Help, please - What's Mary mean?

Kadeeae

I should know this but the answer escapes me atm . . .

There is a cake I want to make out of the Mary Berry book today and I've got a question. The recipe calls for 400g cooking apples - peeled, cored and grated. Does this mean 400g of apples and then prepare, or does it mean 400g after prep??

There would be a big difference between the two in weight/moisture to the cake so I would rather do it correctly the first time

charliee_3

id personally go for 400g before prep as its easy to weigh 4 apples but not easy to guess how many apples you need to make 400g after prep.. but as its fruit id prob be generous with it anyway and if it was 450g apples i wouldn't worry myself as will just be extra moist....

maltesers_2

It means 400g apples and then prepare.

thriftlady_2

I'd assume it's 400g before prep. Is it the apple and cinnamon cake? I'm planning on making that sometime this weekend.

mrbadexample

Well, I read that and I assumed that it would be 400g after preparation. How does she know how much is going to get thrown away? <--want my smiley back.

See, this is why us blokes (i.e. me!) have so much trouble.

zippychick

mrbadexample wrote: »

Well, I read that and I assumed that it would be 400g after preparation. How does she know how much is going to get thrown away? <--want my smiley back.

See, this is why us blokes (i.e. me!) have so much trouble.

i would have thought the same the way it was worded MBE!:D

Kadeeae

Well....if I go with 'votes' it's before prep

Thriftlady- Yes it is! On page 89, just looked so good I made a special trip to get apples yesterday for it, lol. You're going with the pre-prep then?

mrbadexample- Those were my thoughts exactly . . . how could she assume what would be left after prep as some people would leave more on the core etc etc.... :huh:

thriftlady_2

Yes, and I wouldn't worry too much about getting the exact amount of apple. I always use whole apples in recipes, that is I don't cut up bits of apple to achieve the correct weight. I just go with the closest weight I can get using whole apples.

Kadeeae

OK, pre-prep it is then! Thanks for the advice all, much appreciated :beer:

zippychick

I remember the first time i made a carrot cake - the recipe says

300g (11oz) grated carrot (weight when grated)

. I couldn't quite work it out, so came in and asked a living room full of people , if carrot weighed more or less when it was grated. Oh how they ribbed me!:rotfl: Still, the cake was lovely.:D:j

BitterAndTwisted

Well, I suppose once you've scrubbed, topped and tailed and then scraped or peeled a carrot it might weigh a tiny bit less than when you started! Blimey, some of these recipe instructions make it sound like a science experiment rather than dull old cooking and baking......