What Do You Use Besides A Pan??????
Decorating By susanmm23 Updated 28 Aug 2005 , 3:39am by SquirrellyCakes
We live on a lake and the moon just lights up the water. It is just beautiful. Only problem the water brings more mesquitos sooooooo i stay in. lol plus even at night it is crazy humid its so humid here you break a sweat just thinking of going outside.
That sounds so pretty and peaceful! This summer was a bumper year for mosquitoes, wasn't it?
Hugs Squirrelly
That's so funny, squirrely!! Imagine what would've happened if you'd turned on the radio or something...hehehe.
The racoon wasn't actually chasing the armadillos....they were a pretty good distance apart, but the racoon just came out a little from the edge of the woods and when the armadillos saw or smelled it or whatever, they just took off in the other direction towards where their holes are. We figure we have a least 8 around here, b/c that's how many holes we've found...but there's no way to know how many armadillos live in one hole. We've had to mark their holes because we have a very adventurous 5 yr old who's always outside. I also know there's at least one mamma and 2 babies...they only come out at night and they really like to plunder!! I've gone out and sat on my porch at night and waited until I hear them close by, then I turn on my flash light and find them....they usually run away. I'm not trying to scare them, I just really want to see them up close. I've decided to ditch the flashlight thing and just leave one outside light on and sit on the grass quietly...they'll eventually come out and I've watched them walk across the property (the mamma & 2 babies). One night my husband put a bag of garbage on our deck, instead of taking it to the can...well...I was up doing stuff and when I walked through the kitchen there was the mamma just on the other side of the sliding glass door going through the garbage with the 2 babies sitting on the steps!!! I just stopped in my tracks and watched until she was finished, when she went down the steps with her babies, then I went about my business. I didn't want to scare them and they obviously were hungry. So I started putting all of my kitchen scraps into a bowl through the course of the day, then I go out just before dark and dump it near their holes....seeing those babies is what made me do it!!! lol We have deer here too...they must come up around the house at night, because in the mornings during the fall/winter and early spring, we see tracks all over the place.
We've even named our property (that's what we're getting the metal sign done for) but not in a pretentious way - it's named "Twisted Oaks"...1-because the property is covered in oak trees that are all leaning and twisted from the vines that used to hold on to them, 2- because WE'RE a little twisted ourselves! lolol This property has been in my husband's family for over 60 years, and it's never ever been lived on or built on, at least not in the past 150 years. We cleared the property ourselves and had to remove the vines that were attached to the trees...those vines were at least 8 inches thick!! It was like cutting down small trees. They were so strong - they grew out of the ground, wrapped around the oak trees and then forced the tree to grow the only way it could, all of the brances turn, twist and lean eastward!! It's a strange & beautiful sight!!There've been lots of kids that have played here and camped out here over the years...we've found marbles and jacks and old bottles and mason jars, etc. People used to dump stuff out here too - we've come across old tractors and parts, sinks, tubs...we'll use the sinks and tubs when we build our house. Funny thing is most of this stuff came from distant, older relatives over the generations! Everyone around us is somehow related to my husband's family.
Ok - this is soooo way OT now!! I'm done, sorry so long!! Can ya tell I love my property???!!! 
Ooh, it sounds amazing and almost hauntingly beautiful. All of that history too, I would think you would sit and imagine all of the folks that have been on the land before you. Fascinating! I love the name! The armadillos sound interesting! I can certainly understand your attachment to your property!
You know, those twisted oak trees would make a fantastic buttercream transfer if you took a picture of them. They sound like they have spirits of their own, amazing how nature manages to find a way to make things survive against all odds!
Hugs Squirrelly
A word of warning. Terra cotta pot manufacturers warn that if you bake in a terra cotta pot, it should be lined with foil. Many of these pots have lead in them and the lead will leach into the food! Not all pots do, but they don' t label the ones that do or don't, so be careful.
hmmmm.....never heard of this manufacturers warning before...and I know I don't have lead poisoning..lol. I think if they're genuine clay pots they're fine. Oh well - can't hurt to line it first, I guess. I think parchment would work fine.
