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Red Velvet Legend

chubbyalaskagriz

chubbyalaskagriz

New member
So, theres much hype and lore surrounding the ever-popular 'Red Velvet
Cake' yet when one does a bit of research and attempts to learn more
about its legendary status all that's really out there is the fact that
although it enjoys Iconic Southern status, it may have actually
originated at the Waldorf-Astoria in NYC!

And it appears to simply be a chocolate cake with the peculiarites of
vinegar and red food coloring added to the batter- though no one seems
to know WHY.

What a disappointment- there's gotta be more! Surely there's a real
story behind the legend? Do any of you have any other tid-bits of info
about this great American Cake?
 
Well ....don't know the origines of the Red Velvet Cake but It is my daughters favorite cake and she always asks for it on her birthday.
Maybe it was called that because it has the look of Velvet with that dark red texture.
 
I just figured a confection as grand as the Red Velvet Cake must have some fantastic story behind it other than the "bleedin' armadillo groom's-cake" reference from 'Steel Magnolia's'!

(by the way, Francie- nice new avatar! Is that your home? it's lovely!)
 
Yes Francie a lovely Avatar shot! Kev I like the one you have today on your sax, Ooops I mean kissing a fish hee-hee........

Just for the record..... Now don't Boo & Hiss me but I hate Red Velvet Cake it is too much food coloring for my likes and nothing more than all hype!!! Give me a good old Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese frosting and I am a happy camper!
 
I agree, Cath... I personally think Red Velvet Cake is weird and over-rated, BUT I would change my mind all together and make nothing BUT Red Velvet Cakes for the rest of my days if it came with a truly sexy, seductive, epic story to describe where it comes from and why it's even here on this planet! Hell, even chicken gizzards, pickle relish and potato-eyes have a STORY, for cripes-sake! SURELY Red Velvet Cake does too! I'm holdin'-out that maybe mama knows a worthy tale to tell about it...

today's avatar is a 35lb. King Salmon caught by one of my DMO's (dish-machine-operators, or "dishwashers" in English!) at Greens Creek Mine Camp when he stepped outside for just a 10-minute smoke-break!
 
Thanks griz and Cathy.....but no thats not my house griz...lol...just a pic I snagged. We do live in an old Farm House though that we are remoldeling.

Sexy...Seductive...hmmmm....maybe the Guy who created it had a Redhead he could not get outta his mind !
 
I've never heard of Red Velvet Cake, let alone tasted it.

I must Google it, it sounds mysterious. The legend of the Red Velvet Cake, could be best seller (with a little imagination):D
 
Keziah, Red Velvet Cake is one of those whacko American Traditions that just seems not to have a story good enuf to live up to its reputation! On the one hand we think of it as Southern- yet we hear it was first made in the kitchen of New York City's Waldorf Astoria Hotel! The cake is a DEEP, DEEP RED and slathered in cream cheese frosting. I've had several tastes and golly if I don't really find anything that special about it at all. I wish I loved it. I wish it had an incredible history with a colorful, perhaps even checkered past! Alas, it appears to be a boring dud.

Red Velvet Cake with Vanilla Cream Cheese Frosting
 
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argggh!!
How disapointing. I had visions of all sorts going around in my head, scarey yet romantic highway men, or creepy lady ghosts wearing red velvet dresses.

Ah well, there you go.:)
 
A Dish with a Story
Chicken Merengo

During the Napoleonic wars the Napoleon himself ordered a dish that would be quick to make and serve. There was only scraps to cook with and foods stuff that could be gathered from the surrounding area.
Chicken, herbs, cognac, onions, garlic, eggs, tomatoes and crayfish, fried in olive oil.
The Little General is supposed to have loved this meal even more so as he won the battle after eating it. Napoleon thought that this dish was lucky and would not let his cook change the ingredients or how it was cooked.

This was the first meal my husband ever cooked for me. It did not have any eggs in it (good).
 
