Baking
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Which Side of the Foil is Best?!
If you’ve ever wondered if one side of the foil is better than another for baking or cooking, I did a little experiment. I was surprised at the results. Now, this was not an extensive survey but it changed my mind! The two sets of cookie sheets were lined with foil, one with the shiny side facing up and one with the dull side facing up. Each cookie sheet was baked at the same time, temperature, and in the same position (rack level) in the oven. No difference. So, there you go! No more stressing about which side is best, haha. I plan on doing more experiments with different foods…
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My absolute must-have kitchen tool
I have purchased many, many kitchen tools over the years. My husband and I were in the military when we got married. We didn’t have a big wedding where we received gifts of kitchen essentials. We started from scratch. We stocked our kitchen from a local thrift shop. There were many plastic measuring cups to choose from. I now know why, for the most part. I soon purchased many plastic measuring cups over the years. The reason why I purchased so many was because the measurements would soon be washed away or rubbed off. For some people, that might never be a problem. They will be able to look at…
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KitchenAid VS Bosch – Mixer Showdown
I have been asked many times what is the best mixer to buy. I have a surprising opinion on this topic. I think both! Now, I would never suggest buying both at once! I was married for 10 years and saved up by the time I purchased a bosch mixer. I think for the money, a KitchenAid is a great mixer to begin with! Here are some of the pros and cons of each and you might see why I love having both! The KitchenAid is a great mixer to have, especially if you can grab one while it’s on sale! I am sure there are a thousand uses for…
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My {baking} secret weapon
Baking is one of my most favorite things to do! It’s so calming and relaxing. I love baking things that are so yummy for other people. I love the chemistry and science behind it. I love experimenting with new recipes. And I love researching and reading everything I can about how to get the best bakes. One thing I don’t love is when something I make doesn’t turn out the way I thought it should when I have done everything right. It doesn’t always make sense if I followed the recipe correctly. It donned on me that it could be the oven. If the oven temperature says 350 degrees Fahrenheit…
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Come shop with me, my Costco Favorites!
Come shop along with me. I LOVE costco! People often ask, Sams vs. Costco? Costco any day for me! I absolutely love all the healthy (tasty) options for low costs!
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My absolute must-have kitchen tool-part 2
I learned many years ago there is only one liquid measuring cup I will ever own. Pyrex. Why? Because I have purchased many, many other liquid measuring cups in the past only to be completely surprised (not the good kind of surprised) to find the measurement readings completely disappear! What on earth would I need a liquid measuring cup without any measurement readings for?! I have many Pyrex liquid measuring cups and have had them for many years. I love that they are glass! I love that the readings stay put! I have one that has had much more use than the others and there is a bit of fading…
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The Joy of Sugar Cookies
There is something magical about making cutout sugar cookies. They are so delicious and beautiful to look at. Making a beautiful sugar cookie takes a lot of work and maybe that’s what makes them so special. Decorating them together as a family is a very special event in our home, one that leaves me feeling like I want to do it several times each holiday season. If you like your sugar cookies on the softer side, take them out a little early from the oven! My favorite recipe is from sallysbakingaddiction.com. The recipe is pretty standard but she advocates for not adding too much flour and using room temperature eggs.…
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‘Tis the season for baking
In my mind, there is never a bad time for baking. Baking for me is just my happy place. I am always on the hunt for new recipes. I am a sucker for all the posts that start off with, “the best [blank] recipe. I love baking and basically anything in the kitchen. I have approximately 3,341 kinds of flour. Not really, but it sometimes feels that way. I have a pantry renovation in mind for the future but for now I have been reorganizing the pantry. I will have a post with pictures, because before and after pictures are so fun! For now, I am working on transferring my…
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Christmas neighbor gifts
Every year I ponder what type of gifts to make or buy for my neighbors, my children’s teachers, and friends at church. There have been times when I know there are several in that group that would rather not have sweet treats, so I will try to come up with something fun that won’t add to the sugar overload that sometimes happens at the Christmas season. But, this year my love of baking got the better of me. Who doesn’t love a good homemade cookie, though?! I decided that I wanted to make one of my favorite cookies, pumpkin sugar cookies((you totally have to make them!). But it isn’t the easiest…