Month: January 2011

Want to Know How Food Coloring Was Made Way Back Then?

Want to Know How Food Coloring Was Made Way Back Then?

Think flowers, think vegetables, think…bugs? On my Old School Pastry blog, I’ve found different recipes that were done by confectioner’s long before commercial food coloring was available to the masses. How to Make Yellow Food Coloring (Saffron) How to Make Green Food Coloring (Spinach) How …read more

National Pie Day – January 23, 2011

National Pie Day – January 23, 2011

Celebrate National Pie Day ! The photo left is a Buttermilk Pie cutouts of flower shapes for the crust border. Here are some other recipes to try from PastrySampler.com: Apple Butter Nut Tart Fresh Blackberry Pie Black Bottom Cherry Pie with a Nut Crust  Spiced …read more

Ingredients: Imitation Vanilla Used in Old Cookbooks

Ingredients: Imitation Vanilla Used in Old Cookbooks

In Old School Pastry, read about courmarin and tonka beans – they were once used in creating imitation vanilla flavor.

Just for Pastry Chefs (ok, and anyone who likes a little sweets)

Just for Pastry Chefs (ok, and anyone who likes a little sweets)

Pastry Chef line of t-shirts are being rolled out on both Pastry Sampler Pasty Chef Tshirts section and the Etsy site. We do custom orders  – is there a position you want to see on your t-shirt? (think ‘cake decorator’, etc.) Email us! We specialize …read more

Sugar Diamonds & Candy Jewels

Sugar Diamonds & Candy Jewels

Okay, you want a little bling or sparkle for a cake, and don’t know where to begin? There are special molds made just for that – molds for creating edible candy jewels for pastry. Depending on the material of the mold, they can be made …read more

What is Isomalt?

What is Isomalt?

Use isomalt as you would sugar.

Isomalt is a chemically-produced sugar substitute perfect for candy-making as it creates a more humidity- and moisture-resistant product. When it is being boiled, it doesn’t need any anti-crystallizing ingredients as it does a great job of resisting crystallization on its own.

Read more about isomalt and uses for it on PastrySampler.com: What is Isomalt & Isomalt Crystals?

Isomalt Crystals Bag: 1 LBS Isomalt 1 Lb. Isomalt (Magic Pearls) by ChefShop

What is Invert Sugar?

What is Invert Sugar?

Invert sugar is used to help prevent the crystallization from occurring, among other things. Read more about invert sugar from PastrySampler.com.

Sweet Fried Rice – Is There Such a Thing?

Sweet Fried Rice – Is There Such a Thing?

Sweet Fried Rice – Is there such a thing? There is if you find it on the Sandy Candy Factory Site. Their Sweet Fried Rice includes candy rice, candy eggs, candy peas and candy carrots. All inside a fun Chinese Take-out box. Haven’t tried it …read more