A New Activity Exclusively for Members of the Associazione Italo Americana FVG
We are excited to introduce Baking Buddies, a brand-new FREE activity designed exclusively for our MEMBERS ONLY! 🍰
Once a month, we’ll get together to bake delicious treats and a sip a cup of coffee while enjoying relaxed conversation in English. It’s the perfect opportunity to practice your language skills, meet new people, and share the joy of baking in a friendly, informal setting.
🗓 FOURTH Meeting
Tuesday, April 28, 2026
🕙 10:00 AM
👩🍳 What we’ll bake: STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE
Cake for Strawberry Shortcake
This is a wonderful cottage pudding (cake for strawberry shortcake) recipe for strawberry shortcake. It is moist and sweet and can be eaten by itself, too.
Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 25 mins
Additional Time: 25 mins
Total Time: 1 hr
Servings: 9
Yield: 1 (9-inch square) cake
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup white sugar
- ⅓ cup vegetable shortening
- 1 large egg
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup milk
FOR STRAWBERRY FILLING:
1 pint of Strawberries
Juice of 1/2 lemon
Sugar (QB)
Whipped Cream
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9-inch square cake pan.
- Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt together in a bowl. Set aside.
- Beat sugar and shortening together in a large bowl with an electric mixer until light and fluffy; beat in egg and vanilla extract until smooth. Mix in flour mixture, alternating with milk, until just combined. Pour batter into the prepared pan.
- Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into center comes out clean, about 25 minutes. Cool cake in the pan for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Cut the cake into 2 layers.
- Garnish with Whipped Cream and Cut Strawberries with sugar and lemon juice.
🗓 Third Meeting
Tuesday, March 24, 2026
🕙 10:00 AM
👩🍳 What we’ll bake: RED VELVET CAKE
Red Velvet Cake
The bright hue of this festive cake will make it a holiday hit for the Fourth of July, Christmas, or other celebrations.
Prep Time:
1 hr 15 mins
Cool Time:
10 mins
Bake Time:
25 mins
Total Time:
1 hr 15 mins
Servings:
16
Ingredients
- 3 eggs
- ¾ cup butter
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 Tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder
- ¾ tsp. salt
- 2¼ cups sugar
- 1½ tsp. vanilla
- 1 (1-oz.) bottle red food coloring (2 Tbsp.)
- 1½ cups buttermilk
- 1½ tsp. baking soda
- 1½ tsp. vinegar
- 1 recipe Buttercream Frosting
Buttercream Frosting
- 1½ cups whole milk
- ⅓ cup flour
- Dash salt
- 1½ cups softened butter
- 1½ cups sugar
- 2 tsp. vanilla
Directions
- Prep Baking PansLet eggs and butter stand 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour three 8 x 1-1/2-inch round baking pans; set aside.
- Combine Dry and Wet IngredientsIn medium bowl combine flour, cocoa powder, and the salt; set aside. In large mixing bowl beat butter on medium-high 30 seconds. Add sugar and vanilla; beat until combined. One at a time, add eggs; beat on medium after each. Beat in food coloring on low.
- Add Flour Mixture to Wet IngredientsAlternately add flour mixture and buttermilk to egg mixture; beat on low-medium after each just until combined. Stir together baking soda and vinegar. Add to batter; beat just until combined.
- Bake and CoolSpread in prepared pans. Bake 25-30 minutes or until pick inserted near centers comes out clean (cakes may appear marbled). Cool in pans on wire racks 10 minutes. Remove from pans; cool.
- Frost CakePrepare Buttercream Frosting. Place layer flat side up on plate. Spread top with 3/4 cup frosting. Stack layer, flat side up; spread top with 3/4 cup frosting. Stack final layer, flat side down; spread remaining frosting on top and sides. Makes 16 servings.
Buttercream Frosting
Cream Ingredients and Combine. In large bowl beat butter, sugar, and vanilla on medium 5 minutes until light and fluffy and sugar is almost dissolved. Add cooled milk mixture, 1/4 cup at a time; beat on low after each until smooth.Classic Snickerdoodle Cookies
Cook the Milk Mixture. In medium saucepan whisk together milk, flour, and salt. Cook and stir over medium heat until thickened and bubbly. Reduce heat; cook and stir 2 minutes more.
Cool the Milk Mixture. Transfer to small bowl; cover surface with plastic wrap. Refrigerate until cooled (do not stir).
🗓 Second Meeting
Tuesday, February 24, 2026
🕙 11:30 AM – after the Olympics Film.
👩🍳 What we’ll bake: Snickerdoodle Cookies
Classic Snickerdoodle Cookies
- Prep Time40 min
- Total50 min
- Servings48
- Ingredients10
Ingredients
- 1 1/2.cups sugar
- 1/2.cup salted butter, softened
- 1/2.cup shortening
- 2.large eggs
- 2 3/4.cups Gold Medal™ All Purpose Flour
- 2.teaspoons cream of tartar
- 1.teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4.teaspoon salt
- 1/4.cup sugar
- 2.teaspoons ground cinnamon
Instructions
- 1.Heat oven to 400°F.
- 2.Mix 1 1/2 cups sugar, the butter, shortening, and eggs in large bowl until light and creamy, about 1 minute.
- 3.Stir in flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, and salt. Mix just until the dry ingredients are incorporated, about 30 seconds.
- 4.In a small bowl, mix 1/4 cup sugar and the cinnamon for the cinnamon sugar coating.
- 5.Shape dough into 1 1/4-inch balls. Roll balls in cinnamon-sugar mixture. Place 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet.
- 6.Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until set. Remove from cookie sheet to wire rack to cool.
🗓 First Meeting
Tuesday, January 27, 2026
🕙 10:00 AM
👩🍳 What we’ll bake: Banana Bread
No need to be a professional baker—just bring your enthusiasm, curiosity, and love for good company!
Volunteers Wanted
We are also looking for a volunteer group leader to help guide and coordinate the Baking Buddies meetings. If you enjoy baking, organizing activities, and engaging with people in English, we’d love to hear from you.
📩 Interested or want more information? Contact us! aia.fvg@gmail.com
Join us and become a Baking Buddy—where baking meets conversation and community.
1963 Better Homes and Gardens Banana Bread
A vintage recipe for banana bread from the 1963 Better Homes and Gardens Magazine!
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 48 minutes
Resting Time 20 minutes
Servings 8 Slices
Ingredients
- 1/3 Cup Shortening I used butter
- 1/2 Cup Sugar
- 2 Large Eggs
- 1 3/4 Cups All-Purpose Flour
- 1 Teaspoon Baking Powder
- 1/2 Teaspoon Baking Soda
- 1/2 Teaspoon Salt
- 3 Medium Extra Ripe Bananas
- 1/2 Cup Chopped Walnuts
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350-degrees.
- Cream butter and sugar together in an electric mixer.
- Mix in the eggs.
- Sift the all-purpose flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt together.
- Mash bananas with a fork.
- Add the dry ingredients to the electric mixer alternately with the banana. Blend well.
- Fold in the walnuts.
- Pour mixture into a well-greased (or lined with parchment paper) loaf pan.
- Bake for 45-55 minutes.You’ll know when it’s done when the toothpick comes out clean.
- Allow the loaf to cool for about fifteen minutes before slicing!