What is a water bath and why do you use one? How do I make pie dough from scratch? What are vanilla beans and how do I use them? Answers to these questions and more are found in my Cooking and Baking Tips & Tricks series. Have a question that you don't see answered? Please ask!
Swiss Meringue Buttercream is my favorite frosting. Creamy and not overly sweet, it spreads smooth and pipes beautifully. Get my recipe and learn how to make an easy buttercream flower: the cherry blossom.
Are you intimidated by baking bread? Unsure what terms like "proof" or "ferment" mean? This tutorial is for you! Try it out with the Italian bread recipe that's included.
Wilton makes it easy to create a spooky haunted Halloween cookie house with their kits, which include pre-made cookie house pieces, trees, and candy decorations. You can also incorporate other Wilton products!
Savor the flavor of sweet summer cherries all year long! Make dried cherries in your oven, then keep them in an airtight container for a taste of summer, even in the winter! There are so many reasons that summer is my favorite season: warm weather, long days full of sunshine, swimming, barbecues, flip flops, and abundant …
Long, thin, brown and wrinkly: vanilla beans don't look all that special, or even appetizing. And they are expensive! But are they worth it? In some recipes, yes. If you are making a recipe where vanilla is the primary flavor (vanilla pound cake, vanilla shortbread, vanilla ice cream, etc.), using a vanilla bean instead of …
My alarm (a.k.a., the toddler) goes off around 6:30 a.m. I groggily bring him into the bedroom to nurse (yep, almost 15 months and still going!). When he's finished, we head out to the kitchen for his breakfast. Toddlers don't understand the concept of cooking. They know they are hungry, and why isn't there any …
Are you planning a special dessert for Valentine's Day dinner? Want to make it extra-special? Write a short, sweet message around the edge of the plate in chocolate. Here's what you'll need: about 2 ounces of semisweet chocolate, finely chopped a parchment paper cone (instructions below) a clean dry, plate Melt the chocolate. I recommend …
I tend to be a little "gadget-crazy" when it comes to kitchen tools. However, I have a small kitchen in my apartment, and have had to pare down my collection. One tool that is essential in any kitchen is a meat thermometer. Using a meat thermometer prevents under- and over-cooked meat, poultry, fish, eggs, and …