Just to clarify my statement earlier, it is not just the glaze, but also the clay used to make the pot. The only reason I found out is I spoke with someone personally while making a large wholesale order for my job. These pot are not intened for food (though they know people do it) so they don't have to label. Growing food bearing plants in them is just fine though.
The following quotes come from a web serch I did.
"Terra cotta pots may contain amounts of lead, or other heavy metals due to contaminated clay. "
It is not just from the glaze, but can be the pot itself.
"Ceramics made by craftspeople in the United States may also pose a risk because of uneven quality control or the ceramics firing practices used."
The U.S. does not have strict regulations concerning terracotta pots, and can't monitor all the makers and importers.
"Lead poisoning is often asymptomatic! People with elevated lead levels don't feel sick. You can't always see it, but it affects analytical thinking." "
Just be safe and line the pots, then grease and flower as usual.
Well I have heard someone on here mention that they bake individual sized cakes in a clean tuna can, I believe this person uses them for sampling cakes to her customers. I wish I knew who this person was so I could give her credit for the idea.
I just thought that this was a great idea!
A word of warning. Terra cotta pot manufacturers warn that if you bake in a terra cotta pot, it should be lined with foil. Many of these pots have lead in them and the lead will leach into the food! Not all pots do, but they don' t label the ones that do or don't, so be careful.
hmmmm.....never heard of this manufacturers warning before...and I know I don't have lead poisoning..lol. I think if they're genuine clay pots they're fine. Oh well - can't hurt to line it first, I guess. I think parchment would work fine.
Just to clarify my statement earlier, it is not just the glaze, but also the clay used to make the pot. The only reason I found out is I spoke with someone personally while making a large wholesale order for my job. These pot are not intened for food (though they know people do it) so they don't have to label. Growing food bearing plants in them is just fine though.
The following quotes come from a web serch I did.
"Terra cotta pots may contain amounts of lead, or other heavy metals due to contaminated clay. "
It is not just from the glaze, but can be the pot itself.
"Ceramics made by craftspeople in the United States may also pose a risk because of uneven quality control or the ceramics firing practices used."
The U.S. does not have strict regulations concerning terracotta pots, and can't monitor all the makers and importers.
"Lead poisoning is often asymptomatic! People with elevated lead levels don't feel sick. You can't always see it, but it affects analytical thinking." "
Just be safe and line the pots, then grease and flower as usual.
Well that doesn't quite make sense to me. If you think about it if there is lead in the clay used in the pot manufacturing, then if it is used to grow vegetables or herbs or such, the pots will still contaminate the soil and in turn the things growing in them as they will draw up the lead into their roots. So if they are not safe for baking, they are not safe to grow food. Actually, they are not even safe to handle without washing your hands immediately afterwards. It sounds like the manufacturers don't know what they are talking about, when it comes to lead contamination.
Clay is a very porous substance and once it becomes wet, the lead would leech into the earth that the herbs and such were growing in. Once the earth is watered, there would be even more lead leeching into the roots. But even if the clay remained dry, the lead would still be exposed to the contents.
Interesting, isn't it?
Last year, we purchased a pre-lit Christmas tree manufactured in China but distributed by California. On the light strings there was a warning about lead being used in the wire coatings and a warning to wash your hands immediately after any contact with the coated wire. I was rather shocked that this substance would be used in something that you would have no way of avoiding contact with. Plus, as we are all aware, some particles break away over time and we inhale them, or have exposure to them as dust.
Anyway, it appears there are different guidelines in Canada where anything containing lead must be identified and anything with exposure to food but not have lead content.
I think I would then avoid using any terra cotta flower pots for use where there would be any contact with food at all, even lining the pot wouldn't be enough protection, in my opinion.
Hugs Squirrelly Cakes
Thank you, squirellycakes, exactly what I was thinking!! 
