Calculating how much cake to make in VS .NET

Maker Code 128 Code Set C in VS .NET Calculating how much cake to make

In many instances, your design starts with the shape of a cake: hexagon, square, circle, petal, heart, oval, or rectangle When you know the shape, you can narrow down the size of that shape based on the selection of cake pans available Most shapes come in many sizes; for example, round pans usually start at 6 inches in diameter, and a rectangular or sheet cake can be anywhere up to 18-x-24-inches in size I often get asked this question: How can I be sure that I ll have enough cake I always err on the side of having too much cake Leftovers are easy to dole out, and people are compelled to return for seconds when the cake tastes good Ultimately, you never want someone to be left with an empty plate because there was a run on the cake Too much cake is better than not enough, but let s be real, too: A sheet cake for 40 looks ridiculous at an intimate gathering of 6, so some thoughtful planning is necessary If you re planning to be at the event to cut the cake, decide beforehand how the cake can be cut (and even make it a step in your design process) Even go

as far as sketching up a sample cutting template or diagram If it s an oddly shaped cake or features several layers, it s helpful to know ahead of time how to efficiently parcel it out into appetizing pieces of cake If you don t plan to be at the event, create cutting guidelines for whoever does the honors For more information about the different shapes of cakes, and how many servings they can yield, check out 22 Be prepared to adjust your cutting plan to slice smaller but still substantial pieces of cake if more guests than were expected show up Table 5-1 has some general guidelines for common cake sizes and their yields

Table 5-1

8-inch heart 9-inch round 9-inch hexagon 77 8-x-103 4-inch oval 10-inch square 9-x-13-inch rectangle 12-x-18-inch rectangle (half-sheet)

2 2 2 2 2 1 1

10 12 12 14 16 18 36

Like any specialty, cake decorating has its own words and phrases that are uniquely special to the art and craft of the process As you embark on creating an amazing design perfect for the occasion at hand, familiarizing yourself with this jargon sets you on course to dive in and master the recipes and designs for delicious, memorable cakes

As far as tools and utensils are concerned, you depend on icing spatulas to spread your frosting, smooth it out, and make it conducive to decoration In addition, you may decorate your cake with different applications of frosting To do so, you place the frosting in pastry bags and use couplers to attach tips in various sizes and designs Those tips, along with the pressure you apply to the pastry bag, produce different effects A tool that fits in the tip category

(but isn t actually a tip, per se) is the flower nail, which you use as a platform on which to pipe the petals, ruffles, edges, and stamens of flowers, from roses to lilacs and chrysanthemums to carnations For the cake itself, you put each layer on a cardboard base for easier movement and transporting during the decorating process, and you may need to place it on an elevated turntable to make it easier to decorate You need to prepare a cake board to host the finished cake; the board may be made of wood, foam core, or a similar sturdy substance and be covered with your choice of decorative materials Whatever you use may need to be wrapped again with a protective layer such as thick cellophane that s easy to wipe off so that your final presentation is neat and tidy and not smudged with frosting