Kevin,
I could do a search on this, but am having a lazy day!!
But, about as many years ago as you are, do I not remember Red Velvet Cake being made with Seven Minute Frosting? Can't remember cream cheese in to many recipes and carrot cake came along later?
Hmmmm?
Nan
 
Funny...I was at the market and saw slices of red velvet cake on sale for $2.99 a slice. I was tempted to buy, but I thought, it couldn't be that difficult to make one.

I'm not sure about the seven minute frosting, but I heard of a shorter shortcut to that, just mix cream cheese (neufchatel), butter, then gradually add sugar.

Does anybody have any other ideas for the frosting?
 
chubbyalaskagriz said:
Just happened onto this... I personally think the red jello is a much finer way of turning a cake blood-red than adding a ton of food coloring! Check it out...

Kev - if you take a look at your recipe - Naked bundt - where I posted the Red Velvet cake recipe and also one using beets for coloring.
I'm not too sure if the jello thing would work - that would add more sweetness.
If you try it with jello lets us know.
Click to expand...
 
I love the story of the Chciken Merengo Keziah.

OK>>>KEV YOU ASKED FOR IT!!! HERE'S THE REAL RED VELVET STORY>>>>>
Dedicate this incredible story to Kevin O. (my real inspiration for conjuring up this little tale)

ONCE MANY MOONS AGO THERE WAS A LONELY YOUNG WOMAN WHO AWAITED HER BELOVED'S RETURN FROM THE GREAT WAR (WORLD WAR I) ONE DAY SHE AWOKE TO THE SOUND OF LOVELY CARDINALS CHIRPING CHEERFULLY IN HER FRONT YARD, SHE COULD NOT BELIEVE HER EYES BUT THERE AS PLAIN AS DAY WERE HUNDREDS OF BRIGHT RED CARDINALS THEY COVERED HER ENTIRE YARD! SHE WALKED ONTO THE FRONT PORCH SAT DOWN ON HER BIG CANE BACK ROCKING CHAIR AND ADMIRED THE RARE SIGHT FOR WHAT SEEMED AN HOUR. THE SIGHTS AND SOUNDS LIFTED HER SPIRITS TO A LEVEL OF JOY SHE HAD NOT EXPERIENCED FOR A LONG LONG TIME. SHE REALIZED AT THAT MOMENT THAT DESPITE HER SADNESS, SHE COULD STILL ENJOY LIFE. SHE JUMPED TO HER FEET BEGAN TWIRLING AROUND JOYFULLY WITH HER ARMS LIFTED LIKE A BALERINA. IN HER EXUBERANCE SHE HAD TO MARK THIS MOMENT FOREVER IN HISTORY AND SO SHE BAKED A CAKE THAT WAS TOTALLY RED (LIKE THE MALE CARDINALS) AND FROSTED IT WITH THE LIGHTEST WHITE FROSTING SHE COULD MAKE. THE NEXT DAY SHE TOOK PIECES OF THIS LOVELY CAKE TO ALL HER FRIENDS THAT WAITED FOR THEIR HUSBANDS TO RETURN FROM THE WAR. IT WAS HER HOPE THAT THIS LITTLE GIFT OF CAKE COULD SOMEWHAT LIFT EACH OF HER FRIENDS SRIRITS EVEN IF FOR A BRIEF MOMENT, THUS SHARING THE GIFT OF JOY SHE HAD RECEIVED HERSELF!

THE END
 
Nan, you very well may be correct w/ the seven-minute-frosting thought. Of course there was also the GRAY frosting used on "Steel Magnolias" by the character who made the blood-red, red velvet bleedin' armadillo groom's cake... remember that? Ha! :)

Mama- I do recall your recipe using the beet juice. I'll have to try it, fer sure! :)

Cathy- WOW! Now THAT'S the kind of lovely story I was HOPIN' for for Red Velvet Cake! THNAKS for sharing! :)
 
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