New to the forum and to the business of finding 'specialty' kitchen gadets that make our lives infinitely easier. My latest quest is to find a good supplier of small quick-release scoops. We've been borrowing a presumably dated rubbermaid #100 scoop which has been absolutley perfect for a number of recipes but I've only been able to find one supplier of anything close to it and those aren't nearly as ergonomic (all flat stainless steel grips instead of the nice molded plastic kind on the rubbermaid that make the squeezing action much easier).
Unfortunately the people we are borrowing it from are being completely unreasonable and actually want it back. The nerve! ;)
I got a small scoop (not sure of the size) at the Cash & Carry, where they've got quite a few sizes to choose from. If you're on the West Coast of the US, look for a Smart & Final / Cash & Carry store.
A restaurant supply store would also be a good place to look.
I purchased a 1.25 inch diameter scoop from Williams Sonoma, when they were out of stocvk and I got tired of waiting for the online catalog of (I forgot) either Chef's Catalog.com or else Cooking.com.
Perfect size for drop cookies. Wish I had discovered it years ago.
King Arthur Catalog has a couple of scoops with nice comfortable plastic handles. I use one for my cookies and think it's my favorite purchase from their catalog.
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on catalog and enter cookie scoops in the search box Rina
On Mon 20 Feb 2006 11:43:11a, Thus Spake Zarathustra, or was it Shirley Ward?
Shirley, thank you for remembering... Alas, we cut into only one fruitcake on Christmas day and sampled small slices. Our need to return to Weight Watchers, as well as tending to our type 2 diabetic needs forced me to "feed" the cakes thoroughly, wrap securely, and put into the freezer. So no comparative tasting this season. At least they will keep well. :-) The cake we sampled was one my great grandmother used to make. It was even "fruitier" than I remember, and quite delicious. I'm glad I don't make daily trips to the freezer. I would be much too tempted! :-)
On Mon 27 Feb 2006 05:10:05p, Thus Spake Zarathustra, or was it Shirley Ward?
Shirley, this is a very long recipe, but in spite of that, it's quite simple.
Onnie's Dark Fruitcake
2 cups golden raisins 1 cup dark raisins 1 cup currants 2 cups dried apricot halves -- snipped into ½" pieces 2 cups dried figs -- halved, stems discarded 1 cup pitted prunes -- snipped into ½" pieces 1 cup whole pitted dates 3 cups English walnuts -- in halves or large pieces 2 cups pecans -- in halves or large pieces 1 cup filberts -- halved 2 cups candied cherries (red and green -- if possible) 2 cups candied pineapple slices -- cut in wedges 1 cup candied lemon peel 1 cup candied orange peel 1 cup candied citron 3 oranges -- grated zest only 3 lemons -- grated zest only 1/2 cup chopped candied ginger 2 teaspoons cinnamon 1 teaspoon ground allspice 1 teaspoon mace 1/2 teaspoon ground doves. 1 cup molasses 2 cups brandy 1/2 cup orange liqueur (my addition) 4 cups all-purpose flour 1 tablespoon baking powder 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 1/2 teaspoons salt 1 pound butter -- (4 sticks or 2 cups) 3 cups dark brown sugar 8 eggs 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
The day before you make the fruitcake, combine all the dried fruits, the nuts, and citrus zests in a large mixing bowl or kettle. Sprinkle on the candied ginger and the spices, and toss well to mix. Add the molasses, brandy, and orange liqueur, and mix well. Cover and let stand overnight, stirring once or twice. (The mixture may sit for several days, if you wish. Stir it occasionally, and add a little more brandy if it has been absorbed.)
The day you make the cakes, preheat the oven to 275°E Grease four 9 x 5 x
3-inch loaf pans, line the bottoms with brown paper, grease the paper, then roll flour about the pans to coat them lightly and evenly. Knock out excess flour.
Sprinkle 1 cup of the flour over the fruit mixture and stir well. Combine the remaining 3 cups flour with the baking powder, baking soda, and salt, and sift them together onto a piece of waxed paper; set aside. Cream the butter, then add the brown sugar and beat well. Add the eggs two at a time, beating well after each addition, then beat in the vanilla. Add the combined dry ingredients and beat until the batter is thoroughly blended and perfectly smooth. Pour the batter over the fruit mixture (you might need to do this in a large tub or a clean dishpan if you have made the full recipe) and mix well until all of the pieces of fruit are coated with batter-your clean hands are the best tools for this.
Divide the batter among the prepared loaf pans, filling them within 1/2 inch of the top. Bake the cakes for about 2 hours: each cake will rise just above the rim of the pan, the top will crack slightly in several places, and there will be a faint line of shrinkage around the edge of the pan. An ice pick or long wooden skewer inserted in the center of a cake should come out clean, or with just a slight residue of sticky fruit, but no raw batter. Remove the cakes from the oven and place them on a rack to cool for about 30 minutes. Turn out of the pans, peel off the waxed paper, and let cool top side up on a rack. If you wish, pour an additional tablespoon or two of brandy over the cakes as they cool.
To store: Wrap each one first in plastic wrap, then in a secure wrapping of foil, and keep in a cool place. Or, if you wish, you may first wrap each cake in a brandy-soaked cloth, then in foil, and store as directed above. The cakes will keep for months. To serve, cut in thin slices with a long serrated knife.
On Tue 28 Feb 2006 09:55:12a, Thus Spake Zarathustra, or was it Shirley Ward?
You're welcome. Obviously, this makes a lot of cake, and the recipe can be reduced, at least by half. I almost always make the full recipe, however, because it stores/freezes quite well.
As I said, I wasn't able to compare the various cakes yet, but this has been my favorite for many years.
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