Crust & Cream: October 2012

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Why Do We Put Candles On Cakes?

Simple Birthday Cake

The origins of this custom go all the way back to ancient Greece, when worshipers at the temple of Artemis, the moon goddess, used to make offerings of cakes decorated with circles of candles; the ring of light represented the full moon. Hundreds of years later, Germans would put a single candle on a birthday cake, to represent the life spirit. Sometimes they would mark off the candles in segments, symbolizing the passage of the year.

Array of fancy candles on cake.

Candles have always been part of religious rituals, and many churches in Nigeria lay strong emphasis on candles during various religious rites. However, the idea of making a wish and blowing the candles out has its roots in ancient pagan customs...the idea is that the smoke carries your wish to heaven.

Birthday Cake with flakes and candles.

Others believe that the custom originated in Germany where people used to place a large candle in the centre of the cake to symbolize ‘the light of life’. In present times too, people place candles on Birthday cakes and a silent wish is made before blowing out the candle. It is believed that blowing out all candles in one breath means the wish will come true and the person with enjoy good luck in the coming year. Some also smear out the name of the person before slicing of the cake to bring good luck. It is common these days for birthday cakes to have the number of candles reflect the age of the person, this is more practiced for younger and much older people as most middle aged men and women prefer keeping their ages secret.

Fancy coloured candles

To make your birthday cakes and the candles stand out perfectly, Crust & Cream goes the extra mile to giving your cakes that uniqueness it desires. Properly chosen candles to match your cake and accentuate it s looks is always befitting for your birthday. The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate.

Birthdays Are Special.....let your cake speak what you heart wants.....

Saturday, October 27, 2012

Flavour of the Month: Vanilla Cake

Vanilla is a flavour derived from orchids of the plant Vanilla, primarily cultivated in Mexico, Madagascar and many other African and South East Asia countries. The word vanilla, derived from the diminutive of the Spanish word vaina (vaina itself meaning sheath or pod), simply translates as little pod. Vanilla flavour is primarily used in ice cream but has become a standard cake ingredient.

Vanilla cake is one of the simplest cakes to make and with the correct and balanced amount of ingredients, it will come out as one of the most delicious cakes you've ever tasted. It is a type of cake great for kids and served with normal beverages, adults too find this type of cake delicious. This is because vanilla is one of the most widely accepted cake flavour.

Major Ingredients
Sugar
Butter
Eggs
Vanilla extract
Flour
Baking powder
Milk

At Crust & Cream, our vanilla cakes go beyond just a mixture of vanilla flavour and cake ingredients. The correct measurement of each ingredient, the addition of other minor ingredient, the ideal baking process and all other unique process we use in making cakes will surely make basic vanilla cake come out looking and tasting premium. Place your order for our special vanilla cakes and witness for yourself.

Friday, October 26, 2012

Love Cakes But Want to Lose Weight? Try This

Eating chocolate cake as part of a full breakfast can help you lose weight, say scientists.

It sounds too good to be true but new research says having dessert – along with the traditional fry up – burns off the pounds.

Morning is the best time to consume sweets because that’s when the body’s metabolism is most active – and we have the rest of the day to work off the calories, a new study shows.

Eating cookies or chocolate as part of breakfast that includes proteins and carbs also helps stem the craving for sweets later.

Researchers split 193 clinically obese, non-diabetic adults into two groups who consumed either a low-carb diet that included a 300-calorie breakfast or a balanced 600-calorie breakfast that included a chocolate cake dessert.

Halfway through the 32-week study both groups had lost an average of 33 lbs per person. But in the second half of the study the low-carb group regained an average of 22 lbs per person – while the dessert gorgers lost another 15 lbs each.

At the end those who had consumed a 600 calorie breakfast had lost an average of 40 lbs more per person than their peers.

Although both groups consumed the same daily total calories – the men 1600 calories per day and the women 1400 – “the participants in the low-carbohydrate diet group had less satisfaction and felt that they were not full,” said Professor Daniela Jakubowicz.

Their cravings for sugars and carbohydrates were more intense and eventually caused them to cheat on the diet plan.

This also suggests that the dessert group will be more successful at keeping the weight off, said the researchers whose findings are published in journal Steroids.

Prof Jakubowicz said: “But the group that consumed a bigger breakfast, including dessert, experienced few if any cravings for these foods later in the day.”

Prof Jakubowicz, of Tel Aviv University, said attempting to avoid sweets entirely can create a psychological addiction to these same foods in the long-term.

A meal in the morning provides energy for the day’s tasks, aids in brain functioning and kick-starts the body’s metabolism, making it crucial for weight loss and maintenance-quite true!

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Things You Should Know About Ordering Your Wedding Cake

One of the major highlights of your wedding reception will be your wedding cake. Depending on your bridal style your wedding cake can be simple and pretty or dramatic and grandiose. But whatever you decide upon there are things you should consider before signing that contract with your baker (Crust & Cream)

First, find your style based on your wedding. How many people are attending (a rough estimate is OK). Know what type of decor the hall will have, what your budget is, your colour scheme and of course, your wedding date. A wedding for 30 people would be much different from a wedding for 300 people.

Be realistic about your budget. The more labor intensive your cake will be, the higher the cost of the cake. A cake price can be high or low depending on the decorations, size and ingredients. If you are budgeting yourself go for a cake with quality ingredients and a wonderful taste vs. a grandly decorated masterpiece. Remember, it doesn't matter how pretty the cake is if it doesn't taste good. And make sure to get a taste test of the baker's work, sure Crust & Cream would give samples.

Don't put yourself into debt over the cake, spend only what you can afford. Ask your baker to show you examples of what can be done within your budget. Make compromises on design if you have to to stay within your price range.

Ask the baker for a sketch. It should be a collaboration between the couple and the baker. Photographs of previously designed cakes are a good starting point to show you what can be done, but have them sketch out your design. If you want more color - ask! If you want the design changed - mention it.

Choose faux flowers. We're not necessarily talking about fake flowers. Anything and everything on your cake should be edible. Real flowers run the risk of having insecticides on them - not something you want on your cake. Organic flowers are pricey and besides, real flowers have a tendency to droop and wilt. A quality baker can have handmade sugar flowers so well that your guests won't be able to distinguish them from the real thing.

Who Invented Cupcakes?

There have been confusion about how cupcakes got their name. Was it because these treats were first baked in cups or because of the measurement used to make them? While there are variations on cupcakes in many cuisines- the British have Fairy or Queen cakes,the Dutch are known for their traditional 'Cakejes'.

At this point, who invented cupcakes does not matter...just enjoy its delicious taste.