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Proud of the pope

By JANET K. KEELER from staff and wire reports
Published April 27, 2005

[AP photos]

A cake called Ratzinger-Schnitten (Ratzinger Slices) went for 1 euro (about $1.30 U.S.) a slice in a bakery near Marktl am Inn, the hometown of the new pope.

	One bakery dipped its brioche into powdered sugar, renaming the slightly sweet bun “Papst Mitre,” or Pope’s Cap.
	German beermaker Wolfgang Boehm set up a stand outside a local Catholic Church for townspeople to sample his holy ale, Marktler Papstbier (pope beer).

It's probably safe to say nothing much has happened in tiny Marktl am Inn, Germany, until last week, when hometown boy Joseph Ratzinger became Pope Benedict XVI.

When news came that Cardinal Ratzinger would succeed Pope John Paul II, the folks in the small Bavarian town did what people everywhere do when they celebrate. They ate and drank.

One bakery sold Benedict XVI chocolate cake (1.30 euros a slice/$1.70 U.S.) and Vatican bread (1 euro/$1.30 U.S.). Another baker cooked up raisin buns in the shape of an ecclesiastical hat.

A tea shop owner brewed a special mix of herbs, calling it "Benedict XVI Tee, the drink of great energy and power."

And overnight, the local Weideneder Ale became Papstbier (pope beer).

"I think you'd have to say it's worthy," brewer Wolfgang Boehm told the Chicago Tribune .

Still looking for inspiration to enter the Pillsbury Bake-Off, March 18 to 21, at the Fontainebleau Resort in Miami? If so, you'll find plenty in The Million Dollar Recipe , a documentary that followed seven finalists in their quests to win the grand prize in last year's Bake-Off. The two-hour show airs at 8 p.m. Monday on Bravo. Million Dollar Recipe captures the sweaty palms, broken crusts and down-home camaraderie associated with the most lucrative contest in competitive cooking. Watch closely and you'll glimpse St. Petersburg Times food editor Janet K. Keeler, who was one of the 12 judges. Deadline to enter the Bake-Off is May 31. For more information, go to www.pillsbury.com/bakeoff

www.epicurious.com

In celebration of its 10th anniversary, Epicurious.com is sponsoring a monthly recipe contest through the end of the year. Upcoming themes are grilling, healthy and low-carb, quick and easy 30-minute main dishes and holiday desserts. Ten semifinalists will have their recipes tested and then posted on the Web site. Users will vote for winners, who will be awarded a KitchenAid appliance to be named later.

Don't get enough of your favorite Food Network celebrities on TV? Then head to the bookstore to buy their new cookbooks.

The current attack of the Food Network cookbooks includes:

-- 30-Minute Get Real Meals (Potter, $18.95) by Rachael Ray, the host of no fewer than three shows on the food channel.

-- Paula Deen & Friends: Living It Up, Southern Style (Simon & Schuster, $25) continues Deen's love affair with mayonnaise and butter.

-- Eat This Book (Potter, $32.50) is Tyler Florence's wide-ranging cookbook that fuses nearly every cuisine on the planet. He calls it global fresh.

Beating butter with sugar, known as creaming, is a technique called for in many cake recipes. When the butter is whipped, air is trapped between the fat and sugar, contributing to the overall lightness - or density, if not done long enough - of a batter.

Having the butter at the right temperature before beating makes a difference. If it's too cold or too warm, the butter won't trap the optimal amount of air. So think a little ahead when making a cake. On a moderately temperate day it takes about 2 hours for the butter to get to the right consistency - malleable but firm. Press your finger into the butter. If it leaves a clear indentation, with a bit of resistance, you are ready to go.

One lump or two? How about one decorated with a purple shoe and another with a fashionable pink purse? Decorated sugar cubes make a sweet Mother's Day gift for the tea-sipping mom. We found them at Great American in St. Petersburg 4121 16th St. N; (727 521-4372). They aren't cheap; a box of 18 costs about $9. But can you put a price on cute? Look for them online, too, at www.sugarcubes.ca Mom is not the only person who might enjoy these pretty cubes. Consider them for tea parties and wedding or baby showers.

In its continuing effort to reduce time in the kitchen, Tupperware has created Heat N' Serve containers that let you freeze, store, serve and reheat food in one container.

Each sleek black dish comes with a valve that automatically adjusts to allow steam to escape during microwaving, helping foods cook more evenly.

Prices range from $8.95 for a 61/4-cup container to $17 for an 81/4-cup container. For more information, click on www.tupperware.com or call toll-free 1-888-919-8099.

[Last modified April 26, 2005, 12:21:04]