Using a Microwave

Melting chocolate in the microwave is quick and easy. However, it’s vital that you melt your chocolate in the correct container. Ideally, you should use a container that will stay relatively cool even after it has been microwaved for several minutes. This is so the container doesn’t continue to heat the chocolate after you have removed it from the microwave.

If your microwave has a low power setting, use this to melt your chocolate. If not, heat your chocolate in short bursts and stir it using a plastic spatula between each bout of heat. If you accidentally overheat your chocolate, immediately pour it into a cool container, add some more chocolate chunks and stir continuously. Your chocolate is ready when it is completely melted and looks smooth and shiny.

Using a Bain Marie

Melting chocolate over a bain marie is slower than using a microwave, but it gives you more control over the melt. To melt chocolate using a bain marie, first fill a saucepan about half way with water. Bring this water to the boil. While the water is heating, put your chocolate chunks into a glass bowl. This bowl should fit snugly in the top of the pan, but shouldn’t make contact with the water in it.

Once the water has come to a boil, take it off the heat and place your chocolate bowl over the pan. As the chocolate starts to melt, stir it continuously with a plastic spatula. When the chocolate is almost completely melted, take the bowl off the pan of water. Continue to stir the chocolate until it is completely melted and looks smooth and shiny.

Some General Tips

•    Never let water come in contact with your chocolate. Even a few droplets could make your melted chocolate unusable. Make sure your bowls and kitchen utensils are completely dry before working with chocolate.

•    You chocolate should be chopped or broken into uniformly-sized pieces. This will help ensure that it melts evenly.

•    Always melt chocolate over a low heat. If it is heated too quickly, lumps can form in the mixture.

•    When stirring your chocolate, always stir the outside edges into the centre. This is because the outer edges begin to melt faster.

Once your chocolate pieces have melted and the melted chocolate has been tempered, you can use it in your chocolate making projects. With silicone chocolate moulds (similar to the silicone cake moulds used in baking), you can quickly and easily create fun chocolate shapes for your family and friends.

Cake decorating is the perfect matrimony of baking and craft. Not only do you get to create delicious deserts, you can also mould them into stunning works of art. Also it’s possible to use cake decorating skills to make impossibly complicated designs, creating an impressive centrepiece is easier than you may think. With a few simple tips and some cake decorating equipment, you can create a stunning decorated cake for your next event or special occasion.

Baking the Cake

A simple sponge is the basis of most decorated cakes. You can use any recipe you like for this, but it’s recommended that you bake a cake that is relatively dry so it provides a solid base for your decoration. You may have to bake a number of cakes depending on how many layers you want your final creation to have. Once your cakes have been baked and removed from their cake moulds, you can trim the top and bottom off them, allowing you to moisten the layers with sugar syrup.

Trimming and Slicing

When trimming your cake, you should lay it flat on a cutting board. Lightly score the edge of your cake when you want to make your cut. Place one hand on top of the cake and insert your knife to the middle. Use a gentle sawing motion with the knife while turning the cake to remove a thin layer. Repeat the process on the bottom.

If you wish to add a layer of buttercream to the centre of your cake, you will have to slice it in two. Do this in the same way you trimmed the cake, taking care to keep your knife level. You can then add the buttercream layer with a spatula and sandwich the two halves together.

Icing the Cake

You can ice your cake using the same buttercream that you used for the filling. For a professional looking cake, you should add two layers of icing. The first is called a ‘crumb coat’, designed to catch all the crumbs so the second layer looks clean. You then add the final layer over this.

Start by roughly covering the cake with your buttercream icing. Once all parts of the cake, including the sides, are thoroughly covered, you can then use a palette knife to create sharp edges. Pass the knife cleanly around the sides, forming a rim of icing at the top of the cake. While rotating the cake, use your palette knife to smooth away the excess icing. You can always add more icing if you make a mistake.

You iced cake will then have a clean, professional finish. You can then serve the cake as it is, cover it with nuts or fruit, or you can use your cake decorating equipment to adorn you cake with words, patterns or models. You are only limited by your imagination!

These items can have a real charm and they’re also practical, which means they’re preferable to many other items you can find online or on shop shelves. If you’re sick of picking out clichéd gifts, you can check out the impressive selection of novel and interesting items we have to offer here at Abbiamo.

Quality pays off

One of the best things about the products we offer is their high quality. You can rely on our kitchen gifts to stand the test of time. When you’re trying to impress people with the items you hand over, it’s really important that they’re made to exacting standards.

