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The Joy Of Chocolate Chip Cookies

Do you love chocolate chip cookies? This cookies is truly America’s cookie and can be found in kitchens all across the country.  Chocolate chip cookies, warm from the oven, might be among the very best dessert deals with ever created. They are basic to bake and fantastic to consume.

The Many Types Of Chocolate Chip Cookies

Chocolate chip cookies are an irresistible treat – and exceptionally addicting! There are several variations on this style, from chocolate chip cookies that are made with white chocolate chips to cookies that are made using semi-sweet or dark chocolate. There are also versions that are topped with fruits, such as strawberries or perhaps ice cream.

What actually makes these cookies so enticing is their chewy texture and rich, creamy taste. And among the easiest ways to guarantee that baked cookies soft and fluffy is to bake them on a great flat pan using either silicone mats or parchment paper. Your recipe will tell you to pre-heat your oven, grease your baking sheets or use parchment paper and then the appropriate baking time in the oven. Some recipes will likewise suggest using a stand mixer while others recommend hand blending. Both will work fine, however it is necessary that the dough be well combined. Another thing to consider will be that the baking time is generally just about 10 minutes, however that can alter. Thicker cookies take longer as do cookies that are made from dough that comes right out of the fridge.

Chocolate Chip Cookies Can Have Numerous Flavors

Chocolate chip cookies can also be adjusted to other tastes, such as mint or raspberry. Make sure you have the standard tools needed for baking cookies, this will make your baking experience a lot much easier.

For the flavorings in your cookies, you have numerous options. You may want to try oatmeal raisin cookies if you’re looking for cookie recipes with a little crunch. These are my preferred because they are so simple to make and have a scrumptious taste that goes completely with coffee! They are also extremely easy to make and affordable. You can make enough of these to share with buddies or household, and still have plenty to consume later on or perhaps freeze.

Experiment With Other Ingredients

You can likewise experiment with different types of nuts by replacing the chocolate chips with some of your preferred nuts, or by adding candies or other sweet additions. There are lots of ways to personalize your chocolate chip cookies to bring out the finest flavors, so put some thought into it before you head out to the store or the Internet to search for chocolate chip cookie dishes.

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Baking Cookies Like A Professional Baker

Baking cookies is a satisfying task that you can do with your kids. They will have a great time helping and everyone will enjoy the end result.

Baking Cookies And Having Fun!

Baking cookies is enjoyable and an excellent way to get closer to your household. It likewise works as an excellent activity for you to do with the kids when they are old enough to understand how to mix components. The first thing that you need to do is to gather the necessary active ingredients for the dish. If you wish to make a chocolate chip cookie dish, then you will need the following components: flour, sugar, butter, vanilla, baking soda, eggs, salt, and chocolate chips. If you wish to make a sugar dish, then you will require the following active ingredients: flour, sugar, milk, eggs, salt, and powdered sugar.

Now that you have these ingredients, all you need to do is to combine them and mix them into the dough. Some bakers suggest using a stand mixer, this will help make certain that the dough is truly well blended. Ensure that your butter and your eggs are at space temperature and examine to the expiration date on the sodium bicarbonate and baking powder.

Making Different Shapes Of Cookies

As soon as you have actually made the dough, you will now begin to roll it out to form a round or oblong shape. This will give your cookies the desired shape. Heat your oven to the temperature required in the dish and ensure that the oven is at the proper temperature. Don’t utilize lower or higher oven temperatures unless you actually know what you are doing.

Some cookies doughs, such as chocolate chip cookies, will benefit by investing some time in the refrigerator, up to one hour before you utilize the dough. Quality cookies require quality cookie sheets.   You can use non-stick baking pans or you can try aluminum cookie sheets with silicone baking mats.  Some cookies, like chocolate chip, will brown while others, like sugar cookies, won’t.

Keeping your cookies fresh requires you to ensure that they are well covered and protected from air flow. You can purchase storage containers and use them to save your cookies in. The majority of these containers are already in your cooking area, they can be plastic or glass and can enter into the freezer for longer storage.

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Are You Using The Right Measuring Cups?

What Do You Know About Measuring Cups?

A cup is a cup? Yes, I cup of milk has the same volume of 1 cup of flour and that is what your recipe calls for. In baking, however, how you determined that one cup of milk or one cup of flour can make a lot of difference in how your dessert will in fact turn out.

One cup of one active ingredient comprises the very same volume as one cup of another component. Where excellent bakers pay attention is how that cup was determined. If you utilize a liquid measuring cup to come up with one cup of flour you will not have the ability to get an accurate quantity. The same chooses a reverse scenario where you attempt to get one cup of milk determined properly with a dry ingredient measuring vessel. Yes, both can determine one cup however you won’t be as accurate as you need to be.

