Abstract: A mixing blade (10) for mixing a drink in a cup (20) having a dome-shaped lid (30) with an opening (32) therein is provided. The mixing blade comprises tow hollow truncated cones (12, 14) attached base-to-base. A top side of one cone has an opening (18) therein for attaching to a rotatable shaft(2). The cone-shaped walls each have a plurality of openings (16) therein. To mix a drink, the ingredients are measured and placed in the cup and the lid is placed on the cup. The mixing blade is inserted through the opening in the lid and is spun or rotated for a predetermined mixing time. After the blade is removed from the drink, the drink is served and the blade is sanitized in a sanitizing solution before being used to mix another drink. The mixing blade is particularly suitable for the preparation of frozen drinks.

Abstract: A formulation for making a yeast-raised baked good having an extended shelf life is provided. The ingredients that contribute to the shelf life extension of the product are hard and soft wheat flours, dextrose, soybean oil, nonfat dry milk or milk replacement, fermented flavor, a gum blend, vital wheat gluten, distilled monoglycerides, an enzyme blend, konjac flour, and methylcellulose.

Abstract: A tapered cup having an outwardly rolled lip includes a cup wall having an upper portion that is outwardly flared more than an adjacent lower wall portion. The cup can include a groove below the outwardly rolled lip in the inner face of the cup wall. The cup can be provided with stacking ribs within the cup to aid in stacking of two or more cups. The cup can include a tapered lid with an outwardly flared lip that seats against the inner wall of the cup and that does not extend over the lip of the cup. The lid can include a locking ring below the outwardly flared lip of the lid that is adapted for insertion into the groove in the cup. The lid further includes a fluid port.

Abstract: A tapered cup having an outwardly rolled lip includes insulating bodies integral with the outer face of the wall of the cup. Thermally conductive channels are among the insulating bodies and have an insulating value that is less then the insulating value of the insulating bodies. The cup can include a groove below the outwardly rolled lip in the inner face of the cup wall. The insulating bodies can be configured as alpha numeric indicia and the outer wall of the bodies or cup can be provided with bumps to aid in stacking of two or more cups. The cup can include a tapered lid with an outwardly flared lip that seats against the inner wall of the cup and does not extend over the lip of the cup. The lid can include a locking ring below the outwardly flared lip of the lid that is adapted for insertion into the groove in the cup. The lid further includes a fluid port.

Abstract: A proofing oven which uniformly proofs large quantities of raised-dough goods and eliminates the need for special expertise to produce uniformly-proofed baked goods is provided. The proofing oven includes a proofing chamber; a heat source for providing a desired controllable, stable and uniform proofing temperature in the proofing chamber; a humidifier for introducing a desired controlled humidity into the proofing chamber; a dehumidifier for removing moisture from the proofing chamber to maintain such controlled humidity; an air circulation system for circulating the controlled air of the proofing chamber throughout the chamber and providing a mild turbulent air flow uniformly over the goods being proofed in the chamber; and a control system for setting and automatically regulating the proofing environment of the proofing chamber, including the time of proofing and the temperature and humidity in the proofing chamber for the particular goods and/or proofing requirements.

Abstract: A highly improved pressure relief valve permitting release of pressure from an enclosed area without permitting any substantial reverse flow of gases or fluids into that enclosed area is disclosed. Specifically, the pressure relief valve includes a rigid base member, preferably composed of a rigid plastic material such as polyvinyl chloride, a flexible valve membrane stretched across the surface of the base member, the flexible valve membrane preferably composed of a synthetic resin material, and an entrance port associated with one end of the base member so that pressure build-up in the enclosed area is released between the base member and the flexible valve membrane when it reaches a predetermined level. Furthermore, a coffee bag for storing roasted coffee beans and ground coffee is disclosed, including the above-described pressure relief valve for permitting the release of CO.sub.2 from the bag while at the same time preventing the entrance of any substantial amounts of O.sub.2 into the bag.