Plenty of choice

Another great thing about using our website when you’re on the hunt for the ideal gifts is the fact that you’ve got so much choice. Whether you’re after unusual presents for a birthday, wedding, anniversary or any other event, we can help.

We offer everything from travel mugs to elegant tableware. If you’re stuck for inspiration, just take a look around our online catalogue.

Housewarming

These items can also make fantastic housewarming presents. When people move into new properties, they often need to stock up on a whole range of items and by handing them attractive and practical kitchen accessories you can really bring a smile to their faces.

Do some research

Regardless of why you’re buying the gifts, it’s a good idea to do a little research. To help minimise the risk that you’ll purchase items your loved ones already have, try to find out what they’re lacking in their kitchens.

If you visit their homes, cast a few glances around their kitchens to see what’s lining the shelves. Of course, you can’t go digging through their drawers and cupboards, but you should get a good general impression of what might be lacking. Also, pay attention to what they say. By picking up on comments people make about their homes and activities in general, you stand a better chance of buying the perfect products.

For example, if the person you want to buy for has just embraced a passion for baking, perhaps a cake mould would be perfect.

Simple

Buying presents from us is quick and simple. Even if you lead a busy life, you shouldn’t struggle to order the items you’re looking for. Rather than having to trawl the shops looking for items, you can simply sit back in the comfort of your own home or office and find what you’re after.

As long as you know at least roughly what you intend to buy, the whole process should take you a matter of moments and it really couldn’t be easier.

See for yourself

To check out our impressive range of items for yourself, just take a look around our online catalogue. It’s easy to navigate and you should find what you’re looking for in no time.

Once you’ve experience the convenience and pleasure of buying gifts from us, you might never look back!

If you want to be the perfect host or hostess when your friends and family head over to enjoy some food and drink, it’s important to bear a few simple principles in mind.

Preparation

Like many things in life, the success of dinner parties hinges largely on effective preparation. If you’re methodical and plan the events well, they should run smoothly. For example, it’s crucial that you’ve got all the kitchen supplies you need. Luckily, it’s now easier than ever to get your hands on practical and stylish items. Whether you need graters, slicers, measurers, mixers, pressers, basters or anything else, you’ll be able to find them here at Abbiamo. We can also supply you with all the designer tableware you need, including glasses, decanters, platters and more.

Also, ahead of your dinner party, check if any of your guests have food allergies or dislikes and make sure you omit these ingredients from your menu. Realising at the last minute that your dishes aren’t suitable can cause panic.

In addition, it’s worthwhile buying your ingredients a day or two in advance, unless you’re absolutely certain that you’ll be able to get your hands on everything you need. If you leave it until the morning or afternoon before your guests arrive and can’t find a crucial ingredient, you might have to make costly and stressful menu revisions.

The devil’s in the detail

To really wow your friends and family, it’s important to pay attention to detail. For example, make sure the dishes you serve work well together and it’s important to have drinks that match the food, whether they’re alcoholic or not.

Also, it pays off to prettify your staging area. Adding a fresh bunch of flowers as a table centrepiece and lighting a few candles can help to set the perfect tone for your soiree.

Make sure you enjoy yourself

Of course, these meals aren’t just about your guests. It’s important that you enjoy yourself too. As a general rule, do as much of the cooking as possible before your guests arrive. The more you’ve done in advance, the more time you’ll be able to spend around the table.

Ideally, it’s nice to get all of your prep done and dusted, get changed for the meal and then have a few minutes just to relax and unwind before the doorbell goes. This way, you’ll look and feel calm and on top of everything.

Serving

When it comes to serving your guests, try not to over face them by piling their plates with mountains of food. That said, make sure they have enough and it’s always good to be able to offer seconds. Of course, it’s also a basic hosting skill to ensure people’s glasses are always topped up.

See for yourself

If you’re keen to check out our range of kitchen products, including our cake moulds, just take a look around our website.

•    Keep your icing crumb-free by gliding your spatula – or whatever other cake decorating tools you are using – over the icing without letting it touch the cake’s surface. A large volume of thinner consistency should be placed near the middle of the cake.
•    Spread icing across the top, working towards the cake’s edges. The edge of the spatula can be used to smooth the top. Sweep the edge of the spatula from the edge inwards before lifting off and taking off excess icing.
•    If you’re covering the sides with icing, smooth them by holding the spatula upright with the side against the icing and slowly turning the cake board without lifting the spatula from the surface of the icing. Put excess icing back in the bowl and continue until you have smooth sides.
•    To make smoothing the icing more straightforward, dip the spatula in warm water, wipe dry and move across the whole surface. Leave the icing to set for at least 15 minutes before decorating. You may also want to place non-stick parchment paper on the top of the iced cake and use the palm of your hand to gently smooth it.

