My department is having a freaking bake sale on monday!

[JVS]

And I can't get away with just buying some shit at the store. What should I bake and how much of it? My baking experience is limited to corn bread and frozen pizzas. I've also made some pumpkin pies, but I'm no betty crocker. Should I just buy some tubes of cookie dough or what?

[KitchenWitch]

1. Do the cornbread

that is unusual enough that it will sell.

[JVS]

2. Yeah, but it is messy and crumbly and hard to transport.

Know any recipes for Pfeffernuesse?

[KitchenWitch]

3. Ah, no

Do chocolate chip bars...same as cookies only in a square pan.

[JVS]

6. I was thinking of peanutbutter cookies topped with hershey's kisses

They were a childhood favorite of mine.

[neuvocat]

26. My mouth watered just thinking about that.

Yummy!

[JVS]

29. You've convinced me to go with that!

[Floogeldy]

4. Find a good pumpkin bread recipe.

And wash your hands before starting, for the love of gawd.

:)

[JVS]

5. My apt and kitchen are such messes that I'm baking at a friend's house

My life is in chaos and now there's a freaking bake sale to top it off!

[Floogeldy]

7. I don't care from where you are baking.

It is irrelevant.

[JVS]

8. They shouldn't allow people to prepare food, who are too slobby...

to be able to do it at home. I'm waiting for the public health people to arrest me.

[AwakeAtLast]

9. That's easy - No Bake Cookies

Those alway get snapped up quick. They have fiber, protien and the all-important chocolate. How can you go wrong?

Hope this helps! :hi:

1/2 cup milk
1 1/2 cup sugar
3 Tbl. cocoa

Bring to a boil and cook for 1 full minute. Remove from heat and add:

1/2 cup peanut butter
1 t vanilla
3 cups oats

Stir and drop on wax paper. Cool for at least 30 minutes.

[Whoa_Nelly]

10. But 5 kinds of frozen pies

Bake'em and sell'em!

Mrs. Smith's pies are good
Apple
Deep Dish Apple
Apple Crumb
Pumpkin
Deep Dish Pumpkin

Hey! Why should you bake from scratch when you don't have to? And, why should you feel guilty about it anyway? Not everyone is a "from scratch' baker!

PS ASk the grocery store bakery for pie boxes

[evlbstrd]

11. Buy some powder sugar donuts in a box.

Tell 'em you don't bake.
My former company used to have what they called a Food Ball. I couldn't afford to cook for all those people, so I took Spam and crackers. They acted like they'd never seen the stuff before. No surprise, this was out in the suburban sprawl.

[Scooter24]

12. Why not just throw some random ingredients

into a bowl...mix and bake...

Then wrap the result in lots of foil and sell it as "JVS-Surprise" :)

Might want to throw in a free box of Pepto tablets with it.

I like to think I'm a skilled pastry chef...If you want somewhat of a challenge, and want to really impress your coworkers, try making Tiramisu. It's one of my all-time favorites! Best of luck.

PS, might want to keep a fire extinguisher ready if your a novice in the kitchen ;)
------------
TIRAMISU

Note: The egg yolks are cooked by the hot sugar so you don't have to worry about raw eggs. Don't pour the sugar in too fast or eggs will curdle! Don't skimp on the quality of the chocolate and cocoa---use the best you can afford, the same applies to the Marsala wine. Also use a good quality dark rum! Fresh brewed espresso is a must, you can even use decaffeinated!

Amount/Measure/Ingredient

4 tablespoons sugar
1/2 cup water
4 egg yolks
1 tablespoon sweet Marsala wine (+) 2 tablespoons for the espresso mixture. Use the best you can buy!
4 ounces cream cheese
6 ounces mascarpone cheese
8 ounces heavy whipping cream, whipped
2 cups espresso or strong coffee
1 ounce dark rum
2 tablespoons sugar
24 French-style ladyfingers
2 tablespoons powdered sweetened cocoa mix
2 tablespoons grated semi sweet chocolate
Preparation:

Cream Mixture: Cook sugar and water together until it reaches a temperature of between 234° and 240°F on a candy thermometer, this is the soft-ball stage. At the same time, in an electric mixer, prepare egg mixture by whipping the egg yolks on high speed until pale yellow and thick, then slowly pour in the sugar syrup while mixing on high until the mixture is light and fluffy, Be sure to scrape down the sides of the bowl. With mixer on medium speed, add cream cheese and whip until smooth. Add mascarpone and Marsala. Mix until incorporated. Fold in whipped cream. Refrigerate.

