December 28, 2008

I hope everyone had a happy and safe Christmas.

Just wanted to make a quick post here to let everyone know that; as if you couldn’t see, I have made some aesthetic changes to the  site.  Do you like what I have done to the place so far?

< < That is  what it used to look like.

You will notice a new page, Newsletter.  Nothing there yet other than a message about what is to come and when, but I am just letting our newsletter subscribers know I am moving forward here.

Choco Pudding

This is a great pudding to use in the Better Baker Gourmet Bowl Maker.

You will want to use as a filling so you will need to prepare a 3 inch Better Baker edible cake bowl using your favorite cake mix recipe.

 Shown served in a 4 oz champagne glass

Ingredients:

1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup white sugar
1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tablespoon shortening, melted
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup milk
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1 cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
1 cup boiling water 

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

In a medium bowl, (not the Better Baker) combine flour, baking powder, salt, white sugar and 1 tablespoon cocoa. Stir in shortening, vanilla and milk until smooth.

Fold in nuts. Spread mixture in a 1 quart baking dish.

Stir together brown sugar, 1 tablespoon cocoa and boiling water.

Pour carefully over pudding mixture in baking dish.

Bake in preheated oven 25 to 40 minutes

Remove just before set, let cool slightly.

Spoon into prepared, warm Better Baker Gourmet Bowls (not hot bowls).

Garnish with whipped cream.

Yield:
This should fill (6) 3 inch Better Baker Bowls.

Food Safety Tips:

Here are 15 rules to help keep your food safe.

1. First and foremost Keep your kitchen clean.
2. Wash hands before and after handling raw and cooked food and before and after eating. For example, after preparing raw meat or poultry, wash hands well (lather for 20 seconds and rinse with warm water) before beginning preparation of other foods that will complete the meal.
3. Be selective when you buy food: be sure to check “Sell by” dates and the condition of the packaging; choose fresh fruits and vegetables that are free of dents and bruises.
4. Refrigerate foods that need to be refrigerated.
5. Clean out the refrigerator regularly; discard any foods that appear spoiled or are outdated.
6. Store staples in a cool, dry area; rotate staples so that older items are used first.
7. Avoid cross-contamination (the transfer of bacteria from one food to another).
8. Wash fresh fruits and vegetables thoroughly.
9. Follow recipe directions.
10. Resist the temptation to sample raw cookie dough or other uncooked recipes.
11. Cook foods completely. Check end-point temperature with a food thermometer - it’s the only sure way to tell if food is cooked completely. Thermometers can be purchased for $10 or less.
12. Keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold.
13. Refrigerate leftovers promptly. Wrap well or cover. If cooked foods have been left at room temperature for more than two hours, they should be discarded. If picnic and tailgate foods have been left out for more than one hour in 80 degrees F or warmer weather, they also should be discarded.
14. Clean the kitchen promptly - allowing dirty dishes to sit on the counter or in the sink can attract harmful bacteria.
15. Opt for a dishcloth that can be sanitized, rather than a sponge that may attract bacterial growth. Sanitize kitchen aids daily, said Penner, who routinely washes plastic and nylon pot scrubbers on the upper shelf in the dishwasher.

Information source:
www.oznet.ksu.edu/foodsafety/

Here are some helpful tips that may help.

Cool Cleaning Tips

 Tired of spending a fortune to bring back the shine to your pots, pans, and silverware?  

Here are a few tips that may surprise you and save you money.

To clean copper and brass bottoms on pots and pans, simply open a can of tomato paste, rub it on and scrub then rinse. If you do this weekly, your pots and pans stay shiny clean. This is a very inexpensive way to clean copper and brass items!

Instead of using expensive silver cleaners, put a dab of toothpaste on a clean rag and rub it on your precious possession. After you’ve rubbed it in, just clean it with another clean rag. Your silver will look like new.

To restore color and shine to aluminum pans, boil some apple peels in pan for a few minutes, then rinse and dry.