I love to read cookbooks and sometimes I make 1 or 2 things. But this cookbook is so fun I have already made 6 recipes and have plans for more! This book was written by Stephanie Ashcraft and she says her mother taught her "that anything could be made with a cake mix." This easy-to-read cookbook has recipes for everything from Chocolate Chip Cookies to Lemon Squares. I made the lemon squares tonight and prep time was about 5 minutes. I love it! I took them to work and they loved them!
there are helpful hints that teach you a few tricks about baking cakes, making chewier cookies and keeping fruit fresh. This book should be in everyone's cookbook library. And not just for reading!

Addicted to Aprons!

I love aprons! I would wear one to work and bed if I could. There is nothing more fun than cooking with a pretty apron on. I swear my food taste better when I wear one. I even like to make them. And it they have become very popular again.
You can find hundreds of patterns but I really like the old fashion ones that I call " full frontal". Ones that cover me from a little below my neck to down to my knees. It always amazes me where I can spill while cooking. I feel like Sandra Lee decorating her kitchen, when I plan what I am wearing to go with my apron. And some days that is easier said than done. Because after all, if I look pretty while fixing a meal for a friend or family they always think I cook better than I do!
I did find the best place to get free apron patterns......
http://tipnut.com/56-free-apron-patterns-you-can-make/
and if you google "free apron patterns" you can even find more! And I thought for 11/26 "National Tie One On Day" this would be a great place to find a pattern if you want to make make your give-away apron. But just in case it turns out to cute...make 2. It almost just as easy to make 2 as 1. I think one of my favorite memories of my grandmother is coming into her kitchen as a child and smelling the wonderful things she was making and seeing her in her apron! It made me feel so content to be at her house.
I would love to hear from any of you that love aprons as much as I do, and have a favorite story.
So until next time remember "cooking miracles happen when you wear your apron"!

National Tie One On Day™ - November 26,2008

National Tie One On Day™ celebrates the humble apron and the spirit of women of earlier generations who donned the universal symbol of home, family and mothering as the uniform of their daily wardrobe and helped make America the great country it is today. On the day before Thanksgiving, EllynAnne encourages us to pause in the preparation of our own meal, wrap a loaf of bread in an apron, tuck a prayer or note of encouragement in the pocket, and tie one on...an apron, of course!, and deliver the wrapped bundle to someone in need of spiritual or physical sustenance. According to EllynAnne, no matter which way you turn out of your own front door, someone who is deserving of a hug is very close by. “Women clad in aprons have traditionally prepared the Thanksgiving meal,” says EllynAnne, “and it is within our historical linkage to share our bounty.”For More Information, email EllynAnne or call 1.877.9.APRONS

I thought this was not only a fun idea but what and nice thing to do for someone! So I hope you consider joining in. Everyone I know loves banana bread so I thought I would share the recipe:
Banana Bread
1 1/4 cups sugar
1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups mashed very ripe bananas (3 to 4 medium)
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 1/2 cups Gold Medal® all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup chopped nuts, if desired
1. Move oven rack to low position so that tops of pans will be in center of oven. Heat oven to 350°F. Grease bottoms only of 2 loaf pans, 8 1/2x4 1/2x2 1/2 inches, or 1 loaf pan, 9x5x3 inches.
2. Mix sugar and butter in large bowl. Stir in eggs until well blended. Add bananas, buttermilk and vanilla. Beat until smooth. Stir in flour, baking soda and salt just until moistened. Stir in nuts. Pour into pans.
3. Bake 8-inch loaves about 1 hour, 9-inch loaf about 1 1/4 hours, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes. Loosen sides of loaves from pans; remove from pans and place top side up on wire rack. Cool completely, about 2 hours, before slicing.
Wrap tightly and store at room temperature up to 4 days, or refrigerate up to 10 days.

Chocolate, chocolate and more chocolate!!

These are just what you need if you are craving chocolate! I found the recipe at:

http://www.everydayhealth.com/

Double Chocolate Brownies Recipe
Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 15 mins
Total Time: 25 mins
cooking spray
1/4 cup(s) butter
2/3 cup(s) sugar, granulated
1/2 cup(s) water
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup(s) flour, all-purpose
1/4 cup(s) cocoa powder, unsweetened
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 cup(s) chocolate chips, semisweet miniature
2 teaspoon sugar, powdered
1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly coat the bottom of a 9x9x2-inch baking pan with nonstick cooking spray, being careful not to coat sides of pan.
2. In a medium saucepan, melt butter; remove from heat. Stir in granulated sugar, the water, and vanilla. Stir in flour, cocoa powder, and baking powder until combined. Stir in chocolate pieces. Pour batter into prepared pan.
3. Bake for 15 to 18 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack. Remove from pan. Cut into 16 bars. Sprinkle with the powdered sugar.

How Much Is In That Can?

Have you ever wondered what the measurement for the contents of a #2 can is? Or any other can? Well here is a chart so you will always know.

Size............. Average Contents
8 oz................. 1 cup
picnic.............. 1 1/4 cups
No. 300.......... 1 3/4 cups
No. 1 tall......... 2 cups
No. 1................ 1 1/2 cups (12 ounces)
No. 303........... 2 cups
No. 2................ 2 1/2 cups (20 ounces)
No. 2 1/2......... 3 1/2 cups (28 ounces)
No. 3................ 4 cups (32 ounces)
No. 10.............. 12 to 13 cups (104 ounces)

When I was following a recipe it called for 1 #2 can and I wanted to subsitute for fresh and so I needed the information. Once I found it I thought I would share with you. It will come in handy sooner or later.