That’s why it is very crucial to have two different sets of determining cups in your kitchen area. One set requires to be designed to determine only damp components while the other set requires to be made for only dry active ingredients. These sets aren’t costly, you won’t break the bank by buying both kinds. They likewise aren’t big and large so you will not require a lot of area in your cooking area to save them. Simply keep in mind that you desire all of your dishes to work and that means utilizing the correct amount of each ingredient.

Why You Should Use Liquid Measuring Cups

Properly measuring liquids of any type needs using either  spoons or a liquid measuring cup. The idea behind these cups is that you put liquids into the cup until they reach the line that designates the quantity that you want. If you utilize a dry component determining cup for liquids you have to carefully fill the cup, then pour without spilling into your mixing bowl.

Glass measuring cups last longer, the measurement lines don’t fade and they can go right into the dishwasher. Plastic cups can likewise go right into your dishwasher and are lighter, however the lines can fade in time and plastic can quickly crack. There normally isn’t much difference in rate in between the two products.

Why You Should Use Dry Ingredient Measuring Cups

You most likely have a few sets of dry active ingredient cups in your scrap drawer. A set normally comes in the 4 basic measurement system sizes; 1/4 cup, 1/3 cup, 1/2 cup and 1 cup. You just scoop out the dry components, scrape the top of the cup with a straight edge like a knife and dump into your bowl or pan. Measuring ingredients for any recipe is a basic chore that needs to be accurate however you don’t need to get expensive to have the right tools. One glass measuring cup and one set of liquid measuring cups will deal with any cooking or baking job and shouldn’t set you back more than $20 in total. That’s a small financial investment for an essential set of baking utensils that will last for many years.

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Have You Ever Baked Sourdough Bread?

Baking sourdough bread is different that baking a basic homemade bread. You need to create a sourdough starter and proof it before you can begin making the dough.

How to Bake Your Own Sourdough Bread

If you are relatively new to baking bread, you might not yet understand all the complex procedures associated with sourdough bread making. Souring bread is a extremely old and ancient art dating back to early civilizations like the Indus Valley Civilization. Many of the cultures of the world have their own variations of bread dishes and much of those recipes can be traced back to ancient cultures. You can find out about bread making from books or by searching the internet.

To make sourdough bread, you initially require to prepare the components. The majority of starter establish have a small wood container with a developed in wire rack that is excellent for keeping your ingredients and making sure even cooking. Since it allows you to put the ended up loaf inside while it is still warm, your wood container will come in helpful when baking. Loafing the dough in a baking pan is not required, but it does enable much better browning and offers the bread a much better taste. After the dough has been places into the baking pan, put it into a pre-heated oven for the time called for in the recipe that you are using.

If after baking you have a loaf that is dry and in crumbly, you’ll need to include a lot more yeast and water in your starter to make up for the lost wetness.  It’s discouraging to end up with a bad loaf but adjusting your starter base will make the next attempt much better.  Constantly use the right measuring cups and spoons when you are baking bread, you do not desire any surprises.

Sourdough Bread In A Bread Machine?

Bread makers that come with basic recipes usually only consist of the minimum quantity of packaged yeast required to make one basic loaf of bread. What you can do is attempt different recipes and see which ones you like finest. It’s constantly best to start with a fundamental dish and after that include the components to see which ones make the finest fundamental loaf of bread for you. There are other things you need to understand when you’re making sourdough bread. This bread has a higher gluten content than normal bread so it’s not something for people who have celiac illness to consume.

Because it has a higher gluten content than regular white bread, it can possibly be more tough to absorb. Often, eating it in the refrigerator enables the enzymes in the bread to begin working again, which will help with any gluten intolerance problems.

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Do You Have These Basic Baking Tools?

Do you have the basic baking tools needed to bake properly? Even the most experienced baker won’t take shortcuts when it comes to equipping their kitchens.

Our List Of Basic Baking Tools Needed

You recently bought a new dessert cookbook and have actually discovered the perfect recipe to help you into making tasty cookies that you can impress your household and friends with. Is your kitchen stocked with the basic baking tools for your cookie baking experience? Here are a few basic baking tools that you will wish to make sure that you have in your kitchen area prior to you begin your baking adventure.

Having The Right Measuring Cups

Yes, there are different measuring cups and you need to make sure that you are using the right one. Liquid determining cups are clear, generally made of glass, and have measurements on the side.  You shouldn’t use liquid measuring cups for dry ingredients.

