Hi everybody! I was on business last week down in Florida.
The weather was nice but I'm glad to be back home in Indiana
(is that Al Jolson I hear in the background?).

We'll have a Valentines Day dinner a day early, since Monday
we will all be busy. I made a New York cheesecake from the
recipe inside the Philadelphia cream cheese package. It
looks good and smells good. I double the crust because I
mold it up the sides, and then reduce the rest by 20% to
25% to keep it from overflowing. I made this to take into
work. They family doesn't much care for cheesecake. I've
got two cans of strawberry pie filling to dump on top of it.

I made the Hershey's chocolate cake in two 9" pans for the
family. Both got really big splits in the middle. I've
heard that can happen if you overbake them, but the splits
were there when I opened the oven and knife-tested them at
30 minutes and they weren't done yet. The wife found some
cooling racks for the cake that are really nice. The
countertop underneath them gets soaked.

I think the wife is tired of the heavy-duty chocolate taste
that I get when I use the Hershey's icing, too. Any ideas
on a good alternative icing that wouldn't weigh so heavy on
the chocolate side?

When we come home from town I will make the icing and then
make some pralines for the daughter. She loves them but
they're a bit too sugary for me.

Oh! Happy Valentines Day!

Thanks, Michael

"Michael" > wrote in
ups.com:

> I think the wife is tired of the heavy-duty chocolate taste
> that I get when I use the Hershey's icing, too. Any ideas
> on a good alternative icing that wouldn't weigh so heavy on
> the chocolate side?
>
> When we come home from town I will make the icing and then
> make some pralines for the daughter. She loves them but
> they're a bit too sugary for me.
>
> Oh! Happy Valentines Day!
>
> Thanks, Michael
>

I hear tell that nutella is good in frostings, cream cheese style ones.

--
No Bread Crumbs were hurt in the making of this Meal.
Type 2 Diabetic 1AC 5.6mmol or 101mg/dl
Continuing to be Manitoban

"Michael" >, if that's their real name, wrote:

>I think the wife is tired of the heavy-duty chocolate taste
>that I get when I use the Hershey's icing, too. Any ideas
>on a good alternative icing that wouldn't weigh so heavy on
>the chocolate side?

This stuff tastes a lot like whipped cream, doesn't become runny after
time, isn't subject to changes in humidity, and freezes well. I use raw
egg whites every time it's just for us. When we're contributing to a
potluck or something, I use powdered egg whites, just in case.


* Exported from MasterCook *

Creamy White Frosting

Recipe By :Gail )
Serving Size : 18 Preparation Time :0:20
Categories : frostings

Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method
-------- ------------ --------------------------------
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup shortening
1 cup sugar
1 egg white -- beaten foamy
2/3 cup skim milk -- lukewarm
1 teaspoon vanilla

1. With electric mixer, cream together the butter, shortening, and sugar.
2. Add egg white and beat well.
3. Add milk and vanilla, and beat for 10 minutes.

Description:
"This luscious frosting tastes like whipped cream!"
Copyright:
"RFC 3/10/1999"

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Per serving: 143 Calories (kcal); 11g Total Fat; (66% calories from fat);
1g Protein; 12g Carbohydrate; 14mg Cholesterol; 60mg Sodium
Food Exchanges: 0 Grain(Starch); 0 Lean Meat; 0 Vegetable; 0 Fruit; 2 Fat;
1/2 Other Carbohydrates

NOTES : Frosts: 2 - 9" layers or 1 -13x9" oblong

Hahabogus >, if that's their real name, wrote:

>I hear tell that nutella is good in frostings, cream cheese style ones.

It's also good mixed with mascarpone cheese. Talk about decadent!

Carol
--
"Years ago my mother used to say to me... She'd say,
'In this world Elwood, you must be oh-so smart or oh-so pleasant.'
Well, for years I was smart.... I recommend pleasant. You may quote me."

*James Stewart* in the 1950 movie, _Harvey_

Thanks to Haha and Damsel for the icing suggestions! Nutella is a
new one on me. I'll have to check it out. And although I didn't
specifically ask for it, you read my mind Damsel with the icing like
whipped cream! I've been thinking of something like that. I've been
wanting to try a pound cake and slice it into really thin layers, use
a whipped cream icing between the layers, and then a big fat juicy
chocolate ganache on the outside.

Thanks again, Michael

"Michael" >, if that's their real name, wrote:

>Thanks to Haha and Damsel for the icing suggestions! Nutella is a
>new one on me. I'll have to check it out. And although I didn't
>specifically ask for it, you read my mind Damsel with the icing like
>whipped cream! I've been thinking of something like that. I've been
>wanting to try a pound cake and slice it into really thin layers, use
>a whipped cream icing between the layers, and then a big fat juicy
>chocolate ganache on the outside.

I guarantee that you'll love it. I've served it at a cook-in, and everyone
there is still posting, so no one died.

Carol
--
"Years ago my mother used to say to me... She'd say,
'In this world Elwood, you must be oh-so smart or oh-so pleasant.'
Well, for years I was smart.... I recommend pleasant. You may quote me."

*James Stewart* in the 1950 movie, _Harvey_