Pastry Bag

One of the keys to great entertaining is a simple pastry bag. While those that don't bake may think it unnecessary to have one, the pastry bag is a great tool for any cook (or those that just want to pretend to cook). Although a nipped corner on a ziplock bag will get the job done, a real pastry bag is best because you can easily maneuver it with a decorative tip. Even the Baker's Lady needs a day off from baking on occasion and while not my first choice, I am certainly not above using a store bought mix. In addition to enhancing a store bought mix with a few additional ingredients, such as lemon juice or peppermint extract, icing Betty Crocker cupcakes with a decorative pastry bag tip makes them appear much more sophisticated than smearing them with a butter knife. Pastry is not the extent of this bag's function, however. For the Oscar party I attended last week, I used the pastry bag to make my simple finger food look not so simple. By piping on dollops of store-bought roasted tomato hummus onto english cucumber slices, I created a healthy and eye-catching appetizer that took less than 5 minutes to prepare. Add these goodies to a beautiful cake plate and instantly, your presentation has bumped your offering up for a Bon Appetit.