Baking tips I have come up with along the way...

Hello-

Today has been a crazy day I feel like. Stella has had a fever for almost 3 weeks, its just been low grade but we are trying to figure out what is causing it. So we went to the Dr for the 4th time in just 10 days ( I really think Stella is going to be a little dramatic in life!!) to test for a bladder infection. We have been to Dr. for all her tummy problems and then we thought it was an ear infection causing the fever, but it wasn't. So now the bladder infection! Of course with a 4 month old you can't just get them to pee in a cup so we had to have a plastic bag thing tapped on her and just wait. The tests came back negative, so that's not causing the fever either. So we will just ride it out....

Next to the Dr. was me (Stella and I spend allllllll of our time at the Dr these days), this is the 4th time for me in 10 days too!! It is a new Dr. so I thought I had the right address written on a piece of paper. All the correct info was in my phone, which we know is gone :( So we rush from Stella's to mine and when we pull up Corny says "Oh this is were we came last week for you". And I thought nothing of that statement, buildings usually have lots of different Dr's. in them. So I walk in and go to the suite number and its the same place I was in last week, still not thinking anything about it. I ask to see Dr. Jordan, they tell me there is no Dr. Jordan. I think oh I must have the wrong suite number, and then look at my piece of paper and dial the phone number I had written down. Then the lady in front of me answers the phone and then I feel like an idiot. This was the address for the Dr. I went to last week and it took me all those steps to figure it out! Sometimes I am not the brightest! So I run out to Corny find the address on his phone, call the Dr (no one answered) and drive across Berkeley (and I hate driving in Berkeley!!), finally get there, and the Dr. had left for lunch. Frustrating!! S

So that was my day!! Now to shift the focus about baking, I wanted to list some tips I have discovered along the way. I am learning everyday so the list will be small!

1. I love love love buttermilk in recipes. I will use it in place of milk whenever possible. If you do that though you just need to use baking soda instead of baking powder. I always find it makes cakes so moist.

2. Always use butter instead of margarine, I personally do not believe in margarine at all!!

3. Always use real vanilla, never never imitation!! I know sometimes it can get expensive, but buy it at Target or Wal-Mart!

4. I line all my cake pans and cookie sheets with wax paper. Its a lot cheaper than parchment paper, and does the same thing. Helps the cakes come out perfectly!

5. After your cakes have cooled, stick them in the freezer for an hour or so before frosting. It helps you not pick up the pieces of the cake when frosting it. I had read to use a crumb coating (which is basically watered down icing, like a glaze) on cakes before frosting as well, but I never had much luck with that. Freezing is a lot easier!

and lastly for today........

6. I usually buy store brand for most items, but my Grandmal taught me a very important rule. When it comes to baking always use name brand. It actually does make a big difference.

Now I know a lot of that was very basic tips, but I am discovering new things almost everyday! I will continue to share them as I learn them! Do you have any great tips??

Have a great night!!