy canes and snowmen are also wonderful ideas for Christmas time cakes. Being favorite symbols of the season, they never fail to add compliments to the season and make Christmas cheerful, merry and bright.

The author is an entertainment, gifts, foods editor and works for many websites related to event, bollywood, gifts, foods, cakes, chocolates, music, movie, concerts and theater. Visit: 1st Birthday Cakes or http://www.monginis.net/happy-birthday/1st-birthday-cake.html

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Cookies Are the Best Delectable Around

Tuesday, January 12th, 2010

The delicious aroma of cookies throughout our childhood homes is a memory treasured by many. It seemed too many of us that the cookies took forever to make their sojourn from the oven to the countertop. These cookies are a sweet and tender cookie that has wonderfully crisp edges. No wonder they become an American favorite even though they were once made primarily during the Christmas season. They are delicious whether dressed simply with a sprinkling of colored sugar or frosted with icing. Two commonly used sugar cookie frostings are butter cream and poured icing.

These cookies are generally made from sugar, flour, butter, eggs, vanilla, and either baking powder or baking soda. You can form them by your hand or rolled and cut into shapes. They are a versatile type of cookie which can be cut into a variety of shapes and sizes. Decorated sugar cookies are popular during holidays such as Christmas and Halloween. They are buttery classics that are delicious anytime on their own. Try customizing them to your taste with an addition such as lemon zest, a bit of brandy, or a hint of cinnamon.

Even, any variety or flavor of sugar cookies can become a filled cookie. Fillings can consist of jams and jellies or canned pie filling. They come in two kinds: cutouts and drop. Cutouts are made of dough which is thick enough to roll out onto a floured counter and cut in various shapes. Meanwhile, drops are made by simply dropping the dough onto a greased cookie sheet with no rolling or cutting necessary.

It is true that chocolate chip cookies summon warm feelings and memories, making them a typical comfort food. Aside from the standard flavors, this type of cookie has additional flavors and textures. Additions such as banana or cherry make the chocolate chip cookie even more delicious to fruit lovers. Chocolate lovers will delight over double chocolate chip cookies and white chocolate chip cookies. Somewhere along the way, a delightful soul came up with the idea to add oatmeal to the mix, and there is no denying that tastes wonderful. Chocolate chip cookies are also good if you add ingredients such as mint chips, candy bar bits, espresso beans, or raisins. Candy canes, many varieties of nuts, chocolate chunks, and candies are other great flavors to add.

Both chocolate chip cookie pie and gourmet chocolate chip cookie bars are treats that many people enjoy. Even if you have particular dietary needs, these cookies are ones that you can enjoy if you prepare them at home. Whether you need to eat whole wheat or cut out the wheat, cut out the eggs or cut out all the meat, or if you just want to have simple low fat cookies, there are recipes for your type of chocolate chip cookies online. Now that you realize all the potential that the regular chocolate chip cookie holds, enjoy finding out which way you prefer yours prepared.

Have fun being creative with these cookies because it is easy to modify to change their flavor, texture, and appearance so that they are suitable for any holiday or occasion.

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