Baking/Cooking Tips

How to Make Perfect Cake Pops: Part 2- Recipe & Instructions

This originally started as a single post. Then I discovered so much information, did so much testing, and researched so much that it has now become three posts. This post (Part 2) contains the recipe, instructions, and step-by-step pics for making and decorating them. I highly suggest reading "Part 1: Questions & Answers" first because it has a lot of great info,... Read More

How to Make Perfect Cake Pops: Part 1- Questions & Answers

This originally started as a single post. Then I discovered so much information, did so much testing, and researched so much that it has now become three posts. This post (Part 1) is going to go through all of the questions and answers that pop up during making cake pops. This post is before the actual directions because this info is helpful... Read More

The Ultimate KitchenAid Mixer Review: KitchenAid Comparison Chart & Everything You Need to Know

A KitchenAid Stand Mixer is a fairly big investment for the average household. So you're going to want to buy the one that is right for you. I’ve had two KitchenAids. No, the first did not break (that is very, very rarely a problem with KitchenAid). My husband bought me an upgraded version for Christmas. So the old one was given... Read More

How to Develop A Recipe (or Improve One)

I get a lot of compliments on my recipes. I've also gotten constructive criticism. And some not so constructive, but that's another story. I love the compliments for one reason: I've never just copied someone else's recipe. I've always done research and made adjustments. I've always tested recipes multiple times. Along the way (the way has been three years so... Read More

Cilantro: All About and How to Choose the Best Substitute

Ahhh, delicious cilantro. At least, it's delicious to me. Cilantro is the single herb that causes debate and hatred that equals the political arena. Even the famous Julia Child, infallible in so many ways, hated it. It turns out some people might be actually genetically predisposed to hate cilantro! It may be news to some people that 'cilantro' is actually... Read More

Bread Making 101: How to Make Bread, Everything You Need to Know

There are a few things in the baking world that seem almost magical to others. Bread making is one of those. To those who haven’t made homemade bread, it seems mysterious and vast. Unknown terms and the unknown magic of yeast. But it doesn’t need to be. People have been making bread since…well, the beginning of recorded history. It only seems so… Read More

All About Parsley and How to Choose the Best Substitute

We’ve gone through a lot of ingredients over the last year or so during my “Ingredients: Everything You Need to Know” series- their uses, where they come from, etc. And it’s time to start with the all of the spices you might run across. Let’s get started with parsley!

How to Remove Pin Bones from Salmon

My husband loves salmon. I dislike the price, but I like a happy husband. And I can admit it tastes pretty good. Especially when I make my “Roast Salmon w/ Bell Pepper-Tomato Vinaigrette.” The only annoyance is those little bones running in a line down the entire fillet. For those who are curious, they’re “floating” bones (aka- not attached to… Read More

13 Ways to Use Your KitchenAid Mixer (without buying extra attachments)

I was browsing on reddit the other day and read that I could use my KitchenAid mixer to shred chicken. I read that and thought, “There is no way that works.” But I tried it: I threw the entire cooked chicken breast in the mixer, put on the paddle, and turned it on. A minute later I had shredded chicken!… Read More

Why Does Bread Rise?

As I’ve been learning more about cooking and baking, I’ve discovered that understanding the fundamentals behind recipes is vital. Yes, Pinterest can provide 100 bread recipes. But which one should you use? And if you have a great bread recipe that works….most of the time? What’s going on the other times? So I’ve decided to start a series tentatively titled… Read More