Vegan Pie Crust

By Colleen Boucher Colleen Boucher
Level: Platinum

Colleen Boucher is the creator and writer of the blog Dinner Peace. She is an evolving vegan eater, and recipe creator, health advocate, and wellness ...

Pie crust has not been an easy accomplishment for me. In the past I have hidden behind prepared pie crusts, and frankly, if they were vegan, I'd still use them. Pie crust is a lot of work! Well, okay. It's not that much work. It just takes planning, and patience, and a light touch...only some of which I have.

My first attempt at pie crust was this past summer. You may remember it as peach cobbler. Yeah, a pie without a crust. That's how badly it went. But, this was primarily due to rancid shortening. So, pie crust tip #1: check the expiration date on all of your ingredients!

My second attempt went much better, as you can see from my beautiful pecan pie. But, it was still challenging. It tore and much of it was just pressed inelegantly into the pan, but it baked beautifully and was light and flaky alongside the creamy richness of the pecan filling. The wonderful thing is that pie crust is easily made vegan. Where omnivores might use butter or lard, vegans can use Crisco, which is an already established ingredient in many pie crust recipes. Crisco is simply vegetable shortening made from the oil of soybeans, canola, and other plants. So, if you're going to make your own pie crusts anyway, give thanks to the animals with a few vegan pies!

2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup Crisco vegetable shortening
4 to 8 tablespoons ice cold water

Measure flour and salt into the bowl of your food processor. Place in the refrigerator. Cut 3/4 cup Crisco into small cubes, and place in the refrigerator. Fill a measuring cup with ice water and place in the fridge. Allow all the ingredients to cool for 1 hour.

Add Crisco to the flour and salt in the food processor and blend until the shortening is distributed in pea sized crumbs. Add 4 tablespoons of the cold water and process until the dough begins to form a ball. Add more water as necessary, but do not allow the dough to become wet. Transfer the dough to a floured surface. Cut the dough in half and wrap each half in plastic wrap, flattening the dough into a disc 1/2" thick. Return to the refrigerator and allow to sit for 30 minutes.

Remove the dough from the refrigerator and place on the floured surface. Cover the top and bottom of the dough with plastic wrap to prevent sticking. Take care to use large enough sheets as the dough will expand when you roll it. Roll your dough from the center to the edge, pressing gently. Turn the dough 1/4 turn every time you roll it so that it stays circular. When the dough is 2" larger than your pan, fold the dough into fourths, generously flouring the touching surfaces to prevent sticking, and transfer to your pie pan. Unfold gently. Follow the baking instructions for your particular pie. Enjoy!

Colleen Boucher is the creator and writer of the blog Dinner Peace ( http://dinnerpeace.blogspot.com ). She is an evolving vegan eater, and recipe creator, health advocate, and wellness specialist. Dinner Peace is a blog for current vegans, vegetarians, and anyone interested in occasionally trying to go meatless, lose weight, or just get healthy.

Transitioning to a vegan lifestyle can be intimidating, and Dinner Peace was founded to combat that apprehension with numerous examples of delicious, plant based, healthful, compassionate, cruelty-free and animal-free dishes, ranging from breakfast to lunch to snacks, dinners, and desserts. The vegan lifestyle is also an effective tool for weight loss, or just to achieve your optimum level of health. If you are looking to make a positive change in your life, or just get a sense of the reality of a vegan diet, check out Dinner Peace!

Using Candy in Your Baked Goods

Baking is a great pastime for people all around the world. The joy of creating your own baked treats and then getting to enjoy them or watch other people enjoy them can be quite addictive for a skilled baker or cook. Pies, cakes, and cookies are just some of the sweet treats that are popular among both kids and adults.

Sometimes though, you get tired of doing the same old recipes and want to try something a little different. One way to make your baking more interesting is to use candy in your baked goods. Here are some tips for using candy in your baking.

Candies start out melted before they are molded into shapes that harden upon cooling. So it is logical that candies can also be used in baking as it can undergo heat all over again without harming it. A lot of candies can therefore be baked in the oven with whatever you are making to create extra flavor.

Avoid hard candies for the most part, especially if you are using candy as toppings or embeds. People who are eating your cakes and cookies might not expect it when biting into them. Although you can melt hard candies for flavor, it is usually easier to purchase flavor extracts instead.

For cakes, candies are a great for both decorating and as an addition to the ingredients. A simple cake with white frosting can be transformed into a gummy cake by simply adding some gummy candies on it. With the different shapes and sizes that gummies come nowadays, the theme of bears, insects, ducks or even baskets can be achieved.

On the subject of gummies, there are ribbons of gummies that come in different colors and flavors. These ribbons can be sugared or not sugared and they could be plain flavors or the sour candy type. Licorice or strawberry licorice is another alternative.

Simply arrange the ribbons alternately on the sides of the cake to achieve a basket weave effect. And then, thread a coated floral wire through the candies and make an arch out of it for the handles. The size and shape of the basket really depends on the artist at this point, so use the imagination. The icing will bind the ribbons to the cake.

After the basket is made, simply grab some candy flowers (large and small lollipops) and arrange them like when fixing up a vase. There are also gum-paste flowers (gum-paste is also candy based) which come in millions of designs, including Snow White if one were to look for it. Fold over loosely some green (sour apple) gummy ribbons as the leaves, arrange some more until the floral candy cake in a candy basket is done. Make sure that all spaces are filled with assorted candy shapes so no vacant spaces are left.

This is not only an attractive cake but the same idea can be used for cookies and muffins as well. Simply douse the iced cookies or muffins with candy sprinkles, Reese's pieces or M&M's. These candies can also be baked into the item itself. So use the imagination and don't limit the ideas to just plain cakes!

Cheesecakes Flavors

Cheesecakes are definitely among the favorites when it comes to the most delicious desserts and treats of all time. It is a dessert that is both as light as cheese and as sumptuous as our favorite cake desserts. For many it is one of the most anticipated desserts available due to the creaminess and smoothness that sets it apart from many other desserts available in the world of fine culinary adventures.

The best cheese cake desserts are very popular indeed. This is due to a smoothness that radiates from its very base to the many different toppings chosen to crown this special dessert. They are made with two layers of sumptuous flavors. Basically, it is a fusion of the hard crust and the soft topping which just gives you a different sensation when you sink your teeth in. After the first bite, the whole thing just melts in your mouth and you instantly feel like you just could never possibly get enough of its rich goodness.

The first layer of a cheese cake is made of a very thin crust. The next layer is made of light cheese that is mixed in with different flavorings which are chosen to appeal to different personal preferences. Basically the whole layer is just made of cheesy goodness. What sets it apart is the cheese is always freshly added, making for a delicate sweetness and a smooth concoction that hardens to make that soft and fluffy layer of the cake. After these basic layers of the cake, flavors and additional treats are added in. Some popular choices are blueberries, raspberries and other berries and fruits. Do not forget about chocolate, caramel or other flavored toppings either. For some the best flavor choice is no added toppings at all.

For the health conscious, some may believe the choices are limited when it comes to delicious treats. This is a common misconception since just as there are many kinds of cheesecakes on the menu; the choices are just as many for the health conscious. With cheese cake flavor options for the health conscious, many of the same flavors are still present thanks to innovative bakers.

Healthy, delectable and of course - very guilt free; the next time you are looking for a real dessert treat think about cheesecake. Try a slice of cheese cake next time you feel like giving in to the temptation of eating your favourite sweet dessert treat.

Stevens Scientists Honored; Plus, Buddy Makes a Deal They Couldn't Refuse

Hoboken's celebrity baker Buddy Valastro can keep his title after all. TLC, the cable TV network that airs "Cake Boss," the show featuring Valastro and his family bakery Carlo's, reached an agreement with the Seattle software firm that claimed the exclusive right to use the same name. The firm, Masters Software, had already been using "Cake Boss" for a business organization product it had been selling to bakeries since 2007, before the first episode of TLC's show aired on TV.

A federal judge had temporarily barred TLC from using the "Cake Boss" name, but the two sides have recently agreed to share it. Terms of the settlement were not disclosed, so there is no word on whether there was any exchange of financial compensation in either direction, or sweet tasty treats shipped to Seattle, for that matter.

About Town is a quick look at the not-quite-news but still-neat happenings that occur in Hoboken all the time. Seen something wacky, wild, cute, cuddly, funny or fun? Got an incidental observation or a minor celebration? Shoot it to alanskontra@hotmail.com. We want pictures too.

Four scientists with ties to Stevens Institute of Technology were recently honored by the New Jersey Inventors Hall of Fame.

Professor Vikki Hazelwood, Associate Program Director of Biomedical Engineering, was honored with the Advancement of Invention Award for introducing entrepreneur principles into the classroom.

Dr. Nicolas Girard, a 2002 Stevens graduate, won an Inventor of the Year Award for his work with wireless technology. He is the founder and CEO of Attila Technologies, which is based in Hoboken and specializes in communications.

Dr. Xiaoling Chen, a 2010 graduate, and Asli Ergun, a current Ph.D. candidate both won a Graduate Student Award.

How Do Fortunes Get Inside Fortune Cookies?

Have you ever sat in a Chinese restaurant and wondered how the fortune got inside that little golden cookie? It seems like a complex piece of origami, but it really is quite a simple process.

After the fortune cookie went public in America around 1914, people fell in love with the little delicacy. Although stories differ as to exactly who invented the cookie and where, it is agreed that the cookie was born in California and appeared at the 1915 San Francisco World's Fair. A purely American creation, the cookie is not native to China as most think. But what would a Chinese meal be without the crisp goodie to look forward to? After all, we have to find out what our future holds.

So, how do they get those bits of wisdom inside the cookie? Back in the day, workers, such as those at the Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Company, would pour a 3 inch circle of batter onto a pan. It would cook quickly and the worker would pull it off the bake top with chopsticks, place the fortune paper on the cookie, and then, using the chopsticks, bend it into its well-known form. This process became an art form as workers' hands carefully formed the cookies.

It is only relatively recently that the fortune cookie met up with modern technology. In San Francisco in 1974, a man named Edward Louie, Lotus Fortune Cookie Company's owner, devised a machine that could automate the fortune cookie making process. He called his technological advance the Fortune III. His machine used the same basic methods of pouring out a disc of batter and baking it. Only now, the cookies, while still warm, could be picked up by metal pincers, have a fortune laid down on them, and be folded into the classic crescent shape - all in a matter of seconds.

