[BakerAunt]

These are not gingerbread houses that are put together, but small ginger bundt cakes shaped as houses. (Each two house pan holds 5 cups of batter.)

I have thought of buying (gasp) store icing in a tube.

[BakerAunt]

I keep my pastry flour in the refrigerator, in Tupperware, once it is opened. I mostly use Bob's whole wheat pastry flour, which costs less than KAF's.

Bob's Red Mill does offer free shipping, but you have to buy $50 worth of products, and it does not include 25# bags of flour, although you can buy a case of various products, and buying a case brings the price down. In addition to their whole wheat pastry flour, I've used their barley flour, whole wheat flour, brown rice, and I love their oats. I also have bought some of their whole grain cereal mix, and I like the vegi-soup packages of various lentils and peas with barley. I expect to order more from them once we move to northern Indiana.

http://www.bobsredmill.com/

• This reply was modified 8 years, 1 month ago by BakerAunt.

[BakerAunt]

When we last heard from Wonky, she told us her niece had been diagnosed with the same brain tumor that had caused the niece's brother's death. Wonky was doing her best to support their distraught mother and to be strong for everyone. I don't know if Wonky has been able to look in, but I hope that she knows that all of us are thinking of her and her family.

I also have been hoping that the posts on Zen's site might bring in people who were never on the Baking Circle but who happen across her site and want to find a place where they can participate in baking discussions. I will keep posting the two basic threads on Zen's site until the end of the year, and then I will decide if I will continue doing so. I'll also keep reminding people of this site.

[BakerAunt]

Thanks, Cwcdesign for posting about the Butter Pecan Biscotti using Butterfinger chips. I am baking for a bake sale this weekend that supports social services in the area. I'm going to try the recipe.

[BakerAunt]

I have faithfully posted the "What Did You Bake" and "What Did You Cook" threads on Zen's site. Other than Luvpyrpom, skeptic7, and occasionally Mike, no one else has posted there for quite a while, and people at Nebraska kitchen have commented that they cannot get in to post on Zen's site. Clearly people do look at Zen's site, since there were 8 views for the week before this one. I've been trying to post there with the Nebraska Kitchen site to encourage those viewers who cannot post on that site to come over here. I do not know if that is working.

Should I give up on Zen's site or keep posting?

[BakerAunt]

I agree with Aaron about overly complicated food. Rarely have I eaten something complex that is truly memorable. I don't own any of the items on the list--unless we count my electric krumkaake griddle (that I have yet to have time to try!) that could be used for a kind of ice cream cone. If I want to bake doughnuts, I have doughnut pans (regular size and mini) that take up a lot less room, and I don't have to worry about the electronics malfunctioning. I do regret buying the blender attachment for my Cuisinart 7-quart mixer. After reading about what happened to pmiker on the BC (his blender leaked blueberry smoothie into his Bosch mixer and ruined it), I've been afraid to try it, as it would be positioned directly over the motor.

Other than the krumkaake griddle, I actually use all of my appliances frequently enough to justify having them. When I think of gadgets, I think of all those little devices. I do like my "waffle tongs," which have silicone tips and helps me remove waffles from my waffle maker.

I am going to need to get back to making some bread dough by hand, since my younger stepson has asked me to teach him how to bake bread.

[BakerAunt]

I bought some organic Granny Smith apples for applesauce, and the family commented on the wonderful flavor, and also that the sauce was lighter in color than usual. I froze some, but I cannot freeze too much given that I am trying to start the process of emptying the freezer.

[BakerAunt]

We were traveling, so no shopping. I doubt that I would have gone anyway, as we are gearing up for a move next June.

[BakerAunt]

Let us know how you like the cookbook!

[BakerAunt]

My mother had to avoid iodized salt because of thyroid issues, so I have never used it. My assumption is that I get the necessary dose from other foods, such as fish.

• This reply was modified 8 years, 1 month ago by BakerAunt.

[BakerAunt]

Mike--I have posted the recipe here:

Eggnog Cake

I first baked the recipe in November 2013, and it is extremely popular with my family and friends. I don't make my own eggnog, but I buy a lowfat organic eggnog. (I can drink some without any guilt!) I freeze eggnog every year to use in this cake, and in my adaption of the eggnog scones on the KAF website.

• This reply was modified 8 years, 1 month ago by BakerAunt.

[BakerAunt]

I agree that the Butter Bit rolls look interesting. I'd probably throw in some white whole wheat flour.

Thanks, Mike, for posting the link. I saved the three recipes for when I have time to try them.

[BakerAunt]

Thanks, Italian Cook. I've printed the recipe. One of these days I will try it. I'm thinking that she must have used coarse salt, which is why the recipe was so salty. Cutting it in half for standard salt is probably the way to go.

[BakerAunt]

Thanks skeptic7. When I get around to baking the recipe, I'll post my results. I'm not sure that my husband would eat it, which is why I asked if it could be frozen. Possibly I would try making it in two small Bundt pans.

[BakerAunt]

We are actually doing our family Thanksgiving on Saturday, since my husband, the dog, and I will be making a quick trip to California, and eating dinner there with some of my family.

There will be at least four of us, and maybe five. The menu:

Turkey
Pepprridge Farm Stuffing (made with my homemade broth, some celery, and parsley; onion omitted for husband.)
Green Bean Casserole--and some kind of vegetable for my husband who does not like GBC
Mashed Potatoes and Gravy (I'd skip it with the stuffing but my stepdaughter loves them.)
Dried Cherry-Cranberry-Cardamom Relish (which only I will eat--hey, more for me!)
Applesauce (homemade of course)
Pumpkin Pie (my variation of my mother's recipe; I'll try the buttermilk crust with it)
Small Eggnog Cakes made in my Nordic Ware Thanksgiving mini-loaf pans My stepdaughter does not care for pumpkin pie, and she can also take some home with her. We can eat the rest on our trip west.)

• This reply was modified 8 years, 1 month ago by BakerAunt.

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