Having A Good Flour Sifter

To end up with excellent cookies it is required that your dry components, particularly flour, be sorted to remove any portions and clumps. A sifting process not just would separate the clumps but it aerates your flour, offering it included volume. This likewise makes flour and powdered sugar smoother and silkier, they are now much easier to blend into your batter.

Having A Couple Of Good Spatulas

This all-purpose tool seems a mix of a flipper and a spoon and can carry out a big number of cooking area jobs. They require to be strong due to the fact that they will be doing the heavy mixing in a lot of cookie dishes. Spatulas are commonly made of silicone rubber or plastic and usually are not too costly.

Having A Heavy Rolling Pin

Experienced bakers will inform you that these are neglected cooking area tools and that every baker must have one. Flattening cookie dough by hand is difficult work and having a kitchen area tool that does it quickly is fantastic. Most rolling pins are made of cured wood, polished marble, stainless steel or extremely heavy plastic.

Having An Assortment Of Cookie Cutters

If your recipe for cookies requires you to make shapes, you need to have some good cookie cutters on hand. You can get truly innovative with cookie cutters, they come in an amazing assortment of shapes! After you have rolled out your dough (remember what I stated about needing a rolling pin?) you require to cut out cookies and this is where you use a cookie cutter. They are normally made from stainless-steel and the edge is sharp. Press down on the dough and the cookie comes up in the cutter. For vacation and special occasion you can get themed cookie cutters and after that decorate your baked deals with to fit the event.

Having Heavy Duty Oven Mitts

An oven mitt fits over your hands like a glove and will allow you to take extremely hot pans and trays out of your oven and move them around in your kitchen. Do not rely on a kitchen towel or some other make-shift tool to manage hot pans, you require sturdy oven mitts to stay safe and get your cookies securely out of the oven.

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Let's Bake Some Cookies!

It is no surprise why homemade cookies have become popular. These types of treats offer a healthier option for those who would otherwise avoid them, and they are fun to prepare. Of course, we shouldn’t forget that the cookie recipe itself offers lots of versatility. You can use your creativity to come up with new ideas or improve on an old one. Here are some ways you can spice up your baked goods.

Use Fresh Ingredients For The Best Cookies

Using cookie dough that is freshly made can really give your baked goods a boost. For one thing, freshly baked cookie dough tends to be very rich in flavor. If you’re thinking of trying something new with your recipes, try incorporating sugar instead of flour, which will increase the amount of sweetness. Add a few eggs to the mix as well; the yolks will add a bit of richness that will draw out the flavor in the cookie dough.

If you are not using a particular cookie recipe that you love, consider changing it up by substituting one of the ingredients listed above. Many people are allergic to eggs, so it’s not uncommon for people to want to cut eggs from their baking mixes. Substituting a few other ingredients can make a world of difference, as well. For example, if you like coffee in your coffee-shop cookies, substitute whole coffee grinds for the powdered beverage.

Another great addition to your arsenal when baking cookies is to throw in a good brand of parchment paper. This makes it easier to spread the batter out and shape it into the desired shapes. Baking parchment paper comes in two different types: light and dark. The latter is usually a bit thicker and is better for bakers who are making darker cookies. The thickness of the baking parchment paper affects how long it takes to bake your cookies.

Be Creative When You Are Baking Cookies

If you have a food processor or a food chopper, you can also easily make meringue cookies. Mix the softened butter, sugar, vanilla, and baking soda together in a bowl. Add the wet ingredients and beat them to combine. Then put this into your electric oven and gently beat until the mixture is fully blended.

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The Benefits Of Baking Bread At Home

Should You Bake Your Own Bread?

Maybe you have actually never ever heard it before, but you really must be baking your own bread. Why? I believe the top reason everyone ought to bake their own bread is that it redeems you from years of bad health and medical bills. How so?

HOMEMADE BREAD IS HEALTHIER

It is much healthier to bake your own bread instead of buying bread which contains chemical additives, hydrogenated oils, unhealthy preservatives, and fattening sweeteners.

If you purchase white bread you’re likewise getting bread that is lacking in nutrition, however don’t be tricked. Store purchased whole wheat bread can be just as bad for you.  A lot of times the whole wheat bread offered in stores isn’t truly constructed of “whole meal” but is simply white bread that is colored (utilizing caramel) to make it appear like it’s entire grain and healthy.

Shop purchased whole wheat bread also contains the exact same emulsifiers, and chemical by items that are in shop bought white bread.

When you are baking your own bread you never need to fret about these “concealed risks” or chemicals in bread, that have been proven by medical research studies to even cause cancer.  Rather you can manage every active ingredient that enters into your bread, and you’ll understand precisely how it is processed and developed. There are numerous other excellent rewards for baking homemade whole wheat bread, and I’ll go into each one listed below.

