Category: #cakes

HOW TO REDUCE WASTE WHEN YOU BAKING…

1.Egg Whites – these can be frozen – You can store them this way for up to ten months. You may even find the ingredient useful in the future for recipes that work best with aged egg whites.

2.Your icing for decorating cookies and cupcakes. Icing, made of glucose, sugar and gelatin, can be frozen. When reusing the preparation, it will be necessary to mix it. The the icing can also be kept for a week in the refrigerator, then reused to make another dessert.

3.Leftover cake for puddings or crumb garnishes. The crumbs can be sprinkled on desserts like mousses, puddings, fruit purees or other creamy desserts. These can be stored in an airtight box for three months. A leading French bakery grinds their unsold bread into very fine breadcrumbs to incorporate into their innovative cookie recipe.

4.Accurate measurements are the key to producing the same quality products day after day. Proper measuring will not only ensure the best textured cake but no excess ingredients to deal with.

5.Buy ingredients in bulk if you can, especially dried products.

6.Use reusable baking sheets and silicone products.

7.Make sure you use up the products that are running out of date, even if it means you freeze it for later.

8.Double up on your cake baking. While the oven is hot make two batches of whatever you are baking and freeze the rest. Some recipes are not suitable for freezing but many are especially cake baking.

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THE HISTORY OF MOTHERING SUNDAY – 19th MARCH 2023…

Like many traditions and festivities, Mothering Sunday began with a religious purpose. Held on the fourth Sunday in Lent, exactly three weeks before Easter Sunday, it was a originally a day to honour and give thanks to the Virgin Mary, also known as Mother Mary. Such celebrations required people to visit their ‘mother’ church – the main church or cathedral in a family’s area.

The spread of Christianity throughout Europe in the 16th century increased the celebrations and firmly put Mothering Sunday on the calendar. It was believed to be essential for people to return to their home ‘mother’ church to make it a true family honoured occasion. The gatherings reunited families and gave children who worked as domestic servants, or as apprentices away from home (from as early as ten years old), the opportunity to have the day off to join their family and see their mother.

Throughout the year in England and Ireland people would regularly and devoutly visit their nearest chapel, their ‘daughter’ church, whereas on Mothering Sunday, as well as baptisms, people would visit their ‘mother’ church loaded with offerings of thanks. Such celebrations were similar to, and most likely adopted, the Roman ceremonies of the Mother Goddess. The religious day increased its scope from thanking Mother Mary to a ‘mother’ church celebration and finally opened up as an occasion to thank and appreciate all mothers; thus creating Mothering Sunday.

Whilst the day had a firm following for many centuries since the 16th century, by 1935 it started to decrease in popularity and was celebrated less and less in Europe, until WWII. The Americans and Canadians celebrated Mother’s Day during the war, feeling a crucial need to give thanks to their mothers whilst away at war. The Brits and other Europeans followed their comrades and they too gave thanks to their mothers; since then it earns pride of place on the UK calendar.

Source: Find Me A Gift