Need an Easy Way To Clean Copper Bottom Pans?

I saw this tip in a magazine years ago and it works! Cut a lemon in half. Sprinkle salt on the lemon. Rub it over the copper until the tarnish is gone. It probably won't get off all the tarnish but it will make them look much better!

Tie-Dyed Cookies?

I had some extra shortbread dough and icing left from my recent cookie creations so I decided to try some icing techniques. I call this the tie-dye icing technique.

Carolyn Braden: Completed Anniversary Cookies

Thanks to the website http://sweetopia.net/ I completed Project Anniversary Cookie. It has been a very long time since I've made decorated cookies. I needed these to be perfect so Sweetopia gave me all I needed to be successful. I used the shortbread cookie and royal icing recipe from her site. I love the taste of the shortbread. The only drawback was how delicate they were. Good thing I made extra! Next time I will attempt the sugar cookie recipe. I truly enjoyed making cookies. I love cakes and cupcakes but cookies may become my new baking adventure.

Anniversary Cookies!

I've been working today on baking wedding cake shaped anniversary cookies. I baked shortbread cookies using this recipe:
http://sweetopia.net/2012/01/shortbread-cookie-recipe-alice-in-wonderland-cookies/

They taste delicious! I will post the royal icing finishing touches I am adding tomorrow. I believe creative cookies are the new cake pop and cupcake.

Feeling the Tropics With Conconut Water

Try some fresh coconut water to refresh your thirst this summer. It's quite healthy and completely natural. Simply get a young coconut, chop off the tip and stick in a straw. Maybe add a little Malibu Rum for a kick.

The Gift of Brownies

Try cutting your brownies with a circle cookie cutter. They make for a clean and simply beautiful presentation.

Make Room For the Party Food!

For the perfect party you must have yummy food. Try mixing Philadelphia Milk Chocolate Cream Cheese with a tub of Cool Whip for a creamy fruit dip. A beautiful fruit presentation will make it disappear even faster. Caprese skewers are refreshing on a hot party day. Heavenly scented roses with fresh mint create a spectacular yet simple backdrop to a day everyone will enjoy.

Elegant Birthday Cake

A cake once again inspired by the pastry chefs at Whole Foods. I melted chocolate on a wax paper covered cookie sheet to create the flat chocolate pieces to create the "crust."

Yes, TASTYKAKE is Here!

I never thought I'd say this but THANK YOU WALMART! They are now carrying the yummy snack cakes by TASTYKAKE. They were out of my favorite, the peanut butter Kandy Kake but they had many others. I may have to stalk Walmart until they get in more of the peanut butter yummy delight.

The RAW food movement, worth trying?

While purchasing Brad's Raw Kale, I decided to try a couple of other "raw" foods. I love these products: go raw Lemon Super Cookies and Whole Foods Dried Edamame. They are both low in calories and filling as snacks.

Try Brad's RAW Leafy Kale

After trying this kale at my cousins house, I was hooked. Kale is a very healthy green and Brad's makes it a yummy treat. These are chip-like and covered in vegan cheese. Pick some up to try at Whole Foods!

Panni Bavarian Potato Dumplings: YUM

Craving the potato dumplings I had at Gasthaus in Louisville, I found a pretty good substitute. Panni Potato Dumpling mix is very easy and creates a great side dish for dinner.

Just Because Cupcakes

I made these yummy chocolate and fresh strawberry cupcakes for my colleagues at work. They welcomed me with open arms and my year has been the best in my teaching career. I like making mini cupcakes and adding things like mint or peanut butter chips to give different flavors without much effort.

Gasthaus Louisville: Go There!

You won't be disappointed if you go to Gasthaus! In looking for the perfect restaurant to take my mom for her birthday, I found the reviews for Gasthaus. After reading review after review, I knew it was the place I needed to go.
A few tips I read on-line were spot on and I will pass them along:
Make reservations
Reserve your dessert when you order your meal (or you may not get any as they sell fast!)
Try the Strawberry Napoleon
Enjoy!

We got to sit in the cute little "doll-house" structure in the front of the restaurant. It was super cute!

http://www.gasthausdining.com/

Philadelphia Cream Cheese: Milk Chocolate Indulgence

Looking for a yummy treat? Try the new chocolate cream cheese. It's like a mini chocolate cheesecake when you spread it on Vanilla Wafers. Heavenly!!!!

Carolyn Braden: Perfectly cute and yummy Blue Cheese Walnut Heart Sandwiches

Here's a recipe for Blue Cheese Walnut Sandwiches. I originally found the recipe in Southern Living. I changed it up a little.
My recipe:
Blend 8 oz. softened 1/3 Less Fat Philadelphia Cream Cheese, 6 oz. The Laughing Cow Light Blue Cheese Spread and 3/4 tbsp organic dry parsley. Mix in 1 cup walnuts (non-toasted).
Spread a thin layer of apricot jam onto a slice of bread and a thin layer of the blue cheese mixture on the other half. I used a heart shaped cookie cutter to make cute, crust-less party perfect sandwiches.

Seize The Deal or Seize Your Money and Run?

I will never buy anything from Seize The Deal again and I encourage others to do the same. In a recent purchase of 4 Christmas gifts, my recipients mysteriously were unable to use their gifts. As it turns out, unknowingly to me prior to purchase, Seize The Deal hired Digital Doorstep to deliver the gifts. DD just went bankrupt. When you call DD, their phone is disconnected. When you talk to Seize The Deal, they say to call DD because it's their fault. Even their CEO will not speak up. No where on ANY paperwork does it say Seize The Deal would be hiring another company to deliver the goods, therefore Seize The Deal should refund the money. But, even after talking to them non-stop, they will not take responsibility. It is STD's (oh wow.... not a good abbreviation!) problem and they are to refund the money of the 6000+ people who purchased this gift and then they are the ones that are supposed to sue Seize The Deal. Our bank is going to help us out and I am contacting the Better Business Bureau and as many news stations as possible to spread the word of this horrible company. They need to ask themselves what I ask my students. "What is the right thing to do?" If I don't get anywhere with my ideas soon, I am contacting my "higher-ups" to take the steps necessary to get my money back because this is wrong. Never have I had a problem with a company not taking ownership of a serious wrong doing. It's really really really really crappy of STD.

Carolyn Braden: My favorite water alternative!

Vitamin Water is a refreshing alternative to my daily water intake. I drink a bottle of it a day. I know that all the nutrients the water has pretty much gets flushed from my system before I can truly get a large benefit from the vitamins (according to a report from Good Morning America). I truly drink it because I like it and it isn't loaded with sugar and calories. Out of all the Zero Vitamin Waters, Lemonade is my favorite. I wish stores would get a clue and stock more of the Lemonade because it is always bought out if a sale happens to be going on. The Lemonade is the only one that always sells out. I guess other people love it like I do!

Carolyn Braden: Southwestern White Chicken Chili

Here's a recipe from Campbell's. It is an easy weeknight winter meal.

Carolyn Braden's No Yolks Veggie Lasagna

Try this easy lasagna recipe using Strom Products' No Yolks. I did and it was delicious!