How To Handle This Question Correctly...
Business By cakemeasIam Updated 14 Nov 2009 , 1:51am by CakestyleIN
Scratch and mix are METHODS, not ingredients.
stating that cake mixes smell "funny" is NOT an ignorant comment, kate. its the TRUTH. if you closed your eyes and took a big sniff, you WOULD know immeditely what it was you were sniffing! hehe and *I* think it smells "funny"... or maybe "chemically" or "yucky" would be more accurate? just my little ol opinion : )
The attorney's summary sentence at the end is the key to that whole long-winded letter. The best thing to do to avoid an angry customer is to disclose the use of a cake mix. Period. Tell the truth.
stating that cake mixes smell "funny" is NOT an ignorant comment, kate. its the TRUTH. if you closed your eyes and took a big sniff, you WOULD know immeditely what it was you were sniffing! hehe and *I* think it smells "funny"... or maybe "chemically" or "yucky" would be more accurate? just my little ol opinion : )
Sorry, sweetie, I'm baking scratch cake today.
Besides there are organic and vegan and diabetic and gluten free and egg free and a zillion different brands of cake mix that all smell different. To say that cake mixes smell funny is to lump them all together in one boat--'cake mixes' is too broad a category.
Like I said, maybe the ones you've made and the ones you've been around but not all.
My cakes smell great.
The attorney's summary sentence at the end is the key to that whole long-winded letter. The best thing to do to avoid an angry customer is to disclose the use of a cake mix. Period. Tell the truth.
The question you brought up posting the law link was about consumer law and being sued for using doctored mix.
Yes to avoid pissing people off I keep it vague and use euphemisms--another's modus operandi would be to tell everyone--we're all different.
But he says my question to him is likely not lawsuit material. When asked if we baked from scratch and we say we use pre-measured ingredients it's ok according to him.
The term "scratch" is subjective. If the baker used a mix, but also added to the mix to make it their own unique combination of ingredients the client would not likely be succesful in a suit based on the consumer protection act.
hmmm...........
stating that cake mixes smell "funny" is NOT an ignorant comment, kate. its the TRUTH. if you closed your eyes and took a big sniff, you WOULD know immeditely what it was you were sniffing! hehe and *I* think it smells "funny"... or maybe "chemically" or "yucky" would be more accurate? just my little ol opinion : )
It's not only ignorant it is indeed prrejudice to lump them all up in one tidy bundle after all the ground that has been clearly and passionately and carefully covered in this thread--it is an ignorant statement to make, Dailey, uninformed, clueless.
We're having a serious discussion and you just blow the whole thing off like you could care less.
Oooo, they don't smell nicey in my nosey tee hee hee
The attorney's summary sentence at the end is the key to that whole long-winded letter. The best thing to do to avoid an angry customer is to disclose the use of a cake mix. Period. Tell the truth.
The question you brought up posting the law link was about consumer law and being sued for using doctored mix.
Yes to avoid pissing people off I keep it vague and use euphemisms--another's modus operandi would be to tell everyone--we're all different.
But he says my question to him is likely not lawsuit material. When asked if we baked from scratch and we say we use pre-measured ingredients it's ok according to him.
The term "scratch" is subjective. If the baker used a mix, but also added to the mix to make it their own unique combination of ingredients the client would not likely be succesful in a suit based on the consumer protection act.
The link I supplied included the legal definition of "false advertising," which included omitting information when asked about a product. Nobody is talking about being sued for not telling people that you use a mix (except you), but as YOUR attorney summarized, in order to avoid making customers angry, you should tell them if asked. Wasn't that what the original question was? If someone asks if you use a mix it's a yes or no question.
stating that cake mixes smell "funny" is NOT an ignorant comment, kate. its the TRUTH. if you closed your eyes and took a big sniff, you WOULD know immeditely what it was you were sniffing! hehe and *I* think it smells "funny"... or maybe "chemically" or "yucky" would be more accurate? just my little ol opinion : )
It's not only ignorant it is indeed prrejudice to lump them all up in one tidy bundle after all the ground that has been clearly and passionately and carefully covered in this thread--it is an ignorant statement to make, Dailey, uninformed, clueless.
