Baking Secrets For Sugar-Free Deserts

If you are used to baking with sugar, it may take a little getting used to stocking your pantry for a low-sugar or sugar-free lifestyle. Once you realize that your sweet life is not over just because you are cutting back on sugar, you will be just fine. Here are some tips to help you stock a pantry with baking supplies needed to make sugar-free desserts.

Sweetening the Pot without Sugar

The most obvious ingredient for baking sugar-free desserts is a substitute for sugar. There are a number of artificial sweeteners that are widely available, including aspartame (Equal), acesulfame-k (Sweet One), saccharin (Sweet 'n' Low) and sucralose (Splenda). They can be a little tricky to use in baking because they have different properties than sugar, but there are many sugar-free dessert recipes using each of them. Because each of them differs from the others in the way they react to heat and the amount of sweetening power they have, it is also important to use the artificial sweetener that is called for in the recipe. Aspartame, for instance, loses its sweetness in when it is subjected to high heat for long periods of time as it would be if you use it in cakes or cookies that are baked in the oven. Splenda, on the other hand, is stable in heat and can be used in baked recipes, but may need additional liquid.

In addition to artificial sweeteners, there are natural sweeteners that you can use for no-sugar-added desserts. These include long-established favorites such as honey, Stevia, molasses and corn syrup, but are not limited to the obvious sweeteners. Fruit juices can add sweetness and enhance flavors when used in place of water in recipes. Apple and grape juice are the sweetest, but not the only fruit juices that you can use to sweeten desserts. Try sweetening with pineapple or orange juice for a bit of tang, or pear juice for a light sweetness.

Keep a package or two of sugar free gelatin and pudding in the pantry as well. They make moist additions to cake and cookies, adding both flavor and color. Do not forget unsweetened chocolate squares, cocoa powder, and flavored extracts - the staples are vanilla, almond, rum, butter and peppermint.

Adding a Little Spice to Dessert

When your senses are not overcome with sugar, you will find that a little spiciness goes a long way. Cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice and ginger are the so-called "sweet spices". They will bring out the sweetness in smaller amounts of sugar or other sweeteners and are especially flavorful when used with fruit juice or puree.

Savory spices can also add an unexpected flair to dessert. Do not be afraid to experiment a little. Chili adds an unexpected bite to strawberries, for instance, and herbs like peppermint, lavender and rosemary do a wonderful job of enhancing the flavor of ice cream and fruit sorbets.

Sugar Does More than Make Things Sweet

Keep in mind that sugar provides more than just sweetness in a lot of recipes. It can be the reason that cakes and cookies brown when they bake, aid rising and provide moisture and texture. That is why a favorite pantry staple for sugar-free cooking is baby food - pureed bananas, pears, plums or applesauce - just about any kind of baby food fruit puree will do. It will add both sweetening and moisture to cakes, muffins, breads and cupcakes along with extra nutrition.

Flaked coconut is another pantry staple that will do double duty in your sugar-free pantry. It adds sweetness and flavor to cakes and cookies, and browns nicely when sprinkled on baked goods and run under the broiler.

A jar or two of sugar free fruit spread are handy to keep in the pantry. They can be stirred into plain yogurt for a quick snack or easy dessert, or spread on pound cake instead of frosting to add flavor and extra sweetness.

Peanut butter is another staple that should be in every sugar-free pantry. It will add flavor to muffins, cookies or cakes, as well as substituting for part of the fat. Thinned with a few tablespoons of milk and stirred over low heat, it makes a quick dessert topping or sauce, and pairs very well with chocolate or bananas. Be sure to read the label carefully, since a lot of peanut butters have a surprising amount of sugar in them.

The more you cook without sugar, the easier it will be to create tasty, healthy desserts. As your taste buds - and those of your family - adjust to less sugar, you will find that other flavors come more and more to the fore. It will not be long at all before you find that you prefer desserts that are fresher and lower in sugar because they naturally taste better.

Sandy Darson is a freelance writer, who specializes in writing about cooking and weight loss techniques, sometimes discussing specific products such as Splenda.

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Let the Kids Bake Cookies in Their Own Solar Oven!

Ever heard of a solar oven? Think you can build your own? Not only can you, your kids could build it too and use it to bake cookies on your next camping trip.

When our kids first heard about solar ovens we didn't think it would be easy to do but we were mistaken.

Not only is a simple solar oven easy to make, they actually work! And they're perfect for camping trips. Now we can bake up some fresh cookies while we're camping, something we've never been able to do before and you can too.

Here's how. The first thing you need to do is to save your pizza boxes. One per child. The pizza box becomes the oven.

Close the lid of the pizza box as if you were keeping your pizza warm.

Let the kids decorate the outside of their pizza boxes or you can paint or cover the outside in black paint or paper.

Using a sharp knife (parent supervision here or a parent does this part depending on the age of the child) cut along three sides of the pizza box lid, about an inch or two from the edges. This should create a flap.

On the inside of this flap, use some regular white glue and apply tin foil to the entire inside area of the flap. Try your best to get out all the creases from the foil as you press it against the flap.

Now, open up the lid and line the inside of the whole lid with saran wrap or plastic wrap. You want to make this is as snug as you can, creating a nice seal along the edges of the inside of the lid of your pizza box.

This will create a window where you just created your flap.

Using tin foil again line the entire inside of the pizza box.

Find a stick or other sturdy stick like object and after you've closed the lid, open up the flap and hold it open with your stick or other object. Face in the direction of the sun and it won't take long for the inside of your pizza box to heat up.

When you're ready to bake some cookies place the dough in small cookie balls, slightly flattened inside your new oven. With the box lid closed and the flap held open, face your oven into the sun and wait for your cookies to bake!

Baking in a solar oven will take a little longer than in a regular oven depending on the temperature but well worth the wait.

Happy Camping!

Leanne Arnott invites you to read more articles about taking your family camping or going on a family hiking trip at http://www.family-camping-and-hiking.com. You can add your submissions on many topics and subscribe to our monthly ezine.

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How Do Fortunes Get Inside Fortune Cookies?

Have you ever sat inside of a Chinese restaurant and wondered how they got that fortune inside the little golden cookie? It seems like a complex piece of origami, but it really is quite a simple process.

After the fortune cookie went public in America around 1914, people fell in love with the little delicacy. Although stories differ as to exactly who invented the cookie and where, it is agreed that the cookie was born in California and appeared at the 1915 San Francisco World's Fair. A purely American creation, the cookie is not native to China as most think. But what would a Chinese meal be without the crisp goodie to look forward to? After all, we have to find out what our future holds.

So, how do they get those bits of wisdom inside the cookie? Back in the day, workers, such as those at the Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Company, would pour a 3 inch circle of batter onto a pan. It would cook quickly and the worker would pull it off the bake top with chopsticks, place the fortune paper on the cookie, and then, using the chopsticks, bend it into its well-known form. This process became an art form as workers' hands carefully formed the cookies.

It is only relatively recently that the fortune cookie met up with modern technology. In San Francisco in 1974, a man named Edward Louie, Lotus Fortune Cookie Company's owner, devised a machine that could automate the fortune cookie making process. He called his technological advance the Fortune III. His machine used the same basic methods of pouring out a disc of batter and baking it. Only now, the cookies, while still warm, could be picked up by metal pincers, have a fortune laid down on them, and be folded into the classic crescent shape - all in a matter of seconds.

The reason these cookies can be folded when hot is due to the properties in sugar. The batter basically consists of flour, sugar, water and eggs. When heated, these ingredients are malleable for a few seconds before they harden to a shiny, hard surface. Those precious few seconds mean a fortune can be included as part of the treat.

Now, automated machines can fold up to 8,000 cookies every hour. That's a lot faster than the hand done versions. And it's just as well because the demand has grown over the years for this crispy Confucian confection. People are now ordering custom fortune cookies for their weddings, birthday parties, corporate and business events and even as sympathy messages.

They now come in every size from tiny to gigantic. You can order them in just about any flavor you like including chocolate dipped with candy embellishments.

Today's fortunes range from wise sayings to lottery numbers. People are customizing their sayings to include marriage proposals, business logos and just about everything else you can imagine. For a small fee, companies online will insert any saying you want into the cookie of your choice. It's a delightful surprise to see a personalized saying inside a fortune cookie. No other cookie on the planet is considered a bearer of sage advice.

