Cool Giveaway
Giveaway of the Day is giving away a free licensed version of Edraw Max. This is graphics software that can be used to create mind maps, flow charts, plans and diagrams of all types. Grab it now as it disappears at midnight.
August 19, 2008
August 11, 2008
July 31, 2008
Cooking For A Larger Crowd
I am putting together a dinner for about 80-100 people this weekend and am digging up all kinds of ‘large quantity’ recipes. I’ve made cakes and had my own recipes, but it’s nice to see what else there is. If you’re looking for recipes for a large gathering…perhaps you’re looking after the food at a family reunion, or are dabbling in catering, there’s lots to find on the net.
Growlies has lots of large quantity cooking recipes. They have guidelines for feeding a crowd and a recipe converter. Not all recipes convert successfully however, so if you’re making something like cake or pastry, best to find a specific recipe. The Fifty Serving collection has some vegetarian options.
If you like the idea of making your own cake mix, About.com’s Home Cooking guide has a basic recipe that you keep in the freezer. (Someday I’ll post my big batch baking mix recipe–starts with 24 cups of flour–and the mix in the pan big batch chocolate cake recipe.) You’ll also find Crowd Cooking Tips with a list of recipes.
The Wilton’s website has some recipes for larger cakes. The Classic White cake is a large quantity cake that fills either a Wilton 12″X18″ cake pan or the cheap foil pans you can find in the grocery stores for roasting turkeys in.
Here’s some more links
Razzledazzle Recipes Quantity Recipes
A nice collection of recipes and ideas on how to plan and serve your crowd.
Ellen’s Kitchen Get Out the Bit Pots
Lots of good tips and recipes here.
Combat Index Military Recipes
The downside of these recipes are that pan sizes aren’t given for the dishes that required. You can probably figure it out–for instance the white cake recipe says to cut 6×9. So if the serving is a 2″x2″ square you would use a 12×18 pan. I am guessing than, that there would be three pans used? That would be about 12 cups of batter per pan? Make sense?
From the US Quartermaster Center and School
http://www.quartermaster.army.mil/aces/publications/publications.html
Some of the recipes of the Quartermaster and Combat collections are the same.
USDA Recipe For Schools
Lots of variety scaled for 50 or 100 servings.
July 22, 2008
July 18, 2008
Free Writing Software from Giveaway of the Day
Giveaway of the Day is giving away the program Liquid Story Binder XE 2.91. GOTD users are giving this the thumbs up. It’s a described as a “uniquely designed word processor for professional and aspiring authors, poets, and novelists. Writing software for those who require the editing ability of a commercial text editor as well as a document tracking system.”
GOTD downloads are available for 24 hours. Setup on this one is quick and simple. Just copy the registration code and paste it into the registration window. Head on over and grab it before it is gone.
July 14, 2008
Foodies Bulk Food
If you live in the Barrie area and like shopping bulk, you’re going to love Foodies. Foodies is on Bayfield Street between the LCBO and Shoppers Drugmart. Lots of easy to access parking here. The store is spacious, bright and easy to maneuver. There’s a great selection of baking ingredients, and all the basics are covered. If you’re intrigued by salts, you’ll find an interesting variety to choose from.
In addition to the ‘good stuff’ there’s plenty of sinful treats. I didn’t look too closely at these since I was after baking essentials. But bins were full of gummies, chocolates, trail mixes and other candy and confections.
The spice selection should have everything a cook could want. If you’re accustomed to buying pricey little spice bottles at the grocery store, you’ll be surprised by the economy of buying in bulk and filling your own bottles. The prices over-all were comparable to other local bulk food stores.
When I was in I was offered free samples of coffee–their house blend and one other. I don’t drink coffee, but was more than pleased to try out their store made granola cereal. I tried “Hold the Nuts.” That’s granola? Wow!
The only disappointment was that they didn’t carry maraschino cherries. (I promised to bake my son a cherry angel food cake for finishing his first full week of work.) They had glace cherries and fruit-but not maraschino. Hey Foodies, you’re only twenty minutes from a maraschino cherry bottler! And that’s a pretty common desert baking need. They also didn’t have molasses, peanut butter, syrups or other bulk liquid ingredients. But as I was browsing the bottled goods I found everything from putenesca sauce to gourmet olives.
I love the ziplock bags, the paper carry bag (re-useable or recyclable
if you forget to bring your own shopping bag). No rattley little metal
carts here, but cool tote-able plastic bundle buggies to accumulate
your goodies in. I have to mention the wall art by a Foodies employee/artist. Very cool. Makes shopping bulk that much more interesting.
July 10, 2008
Ray Bradbury Speaks About Writing
Remember my post with the non-functioning You-Tube video featuring Ray Bradbury. I think I finally figured it out. Here it is…I hope…
Ray Bradbury speaks about WRITING!
Mind42.com
I like mind mapping, although I prefer good old pen and paper to a computer for my scribbling I do use a program called Freemind for keeping track of story and article ideas, laying out workshops and playing with ideas. I have played with Mind42.com and like the interface and options. The ability to attach notes and collaborate are really cool. Check it out.