Dear Baking

Back in March, I did a post that was an obituary. Yes, you read that right, an obituary. You can read it here: Death of a Weekend. Today I’m doing another feature that could have come from the newspaper. Well, sort of.

You see, like “Dear Abby” or “Ask Heloise”, I get a lot of questions. They come in to my Baking In A Tornado Facebook Page and my email. But I’m just a Mom who bakes to relieve stress and feed a never-ending pack of teenagers. So I don’t do real well with the question and answer portion of our program. But I try. I get points for that, right?

So I thought I’d share some questions and my best effort at answers. Of course some of the names have been changed to protect the innocent.

Dear Tornado:
I’ve been sick so I didn’t get the grocery shopping done this week. All I have is Ground Beef, canned mandarin oranges, pretzels, flour and canned tuna. What can I make?
Dinner Dilemma

Dear Dilemma:
Yikes, starting to feel a little sick myself. I know that if I tried to put all of those ingredients together what I’d make would be a mess. But I’m guessing that doesn’t help you much.
Baking In A Tornado


Dear Baking:
I love the look of your Angel Food Trifle. I don’t bake so I like that you just put the ingredients together. I don’t have any Strawberries but I just bought some pears, can I use those? And I have a pound cake in the freezer, can I substitute that for the Angel Food Cake? And whipped cream is so fattening, can I just skip it?
Thanks,
No Bake Betty

Dear No Bake Betty:
I’m thinking that pears and pound cake soaked in jello might not be the best thing you’ve ever had. Be sure to try it, for the first time, when you won’t be having company over, K?
Baking In A Torando


Hello,
I was browsing through facebook and found your page. I have a website for recipes and would be interested in posting a few of your recipes on my site.
I also have a Facebook page. Please like it.
Food Guy

Dear Food Guy:
So you’re saying that you want to post my work on your site to entice people to your page instead of mine? Thank you for your kind offer. I hope you’ll understand, but I’m going to decline at this time.
Baking In A Tornado

Lemonade Mini Cupcakes

Dear BIAT:

I love the look of your Mixed Berry Pie but we’re allergic to berries. Can I use apples?

Hopeful Baker

Dear Hopeful Baker:

I think that’s called an Apple Pie. Enjoy.

Baking In A Tornado

Dear Baking in a Tornado:

I think your "Watermelon" Sherbet is so cute. I’m making it for a picnic this weekend, but I don’t have room for it in my freezer. Can I just keep it in the refrigerator?

Picnic Pam

Dear Picnic Pam:

As you can probably imagine, the sherbet would melt in the refrigerator. My guess is that in order to serve it you’d need to leave the spoons at home and pack straws.

Have a great weekend.

Baking In A Tornado

Dear Baking Lady:

I just wanted to let you know that I tried making your Honey Bunches Chicken with Apricot Sauce. Instead of coating the chicken with Honey Bunches of Oats, I substituted Fruit Loops because my kids like them better. It was disgusting and my family wouldn’t eat it. You should take that recipe down. I just thought I’d let you know.

Helpful Friend

Dear Helpful Friend:

Speechless.

Baking In A Tornado

But every now and then, I get a message like this one that refers to my Potato Crusted Meatloaf. Words can’t express how it makes me feel:

Hi:
I just want to give you a big ol' hug!
My husband has an auto-immune disorder. It was full-blown a couple years ago but is now in remission.
Unfortunately, it left him 90% bed ridden and the rest of the time he's in a wheelchair. 
He has absolutely no appetite, but of course it's important for him to eat to keep his strength up. I'm constantly looking for taste-tempting things for him.
Usually he takes two or three bites of something and then says he's done . . . last night he ate TWO WHOLE SLICES of the meat loaf and mashed potatoes!!
If it weren't for you and your blog, I never would have found that recipe!
Hugs, hugs, and more hugs!
Cathy

                         
Lemonade Mini Cupcakes
                         ©www.BakingInATornado.com

Printable Recipe

Ingredients, 48 Cupcakes:
1 stick butter, softened
2 cups cake flour
1 TBSP baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup milk
1 tsp lemon extract
4 eggs
1 tsp Pink Lemonade Kool Aid powder (about half of a .23 oz pkg)

Ingredients, Frosting:
3/4 stick butter, softened
2 3/4 cups powdered sugar
the rest of the Pink Lemonade Kool Aid powder 
2 tsp raspberry extract
3 TBSP orange juice
1 TBSP light corn syrup

Directions, Cupcakes:

*Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray 48 mini cupcake tins with non-stick spray.
*Gently blend all of the cake ingredients with a beater on low. Once all is incorporated, beat on high for 2 minutes.
*Divide the batter into all of the mini cupcake tins and bake for 12 minutes or until the center springs back to the touch.
*Immediately run a knife around the edge of the cupcakes and remove from the tins. Cool completely.

Directions, Frosting:
*Gently blend all frosting ingredients with a beater on low. Once all is incorporated, beat on high until creamy. You may need to add a little more juice to get the consistency you want, but I made mine fairly thick.
*Spread or pipe frosting onto completely cooled cupcakes.