Helping Aspiring Bakers Everywhere With Online Cakes

Watch all the cooking competitions, but if your own secret (or not-so-secret) are aspirations to being a great cook or baker, tuning into the following can only help. 

Image by jwalsh via Flickr

Some of us watched “The Great Australian Bake Off” in rapt attention because we are sweet demons. Some of us may have been accused of salivating in front of the screen in the way a teenage boy looks at Margot Robbie or a teenage girl looks at Liam Hemsworth. Nonetheless, all we can imagine is sampling the delights. Then again, there are those who tune into TGABO and other cooking competitions because they adore the drama, the emotional outbursts, the…epic fails.

But there’s a strong minority of viewers whose emotions and intentions are geared more towards their own spirit of the game. Meaning, sure, you’re happy Nancy Ho and her 22-year-old self and her signature white chocolate mud cake with sour cream and white chocolate ganache won the whole kit and caboodle. But there’s a side of you, one that you might not want to voice, for fear of reprisal: you know you could do well on the show. You’re not entirely sure you’d win (that’s a whole combination of elements, all falling into rightful places), but you would be a fierce competitor. If you could just get a little help to prep you… luckily, there are well-established and highly regarded services like Planet Cake offering online cakes Sydney and world-wide (all you need is the Internet) with courses that will push you towards your goal of master baker.

Get motivated by keeping up with the best and brightest Australian television has to offer chefs, cooks and bakers – and anyone who just likes a good TV show. Here are some shows you must tune into:

MasterChef Australia

We couldn’t write about TV cooking shows/cooking competitions without mentioning the juggernaut that is MasterChef. Since it first aired in 2009, the Logie Award-winning series captivated Aussies everywhere. And, in the interest of transparency, it elevated the original inspiration, Britain’s MasterChef.  When a “mere” I.T. office manager (38-year-old Julie Goodwin) won the first seasons, audiences were addicted. The drama only increased when second-season winner Adam Liaw took the prize over next-best competitor Callum by the tiny margin of seven points! Four more seasons only garnered more viewers. The second series final became the third-highest rated show of all time. The show was so profoundly successful that it sparked spin-off fever (“Celebrity MasterChef Australia,” “Junior MasterChef Australia,” “MasterChef Australia All-Stars,” and “MasterChef Australia: The Professionals.”)

Planet Cake TV

No matter how many steps your favourite on-air baker or chef goes through on one of their television shows, you’ re going to need better and more thorough directions. That’s where Planet Cake TV comes in. The online cake decorating school allows anyone who has Internet the opportunity to bake and decorate like a professional. Planet Cake has the distinction of its uniquely decorated cakes, so this is definitely a situation where they know what their doing. Subscriptions are available monthly and annually and members have access to all Planet Cake TV courses and the new tutorials, which debut monthly.

My Kitchen Rules

What can we say? We love a good cooking competition show and “My Kitchen Rules” certainly qualifies. We love the “grace-under-pressure” moments, especially “Rapid Cook-Off,” “Showdown” and “Sudden Death,” because if you’re rooting for a chef, and as the time seems to speed up, it’s effectively emotional and stressful. At my house, we refer to the series as “Amazing Race in the Kitchen.”  The “Video Diary” is dubbed “Top Model in the Kitchen.” The results (food cooked) on “My Kitchen Rules” are consistently out-of-the-box and are interesting and lively. Yes, the show has borrowed from others, but they borrowed the best and the show is very strong.

Given the success of the aforementioned series, it’s likely you’re already watching these shows. If not, it’s definitely the right time to try it out. You’ll feel honoured and supported.

My Top 8 Subscription Boxes

When I was younger, I loved when they had grab bags at stores. I used to buy them every chance I got. They had them at the dollar store and sometimes at the drug store full of teen toiletries. It was always exciting to get a surprise. You never knew what you would find inside. You usually knew what kind of items you would find, but never what. I used to love when I went to a party and they would give you a wrapped up surprise as a party favor or as a party game. Now companies have updated the same idea of surprises in the form of subscription boxes. They are monthly boxes that you don’t know what is inside but they usually have a theme like kids, pets or beauty items. You pay a small monthly fee and every month you receive some awesome goodies.  They also make a great gift!