We're having a serious discussion and you just blow the whole thing off like you could care less.
Oooo, they don't smell nicey in my nosey tee hee hee
Oh my God, Kate, relax.
dang kate, maybe you should step away from the computer because you are getting wayyyy to upset over this. some people are gonna like mixes, some people aren't, who cares? (mental note: never disagree with kate because she'll belittle you to try to prove a pointless point)
i'm going to the mall... : )
oh yeah!
i should point out that both birds waddle but the duck makes a much funnier noise. also when a duck bends over and wiggles its tail, hilarity ensues.
Maybe TMI, but their "weewees" are very funny looking. LOL Hmm, yes I was a curious child. LOL
dang kate, maybe you should step away from the computer because you are getting wayyyy to upset over this. some people are gonna like mixes, some people aren't, who cares? (mental note: never disagree with kate because she'll belittle you to try to prove a pointless point)
i'm going to the mall... : )
It's not ok for you to dis the thread and the means by which many make thier living--selling so-called smelly cake.
*Moderator Edited*I am SO sick of hearing the same stuff over and over ad nauseum. Sitting here "debating" the whole thing just perpetuates the idea that there needs to be a distinction in the first place. Good cake is good cake no matter how it was made so shut up and go bake something.
I am a die hard scratch baker who uses pre-made fondant... it's plastered on my website in my FAQ section so don't go saying that I have to disclose my use of Satin Ice because I already do. I also tell people at tastings when they sample the fondant I put on their plates. If you love the Cake Mix Doctor then you go ahead and rock that... more than 9 times out of 10 people aren't going to ask you how you make your cakes... they just want to taste them. If the question comes up... say what you feel comfortable with. If you have to provide ingredient lists list it all out. What you do in your kitchen is none of my business and I honestly could care less.
WE perpetuate this scratch vs. mix debate. The minute we stop sticking our noses in other people's business... it will stop.
dang kate, maybe you should step away from the computer because you are getting wayyyy to upset over this. some people are gonna like mixes, some people aren't, who cares? (mental note: never disagree with kate because she'll belittle you to try to prove a pointless point)
i'm going to the mall... : )
Let's be serious, folks. Making a blanket statement saying "Cake mix smells funny"...yes, without stating it's your opinion was fishing for a reaction. You didn't do it to be nice, and I doubt you would say something like that in this particular forum if you weren't looking to get a kick out of someone's reaction. You could have stated it a million ways and you chose the one that would cause your sought after reaction.
And your quote above is belittling to Kate, though, I think she is too mature to let it get to her.
Also, the fact that you think cake mix smells added nothing to the equation, nor to the OP's request for how she should answer the question. Kate is right that we HAD a good debate going...with legal whatnots and trade secrets and full ingredient disclosure, and now you've brought it back to scratch people vs. mix people.
Awwwe... even farting ducks needs themz some cake!
I am SO sick of hearing the same shite over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over ad nauseum. Sitting here "debating" the whole thing just perpetuates the idea that there needs to be a distinction in the first place. Good cake is good cake no matter how it was made so shut up and go bake something. JESUS!!!!
AAAAAAMEN.
and just to add my 2 cents in... i bake from both doctored mixes and scratch.
for my grandma's birthday: bottom tier = scratch yellow cake. top tier = doctored chocolate cake.
which was the favorite??
NO ONE COULD PICK! everyone (and their were 30+ people there) loved them both.
SO. THERE. 
If someone asks if you use a mix it's a yes or no question.
That was NOT The question......look at the first post.
And who turned the debate juvenile? Again, hmmmmm..........
Personally, thank you to those who kept it a discussion - I hope those who read it can see who are the ones that perpetuate the "stigma" in some of the mix users minds. It is pretty obvious, IMO.
Kind of reminds me of when someone puts their hands over their ears and starts humming loudly. 
If someone asks if you use a mix it's a yes or no question.
That was NOT The question......look at the first post.
And who turned the debate juvenile? Again, hmmmmm..........
Personally, thank you to those who kept it a discussion - I hope those who read it can see who are the ones that perpetuate the "stigma" in some of the mix users minds. It is pretty obvious, IMO.