Although few people would list the fortune cookie as the best tasting cookie, it is considered a fun cookie in a class by itself.

Betty Ann Sherman is a mother and a baker of tasty treats. She has a special passion for baking cookies, pies, cakes, and everything wonderful. She enjoys making and eating custom fortune cookies. Check back for updates from Betty on her delicious treat adventures.

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Easy Christmas Cookies in Under 30 Minutes

The Christmas tree is up, the Christmas lights are draping the front yard, the Christmas cards are mailed and shopping done and all gifts wrapped and it's only December 8th! Does this sound like your life? Most likely ...NO! During this busy but festive holiday season there is so much to do and so little time. However, amid the hustle and bustle, there is one holiday tradition that you should not leave off your list. Take a break on a weekend afternoon, gather your kids or grand kids and have a holiday bake-a-thon. Our kids are all grown and scattered across the country and it is the one tradition I dearly miss. From the time they were little we spent a couple of hours baking Christmas cookies during each holiday season. It is such a beloved tradition that I still mail boxes of cookies to each of them before Christmas. Yes, they will be home for Christmas, but that box of Christmas cookies is just a small reminder of a favorite family tradition.

When my kids were young, I will admit our Christmas cookie baking day did try my patience. However, they loved it so much, I did not have the heart to disappoint them. There were four of them trying to help measure, mix, blend and fold in a multitude of ingredients. Then, of course, they all wanted a hand at decorating the cookies. One year I tried a short cut and bought slice and bake cookies but the kids insisted that these were not real cookies. About 4 years ago, as I was baking with the last one left at home, I discovered the most amazing shortcut..

Betty Crocker Cookie Mix In A Bag.

This mix is not quite as quick as the slice and bake, but you actually make the dough! You add butter or oil and an egg to the mix. Presto, you have a batch of dough. You can roll the dough to make cut outs, add additional ingredients such as white chocolate chips or just spoon out balls of dough and you are ready to bake and decorate. 20 minutes later, you have a batch of easy Christmas cookies! Best of all, the cookies come out as delicious as the more time consuming recipes you may have in your files.

The cookie mixes include chocolate chip, chocolate chocolate chip, sugar, oatmeal, peanut butter and even gingerbread. So you can quickly and easily make a fun assortment of Christmas cookies. Add an assortment of decorating sugars, sprinkles, candies, raisins or dried cranberries to your baking area and the kids can have a ball decorating their cookies. You can now have a stress free holiday baking session with your little ones. For a fun finale to your Christmas cookie bake-a-thon; the kids can wrap up their cookies and deliver them as gifts to friends.

For additional tips on Christmas cookie baking as well as a free printable really cute card to go with these packages visit Celebration Ideas Online. So start your own annual Christmas Cookie bake-a-thon with your kids or grand kids... it is a wonderful tradition!

Carol is married with four grown children who loves to celebrate everything! Their family celebration experiences and traditions can be further viewed at http://www.CelebrationIdeasOnline.com There are some great ideas for creating lasting family memories!

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Free Online Recipes - The Popular Cookies Recipes!

Pineapple Tarts are one of the Chinese New Year popular cookies and it is popular among the Malays too. It is easy to make and very tasty!

Pineapple Tarts

Skin Ingredients:

Butter 250 g

Flour 450 g

Egg 1

Paste Ingredients/Fillings

Pineapple 5

Sugar 300 g

Cinnamon powder a little

Paste Methods/ Instructions

Step 1: Mash the pineapple and put into a saucepan to cook. Add sugar and cinnamon.

Step 2: Keep stirring and cook until dry.

Skin Methods/Instructions

Step 1: Sieve flour in a bowl.

Step 2: Mix butter, sugar and egg in a mixing bowl. Blend it well.

Step 3: Fold in butter into step 2 mixtures to make into dough.

Step 4: Cut dough into pastry size, round and flatten it, top it with some pineapple paste.

Step 5: Place it on baking tin and bake for 15 minutes at 180 degree.

Butter Cookies

Butter cookies are popular afternoon teatime snack and it is best taken together with tea or coffee. The following is the traditional butter cookie recipes. By adding raisins or coco chips to the following recipes, you can make add flavor to the traditional butter cookies!

Ingredients

Egg 1

Butter 300 g

Bicarbonate of soda ¼ teaspoon

Cheese 100 g

Flour 340 g

Salt ¼ teaspoon

Methods

Step 1: Sieve flour and soda together

Step 2: Put salt, butter and egg into mixer. Beat until fluffy and light.

Step 3: Add in sliced cheese and flour.

Step 4: Mix well into dough.

Step 5: Cut dough into small pastry size. Round and flatten it.

Step 6: Arrange it into baking tin and brush egg yolk over it.

Step 7: Bake for about 15 minutes at 180 degree.

You can get more free online recipes at Free Online Recipes - Hobbycook!

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Chocolate Meringue Cookies - The Ultimate in Indulgence

Cookies are a real comfort food and if you are looking for dessert recipes or Cinco de Mayo recipes you might be interested in recipes like this. Chocolate cookies are one of the most popular varieties and adding meringue to your recipe makes them even lighter, more interesting, and more delicious.

Everyone has their own favorite type of cookies but chocolate tops a lot of lists. Vanilla cookies, strawberry cookies and raisin cookies are also very popular and it is fun to make different variations if you enjoy baking. Mexican ingredients such as vanilla and cinnamon work well in most dessert recipes and Mexican desserts often use these ingredients because they combine so nicely with one another.

Meringue is made with egg whites. When you beat egg whites, it is very important to ensure the mixing bowl and beater are spotlessly clean. Any spot of grease means the egg whites will not form stiff peaks, and this means that you will not be able to make meringues with them, so check that your equipment is grease-free before you start.

The following recipe makes seventy of these little treats, which might sound like a lot but they do keep well for up to a week if you keep them in a tightly sealed container. The vanilla and chocolate are amazing together and the cinnamon adds a distinctive Mexican touch, which is great if you are looking for exciting Cinco de Mayo recipes to make for the kids.

What you will need:

4 egg whites
1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon salt
3 oz chopped semisweet chocolate
1/2 cup white sugar
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

How to make them:

Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F. Grease a pair of baking sheets. Grind the chocolate in a food processor, and then sift it through a sieve so that no pieces will be able to block the tip of a pastry bag. Beat the egg whites with the vanilla, salt, and cream of tartar until they form stiff peaks.

Add them to the chocolate and keep beating them on a medium speed. Add the sugar and cinnamon gradually. Pipe this mixture, a teaspoon at a time, on to the prepared baking sheets.

Bake them for half an hour or until they are starting to brown and come away from the baking sheets. Let them cool on racks and keep them in an airtight container for up to a week. You can serve these little snacks with ice cream or whipped cream. They are also nice served alone or with a glass of milk or cup of coffee. Just try to eat only one - it is nearly impossible! These are so good you will want at least two!

Mexican food is easy to make and if you are looking for sweet Mexican recipes, such as Cinco de Mayo recipes for desserts, what about using chocolate, cinnamon or vanilla to make the best desserts? Cookies are just one example of a mouthwatering dessert recipe that you can make with typical Mexican ingredients.

MexicanDessertRecipes.net The Sweet Side of Mexican Food

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How to Bake Cookies for Special Occasions

Hosting a party is connected to so many wonderful emotions and preparations. Coming up with the theme, decorations and menu can be truly exciting. You will have to put all of your creative efforts into the process.

All of these steps, however, could be overwhelming. It takes planning and a lot of time to prepare the perfect party or special occasion. You will have to make some compromises, in order to complete all of the steps on time.

The menu is an important aspect of the party. Thinking about it carefully and including appropriate meals and appetizers will make guests feel good and welcomed.

Cookies can be included in any party menu. They look palatable and they are easy to make. Cookies will turn into the perfect dessert if you have no time to make something more complicated or if your budget is limited. Decorating your favorite cookies in an appropriate manner will help you create an amazing dessert platter.

Baking cookies for special occasions is simple and fun. Use your favorite recipe and modify the cookies to correspond to the party theme and atmosphere.