 
 There are so many different types of subscription boxes. If you don’t know where to look you may miss some really great subscription boxes. Thankfully there is CrateJoy who has them all in one place. Sometimes I hear about them from TV or a friend but I always forget which one they are mentioning. CrateJoy makes it so easy, gives ratings and you can even sign up for multiple subscriptions really easily.

Here are my top 8 subscription boxes:

Box O’ Munch is a subscription box for those who love to snack. I love to snack but, I don’t always like to have healthy snacks. Box O’ Munch contains things like candy, chips and cookies. You receive 10-15 pieces of awesome treats a month. https://www.cratejoy.com/box-o-munch

Nerd Block is a monthly subscription box that is full of nerdy things. My son would love this subscription block. It could have Star Wars items, Pokémon, and other “nerd” items.  It would be a fun monthly surprise for kids or anyone who likes Star Wars, comic books, or Pokémon. It also comes in its very own block which is really cool. https://www.cratejoy.com/nerd-block

Benko Box is a box full of everything you would need to make a masterpiece for kids. Noah is a great artist. This box contains 10-12 art supplies each month. This box is great because buying art supplies can be expensive. You also have to plan out what you want to make. Benko Box gives you other art supplies to use that you might not think about using. https://www.cratejoy.com/benko-box

Faithbox is a subscription box full of items that will help inspire Christian living. It contains items that are good for the planet and others. They also feed a needy child for every box you buy. Faithbox is truly inspirational and would make a great gift for my neighbors who are always helping others. https://www.cratejoy.com/faithbox

A Little Bundle would be a great gift for a new baby. A Little Bundle is a subscription box full of items for baby and mom. It contains items that your baby will love. It’s a great way to keep the gifts coming after they are home from the hospital.  There is a clothing item in each bundle. Such a fun surprise for any new mom. https://www.cratejoy.com/a-little-bundle

 

Hamptons Lane is the ultimate kitchen monthly subscription box. You can find recipes, kitchen gadgets and Artisan food items. I love to cook and try new things. This box would be something fun for me because I have a kitchen gadget collection. Each month there is a different theme so you will always get a great variety. https://www.cratejoy.com/hamptons-lane

Flicker Box is a really cool artisan candle subscription box. You receive candles from candle artists from around the United States. I love candles and I really think that they help make your home warm and welcome.  I don’t think you can ever have too many candles. https://www.cratejoy.com/flicker-box

Darby Smart is a mystery monthly box full of DIY items. You never know what you are going to get to make that month. It could be perfume or it could be a cool craft for your kids. I would love this box because I love to make things and I love surprises. I know I would wait each month for it to arrive. https://www.cratejoy.com/darby-smart

What are your favorite subscription boxes? For more information and many more subscription boxes check out Cratejoy.

Hibachi Shrimp Recipe

It is no secret that my favorite food is Japanese. I don't like sushi though. I used to love to go to Japanese Steakhouses. I still love to go to them but haven't been to one since I was in New Hampshire in December 2011. The one I went to was not very good at all, but I didn't get sick so that is good. I did have a good time even though it was loud and not very Japanese steakhouse like.  I love Hibachi Shrimp. It's not really a secret how it is made as they make it right in front of you. I don't know why I paid so much for so long when it is so much cheaper to make at home. I love the Japanese Onion soup so that may be part of it.  I also know how to make that at home too and you get tons of it.  I wanted to share how to make the shrimp.  Hopefully they won't come after me with knives or throw me in an onion volcano. 

Hibachi Shrimp

One pound of raw tailess shrimp
A big spoon of garlic butter
Soy sauce

Three ingredients that's all.

Prep the shrimp by cutting them in pieces. Place the butter in the skillet. I always use an electric skillet add the shrimp and cook through. Add soy sauce and finish cooking and Voila you have the same hibachi shrimp and tons of it, just like the Japanese steak houses make.

