Vegan Pie Crust

By Colleen Boucher Colleen Boucher
Level: Platinum

Colleen Boucher is the creator and writer of the blog Dinner Peace. She is an evolving vegan eater, and recipe creator, health advocate, and wellness ...

Pie crust has not been an easy accomplishment for me. In the past I have hidden behind prepared pie crusts, and frankly, if they were vegan, I'd still use them. Pie crust is a lot of work! Well, okay. It's not that much work. It just takes planning, and patience, and a light touch...only some of which I have.

My first attempt at pie crust was this past summer. You may remember it as peach cobbler. Yeah, a pie without a crust. That's how badly it went. But, this was primarily due to rancid shortening. So, pie crust tip #1: check the expiration date on all of your ingredients!

My second attempt went much better, as you can see from my beautiful pecan pie. But, it was still challenging. It tore and much of it was just pressed inelegantly into the pan, but it baked beautifully and was light and flaky alongside the creamy richness of the pecan filling. The wonderful thing is that pie crust is easily made vegan. Where omnivores might use butter or lard, vegans can use Crisco, which is an already established ingredient in many pie crust recipes. Crisco is simply vegetable shortening made from the oil of soybeans, canola, and other plants. So, if you're going to make your own pie crusts anyway, give thanks to the animals with a few vegan pies!

2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup Crisco vegetable shortening
4 to 8 tablespoons ice cold water

Measure flour and salt into the bowl of your food processor. Place in the refrigerator. Cut 3/4 cup Crisco into small cubes, and place in the refrigerator. Fill a measuring cup with ice water and place in the fridge. Allow all the ingredients to cool for 1 hour.

Add Crisco to the flour and salt in the food processor and blend until the shortening is distributed in pea sized crumbs. Add 4 tablespoons of the cold water and process until the dough begins to form a ball. Add more water as necessary, but do not allow the dough to become wet. Transfer the dough to a floured surface. Cut the dough in half and wrap each half in plastic wrap, flattening the dough into a disc 1/2" thick. Return to the refrigerator and allow to sit for 30 minutes.

Remove the dough from the refrigerator and place on the floured surface. Cover the top and bottom of the dough with plastic wrap to prevent sticking. Take care to use large enough sheets as the dough will expand when you roll it. Roll your dough from the center to the edge, pressing gently. Turn the dough 1/4 turn every time you roll it so that it stays circular. When the dough is 2" larger than your pan, fold the dough into fourths, generously flouring the touching surfaces to prevent sticking, and transfer to your pie pan. Unfold gently. Follow the baking instructions for your particular pie. Enjoy!

Colleen Boucher is the creator and writer of the blog Dinner Peace ( http://dinnerpeace.blogspot.com ). She is an evolving vegan eater, and recipe creator, health advocate, and wellness specialist. Dinner Peace is a blog for current vegans, vegetarians, and anyone interested in occasionally trying to go meatless, lose weight, or just get healthy.

Transitioning to a vegan lifestyle can be intimidating, and Dinner Peace was founded to combat that apprehension with numerous examples of delicious, plant based, healthful, compassionate, cruelty-free and animal-free dishes, ranging from breakfast to lunch to snacks, dinners, and desserts. The vegan lifestyle is also an effective tool for weight loss, or just to achieve your optimum level of health. If you are looking to make a positive change in your life, or just get a sense of the reality of a vegan diet, check out Dinner Peace!

Using Candy in Your Baked Goods

Baking is a great pastime for people all around the world. The joy of creating your own baked treats and then getting to enjoy them or watch other people enjoy them can be quite addictive for a skilled baker or cook. Pies, cakes, and cookies are just some of the sweet treats that are popular among both kids and adults.

Sometimes though, you get tired of doing the same old recipes and want to try something a little different. One way to make your baking more interesting is to use candy in your baked goods. Here are some tips for using candy in your baking.

Candies start out melted before they are molded into shapes that harden upon cooling. So it is logical that candies can also be used in baking as it can undergo heat all over again without harming it. A lot of candies can therefore be baked in the oven with whatever you are making to create extra flavor.

