When it comes to apple pies you will usually find two types of methods. The first method is that the filling is cooked and cooled before adding to the crust, then baked. The second method is the … [more]
Do you want to make sugar taste even better? Then grind up one vanilla bean with approximately ½ cup of sugar. Vanilla sugar keeps for ages and goes great with coffee , French toast, as a … [more]
Add a dollop of mayonnaise to your cake batter to ensure a moist product. Mayonnaise is made of egg yolks and oil. The yolk brings a richer taste and the oil helps with the moisture. [more]
Use Silpat (silicone mats) to roll your dough out onto. The surface is non-stick and it is easy to pull up and maneuver. If your recipe requires any cutting, take extra precaution as the Silpat can … [more]
If you are using cinnamon sticks, heat them in the microwave for a few seconds to release the oils. They will become more aromatic. Cinnamon is the inner bark of either cassia tree (common in … [more]
Store vanilla beans in vodka to keep them moist. It you allow them to sit for several weeks you will both create a very tasty vanilla extract but also have moist and soft beans. This makes it easy to … [more]
These brownies have helped me to win friends and influcence people. Just ask any of my friends. Also, it might seem like a lot of steps but these are really easy and maybe the best brownies ever! [more]
In recent years, the cupcake made a huge comeback with Magnolia and the Barefoot Contessa on the east coast, and Joan’s on Third and Sprinkle’s in Los Angeles where I live. Our friends … [more]
Before you die I urge you to visit Devon. OK, so you have made a promise to get to Venice before Alzheimer’s sets in, but… Let me paint a picture. Imagine a place where the North Atlantic … [more]
If a recipe calls for eggs at room temperature and you are running short on time, simply place eggs in very warm (but not hot) water for 5 to 10 minutes. Room temperature is ideal for eggs used in … [more]
Don’t have a loaf pan? A round 1 ½ quart souffle or quart dish can be substituted for an 8x4 inch pan. Also, a 2 quart dish can substituted for 9x5 inch pan. [more]
Glass is a great conductor of heat. Glass retains heat better than even metal. When using glass bakeware, reduce oven temperature by 15 - 20 degrees(F), depending on oven. [more]
A thickened cream with a tangy, nutty flavor, similar to sour cream but richer tasting and less sour. It can whipped like cream and use in recipes in place of sour cream. Makes about 1 cup. [more]
This rainy weekend in September provides my daughter - and me - with her first experience of Brownie camp. To help it all go with a swing, and to keep the Brown Owls happy, we were asked to send … [more]
There are two types of dry yeast: Regular Active Dry Rapid-Rise The two types of dry yeast can be used interchangeably. The advantage of the rapid-rise is the rising time is half that of the active … [more]
This dessert can be prepared in advance and just left in the fridge until ready to cook. It is easy to make (I do it with my children) and absolutely delicious. It is best served with a small hole … [more]
Caster sugar — also spelled “castor” — is the British term for superfine sugar. Whether British, US, or otherwise, caster and superfine are used when the sugar needs to … [more]
Believe it or not, I don’t often crave chocolate. I leave that particular craving to women. There are a number of theses why women hunger for the dark stuff, my favourite being this. Progesterone, … [more]
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