The reason these cookies can be folded when hot is due to the properties in sugar. The batter basically consists of flour, sugar, water and eggs. When heated, these ingredients are malleable for a few seconds before they harden to a shiny, hard surface. Those precious few seconds mean a fortune can be included as part of the treat.

Now, automated machines can fold up to 8,000 cookies every hour. That's a lot faster than the hand done versions. And it's just as well because the demand has grown over the years for this crispy Confucian confection. People are now ordering custom fortune cookies for their weddings, birthday parties, corporate and business events and even as sympathy messages.

They now come in every size from tiny to gigantic. You can order them in just about any flavor you like including chocolate dipped with candy embellishments.

Today's fortunes range from wise sayings to lottery numbers. People are customizing their sayings to include marriage proposals, business logos and just about everything else you can imagine. For a small fee, companies online will insert any saying you want into the cookie of your choice. It's a delightful surprise to see a personalized saying inside a fortune cookie. No other cookie on the planet is considered a bearer of sage advice.

Although few people would list the fortune cookie as the best tasting cookie, it is considered a fun cookie in a class by itself.

Betty Ann Sherman is a mother and a baker of tasty treats. She has a special passion for baking cookies, pies, cakes, and everything wonderful. Check back for updates from Betty on her delicious treat adventures.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Betty_Ann_Sherman

Wedding Cupcakes

The fad is cupcakes and if you haven't given it a thought sit back and enjoy the reasons why you should choose gourmet cupcakes for your wedding instead of the traditional wedding cake. If you are reading this then you're most like about to celebrate a special and an important day in your life's journey. I congratulate you in your impending marriage.

For those of you who are looking for a change of pace for that big wedding, you may want to consider wedding cupcakes. This definitely puts a whole new twist on things and can give a wedding the edge to make it more unique. Wedding cupcakes are the answer! What a fun way to add spice and pizzazz to a wedding. They can be done to fit the needs of the wedding whether it's casual or formal.

There are a few advantages as well to having wedding cupcakes as opposed to a traditional cake. First off, you can have as many or as little as you want based on the guest list. Cupcakes are the new wedding cake alternative and can be easier to deal with in some cases. Decorate them all the same or you can decorate each one with a different design. You can even find fancy wedding cupcake liners as opposed to wild colors they sell in the stores.

Wedding Cupcake Flavors

When it comes to wedding cupcake flavors, there is a wide variety to choose from. Choose from strawberry, chocolate, marble, carrot, banana, coconut and much more. There are even newer flavors including mocha, vanilla milk chocolate, and pumpkin. No matter what your taste buds crave, there is a wedding cupcake recipe that suits you.

Wedding Cupcake Decorations

There is a wide variety of ways to decorate your wedding cupcakes. Think of the theme and determine decoration items and frosting. You can use fondant icing, whipped cream icing, and butter cream icing to just name a few. There are several others to choose from so find the one that you like the best. Another neat idea is to add some coloring and flavoring to the icing.

Use sprinkles and candies in the shapes of roses and other things. Use glitter dust as well or sugar that sparkles. There are hundreds of creative ideas for decorating your wedding cupcakes to be as formal or casual as you want. Always keep the theme of the wedding in mind as well as the colors.

Displaying Your Wedding Cupcakes

As far as decorating your cupcakes, there are many ideas available as well. There are things such as tiers and other cupcake stands to use to display them nicely. Nowadays, there are even stands sold that are electrical and have a variety of colors that shine on them. Can't find anything that works best for you? Get creative and design your own stands.

Cupcake Wedding Cakes

A cupcake wedding cake is also another great idea. You can have a few tiers of cupcakes and add a sense of class to any wedding. This is becoming a more and more popular idea among brides. Not only can you have more options available to you, but you can also make something beautiful and out of the ordinary. No matter what the theme, wedding cupcakes can add that extra bit of uniqueness to your wedding, and with all the potential designs and ideas available, you are sure to find what fits you the best and your wedding.

Seasonal Cupcake Decorating

Cupcakes are so much fun. Here are some ideas for Cupcake decorating:

Seasonal Cupcake decorating ideas

Santa cupcake
Frost cupcake with white frosting. Sprinkle top with red sprinkles or red sugar. Give two M&M eyes or other candy. Make a beard out of mini marshmallows or shredded coconut. This is a fun and easy Santa dessert kids can put together.

Reindeer Cupcake
Frost cupcake with chocolate frosting. Add pretzels for antlers and M&M candies for eyes and nose.

Turkey Cupcake
Use candies, cut fruit leather or sliced cookies and stand them up for feathers. Add eyes and beak.

Cupcake Creations
Just by decorating in different colors and laying cupcakes out a special way you can create masterpieces.

Frost cupcakes in same color. Some examples of these could be placing 4-5 cupcakes in a squiggly line to form a caterpillar. Give the first cupcake eyes and antennas.

Or form cupcakes into a tree shape. Start with one on top and two on the next row, three in next row, etc. (just like you were making a pyramid shape) Frost the top cupcakes green and the bottoms brown for the trunk.

More cupcakes designs could be shaping cupcakes together to form a butterfly, flower, flag, ball. Using the color frosting to match the design. Another popular idea now is to place your cupcakes in a design and frost them all together like they are one big cake. This is often called a pull apart cupcake cake.

Always start with a great cake recipe before the decorating starts. Here is one of our favorites.

Chocolate Zucchini Cupcake recipe
1 1/4 cups sugar
1 cup sour cream
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 eggs, beaten
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa
1/4 cup milk
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 1/3 cups flour
1 cup shredded zucchini
1 cup milk chocolate chips, optional

Prepare muffin cups and preheat oven to 400 degrees. In mixing bowl blend sugar, sour cream, oil, eggs, cocoa, and milk together. Add in cinnamon, salt, baking soda and baking powder. Blend together. Add in flour, zucchini and chocolate chips until well blended. Pour into muffin cups and bake 25 minutes or until toothpick inserted in middle of cupcake comes out clean.

Everyone Loves Pie

Now that Halloween has passed and Thanksgiving is on the horizon, the holiday season is here. With all the hustle and bustle about to begin, I wanted to take a minute and talk about pies. Pie has been one of America's top desserts long before the stars and stripes.

Back in the days of the Pilgrims, the pioneers learned to stretch ingredients using different kinds of fruits and berries that grew wild in the woods or along fence rows. In those days the pies had more crust than filling, but as pies caught on each generation widened the variety and improved the quality. The natural progression led us to experiment with new recipes. Pie has kept up with the times. Now, with modern science and cultivation, we can get fruits and berries year round or from other counties with minimal effort and cost.

The history of pies fascinates most. The ingenuity and creativity of the pioneers were astonishing. The colonial women literally used round pans to cut corners and stretch ingredients. They baked shallow pies for most of the same reasons. Rhubarb (a new world garden plant) was called "pie plant." The golden pastries were made with three available staples, lard, flour and water.

During the golden age of the Greeks is when pastry originated. When the Romans conquered Greece they sampled the delicacy and took the recipes home with them via the Roman roads. The pastry recipes spread throughout Europe where the different cultures adapted the recipes to their foods and customs. When the colonies started here in America, they followed suit with what they had. Experimenting in their kitchens, the colonists came up with different pastries they had made from the old country.

Regional pies developed. Pumpkin in New England (a native vegetable), Pecan Pie in the south, "nervous pies" (custards with fruits) in the Pennsylvania Dutch kitchens. Pies were important pleasures in pioneer life. It is said that once a ship was bringing molasses to Connecticut and was delayed at sea, the colony decided to postpone their Thanksgiving celebration until the ship arrived so they could use the molasses to make pumpkin pie. Thanksgiving dinner in New England even today is not complete without pumpkin pie.

Whether you like apple, cherry, pumpkin, lemon, chocolate, pecan or coconut pie, fruit pies, custard and cream pies, hearty main dish pies such as chicken or beef pot pies, crusts that are made with rice, potato, graham cracker, corn or pastry, the possibilities are endless. Get the pioneering spirit back this holiday season, experiment and enjoy.

Fondant Cake Decorating

The most enjoyable step of baking a cake is creating decorations. All you require are fondants. This elastic stiff icing is easy to shape the way you want. It is also sugary and may not have any flavor. If you are a creative person, then you can do fondant cake decorating task quite conveniently. A fondant is colorful, making it easy for you to create a beautiful item. Do you have a party coming, such as a wedding, a graduation, a birthday or any other occasion? If yes, you must be thinking of baking a cake for your guests and family.

This type of cake should not only be delicious. It should capture the attention of every eye. This work requires expert application of decorating skills, which not everyone has. A professional baker can easily create his or her own cake fondant recipes. On the other hand, a beginner can try ready-made styles. Now Christmas is around the corner and cakes will be part of the celebrations. This is your chance to bake your own cake and decorate it well. All you need is this special paste, made of gelatin and confectioner's sugar. You can emboss, mold, knead or roll this paste in many ways. Then, use your molds to cover the top of your cakes.

This cover keeps your feast fresh and it provides a platform for adding decorations. Rolled fondant cake is the most common style and preparation involves usage of special tools. They come in a complete package featuring ready-made items. If you decide to do this art personally, try buying readily available mix for making the paste. In case, this is your top option, it is best to make yourself familiar with the most crucial steps. Take special classes if you have zero experience with dough rolling or even baking. You will learn icing tips in the process. Doing fondant cake decorating is not big deal as long as you know what you are doing.

You may require a few tips to help you get started. For instance, you must knead and roll properly. Your fondants should not stick or split and it must not have any bubbles. In addition, the shape of the dough must exactly match that of your cake including its size. If you find shaping difficult, then you can buy a poured paste, which is usually shiny and soft. Another detail you must know about is how to do flavoring and coloring.

Again, you have two main options. First, you can buy ready made products online. These colored fondants are available in many packs. If not, you can make your own styles using different colorations. You have to incorporate this step in the rolling and kneading process. Be sure to use your creativity too. Perhaps you want to become an expert in fondant cake decorating. To achieve it, you need to find magazines, ebooks, articles and other Internet resources. Then, read all of them and put your knowledge into practice.