Avoid hard candies for the most part, especially if you are using candy as toppings or embeds. People who are eating your cakes and cookies might not expect it when biting into them. Although you can melt hard candies for flavor, it is usually easier to purchase flavor extracts instead.

For cakes, candies are a great for both decorating and as an addition to the ingredients. A simple cake with white frosting can be transformed into a gummy cake by simply adding some gummy candies on it. With the different shapes and sizes that gummies come nowadays, the theme of bears, insects, ducks or even baskets can be achieved.

On the subject of gummies, there are ribbons of gummies that come in different colors and flavors. These ribbons can be sugared or not sugared and they could be plain flavors or the sour candy type. Licorice or strawberry licorice is another alternative.

Simply arrange the ribbons alternately on the sides of the cake to achieve a basket weave effect. And then, thread a coated floral wire through the candies and make an arch out of it for the handles. The size and shape of the basket really depends on the artist at this point, so use the imagination. The icing will bind the ribbons to the cake.

After the basket is made, simply grab some candy flowers (large and small lollipops) and arrange them like when fixing up a vase. There are also gum-paste flowers (gum-paste is also candy based) which come in millions of designs, including Snow White if one were to look for it. Fold over loosely some green (sour apple) gummy ribbons as the leaves, arrange some more until the floral candy cake in a candy basket is done. Make sure that all spaces are filled with assorted candy shapes so no vacant spaces are left.

This is not only an attractive cake but the same idea can be used for cookies and muffins as well. Simply douse the iced cookies or muffins with candy sprinkles, Reese's pieces or M&M's. These candies can also be baked into the item itself. So use the imagination and don't limit the ideas to just plain cakes!

Cheesecakes Flavors

Cheesecakes are definitely among the favorites when it comes to the most delicious desserts and treats of all time. It is a dessert that is both as light as cheese and as sumptuous as our favorite cake desserts. For many it is one of the most anticipated desserts available due to the creaminess and smoothness that sets it apart from many other desserts available in the world of fine culinary adventures.

The best cheese cake desserts are very popular indeed. This is due to a smoothness that radiates from its very base to the many different toppings chosen to crown this special dessert. They are made with two layers of sumptuous flavors. Basically, it is a fusion of the hard crust and the soft topping which just gives you a different sensation when you sink your teeth in. After the first bite, the whole thing just melts in your mouth and you instantly feel like you just could never possibly get enough of its rich goodness.

The first layer of a cheese cake is made of a very thin crust. The next layer is made of light cheese that is mixed in with different flavorings which are chosen to appeal to different personal preferences. Basically the whole layer is just made of cheesy goodness. What sets it apart is the cheese is always freshly added, making for a delicate sweetness and a smooth concoction that hardens to make that soft and fluffy layer of the cake. After these basic layers of the cake, flavors and additional treats are added in. Some popular choices are blueberries, raspberries and other berries and fruits. Do not forget about chocolate, caramel or other flavored toppings either. For some the best flavor choice is no added toppings at all.

For the health conscious, some may believe the choices are limited when it comes to delicious treats. This is a common misconception since just as there are many kinds of cheesecakes on the menu; the choices are just as many for the health conscious. With cheese cake flavor options for the health conscious, many of the same flavors are still present thanks to innovative bakers.

Healthy, delectable and of course - very guilt free; the next time you are looking for a real dessert treat think about cheesecake. Try a slice of cheese cake next time you feel like giving in to the temptation of eating your favourite sweet dessert treat.

Stevens Scientists Honored; Plus, Buddy Makes a Deal They Couldn't Refuse

Hoboken's celebrity baker Buddy Valastro can keep his title after all. TLC, the cable TV network that airs "Cake Boss," the show featuring Valastro and his family bakery Carlo's, reached an agreement with the Seattle software firm that claimed the exclusive right to use the same name. The firm, Masters Software, had already been using "Cake Boss" for a business organization product it had been selling to bakeries since 2007, before the first episode of TLC's show aired on TV.

A federal judge had temporarily barred TLC from using the "Cake Boss" name, but the two sides have recently agreed to share it. Terms of the settlement were not disclosed, so there is no word on whether there was any exchange of financial compensation in either direction, or sweet tasty treats shipped to Seattle, for that matter.

