Cakes and some extra money

Women, especially housewives who find extra time on their hands, might do well to look at some endeavors which could bring in extra money. Baking cakes has proven to be profitable. It can start at home and develop into a good peso-earning enterprise.

Attractive and colorful decorations make any baked product more attractive – added to its delicious taste, of course. The aspiring home-baker is afforded help by some professionals and food solutions outfits which offer easy techniques in cake decorating. Gourdo’s is one of them. They  have scheduled courses following the principles and techniques of the Wilton method of decorating, which was developed in Chicago, USA 85 years ago and which has successfully continued to help bakers in developing their artistic skills on cakes and cupcakes. The courses will be held at Gourdo’s in Alabang Town Center and at the Poduim in Pasig in  February and March with two of the leading cake decorators in the country, both certified Wilton method instructors, presiding over the classes.

Peachy Juban, who is known for her signature lantern cake, has won prestigious cake decorating competitions in Bangkok and Singapore. Likewise Jackie Ang-Po has brought fame to the country by placing prominently with her plated desserts, also in Singapore. They will conduct the classes touching on the use of buttermilk, royal icing, fondant and gum paste to more advanced techniques plus how to make realistic flowers. The schedule in Alabang is as follows – Feb. 22-23; Mar. 13-14 and Mar. 29-30. In Podium – Feb. 15-16; Mar. 5 -6 and Mar. 22-23. For details call tel. 812-2022 or log on to www.gourdos.com.

One enterprising young wife and mother, Joy Lim, has established an outfit offering food solutions. She has good credentials, considering she operated a successful restaurant before she ventured to the US, where she was exposed to state-of-the-art food preparations. Back in the country with her son Charles, who is now a chef, she put up C & J Gourmet Food Inc., a commissary which caters to the needs of food suppliers.

The company has come up with bottled mixes, among them the rare fresh tulingan sardines cooked in olive oil, with chunks of gherkins, capers and garlic, ingeniously blending very well the slight saltiness of the fresh fish and the sour taste of the pickles. It sells for P295.

Another unique product is bottled tinapa done with the Chinese XO sauce in olive oil. Some of their products are carried by the Metro SuperMarket. The company is based in 50 North Tirona, B. F. Homes, Parañaque City, tel. 828-6597. 

Think extra money, think food.

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