paristaiwan's Profile

About the size issue:

You can find every size of these in China/Taiwan. Some places like to make them thin and crispy and large (diameter wise), some places like to make them smaller and thicker. It is really up to your taste. When I make a recipe this size I only divide into 4 parts, not 8. Then each part makes a cake that is approximately 2cm thick and average frying pan sized. I then cut this into 8 pieces for eating.

And remember- the second resting time is also important. So rest for 30 minutes before you roll it out- then rest for another 30 minutes after you put the filling in and have rolled it back up.

When you get the recipe down pat- you can start experimenting with other items to put inside as well. One place in Taiwan that I have gone to before makes these thin and large- then puts spicy thin sliced beef and full stalk green onions on the inside and rolls it up like a burrito almost. This is served at breakfast places.

There is a big difference from the one you have above and the second picture. What you have at the very top is what I would call a Foley Fork. It is a loved kitchen tool by many bakers and I think has its origin in Scandinavia as it is most easily found in the midwest of the USA. Some people also call them blending forks. I much prefer these names to the Granny Fork. I personally have one and have given many to my friends after they pass my pie baking course. It is much better for pastry than most pastry blenders and better for mashed potatoes than most mashers. Really- I can't think of anything better!

I use these silicone cups all of the time for all my cupcake and muffin type baking. They are absolutely convenient. What you need to do though is as soon as the cupcakes have cooled to the point that you can frost them- simply hold the cupcake by the bottom, flip it upside down, and gentle wiggle the cupcake free. Unlike a paper cupcake liner- the silicone mold should leave the cupcake edges glossy rather than crumbly. Then line the cupcakes up in some sort of Tupperware after you frost them so that they don't dry out. This is the only disadvantage of the silicone cups is that they don't protect the muffins/cupcakes from drying out quite as much as the paper liners do.

I also never use a cupcake/muffin pan with these. Just arrange them on a baking sheet and go for it. They were meant to be used like this- that is why they are so much stiffer than the paper and do not "peel off" of the cupcake so to speak. Try my method and tell me if it works!

I have the perfect solution! I use a common east Asian style of bedding which solves most of these problems- and some others; only a fitted sheet and two single duvets. Each person in the bed gets their own duvet. There are no sheets to steal and no blankets to steal. You also save a little money on bedding and can be more creative with your bedding by mixing and matching different duvet covers between the two of you. My husband and I have done this since we first started living together some 10 years ago. It is really a great solution!