HOMEMADE BREAD TASTES BETTER THAN SHOP BOUGHT

Absolutely no argument here. Almost everyone concurs that the taste of homemade bread far surpasses that of store bought bread, (some have actually even stated they could taste the chemicals in the store bought bread and really hated it).  Taste is a biggie for a lot of people, and because everybody wishes to eat tasty meals, you can’t go wrong by baking your own bread.

HOMEMADE BREAD SAVES YOU MONEY

It’s more affordable to purchase all the components for making bread separately, than buying them currently made into bread. You can quickly conserve $30 or $40 dollars a month, by baking your own bread.  This is particularly true if you buy as many of your bread ingredients as you can, in the bulk department of a grocery store. An entire bag of entire wheat flour (adequate to make 4 to 6 loaves) could cost $4.00 or less. This is simply one example of how inexpensive baking your own bread is.

HOMEMADE BREAD IS LOWER IN FAT.  THIS LEADS TO WEIGHT-LOSS

My preferred reason for baking bread, is that, if you bake the right sort of bread (like entire wheat bread) it can be a great way to help you lose weight or maintain a healthy weight.  I make certain you have actually heard the myth prior to that bread is really fattening, it’s a myth at least for homemade whole wheat bread. Because of all the additional additives that large scale producers pack their bread with, there breads are almost always fattening.

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A Few Basic Cooking Tips

Easy Tips On How To Be A Great Cook

Discovering to prepare appears like an impossible job to some however with diligence and practice anybody can learn to cook! There are many recipes in books, magazines and even online for every single type of individual from a newbie to an expert. There are many classes you can take too at culinary schools. Read the following tips to improve your experience in the kitchen.

Follow this pointer when you want to make a soup utilizing stock. Make sure to make a large amount of stock, pour it in a plastic bag, and location it in the freezer. This will enable you to quickly make soup whenever you want to by just defrosting out the already made stock.

When baking cookies, make sure to drop the batter in thick spoon fulls onto the baking sheet. Cool for at least 20 minutes before baking. When the baking procedure is taking location, this lowers the flattening process that can take place. When the edges are brown, remove the cookies from the oven, and you will be rewarded with a soft center.

Using Different Cutting Boards For Different Foods

Keep separate slicing boards for raw and prepared foods. Many people get salmonella poisoning each year because they consumed food that was prepared on a dirty counter or slicing board.

Purchase a quality loaf of bread that you can use as a side piece to a range of meals. Bread goes terrific with any dish that has sauce or cheese, as you can dip it in a range of different toppings. Consist of a loaf of French or Italian bread with your next meal.

Ensure that you effectively maintain your cooking utensils regularly. A chef’s knife, for example, is of no usage to you when blunt so ensure that these are honed on a regular basis. When acquiring a chef’s knife look for one with a long and broad blade as this will provide you better control and chopping speed.

Pay Attention To Your Vegetables

Keep vegetables fresh longer by covering them with a damp paper towel and then putting them in an airtight bag. It is essential to get the most out of your veggies by sealing them firmly and keeping them away right away if you do not plan to use them.

Cooking with fresh, raw cloves of garlic can easily create an overwhelming smell that can remain on your kitchen area, clothes, and nose, you need not worry about removing the odor from your hands. After your are finished with the garlic, you need to rub your hands on your stainless-steel sink for half a minute before you try to wash them with soap and water.

Anybody can learn to cook. Beginning with the ground and developing your skills utilizing your looking into abilities is very helpful. With a little perseverance and a flair for providing your liked ones and yourself a fantastic meal, you can find out and end up being a pro at cooking at any age!

Finding out to cook seems like an impossible job to some but with diligence and practice anyone can learn to cook! When you desire to make a soup using stock, follow this idea. Keep different chopping boards for uncooked and prepared foods. It is essential to get the most out of your veggies by sealing them securely and keeping them away immediately if you do not prepare to utilize them.

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Cook Healthy Meals To Help With Weight Loss

Meals in the house and with family do not need to be fat-laden affairs. Nor do they have to be uninteresting, tasteless times of celery mashing around the table. A few subtle adjustments in your food options will make a big distinction on the scales.  Following a good diet plan helps with your weight loss goals.  Here are some cooking and baking tips that will lead to a smart weight loss program.

Choose Lean Meat

Don’t give up meat, simply make smarter options in buying it. Meat is much leaner today than it has been due to cutting efforts on the part of meat packers. Beef labeled as “loin”, “round” and “additional lean” are your finest choices.  According to The Wisconsin Beef Council, cuts like top round, tenderloin or sirloin qualify as lean, healthy selections.

