Tag Archives: bake

How To Measure Ingredients Precisely Whether Tsp., Tbsp. or ML

Whether your recipe calls for 1 Tbsp, 1 Tsp or 5 ML, you can get the exact measure you need.  The 1Easylife Stainless Steel Measuring Spoons are marked with both and you will easily measure and add the correct amount of ingredients to your recipes.  The spoons are stainless steel so they are super easy to clean by hand or in the dishwasher.

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Unlike plastic measuring spoons these measurements are engraved into the handle so they will not wash off.  They look sleek and attractive and complement any kitchen. They nest in each other or can be hung by the ring for easy, neat storage.

1EasyLife-Stainless Steel-Measuring Spoons

The spoons come in six different sizes: 1/8-tsp., 1/4-tsp., 1/2-tsp., 1-tsp., 1/2-Tbsp. and 1-Tbsp.  This just may be the last set of measuring spoons you will ever buy.  You can purchase them on Amazon.

1 Easylife Measuing Sppons

See our review video below to see the details of these measuring spoons.

 

What do you think?  We would love to hear your thoughts.  Have you had plastic measuring spoons that looked yucky after putting them in the dishwasher?

 


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My Secret To Kneading Bread Dough

I love baking bread.  I know what goes in and I love the way it comes out.  I also enjoy the whole process especially kneading the dough.  It’s quite therapeutic and I have an easy way to make sure it doesn’t stick.  I just knead the dough on the dual-use silicone pastry and baking mat from 1Easylife. The mat provides a large non stick surface for me to knead the dough.  It also comes with a free 15″ wooden rolling-pin.  I like that the mat has measurements in inches and cm all along the sides as well as different size pie crust circles.

Silicone Pastry Mat 1EasyLife

1EasyLife Baking Pastry Mat

There are so many quality features in this mat, it’s the thickest mat on the market with a thickness of .7mm, simple to clean and takes up no room to store because it can be rolled.  You can also use it in the oven to line a cookie sheet and it is heat-resistant up to 480 degrees F.  With proper cleaning the mat is safe from micro-organisms and it is odor resistant. A very large 25″ by 15″ mat that gives you plenty of room to make your pastry, knead dough or bake lots of cookies on.

Silicone Pastry Mat

 

Bread silicone pastry mat

 

Bread Pastry Mat 1EasyLife

You can see our video review below:

 


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Baking Up #BigGameTreats With SNICKERS® & Skittles®!!!

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone.#BigGameTreats #CollectiveBias

SNICKERS-#GameDayTreats-#CollectiveBias-#Shop

The older I get, the more I can’t stand winter and in New York we are experiencing extreme, frigid temperatures.  The kind of dangerously low, temperatures causing our schools to close for!  We went into NYC this past Saturday and after going to the circus, I so badly wanted to walk with my husband and little ones on the streets of Manhattan, pick up some Italian pastries and show them the sites of the city that never sleeps.

However, literally a couple of blocks and we felt like we had frostbite so we ducked into a restaurant, had a late dinner and hailed a taxi to go back home.  Very disappointing.  It’s times like now I love when I see stores putting up spring displays and anything that makes January and the winter go faster.  Which is why when I went to Walmart to pick up some candy I needed for baking, I soaked in the spring merchandise on the shelves.

Candy aisle

In Store Snicker Collage

 

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I am focusing on the next big event, we will be entertaining friends and family for the “Big Game” in a few weeks.  I love to bake and so I tried out some recipes this past weekend.  Who doesn’t love chocolate, caramel and peanuts?  Not any one I know, so I was excited to mix it up in the kitchen with SNICKERS®.  I first made some decadent, SNICKERS® Cupcakes.

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Don’t they look fabulous? See the ooey, gooey filling!  SNICKERS® Minis  on top is so much better than a cherry.

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Would you like to make these?  I knew you would.  First thing is to bake up some chocolate cupcakes.  I used just a boxed Devil’s Food cake mix and prepared and baked according to the package directions.

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When the cupcakes are cool you make the filling by mixing milk, butter, soft caramels, chopped peanuts and marshmallow fluff.  You add milk, butter and caramels to a saucepan and melt on the stovetop over medium heat until melted stirring constantly.

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Then add peanuts and marshmallow fluff to the melted confection and stir until everything is combined well.  Remove the mixture from the heat and allow to cool and thicken for approximately 30-35 minutes.

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When you are ready to fill the cooled cupcakes, you cut out a hole in the middle of the top of the cupcake where the filling with go.  Then you can fill with a pastry bag and decorator tip all the cupcakes with the filling.

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For the cupcake frosting I made a peanut Butter Buttercream by mixing butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, peanut butter and milk.  Put the frosting in a pastry bag and top all the cupcakes with the frosting.

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Last I make a chocolate glaze by mixing confectioner’s sugar, cocoa powder and milk and drizzle the glaze over the cupcakes.  Top each cupcake with a half of a SNICKERS® Minis. Yum, these made the final cut and it was a unanimous decision that they will be found on our game day buffet.   If you want to try the list of ingredients is below.