Tired of Chocolate Fudge? Vanilla Fudge Is a Great Alternative!

Chocolate fudge is great! But, there are many people who prefer vanilla fudge over chocolate. Vanilla fudge is a simple delicious alternative to chocolate fudge. If you are like me you probably looked all over the web and found that there are many chocolate fudge recipes, but there are not as many vanilla fudge recipes. Not only does it taste great, it is quick and easy to make! This is the perfect fudge recipe. Next time you host an event and it calls for you to make dessert make vanilla fudge. This will give your guest a sweet surprise that they will remember.

Ingredients:
- 3 ? cups of confectioner's sugar
- 6 table spoons of butter
- 3 table spoons of milk
- 1 table spoon of vanilla extract
- 1 pinch of salt
- nonstick cooking spray

Tools:
- 9x5 inch pan
- Wooden spoon
- 3 Quart sauce pan

Take the 9X5 pan and coat it completely with one coat of the nonstick cooking spray. Set the pan aside. Put the 3-quart saucepan on low heat. Mix in vanilla, butter, confectioner's sugar, milk, and salt with your wooden spoon. Stir the mixture until everything is blended and creamy. Quickly pour the contents in to the greased pan. Refrigerate this scrumptious dessert until it is firm. Once the fudge is firm cut it into square sized pieces and serve. Store the rest in an air tight container. These treats are just as delicious as chocolate fudge. Sometimes variety is just what we need.

An Easy Way to Buy Cupcakes Online

It is really true that to buy cupcakes online shall really be overwhelming. Reason behind the same is very much clear as when you buy cupcakes using internet as medium you can know the one who has the best cup cakes and you can buy the same.

Sometimes when you do not know from where to get them then it will really become difficult for you to avail the best. Internet reduces your all such hardships in a convenient manner. So the following guidelines shall definitely be helpful for you.

The first and foremost thing that you need to know when you look for buying cupcakes is that there are many websites that offer many items including cupcakes so try to avoid them as they could not be a real good option for you as they are not specialized in this. Also there are companies that are basically the distributors and sell on commission basis. So to buy cupcakes online from these would also not be preferred. Try to search for one who is specialized and for that you can have a glance over the feedback available online.

In this regard the best companies are those who exist since long years and have knowledge about what they are providing. For placing the orders you just need to contact them online and you will get the timely response to make you buy cupcakes.

When you are getting cup cakes online you also need to consider one more aspect and that is to compare the prices so that you can get the best deal. While you compare the prices you will find much variation in the prices so just compare it with the quality and order to purchase cupcakes online accordingly. Don't go just for cheap prices but also look forward for quality so that you get the best cupcakes.

This is how you can purchase cupcakes online. Hope you get the best experience while you are shopping for cup cakes online.

Lalvir has been writing articles for nearly 6 years. Come visit his latest article about Buy Cupcakes Online which helps people finding the best Online Cupcakes on the markets. Cupcakestop's Cupcakes are baked from scratch from only the highest quality ingredients. Taking great pride in delectable cupcakes ensures a truly memorable experience for even the most discerning of palates.

Easy Banana Pudding

Banana pudding is an old, traditional favorite that many of us remember from our childhoods. Remember that recipe that Grandma used to make? Well, now you can make your own and let your children in on this fabulous dessert. It is creamy and delicious. This recipe also makes enough to feed a large family or to take to a potluck. The recipe recommends vanilla pudding, but you could also use banana cream pudding if you really want to make an impression with the banana flavor. The whipped topping gives the pudding a fluffy texture instead of the traditional pudding texture.

Bananas are like apples; if they are exposed to the air too long after peeling, they begin to turn brown. You can coat them lightly in lemon juice if you wish, or you could wait to cut them up until you need them in the recipe so they get covered in pudding immediately. You can just slice them as you are filling up the bowl with your layers. The recipe is really simple to make, so be prepared to buy a lot of bananas as you get frequent requests for this dessert. Use a clear glass trifle bowl to show off the dessert at its best. You can also decorate the top with vanilla wafers or edge the pudding with them. If you had enough individual dessert glasses, this pudding could be made into individual servings. If you plan on this, make sure you have enough room in the refrigerator for all the glasses.

The recipe feeds a crowd, so bring this dish to a potluck or large holiday gathering. There will not be a spoonful left by the end of the evening. If you do not have bananas on hand, you can use the vanilla pudding and the vanilla wafers to make a vanilla pudding dessert. You can also plan ahead and use the cook and serve pudding in the recipe instead of instant; just allow the pudding time to cool off in the refrigerator before making the rest of the recipe. If you wish, you can also put a layer of whipped topping on the very top of the dessert.

Recipe for Banana Pudding ?

This creamy pudding will please everyone.

What You Need

1 package (5 ounces) instant vanilla pudding2 cups cold milk1/2 can (14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk1 Tablespoon vanilla extract1 container (12 ounces) frozen whipped topping, thawed1 package (16 ounces) vanilla wafers5 bananas, sliced

How to Make It

?
In a large mixing bowl, mix up the pudding and milk. Add the condensed milk and blend until it is smooth. Stir in the vanilla. Fold the whipped topping in gently.

Place a layer of vanilla wafers in the bottom of a large glass dish. Next, place a layer of bananas. Follow that with a layer of pudding. Repeat the layers if you have a large dish. Chill until serving.

Sprinkle wafer crumbs on top before serving if you wish.

Serves 20

Making Dessert Casseroles

Have you been dreaming about dessert casseroles? Dessert casseroles are definitely a treat - both for you and anyone else you are preparing them for. There is a huge variety of recipes for any and every occasion imaginable. When you're stuck in a rut when it comes to what to prepare, dessert casseroles are the ultimate way out.

Do you have dietary concerns? Perhaps you're a diabetic or know someone close to you or who lives with you who suffers from diabetes. There are a number of recipes out there that can cater to your needs as well as the needs of your close friends and relatives when you want something tasty and delightful. If you're on a diet, then you know how important it is to stay away from sugary sweets and foods that contain a lot of carbohydrates. However, there is nothing wrong with taking a sweet plunge every now and then.

There is nothing better than a dessert casserole that comes out delicious and doesn't take much time or skill to make. The best thing about all dessert casseroles is that none of them are hard to make. The only thing you really need is the ability to understand a few simple instructions, all the necessary ingredients, some patience, a little time, and the desire to please your taste buds.

Before you take the sweet and tasty plunge into the wonderful world of dessert casseroles, you must first decide what type of recipe you wish to throw together. Are you craving something sweet and sugary? Or, are you preparing a dish for someone who desperately seeks to watch their weight or control their diabetes? Maybe you're into fruit, or perhaps you're a huge fan of chocolate. Either way, no matter what it is that you desire, your recipe can be easily found. The internet is one of the best places to start for the most unique variety.

There is a probable chance that you're preparing a dessert for a close friend or family member who is having an anniversary or birthday. Maybe it's holidays and you can't think of any better way to complete it than with a delectable casserole dish. There is no need to worry that you won't find the most perfect recipe because it definitely exists. If preparing a dessert casserole dish for someone in particular, you can bet on it being one of their most favored gifts!

After concluding what type of recipe is necessary for your particular occasion, you'll need a list of the required ingredients. The best way to obtain your list is to print your recipe off online or jot them down on a piece of paper. One of the most exciting facts to know is that dessert casseroles don't require any complicated or "foreign" ingredients like many other dishes out there. Everything you need can easily be found at your local grocery store.

The next thing you will need to do is gather all cooking tools needed to create a fabulous dish. You can find out all about all of the items needed by checking your recipe. Some common required items for creating dessert casseroles include a baking dish, one or two mixing bowls, fork, mixer, spoon, etc. Each of these items can also be found at your local grocery store.

After you've decided on a recipe, obtained your list of ingredients, and gathered all of the required cooking utensils, you're ready to prepare your dish. The entire process is exciting and fun, and obviously - delicious - right down to the very last bite!

Delicious Traditional Homemade Cake

By Moray Mair Moray Mair
Level: Basic PLUS

In 1993 Moray graduated with an honours degree in fine art from the Limerick School of Art and Design and later that year co-founded Bui ...

I grew up in another age - in the 1950s and 60s. In those far off times, married women in Ireland rarely had paid employment; they cared for their homes and families full time. They worked hard but very often they also had leisure time not available to modern women, time which enabled them to call frequently on one another. I am also talking about the days before television, which put paid to a lot of casual dropping in on neighbours and friends, particularly in the countryside. These visitations, for I suppose that is what we may call them, often took place in the afternoon, but also in the evening, after small children had been put to bed. There was a bit of chat and then, inevitably, it was time for tea. This was the occasion when cake was produced and, in the house I grew up in, that cake had to be homemade. But even if visitors did not come knocking at the door, my Mother always took time off from her household work in mid-afternoon and treated herself to tea and a slice of cake. All this, of course, meant that cake-baking was one of the weekly chores. Many different cakes came out of the oven and there was great swapping of recipes and chatter about which woman made the best sponge cake, fruit cake etc.

These homemade cakes were also a measure of a woman's worth as a cook and housekeeper, skills that I fancy were more important in the last generation than they are today. In the past, it is likewise the case that there were very few bakeries or fancy patisseries producing quality products, and homemade was thus often the order of the day, whether one liked it or not. Nowadays, cake shops abound and the modern housewife, more often than not holding down a fulltime job outside the home, is hard-pressed to find time to bake cakes for her family on any regular basis. Times change,

I have often told you before that I do not have a sweet tooth. However, I can't say the same for my children, or indeed for the many members of my extended family who come to visit. For all of them, I try to keep some homemade cake in the freezer to be produced, if I am given warning of their arrival. Until recently, my mainstay was a chocolate cake following a recipe of Tasmin Day-Lewis. I thought, and still think, it was delicious (See recipe in May 2009 issue of Mutation) but not so my contrary daughters, who both went to the trouble of advising me that they no longer liked it. Faced with this unreasonable rebellion, I had to go looking for alternatives and after a little experimenting, came up with porter cake.

Porter Cake

This was not a cake of my youth, even though it is traditionally Irish. Indeed, I don't think I ever tasted porter cake until a kind friend, who came to stay earlier in the year, brought me one. I loved it and after a scour through my recipe books - I have a library of them - I was making my own within weeks. What follows is an amalgam of different recipes.

