A few Holiday Baking FYI's

Since we are in the heart of the holiday baking season I thought a little reminder might be helpful to ensure your cakes, pies and desserts turn out the best they can.

 

1. New season, new ingredients. This is a great time to check the expiration dates for your baking supplies and get rid of anything that has expired.

2. Preparation is key. Read the recipe and make sure you have all the ingredients needed. And always measure carefully!

3. Understand the language. Sliced, diced, chopped, broken, beaten — each word means something slightly different, so make sure you’re familiar with all of the terms in a recipe.

4. Use room-temperature ingredients. They’re easier to work with, plus cold ingredients can result in lumpy batter.

5. Always whisk eggs first. It helps the eggs/yolks emulsify so they blend better into the batter.

6. Start with dry ingredients and then add the liquid. And don’t forget to sift your dry ingredients to avoid lumps.

7. Preheat the oven. It sounds obvious, but a standard oven takes approximately 15 minutes to preheat to 350 degrees.

8. Know your baking pans. Cakes baked in glass versus metal bake differently. If using glass, lower your oven temperature by 25 degrees.

9. Cool cakes and cupcakes differently. Let full cakes cool in pans on wire racks for 20 minutes before removing from pans. But remove cupcakes from pan immediately, placing individual cupcakes on wire rack to cool.

10. Frost cakes when completely cool. Even the slightest warmth from a cake can quickly turn your frosting or icing into a mess.

Courtesy Duncan Hines

Glazed Carrots

Ever since I saw this recipe I knew I had to make it!

Carrots are one of my favorites vegetables.  Raw, steamed, sautéed or added to soups or stews.  A great food choice for dipping in your favorite dip too!

1 pound carrots, approximately 7 medium, peeled and cut on the bias 1/4-inch thick
1 ounce (2 tablespoons) unsalted butter (I use regular butter)
Heavy pinch kosher salt
1 cup good-quality ginger ale
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley leaves

Directions

In a 12-inch saute pan over medium heat, combine the carrots, butter, salt and ginger ale. Cover and bring to a simmer. Once simmering, remove the lid, stir, and reduce the heat to low. Cover again and cook for 5 minutes. Remove the lid, add the chili powder and increase the heat to high. Cook, tossing occasionally, until the ginger ale is reduced to a glaze, approximately 4 to 5 minutes. Pour into a serving dish and sprinkle with the parsley. Serve immediately.

Courtesy Alton Brown  Food Network:   http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/glazed-carrots-recipe.html

Quick Sauteed Beans and Tomatoes

Here's another quick and easy side for chicken. 


2 T olive oil
2 cloves garlic sliced very thin
1 pt small cherry tomatoes
1/2 sprig fresh rosemary chopped
1/4 cup dry white wine or red wine vinegar
1 19 oz. can cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
Kosher salt and pepper
1/4 cup flat leaf parsley

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat.  Add garlic and cook, stirring occasionally until starting to brown(do not burn).

Add tomatoes and rosemary and cook stirring for about one minute.  Add the wine and bring to simmer.  Stir in the beans and salt and pepper and cook until heated through, about one minute more. Toss with parsley.

Serves 4

Tips to make entertaining easier!

I have stressed about entertaining and have found that it isn't so much about what I'm serving or how much food I have; having a friendly relaxed environment for friends and family to gather and  share some good conversation is the key to a successful evening.

  Sure making some good choices about what you will serve are important but don't stress.   I hope to offer some help in that area and hope you'll share with me some suggestions that will help me and others start to enjoy entertaining and socializing without a fuss.. 


Some entertainment suggestions:

Invite those who you would like to invite at least a week in advance or if you want to make it an impromptu get together call them.

Make it simple in the food and beverage area. A very easy as well as enjoyable appetizer is using a block of creamcheese and then pouring jam or preserves over it.  Add some crackers or thick pretzels.

 

Wine, Beer and CHEESE are always a good  choice.

Warm appetizer.  Spinach Artichoke dip

 

Veggies and dip as well as fruit are other good choices.

Texting or emailing is easier but a heartfelt call is better.

When inviting guests try to invite guests who have something in common.  Conversation will be easier if they are on the same page.

Appetizers and Beverages:

Make the menu easy and as far as Alcohol goes you don't have to have a complete bar menu.  Keep it basic.  Beer, wine should be enough and remember to have diet and regular soda as well as water chilled for the non drinkers.

Several appetizers(two or three) some chips, nuts and pretzels should do it.

 Remember you are looking for a non stress evening so I know for me to enjoy my party I can't fuss for days or it'll never happen again.  

One more thing.  Don't invite too many guests.  Keep it small, about 12 or less would be the number for me.

Enjoy the holidays!

     As always,

Our Traditional Thanksgiving 2014

I'm home and have my pj's on.  I am so full.  I didn't eat that much but a little of everything which obviously was too much being that I feel a slight bit uncomfortable.

We ate an early dinner at our daughter's which was fine with me because the older I get the more I am ready to get home at an early hour and relax.  Not that I don't relax there because I do.  Her home is very very comfortable and cozy too! She is an excellent cook and her specialty is turkey and chicken.  She has a gift for cooking one.  Tender, moist and cooked just right it; it is always cooked to perfection. 

We had plenty to eat as well as dessert too..


Here's a few photos showing our day.  Enjoy!

Small Pumpkin Cheesecakes

Anise Cookies

 We had turkey obviously, creamy mashed potatoes and gravy, marshmallow topped sweet potatoes, baked corn, sweet kernel corn, rolls and cranberries.  Dessert was fresh apple pie, pumpkin custard, pumpkin and plain cupcake cheesecakes and Italian Anise cookies.  Way too much but nothing will go to waste I am sure.  There are 4 grown men in the house.  Need I say anymore. :)

I only had a little bit and this really isn't a good representation of the meal but it was delicious.

The boys aren't babies anymore so good conversation and laughter is a big part of the fun of getting together with them telling stories.  The youngest though has to be pryed away from the TV.  He is so in to sports so getting him into the dining room was a little bit of a task but he came before anyone got upset.  Off goes the TV when we eat and I am for that for sure.

 Daniel the oldest said grace and everyone dived in anxious to eat.  We are so blessed!

Little Sophee was surely looking for some turkey too!