Cooking & Baking Tips& Fun Food Facts
Cooking & Baking Tips
TIP:To soften cream cheese quickly, remove it from the foil wrapper and microwave it on MEDIUM for 30-40 seconds.TIP:An offset or angled spatula, available at kitchenware shops and some supermarkets, is perfect to spread frosting on bars or batters in pans.FACT:Brown sugar is available in light and dark forms. Dark brown sugar has more molasses and therefore a more intense flavor than light brown sugar.FACT:When chocolate is stored in warm temperatures, it can develop "bloom", pale grey surface streaks that occur when the cocoa butter rises to the surface. Since the bloom affects the flavor and the texture only slightly, the chocolate can still be used.FACT:Evaporated milk is fresh, homogenized, unsweetened milk from which 60% of the water has been removed.FACT:Bleached and unbleached all purpose flour can be used interchangeably in recipes. Contrary to popular belief, unbleached flour is not more nutritious than bleached flour.TIP:When a recipe calls for instant coffee, try substituting instant espresso powder for an extra boost.TIP:Wet the measuring cup before measuring shortening or peanut butter. It will make removing the sticky ingrediants easier.FACT:White chocolate is not really chocolate at all but a combination of cocoa butter, sugar, milk solids and flavorings.TIP:To determine if baking powder is still active, add 1 teaspoon to 1/3 cup of hot water. If it bubbles vigorously, it's still active and will give good baking results.TIP:Save your margarine or butter wrappers to grease your baking
pans. Just fold in half and put in refrigerator. Take out and add a
little shortening and spread in pan - then throw away. **submitted by Phyllis 6-30-97**TIP:Put folded paper towel in bottom of salad bowl. Add veggies and greens. Just before serving remove towel (which has absorbed all the
water and add crunchies and dressing. Salad will be snapping crisp. This is great for carrying a salad to work. No more limp lettuce.**submitted by June 9-10-97**TIP:- Tired Of Sticky Measuring Spoons & Cups? Before measuring honey, syrup,
or molasses spray the measuring spoon or cup with a coating of nonstick
cooking spray. The sticky ingredients slide right out with no mess on the
spoon or cup. **submitted by Heather 10-9-98**TIP: Use your pizza cutter!! It does a great job cutting rolled out dumplin's into squares. Or use it to cut up the kid's waffles or pancakes.**submitted by Sandi 3-2-99**TIP: To prevent icing from running off your cake, try dusting the surface lightly with cornstarch.**submitted by Heather 6-18-99**TIP: To cut a layer cake through the middle to ice,when making tortes, I use a piece of thread making sure it is lined up around the cake evenly and cross thread and it cuts the cake in half. **submitted by Diane 6-23-99TIP: To keep your bananas from going too ripe
too fast, keep them in a plastic bag.**submitted by Arlene 10-10-99TIP: For more even layered cakes, place a pan of water on the bottom rack of your oven when you begin to preheat. The moisture will produce a level cake instead of a mound.
**submitted by Cathy 1-12-00TIP: When breaking eggs, break into a dark colored bowl so that dropped egg shells bits may be seen easily.
**submitted by Gina Stanley
5-1-00TIP: When greasing pans, place either a piece of plastic wrap around your fingers or slide your hand into a sandwich bag to smear the margarine on the pan. Just throw it away and your hand remains clean.
**submitted by Debbie 9-17-00TIP: To clean the inside of a microwave the easy way: Place a microwave safe dish or glass half full of water. Place on high for several minutes until the water is boiling and steam gathers on the edges of microwave. Wait a few minutes and wipe the microwave with paper towels. Be careful to hold the hot water away from you, I've heard of it "exploding" after that long of time in the microwave.
**submitted by Debbie 9-17-00Gina's Kitchen | Family Pictures | Favorite Links | Awards | Win My Award! | Webrings | Memberships | Submit Your Recipe | Cooking Tips & Food Facts | The Ideal Mother | Sign My Guestbook | E-mail me!