450g plain flour
1 tablespoon mixed spice
225g butter
325g brown sugar
1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
225g raisins
225 sultanas
100g glac? cherries, halved
100g mixed peel, chopped
zest of 1 lemon, finely copped
200ml stout
4 eggs

23cm round cake tin about 9 cm deep
Preheat the oven to 160?C or gas mark 3.

Grease the tin in the normal way and line the bottom with greaseproof paper.
Brush with a little melted butter. Place the flour, spice and bicarbonate of soda in a large bowl and stir.
Rub in the butter until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs. Add the mixed peel, fruit, lemon zest, sugar and beaten eggs. Gradually work in the stout before pouring the mixture into the cake tin.
Bake for 1 hour and then cover with tin foil and bake for a further 1? hours at 150?C or gas mark 2. The cake should be a deep brown colour and firm to the touch when cooked.
Leave to cool in the tin before turning out and removing the paper.
The cake needs to mature for 3-4 days before cutting. It will keep for weeks in an airtight tin.

Prince William gives UK long-awaited royal wedding

The Associated Press Nov 16, 2010 08:28PM

Britain's Prince William and his fiancee Kate Middleton pose for the media at St. James's Palace in London after announcing their marriage. | The Associated Press

The college romance that seemed to wilt under the pressure of adulthood and the glare of the paparazzi has blossomed at last. Prince William is finally engaged to his longtime girlfriend and will give Britain its biggest royal wedding since Prince Charles married Lady Diana Spencer almost 30 years ago. Royal officials announced Tuesday that William will marry Kate Middleton next spring or summer in London, ending years of rumored splits, reconciliations and will-they, won’t-they speculation.

Easy Banana Pudding

Banana pudding is an old, traditional favorite that many of us remember from our childhoods. Remember that recipe that Grandma used to make? Well, now you can make your own and let your children in on this fabulous dessert. It is creamy and delicious. This recipe also makes enough to feed a large family or to take to a potluck. The recipe recommends vanilla pudding, but you could also use banana cream pudding if you really want to make an impression with the banana flavor. The whipped topping gives the pudding a fluffy texture instead of the traditional pudding texture.

Bananas are like apples; if they are exposed to the air too long after peeling, they begin to turn brown. You can coat them lightly in lemon juice if you wish, or you could wait to cut them up until you need them in the recipe so they get covered in pudding immediately. You can just slice them as you are filling up the bowl with your layers. The recipe is really simple to make, so be prepared to buy a lot of bananas as you get frequent requests for this dessert. Use a clear glass trifle bowl to show off the dessert at its best. You can also decorate the top with vanilla wafers or edge the pudding with them. If you had enough individual dessert glasses, this pudding could be made into individual servings. If you plan on this, make sure you have enough room in the refrigerator for all the glasses.

The recipe feeds a crowd, so bring this dish to a potluck or large holiday gathering. There will not be a spoonful left by the end of the evening. If you do not have bananas on hand, you can use the vanilla pudding and the vanilla wafers to make a vanilla pudding dessert. You can also plan ahead and use the cook and serve pudding in the recipe instead of instant; just allow the pudding time to cool off in the refrigerator before making the rest of the recipe. If you wish, you can also put a layer of whipped topping on the very top of the dessert.

Recipe for Banana Pudding ?

This creamy pudding will please everyone.

What You Need

1 package (5 ounces) instant vanilla pudding2 cups cold milk1/2 can (14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk1 Tablespoon vanilla extract1 container (12 ounces) frozen whipped topping, thawed1 package (16 ounces) vanilla wafers5 bananas, sliced

How to Make It

?
In a large mixing bowl, mix up the pudding and milk. Add the condensed milk and blend until it is smooth. Stir in the vanilla. Fold the whipped topping in gently.

Place a layer of vanilla wafers in the bottom of a large glass dish. Next, place a layer of bananas. Follow that with a layer of pudding. Repeat the layers if you have a large dish. Chill until serving.

Sprinkle wafer crumbs on top before serving if you wish.

Serves 20

Thanksgiving Pumpkin Dessert Tips and Ideas

The Thanksgiving holiday is almost here and we know you are busy concentrating on the most important part of the meal - the dessert! When your family is falling into their turkey comas, revive them with a fantastic pumpkin dessert.

Thanksgiving Dessert Ideas

You cannot go wrong with serving a traditional pumpkin pie. This Thanksgiving dessert has been making families happy for a number of years, and is sure to be a favorite for your family and friends.

The best way to surprise your loved ones after the Thanksgiving meal is by putting a new twist on a traditional dessert. Serving a pumpkin cheesecake is a great way to do that. The spicy pumpkin flavor is a perfect complement to the rich cheesecake and sweet graham cracker crust. Serve your pumpkin cheesecake with a dollop of whipped cream, and your guests will be wowed!

Pumpkin Dessert Tips for Dieters

The average slice of pumpkin pie has about 320 calories. When you are trying to watch your waistline, you need to save every calorie you can. The best way to make your Thanksgiving pumpkin cheesecake healthier is to make a low-fat version. Substitute low-fat cream cheese for the full-fat version, use reduced fat vanilla wafers and leave the whipped cream in the can! These easy steps are sure to save you at least 100 calories per serving.

You can knock even more calories off of your dessert while still enjoying the full flavor that comes with the less healthy options. Choose a snack-sized pumpkin cheesecake pack for your holiday gathering. These cheesecakes are small and come in packs of 12. Your guests will love these tiny sweet treats! They taste great and - even better - they are guilt-free.

The snack-sized pumpkin cheesecakes are even better if you have a small gathering. Your cheesecake will be able to spend up to five months in the freezer without losing its flavor. You and your loved ones can defrost just a few small cheesecakes for Thanksgiving and savor the rest for months to come.

More Thanksgiving Pumpkin Dessert Ideas

If you want to be very traditional in your Thanksgiving feast, consider serving the pumpkin dish the Pilgrims likely ate at the first Thanksgiving. The first pumpkin dessert was likely cooked in its shell. The entire pumpkin was heated over hot embers and seasoned with thyme and rosemary. This first pumpkin dessert was likely seasoned with honey or maple and moistened with milk. While it may not be the pumpkin dessert your loved ones expected, they will enjoy trying a little taste of history as well as Thanksgiving dessert ideas they never considered.

Thanksgiving is a time for family and friends - and of course great food! Make your dessert the centerpiece this year with great pumpkin dessert ideas. Whether you choose a traditional pumpkin pie or a more adventurous pumpkin cheesecake, your guests will appreciate the tasty desserts after a filling Thanksgiving meal.

Tall Cupcakes Gain In Popularity For New Cupcake Ideas

So what is the Tall Cupcake?

The Tall Cupcake is made up of three cupcakes stacked and held together with cake decorators icing and then wrapped in a fondant icing. The ideas and designs for them are endless.

Everything from whimsy to elegant and fashionable these tall cupcakes are perfect to wrap up as individual gifts for friends, family and hand outs at special occasions. Unfortunately the Sugarbloom site is closed to the general public and an only be viewed with permission.

Fortunately, after much demand, Rhonda G., created a video tutorial on how to make these fun and wonderful works of art. She claims humbly that Sugarblooms is the king when it comes to the tall cupcakes but has a blast making them and helping others learn how to make them as well. The video is free for anyone to view and is accompanied by pictures and written instructions on the post.

Where Is Sugarbloom's Cupcakes Located?

Sugarblooms' cupcake shop is located in Perth, Western Australia.

You can also friend them on Facebook. As of this writing they have just over 220 fans. I will guess that number will grow pretty fast.

You can also find the Decorated Cupcake Ideas fan page on Facebook with just over 370 fans as of this writing.

How To Make Pumpkin Cheesecake

Crust:

1 cup finely ground graham cracker crumbs
1/4 cup finely ground ginger cookies, store bought or homemade
1/4 cup finely chopped pecans
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
4-5 tablespoons unsalted butter or margarine, melted

Cheesecake:

2/3 cup light brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup pumpkin puree, canned or homemade
1 pound low-fat plain cream cheese, room temperature
3 extra-large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup pecan halves for decorating top of cheesecake

1. Preheat oven to 350?F and place the oven rack in the center of the oven. Grease an 8 inch spring form pan with either non-stick cooking spray or butter.

2. For Crust: In a medium sized bowl combine the graham cracker crumbs, ginger cookie crumbs, finely chopped pecan pieces, granulated sugar, and melted butter or margarine. Press the crust mixture into the bottom of the prepared spring form pan. Cover the crust with plastic wrap and chill in refrigerator while you make the cheesecake filling.

3. For Cheesecake: Place the cream cheese into the blender and mix until smooth (about 2 minutes). Gradually add the brown sugar and spices, and beat until smooth and creamy (1 to 2 minutes). Add the eggs, one at a time, mixing well (about 30 seconds) for each addition. Use a spatula to scrape any ingredient that didn't get combined off the sides of the blender. Add vanilla and pumpkin puree and mix well.

4. Pour the pumpkin filling over the chilled ginger crust and place spring form pan on top of a baking sheet to catch any drips. Decorate the top of the cheesecake with pecan halves. Place a cake pan filled half full with hot water on the bottom shelf of the oven to add humidity to the air inside the oven and keep the top of the cheesecake from cracking. Bake the cheesecake for 30 minutes at 350?F, then reduce the oven temperature to 325?F and bake the cheesecake for another 10-20 minutes until the edges are puffed but the center is still slightly jiggly when the pan is shaken.

5. Remove the cheesecake from the oven and place on a wire rack to cool. Loosen the cake from the spring form pan by gently running a knife around the inside of the pan. Set the cake back on the wire rack (free of the sides of the spring form pan), and cover loosely with aluminum foil. The foil will allow the cheesecake to cool slowly. Once the cake is completely cooled, cover and place in the refrigerator to cool for at least 8 hours, or overnight, prior to serving.

Serves 10-12 people.

Cake Baking Tips for Beginners

Many people say that baking is a science. It's all about exact measurements and timing. While it may remind some of chemistry class, the truth is that baking in the kitchen is a lot more fun than experimenting in a laboratory, unless of course you're a scientist. If you've been thinking of baking, but are afraid it's complicated, or you'll fail, read these cake baking tips and keep them in mind each time you turn on that oven.