Roasting, baking, barbecuing, braising and broiling are healthy meat-cooking methods. Usage non-stick pans and choose cooking sprays over oil or butter throughout preparation. Another method to lower fat is to strain cooked ground beef and wash it with warm water. Drain it well prior to you continue the dish.

Check Out Your Chicken Choices

When we think lean we often look to chicken. Many of us turn a potentially diet-friendly staple into something significantly less than healthy.  Switch to broiling, roasting, baking or steaming fresh chicken. Utilize a non-stick pan with cooking wine, spray or broth.

Poultry dark meat includes about twice as much fat as white meat. You can get rid of the skin prior to cooking or choose skinless ranges.

Lean Turkey Is A Smart Option

You will reduce your fat intake by avoiding the turkey fat from soaking into the dressing. Attempt to use less butter or margarine when preparing the stuffing.  Leave the drumsticks for the kids. Similar to chicken, choose light meat over dark and you’ll conserve many calories.

Steam It Green

Serve steamed vegetables rather of cheese-based meals or heavy casseroles. Steaming or microwaving veggies means you don’t have to include any fat throughout preparation; pick lemon juice, herbs, or vinegar over margarine. Usage herbs and spices or imitation butter sprinkles as flavoring instead of butter, cheese or oil. If steamed veggies don’t fit your taste buds, decrease the quantity of oil you use if you sauté them. Broth or flavored vinegar makes a terrific alternative to oil.

Whole Grains Are Great

Select entire grains as your bread choice Whenever you have the opportunity. You could pick whole grain breading for packing preparation, entire grain supper rolls, whole wheat bread for sandwiches, and wild rice rather of white.  You will find that losing weight is easier if you substitute whole grains for other grains and flours.

All kinds of white bread are high in refined sugar and pack in more calories than grains. These refined sugars are a few of the “bad carbohydrates” we hear a lot about these days. If you still yearn for white bread occasionally, pick a “lite” or diet version, which will conserve you a few calories.

Usage non-stick pans and choose cooking sprays over oil or butter throughout preparation. Poultry dark meat contains about twice as much fat as white meat. As with chicken, pick light meat over dark and you’ll conserve quite a couple of calories.

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How to Celebrate the Birthday of Your Cat?

Every pet, specially cats, wants to be pampered and treated with royalty. The felines are actually party animals. Even though they don’t socialize as much as dogs do, they still like being the center of attraction. Don’t miss a chance of pampering your feline beauties if you really love her.

Don’t just pet her. Love, adore, spoil and celebrate her existence in your life. Kitties have got all the right to be pampered. If not everyday, then at least on some special occasions like their birthday. Why should the birthday of your kitty be left behind if you celebrate the other life events of your life. After all, she is one of the best things that has happened to you. Creativity mixed with love and sentiments can make her day. Here are some tips to make the day special for her.

1. Tasty treat

The day of felines start with food and ends with the same. Don’t feed her with the same old cat food on this special day. Make some tasty homemade treats for her. This will be a pleasant start to the day for her.

2. Presents? Goes without saying

The nature of cats match a lot with the humans. No matter what they have and how much they have, new goodies are always welcome. Get some new catnip toys for the spoiled brats. You can even get them some stuffed toys, woolen rolls or cat balls. Buying them a scratching post is a good idea as well. This will even discourage the kitty from scratching your furniture.

3. Surprise party

A small get-together and surprise party can make her feel even more special. Invite the cats from your neighbor to the party so that your kitty can play, fight and have a good time with them. Don’t forget to bake a birthday cake. Cats love sweets. Make small cup cakes for all the kitties at the party, instead of a big one. Make your feline sit in the center and sing the birthday song for her. Pets might not understand human language but they are very good at reading emotions and love. The shy and introvert feline will enjoy being the guest of honor.

4. Lots of photos to keep the memories alive for ever

Get you kitty dressed up in cute cat clothing and click as much pictures as possible, they love getting clicked. Don’t forget to have a family photo shoot and capture the adorable memories forever.

5. A royal sleeping spot for the honorable feline

Cats love sleeping. This birthday fix a corner and place a comfortable bed for her to sleep. This brand new bed will be the best surprise for her for the day. Stuff the bed sheet with old clothes and pillow covers to make it soft and cozy. Nothing can make them happier than a sound and peaceful nap.

6. Do some charity

Make the day even more memorable by doing some charity in the name of your cat. You can either adopt another feline to accompany yours or you can make some donation to the cat charity. This is the best thing you can do for other stray cats.