Keep It Simple and Find Appropriate Recipes
Getting prepared for a party means being certain in all of the steps. This includes food, as well.

Select a cookie recipe that you know and that you have already tested. Experimenting with new recipes could result in failure. Test the recipe in advance, if you have enough time for culinary trials. You should otherwise go for a well-known recipe.

Everybody loves traditional cookies. It does not have to be something amazingly complicated in order to make people feel happy. Here is a traditional recipe that you can use for your next special occasion.

You will need three and a half cups of flour, two cups of sugar, two tablespoons of butter, two eggs, half a cup of milk, two teaspoons of baking powder, half a teaspoon of salt and vanilla extract.

A hand mixer will be most appropriate. Get a large bowl and mix the sugar and butter. Eggs and milk go in next. Once you are done mixing, start adding the dry ingredients - flour, vanilla extract, baking powder and salt. Your dough is ready and you can now form cookies. Get cookies lightly floured and bake in a preheated oven.

Favorite Cookies in Special Shapes
It is all about the shape of the cookie. Choose forms that correspond to the party theme and that will look good.

A heart-shaped cookie is appropriate for a bridal shower or an anniversary party. Christmas tree cookies will be best for Christmas and the winter holidays.

You can make cookies in any shape that is appropriate. They can be turned into diapers, horseshoes, rugby balls and even famous tourism attractions. It is all about the theme and the favorite activities of the people that the party is dedicated to.

Choose Colors Carefully
Apart from the shape, you will have to select the best color that correspond to the decorations and that fit into the theme.

Food colorants and icing are your weapons. Use them wisely. Color and texture will add to the appeal of the cookies, turning them into works of art rather than into mere desserts. Be creative and experiment with toppings, letters and other types of decorations.

Cookies can be transformed into any object and this quality makes them perfect for parties and special occasions, including Halloween, baby showers, and just about any event. Remember to have fun and to look creatively at the process. Your simplest cookie recipe could transform into something unique and very special.

Criss White writes about party planning topics. To check out some halloween cookies or to see some decorated cookies for other occasions, visit My Baby Shower Favors.
Note: You can reprint this article in your ezine, blog, or website as long as the credits remain intact and hyperlinks remain active and dofollow.

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Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies - Quick-Cook Vs Old Fashioned Oats

Oatmeal chocolate chip cookies are every bit as delicious as a traditional chocolate chip cookie. I like to stray every now and then from chocolate chip cookies and whip up a batch of oatmeal cookies. There is something to be said about sneaking whole grains into your child's diet without hearing any complaints. Choosing which whole grain to put in the cookie dough should take some consideration, but not to be worried about if you only have one particular kind of oat in your pantry.

There are three kinds of oats to consider when making oatmeal chocolate chip cookies. They are:

Steel -Cut: These oats are in their most whole form and make a very chewy cookie. When eaten as a breakfast cereal they can take up to thirty minutes to cook. The more a grain is kept in its whole form, the healthier it is for you.
Old Fashioned: Also known as rolled oats, these oats have been rolled and pressure cooked which allows for a faster cook time. This oat is still very close to whole and will produce a chewy cookie.
Quick-Cook : Quick cook oats are processed and cooked therefore losing some nutrients and flavor, and the fastest oat of the three to cook on the stove top. The flavor should really only be a concern when eating alone as a breakfast cereal. In oatmeal chocolate chip cookies quick oats will still produce a flavorful enough cookie since there are so many other ingredients that enhance the cookie. Quick oats will produce a cookie with a consistent texture.

Ideally, you should use whatever oats a cookie recipe calls for. Often the recipe will not state specifically and you are left to guess. In the past I have successfully used a rolled oat and a quick cook oat in my recipe depending on what I have on hand. Rolled oats, aside from making chewier cookies, make thicker cookies with lots of texture. I prefer to add raisins to a rolled oat cookie. A quick-cook oat produces a smoother textured slightly moister cookie. These oats are perfect for making oatmeal chocolate chip cookies. Both cookies will taste similar aside from whatever baking pieces are added to the dough.

Instant oats are completely left out as an option for cookies. These oats have been so processed and depleted of flavor and nutrients that there would almost be no point. I have never attempted to use an instant oat in my cookies. Since they usually turn into a soupy mess in my cereal bowl, I have never chanced it by putting them in my cookies. Not to mention how uneconomical it would be. Just how many of those little envelopes would it take for a batch of cookies?

Try this really yummy oatmeal cookie recipe.

Amanda Julander is the creator and owner of http://www.Choc-Chip-Cookie-Recipe.com; a web site dedicated to popular tried and true chocolate chip cookie recipes and the secret baking tips that make them turn out every time.

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Cookies And Diabetes

In this day and age of high tech I need to stop and wonder what is happening to the population of the U.S. it seems that a large number of its citizens are becoming ill with diabetes.

"According to the American Diabetes Association there are 20.8 million children and adults in the United States, or 7% of the population, who have diabetes. While an estimated 14.6 million have been diagnosed, unfortunately, 6.2 million people (or nearly one-third) are unaware that they have the disease. With so many people affected by diabetes, the American Diabetes Association has compiled diabetes statistics on the impact of the disease and its complications. Based on death certificate data, diabetes contributed to 224,092 deaths in 2002. Studies indicate that diabetes in generally under-reported on death certificates, particularly in the cases of older persons with multiples chronic conditions such as heart disease and hypertension. Because of this, the toll of diabetes is believed to be much higher than officially reported."

I don't believe that cookies and baked goods are the culprits for this terrible disease, back in the 50's and 60's our parents and grandparents baked cookies on a daily basis and we as children had eaten dozens of cookies almost on a daily basis, there were cookies and milk after school, cookies in your lunch bag, and a snack before bedtime of cookies, we had cookies of every shape and form that anyone can imagine.

During the Christmas and Easter Holidays I went to my grandparents home and usually upon arrival we were offered cookies and milk for the children and cookie and coffee for the adults, during this period in time people would swap cookie recipes like children would swap baseball cards. Now that we are in the 21st Century no one can say that because they are diabetic that they cannot eat cookies, with all the new sugar free and diabetic cookie recipes that you can find and all the diabetic cookies on the market no one should say I cannot eat cookies.

Ann Marie Krause has been making cookies for over 30 years, at persent I am retired, for over 23 years I owned a Gourmet Bakery called The Cheese Confectioner.You can visit my site at http://www.annsgoodies.com

NOTE: You are welcome to reprint this article online as long as it remains complete and unaltered (including the about the author info at the end).

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Delicious Graduation Fortune Cookies

Graduation is a happy time for celebrating success with family and fiends and what better way than celebrating with the sweetness of cookies? Graduation cookies perfectly suit the occasion which remains a sweet memory forever.

The graduation fortune cookies are sure to be hit among guests and they prove great aid of delivering a strong and sweet message that I have done it or may be you have done it. Graduation is one of the biggest turning points of our life and it is absolutely necessary to celebrate it big.

The graduation cap cookies have remained a favourite for ages. The cookies are made to resemble the graduation caps and are complete with even the tassel which is usually made up of licorices of various colors. A nice cookie cutter can give the perfect shape for the graduation cookies. But that is for those who want to bake it at home but part from that many cookie makers come up with beautiful personalized cookies. One can order them online as well and save the graduation party from appearing incomplete which it must seem without the celebrated cookies.

Another popular form of cookie especially made for the celebrating graduation is the Graduation fortune cookies. Like any other cookie, the graduation fortune cookies carry message which is many times a good wish for the graduating person. But then on many occasions they are made to carry funny predictions for guests and bring a lot of fun to the graduation parties.

The personalized graduation cookies are the ones that are exclusive made and carry very personal messages. One can shape them, color them and add relevant messages with the cookies. The personalized cookies are a great thing to gift on the occasion of graduation. True, a basket of personalized fortune cookies is sure to make the guest enviable and will score better marks in relationship with it. Alternatively the personalized fortune cookies brought in by the host are great way to circulate message among guests and thus create just the right mood.

One can find cookies of the same color as that of the school or college and thus reminds one of the good days spent there. One cannot deny that the cookies are really nice way of bidding goodbye to the school or college and welcoming the new life with all the sweetness that they have. Is there anyone who has failed with a lovely gift of cookies?

