Your Decorating Dictionary

This is the season that screams for all sorts of fun, icings , frostings and decorations . Yet do you know what goes with what and what kind of candy decoration works? It pays to be knowledgeable about what you're putting on those baked treats. It makes not only for a tastier treat but also for a prettier one too.

Before you rev up the mixer for frosting, know the differences between icing and frosting. Icing is thinner and glossier , usually reserved for some cakes, breads and buns like hot cross ones.It is perfect for topping sugar or lemon cookies. It's usually made of any kind of milk , confectioner's sugar and corn syrup. An extract, whether vanilla, almond or fruit such as lemon or orange is added for flavor. It's easy to tint. A thicker, maybe more manageable version is royal icing, used primarily in England but gaining popularity here. This is usually made with egg whites, confectioners sugar, and vanilla, however a healthier and safer version is made with aquafaba or the bean water from chickpeas. It's just three ingredients - that and confectioners sugar and some kind of flavoring. You can tint it the same as the regular royal icing. Frosting is heavier thanks to the addition of some kind of  butter, margarine, or shortening. This is perfect for cakes and cupcakes and can be tinted in any color and piped to look like ruffles and rosettes. Both icings can be frozen if you make too much or are planning a second batch of treats. There are also glazes. These are for reserved for Bundt cakes and sweet yeast breads and rolls. A basic ones has butter, confectioners sugar and enough milk to thin it out for an almost watery consistency. It can be flavored like icing , but most home bakers usually add in vanilla or lemon/ orange.

Now the extras. There's so many - what comes first? For the best and simplest designs just tint or dye the icings and frostings. You can use the old fashioned liquid food coloring however the best results come from gel food coloring. It has a glycerin or corn syrup base which makes it thicker and won't ruin the consistency of the frosting or icing. Of course there has to be red and green sprinkles which can be baked into cookies or sprinkled on cakes cupcakes and even buns. A prettier effect is sanding sugar , especially the silver which sparkles like snow in the moonlight.  What is sanding sugar? It's dried out sugar syrup and then the leftover granules are screened and colored. You could create it at home using the British turbinado sugar and gel food coloring. You could try it in red and green to be sprinkled over icing or frosting. Another elegant decoration is a sprinkling of silver dragees, These can be pretty on butter cookies but also on iced snowflake sugar cookies. Serious home bakers usually apply them with tweezers but you can use your fingers. You can also buy gold and pearl dragees too. Chopped nuts are a classic decoration. There's such a big choice from walnut chips which look sweet on brownies or slivered almonds that go well on butter or lemon ones. Candy also works. Mini candy canes are always fun on cupcakes and crushed ones can grace anything from brownies to fudge to cookies.

Holiday treat decorating is always fun. Just know what you're using for the prettiest and tastiest cakes, cookies, breads and brownies. It makes it easier to ice and frost , sprinkling, painting,  and glazing,

Just One Little Bake Sale

What's been happening along our borders has been on everyone's minds lately. Many of us feel helpless, wondering what we can do. A check sent here to the ACLU  - American Civil Liberties Union  or to church groups helps a little. yet we need to make a bigger impact. We need to have a bake sale.

The idea may sound trivial or even a bit cutesy - twee - as the British call it but a large bake sale with several home bakers participating can raise a substantial amount.Since the schools are closed for the summer, the best place to hold one is in your house of worship. Many churches, temples and mosques would be willing to help in setting one up.Then comes the meting out of who is going to bake what.Have as many different kinds of sweet and savory treats you can think of for it.No sweat if you're not a great baker. . You can whip up a batch of Rice Krispie treats using only your microwave. For extra money bake whole cakes, from crumb to Bundt and sell them along with cake slices. Savory bites such as pretzels and cheese twists are also big sellers. Bread bakers can show off their skills by contributing artesenal bread to the sale.The loaves will definitely bring in sales and more money because no one can resist homemade bread.

A bake sale can be expanded to include  refreshing drinks too. Homemade lemonade and lime ade are always popular and thirst quenching on a hot day. Now there are cold brewed teas that can be easily be made and served alongside cookies and cake. The same goes for cold brewed coffee. Make sure you have plenty of cups along with sugar and creamers, both non-dairy and regular for those who want them.This is also a good time to create brochures and literature explaining what is going on at our borders. Look, there may be opposition from the less enlightened. Ignore them. Explain that it's just a bake sale and not some kind of political or anti-government rally. If you know any immigration lawyers invite them to explain along with clergy and clerics. to calm down any tense situations. What matters is that you're helping in some way for  families  to reunite.

It's just a bake sale = but it's a bake sale with weight. Those chocolate chips and slices of devil's food will help in alleviating a horrible situation. It's a start - one filled with sweetness and hope