They shouldn't have assigned the blog to me today, because I'm going to bag on the tip. Oooh, the drama of an unregulated blog...
Here's the deal - I am NEVER going to bake one of those cake mixes. Never. Oh, don't get me wrong - our editorial team has deemed them good, and they are. I just don't believe in boxed cakes. They rank up there with fat free cheese (??) or fake sugars. Why bother? My equation? Eat less of the real thing, and bake fewer, but better cakes.
Now in this case, at least, the Daily Tip lists organic alternatives to other boxed cakes, so it's a step in the right direction. And as my mom tells me all the time - boxed cakes make mom's lives easier, because damn it - kids don't really care.
Well, I don't have kids yet. So I promise you - if you get a cake from me, I made it from scratch.
-Heather... off to figure out what cake to make for my sis-in-law's birthday...
Hmmm, chocolate with vanilla icing?
Even being gluten-free I’m not terrifically fond of mixes.
Happy Birthday, Ideal Bite!
As a side note, I’d love to see more “seasonal” tips. FI, how can I be more green (cool green towels and pool toys maybe) at the local public pool with my daughters and their gymnastics team? (for conditioning practices) I’d also love tips geared towards children, so I can teach my little ones how to live a comfortable, green life. :)
Thanks!
Oh, and Heather...yes, boxed cake mixes make a mom’s life so much easier, and it’s very true....children don’t care! Let them eat cake!
Congratulations on your third year. I’ve been reading your daily emailouts for at least two years. Sometimes its relevent and easily implementable, most times it’s not. In your third year, I would like to see facts, research, and links supporting your green statements linked with your daily bites. Also, more tips and encouragement for government officials to implement green standards for low income development. It’s the upper incomes that favour mandating hugging the earth to relieve their guilt, but lower income families could use green technology to help save money, be healthier, and reduce their maintenance to have a more comfortable lifestyle. That’s relevent.
I tried Dr. Ooetker. cake mix once. I NEVER use mixes. I am a from scratch kind of gal and I may never bake a cake from scratch again. It was awesome. I did add some extra unsweetened cocoa and a drop of really good vanilla to give it a richer flavor, but NO ONE suspected it was a box. In a pinch, it did the trick. It’s not your ordinary Betty Crocker! I got mine at Whole Foods for about 2.50 a box. ENJOY and thanks for the great tips!
I second the more gardens stuff - I loved the garden week series as it happened as I was starting to work in mine. Maybe something talking about non-plant things - like solar powered lights? or maybe even see if there’s a good green way to have a koi pond or other water effect? I want to add a pond or a bird bath but can’t stand the idea of stagnant water or running that much electricity.
Thanks, Ideal Bite, I love your tips and Happy Birthday! Too bad you are not anywhere near upstate New York, I’d make you some cookies.
What I am curious about are organic products found in grocery stores made by big companies such as Heinz. I read somewhere recently that many organic products found in big box stores are not as green as they appear to be- I’d like to know which brands to stay away from or which ones are okay to purchase.
Also, I’m getting married and I put some sheets made from beechwood on my registry and I was interested to know how green these technologies are; I haven’t heard anything about them. Thank you!
happy birthday!! :)
Happy Birthday! My mom never used a cake mix. Whether or not we could tell the difference (and I think her baking habits are why we can now), she could.
Happy Birthday!
I had the privilege of meeting Jen when she was speaking in Missoula. She explained to us that the Bite’s audience is predominantly female and that is clear in the daily tips. I think the Bite is a great idea but as a guy I would like to see a few more tips on guy related items. What’s the best way to dispose of old tires? Most people can’t afford a Prius right away so what can we do to make our existing gas guzzlers sip a little less gas? Is there a simple tune up that can get you more mpg and cleaner exhaust? How about a fuel additive tip? Fortunately I can ride my bike 90% of the time but most of America is not this lucky. That’s my 2 cents.
Keep up the good work! The Bite is making a big difference!
