pastrygirl

Makes it easier to pick off the greasy part 😏

@SchiehallionHandmade is it going in and out of the fridge and getting condensation that would allow mold to grow?

Oh, maybe, I'd never heard of that, always fun to learn about different types of sweets ... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tablet_(confectionery) https://www.thespruceeats.com/traditional-home-made-scottish-tablet-435825 Even if it's softer than fudge I would think all that sugar would inhibit mold growth ... already way more than 50% sugar by weight then you cook most of the liquid off 🤔

No experience, but I thought fudge lasted forever. What are your tablets? Not solid chocolate bars?

I dropped my roller stones on the concrete floor and chipped a chunk from the edge of one wheel. Aside from a slight loss of efficiency, any reason why I can't still use it?

Melangers.com has this: https://www.melangers.com/collections/spare-parts/products/food-grade-2-part-high-strength-epoxy

what a nightmare!

Or this effect but 3D- dip in color then pipe around the shell then dip in sprinkles. Still a few steps but maybe less tedious? You could do a variety.

How about something like these from Savour School? Of course you don't want the point and maybe not the swirl, but ... Draw your primary colors on white chocolate then dip into the center so the colors go down the sides. A little more abstract but if your colors are bright it could work.

Can you paint the shells with colored cocoa butter instead of the two-step goo and sprinkles?

Basically sweetened fruit purée preserved with vinegar, kind of a syrup but less sweet. Makes a refreshing non-alcoholic drink when mixed with club soda. Use maybe an ounce of shrub per glass of soda. Can certainly be used with alcohol as well.

Thanks for the update! I’ll be interested to hear your experience with a high volume operation.

Know your audience and who eats what. I like the idea of something non-perishable instead of more cookies that need to be eaten right away, also some savory options. How about chili oil, spiced nuts and cheesy crackers? One brother always makes Chex mix at Xmas, not fancy but I love it. Shrubs with seasonal fruit and vinegar are a nice alternative to jam, fruity but lower sugar. I never eat the jam people give me, but I’d drink a shrub.

Don't skimp on ventilation.

I think a nice plated shot or a close-up is sexier than a hotel pan. Also action shots, if you have a cheesy lasagna, get that string of mozzarella as it pulls away.

What are the dimensions of your caramels? 5 g sounds like enough for a small piece but better safe than sorry. If you end up with an extra kg or two of chocolate, Christmas is coming soon enough.

I use bubble wrap.

Knudsen has a 'Just Cranberry' unsweetened juice https://www.rwknudsenfamily.com/products/single-fruit-juices/organic-just-cranberry

I was going to say lemon curd too, but how about lime curd for the margarita shooter? And yolk-based orange buttercream in the macarons. You could do creme brulees in demitasse cups or make something with a creme anglaise or pastry cream type layer. Or a more shootable shooter of berries in a shot of creme anglaise? https://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2017/11/french-vanilla-buttercream-frosting-recipe.html

Is it solid chocolate or filled with something? Is the garnish a plain raisin? Sometimes I get small lumps of silk in my chocolate, but not that small, and it looks pretty good otherwise (not dull and streaky) so I'm wondering if something salty or syrupy is drawing water 🤔

I'm curious about it. A friend from high school has been doing intermittent fasting - along with exercise and diet changes - and has lost 50 lb and seen improvement in other health measures. I'm trying to cut down on snacks before bed, not eating from 7pm - 9am should be do-able if I try. Is 14 hours the minimum number of fasting hours to make a difference? My friend says she only eats 3-8pm, I don't know if I could go that long.

Adding freeze dried fruit to soak up the juice might work, and will add intensity of flavor. I can't give a ratio, but if you're near a Trader Joe's, try a packet or two of their freeze dried strawberries crushed up and mixed into fresh and see what happens.

Also useful for ebelskivers, poffertjes, faux doughnut holes ... and quail eggs!

E. coli doesn’t always wash off, that spinach was contaminated at the farm. E. Coli was in the spinach, not on the spinach. The safer approach is to cook everything.

Some folding tables extend to bar/counter height. Otherwise consider a set of risers for your current table. Search for bed risers or furniture risers, they should be about $20.