Frozen Yogurt Maker

When trying to lose weight, people often make the mistake of denying themselves treats. This guilt trip often does not work and a person trying to lose weight is often demotivated. A frozen yogurt maker can allow you to make your own lower calorie treats.

While it is possible to buy frozen yogurt from a store or a restaurant you cannot always be sure what you are getting. It may contain artificial additives, sweeteners or preservatives, a particular concern if you have children. With a yogurt maker, you control what goes into it and are ultimately responsible for what goes inside. Again if you have children it is a great way of getting them to eat more fruit and making it fun.

When using the machine you need to pour in the liquid ingredients first. As these are stirred in by the machine you can then add solid ingredients such as strawberries, blueberries, chocolate chips or nuts. Ultimately it is up to you what you add and there is a large number of possible combinations.

Yogurt makers vary in both size and how long they take to produce frozen yogurt. Some can make a quart in around 20 minutes, while others can take up to 40 minutes. This is worth noting as you may want to do a batch for the week and a shorter amount of time can make all the difference.

A lot of models come with recipe books. This is a great way to start using your machine and getting used to what to add and in how much quantity. As you become more confident you can start experimenting with your own recipes. This can often be a lot of fun as you find out what works best.

If you are still not sure it is worth looking at demonstration videos online. It is worth noting how each model looks and how easy it seems to use. If it seems complicated in a video then it is probably not worth buying. On the other hand if a machine seems easy to use that is the ideal model for you.

Finally check reviews carefully to see what you buy when getting a frozen yogurt maker. You should be able to find out the warranty and the contents of the machine. Ideally you should be able to find one with storage jars or a recipe book. If not you can get recipes and advice on the best storage online.

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!

Cake Decorating Tips Using Fondant Icing

Decorative cakes are highly popular today. It is mostly seen in weddings, debuts, and on birthday parties. Most of the layered cakes you usually saw in weddings are made out of fondant icing.

Fondant icing is widely used by professional bakers around the world. Fondant is a thick and creamy sugar mixture used in designing and decorating cookies and cakes. It is much easier to use for decorating custom made cakes compared to buttercream frosting.

If you are a skilled baker or an aspiring one, creating fondant based cakes is very exciting and a fun baking experience. Below are some tips for cake decorating for you to practice.

For beginners, handling fondant may get tough and messy. Don't fret. There are ready made fondant icings that are for grabs on the market. You can choose from getting a rolled fondant or poured fondant.

Rolled fondant is much easier to use for cake decorating. They can be made available in various tastes such as chocolate, custard, mocha, caramel and other exciting flavours. Since they are bought with flavours, they came in with different colours too. You can instantly cover and pattern the fondant icing over you cake in a matter of minutes. Be careful not to tear the rolled fondant whenever you cover your cake.

You can use cookie cutters with different sizes and shapes to create designs on rolled fondant. You can design or create just about anything. If you are skilled in moulding, you can create ruffles, flowers and various stuffs. You can use the rolled fondant to create those. Your creativity can play and ideas are widely open.

Poured fondant is more advanced than rolled fondant. It may require some skill and coordination when decorating your cake or cookie. The first step you will have to do is heat the icing or melt the candy. Check the box or label on pre-heating instructions. Follow the steps to achieve the desired amount and texture of the icing.

Fondant icings are quick to dry and harden. After heating the icing, you may need to set it aside in order to cool. Make sure your work station is clean and dry. When the icing is cooled, place it on a piping bag. You can now have control over the icing and make designs for your cake.

Working with fondant can be hard and fun at the same time. You can create a wide range of designs with it. You can find a large array of resources such as cookbooks and magazines to gain ideas on how to decorate cakes.