Espresso Mixture: To prepare espresso mixture, combine espresso, additional Marsala, dark rum and sugar. Heat to 140 degrees F. then let it cool completely before using it.

To assemble, dip ladyfingers in espresso mixture. Place one layer of dipped ladyfingers on bottom of serving platter. Top with one layer of cream mixture. Add another layer of dipped ladyfingers, topped with a second layer of cream mixture. Sift cocoa over top.

Refrigerate for 2 hours before serving.

Sprinkle with grated chocolate.

[CanuckAmok]

13. Hash brownies.

"You know, they call them fingers but I've never seen 'em fing".

[ghostsofgiants]

15. Woah, there they go!

[driver8]

30. I've got a hash brownie story for you...

This woman I work with had been to a party at the house of a guy I work with. The guy brought out some hash brownies (pot brownies) and the woman loved them. She asked the guy to make some for her so he did and he brought them into work. He told the woman to put them in her car and leave them there -- he didn't want them floating around.

Well, the woman has them in our front office and she sets them on a counter and takes the foil wrapper off the plate. A few of us see them sitting there, and figure they are for everyone so we each grab one. I take a couple of bites and know immediately what's up, as do a few of the other people. We throw the brownies in the trash but it is too late.

About 45 minutes later, I am so fucking stoned that I can hardly move or speak. I tell my boss I have food poisoning and have to go home. I am so fucked up that I walk home because I don't dare drive. One of our video editors and his tape operator were supposed to be finishing up a project and neither one of them could function. Some people managed to finish out the day but I have no idea how.

Needless to say, we all wanted to strangle this woman. She is lucky she didn't lose her job...dumb ass.

[deadparrot]

14. Break and bake cookies.

[Robeson]

16. What about going to a bakery and getting some decent baked goods...

...and take it, and say you baked it. When I was young, many, many moons ago, when we had family reunions, my mom would stop by KFC, and get a bucket of chicken. She then would put it in one of her baking dishes. Everyone at the reunion would fight to eat the chicken she brought, over everyone else's. There's a lesson there for you....

[yellowdogintexas]

17. just make these. Easy, fast, very little mess and they are so good

CHOCOLATE FUDGE BROWNIES*

(WE DON’T NEED NO STINKING BROWNIE MIX!)



INGREDIENTS:


1 STICK OF BUTTER
1 CUP OF SUGAR
2 EGGS, LIGHTLY BEATEN
½ CUP OF COCOA
OR
2 OUNCES BAKING CHOCOLATE
½ CUP FLOUR
¾ TSP SALT
1 TSP VANILLA EXTRACT
1 CUP NUTS IF DESIRED



PREHEAT THE OVEN TO 350 DEGREES
GREASE AN 8 OR 9 INCH SQUARE PAN

MELT THE BUTTER (LARGE MICROWAVABLE MIXING BOWL IS IDEAL)

**IF YOU ARE USING BAKING CHOCOLATE, MELT IT WITH THE BUTTER***

ADD THE SUGAR AND STIR UNTIL WELL MIXED

ADD THE EGGS AND STIR UNTIL EGGS ARE MIXED IN

COMBINE THE FLOUR AND SALT, ADD TO THE BATTER
BEAT BY HAND UNTIL YOU CAN’T SEE ANY WHITE STREAKS
***IF YOU ARE USING COCOA, SIFT IT WITH THE FLOUR AND ADD**

ADD THE VANILLA AND STIR IN.

