Safety Suggestion #2

Good quality chef knives are perhaps a cook's best friend in the kitchen... but they can just as easily became your worst enemy.  It's important to always follow these suggestions to avoid injuries:
1. When using a knife to cut vegetables, make sure to hold the food down by slightly tucking in your fingers.  This way, if the knife grazes you, it will touch the smooth part of your fingernail(s) rather than the fleshy skin beneath.
2. Store knives when not in use.  A stray knife lying on the counter top is sure to fall and slice your toe!
3. Never place knives, big or small, in the dishwasher or in a sink full of water.  An unsuspecting person could seriously injure his hand when reaching for a fork or plate.  Hand wash knives separately from other utensils.
4. Knives are not always associated with cuts.  To prevent food poisoning, make sure to buy new blades every so often.  Old knives develop grooves and scratches on their blades.  These tiny crevices are the perfect breeding grounds for bacteria, which then can be transferred into freshly cut food.  On a low budget?  Simply use separate knives for vegetables and meat.

Safety Suggestion #1

The stove top can be a very dangerous place in the kitchen.  To eliminate the amount of received burns and scalds, make sure to follow these safety precautions:
1. Lift the pot/pan lid by tilting it away from your face. 
2. When smelling a pot/pan's contents, waft the steam towards your face.  DO NOT bend towards the stove or place your nose within the pot.
3. While cooking, remember to keep the surrounding area clean.  Do not leave any flammable objects around the stove top.
4. In case of a grease fire, immediately sprinkle the pan with baking soda and cover it with a lid.  If possible, safely turn off the stove.
5. Always remember to tilt pan handles parallel to or away from the stove edge.  Handles that hang over can be easily pulled down by a child or accidentally nudged by a passerby. 

Update--Vacation

Beginning June 14, I will be unavailable to complete orders, post on this blog, and work on my business.  I will be taking a trip to visit relatives for three weeks.  During this time period, my Etsy shop will be in "vacation mode" and I will have limited to no Internet access in order to post on this blog.

Treasured Tip #8

When frying or sauteing, start out with a little bit of oil, moving the pan to completely coat the surface.  To add more oil while cooking, pour a thin stream along the pan's wall.  This way, the oil will have time to heat up before it reaches the food.

Ingredient Spotlight: Butter

Butter is by far the most commonly used (and preferred!) fat in culinary preparation.  With its rich, creamy feel and extremely versatile application, butter is one of the most essential ingredients for baking and cooking.
This cream creates a tender texture in baked goods and is key for browning.  When frying or sauteing, it compliments and enhances flavors.  Used in complicated sauces and frosting as a base, or even plain on toast, this ingredient's popularity is extremely hard to beat!
True, butter can be difficult and frustrating to handle when trying to create that perfect pastry or pound cake (admit it: how often have you popped the butter in the microwave instead of waiting for it to soften at room temperature?).  However, if you take the time to use butter at the required temperature (whether it's chilled and cut into pieces for pastries, softened for cookies, or melted for glazes and sauces), the result is astounding.
Keep in mind, when melted butter is used in place of softened, cookies tend to turn out runny and shapeless.  But when chilled butter is let out on the counter for a while, it can be properly creamed with sugar and will add just the right, satisfying crunch to your treats.
So take the time and be patient!  Albeit a bit finicky, in the end, butter won't fail you.

White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies

Now Available--

Creamy dough, rich white chocolate chips, and tart cranberries all come together in these delicious 110 Calorie White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies.  Visit my shop today to indulge in these luscious treats! 

Coming Soon!

I will soon be selling White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies-- only 110 calories!  Stay tuned for more information.