You need not plan a lot for you cat’s birthday. Just do some basic stuff and it will the day of both you and your kitty. Limit the guest to those family and friend who owns a pet. A lot of crowd will disturb the kitty and make sure you don’t invite any dog at the party. You might not realize but these small effort of yours matters a lot to your pets. This is sure to make the human-feline bond strong.

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How to Judge a Cookie Recipe Based on Ingredients

The name is the first thing I notice on a new cookie recipe. Descriptive flavors entice me, especially if it is unusual. Flavors like coffee or rosemary interest me more than a sugar cookie. Not to say that you can’t have a lot of fun flavoring up a plain sugar cookie with some interesting spices.

I like to read through the list of ingredients. If the recipe asks for something that I don’t have on hand, I ask myself whether it is worth getting. I do try to see if I can make a substitution. I’ve been known to exchange cottage cheese for sour cream to cut back on the fat. I also like to make spice or extract substitutions. With cookies involving fruit I’ll use one berry for another or use figs instead of dates to avoid running to the store. You can create a lot of happy accidents with well-placed substitutions.

Baking Tip-Check The Ingredients!

If I don’t understand the ingredient, I immediately dislike the recipe. For example, a recipe calling for caster sugar, could just as easily say very fine sugar or instruct you to grind up some regular sugar in your food processor. I think of these recipes as a bit snobby. (Caster sugar is used because it dissolves faster and more thoroughly.)  However, you don’t want to use this sugar for chocolate chip cookies.

On the other hand, a recipe that asks for corn syrup or a box of cake mix or a can of frosting isn’t likely to make the grade either. One reason I bake is to avoid man-made chemicals and overly sweet recipes. If there is a gooey icing involved, then I know they are selling sugar over any real flavor.

Ingredients aren’t the only reason to select a cookie or bar recipe. I also like to read how long it takes to bake. Cookies that take longer than 20 minutes or bars that take longer than 35 minutes usually don’t make the grade. I don’t like using up a lot of electricity for a single recipe, nor do I like to spend a lot of time on just one item.

If the instructions are several pages long, I know I’m in trouble. A cookie most often involves creaming some form of sugar with some form of fat and then adding flour, flavoring and nuts or fruit. I used to avoid cookies that said, “chill overnight.” Now I understand that chilling allows the flavorings to spread throughout the dough and solidify it for better baking results. I often make several recipes at once (since the ingredients are so similar) and bake them the next day. Or I will make larger quantities and freeze some of the batter for later use.

Like with anything, there are exceptions. I make cutout cookies at Christmas and over the years I’ve collected more do-dads for decorating than I’ll ever use up. Decorating takes time and some of that sugary icing, but it’s just once a year and it looks so festive. Finding a good cutout cookie can be challenging.

So the next time you go rummaging around in your cookbook or go browsing online for a good cookie recipe, ask yourself these questions. Do the ingredients include flavors (other than sugar) that you like? Is it worth going to the store to get special ingredients? Are you truly baking from scratch or just adding more ingredients to a cake mix? Are the instructions easy? How long does it need to bake? And does it require any special pans or tools you may not have? The answers will help you focus on flavor, healthier choices and convenience.

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The Key Ingredients of an Unforgettable Baby Shower

Much like any other parties, it does require some planning, but, being an informal event, you don’t have to worry too much about all the details and you can keep things casual while at the same time being creative. The benefit of baby-themed parties is that there are many amazing things you could try and you can make most decorations and foods yourself. With a bit of imagination, you can turn the shower into an unforgettable event, not just a formality, and enjoy its memory for years to come.

Cute decorations

Decorations are key in creating a theme for the shower and establishing a warm and pleasant atmosphere in general. You don’t necessarily have to create a theme if you don’t want to, buy decorations are a must. Until not that long ago, future parents would choose decorations based on the baby’s gender, but recently this trend has lost its popularity. If you don’t want your baby shower to be gender specific, or if you’re tired of classic ideas and want something new, you should think outside the box. choose charming decorations that can apply for both little girls and boys and place them carefully around the house. You can get everything from toys and stickers to baby themed plates and balloons. Pastel colours are recommended, because they inspire purity, playfulness and innocence.

Creative desserts

Desserts are the highlight of any baby shower, but, apart from pleasing guests who have a sweet tooth, desserts can be a sort of decoration if done properly. Instead of the traditional cookies and cupcakes, why not make thematic sweets shaped like cute animals? Baking them yourself can be quite difficult and the last thing you want in the last month of pregnancy is to spend hours in the kitchen, so ordering them from a candy shop would be more practical. Also, don’t forget about the cake. It should be the most impressive dessert yet, so find a professional cake shop to bake you something custom and colourful.

