Wedding Cakes
When planning a wedding reception, be sure to give special attention to the wedding cake. There is, of course, a certain chain of events and best practices that are good to follow.
When you are ready to select a wedding cake, you should arrange to meet with three bakers and taste their products. If you have attended or are planning on attending a bridal show, you can easily and quickly take care of this task at the show.
If you have a certain look you are going for with your wedding cake, be sure to bring a picture of what you would like when meeting with bakers. It is also a good idea to bring along your cake topper if you already have it as well as fabric swatches of the bridesmaid’s dresses. Also, be prepared to give the baker an estimated number of guests that you are expecting.
When you meet with the baker, be sure to ask to see a portfolio of pictures that have been taken of the baker’s previous work. In addition, always check references before making a final decision.
When you are interviewing the bakers, ask each one the same questions so that you do not forget anything and so that you can make an accurate comparison. Some things to inquire about are the set-up and take-down of the table where the cake will be, who will put the cake topper on the cake, who will place napkins, plates, flowers, etc. on the table, and who will direct the cutting of the cake.
Also, find out where the cake will be stored (it must be out of direct sunlight), who will be in charge of boxing up the cake top and giving to a previously designated person, what arrangements will be made for the left-over cake, and who will cut the cake and distribute it. Cutting a wedding cake is much trickier than it looks and must be done by someone who is familiar with the process.
When you are reviewing a baker’s contract, be sure to note several things. For instance, you should immediately see the name, contact person, location, and phone numbers for the bakery. The cake size, shape, and number of tiers must be on the contract. Be sure that the cake flavor(s), fillings, and icing are noted and that returnable items are clearly stated.
Be sure that the number of guests the cake is to serve is on the contract as we;; as when the cake was ordered, when the cake will be delivered and assembled, what the set-up fee is if applicable, and the due dates for deposits and balances. For more information on wedding cakes and other wedding ideas, be sure to go to www.bridalblog.info.
In closing, choosing a cake can really be a lot of fun. You have the chance to sample some goodies and make some light-hearted decisions about fillings, flavors, and decorations. However, in the process, make sure you are noting all of the details that need to be covered so that you are confident in your baker’s ability to deliver the product that you are expecting.
One of the great things about cultural celebrations is that it gives all of us a chance to experience a taste of another region’s history, traditions and cuisines. This adds to the richness of our lives and broadens us culturally. And when you add in a fun festival, you have a winning combination. So let’s take a look at Mardi Gras and Let The Good Times Roll!
To stimulate one’s appetite, presentation is key. Food that looks appealing can get people crave for them. If you’re looking for added fun and gross dishes for your upcoming Halloween party, here are some ideas that are sure to be a big hit and is sure to really make party guests scream in delight. Pimple Poppers Ingredients: 1 dozen cherry tomatoes, drained Soft cream cheese spread, flavored Core the tomatoes using a small knife. Stuff the holes with cream cheese using a butter knife. By gently squeezing them, you give the gross idea of popping out a pimple. Arrange onto a platter and serve. Hairball salad in drool dressing Ingredients: 1 ripe avocado Sprouts Grated carrots Vinaigrette or any salad dressing of your choice Cut the avocado in half and remove the pit. Scoop out the flesh and put in a bowl adding the sprouts and mashing it using a fork. Having some lumps is fine. Set aside. Then, distribute the grated carrots evenly depending on how many servings you like. Form hairballs the size of walnuts and put them over on your grated carrots. Then drizzle the salad dressing, which constitutes the ‘drool’. Serve. Ghoulish Eyeballs Ingredients: 6 hardboiled eggs 6 oz. cream cheese, whipped 7 oz green olives, with pimiento Red food color Toothpick Remove the shell off the eggs and remove the yolks. Stuff the hole with whipped cream cheese so as to form the eyeball. Press one olive to every eyeball. Make sure the pimiento faces up. Now, draw broken blood vessels in the stuffing using the toothpick dipped in red food color. Stale Bath Water Ingredients: 12 oz frozen lemonade 2 liters lime soda Half a gallon sherbet Thaw the sherbet for about 15 minutes and place in a container. Prepare the lemonade according to package instructions and blend with the lime soda and the sherbet. At this point, the sherbet should melt and turn into grayish-brown liquid, much like used bathwater. You may use colored mints to float on your scummy-looking drink. Gooey Brains Ingredients: 1 pack jello 1 carton cottage cheese, small-curd 1 can of berries of your choice, in thick syrup, Food coloring To prepare: First, make the jello according to instructions. Set aside to chill. In a bowl, mix the cottage cheese and your choice of berries carefully, as cheese constitutes the brain matter. Add food color. On a serving plate, place a few tablespoonfuls of your jello, which makes for your brain fluid. Drizzle with thick syrup. Top with the cheese-berries mixture. Serve. Make these recipes a part of your Halloween party menu. These are must-try gastronomic wonders that are bound to have your party guests screaming in utter delight.