Invest In Good Ingredients
Until you become an expert, the type of baker who can take the simplest ingredients and turn them into something fantastic, try to invest in some good ingredients. If you're working with the best chocolate, nuts, and fruit, then even if your first few tries are disastrous, the end product is still bound to taste good. So stick to good ingredients because you will need the encouragement in the beginning.

Learn How to Work With Eggs
Eggs are a big part of the baking process, but they're also a tricky part. Learn how to separate eggs well. Remember to always use fresh cold eggs. If you need to mix eggs into the batter, cold is always better, but if you need to whip the whites of the eggs, wait till the egg is at room temperature. Also, try to use large eggs. If your eggs are too small, your cake will be dense and heavy.

Ready Everything Before You Begin
A chemistry teacher would tell their students the same thing. If you measure and prepare everything before starting, you'll have an easier time carrying out the experiment. The same goes with baking. Ready everything you need before starting, and you'll find that it will be much easier to follow the recipe.

Get to Know Your Oven
You'll only succeed at doing this after a few baking experiments, but every oven is different. Some run hotter than others. So though you are following a recipe, make sure you watch out for signs that your cake is ready. Wait for it to rise and check whether or not it's done using the toothpick test.

Chill
In baking, plenty of steps require chilling, such as if you create a mousse cake or when you add frosting to your cake. Remember to not just chill mousse and frosting, but slightly chill the cakes before frosting as well. This will help you spread frosting evenly, and without ruining the cake. Some like to apply a thin layer of frosting to a cake that's bee cooled to room temperature from the oven, chill this for an hour, then apply the rest of the frosting. Choose the method that works best for you!

Beautiful Peachy Pie

This pie will impress from the moment you take it out of the refrigerator. The top is a vibrant orange with peach slices displayed attractively. Once the pie is sliced, your guests will see the hidden cream cheese layer down below. This would make a magnificent summer dessert or you could use it to bring in a little sunshine in the dead of winter. Serve it on simple plates so the pie really shines. This dessert offers the perfect combination of textures, colors, and flavors. Let it speak for itself; your guests will rave over this delightful pie.

Get a large graham cracker crust to hold all the fillings, otherwise, you may find yourself with a little leftover. You could also get small graham cracker crusts and make individual sizes. You could also play with the flavors. Use strawberry slices in strawberry Jello if you like or mandarin orange segments in orange Jello. If you like the peaches but cannot find peach Jello in your local market, you can use apricot or orange flavor Jello instead.

This is such a simple recipe and it makes an absolutely stunning dessert. Take it to potlucks or bake sales for instant appreciation. Serve it for holidays or special occasions. Make it just because you want something pretty for dessert. This stunning recipe will impress anyone who sees it and takes a bite. The creamy bottom layer contrasts perfectly with the Jello layer, both visually and in your mouth. While you are chewing the peaches, the creamy layer will melt in your mouth, combining flavors and making every bite special. Go ahead and try this recipe as a trial run with your family. Once you know they love it, you can make it again for a special evening. You will have worked out all the preparation and be prepared for its wonderful flavor. It is always a good idea to try out new recipes before you are under any pressure to perform in front of guests.

Recipe for Peachy Cream Pie

This pie will make everyone do a double take when you serve it.

What You Need

3/4 cup sugar5 teaspoons cornstarch1-1/2 cups cold water1 package (3 ounces) peach Jello1-1/2 cups frozen unsweetened peach slices, thawed1 package (3 ounces) cream cheese, softened3 Tablespoons powdered sugar1 Tablespoon milk1-1/2 cups whipped topping1 graham cracker crust (9 ounces)

How to Make It

Combine the sugar and cornstarch in a large saucepan. Add water, stirring until smooth. Bring the mixture to a boil; let it cook for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring constantly, until thickened. Remove from the heat. With a whisk, add the Jello until it is dissolved. Add the peaches. Refrigerate until just slightly thickened; about 20 minutes.

In a large bowl, beat the powdered sugar, cream cheese, and milk until smooth. Fold the whipped topping into the mixture. Spoon this mixture into the pie crust, smoothing the top. Spoon the Jello mixture over the cream cheese. Chill in the refrigerator for about 3 hours or until set.

Makes 8 servings.

How To Make Pumpkin Cheesecake

Crust:

1 cup finely ground graham cracker crumbs
1/4 cup finely ground ginger cookies, store bought or homemade
1/4 cup finely chopped pecans
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
4-5 tablespoons unsalted butter or margarine, melted

Cheesecake:

2/3 cup light brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup pumpkin puree, canned or homemade
1 pound low-fat plain cream cheese, room temperature
3 extra-large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup pecan halves for decorating top of cheesecake

1. Preheat oven to 350?F and place the oven rack in the center of the oven. Grease an 8 inch spring form pan with either non-stick cooking spray or butter.

2. For Crust: In a medium sized bowl combine the graham cracker crumbs, ginger cookie crumbs, finely chopped pecan pieces, granulated sugar, and melted butter or margarine. Press the crust mixture into the bottom of the prepared spring form pan. Cover the crust with plastic wrap and chill in refrigerator while you make the cheesecake filling.

3. For Cheesecake: Place the cream cheese into the blender and mix until smooth (about 2 minutes). Gradually add the brown sugar and spices, and beat until smooth and creamy (1 to 2 minutes). Add the eggs, one at a time, mixing well (about 30 seconds) for each addition. Use a spatula to scrape any ingredient that didn't get combined off the sides of the blender. Add vanilla and pumpkin puree and mix well.

4. Pour the pumpkin filling over the chilled ginger crust and place spring form pan on top of a baking sheet to catch any drips. Decorate the top of the cheesecake with pecan halves. Place a cake pan filled half full with hot water on the bottom shelf of the oven to add humidity to the air inside the oven and keep the top of the cheesecake from cracking. Bake the cheesecake for 30 minutes at 350?F, then reduce the oven temperature to 325?F and bake the cheesecake for another 10-20 minutes until the edges are puffed but the center is still slightly jiggly when the pan is shaken.

5. Remove the cheesecake from the oven and place on a wire rack to cool. Loosen the cake from the spring form pan by gently running a knife around the inside of the pan. Set the cake back on the wire rack (free of the sides of the spring form pan), and cover loosely with aluminum foil. The foil will allow the cheesecake to cool slowly. Once the cake is completely cooled, cover and place in the refrigerator to cool for at least 8 hours, or overnight, prior to serving.

Cake Decoration - It's All in the Icing

Cake decoration is incomplete without some decorative icing. The first thing to keep in mind is to have the appropriate equipment such as picks, icing bag, spatulas and good piping bag. If you are just starting out, you may buy a complete decorating set for a reasonable price. But just make sure they are of good quality to avoid any decorating disasters.

Armed with the tools, you can now throw up some basic cake decorations with beautiful icing. However, do you know that there are actually as many as 5 different icings for you to choose from? Every type has its distinct quality and can be perfect for a specific style or cake. To maximize each, continue reading and discover in what ways you can use the various kinds.

1. Fondant Icing

Fondant icing, one of the most popular types of icings around, is what you commonly see on wedding and birthday cakes. It looks like a porcelain and provides silky smooth texture which gives an elegant look to your cake. Fondant icings are a great choice for creating flowers, ribbons and other generic designs that fit into the category of classy and elegant. Of course, you can use them for almost anything but white roses look exceptional on a wedding cake. Just like any kind of icing, these are made out of sugar and water, thus it is icing is very fattening.

2. Foam Icing

This is the cornerstone of cake decoration. Together with fondant icing, the foam type of icing is the most popular type of icing used in cake decoration. It has a very creamy texture to it and is soft to the touch. For those who prefer a fluffy and creamy cake top, this is the ideal icing for you.

3. Fudge Icing

As the name suggests, this is an excellent choice for those who love chocolates. And yes, there is fudge icing, which is what you typically see on big tiramisus and double chocolate cakes. Also often referred to as ganache, fudge icing is dark in nature, so it is a great complement to any cake top that is lighter in color. Fudge icing is also good in any ordinary cake if you want to add some more chocolaty taste.

4. Glazes

An entirely different sort of icing from those mentioned above, glazes are watery in texture and tend to flow down the sides of a cake. A lot of cakes use glaze to give the pastry a unique overflowing look. This works well on a chocolate cake with white top. White glaze along with passion fruit icing is also delicious.

Take the time to learn a bit about the different types of icing as they each have different properties and are suited to different styles of cakes.

Administration Would Back Subway Line To Jersey

The plans are still preliminary, but the concept has the city administration excited: A New York City subway stop in Hoboken. 

According to a ?story by the Associated Press earlier this week, an extension of the Metropolitan Transportation Organization's #7 line under the Hudson River into New Jersey would include a stop in Hoboken, before ending in Secaucus. 

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg made the proposal, pointing out that the Metropolitan Transportation Authority was already extending the #7 line west all the way to 11th Avenue and the line could be further extended into New Jersey just as it currently extends on the other side of Manhattan under the East River into Queens.

The proposal comes in the wake of the cancellation of the plans to build a new rail tunnel from Manhattan to New Jersey, which was killed by Gov. Chris Christie for being too costly. The ARC Tunnel would not have been accessible from Hoboken, but would have alleviated the traffic into the city, in turn making the commute from Hoboken into Manhattan easier. 

In response to the cancellation of the ARC Tunnel, Mayor Dawn Zimmer wrote the governor a letter, asking him to re-consider "a much better alternative that achieves equivalent connectivity for rail passengers?, preserves the economic and job benefits of a major infrastructure project, and saves billions of dollars and years of construction time."

The plan the mayor is proposing is the "Hoboken Alternative," a plan put forth in 2005, according to Zimmer's Oct. 12 letter to the governor.

Zimmer writes also that the "Hoboken Alternative" would cost less than $4 billion, would use an existing rail structure under the Hudson and provide direct connectivity to New York Penn Station. 

A subway line from Manhattan to Hudson County could also provide Hoboken with the same perks the ARC Tunnel would have brought, said Director of Transportation and Parking Ian Sacs. He said that additional trains would lighten the pressure on Hoboken's PATH terminal. It would also ease congestion in the Hudson and Lincoln tunnels, he said, which—in turn—would make the commute from Hoboken to Manhattan easier.

