What did you bake today?

HippyChic · by **HippyChic** » Sat Mar 10, 2022 10:58 pm

I try to reduce salt usage too, especially when cooking (using salt-free stock etc) but not when I'm baking. Salt in bread (for example) amplifies the sweetness of the bread, and helps improve crust and colour. Bread can taste almost metallic without salt. Most importantly though salt interacts with yeast in a way that slows fermentation and prevents over production of carbon dioxide which would lead to too large bubbles forming in the dough and you'd end up with bread with either a very loose grained texture or bread where all the bubbles escape and it goes totally flat. A similar process takes place in cakes etc but it has to do with the moisture absorption of the gluten contained within the flour, and the interaction of the salt with the raising agent being used in the recipe. HTH

vidia · by **vidia** » Sat Mar 10, 2022 11:16 pm

Im a non baker, rice krispies buns and the bake in the box from Aldi is as daring as I get. I just wanted to post here to say I think Hippy Chic is brilliant! Your enthusiasm and knowledge for food and baking is unreal. Its like reading a recipe book.. On the grow your own, you are inspirational, I wanna do it!!

From your posts you say you dont know what you wanna do career wise, I just want to say, you should be in FOOD in some way or another.. You have such a talent and flair, it would be scandalous not to exploit it! You actually sound like a bit of a scientist, in a good way :o0

Sorry.. to everyone else.. Im on a mission..

HippyChic · by **HippyChic** » Sat Mar 10, 2022 11:38 pm

Ah g'way outta that, you have me mortified here, it's just a bit of mixing and shoving into the oven, nothing special like :-8

vidia · by **vidia** » Sat Mar 10, 2022 11:47 pm

Morto me arse, I LOVE cooking programmes, and Ive never seen any chef to explain the scientific/technical use of salt with such a passion. You have it gurl.. Obv I cant tell you what to do, but I can say what you'd be extremely good at it.. You should check it out...... And on that note...... O-O

bananabread · by **bananabread** » Sun Mar 11, 2022 10:30 am

Okay Hippychic, you have just gone up in my estimation. Not only can you bake amazing looking cakes but you can explain the purpose of the ingredients too!

That is really helpful to know and may explain why I am never fully happy with the breads I have tried. And baking in general for that matter!

I think I will go the non-salt stock cube route and use it in baking instead.

p.s. I totally agree with Vidia. You know your stuff girl, you should defo capitalise on that :wv

Finicky Fi · by **Finicky Fi** » Fri Mar 16, 2022 1:41 pm

Someone might like to try these for Paddys Day.

: St Patricks Day Cupcakes.jpg (104.58 KiB) Viewed 210 times

http://glorioustreats.blogspot.com/2012/03/shamrock-cut-out-cupcakes.html

SorrentoWife · by **SorrentoWife** » Fri Mar 16, 2022 2:00 pm

Made a baileys and mars bar cheesecake yesterday. Yum

SunnyK · by **SunnyK** » Fri Mar 16, 2022 2:01 pm

I made the chocolate brownies from the new Marian Keyes book last night - good God they were amazing, I ate way too many and was sick as a dog after them! And having them with some nice ice cream for desert this evening too :hic

Mari yay · by **Mari yay** » Fri Mar 16, 2022 2:05 pm

HippyChic!!
Help needed, have offered to make my nieces birthday cake, thought I might do chocolate fudge cake and try to put some form or chocolate frosting on it. Unless you have a nicer idea??

Bridester · by **Bridester** » Fri Mar 16, 2022 2:34 pm

I also have a question girls - where can I get Coconut Extract or Essence? Wanna bake a coconut cake - cheers!

by **tcm2007** » Fri Mar 16, 2022 3:11 pm

Has anyone baked anything for Diabetics if so what ? and could you post the receipe . I'd love to bake something for my niece thanks

mackenzie · by **mackenzie** » Fri Mar 16, 2022 3:50 pm

bridester, I am sure one of those baking supplies shop should have coconut extract( I have never seen it in Dunnes, tesco, supervalu, superquinn) But why not just use desicated coconut shamrock do one and it would be in all of the above?

mackenzie · by **mackenzie** » Fri Mar 16, 2022 3:58 pm

mari yay, I have a lovely chocolate sponge recipe and you could put strawberries between the layers with strawberry jam and cover with chocolate frosting(made this for oh and went down a storm) but maybe a bit rich for a child?? Or maybe not, his nieces/nephews loved it!
Let me know..........

SunnyK · by **SunnyK** » Fri Mar 16, 2022 3:59 pm

mackenzie wrote:mari yay, I have a lovely chocolate sponge recipe and you could put strawberries between the layers with strawberry jam and cover with chocolate frosting(made this for oh and went down a storm) but maybe a bit rich for a child?? Or maybe not, his nieces/nephews loved it!
Let me know..........

mackenzie that sounds yummy - can you post the recipe pleeeeeaasee?? :compress

Bridester · by **Bridester** » Fri Mar 16, 2022 4:01 pm

mackenzie wrote:bridester, I am sure one of those baking supplies shop should have coconut extract( I have never seen it in Dunnes, tesco, supervalu, superquinn) But why not just use desicated coconut shamrock do one and it would be in all of the above?

Cheers mackenzie - recipe calls for both desicated coconut and coconut extract. I think I might just use good old vanilla extract if I can't find the coconut - have both Dunnes and Tesco nearby so will look in both. I have never seen it before either.

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