The Washington times., 1906-09-16
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TT HAT a good homemade cake is
better than the most elaborate
product Of a confecuoner few
viii deny. Somehow. batter made in
quantities never has quite that tender
ness and richness that carefully mixed
single cake Possesses. BY the way.
why can SO few cooks make really good
cake2 There seems TO be a knack about
IL hard 20 obtain.
But while the amateur baker may ex-
Gel the professional iu the quality OF his
cakes, the same cannot be said for its
appearance Too many OF our home
made products are anything but inviting
I'm appearance when they appear on the
table. StreaEeG, lumpy, lCiug, either
stln or sticky. is too apt 10 be the rule.
while as 10 OrnameutatiOn there is
usually no pretense at IL.
This neglect OF those finishing touches
which make such a difference I'm the ap-
UeaTance OF caPe IS tho more Culpable
since pastry bags have revoluti0nized
In the old days. the cook who wished
10 make "a "spleudlferOus' birthday cake
for Tommy or Baby Sue would labor
lously go 10 work with spoon and knife
10 make wonderful Curlycues. twists and
scroll for the Children's S pleasure Now
addys all this work would be simpllned
by using a pastry bag in which are in
serted tubes or varying size and design.
With this bag the elaborate, smoothly
iced, fancifully decorated cakes that we
once gaZed upon in rdpt admiration in
the confectionery window are perfectly
possible for the home cake baker.
True it viii take care and much praC-
tice. but with enough patience and a lit
Tie artistic sense really nne icing can
be done.
In the first place. the choosing Of the
bag is important. These may be bought
very ineXpensiVely. either OF thin rubber
or heavy canvas but they can be made
quite as well by taking an oblong piece
OF heavy white ticking folded. and Gu.
diagonaliy from the top, To leave 4
small opening at the bottom for insert
Ing a tube. Hem both ends and stitch
the edges together in a fiat fell, max
ing a cone-shaped bag In pinch the
tunes may even be inserted I'm a cone
OF stif white paper.
Any number OF tin tubes may be
bought for using with this bag They
are in the form Of stars, flowers. leaves.
circles, CTescentS, each design in at
least three or four different sizes.
These implements should always lie
kept in perfect condition. The bag
must be washed Immediately after using.
in clear, lukewaTm wateT-never use
soap ammonia, or borax on 1T, as IL
Is very apt 10 taste. even with the most
careful Tinsing.
The tubes should have a fine wire
run through them after they are wash
ed. 10 get out every particle Of icing.
or course, no matter how skilled is a
COOKS handling OF her tools. she will
have poor results If her icing is not
properly made
a noted confectioEer gives the fol-
lowing reliable recipe for white icing;
Two eggs, a quarter Of a pound Of
sugar, and lemon, vanilla. Tosewatar
or any desired fiavoring. Break the
whites onto a chilled dish. throw "A
small quantity Of the sugar on them
and begin beating with a wire beater
with even. steady strokes Throw on
sugar again, beat well and repeat Un-
III the icing is perfectly smooth, firm
and Of fine texture. II not stiff
enough, more sugar may be added after
the havoring has been put in. lemon
Juice has a whitening effect