Celebrate the special occasion with memorable graduation cookies. Melville Jackson is an avid home entertainer for Cool-Party Favors and recommends these fun and delicious personalized fortune cookies for your guests.

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Chewy Vs Crunchy - Cookie Baking Tips

Cookies are a fun treat that can be made for any occasion of even just for fun. There are literally millions of recipes for cookies and different designs too.

When giving away cookies as gifts, you should consider the following three factors:
One: The theme of the party or the occasion
Two: The flavor of the cookies
Three: The texture of the cookies: chewy or crunchy or in between.

Professional bakers are skilled at creating cookies in various textures, including chewy, semi-chewy and crunchy. However, most folks that try to bake their own cookies at home don't know how to do this. What should be done to make a cookie crunchy, chewy or in between? Well, difficult as it may sound, the secret is in the sugar. Here are some simple cookie baking tips:

Cookies are laden with butter, shortenings and sweetener. The first thing to do is to look at the recipe and see the measurements of the sugar and then note what kind of sweetener is used. There should be two kinds: brown sugar and white sugar. It is in the type of sugar used that will totally transform the texture of the cookies.

Crunchy cookies will need white sweetener and hardly any brown sweetener. So if the cookie recipe is say, chocolate chip cookies, and the sugars used are both brown and white, to achieve the crunchy effect simply put in more of the white sugar than the brown, or simply eliminate the brown and use all white. Example: if the recipe calls for 2 cups white sugar and 1 cup brown sugar, to get the full crunchy effect use 2 cups white sugar plus 3/4 white sugars.

Semi crunchy cookies or semi-chewy cookies will again need a variation of the two sugar measurements. Again, if the original recipe calls for 2 cups white sugar and 1 cup brown sugar make it 1 1/2 cups white and 2 cups brown. This will make the cookies not too crunchy and not too chewy - it will be just right!

For chewy cookies, another variation of the measurements between the two sugars will have to be done. If the original is again 2 cups white sugar and 1 cup brown sugar make it 4 1/2 cups brown sugar. This will give the cookies the chewy effect that is so great with chocolate chip cookies.

Now, for a bonus: there are people who like their cookies gooey chewy. This is not impossible to achieve. Again for the 2 cups white sugar and 1 cup brown sugar original recipe, convert the measurements to 4 cups brown sugar and 1/2 molasses or honey. This will give the cookies a super gooey chewy effect.

Now for those who are curious why the sugars are considered the key, well it may take a lot of explanations but to simplify the process, it is the brown sugar that makes the cookies chewy. Also, the same thing can be done with cakes. More brown sugar will make the cake moister.

Criss White writes about family and baby shower topics. To see more articles or to check out some baby shower cookies or some unique baby shower favors, visit My Baby Shower Favors.

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Kinds of Girl Scout Cookies

When America thinks of girl scouts, they think of one thing: Girl Scout cookies. Every year, at the beginning of the year, millions cookies are sold all around the world. Every year we wait in anticipation to see if there are any new kinds of Girl Scout cookies. These cookies have created frenzy throughout the world, that doesn't stop until the last box is sold.

There are fourteen different kinds that come out each year. Often times, there are new cookies that come out and test the waters. Usually these cookies have failed, but there have been a few successful stories. Here are a list and brief description of each:

1. Thin Mint: The most enduring and universally familiar.

2. Do-si-dos or Peanut Butter Sandwiches or Savannahs: a sandwich cookie

3. Trefoils or Classic Shortbread: These shortbread cookies are shaped like the Girl Scout Trefoil design.

4. Tagalongs: These round cookies with a cookie center are covered with chocolate, having under their swollen chocolate surface an inner layer of peanut butter

5. Samoas or Caramel deLites: These consist of a circular vanilla cookie about 2inch in diameter with a small hole in the center

6. Golden Yangles: a sugar free cookie

7. Lemon Coolers: A reduced-fat cookie

8. Lemon Pastry Cremes: Pastry style sandwich cookies with lemon creme in the middle.

9. Thanks-a-Lots: Crunchy fudge coated treats, these cookies are circular and are about 3.5 inches in diameter

10. All Abouts: A shortbread cookie with a layer of chocolate on the bottom and featuring related sayings on the top.

11. Cartwheels: A cinnamon-oatmeal reduced-fat variety

12. Caf Cookies: A gourmet style cookie, coated with cinnamon

13. Classic Creams: A sandwich cookie made in the same style as Oreos, only the top and bottom are different colors

14. Double Dutch: A chocolate cookie dough with chocolate chips

These cookies are all very tasteful and delightful, but more so than others. As of 2004, the favorites were:

• Thin Mints (25% of total sales)
• Samoas/Caramel deLites (19%)
• Tagalongs/Peanut Butter Patties 13%
• Do-si-dos/Peanut Butter Sandwich 11%
• Trefoils/Shortbread 9%

All though the rest are quite tasty, they just don't seem to make the cut. Whether you enjoy thin mints, samoas, of tagalongs, there are so many different kinds of girls scout cookies; you should definitely find a favorite.

Written by Howard Gottlieb

President of Easy Fundraising Ideas

We offer great school fundraising ideas and sport fundraisers for groups of all sizes.

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Warm Feelings From Fresh Baked Cookies

For most people they have fond memories of fresh baked cookies in their home. With times changing it is getting harder to make the cookies, but you don't have to give them up.

When you go to your grandma's house what things stand out to you? When you walk into your grandma's house does she give you a big hug? Does she have pictures up around her house of you and your family? Do you know that she has some treats sitting in her cupboard and you can pick a treat out when you get there and when you leave? Another thing that you might love about walking into your grandma's house is the smell of fresh baked cookies. That is probably the touch that brings those warm feelings.

Whether it is your grandma's house or your own home do you love the smell of fresh baked cookies, but are finding that over the years people are getting busier and grandma is aging and there is no longer that memorable smell of the cookies. For those that have become accustomed to that smell it can be a sad day and you might even think that you will never be able to enjoy that smell again without making the cookies yourself.

The good news is that there are cookie franchises that recognize that people are getting busy and that the good ole' days are starting to pass by and the fresh baked cookies are not as common anymore. You can walk into a cookie store and enjoy the smell like it is grandma's and then enjoy every single bite of those warm cookies without the work of making them.

Mrs. Fields (http://www.mrsfieldsfranchise.com/), with over 30 years of brand success now offers cookie franchise.

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I've Never Heard Of No Bake Cookies Made Without Peanut Butter - Do You Have A Recipe?

No bake cookies recipes that do not include peanut butter are very popular. Some people don't like peanut butter while others are allergic to it. While it would be natural to think that all no bake cookie recipes include both oats and peanut butter, there are hundreds of recipes that don't include either ingredient.

The first place to look for more variations of no bake recipes is old cook books. And if you don't have access to old cook books, don't worry as they are available to download free from places like the Gutenberg Library Project. To get you started, why not try this recipe:

No Bake Chocolate Chip And Cereal

Ingredients

12 oz chocolate chips or baking chocolate
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 cups cereal
Raisins optional

Place butter and chocolate in a large bowl and microwave for approx two minutes. If you have a high powered microwave use less time. It's important that it doesn't burn. Check the mix after about one minute and stir. Based on how much it has melted, place back in the microwave. You need to make sure everything has melted yet don't cook it too long otherwise it will burn.

Add two cups of cereal and mix it thoroughly with the chocolate sauce. You can add raisins at this stage, but, if you add more than an ounce or so you may need to reduce your volume of cereal. Adding too much raisins without reducing the volume of cereal may prevent the mix from sticking together.

Using two spoons, drop cookie sized balls on a wax sheet and chill for about 30 minutes. You can also spread the cookie mix in a flat dish and cut into squares after it has chilled.

There are lots of no bake cookie recipes, including no bake desserts. Many are age old classics and can be found in old cook books.

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How to Make Yummy Monkey Bar Cookies

As a school kid I remember playing on the monkey bars at recess. That was fun but it doesn't compare to these monkey bars! These Monkey Bars are perfect cookies for after school treats with a glass of milk or cup of hot chocolate. They are great for lunchboxes, office treats, church potlucks, etc. These would also be a good snack to enjoy while watching your favorite team. Make up a batch soon to share with your family and friends.

