Saturday, December 25, 2010
We make cakes for our companions also
What is your Christmas tradition
As for me I remember that we used to have these huge meals that were prepared during Christmas time. My Dad took care of many children, nine of us (his children) and cousins. There was a time that we were 40 children in the house. My mother will pull out the china and all of us sat down in our special dinning room that was remodeled to accommodate all the kids. My Dad was buying a whole cow every two weeks. But on Christmas day we had fish, pondu, rice, fufu, fried plantain, chicken, duck, potato, beans. For desserts we had beignets, gateau (vanilla cake). We didn’t have to many gifts (presents), yet we celebrated by being thankful for the birth of Christ, and enjoyed great food. Each of us had an opportunity to tell stories in front of everybody. Later on I realized that we were practicing the art of public speaking. We had wonderful time growing up!
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Comfort Food
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The term "comfort food" (first used, according to Webster's Dictionary, in 1977) refers to foods consumed to achieve some level of improved emotional status, whether to relieve negative psychological affect or to increase positive.[1] More generally, comfort food can be defined as food that brings some form or measure of comfort, sense of well-being, or easy satisfaction. Such food choices may consist of the simple and familiar. Dishes may be warm and filling such as a dish made with a staple food, or basically pleasing such as sweets or desserts. Some definitions suggest that home-prepared dishes are most typical,[2] or consumed in informal restaurants, but according to Wansink and Sangerman, Americans tend to select prepared foods and fast food for comfort uses, with ice cream, potato chips and chocolate ranking near the top. However, the term is meaningful not as a list of particular items, which will vary considerably from individual to individual, as well as culturally and by situation and emotional trigger, but as a psychological category of behavior.
My sister Beatrice is the one who was the specialist in the house when it came to making pastry treats. My mom believed that boys and girls MUST learn how to cook so that they can survive on their own without being forced into a situation because of hunger. So we all had our turn and a day of cooking for the family. I was enjoying my sister Beatrice’s day because she used to always make something new for us, and told us where that item was most eaten (Italy, Belgium, ….) Now that we are all married and living in different countries, when we talk on the phone we still relating to each other in a way that brings us closer and our spouses have joined in. Aime, my brother-in-law, likes to talk about wine. So when we visit them in Italy, he will take us places to taste the best wines in the country. His job have him travel all over the world studying the production of wine. In my family we love good food, and we talk about it. For me to eat bananas and peanuts is comforting. I can finish 25 pounds of bananas in one sitting while watching a football game (I mean soccer game). Once a year my mom Olive, mother-in-law, makes for Christmas a dish that involves grapefruit and shrimp. We all look forward to this treat. My sister -in-law Alua make the beignet filled with filling and Belgium waffles. My wife, Jacqueline, likes to make Pondu: It's a cassava leaves dish. I grew up eating Pondu. There are tons of recipes of making Pondu and all taste different.
Friday, December 17, 2010
Birthdays are to be remembered (in taste also)
A special gift for friends
I met with friends who were talking about their experiences regarding desserts that they had that came from different retailers. One of them was saying that every time she is invited to an event and they offer cakes, she always has to remove the frosting because its taste is like an artificial paste and it is too sugary. And she continued by saying that the sponge cake it self is dry and you have to have a drink to get it down your throat. So I decide to give them a taste of how the desserts using fresh and quality ingredients are suppose to taste. You don’t have to subject your guests to a poor quality product. Try to find a reputable pastry chef (or a baker) and place your order with him/her.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Who will make your wedding cake?
How do you go about and pick a pastry chef who will make your wedding cake? Most of the people get referral through friends and family. But what if you don’t have anybody close to you who can assist you with that choice, what do you do then? Please find here some helpful hints: First you have to make up your mind for what your wedding cake will look like and the taste that will please you and satisfy your guests.
Once you have determined a pastry chef or baker who is available, don't be afraid to talk money. You don't want to waste your time talking to someone who is going to be completely out of your budget. But also remember that if several bakers are in the same range, and others are severely lower, there may be some quality issues to consider. Once you talk to someone you like, book your tasting and initial consultation. Remember because there is freshly prepared product involved, please keep your appointment or cancel within 24 hours.
Ask about a FLAT FEE per serving, so that there are no additional charges for every little thing. NO SURPRISES. Any extra charge should come in the form of flowers or cake topper. This should be clearly specified at the beginning. Get everything in writing! Inquire when your cakes will be baked. It is not a good idea to have cakes to sit in the freezers for more than a week. (Cakes have to be frozen to properly ice.) Find out when your cakes will be iced and decorated. Cakes are technically ‘sealed’ when iced. But you don’t want your cake sitting in the shop for days prior to your wedding. They still get a rather ‘old’ taste after sitting out for more than a day or so. The freshest cakes are iced the day before your wedding. Will the baker deliver AND set up the cake…or just drop it off? Do they deliver the tiers individually? Or already stacked? After all, your baker knows exactly what you want and how it should look upon completion. And if there’s an accident in setting it up, your baker has the tools to fix any problem that may arise. Lastly, remember that you get what you pay for! Don’t skimp on the masterpiece that will be an integral part of your reception. The bottom line is that you’ll have to look at it in pictures for years to come.