#BigGameTreats-#CollectiveBias-#Snickers-#Skittles

Chocolate Cake Mix of Your Choice ( Prepare and Bake Cupcakes According To Package Directions)

 Cupcake Filling:

  • 3 Tbsp of Milk
  • 6 Tbsp of Butter
  • 8 Oz. Caramels
  • 1/4 Cup Marshmallow Fluff
  • 1/2 Cup Chopped Peanuts

Peanut Butter Icing

  • 1 Cup Butter
  • 4 Cups Confectioner’s Sugar
  • 1 Tsp Pure Vanilla Extract
  • 2/3 Cup Peanut Butter
  • 2-3 Tbsp Milk
Chocolate Glaze and Topping
  • 1/2 + 1/8 Cup Confectioner’s Sugar
  • 1 Tbsp. Cocoa
  • 1 1/2 Tbsp of Milk
  • 18 SNICKERS® Minis

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SNICKERS® Stuffed Peanut Butter Cookies were the next treat on my baking agenda.  These are an easy peanut butter cookie that is stuffed with a SNICKERS® Mini.

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First step is to make your cookie dough so cream butter, peanut butter, brown sugar and granulated sugar with your electric mixer.  Add egg, vanilla, milk, salt and baking soda and mix until completely combined.  Slowly add your flour a little at a time and mix until the dough comes together.  Chill your dough for at least 30 minutes.

Take your chilled dough and scoop out two tbsp. size  balls of dough, flatten slightly with the palm of your hand  and place a SNICKERS® Mini in the center of one of the flattened dough balls.

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Top with the other slightly fattened dough balls and seal the edges and form into a ball.   Continue this process placing the cookies on a cookie sheet approximately 2″ apart.

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Bake at  350 degrees F for 13-16 minutes or until they just begin to brown.

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Cool 5 minutes on the cookie sheet and then remove them to a wire rack to cool completely.  Store the cookies in an airtight container or freeze them between layers of paper towels for up to 1 month.

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So what did my family think?  Was this cookie a game day winner?  You betcha and it will have its special place on our big game day buffet extravaganza!  Want to try them?  The recipe is below.

SNICKERS® Stuffed Peanut Butter Cookies

  • 1/2 Cup (1 Stick) Salted Butter
  • 3/4 Cup Peanut Butter
  • 3/4 Cup Packed Brown Sugar
  • 1/4 Cup Granulated Sugar
  • 1 Large Egg
  • 1 Tsp Pure Vanilla Extract
  • 1 Tbsp Milk
  • 1/2 Tsp Baking Soda
  • 1-1/2 Cups Flour
  • SNICKERS® Minis (about 20-24)

Okay one more but we are going to appeal to those who are looking for something less chocolatey and more tangy.  For those guests I  tried a Skittles®  Drop Sugar Cookie.  Big thick, soft and chewy sugar cookies with a colorful mix of Skittles® are easy to make and oh so good.  The cookie even has a lemony, citrus flavor from the candy.  It was quite remarkable when I tasted that because I was surprised they would flavor the cookie itself but it was a delicious surprise.

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I first made a drop sugar cookie batter.  Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy then beat in one egg plus one egg yolk.  Add vanilla and mix well.  Then incorporate the flour, baking soda and cornstarch (first combine the dry ingredients ) and mix until well blended.

I used a cookie scoop to scoop out the dough onto a cookie sheet and then pressed in the Skittles® candies on top.  If you had a favorite team that was yellow and red, purple and yellow etc, you could use just those 2 colors to show your support for your team!

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Bake the cookies at 350 degrees for about 12-14 minutes or until edges look set and just beginning to brown.  Remove and let cool on cookie sheet for a few minutes and then remove them to cool completely on a cooling rack.  This recipe makes about 24 large cookies.  See full list of recipe ingredients below.

skittles cookies

Skittles® Drop Sugar Cookies

  • 2 Cups Flour
  • 1 Tsp Baking Soda
  • 2 Tsp Cornstarch
  • 1/2 Cup (1 Stick) Salted Butter
  • 1 Cup Granulated Sugar
  • 1 Egg plus 1 Egg Yolk
  • 1-1/2 Tsp Pure Vanilla Extract
  • Skittles® Candy

From January 21-31, enter to win by purchasing 1 qualifying MARS Chocolate product and 1 qualifying Wrigley product at Walmart. All you have to do is snap a photo of the receipt to show proof of purchase and text or email to biggame@drvsusa.com. 14 winners will be drawn randomly at the end of the contest period (1 for each day of the contest), and will receive a $250 Walmart gift card! For more information on the contest, visit drvsusa.com/biggame.

I would love you to share with me your results if you make any of these recipes and also share what you are planning on whipping up for the “Big Game!”