This might sound like a paradox, but being surrounded by the news of financial doom and gloom on a daily basis makes me think that an annual trip to the Alps is to be considered a necessity, not a luxury. ‘A change is as good as a rest’ as the old adage goes and good thing too, since a ski holiday in Verbier probably isn’t going to give you much of a rest. Whether you stay in a cosy chalet, luxury hotel or bargain basement apartment, the long, groomed pistes followed by the vibrant bars in Verbier will be hard to resist. If a good party as well as great skiing is at the top of your holiday wish list, then Verbier for Mardi Gras is a must. As the last day of indulgence before the start of Lent what better place to do it than in Verbier. You’ll be downing shooters rather than gobbling pancakes but the principles are the same. It’s about letting go and getting stuck in, followed by vowing never to drink again.
October 31st is approaching and everybody is busy picking up suitable Halloween food recipes to complement their Halloween party theme. It’s good to have traditional things in your party, but it’s also good to conjure up some modern and innovative ideas to make your party more interesting.
Although Green Drink mixes have had a small group of fans up until this point do to their bad taste, there are now Green Drink mixes available with great flavors that are also plentiful in nutrients. Green Drink mixes have recently become very popular because of the large part of the vitamins and minerals that they provide with ease and convenience. Even a person who is extremely devoted to getting the recommended 5 to 9 servings of fruits and vegetables can find it hard some days. According to the National Cancer Institute, 87% of US families don’t get the daily fruits and vegetables needed to stay healthy.
“Fat Tuesday” represents the “Shrove Tuesday” in English tradition. Both these terms refer to their equivalents in French tradition that is “Mardi Gras”, the “Carnival Season”, or “Mardi Gras Season.” A Carnival season is the beginning of religious celebrations starting from Epiphany, i.e. the anniversary day of the Christ’s baptism into a day before Ash Wednesday. A season of liturgical rites based on Confession and Repentance starts right after the Ash Wednesday, known as the fasting days of Lent. Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday falls right on a day before Ash Wednesday. The celebrations are mainly a part of the preparation to the Lenten practices. During the forty days of Lenten season, fasting is observed and eating fatty substances is prohibited. Perhaps, this is the one major reason that we see the preparation of the Pancakes with the ingredients rich in fats to consume the fatty ingredients like eggs, sugar and fat from kitchen.
So, you’re having a Halloween party for the kids and you need some Halloween Finger Foods to serve. Of course you can serve the standard fare like Chicken Nuggets, Hot Dogs and Chips but this is Halloween, so let’s be a bit more creative. You can easily make some fun Party Food that the kids will tell all their friends about. You can have the coolest party in the neighborhood!
There have been new and confusing reports about milk and dairy products in the news lately. The dairy council has come out with a report that three servings a day will help you lose fat and weight. At the same time, another study (not as well publicized) came out saying that children who drink more than three servings of milk a day have more weight problems. On top of that the numbers of lactose intolerant people seem to be rising.
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