Old Fashioned Baking Tips and Recipes

I'm in a baking mood today, since the snow is covering the ground, the trees and the bushes for the first time this year with no melting in sight. It was 16 degrees F. this morning, but then we've been having warmer than usual temperatures this winter, and I knew the cold days were coming. Last night I made homemade pizza for my family, plus three extra teenagers. The house was toasty warm since the oven was on 450 F. for quite awhile as I rolled out crust and made five pizzas. I've shared my recipe for the crust on a past blog: http://oldtips.blogspot.com/2011/04/homemade-pizza-for-six-or-more.html . I tripled this recipe last night and topped the pizzas with pepperoni, onions, mushrooms, sausage, bacon, cheese and ham. I did one pizza meatless since one of our teen visitors is vegetarian. That pizza I topped with the sauce, sauteed green pepper, onions, mushrooms and then I sprinkled it with oregano, basil and Parmesan cheese on top of the mozzarella.

Today's tips are from All About Home Baking, which was published in 1933. I love this cookbook, and actually ended up with two copies, one of which belonged to Grandma Dorothy, my husband's grandma who passed away this fall. Thumbing through it always reminds me of her:) The baking tips are almost better than the recipes.

Measuring Baking Powder

Don't heap the teaspoon, for a heaping teaspoon may be 3 or 4 level teaspoons. Don't level off the spoon against the side of the can (I'm guilty of this one! -B.) ; the rounded edge gives you a rounding, and not a level teaspoon. Don't fill the spoon "about right" and shake off the excess; use your spatula to level off. Don't guess at fractions; use the small sizes of your measuring spoons to measure 1/4 or 1/2 amounts.

Penalties of Improper Baking Soda Amounts

Too much: batter running over edge of the pan; cake falling in the center; crackle, gummy, tough crust; coarse, crumbly texture.

Too little: undersized products; peaked, dull crust; heaviness; leathery streaks

Measuring Other Ingredients

Melted shortening or margarine: Melt shortening over hot water (Microwave can be used -B.). Then measure by level tablespoons.

Granulated Sugar: fill the cup and level off with a spatula or straight edge of knife. Never heap the cup or "scant" even a little bit.

Brown Sugar: pack into the cups firmly so it will keep the shape of the cup when turned out.

Thick, Sticky Liquids: pour into spoon from the container or another spoon. Don't dip the spoon into sticky liquids to measure. Too much will end up clinging to the underside of the spoon.

Cheese Roulettes

2 cups sifted cake flour

1/2 tsp. salt

2 tsp. baking powder

4 tbsp. butter or shortening

2/3 cup milk

melted butter

1 cup grated American cheese

salt

paprika

Sift flour once, measure, add baking powder and salt, sift again. Cut in shortening; add milk all at once and stir carefully until all flour is dampened. Then stir vigorously until mixture forms a soft dough and follows spoon around bowl. Turn out on slightly floured board and knead for 30 seconds. Roll into oblong sheet, 1/8 inch thick. Brush with melted butter. Spread cheese evenly over dough. Sprinkle with salt and paprika. Cut into strips, 6x1/2 inches, roll each strip, and place in greased muffin tins. Bake at 425 F. 15 minutes. Makes 24.

Aladdin Chocolate Cake

1 1/3 cups sifted cake flour

1 3/4 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. salt

1 cup sugar

4 tbsp. softened butter or shortening

2 eggs, well beaten

1/2 cup milk

1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

2 squares unsweetened chocolate, melted

Sift flour once, measure, add baking powder, salt and sugar, and sift together three times. Add butter. Combine eggs, milk, and vanilla and add to flour mixture, stirring until all flour is dampened. Add chocolate and blend. Then beat vigorously 1 minute. Bake in a greased pan, 8x8x2 inches, in moderate oven (325 F.) for 1 hour. Spread with frosting when cool, over the top and sides.

On OFL we have recipes for old fashioned tea breads:

http://oldfashionedliving.com/teabreads.html

~Brenda