Baking for My Son's Birthday Party: Tips and Tricks

[pamperedlinda]

Linda - your kitchen does look beautiful! It's fun to see piccies of the kids too And that frog cake is sooooo cute (I did see the pics you posted earlier).

I'm curious as to how your MM Fondant turned out (I know you didn't use it for the onesie cake). I tried to make some yesterday, and it seems a bit dry... See below...

Kelly - I have a question about the MM Fondant for you too. I remember on the whatscookingamerica web-site seeing a part where she explains why NOT to use icing sugar that is made from beet sugar, only to use cane sugar. I have looked and looked, but cannot find that part now! Do you know what the difference is? My sugar doesn't say cane or beet, so I am assuming it is beet. I did try using it, as I really wanted to try the recipe, (without having to run to the store) and it was a bit dry and not very stretchy, but then got sticky when I added more water. I'm wondering if my problem is the sugar. Any thoughts on this?? TIA...

I had the same problems. Mine was really hard and I only added about 3/4 of the sugar that was called for.

 

[rebeccastt]

You all have inspired me to take some Wilton classes. I was too late to sign up for March at Michael's so I'm going to go back in a few weeks to sign up for April.

I'm really excited! I've been wanting to take classes for a long time now. My mom took classes when we were young and always made us beautiful cakes for our birthdays and special occasions.

Now that my son is almost two, I want him to have cute cakes that Momma made for him!

 

[jrstephens]

You all have inspired me to take some Wilton classes. I was too late to sign up for March at Michael's so I'm going to go back in a few weeks to sign up for April.

I'm really excited! I've been wanting to take classes for a long time now. My mom took classes when we were young and always made us beautiful cakes for our birthdays and special occasions.

Now that my son is almost two, I want him to have cute cakes that Momma made for him!

Oh I wish I was near somewhere that did that!!! I would have to go 90 miles one way to attend classes. I think that would be so much fun!

 

[etteluap70PC]

What's the difference? I've used both the Fluff Brand and the original brand - Kraft maybe? I don't have the jar any more and can't remember the brand. I usually find it near the ice cream toppings or on the baking isle or near the PB&J.

There is a difference... Fluff is the brand name of one and it is more like melted marshmallows. The creme is more well... creamy like a frosting.

It's one of those things like mayo vs. Miracle whip... my hubby says he does not know the difference but there is a HUGE difference. You need to taste side by side.

anyhow.... now that I seem like a complete nut...... I will say thanks for the compliments! and have a great day all!

 

[ChefBeckyD]

Hey Linda, how did the icing taste? That sounds so good - I am looking for a different recipe to try. Also, is it the small jar of marshmallow fluff? BTW, the cake is so cute! I will have to steal this idea for my next baby shower cake. I am going to have to figure out how to post my pics too. I LOVE doing cakes!

Hey Linda - I can't see where you answered this question, if you did....so, is it the small jar or large jar???

 

[The_Kitchen_Guy]

There is a difference... Fluff is the brand name of one and it is more like melted marshmallows. The creme is more well... creamy like a frosting.

It's one of those things like mayo vs. Miracle whip... my hubby says he does not know the difference but there is a HUGE difference. You need to taste side by side.

anyhow.... now that I seem like a complete nut...... I will say thanks for the compliments! and have a great day all!

[shudder] Miracle Whip [/shudder]

 

[KellyTheChef]

[shudder] Miracle Whip [/shudder]

LOL!

I actually like Miracle Whip, but I also like mayo too! Depends on my mood, and what I am making as to which one I choose!

 

[ChefBeckyD]

[shudder] Miracle Whip [/shudder]

For years, I actually thought that I didn't like mayonnaise, because I was raised on MW....imagine my surprise, the first time I had mayonnaise!

I love:love: :love: :love: :love: mayonnaise.

 

[KellyTheChef]

Linda - your kitchen does look beautiful! It's fun to see piccies of the kids too And that frog cake is sooooo cute (I did see the pics you posted earlier).

I'm curious as to how your MM Fondant turned out (I know you didn't use it for the onesie cake). I tried to make some yesterday, and it seems a bit dry... See below...

