My favorite scene from "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" is when the Millers meet the Portakalos family. Harriet Miller brings a bundt cake and tries to explain it to Maria Portakalos. Hilarious!
Seriously though, Nordic Ware sells over one MILLION Bundt pans every year (over 60 million sold), and that's not including used pans like the ones we carry at Mary's Cupboard.
Trademarked in 1950, the pan became popular in 1966 when a bundt cake took second place in a Pillsbury baking contest. This pan may be American, but the idea of a cake baked in a fluted and grooved pan is not; it originated in central and eastern Europe centuries ago.
My dad's family is Slovenian, and the traditional rolled nut bread "Potica" is baked in a similar pan. Maybe that's why I am fascinated by Bundt cakes.
We've had many of these pans pass through the consignment shop -- from the original to more complicated versions -- and they rarely last a week in the shop. We currently have two of the original versions, plus a rose pan, a heritage swirl pan, and castle pan. We also have a train cake pan.
While they are all technically "nonstick" you really need to spray them with a baking spray containing flour (or season them the old fashioned way with butter and flour).
If you've never made a Bundt, there are several how-to videos on their website that will get you started. Come pick up a pan and give it a try.
Every day I learn something new. I recently completed my website and my computer skills expanded although I am still a novice. Now I learn there is a non stick spray that contains flour. I will be looking for this as I use my bundt pan quite often and sometimes things stick. Thanks!
Posted by: groundhog.judy | March 31, 2011 at 04:16 PM