MONKEY BARS

1/2 cup raisins
1 1/2 tbsp apple juice
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup mashed ripe banana
3 tbsp low-fat buttermilk
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 large egg whites
1/3 cup chopped walnuts
Non-stick cooking spray
1 tbsp powdered sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Combine the raisins and apple juice in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on high for 1 minute; set aside.

Lightly spoon flour into a dry measuring cup and level with a knife. Combine the flour with baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a bowl, stirring well with a whisk. Set flour mixture aside.

Combine the brown sugar and butter in a large bowl; beat with a mixer at medium speed until well blended. Add the banana, buttermilk, vanilla, and egg whites, beating well. Add the flour mixture, beating just until combined. Stir in the raisin mixture and the walnuts.

Spread the batter into an 8-inch square baking pan that has been coated with nonstick cooking spray. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until golden. Cool the bars completely on a wire rack. Sprinkle with powdered sugar.

Yield: 16 bars at 135 calories, 21 g carbs, 2 g protein, 4.7 g fat

Enjoy!

For more dessert and sweets recipes visit my blog at http://ladybugssweettreats.blogspot.com
For more of Linda's recipes and diabetic information go to http://diabeticenjoyingfood.squarespace.com

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Baked Stuffed Chicken Casserole

Ingredients:

2-cans (18.8 ounces each)

Smoked chicken & corn chowder soup

5-cups

Chicken flavored dry stuffing mix

2-cups

Cheddar cheese, shredded

1-small

Onion, finely chopped

Instructions:

Combine smoked chicken & corn chowder soup, chicken flavored dry stuffing mix, shredded cheddar cheese and finely chopped onion in a large mixing bowl; pour into a 9x13-inch pan and bake at 350° for 15 to 20 minutes or until golden brown. Let stand for five minutes before serving.

Serves 6

Note: This is one of the most delicious recipes, but yet so simple. This can be made with any of the chunky cream based soups. I have also substituted the onion with chopped pecans, diced green chilis or bell peppers. There's many combinations that work to your taste. The above combination is my favorite.

Another great idea is to divide up into single serving dishes and freeze. This makes a great quick meal after a long work day.

You can find this recipe and many more at Cristie's Cookin. Be sure and check out her unique and sure to please spices, Ring It, Bling It and Zing It. Don't forget to submit your favorite recipe for a chance to win a "Gotcha Covered" apron. Last but not least check out her kitchen picks.

Cooking lessons for Cristie began at 8 years old with the best teacher in the world -- her Mom! Later, she cooked for the restaurant the family owned, and her love of the "trade" has grown ever since. Cristie's creative cooking has continued for over 40 years. Her creations can soon be on your kitchen table. Check out Cristie's books at www.cristiescookin.com and www.tjstokes.com

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3 Great Preschool Cookie Day Activities

December 4th is National Cookie Day. Kids love cookies and will be excited to try these preschool cookie day activities. Try baking and decorating cookies with your children. Read stories about cookies and talk about which are their favorite kind of cookies.

Baking Cookies

If possible, bake some cookies with your children. Have the kids read the recipe and help measure the ingredients. Let the kids mix the dough together. You can find basic sugar cookie recipes in any cook book or on the Internet. The kids can spoon the dough onto cookie sheets. Have them use enough dough to make larger cookies, since they will be decorating them.

Once the cookies have cooled, the kids will enjoy decorating them. Provide icing and large craft sticks for spreading the icing on the cookies. Let them decorate the cookies with sprinkles or a variety of candies. If desired, have them make cookie faces with the candy. When they have finished, take a picture of each child with his or her creation. Display the pictures on the class bulletin board.

Play Dough Cookies

Make a batch of home made play dough. A good basic play dough recipe: one cup of flour, 1/4 cup of salt, one cup water and one table spoon cream of tartar. Mix all the ingredients and cook over medium heat. Cook the mixture and stir until it forms a soft ball. Knead the dough and add some food coloring. You can split the batch and make two colors. For play dough cookies, use brown for chocolate, pink for strawberry or leave half the batch without coloring for an off white color that works well for cookies.

When the play dough has cooled, the kids will have fun pretending to make cookies. Give them a variety of cookie cutters and wooden dowels for rolling the dough. Plastic knives or craft sticks can be used to cut the dough shapes. This activity is fun and also good for fine motor development.

Cookie Tasting Party

Have a party and let your children taste a variety of cookies. Bring in sugar cookies, chocolate chips, oatmeal or any other variety of cookies. Consider trying a few unique cookie recipes from other cultures. If desired, ask parents to bake and bring in cookies from their native country. This will expose the children to other cultures while having fun tasting cookies.

Let the children taste some of each type of cookie. You can make a journal sheet with each type of cookie. The kids can note whether they liked each type or not. When they have finished tasting the cookies, talk about the results. Graph each child's responses on a large graph made from butcher's paper. Which flavor was most or least liked by the children?

Anne-Marie Killer is the webmaster of http://funprintables.info where she provides a huge selection of high quality printables for ALL ages & ALL occasions for FREE. Come take a look.

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How to Create a Bake Sale Pricing Schemata

Bake Sales are figuratively and literally the "Mom and Pop stores" of the educational fund raising tree. They are great school community builders that bring parents together in a shared project. Too often the organizers have had little or no experience at setting up a sale. Their volunteers may have had little or no experience as well. In order to keep that fund raising eye focused, it is necessary to carefully plan ahead in two important financial areas.

Come to understand that you are having a bake sale to make money. You must price your items to sell. If your goal is not to make money then there's no need to have a sale unless you just want to have some fun. And since your goal is to make money, remember, there's no money in left-over baked goods. You're asking people to contribute their time, money, and talents in preparing donated goods. When you are ready to price items you must consider the cost of all the ingredients as well as the time it took to prepare a particular baked item. Selling baked goods for less than it costs to make them doesn't make financial sense, because if that were the case, you could simply ask for the bakers to donate the money.

For example, chocolate chip cookies will be more costly to prepare than a loaf of homemade bread because the ingredient, chocolate, is generally more expensive than any item used in bread. However, it probably takes more time to prepare a loaf of homemade bread. So ingredients' costs, preparation time, and an intangible...the popularity of the baker must be considered in your price setting schemata.

The "popularity of the baker" factor should not be underestimated. Baking is a personal matter. People take pride in their creations and sometimes even build their own identify around their ability to bake. Beware of offending someone by thoughtlessly placing a low-ball price on their donated item. You may needlessly inflict damage on someone's ego without ever realizing it.

There are a couple of ways to avoid these problems. First, ask contributors to price their own items. Of course you will need to give them some standardized guidelines. Suggest individually wrapped items they bake have one price. Give them price ranges. For example, a all bags of three cookies might be priced at one dollar. An entire cake or pie might be priced at eight to ten dollars each regardless of what type of cake or pie.

Remember too that people are often shy and modest. Sometimes they will arrive, baked goods in hand, and unable to put a price on them. They fear if they place a high price on their cookies they may not sell. One way to get around this situation is to have a few other bakers give their ideas about pricing. Feel free to discuss the time and ingredient factors. Get their permission to increase the price. When it seems reasonable to increase the price the baker will view it as an appreciation her labor of love. Gathering ideas on pricing from other volunteer bakers really is a way to share the responsibility to accurately pricing.

Running a smooth bake sale requires the organizer to consider the needs and feelings of the volunteers as well as the need to raise money. It means working with people who are connected through their children and who may have personal relationships unknown to the bake sale organizer. Sharing the decision making about pricing items can relieve a lot of pressure and provide confidence that you are getting the pricing right.

Elaine S. Rexdale earned a BA in Elementary Education from Augustana College in Rock Island, IL and an MA in Early Childhood Education from Teachers College at Columbia University in NY. She has been an early childhood educator and administrator for the past 30 years and has served in public and private schools in IL, LA, and NY. Her website is http://www.ElaineRexdale.com.