Zimmer said she already had a meeting scheduled with New York City Department of Transportation Director Janette Sadik-Khan? on Dec. 4. 

"It's perfect timing," said Zimmer about the preliminary subway proposals. "I will definitely talk to her about this."

Assemblyman Ruben Ramos Jr. also supported the idea. "I hope to see this project come to fruition," he said in a press release, "especially for the benefit of Hoboken and all Hudson County residents and businesses.?"

The subway stop for the 7 line, which runs from Manhattan's Times Square across town all the way to Queens, would probably be at the Hoboken Terminal, said Sacs. An addition of an MTA line into Jersey could also mean that the PATH and the MTA could start talking about a joint payment system. 

However appealing, it may take a while until these ideas actually turn into plans. According to a New York Metro article, there's a distrust of New Jersey among New York and federal officials ever since the governor cancelled the ARC Tunnel. 

Creative Custom Cakes for Everyday Occasions

Have you noticed how custom cakes have changed the way that we have enjoyed this ultimate party essential? No party or occasion is ever complete without a slice of our favorite cake. In the past, a round, square or rectangular shaped cake would do. We would either have it in chocolate, mocha or vanilla. Others would even have multi-tiered cake for weddings and other special occasions. Today, it's interesting to see the kind of colors, shapes and designs that makers of custom cakes are able to whip up!

These cakes are popular regardless of the occasion. It could be a birthday party, a wedding, an anniversary celebration or the graduation party of a loved one. Cake decorators have also added toppers, depending on your unique taste. While these custom cakes can vary in size and shape, the toppers can add to the creativity and design of the cake.

You may have also noticed that custom cakes are a lot more creative than before. This is most commonly seen in children's birthday parties. Young celebrants have enjoyed custom cakes that take the shape of toys, cartoon characters or animals. Custom cakes can come in practically any design! Whether it's a cake in the shape of a trendy purse for the fashionista or a caricature of the birthday celebrant, one would surely enjoy seeing these tasty looking custom cakes.

The flavors of them have also been specialized for your unique taste. While we have enjoyed the classic chocolate and vanilla versions, there are several other flavors for you to choose from. From cheesecake to fruit flavors and those with ice cream, these cakes are sure to satisfy your sweet tooth. For those who are a bit more health conscious, there are also some sugar free versions that you can take pleasure in.

If you want a different kind of treat, there are also some custom cakes that made up of little cupcakes. You can mix and match flavors, frostings and fillings. The cake toppers can be unique for every single cupcake. Cake making and decorating has definitely evolved from being just a simple recipe to a work of art! You can even choose to personalize your cake and create your own design. These specialty bake shop coordinators would normally sit down with you so you can tell them exactly what you want. They will help you visualize your dream cake and whip up a cake that your guests will surely love!

If you want to order these custom cakes to celebrate a special moment in your life, make sure that you are able to determine the theme of your party first. It is best to place the order a couple of weeks in advance to make sure that you can get it in time for your special event. You can try to find these custom cakes online or from any local bakery within your area. Take the time to choose the right size, design and flavor that will complement your party perfectly.

Fondant Cakes

Many types of wedding cakes have a lovely fondant. This is an icing substance used for decorating cakes. Most of you have seen fondant cakes even though you may not be aware of it. It can be prepared with a poured or a rolled fondant. The later is actually a cream confection that normally covers sweets and candies. It is made of sugar and water mixture, heated and cooled at given temperature ranges. Then, the maker stirs the mixture until it achieves a thick creamy texture.

Some of the products have flavorings and others do not. In addition, some poured fondants have colors. A rolled icing is common in wedding cake decorations. Its constituent involves an element called gelatin and food glycerin. It looks like a dough and has elastic flow. This is why a fondant cake covered with this rolled style looks smooth and attractive. This item is very easy to roll and shape. If you want to prepare fondant cake personally, you can go for any of the two types explained above. They are not very difficult to use, although a lot of creativity is necessary.

The following tips can help you make fondant cakes for Christmas 2010. The first step is making the types of cakes you want. Make all of them in advance and ensure that each has thin butter cream layer on top. The second step is kneading this paste the same way you do ordinary dough. For that reason, you must choose a very smooth textured worktable and make sure the icing is not sticky. You can apply a little amount of butter cream. Then, knead with your hands until the paste is smooth and elastic.

The third step is rolling out the soft dough. Use the usual rolling pin to do it and maintain a thickness of about a quarter to an eighth of an inch. Rolling will help you remove bubbles and excess fondant. Make sure that you already have a cake tier, which could feature any shape. Next, lift your stretched fondant using your hands and place it over the tier. Do it quickly and accurately to prevent drying. You will notice that there is still excess icing or covering around the ends, which you must cut with a knife. This covering will hold onto the butter cream coat.

Remove any bubbles because you want to give your cake a very smooth finish. Those are the basic steps for making this type of a cake. If you want deeper understanding, now you can freely use the Internet. There is enough information available to you in form of articles, reviews, blogs, forums and so on. All you have to do is to use all this free information. The other way to do this is by attending cooking classes. These are available too and can offer the training you require to prepared fondant cakes this Christmas. Shopping should occur on the Internet too. Look for stores that sell fondants, including tools, flavorings, colorings and other necessary items.

The Proof Is in the Pudding!

A lot of us have shied away from desserts like pudding but that may not be necessary. Have you ever thought about pumpkin pudding? For those of you who eat pumpkin pie without the crust you already like it! There are a ton of recipes for pumpkin pie and or pumpkin pudding (for a pie filling). Most of us only think about pumpkin in the fall but it is easy to find canned year around. If you find yourself craving a creamy tasty dessert try out this recipe and I will explain the health benefits.

1 can of pumpkin (pureed pumpkin not pumpkin pie filling)
1 can of evaporated milk (nonfat is preferable)
2 large eggs
? cup brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp nutmeg (fresh grated if possible)
? tsp salt
? tsp ground cloves
? tsp ground ginger

Add all of the spices to the eggs and beat the eggs, then add the sugar and pumpkin and mix well. Then add the evaporated milk slowly while stirring. Pour into a shallow oven safe dish and bake at 350 for 30-40 minutes depending on your oven. The middle should still jiggle a little. Allow it to cool then refrigerate for a few hours, overnight would be better. It can be scooped out to put in pudding bowls or cut into squares or pie pieces (depending on your dish) and served like a pie with no crust.

This dessert is not only tasty; it can also easily become a super healthy comfort food. This pudding is extremely high in fiber. Even higher than those dry bran muffins you gave up a couple of years ago... It is super low in calories. Actually, a full one cup serving has less than 100 calories. Try finding another pudding (that tastes good) that can claim the same!

This pudding is actually diabetic friendly. It may even be able to prevent or diminish some of the long term problems caused by diabetes due to its powerful antioxidants. Antioxidants have been thought to reduce the risk of certain cancers and fight the effects of aging through destroying free radicals. Pumpkin contains both Alpha and Beta carotenes, loads of potassium, magnesium, vitamin C and vitamin E. Pumpkin is quickly becoming renowned as a "super food" and it is easy to understand why!

Tips for Creating Cupcakes

A cupcake is a delightful single serving treat that everyone loves. It is a popular dessert or snack that is commonly served at parties. They come in very handy and versatile. You can present your cupcakes in several ways. You can create colourful icings or add toppings for additional taste and style.

Homemade cupcakes are easy to bake and design. This literature will give you valuable tips on how to create your own cupcakes.

Follow the Recipe

There are different cupcake recipes scattered on cooking books and online. Try to browse and scan for great cupcake recipes. Select the recipe you would like to create and take note of the ingredients and techniques used. Make sure you copied the precise and accurate measurement of the ingredients to prevent any mistake.

Baking Equipments and Ingredients

Gather all necessary ingredients and baking tools needed. Make sure that they are clean and dry. When baking cupcakes, you will need muffin pans, cup liners, decorating tools such as piping bag and nozzles, mixing bowls, measuring spoons and cups.

For your ingredients, consider to buy good quality flour and eggs. Good quality ingredients will definitely yield into delicious cupcakes. When preparing your main ingredients, consider to sift your flour. This will keep your flour fine and helps in mixing the batter more easily.

Mixing the Batter

Add all ingredients into your mixing bowl - milk, sifted flour, eggs and shortening. Mix all ingredients well by stirring them under one direction. Remember not to overly mix the batter. It will result to chewy cupcakes and taste flat or bland.

Plating

Once the batter is completely mixed, pour the batter into the muffin pan. Fill the pan approximately 2/3 of batter. This will create perfectly baked cupcakes. Over filling the muffin pan with the batter will get your cupcakes burn.

Baking

Make sure to pre-heat the oven for baking. Set the temperature of your oven based on the instructions given on the recipe. Place the prepared muffin pan into the oven and give an effort to check your cupcakes often. If you're cupcakes seems cooked, apply a cake tester or a toothpick in the cupcake. Once the cake tester is pulled out and there are no crumbs included, the cake is already baked.

Set aside the muffin dry and let it cool for a couple of minutes. Remove the cupcakes from the pan. Apply icing or toppings for added decor and taste.

Baking cupcakes on your first attempt may not yield into a good result. It will surely take time and practice to perfect one. Once you have mastered the basics, you can be inventive and try other shapes, ingredients, decor and recipe. This will make your cupcake baking experience worthwhile.

Christmas Dessert Ideas

Christmas is all about getting together with friends, loved ones, and eating lots of yummy treats. No matter what gathering that you go to for Christmas, there will be food there, and lots of it. Part of the fun is eating until you can't eat anymore, and then eating more. This is the time of year that you can indulge and not feel bad about yourself, because everyone around you is doing the same thing.

When you host a holiday party or gathering, you want to make sure that you have lots of tasty Christmas desserts on hand for you and your guest. It's great to not only have some old standby favorites, but it's also great to introduce some new recipes that can become new favorites. The usual suspects for the dessert table will be cakes, cookies, and pies. Everyone will want to eat one of these items. But you can get really wild and creative by adding in new ingredients to these favorites. You can also add in extras that will change the flavors up a bit, and make your new version special and enviable.

