Economical Cakes
by Nikki Willhite - Willhite@aol.com

Description: Tips for baking frugal cakes.

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Now that summer is over, and we can get those ovens going again without heating up the house, what is better than delicious aromas coming from yummy cakes baking in the oven with cinnamon, vanilla and other spices?

Cakes are economical. They don't cost that much to make, and they last more than a day! If you have the time to bake them, you are luck!

If you are a frugal person, you probably make your own cakes just because of economy. It kind of makes you glad you are frugal! I've been to the homes of people that make a lot of money. Most of them work outside the home, and are just too tired to cook in the evening (nor do they have the time).

Yes, they eat cake. However, they pick it up at the bakery. It's fast and east, and they are beautiful cakes. However if you want to smell them, you've got to put your nose in them! They do not get to enjoy the delicious aromas while they cakes are baking, or the smells which linger and warm a home. Nor do their children.

Our sense of smell is one of the pleasures of life. We are lucky if we are able to enjoy it. I thought I would add a few tips about making cakes. There are cakes, and then there are cakes! I don't even like to eat sheet cakes. They are easy to make, but they just do not taste as good as a layered cake. If I'm going to put those calories in my mouth, I'm going to enjoy it to the fullest!

When you make a delicious cake, you don't have to worry about leftovers, because there won't be any. So here are some tips on making a better cake!

*Don't be afraid to make layered cakes. It is not that much harder. The only trick is knowing how to set them one on top of the other so that they are stable. When the cakes come out of the oven and they have cooled, take a serrated knife and level off the top of one of the cakes. Take this cake and turn it upside down and put it on the bottom. Then you place the other cake on top of it. Both of the bottoms are now together, so the layers will not slide. Of course, you will frost the top of the bottom cake before you place the other cake on top of it. (You don't have to waste the cut off part of the bottom. I'm sure you can find someone to eat it!)

*Layered cakes just taste better because of the frosting between the layers. You can even go a step further and cut each cake horizontally. Then you would have 4 layers, each with frosting between them.

*When you are leveling a cake, start with the one, which has raised the least and is the flattest. That way you will cut off less.

*If you have a large oven, you might want to think about baking 4 or more cakes at the same time to save energy. You can freeze the ones you are not going to use.

*Remember that anything baked with flour is very fragile when it first comes out of the oven for several minutes and while it is rising. Always open and close the oven door gently, and handle the cakes carefully when they come out of the oven. Most cakes need to cool undisturbed for at least 10 minutes in the pans they are baked in before you remove them and place them on a wire rack for further cooling.

*For a more impressive looking cake, use 8-inch round cake pans instead of 9-inch pans. They cake will be taller.

*The quality of the cake is also improved if the egg yolks and whites are added separately. Add the yolks first, and then beat the egg whites and gently fold them in. Your cake will be both higher and lighter.

*Cake making is an art. Most of us are too busy to make them from scratch, but we can still be creative when using a box mix. Add extra spices or flavorings for taste. Stir in a few drops of food coloring and swirl around for a marbled effect. Replace some of the water with fruit juice. Be creative!

*For a softer frosting, add a pinch of baking powder.

*Garnish your cake to make it special. Use everything from M&M's to candy corn or sprinkles. Chocolate cakes look great with chocolate shavings from a candy bar. It doesn't cost much to buy a few cake decorating accessories. Learning to flute the edge and write on a cake saves big money with birthday cakes. Have some fun with it.

Let your children associate wonderful smells with home. They will be reminded of home when they smell them. If they are away from home, they may call you and brighten your day!

Reprinted with permission from:
The Pennypincher
An E-zine for the Frugally Minded

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