Icing On The Cake

Nothing complements a cake like a good old fashioned icing. There are several kinds from butter cream to glaze that work well on every kind from sheet cakes to cup cakes. The best ones are the ones from scratch. Don;t use the canned ones. They taste artificial and ruin the flavor of a good homemade no mix involved cake.



Icings have been around for along time. From the 1600's to the late 1800's boiled icings were the frosting of choice. (although interesting enough frosting and icing were two separate coverings). Early icings were similar to royal icing which are boiled. They consist of hot water, confectioners' sugar and egg whites. Most Americans prefer butter cream , the usual mix of confectioners sugar unsalted butter, flavoringsuch as usually vanilla and milk. Cocoa powder can be added to create fudge frosting. if you want a simple icing you can just mix water, milk or whole cream with powdered sugar to create a glaze. This last is perfect for Bundt cakes , doughnuts and holiday cookies such as gingerbread.


What kind of frosting tastes good with cakes. I prefer a lemon butter cream with a vanilla cake although orange is good. Chocolate cakes are better frosted with a fudge or a chocolate mint (add mint extract) . The mint will cut the sweetness as does the lemon. Cream cheese icing another good tasting and very versatile icing. It can be used for both carrot and red velvet cake. It;s about as much work as a regular butter cream.


Icings always finish off the cake Think of them as the frame around the picture. A good simple one is all you need to showcase your work.

Pickled Pink

It's a new tradition here at Foodie Pantry to write about what was in yesterday's New York Times Food Section. The main article was about pickling. This is a great way of preserving not just summer produce but also meats. You can also store up on any favorite veggie or fruit and enjoy the taste at your leisure.

Canning is nothing new. It's been used for the last two centuries to preserve everything from chicken to strawberries. The Times article written by Julia Moskin also dispels some of the old myths such as using pectins. Pectins are emulsifiers used in the preservation process. You can make your own using green apples . Commercially made pectins are a recent addition to canning. Many purists believe that the fruits and veggies have enough of their own. The article also goes on about what also to can such as cucumbers along with various fruits . There is even a recipe for sun cooked strawberry preserves. This involves letting the sun do its' work after a quick boiling.

If you are thinking about canning this summer remember to also follow safety tips. You should have new jars and paper towels on hand. Canning takes place in a water bath locale so sterilizing the jars isn't an issue. They should be clean to begin with However is the lids that need looking at Make sure they are tight and not easily loosened. This will cause air to rush in. Some air space is needed for creating a vacuum seal. If you're having reservations about canning, attend classes or check the various magazines and web sites devoted to it.

Canning can be a great way to save a season's harvests. Homemade jams , relishes and pickles are a nice addition to any meal. They give an old fashioned flavor not found in the commercially canned stuff.

Winter Dishes In Summer

Just because the warm weather is here, doesn't mean you have to sacrifice your favorite winter dishes.Cook them with a lighter hand . Go easy on the sauces and gravy. You can have the same good stuff now that you munched on in December.



We all love meat and gravy during the colder months and why not. We need those hearty hot roast beef or turkey sandwiches to get us through snow shoveling or holiday shopping. Eat one of those now and you'll pass out. Yet who hasn't craved one when the temps hit the nineties? You can make a lighter one, substituting the heavy roue based gravy with au jus (the French for with juice) and serve on a flayed pita or even a very thin slice of bread. You don't get all the heaviness this way, just the taste. Creamed veggies are also a winter staple. Yet somehow creamed cauliflower or lima beans aren't too yummy when you're sweltering in shorts. Turn these into steamed salads dressed with a cool ranch dressing. The taste is zippier even than and is great accompanying kabobs or steaks. You can also have your baked potato but wrap it in foil and bake it on th e grill. Add some herbed low fat sour cream or even creme fraiche as opposed to butter and American cheese.



Some winter desserts can be lightened up to suit winter tastes. A German BlackForest cake can be a chocolate Bundt cake with the middle filled with fresh picked pitted cherries and whipped cream. Bake airy meringues instead of the traditional cold weather chocolate chips and gingerbread. For some dash add cinnamon or dip them in chocolate. Even those rich and warm lattes can be made into cooling almost frozen drinks (check ou the Dunkin Donuts ones that taste like coffee shakes).


Have all your favorite winter foods now. Just "summerize" them so that they're light and not heavy. That way you'll enjoy them all year round.

