Cooking TipsSome basic cooking tips for baking and chocolate making
*Melt chocolate and use as a decoration. Cool in sheets and break apart to make chunky abstract pieces or cut into shapes using cookie cutters.
*vegetable peeler. Even grating a little bit of chocolate over the dessert before serving adds so much eye appeal.
*Sprinkle your dessert with orange, lemon, or lime zest or top with Candied Citrus Peel. They are made by cooking fruit pieces in a pot of simple syrup or purchased from gourmet food stores.
*Top ice cream or sprinkled around the border of a plate, these edible peels encased in sugar crystals really brighten things up.
*A properly placed sprig of mint or lavender add color and flavor to any dessert. Whipped cream can serve as the anchor for these natural beauties.
*Stencil a pattern with ground cinnamon, nutmeg, sifted cocoa powder or powdered sugar on the top of your dessert. Even a dash adds so much color and appeal.
*Nuts, toasted, spiced, or candied, bring a welcome dimension to most every dessert.
*Edible petals, natural or crystallized, give rise to some of the most exquisite garnishes. Use rose petals of all colors to sprinkle over the platter holding a special occasion cake. Their fragrance is unbelievable.
*Watch out for overbaking - when in doubt, slightly undercook the recipe ! Overbaking is one of the major causes of failures, whether you are making breads, cakes, cookies or quick breads. The traditional way of testing for doneness can vary among each type of baked good.
*Some baked goods are meant to be eaten right out of the pan, and can be cooled in the pan on a wire cake rack. For cake and loaf recipes that require unmolding, place the pan on a wire cake rack and let it stand for 5 - 10 minutes. If a baked good is right from the oven, chances are it will fall apart or stick to the pan if taken from it too soon.
*After 10 minutes, run a dull knife around the inside of the pan to release the cake, bread or quick-bread from the sides and then invert it onto the wire cake rack to unmold. If the loaf pan has been lined with parchment or waxed paper, carefully peel it off the loaf. Turn the loaf right side up and cool completely on the rack. A few cakes and quick breads may sink slightly in the center when cooled. When they are sliced, the indentation won"t be noticeable, so don"t worry about it. Cool cookies on a wire cake rack. [url=http://www.planyourdinner.com]special recipes[/url].