Happt birthday!
I’d like a tip on the best options for outside/kids/picnic dinneware. Paper, bamboo still end up in landfills. Melamine lasts but is it eco-friendly? Made from Urea, that’s formadehyde right? Plastic could be recycled and recycled, but who makes that? I saw the tip with “preserve” but what about more solid. that seems more like cups for a green kegger party. Are there metal or aluminum plates (really old school) that can be recycled? Thanks .
Happy Birthday! Thanks for keeping us informed. Happy planet, Cindi
Happy Birthday! I’ve been reading for about a year now and I love your tips! Maybe a few tips on how to do green on a budget would be good. I feel like everything thats good for the planet is bad for my bank account! Another cool thing would be a tip on recycled projects for kids or adults, to reuse things that would otherwise end up in the landfill.?.
Thanks again for the great tips!
Happy Birthday Ideal Bite. Awesome Tips!
I agree with the guy above. I’m not a guy but I would love to see more green “guy” stuff. Green home improvement for example, green car accessories, green wallets, green guy gifts. I want green tips for guys that I could follow or tell my hubby about. I do like green gardening tips too and for birthdays I really want to find biodegradable balloons and other green birthday decorations. Please help me with my search.
Happy Birthday!! Thank you for providing such great tips and extremely useful information...I’m constantly forwarding these!!
I’d like to see more local options...like if you’re traveling to Chicago, list some great restaurants that offer organic yummy food, local stores, etc....
keep up the AWESOME work!
Happy Big Huge Green Yummy Wonderful Birthday you Biteeeees!!!
As for the cake mix. Yeah, I say nix them. Everytime I make a cake using the mix there’s something empty about it. Making a cake (even if you’re a mom) is truly not that hard. The only extra step you’re going to take is mixing the flour with the baking soda and sugar pretty much. And don’t you typically keep baking soda and flour on hand anyway? I mean, think about it--the cake mixes are dry. Sometimes they throw milk powder in there which saves you the step of adding milk, but does that really save anyone time? You’ve still got to chuck in the eggs and usually some oil. (And butter is uuuuuber-better than oil.) Take this from someone who used to make massive batches of cookies every day for a cafe. It’s one thing trying to bake up a loaf of fresh baked bread. That takes loads of time and a degree of skill. But your basic cake or brownie or cookie recipe? It’s literally a piece of cake! Next time try from scratch even if you don’t really feel like it. I promise it doesn’t take more than an extra few minutes. And I bet there’s something you’ll enjoy about it, even if it’s just tasting that home baked goodness after all is said and done. Cheers!
If I’d known it was your birthday earlier...I’d have “baked you a cake!”
Happy BDay!
:-)
Happy Birthday Ideal Bite!
And for several of you looking for more “guy friendly” tips, maybe do a search for the Home Improvement tips from awhile back to get inspired :-) The tip archives are great - I’m always browsing through them!
Happy Birthday Biters! I’ve been reading for just over 6 months now and I love the tips. Having purchased my first house, I’ve been able to do several things to make it “greener.”
I’d also love to see more tips for going green on a limited budget. Thanks for all you do! Peace....
Happy Birthday, Ideal Bite!
Wow, I was thinking that Goodbaker was my little secret! I’m glad someone is finally giving them some light because their products are EXCELLEN-TE!
I took some of their chocolate chip cookies to a conference a few months ago and they literally disappeared off the table in front of my eyes!
I try to eat healthy foods but I don’t believe in depriving myself so, Goodbaker is a fabulous choice for me.
I clicked all the links in your organic cake tip and couldn’t find any local shopping information on any of the sites. I live in a fairly urban neighborhood with several health food stores and a Whole Foods not too far. In the interest of decreasing transportation energy use I would prefer to find it close by.