Some cake decorators like to ice the cake lightly first and let a slight crust form before putting on another layer of icing.

As a final tip, think about using something like corn syrup to think your icing and make spreading easier.

Cake Decorating Tools and More from Abbiamo

If you’re in the market for high end, quality designer baking equipment, check out what Abbiamo has to offer before you do anything else.

We represent designers from across the world, and our products are ideal if you share our passion for baking and being in the kitchen, whether you’re after cake moulds or anything else.

And, as well as looking good, our kitchenware is highly functional and our products stand out for the quality of their design, and the excellent way they were manufactured.

So check out what we have to offer, whether you are looking for yourself or want to treat someone else. After all, in Italian “abbiamo” means “we have” – and we strive to remain true to this by stocking every item featured on our website. At the same time, as Italians ourselves we have a love of food and firmly believe the kitchen is at the centre of family life, while also being addicted to the sheer romance of cookery and believing that even the most everyday kitchen object can be imbued with a sense of style.

Our family business was launched in 2011 and has been rapidly expanding and increasing in popularity. We aim to become Britain’s leading online store for kitchenware, and one of the UK’s biggest specialist sellers of cookware and kitchenware.

Visit our website today to learn more.

Silicone is something we’ve all heard of, but how many of us could say exactly what it is? This material is actually chemically created through the production of a “spine” of silicone from sand and oxygen molecules – this is a combination which is not found naturally.

A number of other synthetic molecules are added to this basic core to make varying silicones which range from liquids to rubbery solids, and giving rise to a great variety of entirely manmade products.

The material can be set thanks to the application of heat, first when the product is manufactured, and afterwards during a long post-cure process. Injection moulding is another way of producing silicone.

If you’re getting into bakeware and other kitchen goods made from silicone, you can look forward to a number of benefits of these products.

You’re probably already aware of this material’s non-stick qualities – but here are some of the other advantages:

•    Within certain limits it is heat-resistant
•    Items made from this material are easy to maintain
•    Because of the different temperatures silicone can tolerate, this cookware can go from fridge to stovetop to freezer and microwave and back again – and can reduce the need for foil and cling film
•    When you take a silicone pot out of the oven, it cools down very quickly
•    Because it’s a very stable material, and it’s not toxic in any way, you won’t find it reacting with or leaking into liquids or foods
•    After items have been used for a very long time, they can eventually be recycled
•    Some products made from this material can be folded away and stored, since the material is quite flexible
•    It is also stain resistant and dishwasher safe
•    Food smells and flavours don’t linger

When it comes to kitchen goods and kitchen gifts, you’ll find a great variety of products to choose from made of silicone, including spatulas, baking trays, rolling pins and cake moulds.

Cake Moulds and More from Abbiamo

At Abbiamo, we’re all about high-end designer kitchenware and stock a range of leading brands. And our contemporary, smart-looking products may be designer, but they’re also very functional and practical.

We can help you if you’re looking for interesting, quality products that come from around the world.

In fact, we’re better by design! What we offer stands out for the quality of manufacture and materials used, and they make wonderful gifts for someone who is never out of their kitchen.

Our silicone cake moulds, for example, are ideal as presents. We have them for every preference and level of skill, whether you are new to baking or highly experienced. Our moulds come from only leading brands in today’s marketplace.

And shopping from us couldn’t be easier. We offer a range of seriously secure payment options, and we sell our extensive choice of quality products at extremely competitive prices.

You could find yourself experimenting with styles and designs you had never previously considered! Learn more from our website.

Keep Everything Cold

When making pastry, your aim should be to produce something that’s light, tasty and easy to eat. In order to do this, everything should be kept as cool as possible when making it. If the fat in your mixture gets too warm, it will absorb too much flour and your pastry will be heavy and tough. Use butter and liquids that have come straight out of the refrigerator. If your mixture starts to look yellow, it’s could be a sign that it’s got too warm. Put it in the fridge and allow it to cool down completely before continuing. You should also aim to keep your hands cool, so wash them in cold water before working your mixture.

Avoid Greasing Your Kitchen Utensils

The kitchen utensils that you use to prepare your pastry should not be greased. It could damage the integrity of your pastry. You should also avoid greasing or flouring your kitchen work surfaces. In order to stop your pastry from sticking, use non-stick silicone kitchenware and roll it out on a silicone baking sheet. Silicone cake moulds are also great for making pies and tarts, producing an even bake and making it simple to remove your creations without having to use grease.

