Hot Suggestions for Cool Baking by Maggie Reed on Creators.com

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Hot Suggestions for Cool Baking

Summertime baking can be a cool experience if you have the right bakeware. Think fruit tarts, fresh strawberry shortcake and even ice cream cakes.

Chicago Metallic offers a wide range of quality bakeware to give home bakers that professional touch, including:

— Springform Pan: You can put a smile on anyone's face with ice cream cakes. Delicate ice cream cakes can be damaged when removed from a traditional pan. With the square 9-inch springform pan, you just snap open the ring wall buckle on this 3-inch deep pan for a perfectly prepared treat. The pan is made of sturdy steel with a nonstick coating for ease of release and easy cleaning. When not making ice cream cake, this pan is perfect for cheesecake, tortes, mousse cakes, cornbread, casseroles and quiche. Retail price is $20.

— Angel Food Cake Pan: Why let heavy, dense cakes weigh you down during hot days? Instead, you can have a light, airy angel food cake by using Chicago Metallic's Two-Piece Angel Food Cake Pan with Feet. Proper cooling is critical to successfully bake an angel food cake, which requires the cake be inverted in its pan to cool, in order to prevent shrinking or falling — giving it that classic texture. This pan features legs that extend above the edge to allow the pan to be easily inverted for professional results. Retail price is $20.

— Tartlet Pan: Fruit tarts make a delightful light dessert and are as versatile as a cook's imagination. Chicago Metallic's 4-cup Tartlet Pan combines nonstick materials with commercial baking technology for even baking and browning, along with flaky crusts. The tartlet pan has a removable bottom disk that lets you lift out the tart without cracking the sides. Retail price is $18.

— Mini Cheesecake Pan: Mini cheesecakes are perfect for summer gatherings. With all the berries that are available, it's easy to make an assortment of treats sure to please everyone. The pan makes 12 cakes. The removable bottom disk allows you to lift out the 2-inch delicacies while keeping the sides intact.

Retail price is $25.

— Shortcake Pan: Shortcakes are light, healthy, eye-catching desserts that will fill you up and not out. Making six individual shortcakes, Chicago Metallic's pan is created from proprietary composite metals that ensure each serving is baked to golden, moist perfection. The pan is dishwasher safe and comes with a 10-year warranty. Retail price is $20.

— Maryann Pan: Use ingredients readily found in every kitchen to make a light Maryann cake. Satisfy chocolate lovers with a chocolate mousse filling. For the health conscious, fill with a melange of fruits topped with nuts. Retail price is $20.

— Crumb Cake Pan: Crumb cakes are, well, crumbly. Chicago Metallic's pan ensures that cakes are moist on the inside with a perfect nutty topping. For those that have ever struggled to extricate tender cakes from baking tins, they will appreciate the removable bottom disk feature, which lifts the cakes out with ease. Retail price is $25.

— Creme Brulee Set: Serve up something sensational at your next summer soiree using the Creme Brulee 6-Piece Set. The 8-inch by 8-inch aluminized steel baking pan is paired with a specially designed chrome frame that holds four white porcelain ramekins. Once cooked, the rack functions as a lifter to easily and safely remove the finished dessert from its hot water bath. The ramekins won't slide around during baking or removal from the oven, which can disturb the finished product. The pan and rack can also be used under the oven broiler to caramelize the sugar on the creme brulee.

The set is also multifunctional. You can use the baking pan alone for brownies or other bar cookies, while the porcelain ramekins can double as condiment servers. Retail price is $20.

For more information, call 800-323-3966 (ext: 130) or visit www.cmbakeware.com.

Maggie Reed may be reached at trocar2000@hotmail.com. To find out more about Maggie Reed and other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit www.creators.com.