About Town is a quick look at the not-quite-news but still-neat happenings that occur in Hoboken all the time. Seen something wacky, wild, cute, cuddly, funny or fun? Got an incidental observation or a minor celebration? Shoot it to alanskontra@hotmail.com. We want pictures too.

Four scientists with ties to Stevens Institute of Technology were recently honored by the New Jersey Inventors Hall of Fame.

Professor Vikki Hazelwood, Associate Program Director of Biomedical Engineering, was honored with the Advancement of Invention Award for introducing entrepreneur principles into the classroom.

Dr. Nicolas Girard, a 2002 Stevens graduate, won an Inventor of the Year Award for his work with wireless technology. He is the founder and CEO of Attila Technologies, which is based in Hoboken and specializes in communications.

Dr. Xiaoling Chen, a 2010 graduate, and Asli Ergun, a current Ph.D. candidate both won a Graduate Student Award.

How Do Fortunes Get Inside Fortune Cookies?

Have you ever sat in a Chinese restaurant and wondered how the fortune got inside that little golden cookie? It seems like a complex piece of origami, but it really is quite a simple process.

After the fortune cookie went public in America around 1914, people fell in love with the little delicacy. Although stories differ as to exactly who invented the cookie and where, it is agreed that the cookie was born in California and appeared at the 1915 San Francisco World's Fair. A purely American creation, the cookie is not native to China as most think. But what would a Chinese meal be without the crisp goodie to look forward to? After all, we have to find out what our future holds.

So, how do they get those bits of wisdom inside the cookie? Back in the day, workers, such as those at the Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Company, would pour a 3 inch circle of batter onto a pan. It would cook quickly and the worker would pull it off the bake top with chopsticks, place the fortune paper on the cookie, and then, using the chopsticks, bend it into its well-known form. This process became an art form as workers' hands carefully formed the cookies.

It is only relatively recently that the fortune cookie met up with modern technology. In San Francisco in 1974, a man named Edward Louie, Lotus Fortune Cookie Company's owner, devised a machine that could automate the fortune cookie making process. He called his technological advance the Fortune III. His machine used the same basic methods of pouring out a disc of batter and baking it. Only now, the cookies, while still warm, could be picked up by metal pincers, have a fortune laid down on them, and be folded into the classic crescent shape - all in a matter of seconds.

The reason these cookies can be folded when hot is due to the properties in sugar. The batter basically consists of flour, sugar, water and eggs. When heated, these ingredients are malleable for a few seconds before they harden to a shiny, hard surface. Those precious few seconds mean a fortune can be included as part of the treat.

Now, automated machines can fold up to 8,000 cookies every hour. That's a lot faster than the hand done versions. And it's just as well because the demand has grown over the years for this crispy Confucian confection. People are now ordering custom fortune cookies for their weddings, birthday parties, corporate and business events and even as sympathy messages.

They now come in every size from tiny to gigantic. You can order them in just about any flavor you like including chocolate dipped with candy embellishments.

Today's fortunes range from wise sayings to lottery numbers. People are customizing their sayings to include marriage proposals, business logos and just about everything else you can imagine. For a small fee, companies online will insert any saying you want into the cookie of your choice. It's a delightful surprise to see a personalized saying inside a fortune cookie. No other cookie on the planet is considered a bearer of sage advice.

Although few people would list the fortune cookie as the best tasting cookie, it is considered a fun cookie in a class by itself.

Betty Ann Sherman is a mother and a baker of tasty treats. She has a special passion for baking cookies, pies, cakes, and everything wonderful. Check back for updates from Betty on her delicious treat adventures.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Betty_Ann_Sherman

Wedding Cupcakes

The fad is cupcakes and if you haven't given it a thought sit back and enjoy the reasons why you should choose gourmet cupcakes for your wedding instead of the traditional wedding cake. If you are reading this then you're most like about to celebrate a special and an important day in your life's journey. I congratulate you in your impending marriage.

For those of you who are looking for a change of pace for that big wedding, you may want to consider wedding cupcakes. This definitely puts a whole new twist on things and can give a wedding the edge to make it more unique. Wedding cupcakes are the answer! What a fun way to add spice and pizzazz to a wedding. They can be done to fit the needs of the wedding whether it's casual or formal.