Kelly - I have a question about the MM Fondant for you too. I remember on the whatscookingamerica web-site seeing a part where she explains why NOT to use icing sugar that is made from beet sugar, only to use cane sugar. I have looked and looked, but cannot find that part now! Do you know what the difference is? My sugar doesn't say cane or beet, so I am assuming it is beet. I did try using it, as I really wanted to try the recipe, (without having to run to the store) and it was a bit dry and not very stretchy, but then got sticky when I added more water. I'm wondering if my problem is the sugar. Any thoughts on this?? TIA...

I havn't heard of that (about the different sugars) so I am not sure what to tell you. I am pretty sure that I used the WalMart brand powdered sugar...not sure what it's made from. I know that I had to add water in order to use the whole bag of sugar and in between it got very sticky, but then I just kept kneeding in the sugar/adding a bit of water when needed. When I was done, it was pretty firm, and not very strechy. Once rolled out pretty thin, though, (about 1/4 inch?) it was moldable and flexible.

When I made it, it was a few days before I needed to use it. I kept it wrapped (like the explain) and in the frig. Then, I took it out a few hours before I needed it and let it sit on the countertop. I may have even microwaved it for a few seconds at a time and kneeded it a little.

HTH

 

[AnnieBee]

Thanks for your input Kelly! I have done pretty much the same as you so far - it is sitting in my fridge until I make the cake. My baby DD is one on Sunday. I wanted to try fondant for a change, I just hope this works out OK as it is my first time. I'm doing chocolate with pale pink polka dots!

I'll post a picture when it is done (assuming it isn't horrible!!)

Well, I hear her talking away through the monitor, so it is time to get her down from her nap, then an early lunch for all of us to get big DD to pre-school on time... My life is so predictable!!

 

[pamperedlinda]

Hey Linda - I can't see where you answered this question, if you did....so, is it the small jar or large jar???

I guess it's the small jar - it was @ 12 ounces.

 

[pamperedlinda]

There is a difference... Fluff is the brand name of one and it is more like melted marshmallows. The creme is more well... creamy like a frosting.

It's one of those things like mayo vs. Miracle whip... my hubby says he does not know the difference but there is a HUGE difference. You need to taste side by side.

anyhow.... now that I seem like a complete nut...... I will say thanks for the compliments! and have a great day all!

The ones I used were both really sticky and they seemed the same so I guess they were fluff. (one was definately called fluff)

 

[pamperedlinda]

[shudder] Miracle Whip [/shudder]

agreed. :yuck:

 

[AnnieBee]

ditto Linda and KG! Miracle whip = :yuck:

 

[The_Kitchen_Guy]

Mu grandmother and aunts always made a Jell-O salad ring (line flavor with shredded carrots in it was their favorite and the one I hated the most) served with Miracle Whip in a little dish in the middle. UGH!I never knew what a delight a turkey sandwich was until I had one with Hellman's Mayonnaise instead of Miracle Cra...er...Whip.

 

[AnnieBee]

KG, You have to check out this link... Ah, the joy of cooking with jello. This will make you glad that all you had to face was jello and carrots!! (although with miracle whip - YUCK!

J.Noelle Cooks: Review | Vintage Cookbooks

D'you think these could be adapted for a show?!

 

[The_Kitchen_Guy]

One of the first things I did when I was on my own, was to make Jell-O that was just plain Jell-O.

No carrots.

No peaches.

No fruit roostertail.

No ring mold.

And...

NO MIRACLE WHIP!

 

[AnnieBee]

Fruit roostertail?

What have I been missing out on? I can't even imagine what this is...

Growing up in England, we got the just the jello (or jelly as we call it). Except for if it was a birthday party, in which case jelly and ice-cream (vanilla or reaspberry ripple!)was a special dessert!! LOL!