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Recipe For an Old Fashion Applesauce Cake Baked in an Iron Skillet

When I was a child growing up in a rural Southern Indiana community, there were always local gatherings and food was always involved. We met at a local farmer's maple syrup camp in the Fall for a wiener roast and taking turns stirring the syrup. We met in the Summer in a neighbor's front yard for an old fashion ice cream social. in fact, this recipe for Iron Skillet Applesauce Cake was his daughter's recipe. We sometimes met at the vacant lot across from the general store for picnics, often with puppet shows and miniature merry-go-round rides on a merry-go-round provided by the local bread company. The local churches held gospel sings followed by snacks and desserts either on the lawn or later in the fellowship halls. Some of my favorite recipes come from foods brought to these functions by the good cooks in the neighborhood. Many of the recipes I post, such as this one, are from these very gatherings. Ah, the memories. Times certainly do change but memories remain!

IRON SKILLET APPLESAUCE CAKE
This recipe was from a neighbor when I was a child.

1 1/2 cup flour
1/2 tsp ground cloves
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/3 cup butter
1 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1 tsp baking soda
1 cup raisins

Preheat the oven to a temperature of 325 degrees. Line the bottom of an iron skillet with waxed paper and set it aside while mixing cake.

Dissolve soda in applesauce. Stir in the sugars, butter, and the beaten egg. Blend in the flour and spices. Add the raisins which have been plumped by mixing 1/4 cup sugar and a little water and bringing to a boil with the raisins. When the cake batter is mixed well pour the batter into the iron skillet and bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until a toothpick in the center comes out clean.

Enjoy!

For more of Linda's old fashion recipes visit her blog at http://grandmasvintagerecipes.blogspot.com

For her diabetic recipes and information go to http://diabeticenjoyingfood.squarespace.com

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Baking With Agave Nectar - Chocolate Chip Cookies

Baking with agave nectar (instead of granulated sugar) is as easy as pie, if you adjust to a few simple facts.

Agave is 1.4 times sweeter than sugar
It adds additional liquid to the recipe
It browns quicker than a recipe with sugar
It also makes the batter a bit stickierLet's look at a standard chocolate chip cookie recipe and see what we need to change if we want to bake it with our natural sweetener.

3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
2 sticks (1 cup) butter, softened
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon salt
2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)

First, we want to replace the 1 1/2 cups of refined sugar, of course. I recommend using 1 cup (it's sweeter than sugar, remember?) of amber agave to compensate a little for the loss of the brown sugar flavor.

Secondly, we need to re-thicken the batter because of the extra liquid from the agave syrup. So, let's increase the flour to 2 1/2 cups.

Next, turn down the oven temperature by 25 degrees. Cookies are normally baked at 375 degrees F, but since agave sweetened baked goods brown faster, we want to bake them in a slightly "slower" oven.

And finally, make sure your cookie pans are lined with parchment paper and sprayed well.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe With Agave Nectar

1 cup amber agave nectar
2 sticks butter, softened
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon salt
2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)

I'm sure you know the procedure for mixing a cookie dough, but just in case...

1. Beat the agave, butter, eggs and vanilla by hand or in an electric mixer until creamy and fluffy.

2. Sift together the flour, soda, and salt, and blend it thoroughly with the creamed mix.

3. Fold the chocolate chips and optional nuts into the batter.

4. Bake it off at whatever size you like. (I prefer 8-inch cookies. But, I'm a glutton!) Check your oven after 8 minutes or so. It shouldn't take much longer than 8-10 minutes.

Note: Baking cookies with agave nectar will result in a softer, moister end product.

One last tip: If you want to avoid all white sugar in your diet, use unsweetened or malt-sweetened chocolate chips!

Achim Thiemermann shares his unique recipes, funny chef stories and entertaining cooking videos through his culinary blog: http://kitchen.chefkeem.com
After many years of experimenting and cooking with agave nectar, Achim Thiemermann aka Chef Keem invites you to visit his new specialty website: http://buyagavenectar.com for recipes, agave info and myths debunked, and his expert recommendations for the purest organic agave nectar online shopping deals.

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Important Rules in Baking Cookies Perfectly

Baking cookies is easy but somehow difficult. You have to be very careful in each step in order to get the perfect result. A simple mistake could ruin all the processes you have done. As the consequences, your cookies will be as hard as rocks or as black as coal. Therefore, pay attention to these certain rules when you are going to make perfectly baked cookies for your family.

Mostly, cookies are made from similar basic ingredients. They have the dry ingredients such as flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and sugar or brown sugar as the sweeteners. Besides, they are also consisting of fat such as softened butter or margarine, eggs, vanilla, and sometimes shortening. For the flavors, mostly people add chocolate. Cocoa, nuts, raisins, oatmeal, spices, or extracts to their cookies.

To have perfect texture, taste and appearance, you need to be more careful than just following the explained steps in the recipes. You should really understand about the process, the techniques, the tools, and the ingredients so you can make cookies just like what you expected to be. They are:

1. Identify the characteristics and the nature of each ingredient such as flour, eggs, fats, oils sweeteners and even the decorating materials such as marzipan or fondant. Each of them has certain influence in giving texture, appearance, and taste for your cookies.

2. Measure the ingredients accurately by using the right tools and techniques.

3. Do not over-mix the dough because it is persuading gluten development. This kind of dough makes your cookies hard or even unable to eat.

4. Do not over-bake to prevent it burned. You should check the temperature and the baking time carefully.

5. Bake your cookies with passion. This is a simple aspect that gives great and useful influences.

Following those rules will be very helpful in making perfect. However, the very basic rule in making cookies is: practice makes perfect. Learning from the mistakes in each baking process surely will help you a lot in making perfect cookies for your family and friends.

Cooking is another hobby owned by Frederic C Padilla. However, he is not only writing article about cooking tips, but also about his favorite gadgets such as walkie talkie headset. You can check the article in his latest website to find out the review of the popular uniden walkie talkie products offered for your needs.

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Easy Baked Salmon with Red Wine Sauce

One of the easiest ways to bake salmon is to pan fry it briefly before putting it in the oven. Baked salmon receipes cooked this way are quick and easy. An easy baked salmon recipe just right for a mid week supper after work or as part of a dinner with friends. Try this baked salmon fillet recipe served with an unusual red wine sauce.

Ingredients - serves 6

6 x 150g/5oz Salmon Fillets, skin on

2 finely diced shallots

450ml/14floz full bodied red wine such as a Bordeaux

250g/8oz unsalted butter, diced

Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

Olive oil


Method

Prepare the Red Wine sauce first.

Pour the wine into a pan with the diced shallots. Bring to the boil and reduce until you have about 3 tablespoons.

Turn the heat down to low and whisk in the diced butter until it becomes emulsified with the red wine reduction, don' let it boil. Season with salt to taste and take off the heat.

The sauce can be reheated gently when needed.

The Salmon

Preheat the oven to 220°C/gas mark 7.

Heat a large non-stick frying pan with an ovenproof handle over a high heat.

Cut 3 diagonal slashes into the skin of each salmon fillet, brush with the olive oil and season with salt and pepper.

Place the salmon skin side down in the frying pan and sear for 3 or 4 minutes. When golden brown, turn over and quickly cook for 30 seconds. Transfer the pan to the oven and bake for about 6 minutes or until done to your liking. Try not to overcook the baked salmon or it will be dry and tasteless.

Serve the salmon skin side up with the warm red wine sauce poured around it and a simple salad or steamed French beans on the side.

And there you have it, a healthy, quick, easy baked salmon dish with very little washing up - my kind of cooking.

Cherie is a freelance cook, cookery writer and webmaster. For more great salmon recipes including how to smoke, grill, bake and poach Salmon and for quick and easy recipes using canned salmon, click here - http://www.great-salmon-recipes.com. Read more about her - http://www.great-salmon-recipes.com/Website.html

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Fun Baked Birthday Treats

The traditional birthday cake isn't the only yummy option you have when it comes to baked goods for your child's birthday party. We have come up with some other ideas that are more than just a substitute for a birthday cake. They are creative, delicious and just plain different.

Decorate A Cookie

· Sugar Cookie Dough · Cookie Cutters
· Wax Paper
· Confectioner's Sugar
· Water
· Food Coloring
· Assorted candies
· Colored Sugar (different colors)
· Sprinkles

Prepare a batch of your favorite cookie dough, or purchase some refrigerated sugar dough. Roll it out and place it on the wax paper. Let the kids cut out cookies using the cookie cutter, then bake them according to the baking instructions for your dough.