Baby shower favours

Although shower favours aren’t as important as wedding favours, they add a personal touch to your party and help guests remember what made the shower so special. Contrary to common belief, baby shower favours aren’t expensive at all and you can even do them yourself. For example, you can fill a small jar with candy and then wrap some cute pastel colour ribbon around it. Alternatively, you can also offer mini tea sets, miniature stuffed toys or a jar of cookies.

Holiday themes

If you happen to throw the shower around a main holiday, such as Christmas, Easter, Halloween or St. Patrick’s Day, you can use that holiday as inspiration for your shower theme. You can ask your guests to wear thematic costumes and choose your decorations accordingly. Regardless the holiday, there are many amazing baby shower ideas you can try.

Baby shower photography

People who don’t like their picture being taken might wonder what the purpose of baby shower photography is if maternity photography and newborn photography exist. It’s simple: the shower is a completely different part of pregnancy, the final step, where parents are the most excited. Maternity photography also illustrates pregnancy, but in a different way. The parents are usually alone and photographs consists of portraits. At baby showers, you can take candid photos and capture a fun event with all your friends and family. After many years go by, you will definitely love showing your grown up child how you got ready for the event and how happy you were to welcome them to the family.

No matter how you decide to decorate your home for the shower, planning is very important. Some things should be established one month before the big day, while others can be left until the last minute. Also, regarding the responsibilities for the planning, it depends how well you feel. Women with easy pregnancies like to take charge and organise everything themselves, while others decide to get help from their spouse, friends and family.

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Wilton - American Dream

If you decorate cakes or have ever shopped for cake making supplies, then chances are you are familiar with the Wilton brand. It’s hard to miss their products since Wilton has led sales in baking and cake decorating products for over half a century. Based in the Chicago suburb of Woodridge, Illinois, Wilton has grown enormously from its beginnings as a family cake decorating business during the United States’ Great Depression.

Today Wilton Industries sells over 2,000 different bake ware and food-related products, from instructional manuals and cake pans to pastry bags and food colorings. Wilton’s products aren’t just sold in the United States either. Major retailers in over 150 countries carry Wilton products. And business continues to grow with approximately 400 new consumer products being developed annually.

It all started in 1929 when Dewey McKinley Wilton, with the help of his wife, began a small cake decorating business in Chicago. Then came the stock market crash and the nation’s Great Depression. Surrounded by high unemployment rates and bread lines, Wilton carved out a prosperous niche by creating wedding cakes for Chicago’s famous hotels and clubs. The Wilton family business grew throughout the 1930’s.

Decorating cakes for the rich and famous gave the Wiltons’ reputation a nice boost. So when they opened a cake decorating and candy-making school for caterers and chefs, they had no problem with enrollment.

By 1947, the “Wilton Method” had become a household word among cake decorators, and a leading department store chain, JC Penney, was now promoting and selling Wilton products.

Before long the Wilton brand name become synonymous with cake decorating supplies and schools. All of this publicity laid the foundation for the Wilton’s decorating empire that continues to influence wedding cake trends.

Then in 1977, under the leadership of Wilton CEO Vince Naccarato, three diverse companies were united as Wilton Industries: Wilton Enterprises, Copco and the Weston Gallery.

Today, each division is a recognized leader in its market. Wilton Enterprises is the number one preferred brand name in baking and cake decorating products, Copco is the premier designer and marketer of teakettles and quality kitchenware, and the Weston Gallery is a leader in upscale picture frame design and marketing.

Under the continued leadership of Naccarato, the company enjoys strong sales growth and national distribution, which are largely credited to “category management,” that is basing marketing on tracked trends, and through “supply chain management,” which helps retailers lower costs of merchandising.

According to Austin Chronicle report, the Wilton Method was the unquestionable ruler of cake decorating until the 1980’s when Martha Stewart’s methods gained popularity. Her made-from-scratch cakes and stance that taste is just as important as the decorating challenged Wilton’s use of cake mixes and vegetable shortening.

However, Wilton continues to enjoy great success and to lead the industry. According to Hoover’s November, 2006 business report, Wilton Industries employed 650 people and reported $325 million in sales for the 2005 fiscal year, a 7.8 percent increase from the previous year.

For three quarters of a century, Wilton has offered cake decorating classes throughout the United States and Canada, including the Wilton School of Cake Decorating in northern Illinois. Wilton is partially credited for bringing the intricate, European cake decorating method to the United States and Canada.

In fact, Wilton’s cake decorating classes enroll nearly 200,000 students every year and from all around the world.

