Monday, November 21, 2011

Thanksgiving

With Thanksgiving just 3 short days away, my mom and I have finally planned what we will be cooking that day (and prepping days before hand). Last year we made it our goal to make at least one different item each year, and that tradition will continue this year!

Last Sunday we spent a few hours lounging in the living room and looking at the magazines we've both received throughout the year and had no time to read! What better time than a week and a half before big-old Turkey Day. In those two hours, we had our menu planned.

We browsed through Bon Appetit, Martha Stewart Living, and even Family Circle! We used bright yellow post-its to flag our favorite ideas, recipes, and decorating tips for the Holidays! (Might I say, Martha Stewart's December issue of living has the most flagged pages by far! I love Martha.)


What about you? What are you making for Thanksgiving? Do you have yearly traditions, or do you make different things each year?

Monday, November 7, 2011

Don't be that girl

You know... The one who is in a time crunch and doesn't have time to do things the way she usually does.

To bake my cakes, I use Wilton round cake pans. I have perfected the method of using Crisco to grease my pans followed by a nice coating of flour. So last week I used the last remaining drop of Crisco and totally forgot I needed more.

This weekend as I was baking my cakes for my first 'Jersey Shore' themed cake my first thought was 'I have no Crisco'. I had spray Pam (no, not the baking Pam spray... the olive oil one). I had used it successfully once before so I figured, why not? Let's wing it!

So that's just what I did. I sprayed a heavy coating of the olive oil spray and floured the pan nicely. Do you think it worked this time? Not. A. Chance.

Lesson learned: If you are in a time crunch, spend the time to run out and buy the product you need. Do not waste your time 'winging it' because you will just have to remake it.


How do you bake your cakes? Do you grease and flour, or just grease? What works for you?