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A Piece of Cake
January 2000: The Very First Slice
Newsletter written by Anne Byrn January 30, 2000
Notes from the Doctor
Preheat the Oven, It's the First e-Newsletter
I knew I wasn't the only cook out there turning ordinary cake mix into sensational desserts. Thank you for buying The Cake Mix Doctor, sharing it with friends, e-mailing me with suggestions and clicking that little icon on my web site that put you on this newsletter list. I said once 100 people sign up, I've got to create a newsletter! And here it is, with the help of my husband (and computer ace) John.
Why A Piece of Cake? Because great dessert recipes are even more enticing when they're a snap to prepare. And beginning with a cake mix shaves hours off your preparation time. What we'll share in this friendly forum are questions and answers about baking and using mixes. E-mail me with any Hot (baking) Tip and cake mix recipes you'd like to share with others. Many of you have already done this, and as soon as I return from a rigorous book tour and get back in the kitchen, I'll be printing some of those recipes.
You're going to find this little letter crammed with tips and trivia, all supporting the mix-to-masterpiece cause. I don't know about you, but I'm hungry for cake, so let's get baking!
Q&A
Q. I would like to make the Toffee Crunch Cheesecake in your book but can't find chocolate sweetened condensed milk. Are there any substitutions? —Ann, Buffalo, NY
A. Yes. Melt 6 ounces semisweet chocolate chips with a 14 1/2 ounce can of sweetened condensed milk over low heat, cool, and proceed.
Q. Why are the edges on my cake hard? —Anna, Brooklyn, NY
A. Your pans are too dark, or you might be using the commercial oil sprays that contain propellants. Opt for shiny pans and a light coating of vegetable shortening and flour. Also, place an oven thermometer from the hardware store in your preheated oven to check the temperature.
Q. How can I make muffins from the recipes in your book? —Gail
A. Heat oven to 375 degrees, spoon cake batters into lined muffin tins, and bake until the muffins are firm and test done. Cool and frost, if desired.
Hot Tip
Joseph of NYC speed-ripens bananas in the microwave. Whole, in peel for 1 1/2 minutes. Use in Banana Cake (page 72).
Pantry Check! Canned pumpkin, peaches, pears, and sweet potato turn mix extraordinary.
Recipe Swap
Quick Caramel Frosting
Frosts one layer cake
8 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar
1/4 cup whole milk
2 cups confectioners' sugar, sifted
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1. Place the butter and brown sugars in a medium heavy saucepan over medium heat. Stir and cook until the mixture comes to a boil, about 2 minutes. Add the milk, stir, and bring the mixture back to a boil, then remove the pan from the heat. Add the confectioners' sugar and vanilla. Beat with a wooden spoon until the frosting is smooth.
2. Use immediately (while still warm) to frost the cake of your choice or the frosting will harden. If it does, simply place the pan over low heat and stir until soft.
Bits & Bytes
Many e-mails regarding pudding mixes vs. plain mixes have arrived. Betty Crocker and Pillsbury mixes contain pudding. Duncan Hines does not. White Lily is about to debut a plain cake mix. I prefer the freedom of a plain cake mix, but my sister Susan in Atlanta bakes with pudding mixes only and has successfully substituted them in my recipes.
Coconut. Grandma's Coconut Icebox Cake has been a big hit at book signings. But many of you cannot find frozen coconut. It is a mainstay in the South. Richard in Long Island writes that he has found Goya frozen coconut in Grand Union supermarkets. He has made the cake using freshly grated coconut. But because of the moisture in the fresh coconut, the frosting will be runny.
In the bag. Melanie of Lauana Niguel wants to pipe frosting onto her son's birthday cake. What a lucky boy! Use stiff frostings for piping; and those with cream cheese work best. And Barbara of Memphis is desperately seeking a cherry cake mix like she used to bake. Anyone seen such a mix?
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