Allow the cookies do cool. Prepare "Glue" by mixing the confectioner's sugar with water to form a sticky paste. You can add food coloring to turn it into different colors. The kids can paint the cookies with this glue, then add candies sprinkles and colored sugar.

Allow them to dry and either let the kids eat them at the party, or place them in plastic bags so they can take them home after the party.

Magic Wands

· Refrigerated Sugar Cookie Dough
· Star Cookie Cutter
· Popsicle Stick
· Confectioners' Sugar
· Hot Water
· Food Coloring

Roll out the sugar cookie dough and cut using a star-shaped cookie cutter; bake according to package instructions.

As soon as the cookies come out of the oven, and are still soft to the touch, carefully push a Popsicle stick between any two points of the star. This makes the handle for your wand.

Frost the cookies with glossy icing. To make glossy icing, simply sift confectioners' sugar into a bowl. Slowly add hot water, while mixing, until it becomes a smooth paste. Add a few drops of food coloring to make extra colorful treats. These wand cookies are somewhat fragile, but they're delicious and a lot of fun to eat!

Dessert Pizza

· Sugar cookie dough, store bought
· 8-ounce package cream cheese, at room temperature
· 1 cup sugar
· 1 teaspoon vanilla
· Fruit slices like banana, strawberries, apples and blueberries
· Greased cookie sheet or pizza pan

Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees.
Slice up the dough like you're making cookies.

Press the dough into a pizza pan. You should end up with thin, sweet pizza dough. Bake it for about 8 minutes and cool it on a rack.

Combine the sugar, vanilla and softened cream cheese. Spread it all over you pizza crust.

Top with the fruit slices.

There you have it ... Three fun baked treats that not only make a great addition to any birthday party, whether you are serving cake or not. They are also a fun activity for the kids during the party. Give one of these a try at the next child birthday party you throw.

For tips and ideas to plan the perfect birthday party visit http://www.littlegirlbirthdayparty.com and for more kid-friendly recipes delivered to you inbox every week visit http://www.dinewithoutwhine.com/info

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The Best Oatmeal, Chocolate Chip, Pecan Cookies

There is nothing quite like a chocolate chip cookie to make a blue day brighter. Children beg for them, and love to help make them. If you don't keep careful watch, they disappear faster than you can bake them! Even grandpa will snitch a few when you turn your back!

The very best chocolate chip cookie I have ever tasted is in an oatmeal cookie base, with pecans for an extra crunch.

Oatmeal, Chocolate Chip, Pecan Cookies

3 cup sifted flour
2 tsp. soda
2 tsp. salt
2 cup shortening
1 1/2 cup brown sugar
1 1/2 white sugar
4 eggs
2 tsp. hot water
1 1/2 cup chopped pecans
2 lg. pkg. chocolate chips
2 tsp. vanilla
4 cups regular oatmeal (not quick cooking kind)

Sift flour once before measuring, and then sift with soda and salt. Cream shortening and add sugar gradually creaming until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating after each. Add hot water then sift dry ingredients. Add vanilla, then nuts and chocolate chips. Mix in oatmeal gradually. Drop by 1/2 tsp. on cookies sheet and bake at 375 degrees F until cookies begin to brown around the edge. Remove the cookies from the oven and let them set for a few minutes before removing with spatula to cool.

You can also substitute peanut butter chips, white chocolate chips, or mint chips for the chocolate chips. If you are in the mood for something totally different, dice 2 cups of orange slice candies and use those instead of the chocolate chips.

If you can keep little (and not so little) fingers out of them, they last well when stored in an air-tight container. Spend a morning with your favorite little one(s) and make some memories.

Linda Pogue is the webmaster of Mom's Red Kitchen where she regularly posts information about kitchen products, reviews cookbooks, and shares family recipes. For more great dessert recipes, visit Gramma's Favorite Dessert Recipes.

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When Baking Molds Become Essential in Creating Your Ideal Cakes

Cakes come in different types, themes, shapes and sizes. For you to be able to create a perfect one, you have to be able to have access of a few essential supplies like the baking molds and pans in your kitchen. If you are starting out your hobby of baking, then there is still a practical way of buying these essential baking pans and molds without hurting your budget.

Here is what baking experts suggest that you need to stock up in your kitchen if you want to do some baking like the pros do. For those with a limited budget, a beginning baker can start out with just the standard cake pans of different sizes and just a few sheet pans. One can do without the molds for the time being and special shapes of cakes can be achieved by simple cuttings done on the original shapes of cakes. Thus, if you want to have a specially shaped cake, then you can simply do some nice cuttings of the basic rectangular or round cake and create a cake with spectacular shape.

For instance, square cakes can be easily done from basic rectangular cakes by simply cutting them in half. There are also other shapes that can be created from the basic rectangular cakes. On the other hand, you can create a special half-moon cake from a basic round cake. This simple technique can be used when making your bunny cakes for your Easter celebration. This technique is done by cutting the round cake in two. The halved cake is stood on the flat edge to create the half moon shape. The stiff frosting or icing is used to fuse them together. Once the cake is firm and adhered to the cake plate with just the right amount of icing underneath the cake layers, the cakes goes through the final phase frosting. Finally, you can add some final touches to get the decorative enhancements that you want to have in your cake.

When investing on your bakeware, it is important that you buy the cake pans and sheets that are of highest quality. The non-stick cake pans need to be greased either by spraying or the normal greasing method. The stainless type of pans must be floured and sprayed with grease as well. You will need to have a higher level of skill in removing your cakes from this type of pans than in any other types of cake pans. However, the stainless pans are preferred by many because of its durability and for the fine and smooth finish of cakes baked on stainless steel cake pans.

Whether you are baking a cake intended for a big event or just a simple side dessert for your weekend family gathering, the use of the appropriate cake pans and molds are the basic essentials that will ensure that you get a perfectly baked cake. There are also some practical tips that you can consider in order to bake your cake just like the experts do.

While you are learning your way through with own baking activity, don't fail to preheat the oven at the prescribed temperature and follow exactly the detailed baking procedures. While these are simple and basic cooking guidelines, its effect on your baking is significant.

Chuck R. Stewart's wife recently purchased specialty baking molds and specialty baking pans online for their daughter's birthday party.

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Home Baking Business Equipment

My mission in this article is to give you a feel for the kind of equipment that's usually required by the health department and equipment that's traditionally used in a personal kitchen but can also be used to get your business started. I've also included a few helpful tips that can make your work a little easier, less time consuming and more profitable.

Here's your first money-saving tip: used commercial equipment will more than satisfy your needs. Commercial equipment tends to have a long operating life when it's taken care of properly.

The following equipment list will be especially helpful if you're operating on a shoestring budget. It will also be useful if you are uncertain about operating this type of business and want to test the waters.

Ovens - The health department has no requirements concerning the size, type, or make of oven used in your business. You can use the same type of conventional stove that you have in your personal kitchen if it bakes properly and produces the results you need. But you should be aware that conventional ovens limit the quantity you can bake at one time and the speed of baking.

To increase production and keep up with demand, you'll need a commercial oven, preferably convection. Convection ovens bake fast and efficiently. Before purchasing a commercial electric oven, inquire about wiring and outlets needed for operation. Before purchasing any type of gas oven, make sure you have enough space for a hood fan and proper ventilation.

Mixers - If you have budget concerns, a home-style stand mixer will work perfectly to get you started. I recommend KitchenAid mixers. If you have product demand and the budget, definitely invest in a commercial mixer. A used twelve or twenty-quart commercial mixer will get you off to a great start.

Refrigerators/Coolers - Are you watching the budget? If so, here's another tip that will save you many dollars. Home-style refrigerators will work perfectly for your start-up and established business. Commercial refrigerators (referred to as coolers) can be expensive, even the used ones. So consider carefully the amount of space you have, the amount of product to be chilled, and your budget for refrigeration. Before purchasing a commercial cooler, inquire about the necessary electrical wiring and outlets needed for operation.

Proofing Cabinets - If you're making large quantities of yeast breads, you will benefit from having a proofing cabinet. This cabinet maintains a warm temperature that's perfect for the stage of bread making when the dough needs to rise and double in bulk.