There are a few advantages as well to having wedding cupcakes as opposed to a traditional cake. First off, you can have as many or as little as you want based on the guest list. Cupcakes are the new wedding cake alternative and can be easier to deal with in some cases. Decorate them all the same or you can decorate each one with a different design. You can even find fancy wedding cupcake liners as opposed to wild colors they sell in the stores.

Wedding Cupcake Flavors

When it comes to wedding cupcake flavors, there is a wide variety to choose from. Choose from strawberry, chocolate, marble, carrot, banana, coconut and much more. There are even newer flavors including mocha, vanilla milk chocolate, and pumpkin. No matter what your taste buds crave, there is a wedding cupcake recipe that suits you.

Wedding Cupcake Decorations

There is a wide variety of ways to decorate your wedding cupcakes. Think of the theme and determine decoration items and frosting. You can use fondant icing, whipped cream icing, and butter cream icing to just name a few. There are several others to choose from so find the one that you like the best. Another neat idea is to add some coloring and flavoring to the icing.

Use sprinkles and candies in the shapes of roses and other things. Use glitter dust as well or sugar that sparkles. There are hundreds of creative ideas for decorating your wedding cupcakes to be as formal or casual as you want. Always keep the theme of the wedding in mind as well as the colors.

Displaying Your Wedding Cupcakes

As far as decorating your cupcakes, there are many ideas available as well. There are things such as tiers and other cupcake stands to use to display them nicely. Nowadays, there are even stands sold that are electrical and have a variety of colors that shine on them. Can't find anything that works best for you? Get creative and design your own stands.

Cupcake Wedding Cakes

A cupcake wedding cake is also another great idea. You can have a few tiers of cupcakes and add a sense of class to any wedding. This is becoming a more and more popular idea among brides. Not only can you have more options available to you, but you can also make something beautiful and out of the ordinary. No matter what the theme, wedding cupcakes can add that extra bit of uniqueness to your wedding, and with all the potential designs and ideas available, you are sure to find what fits you the best and your wedding.

Seasonal Cupcake Decorating

Cupcakes are so much fun. Here are some ideas for Cupcake decorating:

Seasonal Cupcake decorating ideas

Santa cupcake
Frost cupcake with white frosting. Sprinkle top with red sprinkles or red sugar. Give two M&M eyes or other candy. Make a beard out of mini marshmallows or shredded coconut. This is a fun and easy Santa dessert kids can put together.

Reindeer Cupcake
Frost cupcake with chocolate frosting. Add pretzels for antlers and M&M candies for eyes and nose.

Turkey Cupcake
Use candies, cut fruit leather or sliced cookies and stand them up for feathers. Add eyes and beak.

Cupcake Creations
Just by decorating in different colors and laying cupcakes out a special way you can create masterpieces.

Frost cupcakes in same color. Some examples of these could be placing 4-5 cupcakes in a squiggly line to form a caterpillar. Give the first cupcake eyes and antennas.

Or form cupcakes into a tree shape. Start with one on top and two on the next row, three in next row, etc. (just like you were making a pyramid shape) Frost the top cupcakes green and the bottoms brown for the trunk.

More cupcakes designs could be shaping cupcakes together to form a butterfly, flower, flag, ball. Using the color frosting to match the design. Another popular idea now is to place your cupcakes in a design and frost them all together like they are one big cake. This is often called a pull apart cupcake cake.

Always start with a great cake recipe before the decorating starts. Here is one of our favorites.

Chocolate Zucchini Cupcake recipe
1 1/4 cups sugar
1 cup sour cream
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 eggs, beaten
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa
1/4 cup milk
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 1/3 cups flour
1 cup shredded zucchini
1 cup milk chocolate chips, optional

Prepare muffin cups and preheat oven to 400 degrees. In mixing bowl blend sugar, sour cream, oil, eggs, cocoa, and milk together. Add in cinnamon, salt, baking soda and baking powder. Blend together. Add in flour, zucchini and chocolate chips until well blended. Pour into muffin cups and bake 25 minutes or until toothpick inserted in middle of cupcake comes out clean.