Which Onion Type To Use

The recipe your making lists "onion" in the ingredients, but which type do you use?

Unless the recipe lists a specific type by color or name, opt for a standard yellow onion.  Yellow onions are tasty, cheap, and versatile; and tend to be neither too sharp nor too sweet.

Notes on a few other varieties:

Spanish:  Spanish onions tend to be very large, thought their flavor is similar to yellow onions.  Because this variety is so big, it isn't usually a practical choice for home cooking.  Though if you are hosting a cookout or making an onion blossom, these could be a good choice.

Red:  Red onions tend to be sweeter than yellow onions, and they add a nice pop of color to dishes you use them in, especially salads.

White:  White onions are more pungent (i.e. likely to make you cry as you are cutting them) and have a fuller flavor than yellow onions.  Depending on your taste preference, you can often interchange white and yellow onions without any problem.

Mmm...tasty! 

The Last Cakes of 2012

Well, we survived 2012.  Though to be honest I hoped you did more than just survive it.  I hope you lived it and had some fun along the way.  I did, and I'm positive that 2013 will be even better.

Since 2012 is kaput, I figured I had better get on the ball and share the final two cakes of the past year with you before too much time went by.  So, here they are!

A harvesting tractor.  Yes, I know it's the middle of winter and there is no harvesting going on (at least not 'round here), but this particular little boy loves tractors, so I built him one.  From rice krispies.  And put it in a "field" made from buttercream.  The tractor turned out being easier to build than I had originally thought; I did make a few notes to make the going even smoother if I ever tackle one again though.

And a superhero themed cake for another little boy who was turning 5.  (Just in case you didn't catch that from the picture. Haha!)  The cake was a double barrel (double height) finished in buttercream with sugar sheet cutouts for the name and age.  The mask topper was cut from gumpaste and then hand drawn and colored.

I've got a few days off from the kitchen this week.  Not sure what I'm going to do with all my free time...I'll figure something out though.

Talk to you soon!

Hats Off

Did you survive New Year's Eve?  Still planning to do a little celebrating today maybe?  If so, try this fun way to serve chips and dip.  Flip over an unused plastic top hat, line it with paper towel, napkins, or a (clean) dish towel, and fill it with chips.  Serve salsa, guacamole, or any other dipping options in martini glasses.

This doesn't have to just be for New Year's though, you could use it for any occasion, as long as you've got a hat to use.  Hmm...maybe pick up a few extra for use throughout the year?

Mmm...tasty!