 

[The_Kitchen_Guy]

Rooster = Male Chicken = A word we cannot use here, because the auto-censor turns it into **** so the recipe calls for fruit ****tail.It's discussed in The Hitchhiker's Guide to CS:

Profanity is frowned upon, well, generally. If you wouldn't say it in church, you probably shouldn't say it here. Which doesn't stop some of us, anyway. vBulletin will automatically censor certain text strings with asterisks. This can result in some rather humorous postings, for example, vBulletin will not allow the four letter string that means "male chicken." This results in common words having stars in them, like stopping after work in a ****tail lounge. So, you'll see postings with words like roostertail dress or "Proud as a pearooster." Some people will use the clinical name of a critical piece of the male anatomy in place of ****. (Some people consider this word usage in bad taste but that's the way it is here.) You'll figure it out soon enough. The automatic censor also results in creative spellings for common words, like the biblical beast of burden might be seen here as an a$s.

 

[KellyTheChef]

KG, You have to check out this link... Ah, the joy of cooking with jello. This will make you glad that all you had to face was jello and carrots!! (although with miracle whip - YUCK!

J.Noelle Cooks: Review | Vintage Cookbooks

D'you think these could be adapted for a show?!

The pictures on that blog are too funny!

I like the comments on the bottom, especially the one who kept repeating "I just threw up in my mouth a bit." LOL and :yuck:

 

[AnnieBee]

Duh - I had even seen that in other threads... Just wasn't thinking about that here

Here I am sitting, thinking "crazy americans" and trying to imagine someone making a roostertail out of fruit and jello, and wondering why anyone would want to... LOL!!

Does someone want to explain to my 4 year old why I am laughing so hard outloud (at myself )

 

[time2cook]

Just tell him that today's laughter is brought to you by the letters "K" and "G", my 11 year old usually just asks me what KG posted now when he hears me laughing out loud at the computer! Linda

 

[The_Kitchen_Guy]

Oh-oh. Now I have a reputation to live up to.

 

[fikibiff]

I don't like to put things in my jello, but mixing the flavors is the best. I love to mix 2 Raspberry, 1 Lemon, & 1 Cranberry. Use half water and half vodka and they're a hit. peach and orange are also well liked - think Fuzzy Navel. They are also good virgin. My other fav. is 2 berry blue, 1 grape, and 1 raspberry or watermelon. The flavor is much more intense. I have tried using juice instead of water, as suggested on the box, but it doesn't seem to change the flavor and just adds calories.

 

[The_Kitchen_Guy]

The most important part of your recipe is NO MIRACLE WHIP!!

 

[AnnieBee]

LOL again...

"And as you can see, you can make very pretty jello shots using your silicone floral pan or mini-muffin pan. Just don't forget to use a small SA for the miracle whip to accompany it..." :yuck:

 

[chefann]

The second most important thing in gelatin is NOTHING CRUNCHY! Yuk!! My mom would make the lime with shredded carrots, chopped celery and cottage cheese in it. Bleah. :yuck: DH has a rule that only fruit, whipped cream and melted ice cream belong in gelatin.

 

[ChefBeckyD]

The second most important thing in gelatin is NOTHING CRUNCHY! Yuk!! My mom would make the lime with shredded carrots, chopped celery and cottage cheese in it. Bleah. :yuck: DH has a rule that only fruit, whipped cream and melted ice cream belong in gelatin.

I'm not a big jello fan - but every year for Thanksgiving/Christmas, my grandma always made a jello dish that was made with vanilla ice cream mixed in - I love it to this day!


Now DH's family, on the other hand.....for family meals, I always bring a veggie, and usually also a salad, because if someone else is assigned to those 2, invariably there is jello included. I always think to myself "since when did jello become a salad?" It's a dessert, people!

 

[chefann]

It was considered salad at my house. I always feel short-changed when someone serves it as dessert. But my favorite Jello reference is from Animaniacs. In their take on "A Christmas Carol" Ralph the guard is the Bob Cratchett equivalent. And his Christmas dinner isn't turkey, but "delicious turkey Jell-o." It's DH's and my standard line whenever anyone mentions Jello.

 

[pamperedlinda]

excuse me....this is a cake thread....go start your own! LOL

a thread with jello in the title is bound to be popular! LMAO