Springerle

The history of pastry molds, how to make cookies, cakes, candy, tragacanth, clay and paper ornaments using pastry molds. Recipes and Instructions, tools and how to.

Have you ever opened a box of store-bought cookies and after the first dry bite, wished you were eating a warm, fresh baked one instead? Even store-bought cookies that claim to taste homemade really can’t compare to the real thing. Well, cookie lovers, thanks to baker Carole Bloom, you can have the real thing—any time and any day of the week. With Cookies For Dummies, you’ll be whipping up platefuls of the most scrumptious cookies imaginable in absolutely no time. Think Very Rich Cakelike Brownies. Or Almond Butter Cookies. Or Chocolate Biscotti. And not only will the book’s nearly 200 recipes awaken the baker within, you’ll get foolproof tips on making any type of creation in cookiedom—from simple drop, rolled, and refrigerator cookies to the more challenging bar, sandwich, and filled cookies, and finally, the pressed, hand-formed, and molded cookies that’ll let you style eye-catching cookies that bear your unique signature. With help on every page, the book cues you in on: Baking basics—such as choosing the right kitchen equipment and stocking up on essentials Foolproof techniques for outstanding cookies, plus tips on troubleshooting baking mishaps Decorating with chocolate (with tips on piping, painting, and stenciling) Creating "slender’" versions of old favorites, while maintaining texture and boosting flavor Discovering cookies from other cultures Baking for the holidays and making baking fun for kids With a summary cheat sheet of baking essentials, helpful how-to illustrations, and humorous cartoons along the way, Cookies For Dummies will help you bake awe-inspiring homemade cookies that will have even the fanatical cookie lovers in your family clamoring for more.

A sweet tooth is a powerful thing. Babies everywhere seem to smile when tasting sweetness for the first time, a trait inherited, perhaps, from our ancestors who foraged for sweet foods that were generally safer to eat than their bitter counterparts. But the "science of sweet" is only the beginning of a fascinating story, because it is not basic human need or simple biological impulse that prompts us to decorate elaborate wedding cakes, scoop ice cream into a cone, or drop sugar cubes into coffee. These are matters of culture and aesthetics, of history and society, and we might ask many other questions. Why do sweets feature so prominently in children's literature? When was sugar called a spice? And how did chocolate evolve from an ancient drink to a modern candy bar? The Oxford Companion to Sugar and Sweets explores these questions and more through the collective knowledge of 265 expert contributors, from food historians to chemists, restaurateurs to cookbook writers, neuroscientists to pastry chefs. The Companion takes readers around the globe and throughout time, affording glimpses deep into the brain as well as stratospheric flights into the world of sugar-crafted fantasies. More than just a compendium of pastries, candies, ices, preserves, and confections, this reference work reveals how the human proclivity for sweet has brought richness to our language, our art, and, of course, our gastronomy. In nearly 600 entries, beginning with "à la mode" and ending with the Italian trifle known as "zuppa inglese," the Companion traces sugar's journey from a rare luxury to a ubiquitous commodity. In between, readers will learn about numerous sweeteners (as well-known as agave nectar and as obscure as castoreum, or beaver extract), the evolution of the dessert course, the production of chocolate, and the neurological, psychological, and cultural responses to sweetness. The Companion also delves into the darker side of sugar, from its ties to colonialism and slavery to its addictive qualities. Celebrating sugar while acknowledging its complex history, The Oxford Companion to Sugar and Sweets is the definitive guide to one of humankind's greatest sources of pleasure. Like kids in a candy shop, fans of sugar (and aren't we all?) will enjoy perusing the wondrous variety to be found in this volume.

This book goes beyond the sauerkraut and knackwurst stereotype to unveil the often overlooked diversity of German cuisine. 170 regional recipes range from classic dishes, such as spaetzle with cheese and sauerbraten to forgotten delicacies like Westfalian pumpernickel pudding. Numerous profiles, anecdotes, and food lore complete the book.

Every family history researcher hits a dead end at some point in their search. Where better to turn than the battle-tested experience of other genealogists? In Quick Tips for Genealogists you'll find dozens of innovative solutions originally submitted by Ancestry Daily News readers about how to find those elusive ancestors and hard-to-find documents. The book is organized by topics such as home sources, cemetry research, online tips, and more.

Recipes and presentation and party ideas that will have you throwing incredible cookie swaps all year long. As a specialized form of potluck, a cookie swap has all the same traits that make a potluck so effortless to host. Guests share in the baking and cost burden by bringing their favorite recipes. Cookie Swap takes the popular idea of the cookie exchange party to new heights and new directions. This elegant entertaining book shows that the cookie swap is perfectly suited not only to holiday gatherings but also to garden parties, showers, children's birthdays, summer get-togethers, and more. Themes and events include: Affairs of the Heart (Valentine’s Day, Anniversaries, Birthdays), Spring Fling, Vision in White (Weddings), Fun in the Sun (Summer), Garden Parties, Deck the Halls (Christmas), and even a theme for going back to school! “Usher’s suggestions for transporting cookies via vintage lunch box or Christmas ornament box, and party ideas like dish towels imprinted with vintage postcards, are easy and ingenious, sure to appeal to fans of the Barefoot Contessa and Martha Stewart.”—Publishers Weekly, starred review “Filled to the brim with mouthwatering recipes and delectable photographs, Cookie Swap is a sweet treat to savor and celebrate.”—Nancy Wall Hopkins, Deputy Food and Entertaining Editor, Better Homes and Gardens Magazine “This creative book has become my new gold-standard guide to cookie decorating. Talented baker Julia Usher provides foolproof recipes and teaches us decorating techniques.”— Tish Boyle, Editor, Dessert Professional(formerly Chocolatier) and author of The Good Cookie and The Cake Book

Baking cookies and making them for gift, decorating them and packaging them for gift giving.