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Glitter Graphics & Comments

I hope you’re enjoying the heck outta that beach knowing I can’t BE THERE!!!

(Promise. I won’t tell which one. )

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Hey Peeps, it’s been a WHILE since I’ve posted anything…remember Me. Yes, I have been hibernating and haven’t been able to wrap my thoughts around blogging and recipes. I haven’t forgotten about you though and sorry for the disappearing act.

Since the holidays I have put together and glued 15+ Jigsaw Puzzles, a couple were 750 piece, a couple of 2,000 piece and the rest 1000 and 1500 piece. I know I sound like a Dork, but I’ve always loved jigsaws and puzzles. My Grandmother always kept them around for me. She passed away last November, so I guess you could say that has been my way of remembering her? Besides I find jigsaws very relaxing.

Just recently I have embarked on something new. I’m trying to reteach myself to Crochet. You see, I’M GONNA BE A YAYA!! YaYa is Greek for Grandmother. I don’t have any Greek roots in my family, I just like the sound of YaYa….it sounds like a Cool Grandma. This will be my first Grandchild and I’m so excited!

I see a lot a baking, M&M cookies in my future. LOL.

Bon Appetite
The Backseat Gourmet

Popularity: 14% [?]

No, it’s not Thursday Thirteen, LOL. I threw a list together offering some cooking and baking ideas that may come in handy during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. You may already know most of these. Feel free to jump in and share some of your own, I’m always eager to learn new ideas. As I think of, or come across others I’ll drop them in the comments.

Hints, Suggestions, Substitutions…

1. When microwaving – Do not salt foods on the surface as it causes dehydration and toughens food. Salt after you remove from the oven unless the recipe calls for using salt in the mixture.

2. Substitutions – One cup self-rising; substitute one cup all-purpose flour, ½ teaspoon salt, and one teaspoon baking powder.

3. Equivalency

– One pound powdered sugar equals 3 ½ cups.

– 4 Ounces (1 ¼ cup) Uncooked Macaroni equals 2 ¼ cups cooked

– One medium Onion equals ½ cup

– One medium Lemon equals 3 tablespoons juice

– One cup regular Rice equals 3 cups cooked

4. Icing Cakes – If you sprinkle cake with powdered sugar first icing will remain where you put it.

5. Cream Pies – Sprinkle crust with powdered sugar in order to prevent cream pies from becoming soggy.

6. Do not despair if you oversalt gravy. Stir in some instant mashed potatoes to solve the problem. Just add a little more liquid in order to offset the thickening.

7. To keep celery crisp, stand upright in a pitcher of cold, salted water and refrigerate.

8. To keep cauliflower white while cooking, add a little milk to the water.

9. Use greased muffin tins as molds when baking stuffed green peppers.

10. When baking muffins or cupcakes, fill any empty tins 2/3 full of water to ensure even baking.

11. When adding raw, beaten eggs to hot mixtures and sauces, temper the eggs. Add small amounts of hot mixture to beaten eggs first slowly bringing them up to temperature; such as in making cornbread dressing. This will keep you from having scrambled eggs in your dishes.

12. To avoid tears when cutting onions, briefly place them in the freezer before cutting.

13. When making meringue, egg whites need to be at room temperature for greater volume when whipping.

Bon Appetite
The Backseat Gourmet

Popularity: 4% [?]