The Mexican people, and others here in the states have cooked in clay pots for years...I think if there was lead in them it would have to be clearly marked as so by the manufacturer, regardless if they're used to cook in or not. I might be wrong, but I thought that items containing substances like lead had to have a certain amount in them before being considered toxic...is that right or wrong?? hmmmm? Oh well - my grandfather had a clay pot that he used as a roaster for years and years, until he dropped it in his old age. And his "analytical thinking" skills weren't harmed whatsoever...lol.
mjones - well - we wouldn't hunt the armadillos or racoons, but the deer?? I do love good deer sausage on a cold winter morning!!!! lol
I only meant the deer. Although I am geting frustrated because I have gone 3 years now and haven't gotten anything. 
I won't shoot the mommies or the babies and that Is all I seem to see. One year I had one come so close to me that I could have touched her. Talk about some good cover up spray! I still tell hubby that I think women and men smell different and I am the only female that has been out in those woods that they might be a little more curious of me.
Thank you, squirellycakes, exactly what I was thinking!!
The Mexican people, and others here in the states have cooked in clay pots for years...I think if there was lead in them it would have to be clearly marked as so by the manufacturer, regardless if they're used to cook in or not. I might be wrong, but I thought that items containing substances like lead had to have a certain amount in them before being considered toxic...is that right or wrong?? hmmmm? Oh well - my grandfather had a clay pot that he used as a roaster for years and years, until he dropped it in his old age. And his "analytical thinking" skills weren't harmed whatsoever...lol.mjones - well - we wouldn't hunt the armadillos or racoons, but the deer?? I do love good deer sausage on a cold winter morning!!!! lol
Likely the clay bakers have to be made from lead-free clay and the flower pots don't? Really makes you wonder why they would allow the use of contaminated soil in the manufacturing process. I remember a similar incident with pvc pipes and of course the venetian blinds. The colouring process allowed the use of colours that had some lead in them.
Haha, I grew up in an old Victorian home which was covered in lead based paints which likely explains a lot of things, haha!
I have several older decorative plates that had labels affixed to them stating that they were to be used for decorative purposes only, due to the lead content in the paints used. I keep them enclosed in a cabinet, just in case.
Hugs Squirrelly
Hugs Squirrelly Cakes
Well that doesn't quite make sense to me. If you think about it if there is lead in the clay used in the pot manufacturing, then if it is used to grow vegetables or herbs or such, the pots will still contaminate the soil and in turn the things growing in them as they will draw up the lead into their roots. So if they are not safe for baking, they are not safe to grow food. Actually, they are not even safe to handle without washing your hands immediately afterwards. It sounds like the manufacturers don't know what they are talking about, when it comes to lead contamination.
Clay is a very porous substance and once it becomes wet, the lead would leech into the earth that the herbs and such were growing in. Once the earth is watered, there would be even more lead leeching into the roots. But even if the clay remained dry, the lead would still be exposed to the contents.
Interesting, isn't it?
Last year, we purchased a pre-lit Christmas tree manufactured in China but distributed by California. On the light strings there was a warning about lead being used in the wire coatings and a warning to wash your hands immediately after any contact with the coated wire. I was rather shocked that this substance would be used in something that you would have no way of avoiding contact with. Plus, as we are all aware, some particles break away over time and we inhale them, or have exposure to them as dust.
Anyway, it appears there are different guidelines in Canada where anything containing lead must be identified and anything with exposure to food but not have lead content.
I think I would then avoid using any terra cotta flower pots for use where there would be any contact with food at all, even lining the pot wouldn't be enough protection, in my opinion.
I am well aware of that, and you are correct, the lead does contaminate the soil. But plants are natures filters, and if anything should slip through to the food, it is well below federal guide lines. It doesn't have a direct path into the food like baking in it does. They are prefectly safe to touch. If the lead levels where so excessive that you couldn't, then they would be marked. The lower level products with lead are not marked, but are not meant to be used to bake and serve food either.