You're Welcome.

How to Make Mashed Potatoes from the Box Taste Homemade

I love mashed potatoes. I don't have enough time all the time to make them from scratch. I have a really good ranch mashed potato recipe to share with you some time. We have mashed potatoes almost every week depending on our menu. Like many others I use the boxed kind for the convenience. For some reason I don't follow the directions on the box.  I realized that I make them wrong, however I still do it because it tastes really good. I like thicker mashed potatoes personally. I used to eat Salisbury steak TV dinners but never ate the mashed potatoes. They are not too good in my opinion. I am pretty weird though. I still don't eat them.  I have perfected my boxed mashed potato recipe. It's really good too. Trust me!

How to make boxed mashed potatoes taste like homemade every time. 

This makes four servings which is like really like three.

1 and 1/4 cup water
2/3 cups of milk
A stick of butter cut in half.
Potato flakes ( I don't really measure them. I just as much as it takes to get the consistency you like)

Combine half a stick of butter with the water and milk and bring to a boil on high heat. As soon as it starts to rise take it off the heat and add the flakes. Combine and then add the remaining half of stick of butter and salt and pepper to taste.

I know you aren't really suppose to boil milk but it doesn't burn or anything in this recipe.

How to make Peanut Butter Shells

When you think of making candy it seems like a really involved process. I made a ton of delicious peanut butter shells. When I say shells I mean seashells. I have a shell mold. Of course I do. Are you new? Noah loves shells and sea life. After my infamous Crisis Cooking with Sheila episode and trying every easy method to make these darn shells. I figured out that a spoon works the best. I used one of Noah's toddler spoons. It made it easier for control purposes. I tried the pastry bag. It wasted too much of the goodie. I tried a squirt bottle. It was impossible. So lets just say when I finished them I was not making them with love anymore. I was extremely frustrated and angry. So, use a spoon. It will save you hours of grumpiness.  Here is my recipe. It has two ingredients. It sounds like it would take a long time to set but it doesn't. Like twenty minutes in the fridge.

Sheila's peanut butter shells

Reese's peanut butter chips
Shortening

Combine half a bag of Reese's chips with a teaspoon of shortening. Microwave it for 30 seconds. Stir. Microwave another 17 seconds and stir until melted. Carefully fill the molds. Carefully drop them on the counter.

Refrigerate  for twenty minutes until hard pop them out and do it again.
I figured out that two bags makes six trays of shells as long as you aren't sloppy.

It's a beautiful and yummy treat for anyone who likes peanut butter.

Recipes Across America Review

As someone who loves to cook and bake, I love to read cookbooks and use them for meals.   My favorite type of cookbooks are the ones that have all sorts of items to make.  I had the opportunity to receive the Taste of Home, Recipes Across America Cookbook.  It is recipes submitted by readers all over the United States. I love this idea because I love learning about other areas and seeing what foods are popular there. There are so many great recipes. It also has tidbits about different areas, which is extremely interesting. My family’s favorite recipe so far is the Mississippi Mud Pie. We have made it twice in a two week time frame. I also had my mom look at it, because she loves to cook and bake almost as much as I do.  When we were making the Mississippi Mud Cake the first time, we were talking about Marshmallow crème.  When my mom was younger she liked eating peanut butter and marshmallow fluff sandwiches.  Since we had some, I thought it would be a good time for Noah to try it, since he loves peanut butter and marshmallows.  I mentioned how my best friend’s children like it. My mom said I read in the cookbook that is a common food for New England.  Noah didn’t like the sandwich as much as I thought he would.  The Mississippi Mud Pie was so easy. We were able to make it from ingredients that we had at home, besides marshmallow crème.   It never lasted long and even Noah liked it.  There are so many great recipes to try out. I am really excited to work my way through Recipes Across America.  It’s like taking a cross country road trip in your own kitchen. You know the most important thing about traveling is trying the local cuisine.

You can find Recipes Across America in a bookstore near you or on Amazon.

For more information please visit the Taste of Home website.

I received Recipes Across America to review, all thoughts and opinions are my own.