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Filed under Baking, Cooking, Entertainment, Family, Family Fun, Kitchen, Main Page Post, Mommy Ramblings

Batter Babies Review & Give-Away!!!

Kimber Cakeware (http://www.kimbercakeware.com/) sent me some products to review, and yesterday I tried out one of them.  I used the Batter Babies.  Batter Babies allow you to make one of a kind cupcakes of two flavors or colors.  This neat little gadget works really well and is very easy to use.  You just put the Batter Baby in the cupcake liner that is in the pan.  You put one kind of batter on one side of it and another kind on the other side and remove the Batter Baby and bake.  The result, is a cupcake that has different colors, flavors or both.  It is really neat for making special cupcakes.

You could do pink and purple for a princess party, or use school colors for a sporting event, the possibilities are as vast as your imagination.  To make this really neat and easy you can put the different batters in squeeze bottles and it makes filling the cupcake molds very easy.  I did not do that because I was in a bit of rush and my cupcakes still turned out great.

Kimber Cakeware is sponsoring a give-away for my blog readers.  We will be giving away 3 sets of these to 3 lucky winners.  Each set contains 6 Batter Babies.  So get ready to bake some cool cupcakes and your friends will be wondering how you did it.  All you have to do is leave a comment on my Mommy Ramblings FB page ( http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mommy-Ramblings/142284565832382) of what you think would be the first combination you would bake if you won.  That will get you one entry, you can earn another by visiting Kimber Cakeware on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kimber-Cakeware/146735632016017?ref=ts) and liking their page and leaving me a comment that you did that on my Mommy Ramblings FB page (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mommy-Ramblings/142284565832382).  Give-away will end Monday March 21st at 12am.  Give-away is open to residents of  USA & Canada.  Good luck and happy baking!!!

A friend let me know she really wanted to enter this give-away but gave up Facebook for lent.  So I am modifying the rules that you can leave the comment on this blog of what combo you would bake first if you win the give-away.


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Winner of the “My Little Cupcake Cake Pop Mold” is…

Amanda Hawman!!!  Amanda, we want to see the creations you make with this mold, so be sure and submit pictures of your beauties to me.  Congratulations!!!  We have a new contest starting today for the Gourmac Anytime Cookie Stamps so be sure to check as I will be posting the contest very soon.  Cupcake POP Mold


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Valentine’s Day Treats!!!

Besides baking Michael’s birthday cake for tomorrow, I decided to bake some sugar cookies for  Valentine’s Day.  I use the following sugar cookie recipe and I just love it.

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups butter, softened
  • 2 cups white sugar
  • 4 eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 5 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt (I do not use the salt myself)

Directions

  1. In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Stir in the flour, baking powder, and salt. Cover, and chill dough for at least one hour (or overnight).
  2. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Roll out dough on floured surface 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick. Cut into shapes with any cookie cutter. Place cookies 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheets.
  3. Bake 6 to 8 minutes in preheated oven. Cool completely.

Use Valentine’s Day theme cookie cutters. I chose to use hearts of different sizes and edges.

The dough is so easy to work with.

Prior to baking you can decorate or leave plain to dip in chocolate after baked.

I do not let them over bake and I love that they are soft and not crunchy.

The recipe makes a good amount of cookies.  Amount will depend on the size of cookie cutters you use but I have three platters full.

These cookies were calling to Ethan who we told had to wait until after dinner.  As you can see from his face and hands, he did not waste any time.

 

 


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Cake Balls Anyone?

I was looking at some baking videos on YouTube and I found a very long one of an older woman making “cake balls.”  I was unsure of what they were exactly and the video was a bit comical though not intended to be.  When I first saw the slight haphazard demonstration, I was taken aback.  Why would anyone want to do that?  With the urging of a good friend to look a little deeper, I did.   Okay, so I found better pictures and videos of  “cake balls” or “cake pops” and I think I am going to have to make them just for spite.  : )  In case you have not yet heard of this confection, it is simply a baked cake of any flavor broken up into crumbs and then mixed with frosting.  You then form the moist sweet mixture into balls and freeze them.  Then you dip the frozen balls into chocolate and decorate as you wish.  Below, you will find some very cute examples of cake balls.  I do not think my first attempt will be comparable to anything like this but a girl can dream.

Anyway, some of them are downright cute and look very yummy.  I do like the idea of making them and wrapping them individually as a centerpiece for a birthday party that the guests can take with them.   Some are done two-tone or with added sprinkles and candies or to look like iced cupcakes on sticks.  There is a large variety and from perusing one of my cake decorating groups, apparently very popular.  I guess, I am a little out of the loop as far as cake balls go.  So, in a way I feel like I am in a Dr. Seuss book and after saying how I would not, could not, eat those cake balls, I am going to make and try them after all.  So don’t hate on the cake balls just yet.  You might like them, you will see, try them and you may you see.  Still learning lessons from the good Dr. Seuss.

 

 

 


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