Work Sinks - A stainless-steel compartment sink is usually a requirement of the health department. Even if this type of sink is not required, you should consider buying one. The convenience and ease of washing large sheet pans, large mixing bowls, and other oversized pieces make it well worth the cost.

Work Tables - The health department usually requires a certain kind of work surface for food preparation and protection. Stainless-steel tables are the most popular because they can be easily cleaned and do not absorb germs and other contaminants. There may be other tabletop surfaces that meet approval. Ask your health department for more information. The size table you buy should be determined by available space and the task to be performed. Rolling Pan Racks (Shelves) These heavy-duty metal racks are made to hold both half- and full-size sheet pans. They vary in height and the number of pans they hold. They are excellent space savers. Use them for cookies and cakes (before and after baking), ingredients, supplies, and more. One of the great convenience features is mobility. They can be moved to wherever you're working. A pan rack is not required by the health department, but it should be near the top of your list of necessities. Used racks will work perfectly.

Storage Shelves - You'll need lots of storage space for dry ingredients, packaging supplies, and other items. It's always a great idea to make the most of your work space from floor to ceiling.

Hand Sink - A hand sink is generally a small sink used to wash your hands before and during work. This sink is usually required by the health department. You can save on cost by purchasing a fiberglass sink (called a utility sink) at most building supply stores.

Ingredient Bins - It's not necessary to buy commercial storage bins for items like flour and sugar. Just go to a building supply store and purchase large thirty-two-gallon trash cans with lids. They must be new, of course. These cans will store a fifty-pound bag of flour or sugar and more. Do not empty the product directly into the trash can. Instead, drop the unopened bag into the can, and then open the top of the bag and dip out the product as needed.

More Tips: Before purchasing any large equipment, measure all doorways that the equipment has to pass through before it can be placed in the work area.

Always ask for a warranty. Most companies offer at least a thirty-day warranty on used equipment.

For more on starting your home-based baking business PLUS, alternatives to starting a business outside of the home, creating a budget, writing a business plan, purchasing equipment, marketing, setting prices, turning your baked goods into gourmet gifts and more, visit http://www.BringingHometheBaking.com

Quincella C. Geiger, business owner and author of "Bringing Home the Baking"-- How to Start a Licensed Home-Based Baking Business.

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Chilled No Bake Dessert Recipes

Raspberry Revel

8 ounces of vanilla wafers

3/4 cup butter

2 1/2 cups powdered sugar

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 pint frozen raspberries, thawed and drained

8 ounce container of whipped topping

Grease a 9 x 11-inch pan. Crush the vanilla wafers. (The easiest way to do this is to put the wafers in a plastic bag and crush them with a rolling pin.) Reserve 1/4 cup of the crushed vanilla wafers and put the rest in the bottom of the greased pan. Beat the butter, powdered sugar, eggs, and vanilla together. Put this mixture on top of the crumbs. Spread the mixture from the edges of the pan inward to help keep the wafer crumbs in place. Spread the drained raspberries on top of that mixture. Add the whipped cream and sprinkle the 1/4 cup cookie crumbs over the top. Refrigerate overnight. Serves 12.

Chocolate Mint Dazzle

18 graham crackers

1/2 cup melted butter

1/3 cup sugar

1/2 cup softened butter

1 1/2 cup powdered sugar

3 eggs, slightly beaten

2 (1 ounce) squares chocolate, melted

1 1/2 cup cream

1 package miniature marshmallows

1/4 cup crushed peppermint candy

Grease a 9 x 13-inch pan. Crush the graham crackers and mix them with the 1/2 cup of melted butter and the sugar. Press the mixture into the prepared pan. Cream the 1/2 cup softened butter and powdered sugar together in a medium bowl. Add in the eggs and melted chocolate. Beat well and spread the mixture over the top of the graham cracker crust. Beat the cream and marshmallows together and put that over the chocolate layer. Sprinkle the top with the crushed peppermint candy. Refrigerate overnight.

A quick note about raw eggs: According to the American Egg Board, the chance of salmonella is only 1 in 20,000 eggs. You can find out more at http://www.aeb.org/LearnMore/EggSafety.htm

Jill Seader enjoys sharing all sorts of free baking recipes, including no bake recipes like the ones above, at her website YourBakingStory.com Come find a baking recipe to make or share your own. Happy Baking!

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Hot Trends in Baking and Pastry

Of all the hot trends in baking and pastry, outlandish decorating is one of the most noticeable and long lasting. It used to be that piping some flowers, swirls and other simple accents onto the top and sides of a cake was enough to impress people. But, nowadays, it can take pyrotechnics and motorized installations to impress judges in cake decorating contests, and at the very least, it takes more than mere piping to make a truly grand cake. The world of bakers and pastry chefs has gone to a whole other level of artisanship.

Here are some other trends taking the baking and pastry world by storm:

• Bright and Vivid Colors
Tasteful cakes and pastries in austere shades of brown, cream, off-white and pale pink are no longer so fashionable. Now, bold colors, such as lemony yellow, lime green, shocking pink, sky blue and tantalizing turquoise, are taking the pastry world by storm. Whether it's a birthday cupcake or a wedding cake, go big and go bold when it comes to color.

• Candy Art
Cake decorators and pastry artisans are relying on gum paste and sugar-styled art more and more these days. These edible products can be crafted into animals, buildings, flowers, people, ribbons and other realistic, three-dimensional images.

• Cupcakes
The cupcake is nothing new. People have been making and enjoying cupcakes for generations, but this tiny treat has become one of the hugest fads in the baking and pastry world in the 21st century. These tiny cakes aren't just frosted and given out to kids at birthday parties anymore; people use fancifully decorated cupcakes as the main dessert at cocktail or dinner parties, and they can even be stacked up in a spiral shape to replace a traditional wedding cake.

• Tea Parties
People have gone crazy about tea parties, from the fancy clothes to the fine china. Restaurants and cafés are even hosting their own fancy tea parties, complete with fancy cakes and pastries. One of the best parts about hosting a tea party is choosing the delicately decorated cakes and pastries, such as cupcakes, cookies and bars. Some shops even offer special goods just for the tea party crowd.

All the hot trends in baking and pastry at the moment have something in common: creativity. So whether you're a home baker or a professional pastry chef, don't hold back! Get creative and use the boldest colors, designs, ideas and techniques.

Find detailed information about top culinary schools which are offering baking & pasty degree courses and programs in United States at CulinarySchoolsU.com. Choose best culinary school in your preferred location and start your path to a rewarding career.

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Top 3 Delicious Sugar Cookies Recipes

Delicious Sugar Cookies

Ingredients:

Sift together

3 cups flour

1 tsp. soda

11/2 cups sugar

1 cup butter

4 eggs unbeaten

Directions

Cream the butter and sugar together. Add the eggs, one at a time, and mix well. Add the flour gradually and knead into a soft dough. Roll thin, cut into small round shapes and sprinkle with sugar. Bake at 400° F. for eight to ten minutes.

Soft Sugar Cookies

This is another cookie recipe that is said to be very old Dutch.

Ingredients:

Sift together

4 cups flour 2 eggs unbeaten

1/2 tsp. salt 1 cup lard

1 tsp. soda 21/2 cups sugar

1 cup buttermilk

1 tsp. Vanilla

Direction:

Blend the lard into the flour. Be careful to keep the mixture cold. Mix in the sugar. Add the eggs, buttermilk and flavoring and mix quickly. Knead slightly. Roll medium thick, cut into large cookies and bake at 450° F. about twelve minutes.

Zucker Plaetzchen

(Sugar Cookies)

Ingredients:

Dissolve in

1 tbsp. hot water

1 tsp. soda

1 tsp. cinnamon

3 cups flour sifted

2 cups brown sugar

3/4 cup butter

creamed

2 eggs unbeaten

Directions:

Add the sugar to the butter and cream ten minutes. Add the eggs, one at a time, and blend in well. Add the flour, the soda and cinnamon and knead into a smooth dough. Roll thin, cut into small cakes and bake at 400° F. until light brown.

About the Author

Mary Kerr is the author of new ebook which contains Delicious Recipes for making cookies from America, England, France, Spain, Italy, Ireland, Germany, Russia & Numerous Other Countries! [http://www.bestofnetmarketing.com/Cookies]

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