Add Liquid Gradually

Don’t add all your liquid to your crumb mixture in one go. Add a small amount and bring everything together with a spatula. If the mixture looks too dry, add a little more liquid and bring everything together again. This helps to evenly distribute the liquid throughout your pastry mixture. If you accidentally add too much liquid, work a little flour into your mixture. Stop working your mixture once it looks smooth and even to keep the fat cool.

Rest the Dough

Once your dough is finished, you should rest it in the fridge for at least 30 minutes before rolling out and baking. This will help to relax the gluten in your mixture. Wrap the dough in cling film to stop it from drying it. You can also rest the dough again after you have rolled it out to relax the gluten further and help prevent shrinkage when baking. However, you should still allow for shrinking when putting your pastry in its baking tin. Press your pastry into the sides of the tin and allow plenty of overhang. The excess pastry can be trimmed off once it’s baked.

Bake Until Dry

There’s nothing worse than soggy pastry! It should be baked until it is dry and crispy. If you are baking blind a pie or tart shell, line it with greaseproof paper and fill it with baking beans. This will help keep the shape of the shell as it cooks. Remove the paper and beans for the last few minutes of baking to dry and give it an even, golden colour.

In order to give yourself the best possible start, you will need all the right products – and that’s where we can help. We can provide an extensive range of cake decorating tools to get you up and running, and they are available at a very competitive price.
Here’s what you’ll need:

Icing Tools
Icing tools should be at the top of your shopping list if you want to start creating stunning models and cakes that you’ll be proud of. It’s important you invest wisely in sugar craft modelling tools as they’ll quickly become a staple piece in your cake decorating collection; therefore, we recommend our Tala icing tools which are very durable and can help you create the perfect finishing touch when decorating a cake with sugar paste, marzipan or icing.

Icing Bags and Nozzles
As well as using sugar paste and marzipan to decorate your cake, you can also use butter cream or royal icing to decorate your cakes. Therefore, it would be a worthwhile investment to purchase a high quality icing bag and nozzles. Our Tala icing pack contains a dependable icing bag as well as 8 nozzles to create different icing designs.

A Cake Decorating Turntable
A turntable is essential for all those who are serious about cake decorating, as they can aid the cake decorating process and offer easier control when decorating with royal icing, butter cream and more. So you can focus on the task at hand and not on the safety of your cake.

A Pallet Knife
The versatile pallet knife is a must-have for every baker, as it is ideal for icing, scraping, spreading, filling and flipping cakes. So, whether you are using royal icing to cover a cake, spreading jam in between two sponges or scraping away any excess icing, you should ensure you opt for a high quality pallet knife that won’t let you down – and that’s exactly what you’ll find when you come to us here at Abbiamo.

Cake Stands and Drums
The appeal of your cake goes beyond the basic design of the cake itself, as it’s important you incorporate additional products to really bring your design to life. Therefore, you should opt for sophisticated and elegant cake stands or drums that can perfectly display your work of art. Whether you want to display a Victoria sponge, cupcakes, a carrot cake or more, you should be sure to browse our exceptional cake stands and drums.

So, now you know what basic cake decorating tools you need, what are you waiting for? Head to our cake decorating collection today and get started!

You will need
For the sponge:
10.6oz unsalted butter
10.6oz caster sugar
5oz soft light brown sugar
3 eggs
3.5oz cocoa powder
160ml buttermilk
1 tsp vanilla essence
11.6oz plain flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
½ tsp salt
For the salty caramel:
7oz caster sugar
2 tbsp golden syrup
120ml double cream
60ml soured cream
1 tsp fine sea salt

For the frosting:
7oz caster sugar
2 tbsp golden syrup
360 ml double cream
15.9oz dark chocolate, chopped, plus extra to decorate
15.9oz unsalted butter, softened
Sea salt flakes, for sprinkling

Method
For the salted caramel -

• In a small saucepan bring the sugar and golden syrup to the boil with 60ml of water, and boil for about 10 minutes.  It will turn syrupy and a rich caramel colour which is when it should be removed from the heat.

• In another pan bring to the boil the double cream, soured cream and salt and then remove from the heat. The salt should completely dissolve.

• Add the cream to the sugar syrup when it is ready, remove it from the heat and carefully add the hot cream. It will bubble up as you pour in the cream, but then become a creamy golden colour. Pour the salted caramel into a small bowl and set aside to cool.

