I received one of the nicest presents this year for Christmas from my kids. It was a class offered by Zingermans Deli/Bakery in Ann Arbor that taught you how to make three cakes from scratch. I have made Texas Sheet Cake from scratch, but not Angel Food, Flourless Chocolate Torte, or Pineapple Upside Down Cake.
It was a 4 hour class and all cakes were made and finished in that time. We also received a discount at their bakery the night of the class and any drinks there that we wanted for free. Only thing not nice was that Natalie didn't come with Sarah and I. She would have liked it but something came up and she couldn't make it.
Here is their class list, my name tag, and recipe book. They offer pie, cookie, pizza, bread classes and more. So much fun but not cheap. Also, hard to get into because they fill up pretty fast.
Sarah getting ready to learn to Bake.
Check out this great technique. Think I am cracking and separating eggs.
Sarah showing off her first creation.
First cake we made was the Flourless Chocolate Torte. So rich and delicious dark chocolate. Really quite easy.
Here is a sweet girl we hooked up with. Sarah took pictures of her to send her via email since she forgot her camera. She was even more inexperienced making cakes from scratch than we were. Her hubby came to pick her up and enjoyed the tasting time with us. Sweet couple.
We had never made an Angel Food Cake before, not even from a mix. I am not sure Sarah had ever separated an egg. Well, we needed 12 so we each got to separate 6. It wasn't too bad. I only messed up one. Sarah did all six perfectly. Then we had to whip them. There was a certain consistency needed and they told us if we did it correctly, we should be able to hold up the bowl over our head upside down and nothing would come out. Looks like we did it RIGHT!
Dividing up the Angel Food batter. We each made two of those adorable little cakes. Actually used real vanilla beans in this cake. First time I ever did that.
The big ovens they used to bake the 30 some cakes we made that night. Kept the girl busy running back and forth checking all the cakes and getting them cool enough to take home.
Everything was so organized with two ladies helping the instructor. All the ingredients were set up for each person. One lady just did dishes the whole night. There were 10 ladies in the class. 
Our instructor was a great teacher. He showed us how to do everything and then we did it all by ourselves.
Delicious Angel Food Cake. Everything was wrapped so cute to take home in Zingerman boxes and bags. We sampled the instructors cakes and were able to take ours home uncut. Used them for lunch on Sabbath that week.
Sarah's flourless chocolate cake was just about perfect. Mine was pretty good also.
The best ever Pineapple Upsidedown Cake. Made with fresh pineapples and frozen MI cherries. Ummmmmmmmmm! We liked it the best and didn't think we would like it at all. Made with the most expensive Brown Sugar around and tasted like it.
Our instructor was a great teacher. He showed us how to do everything and then we did it all by ourselves.
Delicious Angel Food Cake. Everything was wrapped so cute to take home in Zingerman boxes and bags. We sampled the instructors cakes and were able to take ours home uncut. Used them for lunch on Sabbath that week.
Sarah's flourless chocolate cake was just about perfect. Mine was pretty good also.
The best ever Pineapple Upsidedown Cake. Made with fresh pineapples and frozen MI cherries. Ummmmmmmmmm! We liked it the best and didn't think we would like it at all. Made with the most expensive Brown Sugar around and tasted like it.
4 comments:
What a cool gift. I LOVE Zingermann's. My daughter and SIL lived a stone's through from Zingermann's for 3 1/2 years when Chris was at the university. If you exited the store and took a left, walked through the passageway by the brick high school, you'd see their place across the street. They were at Zingermann's all the time. Have you had their cranberry walnut bread they make at the holidays?
Oh, the cakes look delicious! I never thought of using fresh pineapple when making pineapple upside down cake. I'll have to try that. Homemade angel food cake (without icing) is my favorite cake and Bob usually makes one for my birthday each year.
That is so cool! I want to do that! Maybe I will have to come over there and do that sometime.
I heard about the fantastic baby shower you and your daughter put on for Natalie. Looking forward to your post about it and some close-up pictures of all the things you made. You two are a great team and so creative.
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