How about a tip on alternate birthday celebrations? At my work, we are INUNDATED with sweets and treats. There is a cake for every birthday, at least one a week. And this is a health care facility! Celebrations scream out for food, and no one will really feel honored with a plate of carrots. Fruit plates are better, but still not as celebratory. Ideas, please! We need to satisfy those who expect a cake, but how can we make it a treat and still healthy?
Happy Birthday! I’m fairly new to Ideal Bite(about a month) but not to being green(recycling about 20+yrs).Love the tips & the blog, getting a lot of good ideas from the blog comments. I will third the request for green tips on a budget. The spirit is willing but the wallet is low on $$$. We want to do our part but sometime just can’t afford to.More recycling tips would also be good.Keep up the great work!
Everyone - Thanks for the great ideas. Keep them coming.
Sharon - Goodbaker’s available at specialty health food stores. Dr Oetker and Pamela’s Products are carried at most of the natural food chains like Whole Foods. I was in Safeway a few weeks ago and they had Dr Oetker, too.
My Mom, a working mom way back then, always used box mixes and homemade frostings. One day she was in a hurry and frosted a hot cake (13” by 9") and we scooped up all the frosting that came bubbling up over the edge. I still remember that day from over 40 years ago! Anyway, box cakes always flop for me, so I make the whole thing from scratch. If you really want to impress, make a cheesecake. It is the easy way to make someone happy! Once you have the spring-form pan, or make the pie plate size, you are ready to roll!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU, and I love Cricket! my P. Welsh Corgi is named Chesse (rhymes with Jesse), and he’s about to turn 4.
Happy Birthday! Keep up the great info flow...I love your bites. Also, I’d love to see a regional/local guide that pertains to the links and ideas you send out. For example, links or addresses to stores in the area of a few big cities in each state which promote or offer goods & services that are all things Green…
Put a call out to your readers for input and additions to the list for the various cities.
Thanks & Happy Day!
Happy Birthday, Ideal Bite! I love hearing from you. You helped me find my wedding dress!
Regarding boxed v. from scratch cakes, I “go both ways”. There’s definitely an occassion/reason for both. A basic German Chocolate or yellow is worth the short cut (I’ll “doctor” the mix, though, by adding extra ingredients to make it more moist or enhance flavors). But a decadent bete noir or Sachertorte (or any torte, for that matter; I like to grind my own nuts for the flour) I find it impossible to make any short cut. And cheesecakes? From scratch, whether from dairy or soy products. A certain large company would *like* you to think this is possible to do from a mix, but they also would like you to think mac’n’cheese comes out of a blue box, and is neon orange… I disagree on both counts!
What I yearn to learn from Year Three is an environmentally friendly way to refinish furniture. I know that’s asking a lot. Not just dealing with lead-based paint (thankfully, not much of that), but stripping stains. Also, other ways of helping my older home convert to a greener home, after many decades of not-so-green care. Our flower beds and grass are either naturalized or being handled organically, but how do we deal with knotty pine panelling, painted woodwork, hardwood floors, linoleum, plaster walls, and the like?
Thank you, and stay in good health in your third year!
Happy Birthday!
If you want a fast, easy alternative to box cake, try the “Melt-in-Your-Mouth Chocolate Cake” at chocolateandzucchini.com (archives).
Only 5 ingredients: butter, chocolate, sugar, eggs, and flour-- you have those in your kitchen, right?-- and 25 min to bake! (And the tablespoon of flour isn’t even necessary-- it can be ommitted or replaced with a gluten-free alternative like rice flour.)
It can also be prepared ahead of time, and actually gets better as it sits. Blog readers report that it makes good cupcakes, too. And you can brag about the French origins, if you’re into that sort of thing ;).
So there’s another option for biter bakers. I may have to go make one now…
Amen Sister Friend! I would rather have no cheese at all than waxy fake fat-free cheese. There is no point to eating a fat-free version of something that does not even resemble the flavor of the original.
Not a Related Subject
How about a gardening article? I’m into the gardening now that tomatoes are ripe down here.
Posted by: Jen | June 20, 2007 at 02:55 AM