Hello again my sweet health nuts!
This week I found some interesting new products (new to me, not necessarily new on the market) that I'm so excited to try out. I went out looking for some towels in a Home Sense store and I walked out with much more than towels...
First, as if by magic, when I first walked in the doors, there was an entire table covered in baking products. Egg shaped pans, shimmering sugars, cooling racks, bunny baking cups and.....FONDARIFIC! Most of the other things on the table, I already have, albeit, it's always nice to look at new ways other people have thought of to use things you own. But I took notice of the fondant tubs right away...not only were they in pretty spring colours, they are flavored. Yes, I said flavored. Most fondant tastes like a big mouthful of sugar...if you're lucky, like me, you can find a really good fondant that tastes more like buttercream...well Fondarific has taken it one step further and given their coloured fondants complementary flavors as well. I had to give these a try...I mean look at this...
What little girl would not love a pretty pink birthday cake that also tastes like strawberry... OH, the idea of a pink strawberry flavored Strawberry Shortcake themed cake just popped into my head, YUM! I had heard of Fondarific before, but had never seen it in the stores...must be one of those US/Canada things. These fondants come in a variety of colours and matching flavors such as: sky blue berry flavor, bright purple grape flavor, green melon flavor, red cherry flavor, orange creamsicle flavor, burgundy chocolate cherry flavor and light tan coffee mocha flavor. I couldn't just buy one so I also picked up this pretty Lemon Yellow...
Lemon (when its on the sweeter side, like lemonade) really compliments a lot of other flavors. Of course this would be delish on a lemon pound cake, but it would also be nice on a raspberry lemonade cake, a citrus cake (such as an orange, lime grapefruit cake). I think I've had my first little taste of warm weather and my mind is already out on the patio sipping a strawberry lemonade, feeling the sun on my face, a gentle breeze rustling in the trees.
Ok, back to reality (and April weather). I kept on walking through the store and found some special shimmering sugars. All natural cane sugar that is flavored and coloured. I feel like I have a theme here...So I picked up a few of these chunky sugars by Leila Bay Trading Company. First, I saw the lemon yellow can sugar.
This picture does not do the colour justice. It is truly a bright shimmery yellow. I have to find some way to use this sugar and my new lemon fondarific together. Most people think sugars like this are only good for sprinkling on cupcakes, not true my friends. A really neat technique is to brush a thin layer of clear piping gel onto a fondant covered cake, and recover the cake with a layer of sugar. The sugar will stick to the piping gel and it gives the cake a really interesting finish. The cake comes out with a light catching quality, a little like a gem stone, and has a new texture to it. Adding sugar to the outside can actually impact the colour of your fondant. Adding a yellow sugar, like this one to a green cake will give a final appearance of a lime green. I've found this also gives a fun crunch to your cake when you bite into it, in this case it would be like caramel crunch cake...except it would be lemon crunch cake (haha).
These sugars come in 8 flavors. Strawberry, Lemon, Key lime, Raspberry, Peppermint, Almond, Apple and Huckleberry. With so many flavors to choose from, I couldn't get just one. So I grabbed another of these super pretty cane sugars...
I don't know what it is for me, but I just can't resist key lime. Key lime soda, key lime cupcakes, key lime pie, I just can't say no! I took an idea from 'Friends' a few years back and made some kiwi-lime cupcakes. Essentially key lime cupcakes, with key lime frosting and topped with a fresh kiwi slice. This new sugar would be great on a cupcake like that...I may just have to go whip up a batch now.
As I kept on walking I was lured in by the pretty picture on the cover of this cook book.
These raspberry cupcakes just looked so yummy, I had to take a closer look, and I'm glad I did. As the title states, this is a cookbook full of gluten-free and lactose-free recipes. This awesome cookbook also indicates which recipes are also yeast-free, soy-free, egg-free, nut-free, seed-free, citrus-free, or vegetarian. Inside are some amazing (and easy) recipes for things like gluten-free lactose free alfredo sauce (this is practically the first page of the book, and I was sold on it already, because GFCF alfredo sauce is basically unheard of). There are also recipes for yummy soups like thai coconut chicken, and asparagus pesto; lunch foods like spinach and prosciutto tortilla, and shrimp, fava bean and avacado bruschetta; and of course baked treats like almond cake, chocolate birthday cake and cherry pie. Alright I have to stop looking at all the beautiful pictures inside, I'm starting to drool on my keyboard.
I can't wait to try out some of the recipes inside. It's just so great for someone like myself to find a cookbook that has all of the substitutions already built into the recipe. I don't have to think about what flours mix together to make a sauce base, or what 'faux' cheeses work best in a lasagna. I can't tell you how wonderful it is to see the world finally getting on board and recognizing that so many people out there require special diets. I was amazed when I went out to a very well known restaurant *cough* Milestones *cough* last night and found many goat cheese dishes, gluten free pasta dishes and a gluten free lactose free dessert on the menu. It's hard to explain how wonderful it is to be able to go out to eat, and actually order something interesting, not just chicken and rice or potatoes all the time because that's the only thing on the menu that doesn't have wheat or dairy in it. So a big YAY and a round of applause to the people out there who are finally making cookbooks and changing their menus to include the not so uncommon (these days) people like me (and probably you too).
Well, I think that's about all for today, my darlings. Take a trip out to your local Home Sense and have a look around at all the amazing new products in store. They may not carry an entire line from a company, but they have a great sampling of a lot of different products that are fun to try. When you find something you really love, let me know about it!
Until next time,
Happy baking, caking, tasting (and shopping)!
Love and sprinkles, xoxo
>>>Have you tried Fondarific before? How did you like it? Did you pick up some of the flavored cane sugars? How did you use them? Send me pictures or comments about your own creations with gluten-free, or dairy free recipes and products! I always love to see what other creative people are coming up with!!!<<<