While many cake decorators enjoy the Wilton classroom experience, others like the customer below, prefer learning at their own pace at home with video instruction, such as the “Cake Decorating Made Easy” series.

Another ingredient in Wilton’s recipe for success is its annual “Your Take on Cake” contest, which attracts thousands of talented cake decorators from across the United States and Canada who compete for $5,000 in cash and an all-expenses-paid trip to attend The Wilton School’s two-week Master Course for Cake Decorating in Darien, Illinois.

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Holiday Dessert Tables That Are Beautiful and Affordable

As we approach the holidays, many of us enjoy hosting festive gatherings for our family and friends. The trick is to create events that are unique, beautiful and memorable. One of my favorite things to do to achieve this is to create “White Christmas Dessert Tables”. These are easy to do and can be very affordable.

I prefer to use a six foot rectangular table with a fitted white tablecloth. Most people have folding tables and if you don’t, they are inexpensive to rent, as are fitted white table drapes. I like the symmetry that a rectangular table affords and, unlike a square or round table, you can reach from front to back with ease. I start making my dessert tables by laying out all of the china plates and platters on it and putting labels on each so that I know what dessert will go where. I purchased a set of white china that I use for all of my dessert tables, whatever the theme or color scheme. You can find the perfect inexpensive white china at Target. Try to get items that are all the same shade of white. I have small, medium and large plates and platters, a few small bowls, a cake stand and a few white wooden cubes and risers to give some height to items at the rear of the table that I had my handyman make.

I purchase bulk candy online from Oh Nuts or from Candy Warehouse, both of which allow you to order by color. This way, you can go directly to their white section and see all of the white candy options. To bring in the White Christmas element, I like to use tall white branches in a vase on which I hang white snowflake cookies from white satin ribbons. I also order cupcakes, cookies, petit fours, white macaroons and meringues from local bakeries and if it is a really special group, I also add a white multi tiered cake with snowflakes on it. You can bake a cake with white frosting and put the snowflake cookies all around it or make fondant snowflakes; it will add some nice height and acts a great centerpiece for the table. If you want to serve drinks, I suggest using clear glasses and using white paper straws to which you can adhere a white paper snowflake. You can purchase great recycled paper in all colors at http://www.createforless.com and you can get paper straws at http://www.aardvarkstraws.com. Make the snowflakes using a snowflake punch. I found mine at Michael’s. Fill the glasses with sparkling water with a splash of lemonade and pop in the snowflake straws. Fill the various plates, platters and bowls with candy, baked goods and beverages.

Use your imagination to come up with delicious and varied treats and be sure that you have many shapes, sizes, textures and tastes so that the dessert table is very visually appealing. I like to use some sort of backdrop or have a white wall behind the table so that nothing takes away from its crisp, white theme. Have fun and remember, even if mother nature doesn’t bring you a white Christmas, you can create an equally beautiful one on your own!

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Homemade Chocolate Chip Cookies - A Little History

There’s nothing that makes a person feel more at home than homemade chocolate chip cookies (CCC). It’s the kind of treat most kids grew up loving and it’s the kind of treat that most people consider as their comfort food.

The thought of homemade chocolate chip cookies almost always bring a smile to most people not only because of how good they taste but because of how it became a part of their growing up.

Most people look back at their childhood with fond memories whenever they get to take a bite out of homemade (CCC). They’re easy to make and for some reason mothers (and fathers) love baking them for their little kids, hence, people’s fondness for this delightful treat.

What many people don’t know about this delightful treat is that they were accidentally created by Ruth Graves Wakefield back in 1933. Ruth was the owner of the Toll House Inn, which was located in Whitman, Massachusetts.

The restaurant was a popular dining establishment that offered delicious home-cooked meals back in the 1930s. The popularity attached to the restaurant wasn’t only because of the tasty meals but it was also due to Ruth’s policy to offer her customers an extra helping of entrées for them to take home along with her homemade cookies as dessert.

Ruth wrote a cookbook entitled Toll House Tried and True Recipes, which came out in 1936. In it was the recipe for the “Toll House Chocolate Crunch Cookie”, which immediately became everyone’s favorite homemade cookie.

Today, there are different ways to bake (CCC).

One can bake a batch with large chunks of chocolate chips or small ones. There are chocolate chip cookies with almonds to give it a different twist and there are even chocolate chip cookies with spices that will definitely make any mouth water with delight.

What makes homemade chocolate chip cookies fun to bake is that they’re easy to make and requires only a few ingredients.

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Roasted vegetables 01 - boil the vegetable briefly before roasting

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Everyday Cooking - Roasting Vegetables