The Brownstone - A True Jersey Diner

New Jersey is full of diners. You can't throw a rock and not hit one. There are good ones and then there are so so ones. The Brownstone in Jersey City is one iof Jersey's best. It's owned by Chris and Irene both from the amazing isle of Chios in the Dodecanese. They took a small railway car , expanded it and turned it into one of Hudson County 's and the NY metro area's premiere pancake house and diner.

Since the diner is all about pancakes, there are so many to choose from. You can try the fruity ones such as the peach walnut and the strawberry. There is also the traditional blueberry as well. For chocolate and candy lovers there are the turtle ones filled with caramel and chocolate chips. There's also the chocolate chip pancakes. For meat lovers there's the pigs in blankets and the meat lovers pancake that can come with ham , bacon or sausage bit s inside buttermilk pancakes. Waffles are not forgotten here. You can try the original or ones with fruit and nuts added. All are about the size of a small hubcap!!! No wonder Guy Fienga , host of the Food Channel's "Diners And Dives" loved this place!

"Regular" food is not neglected here. I ordered a grilled cheese on rye which was very tasty. There are also burgers, and roasts along with steaks and chops. You can get any kind of seafood along with chicken prepared a variety of different ways. The Brownstone also has an extensive salad menu as well an healthy grilled sandwiches and paninis. Like any diner they also have a cake and sweet section however theirs is as varied a s a specialty cake store.

Iif you're in the Liberty Park area of Jersey City (not too far from the harbor front and the Jersey City coast - and yes it does have a coast and beaches too!) stop in to see The Brownstone. Just the pancakes alone are worth the trip.

The Brownstone Diner is located at 426 Jersey Ave, Jersey City, NJ. It's catty corner from Wilitz Hospital.(use this as your landmark when going there).

Remember Our Brave Ones This Memorial Day

Today is memorial Day here in the US. We should take time out from our barbecues , picnics, movies and beach days to thank those who have served this amazing nation. Think of their sacrifices, their lives lost so we and the rest of the world can enjoy all our freedoms and liberties.

Celebrate their selflessness and valor and be inspired by these traits.


Think of their importance to world history and freedom when you're serving your kids ice pops or helping mom make her special potato salad.

Have a good Memorial Day.

Liz

Cool Summer Cocktails

Nothing quite says summer like a cool cocktail sipped in the shade , by a pool or near the ocean's edge. There are so many different combos. What's the best summer thirst quencher? Is it a fruity mix of flavored drinks ? Or something with fruit added?


Summer cocktails usually evoke the tropics. A good one is a mai tai, a wild and fruity combination of three kinds of rum curacao, almond syrup and orange juice. Another is a pina colada, a yummy mix of rum, pineapple juice and coconut cream . Think of it as an adult malted or shake. Any rum mixer is good too . You can be creative and try your hand at different combos.

Vodka mixed with any fruit juice is tasty. You can try Cosmos, that Sex And The City classic made with Stoli, cranberry juice and Cointreau. Another chiller is a watermelon vodka slushie, a mix of pureed watermelon, vodka along with simple syrup and melon liqueur. Put into the watermelon into an ice cube tray, freeze until frozen and then mix with the other ingredients. A less labor intensive is the Cape Codder (and my favorite) which is only vodka and cranberry juice.

This is the season to chill out with a cool, relaxing drink. Don't worry about the temperature climbing. Enjoy the balmy breezes with drink in hand.

Remember to drink and act responsibly if you've have a few of your favorite coolers.

Chill Out Foods For A Long Weekend

It's the start of the Memorial Day weekend. Even though it should be and is considered a solemn holiday to remember our armed forces, it's also a time of just chilling out. After all it's the first official weekend of Summer 2009. You can relax with some hot weather favorites whether in the back yard or at the beach.

The one foodie indulgence must have is a cold drink. Soda is fine but it can put on the calories and doesn't thoroughly quench your thirst. Homemade lemonade or limeade would do the trick better. If you don't have the time (or the energy) to make it then buy a jug of it from your local supermarket. if you want to liven it up add a splash of vodka to it along with more ice. Iced tea is refreshing, especially if it's fresh brewed with just the right amount of lemon and ice.

What 's a good snack after a hard day of yard work or a fun time at the beach? Crispy tortilla chips with salsa. These are less fattening than potato chips and you can make your own guacamole or veggie salsa. Kabobs are good for you and fun to nosh on. You can vary the meats and add the veggies you like. This is also a great way of baptizing the grill for the summer ahead.
Finish off with some ice from your local Rita's or homemade granita.

This weekend chill out with fun foods . Enjoy the first rays of the summer sun with a drink or munchies . Relax and eat well.