Frosting -

• In a small, clean saucepan, bring the caster sugar and golden syrup to the boil with 60ml of water, again allowing this to boil for around 10 minutes or until it is syrupy and dark caramel coloured.

• In another pan, bring the double cream genitally to the boil. Carefully pour the hot cream into the caramel.  Again, it will bubble up, but then calm. Set this mixture to one side to cool slightly.

• When it has cooled, add the chopped chocolate and stir while the chocolate melts. Use a electric whisk to mix the frosting for about 10 minutes at which point the mixture should be cool.

• Add the butter to the frosting and whisk until the mixture is light in colour and looks slightly whipped. Transfer to a bowl, cover and set aside in the fridge to cool, approx 40–50 minutes.

The Cake -

• Preheat the oven to 170°C/gas mark 3, and line the bases of 3 springform tins with baking parchment.

• Use a electric mixer or whisk to cream together the butter and both types of sugars until light and fluffy.

• Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition and scraping down the sides of the bowl to stop the mixture curdling make sure your eggs are not cold.

• Take a jug and mix the cocoa powder, buttermilk and vanilla essence with 60ml of water to form a thick paste.

• Sift together the sponge ingredients and then add these in stages to the creamed butter and sugar mixture.  Alternate adding these ingredients with the cocoa powder paste.

• Mix on a low-to-medium speed until all the ingredients are incorporated.

• Divide the cake mixture into three prepared cake tins and bake for approximately 25 minutes.  The top of each sponge should feel springy to the touch and will turn the tip of a Nordic Ware Cake Thermometer red. Allow the sponges to cool slightly in their tins before turning out using a Nordic Ware Cake Lifter to make the job easy.  Leave them to cool on a cooling rack  before assembling.

Cake Decoration -

• Once the sponges feel cold, place one on a plate, or Tala Cake Decorating Turntable and top with two heaped tablespoons of the salted caramel, spreading it evenly over the sponge with a palette knife.  Then add 3-4tbsp of the frosting over the caramel and smooth it out as before.

• Repeat this process, sandwiching together the other two sponges with the remaining salty caramel and a layer of frosting.  Ensure you leave frosting to cover the sides and top of the chocolate cake.

• Finally, decorate the top with shaved chocolate and a light sprinkling of the sea salt flakes.

• Use a Nordic Ware Cake Lifter to transfer to a cake drum to give you cake a final professional touch!

Use Good Quality Ingredients

You get out of your cupcakes what you put into them. A cupcake will only offer delicious perfection if you use good quality ingredients when baking them. Use good quality unsalted butter instead of margarine and flavour your cupcakes using vanilla pods or vanilla extract instead of vanilla essence. Although these ingredients can be slightly more expensive, you will get a much better flavour in your cupcakes. You should also use large, free range eggs to get the best results out of your cakes.

Let Your Ingredients Come to Room Temperature

Before you start making your cupcakes, set out all your ingredients and let them come to room temperature. If all your ingredients are at a similar temperature, they will incorporate in a batter much more easily. So, in order to achieve the perfect cupcakes, make sure you leave out your butter, flour, eggs and sugar about 20 minutes before you start baking. Although this will require a little more time, it’s worth it. It’s one of the easiest ways to improve the quality of your baked cupcakes.

Use a Good Quality Cupcake Pan

When baking cupcakes, make sure you use a dedicated cupcake pan. Large muffin pans won’t give you the ideal results. A good quality cupcake pan will also help you bake perfect cakes. Silicone cake moulds are ideal. Silicone baking equipment is non-stick, meaning your cakes will be released easily, and will cook your cupcakes evenly all over.

Don’t Over-Bake Your Cakes

Perfect cupcakes should moist yet light and fluffy on the inside. If you over-bake your cakes, they will be heavy on the inside and it will be impossible to save them. Set a timer to make sure that you take your cakes out at the right time. You can also use an oven thermometer to check that it’s at the correct temperature. When they’re done, your cupcakes should be golden brown all over. You can also test your cupcakes by putting a toothpick inside them. If the toothpick comes out clean, your cakes are done.

Mix Your Batter Gently

In order to bake light, fluffy cupcakes, you need to create air bubbles in your batter that will expand when you bake your cakes in the oven. These air bubbles are created by mixing your batter gently. If you over mix your batter, you will destroy these air bubbles. Your cakes will then be heavy and unpleasant to eat. To avoid this, stop mixing your batter as soon as the ingredients have combined.