Spotted or streaked glases from dishwasher?

February 28, 2010 By 1 Comment

Spot-proof them with lemonade?  Hard water, rust and iron deposits can clog the water jets, getting plates and glasses only half as clean as they should.

Easy fix: Pour a packet of powdered lemonade mix into the detergent cup and run the dishwasher while it is empty. “The citric acid cuts through the deposits and makes them disappear!”

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You are now ready to bake. But before you do:

February 25, 2010 By Leave a Comment
  1. Clean counter, cutting board and sink  before, during and after baking.  (To sanitize use one teaspoon bleach added to one quart water)  And don’t forget to clean off enough clutter to have a space to work; Kids homework, husbands gloves, etc.
  2. Empty dishwasher!  You will need to put dirty dishes in there and who wants to have a bunch of dishes in the dishwasher when it comes time to fill it with dirty ones?  I suggest you have the kids and/or hubby do the dishes.  Baking is so much more fun when you don’t have to do that job too.
  3. Wash your hands and wrists thoroughly with warm water and soap, rinse completely and dry with a clean towel.
  4. Hair should be tied back and/or should be covered with a scarf or cap.
  5. Use only clean dish towels.  When I bake a cake, I keep a laundry basket near and fill it with all my used dish towels.  Sometimes, I end up with an empty towel drawer.  Oh, well, that is what the laundry room is for.
  6. Have 2 clean, dry pot holders placed near the stove.  It can be oven mitts or pads, you preference.  I prefer pot holders, for me oven mitts are too big.
  7. Have a cooling rack or two handy to cool your baked goods.
  8. Best of all, get first dibs on the goodies. 
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Baking Tips 101

February 23, 2010 By Leave a Comment

No matter what the recipe, make sure you always:

  1. Measure dry ingredients in a dry ingredients measuring cup or spoon. Yes there is a difference.
  2. Measure Liquid ingredients in see-through measuring cups at eye level.
  3. Use an oven and/or instant read thermometer for precise temperatures.
  4. Pre-read and follow each recipe exactly.  That is if you want it to taste like the recipe says it should.
  5. Preheat the oven.
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Do you follow directions?

February 8, 2010 By Leave a Comment


When baking, follow directions.

When cooking, go by your own taste. ~Laiko Bahrs

When baking, I make my own recipe so I get the best taste ever.  I may start with one recipe and end up making it completely different.  That is why my frosting in not crisco and powdered sugar, but made with butter and whipping cream.

But, if you are making something at the last minute, follow the recipe, when making your own recipe you get many, many failures before you get what you want.

Happy baking.

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Revive a sponge!

January 4, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Instead of throwing away an odorous sponge, try this:  Wet the sponge, then sprinkle with 1 tsp. lemon juice.  Heat in the microwave for 30 seconds, then let cool for several minutes before removing.  The heat of the microwave will kill the bacteria, and the lemon will give the sponge a fresh scent.

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