Here is a frosting recipe for everyone

[mixfinder]

Scarlet Letter

I house "watched" plants for a friend and Red Velvet's his favorite cake. Its always good to leave a peace offering after house sitting in case you've overwatered the plants. To make Red Velvet I've had equally good results with the 1 2 3 4 cake recipe. I add 2 tablespoons cocoa to the dry mix which I sift in the blender. The blender's already used after powdering the sugar before adding it to the softened butter. To the room temeprature buttermilk, add 1/4 cup red coloring, 1/2 teaspoon soda and 1/2 teaspoon vinger. Proceed as recipe directs. Pans are lined with parchment but not greased.

 

[mixfinder]

Line em up

Divide the red batter equally between the pans.

 

[mixfinder]

Here's a great frosting

In another post we all chimed in with the well known flour milk wallpaper paste icing base that gets beaten into butter and granulated sugar. Combine the milk, flour and sugar in the already dirty blender from powdering the sugar and sifting the sugar for the cake. Pour the mixture into a heavy saucepan and cook over medium heat until the mixture thickens and boils.

 

[mixfinder]

Chill out baby

Let the cake cool in the pan, the milky bits chill in the fridge and the butter soften.

 

[mixfinder]

Whip it good

Put the cooled milk cutard in the mixer and begin to beat on medium. Add the softened butter and whip for a while.

 

[mixfinder]

You big crumb

Too many cooks get over wrought with frosting the cake and dib and dap and pull and pretty soon the cake looks like floor sweepings. Assemble the cake with a small amount of frosting between the layers. Using an offset spatula loaded with no more than 2 ounces frosting, lay the spatula against the cake and draw it toward you in ONE smooth sweep just barely covering the cake. This is called the crumb coat. Pushing and pulling or frosting in more than one direction wreaks the side of the cake. When the sides are covered, stand back, admire your work, wipe the sweat from your brow and relax.

 

[mixfinder]

Let 'er rip

Take 1 cup of remaining frosting and cover the top. Return to the sides of the cake and add a deeper second or finish layer to the crumb coat. Do not let your self weaken and try to have it both ways. Frost in only one direction. When the cake is evenly covered, using the tip of the spatula, add a decorative finish. Lick the spatula and admire the face of a master in it's chromed reflection.

 

[mixfinder]

Red Color

The Red Velvet Cake recipes asks for two 2 ounce bottles of coloring or 1/4 cup. The 2 ounce bottles are $4.00 in a grocery store. A 16 ounce bottle at a resturant supply is $3.00, a huge savings.

 

[gansky1]

Beautiful Cake - you could kill all my plants if you brought

My favorite cake too! The version I have uses granulated sugar - would you explain the powdering process you use in the blender? I've done it in my Vita-Mix but many probably have not heard of it. I haven't heard of the sifting of flour, etc. in the blender though, what is your method for that?

 

[mixfinder]

Beat the cream and Whip the eggs

Greg, I powder granulated sugar that is called for in any recipe that involves creaming, cakes, cookies etc. Breaking down the sugar to a powdered form lets it blend instantly into the butter greatly reducing the creaming time and yeilding superior results.

 

[tlee618]

Greg, I am glad you asked that question!! So Kelly how long do you run the sugar in the blender? Till it looks like powdered sugar? Another ? Kelly, in your frosting recipe, you combine the flour, sugar, and the milk in the blender and then cook it? Have never done it that way but if this is correct I will sure give it a try. Thanks for the information. Terry

 

[mixfinder]

How Long?

Anything shortens the mixing time. I don't go all the way to powder, but let it set up a pretty good wave action in the blender. It wouldn't hurt anything to go longer. Cooking the sugar into the flour and milk makes the mixture softer and easier to cook. When beating it there is no time spent beating until the sugar dissolves. Its ready in a minute or so.

 

[tlee618]

Kelly, thank you so much for the information. Next cake I make I am going to give it a try for sure. Terry

 

[appnut]

another bump

 

[appnut]

Let us eat cake!!!!

 

[appnut]

YUM YUM YUM!!!!

 

[mixfinder]

Rolling On

Allowing children to mimick what they see adults do is so much fun for them. All four of my kids were driving me crazy, wanting to help me paint. I was all about clean, neat, organized and getter' done. In exasperation I gave up, spread plastic on the floor and had them all change into old clothes. 30 years ago was the beginning of a Cracker Jack home renovation and catering staff that earned $1,000's for us as a family. Audrey likes the mixer. In that respect she's just like me and can hear the beaters rattle a mile away. She's been cooking with anyone who'll let her since she was about 9 months. This trip we worked on rolling.
First recipe was for a Gingerbread Apple Pie. It really wasn't good. So many flavors and spices it began to taste muddy. The pastry was flour, spices, whole wheat, oil and evaporated milk. The processor and blender don't get used much in their house so we worked tutorials into the recipes.

 

[appnut]

Still not ready to let it go

 

[appnut]

belch!! (YIKES!)