Baking Radio: Chef Gail Sokol's Baking Podcast

A slice of chocolate cake or a fruit tart on a plate looks nice, not very exciting, but nice. Learn some easy ways to elevate your desserts to a new level using powdered sugar, cocoa powder, dessert sauces and toothpicks. Picture the dessert plate as your canvas and you are the artist. Listen to Chef Gail’s tips on how to create gorgeous plates on which to place your beautiful desserts.  

The last episode of the series explores exactly what occurs when yeast bread goes into the oven to bake. Learn whether or not your bread needs a wash brushed over it before baking, and find out what washes are made of. Discover how yeast bread develops their structure, and what happens to the proteins and starches within the dough to create that structure. Proper cooling is discussed as well as proper storage techniques to prevent staling.  

The series continues with a discussion on steps four through nine of yeast dough production. Learn what de-gassing or punching refer to, and other relevant terms such as, scaling, rounding , resting, and panning. Chef Gail shares her tips and anecdotes on how to create high quality yeast breads.

Learn the twelve basic steps to creating any yeast bread. Whether you are making an Italian bread, pizza dough, coffeecake or Danish most yeast bread recipes follow these twelve simple steps. In this first of a three part series, the first three steps of yeast bread are discussed. Learn how to measure the ingredients most accurately for the highest quality yeast breads. Chef Gail explains just how important mixing is to the texture of your final baked good. The third step is fermentation and once it begins it doesn’t slow down until the dough is baked.  

Baking with kids can certainly be a challenge, but it can, also, be very rewarding and create some wonderful memories between you and your child. Chef Gail has been teaching children to bake for over 18 years. She shares her knowledge and tips on how to know when your child is ready to create some wonderful foods with you in the kitchen.

Desserts containing fruits is a big subject. Chef Gail defines seven basic fruit desserts, beginning with a Crisp and ending with a Slump. Learn the origins of some of the unusual names of these easy and beloved fruit desserts.

The Chiffon cake as a special type of separated egg foam cake is discussed in detail. This type of cake contains two ingredients that no other sponge cake has- baking powder and oil. Chef Sokol explains what each of these ingredients does for the texture of this specialty sponge cake. A favorite recipe for a Citrus Chiffon cake is given.

Cakes that use the Sponge method are explored in detail. Sponge cakes are leavened with air, and have less fat than other types of cakes. They are made from egg foams or meringues. The two basic categories of sponge cakes are discussed in detail- Whole Egg Foams and Separated Egg Foams. Chef Sokol breaks down the different types of each category of sponge cakes and reviews each type.

Mousses are defined and discussed in detail. Some mousses use eggs and some do not. Learn about the different types of mousses with chocolate mousse being the emphasis. Chef Sokol reviews the difficulties of combining chocolate and cream, and how to avoid these issues. An authentic recipe for French Chocolate Mousse is given with step by step guidance.

Did you know that a marshmallow is really a stabilized meringue that can be made with or without egg whites? Learn why you would want to make them yourself, and how easy they are to create. Find out Chef Sokol’s best tips to get the fluffiest marshmallows ever. She also shares an easy recipe, so you, too, can make your own marshmallows!    

The ingredients that typically go into an ice cream, a churn frozen dessert, are discussed. Explore the churning process itself, and what it does for the texture and taste of ice cream. Learn the secrets of creating the most flavorful ice cream, and how to store it properly.

Learn the difference between the two types of frozen desserts, Churn Frozen and Still Frozen. The ingredients that go into a frozen dessert are explored. Several different kinds of frozen desserts are defined and discussed in detail.  

Explore the two ways to make caramel, and which way is the easiest. Learn the best tips for the smoothest caramel ever. Once you have made caramel, how do you clean the pan? Find out the secret. Chef Sokol shares a simple caramel sauce.

When granulated sugar, known as sucrose, is heated to the point that it melts and browns, it is known as caramel. Learn the science behind making caramel. Chef Sokol will explain the process of crystallization, and why it is so important to prevent its’ formation to get the smoothest caramel.

We tend to use adjectives to describe what we love about our favorite cookies. These adjectives include words like: chewy, soft, crispy or hard. Did you know that cookie characteristics can be manipulated by using specific ingredients, or changing the baking time, and even greasing or not greasing the pan the cookie is baked on? Learn how to create cookies that are customized just to your liking.

Chemical Leaveners are ingredients that are typically used in quick breads, cakes, cookies and even certain candies. These leaveners include: baking powder and baking soda. Combined with certain wet and dry ingredients in the recipe, these chemical leaveners help the baked good to rise. Learn the difference between baking powder and baking soda and a bit about kitchen chemistry to understand specifically how they work.  

Truffles are defined, and Chef Sokol shares a simple truffle recipe. How to form truffles is discussed along with detailed directions on how to embellish them, and store them properly for the longest shelf life. The many types of chocolate coatings that can be used to dip truffles are reviewed with recommendations.

Chef Sokol takes a closer look at cocoa butter and when it needs to be stabilized or tempered. A few simple candies and garnishes are discussed. Learn how to make these creative treats, and how to store them.

Learn how to handle and treat chocolate in various recipes. Chef Sokol takes a close look at cocoa butter, and why it needs special care. The listener will discover what it means when chocolate seizes or is in bloom.

The origins of chocolate are discussed in detail. Learn about how cacao beans are transformed into the chocolate we all know and love. How to determine the quality of the chocolate you eat will be explored. Discover the difference between natural cocoa powder and Dutch processed cocoa powder.