Kind of reminds me of when someone puts their hands over their ears and starts humming loudly.
No, your right the question was if the OP's Red Velvet was from scratch. I do agree it's a yes, or no question.
Mike
Each to their own...and how they deal with it too.
I bake my cakes with a seriously doctored cake mix.
I make my icings myself - 100% butter and Sugar - never any shortening because I don't care for it.
I make my fondant fresh - it is water & gelatin, shortening, sugar and white chocolate.
So - I would say my cakes are 2/3 scratch!!! 
Cake - doctored
Buttercream - scratch -- well, maybe not.....I didn't churn the butter.
Fondant - scratch well, maybe not....I didn't kill the cow for the gelatin or do whatever they have to do to the cacao beans to make the white chocolate.
Oh yeah....my pancakes are the BEST in the world...I make them from scratch.
dang kate, maybe you should step away from the computer because you are getting wayyyy to upset over this. some people are gonna like mixes, some people aren't, who cares? (mental note: never disagree with kate because she'll belittle you to try to prove a pointless point)
i'm going to the mall... : )
Been there! many many times in fact.........
kilroy, the neighborhood duck, loves all cake equally but does insist that the bugs in them be organic!
dang kate, maybe you should step away from the computer because you are getting wayyyy to upset over this. some people are gonna like mixes, some people aren't, who cares? (mental note: never disagree with kate because she'll belittle you to try to prove a pointless point)
i'm going to the mall... : )
Let's be serious, folks. Making a blanket statement saying "Cake mix smells funny"...yes, without stating it's your opinion was fishing for a reaction. You didn't do it to be nice, and I doubt you would say something like that in this particular forum if you weren't looking to get a kick out of someone's reaction. You could have stated it a million ways and you chose the one that would cause your sought after reaction.
And your quote above is belittling to Kate, though, I think she is too mature to let it get to her.
Also, the fact that you think cake mix smells added nothing to the equation, nor to the OP's request for how she should answer the question. Kate is right that we HAD a good debate going...with legal whatnots and trade secrets and full ingredient disclosure, and now you've brought it back to scratch people vs. mix people.
you are probably right...stating that mixes smell funny (which they DO, IMO) was most likely spurred out of my annoyance for kate at the moment. the "know it all" attitude has seriously gotten old and its not just in this post...she carries that attitude in pretty much every thread she visits. i used both scratch AND doctored mixes, btw, but really have found the "funny" smell to be mostly just the white/yellow. the spice mix is one of my fav for doctoring!
on a side note, i must say you *did* make me chuckle with your statement that she's "mature" though, lol! i'd *love* to know your definition...!
dang kate, maybe you should step away from the computer because you are getting wayyyy to upset over this. some people are gonna like mixes, some people aren't, who cares? (mental note: never disagree with kate because she'll belittle you to try to prove a pointless point)
i'm going to the mall... : )
Let's be serious, folks. Making a blanket statement saying "Cake mix smells funny"...yes, without stating it's your opinion was fishing for a reaction. You didn't do it to be nice, and I doubt you would say something like that in this particular forum if you weren't looking to get a kick out of someone's reaction. You could have stated it a million ways and you chose the one that would cause your sought after reaction.
And your quote above is belittling to Kate, though, I think she is too mature to let it get to her.
Also, the fact that you think cake mix smells added nothing to the equation, nor to the OP's request for how she should answer the question. Kate is right that we HAD a good debate going...with legal whatnots and trade secrets and full ingredient disclosure, and now you've brought it back to scratch people vs. mix people.
you are probably right...stating that mixes smell funny (which they DO, IMO) was most likely spurred out of my annoyance for kate at the moment. the "know it all" attitude has seriously gotten old and its not just in this post...she carries that attitude in pretty much every thread she visits. i used both scratch AND doctored mixes, btw, but really have found the "funny" smell to be mostly just the white/yellow. the spice mix is one of my fav for doctoring!
on a side note, i must say you *did* make me chuckle with your statement that she's "mature" though, lol! i'd *love* to know your definition...!
Cause I LOVE being mature.
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