There are guidelines, but there are ways to get around it. Pots do not have to be labeled because they are not intended for food. Canada must be stricter if EVERYTHING conatining lead must be labeled, because that is not the case here. The manufacturer was very knowledgable and knew what he was talking about. (This is his lifes work after all.) Again not all the pots contain lead, but since no one can say for certain unless you test your pot, it should be treated as if it does. And foil is a good solid barrier. Lead doesn't leech through foil, though parchment is more porus, I would not try it.
Thank you, squirellycakes, exactly what I was thinking!! The Mexican people, and others here in the states have cooked in clay pots for years...I think if there was lead in them it would have to be clearly marked as so by the manufacturer, regardless if they're used to cook in or not. I might be wrong, but I thought that items containing substances like lead had to have a certain amount in them before being considered toxic...is that right or wrong?? hmmmm? Oh well - my grandfather had a clay pot that he used as a roaster for years and years, until he dropped it in his old age. And his "analytical thinking" skills weren't harmed whatsoever...lol.
Yes, poeple have, but that doesn't mean they should.
Quote From: http://www.dhs.ca.gov/childlead/tableware/twtalk.html
" California Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Branch: Lead in Tableware - Resources
The greatest hazard of lead poisoning from tableware today lies in the use of imported products used by certain ethnic communities rather than commercial china and dishes. For example:
Latin American folk terra cotta pottery, primarily from Mexico, is especially dangerous because of its high lead content and everyday uses that enhance lead leaching (cooking, storage of food/drink, use with acidic foods). It can leach significant amounts of lead and has been documented as a source of lead poisoning in Latino children in California.*
Another potential source of lead exposure are certain highly decorated traditional dishes used in some Asian communities, see the example below. Some styles of these dishes, such as the "Long Life/Four Seasons" pattern, have been used for centuries. "
It is illegal to sell dishes that contain lead unless clearly marked (the symbol is a yellow triangle). But people import them as personal property or the legal loop hole being that if the business selling the dishes has fewer than ten employees, then they don't have to label them.
Not all pots contain lead, especially if it is unglazed stone or earthenware. Lead affects everybody differently, and most people never show any symptoms. It is most dangerous to children and unborn babies because lead can damage the brain's growth. Either wrap the pot in foil or have it tested. Hardware stores usually carry the kits.
Hi Sweet Art,
Just wanted to make sure you knew, I wasn't arguing with you but I disagree with the manufacturer's stance on this especially regarding the fact that plants are nature's filters. While yes they do filter a certain amount of the poisons and pollutants in the air and break them down somewhat, the fact that you would be actually eating the fruit of the plant or the entire plant minus the roots or leaves and such, would make me wary of what exactly was filtered out. So I think personally whatever is considered not safe for baking to me is something I would also consider not safe for growing things in, either.
Even trace elements of lead are dangerous because lead, like pesticides and chemical fertilizers actually builds up as deposits in the system. So the fact that there are any at all, just means they will contribute to the lead levels. Lead stays in the body a very long time.
So my take on this would be therefore not to use anything clay that was not specifically designed for and stated to be safe for use with food. Even if you line with foil you would have to be absolutely careful about your hands coming into contact with the flowerpot and then touching the cake.
The clay bakers I am referring to are manufactured in European countries for the most part.
Interesting discussion, because up until now, the only items were have been told to stay away from baking with were glazed terra cotta items, at least here in Canada.
It is interesting that our two governments have totally different approaches or opinions on several food related issues.
We have had warnings issued for more than a year prior to the U.S. warnings about certain Mexican vanillas. I would imagine it is all in what is tested and when.
Hugs Squirrelly Cakes
Now that is a nice pan. Who makes it, where did you see it?
Hugs Squirrelly
Let me know if this link works?
http://cakefun.blogspot.com/2005/08/new-sandcastle-bundt-pan.html
Thanks! I just love their pans, talk about good quality and they bake up so nicely too! I have three of their bundt pans and if they were not so darned expensive, I would have them all, haha!
Hugs Squirrelly Cakes
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