ADD THE CUP OF NUTS IF YOU ARE USING THEM
***CHOPPED PECANS OR CHOPPED WALNUTS ARE BEST***

SPREAD EVENLY IN THE CAKE PAN

BAKE 20 MINUTES..BUT DON’T OVERBAKE!

I USUALLY CHECK IT AT 15 MINUTES WITH A TESTER.
AS SOON AS THE TESTER COMES OUT CLEAN,
GET THEM OUT OF THE OVEN.

LET THEM COOL BEFORE CUTTING IF YOU CAN STAND TO WAIT!


WONDERFULLY FUDGY AND DELICIOUS!

[SOteric]

18. This is the easiest goodie on Earth, and can even get you dates.

Just follow the link, it even comes with pictures.

http://www.cookingforengineers.com/article.php?id=98

Edit: I like mine with a splash of bourbon and some toasted pecans, or around Christmas time, I wedge a layer of York Peppermint Patties between two layers of fudge and lace the chocolate with a little PermaFrost Liquer.

[GOPisEvil]

22. Oooooohhh...thanks for that.

Sounds yummy.

[Wcross]

19. Call in sick.....

Thats what I would do.

[JVS]

23. I'm a grad student. We don't do sick days

[Wcross]

33. I guess you wouldn't need to call? Just blow it off! n/t

[JVS]

39. The work just piles up if you miss

[watercolors]

20. Easy angel cake, delicious

a box of angel cake mix, a can of crushed pineapple , lg. can, and about 1/4 cup of coconut.

Mix angel cake mix and can pinneapple, beat untill thick, pour into 10" tube pan, {do not add liquid box call for, juice in can equals the amount called for} sprinkle cocnut flakes on top , bake 350 .It is sooo good and excellant for anyone on diet. I call it a pinacolada cake.

[bettyellen]

21. buy two entenmans, place one on top of the other...

and then smear the icing down the sides to make it look home made.

[philosophie_en_rose]

24. cornbread in cupcake liners.

It shouldn't be worse than baking cupcakes. Plus, no need for frosting.

Or... be a smartass and bring little baggies of carrots. Claim that you care about their health. :)

[Darth_Kitten]

25. I just buy extra stuff.

:) I'm not a great baker, just a great cook.

I figure if I buy stuff, I contribute. :)

[HEyHEY]

27. Nestle tollhouse cookies...and fuck em if they don't like it!

[LisaL]

28. What I would do. I would buy a cake, take it out of the box,

and say I baked it. LOL.
There are places where you can buy really nice cakes.

[gulfcoastliberal]

31. Sarah Lee poundcake

Just do it. Do it.

[TorchTheWitch]

32. Opt out

No freakin' way would I spend my personal time baking anything with my personal funds to be sold at work where I don't get the proceeds... not in my job description. I'd tell them to kiss my ass... then I'd tell the boss to go spend his personal time baking me something with his personal funds which I will then make him sell for me and use the proceeds to spend however the hell I want... see how he likes THAT.

[July]

35. I like the way you think, TorchTheWitch!

And I couldn't agree more.

[TorchTheWitch]

36. I'm amazed that almost everyone here

is giving baking suggestions instead of suggesting that the poster tell their boss to shove it.

[July]

38. Good point. They are making me hungry, though!

Seriously, I have a big problem with any kind of non-job-related requirements, including contributing to gift or shower funds, participation in "Secret Santa" games, being expected to trail a spouse to a corporate function, or having to do those intrusive, pseudopsychology-based team-building programs. And golfing.

I know people often socialize with colleagues and voluntarily do some of these things, but when you are expected to do them or fear you'll hurt your career if you don't, it seems very wrong to me. Those team-building deals especially bother me because they often ask you to give personal information or humiliate yourself.

Anyway, I, in this situation, would "forget" to bring baked goods or just say outright that I don't bake and I don't think this is work appropriate, either.

[Guy Fawkes]

34. Fudge.

yum.

[Guava Jelly]

37. my grandmothers red velvet cake would be good

here is a a photo of the recipe