If you want to save money and see how creative things can get, just have your guest bring over their own desserts to your gathering. It's an interesting time to see what other people consider to be holiday standards. Even if they bring the same recipes that everyone expects, they might put their own spin on it that makes it a favorite for their family. It's always good to taste the recipes of others, and see how you can come up with different and new versions of old standards. Or, you might just love their family recipe, and you might want to adopt a part of their family into yours, by way of a favorite recipe.

You might think that it'll be hard planning your desserts, because you don't want to seem boring. But the great news is that in today's world, anything goes. In addition to this, there are so many cultures that we can be inspired by. So you can stick to the standard recipes, or you can let your imagination run wild, and try out different variations, spices, and ingredients.

You can get more dessert ideas than you know what to do with from magazines, or from recipe websites on the internet. Get creative! Look up a few different versions of recipes, and then find out ways that you can change some things around to make the recipe your own. You can totally make some variations to make the taste outcome to your liking.

The thing is that you know what direction that you are going in for the big party day. Trust me, the dinner will be on everyone's minds, but your dessert table can be the star at your next holiday party.

Cheesecakes You Will Love!

If you want to get a perfect gift for any occasion, people always eat so food is a good selection and cheesecakes make a great choice. Whether you're buying for someone across the country or right next door, you'll find that cheesecake delivery makes the entire process simple and perfect for the recipient. Almost every dessert lover is familiar with the traditional cheesecakes but there are so many more flavors to tingle the most discerning of palates that the biggest problem becomes not what to give, but what flavor of cheesecake to select. Everyday a flavor for this rich, elegant taste treat seems to appear and it's no wonder people spend hours drooling over the options. Some of the new flavors include mango chai cheesecakes and German chocolate cheesecakes. You don't have to make just one selection however; there are samplers you can purchase that offer enough servings for 16 people, or just one person that simply loves cheesecake. These samplers include amaretto slices, chocolate chip, the traditional and still loved New York style, blueberry swirl, raspberry swirl, cappuccino, chocolate chip, white chocolate pistachio and chocolate fudge cheesecake slices.

There are so many reasons to order cheesecake online. The ease of shopping is one. You'd have to spend hours in your car finding this large of selection in any local brick and mortar store. You only spend minutes online and the cheesecake delivery comes to you or your gift recipient without the hassle. These scrumptious 2, 3 or 4 pound delights of flavor are unique. Once you give the first cheesecake, you'll find everyone eagerly awaits your gifts, hoping you'll give them a cheesecake too. You can surprise the same people every year with a new flavor more exotic than the previous year and establish a tradition with family and friends as the ultimate gift specialist. Everyone will want to know where you got the idea and how to order his or her own cheesecake. Cheesecake delivery for those that live across the country also saves you the hassle of packaging anything you'd purchase locally. The company blast freezes the cheesecakes first to ensure their freshness; shrink wraps the cheesecakes and then packs them into insulated packages for safe shipment and in perfect arrival. It takes all the worry off your shoulders and allows you to focus on other matters. Do you want to have something unusual for the next birthday party? Not everyone loves birthday cake. However, everyone loves cheesecakes and loves to be remembered and receive something special on his or her birthday. Now you can celebrate the next family birthday with an eight-inch New York style cheesecake that displays "Happy Birthday", written in white chocolate over a chocolate ganache topping.

It will make the birthday one to remember and a great surprise for the happy recipient. Did you remember to tell someone how much you care? Do you have a special message of congratulations? Is there something you've wanted to say but don't ever find the opening to say it? Consider letting a cheesecake do it for you. That's right; you can actually put your own message on a cheesecake and use the cheesecake delivery to give it to your loved one. Imagine how surprised your special person will be when a heart shape cheesecake arrives at their door with a special message from you. Are you considering popping the question? Let a heart-shaped cheesecake do it for you. If you're the hostess with the "moistest", you understand that getting the most unusual variety of foods, while keeping your preparation as simple as possible is the ideal formula for a successful party. The variety of cheesecakes from which to choose helps you do just that. You don't have to run around searching for various varieties. They're just a click away and you have cheesecake delivery at the perfect time for your party. You can't find all the special types of cheesecake in any local store easily. Specialty sites can offer these items because they have a larger audience than a local bakery or store. If you love variety, you'll find that you have more choices than you ever thought were possible. Cheesecake delivery makes it simple for you to receive just what you're looking for. Simply find the special flavor you crave or choose a sampler that offers you the variety you love and you'll have your selection by noon of the next day. Best of all, if you're unhappy for any reason, you have a guarantee that the company will make it right, by either sending you another cheesecake or refunding your money. It's a win-win situation for you, regardless of whether you send the cake as a gift, or just want to give yourself a special treat.

How To Make Pumpkin Ice Cream Pie

This is a delicious twist on the classic pumpkin pie recipe, and even easier to make. The only baking in this recipe is for the crust. This is a great dessert to serve at a Halloween party, as dessert (or one of the desserts) at Thanksgiving dinner, or for any other time that you have a taste for pumpkin.

Ingredients:

CRUST

1 ? cups ginger cookie crumbs
? stick (4 tablespoons) butter, melted
FILLING
1 quart vanilla bean ice cream
1 cup canned pumpkin
1/3 cup brown sugar
2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
? teaspoon ground ginger
(optional) assorted dried fruit for decoration

1. Heat the oven to 350?F. In a 9 inch pie plate, combine the ginger cookie crumbs and melted butter. Once the butter is evenly distributed throughout the cookie crumbs, press the crumbs into the bottom and sides of the pie plate. Use a ? cup measuring cup to press into the cookie crumb crust to even out the thickness of the bottom and sides of the crust.

2. Bake the ginger cookie crust for 5 minutes at 350?F. After the 5 minutes, remove the crust from the oven and allow it to cool completely.

3. While the crust is cooling, take the ice cream out of the freezer and allow it to sit at room temperature for 15 minutes. Once the ice cream has become softened from sitting out, scoop it into a large mixing bowl. Stir the ice cream with a spoon until it becomes broken up, then add the pumpkin, brown sugar, and spices. Stir the the mixture until all of the ingredients are evenly distributed throughout the ice cream.

4. Pour the pumpkin ice cream mixture into the cooled crust. Cover with plastic wrap and freeze for at least 4 hours or overnight.

5. If you are making this pie for a Halloween party or gathering, decorate the pie with a variety of dried fruits to create a jack-o'-lantern face. Let the pie sit out at room temperature for about 10 minutes prior to slicing, so it will be easier to slice.

6. Serve and enjoy this delicious pumpkin ice cream pie!

Makes 8 servings.

Peanut And Chocolate Dessert

If you like creamy desserts, you will like this peanut pudding recipe. Just imaging a creamy peanut butter cup and you are in the right neighborhood. This is a terrific recipe to make for your family; the kids will especially find it delicious. You may even get them to eat their vegetables if they know this is coming. How about that for an incentive?

You can make this dessert the night before or earlier in the day. It is very simple to whip together. Make it for potlucks, family gatherings, birthdays, parties or any time you want a simple dessert that will win the hearts of your guests. Combining the flavors of peanut butter and chocolate is not new, but with this dessert, everyone will act like you are the genius who thought of doing so. You may find yourself making this dessert just because you have a craving for all that creamy goodness. You really do not need a special occasion to indulge in some peanuts and chocolate.

One word of caution when you make this recipe. Peanuts can and do cause allergic reactions in some people. If you plan to serve this at a potluck or party, label it clearly, so they know the dessert contains peanuts. This allows people who suffer from these allergies to avoid foods that may cause trouble. For the rest of your guests, this dessert is a great choice. The recipe feeds enough people that you will not need to worry about making extra batches unless you are bringing some to a very large gathering.

Recipe for Peanut Pudding Dessert

This dessert combines the delicious flavors of peanut butter and chocolate.

What You Need

1/2 cup cold butter1 cup all purpose flour2/3 cup salted or dry roasted peanuts, chopped8 ounces cream cheese, softened1 cup powdered sugar1/3 cup peanut butter8 ounces Cool Whip, thawed and divided2-3/4 cups cold milk1 package (3.9 ounces) instant chocolate pudding1 package (3.9 ounces instant vanilla puddingChocolate curls or additional peanuts for garnish (optional)

How to Make It

Cut the butter into the flour until the mixture feels crumbly. Stir in the peanuts. Press this mixture into an ungreased 13x9 inch baking dish. Bake at 350 degrees F for 16 to 20 minutes, or until lightly browned. Let cool on a wire rack.

In a mixing bowl, beat the powdered sugar and cream cheese together. Add the peanut butter and mix until smooth. Fold in 1-1/2 cups of Cool Whip. Spread this mixture over the crust carefully.

In another bowl, whisk the milk and the two pudding mixes together for two minutes. Let the mixture stand for two minutes, or until soft set.

Carefully spread the pudding mixture over the top of the peanut butter mixture. Top with the remaining whipped topping.

Garnish with chopped peanuts or chocolate curls if you wish.

Chill the dessert for a minimum of 2 hours before serving.

Serves 16.

Meet the Boss -- the Cake Boss | NBC Philadelphia

Everyone’s favorite Italian baker and cake decorator, Buddy Valastro, from TLC’s popular reality show, "Cake Boss" is coming to Philly.

Buddy’s 17-city Live Interactive Tour will hit Philadelphia on Nov. 8, at 7:30 p.m. at the Merriam Theatre on 250 South Broad Street.

Listen to Buddy as he shares his stories about his family and stories about his TV series. Watch a live demonstration of the skills that have made him one of the nation's most successful cake artists. Interact with Buddy yourself by asking questions or even join him on stage for some fun.

On this tour the famous baker will also be promoting the release of his first book "Cake Boss: The Stories and Recipes from Mia Famiglia," which comes out Nov. 2.

The Cake Boss himself will be signing books at the Barnes and Noble on 150 West Swedesdord Road at 12:30 p.m.

Tickets to the show range from $31.50 to $41.50 and can be purchased here.

You can also catch Buddy Valastro on the "10! Show," Monday at 11 a.m. right here on NBC10.

Cake Boss Isn't Too Frosted - HispanicBusiness.com

When it comes to reality shows about New Jersey, Buddy Valastro, star of TLC's "Cake Boss," isn't too frosted over how his home state comes off.

"I think it doesn't show Jersey in the best light," said Valastro, who was in town the other day to sign his new book "Cake Boss: Stories and Recipes from Mia Famiglia."

