Made a slightly chaotic and improvised Easter cake for lunch with the family. The vegan mini eggs are from https://mummymeegz.com/

#Food #Vegan

This was initially supposed to be one of those Easter nests with cereal in melted chocolate making up the, uh, twig component of the nest, but I used Ombar vegan chocolate and it turns out it doesn't actually melt? I'm not criticising Ombar here, vegan substitutes often don't behave quite the way you expect and honestly I'm grateful that we have so much available at all, just putting it out there as a warning for anyone else who might be tempted to try it.

#Vegan #VeganFoodUK #Food

With the ridiculous overconfidence that led me to take on decorating my own wedding cake and learn nothing from the experience I decided to pipe buttercream frosting on instead. I've seen Bakeoff, you just need to make the buttercream then do a few dubious innuendos about squeezing the bag till it squirts and job's a good'un. Also I teach basketry and am very good at picking up fibre crafts. And taught myself SQL. I'm sure the skills are transferrable.

Anyway that's what the strawberries and coconut are to hide.

@afewbugs I never expected an SQL - BakeOff crossover 😁
@caffetino let's be honest if it was going to happen anywhere it would be on Mastodon

You could try an INNERJOIN to reconstitute the chocolate.

@afewbugs

Or a LEFTJOIN or a RIGHTJOIN.

I never really understood the difference. I just tried them all until I got results that looked right.

It’s been nearly 20 years since I wrote a #SQL query (as a JavaScript variable, ooh get me) but I remember thinking WHY AM I SHOUTING AT THIS COMPUTER?

@afewbugs

@afewbugs
Sticking fruit and coconut on a cake to cover up icing that hasn't worked is a classic rescue option.
@afewbugs Chocolate should melt. It's one of the defining characteristics of chocolate. And certifying that the ingredients are vegan shouldn't change that. Looking at their ingredients I see coconut sugar and Bacillus coagulans. I don't *think* coconut sugar should be the problem. Maybe the bacillus coagulans? But if it doesn't melt how did they even temper the chocolate!? So many questions.

@drgroftehauge @afewbugs

when i look at Ombar vegan on amazon, the ingredients say it is 90% cacao (not cocoa)

so it's not exactly what we think of as chocolate?

seemingly confirmed by this melting issue.. according to the website below, 'melted cacao' = Softens into a thick, gritty paste; does not become a fluid liquid

https://www.nonfungiblemushrooms.com/blogs/news/can-cacao-nibs-be-melted

Can Cacao Nibs Be Melted? The Honest Answer from Our Kitchen

Wondering if cacao nibs can be melted? Yes, but not like chocolate. We explain the science, the right method, and how to actually use them.

Non Fungible Mushrooms
@rustoleumlove @drgroftehauge "thick, gritty paste" pretty much sums up the product

@rustoleumlove @drgroftehauge @afewbugs I'm confused. I think of cacao as the plant, as in cacao beans. From there you process the white seed to make the chocolate.
I think cocoa as the powder to make Choco milk, etc..

So 90% cacao should be good I think??
Since it doesn't contain much told the fatty parts used in cheap/white chocolate

@Alejandro_P

yes re: the plant & the seeds.
but cacao is not chocolate

this is the diff:

"The tree, pod, & bean/seed are typically referred to as β€œcacao,” while the word β€œcocoa” is reserved for the bean after it has been fermented, dried, and roasted."

when i took a chocolate making class, we only made it post-ferment/roast; it's pretty important.

cacao still has a chocolate flavor, but in the US., chocolate is made from cocoa mass or chocolate liquor, not cacao

https://www.lakechamplainchocolates.com/making-chocolate/

How is Chocolate Made & What is It Made Of?

How is Chocolate Made? Find out in Lake Champlain Chocolates' step-by-step guide -- from cultivating cacao to harvesting pods and tempering chocolate.

@afewbugs I know there's Nomo or Morrison's own-brand vegan chocolate

not that I've actually had either, but they watch at me from the side of the Oat Milk

apparently there's tiny bars of Galaxy vegan chocolate, but I think I need to go to a larger supermarket for it

and then wrestle with giving the Mars corporation money

@normjess I have definitely successfully melted vegan chocolate before, I can't remember which brand though
@afewbugs you just enjoy torturing things 😜
@afewbugs Jules you hero. Not only does that look amazing but I’ve been trying to find vegan mini-eggs unsuccessfully up to now! Enjoy the lunch. πŸ˜‹
@ethicalrevolution they also do creme eggs and Easter bunnies!
@afewbugs Nice mini-egg pizza πŸ‘
@afewbugs Looks great. By chance any dentist appointments thoughout the family next week?
Sweet tooth - sore tooth...
@apenkop eh, Easter is the season for overindulgence πŸ˜‚

@afewbugs

I know I shouldn't, but ooooh I want a piece   

I imagine it tasted quite good
πŸ™‚

@Aprazeth it did if I say so myself!