"But it's another form of entertainment. I know some people from the other shows. . . . I made Teresa's wedding cake."

He refers, of course, to infamous table-throwing Teresa Giudice of "Real Housewives of New Jersey."

"There's a lot of positive things the housewives do that are not on the show. Dina alone, I've been to 20 charity events of hers."

As for the most famous TV trainwreck, "Jersey Shore's" Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi, Buddy said she's just an average American girl!

"She was going to be on 'Cake Boss,' because she had missed Mother's Day and wanted to show that she cared and loved her mom," Buddy said. "We made a big cake for her mom and delivered it to them at their house. They're loving people, normal people."

Besides running the family's 100-year-old Carlo's Pastry Shop in Hoboken and doing his reality show, Buddy currently is touring the country on the "Bakin' with the Boss" tour.

"It's kind of like this interactive tour where I get on stage and tell my story of who I am. It gives CB fans an idea of who I am what I'm doing in my life,'' he told the Track. "I call people up from the audience and ask them to help me decorate a cake. It's good, family fun."

Pie As An Ideal Corporate Holiday Gift Idea - 5 Reasons

So often we want to send a corporate gift to a boss, colleague or client but are stumped as to what would be something they would truly like. Often when we are able to think of things the recipient would truly like, we realize our budget constraints. Gift baskets have been the corporate holiday gift staple for so long that they are simply blas? and lack luster. Sending a bottle of wine is hit-or-miss and is usually costly and unappreciated. Giving corporate holiday gifts with your company logo on them is just downright cheesy. So what is one to do? Send a corporate pie and below are the 5 reasons why.

1. Pie is liked by everyone

Everyone from young to old, male to female, no matter race, religion or creed likes pie. Pies come in so many delicious flavors and combinations of ingredients that everyone has a few favorites. There are pies made of luscious spiced fruits, berries, custards and nuts just to name a few. There are regional favorites that come from the locally grown harvest. There are also pies that are especially fitting for specific holidays and celebrations.

2. Pie is the ultimate comfort food

Almost everyone can remember eating pie as a child and the joy of the delicious taste of warm sweet fruit enveloped in flaky crust or the cool creaminess of chocolate or coconut custard topped with whipped cream. Just the spicy sweet aroma of pumpkin pie fresh out of the oven triggers sweet childhood memories of Thanksgivings past. How sweet it is when everyone dear to you is gathered enjoying a delicious pie. The experience of gathering with friends and family enjoying pie together is as gratifying and comforting as a hug.

3. Pie shows you care

The whole reason we send gifts is to let people know we care and we value them. We are often automatically giving gifts to our family and friends during the holidays. But our allies in the workforce and our valued clients also deserve and benefit from expressions of appreciation such as receiving a corporate pie. When a client receives a holiday corporate pie from you, a bond is forged in which loyalty and admiration flow.

4. Pie won't break the bank

We all know that endless expense accounts and the highlife of expensive entertaining in the corporate world is a thing of the past for most companies. With layoffs and budget constraints, everyone has to be very careful on how the company funds are utilized. However, we know that sending a client an inexpensive gift that they will truly love like a corporate pie will pay off in spades.

5. Pie delivery is easy

Besides the fact that sending a corporate pie will be appreciated and enjoyed by the recipient and won't bust your company budget, pie is super easy to send. Pie bakeries and specialty pie shops have come up with sophisticated means to keep a pie fresh and delectable while shipping it across land or ocean. So even if your client or colleague is in a different state, you can send them the comforting gift of pie to their home or office.

'Cake Boss' recap: Buddy, Cousin Anthony fist pump for Snooki

TLCBuddy poses with Nicole Polizzi, or "Snooki," and her mother's cake.

Episode 20: "Snooki, Super Anthony and a Ship"

You know Carlo's Bakery is going somewhere when it is graced by the presence of Snooki of "The Jersey Shore."

She wanted a cake for her mom's birthday, but it needed pizzazz because as she said, her mom is very conservative. So Snooki requested to have a bit of herself in it somehow — selfless daughter indeed.

Cousin Anthony and younger cousin, Buddy, were starstruck by the new client, and tried impressing her. It was obvious that no one at the bakery watches "The Jersey Shore" as Snooki made references about her poof, GTL-ing, and fist pumping gorillas that no one could decipher upon first mention.

She seemed almost taken aback when she requested that her signature poof be somehow incorporated into her mom's cake, and Buddy just stared clueless.

A rectangular base followed by two little round tiers next to each other were used to resemble two different cakes in one. One side was Snooki's and the opposing was her mom's. Snooki's part of the cake was a cool blue, with a mini-she, done by Ralphie, who had no idea of the hair poof either, and was surrounded by shirtless, buffed up "guidos" on the brown-sugared beach.

Snooki's mom's side was neon green, with piping flowers and miniature flower pots, along with a sculpture of her as a gardener.

I believe this was the first time cherry filling with real cherries was used.

Do I recall Buddy at some point express discontent with everything "The Jersey Shore" represents for Italian-Americans? Yet here he was taking orders from the "guidette" and teaching Ralphie how to fist pump. He only mentioned how he didn't like the term "guido" but shrugged it off as part of the normal talk at the shore.

On to our second cake, which was really the first one introduced in the show. Clients at South Street Seaport in New York City asked for a different kind of ship cake in celebration of the 75th anniversary of the S.S. Normandie luxury liner. They didn't just want a replica of the ship. Instead, they wanted the cake to exhibit what was found inside the ship.

TLCJuan paints art deco tiles for the Seaport Museum Cake.

Buddy highlighted what he found to be memorable, and made a four-tiered white cake with twisted fondant to resemble roping to go around each tier.

One of the few items saved after the ship was destroyed in 1942 was the grand wheel. So Buddy decided to make a giant, brown wheel on top of the cake that actually spun. It was molded out of PVC pipes with the help of strongman Mauro. I do have to point out that Buddy failed to give credit to him, saying that he himself got it to work after failing at making a large wheel the first time.

The front part of the ship was also made, out of Rice Krispies treats and placed next to the cake. Badges, anchors, art decor from the dining tapestry, captain caps, and tiny French butlers decorated the vanilla and chocolate ganache cake.

The museum folks were pleasantly stunned by Buddy's keen sense of detail.

Back to Snooki's visit. By now, Anthony isn't shy to make a fool out of himelf, asking to hang out sometime. Snooki commented on how he was pale, a huge turnoff for the queen of baking under the sun. He decided to "upgrade" his look, getting a makeover by the girls at the bakery to suit Snooki's taste in juiced up men, or as she calls them "gorillas."

TLCDanny and Buddy work on the Seaport cake.

What did the makeover include? A black muscle tee, a terrible spray-on tan, and an Italian flag belt buckle that was reversed, resembling the Mexican flag. All that heavy cake lifting does provide results, though, as Anthony showed off his guns, and midriff to Snooki. And she approved by offering to stand near him and pose for pictures.

One of the first things Snooki noticed when presented with the cake was the molding of herself.

At the end, we hear her pale mom speak, saying how grateful she is of the cake especially after her daughter failed to see her at Mother's Day. Sounds like there's some personal drama there.

Cake Boss makes the city sweeter | Yale Daily News

New Haven was a little sweeter than usual this weekend.

Buddy “Cake Boss” Valastro — owner of Carlo’s Bakery in Hoboken, N.J. and star of one of TLC’s highly rated reality show, “Cake Boss” — took the stage Sunday at the Shubert Theater on College Street in New Haven as a sold-out stop on his “Bakin’ with the Boss” tour. The tour will take Valastro to 17 cities throughout North America, from Toronto to Los Angeles. Adam Bourcier, Valastro’s manager, explained that the tour, which has been in the works since February, presented an opportunity for the Cake Boss to promote his book “Cake Boss: Stories and Recipes from Mia Famiglia,” while simultaneously giving cake decorating demonstrations and interacting with his fans.

“It’s a win-win situation,” Bourcier said.

Valastro’s two-hour interactive show provided about 1,600 fans with an opportunity to engage with the Cake Boss. Valastro told stories about his life and his family, in addition to bringing fans on stage to participate in cupcake-decorating competitions judged by the audience.

For example, Valastro asked volunteers to join him on the stage to recreate a cupcake icing design that he made in less than 30 seconds and whomever the audience deemed the most accurate copier was declared the winner.

While the audience members attempted to recreate the cupcake art, Valastro interjected with some lighthearted one-line criticisms of their creations.

“It looks like my son Marco made it — and he’s three,” Valastro joked with one man. “You’re, like, cake-decorating challenged.”

After all the fun and games, Valastro paused to tell his life story to the crowd and explain how he became the “Cake Boss.”

He began by telling the story of his childhood and his relationship with his father, who was an immigrant from Sicily and who started the family baking dynasty. Valastro explained how his baking career started when he was 11 as a form of punishment. His father took him to the bakery and made him scrub the toilet bowl, and Valastro was gradually made to do every job in the bakery.

“He wanted me to understand everybody’s job,” Valastro said. “Now, when there’s a problem with the pot washer or the toilet bowl guy, I can sympathize because I know what it’s like.”

Valastro also talked about some of his most outlandish cake designs — for example, a toilet bowl that actually flushed and a life-sized Nascar racer replica.

“I wanted to make cakes that don’t look like cakes,” Valastro said. “So I started working with fondant and modeling chocolate.”

Valerie Ortiz and her 9-year-old daughter Corinne from Wallingford, Conn., self-proclaimed avid fans of the show on TLC, said they enjoyed the family-oriented nature of the live show.

“I really enjoy the way the family interacts with each other, and I love watching him come up with his fabulous ideas for his cakes,” said Ortiz, who added that she has watched every season of “Cake Boss.”

After the show ended, Valastro took photographs with and greeted audience members, many of whom waited in line for well over an hour to meet him. Earlier, on stage, he said he would sign books and take pictures with anyone in the audience who wanted one.

“You can’t just preach it,” Valastro said in an interview. “That’s not who I am.”

Valastro’s bakery employs about 100 people, working in shifts 24 hours a day, seven days a week, Valastro’s publicist Erika Martineau said. She added that the bakery uses about 800 pounds of cream cheese, 1,000 pounds of sugar, 1 ton of shortening, and 4 tons of flour each week.