Follow These Tips for Bakery Quality Cookies Every Time

If you’ve ever wondered how to get that deliciously moist, chewy cookie consistency that you normally only find at your favorite bakery, all it takes is a bit of inside knowledge. Here are some expert tips that will help you to bake better cookies at home.

  1. Use a high-quality cookie sheet. Although stainless steel cookie sheets are a bit pricier, they make all the difference when it comes to your cookies. Dark colored sheets may cause your cookies to burn on the bottom, which results in an overcooked, dry texture.
  2. Be sure to use soft butter. Many at-home bakers skip this step and use cold butter to save time, but letting the butter melt a bit can work wonders when it comes to the texture of your cookies.
  3. Know which ingredients to use for your desired consistency. If you like cookies that are thinner and crispier, add more sugar. For cake-like cookies you can add an extra egg, and for a coarse, crumbly texture, simply add baking soda.
  4. Only bake one sheet at a time. Baking multiple cookie sheets at once can cause them to bake inconsistently, so try to use only one sheet at a time. If you’re short on time you can bake a few sheets at once, but be sure to rotate them frequently.

Cookie Tips – Secrets to Making Perfect Cookies [What’s Cooking America]
Tips for Baking Perfect Cookies [Macrina Bakery]
Tip: The Secret to Baking Perfectly Browned Cookies Every Time [The Kitchn]
Tips for Getting That Perfect Cookie Texture [Baking Bites]

Pease Park: Please Visit this Lively Community Park

Austin offers many outdoor parties and festivals at locations throughout the city, and Pease Park is one of those popular locales. This 42-acre park is part of the Shoal Creek Greenbelt, and it is home to Austin’s famous Eeyore’s Birthday party, a yearly festival featuring live music, food, and family activities.

The park features a very large area of playground equipment for young kids, and there’s also a splash park "sprayground" consisting of a few water features that gently spritz, dump, or spray water at gleeful children on hot Texas days. Pease Park’s many picnic tables and two large barbecue pits provide a picturesque setting for an outdoor barbecue, while the disc golf course, basketball courts and volleyball courts offer hours of outdoor sports fun.

Visit the Pease Park website for more information or to reserve facilities.

Pease Park
1100 Kingsburry Street
Austin, TX 78799
www.austinparks.org/our-parks.html?parkid=307
www.yelp.com/biz/pease-park-austin

Lola Savannah Coffee Lounge: Bring Your Friends (or Just Your Laptop!) to This Austin Cafe

Owned by the same entrepreneurs behind the Grove Wine Bar, its neighbor just next door, Lola Savannah Coffee Lounge is a welcome alternative to the chain coffeehouse experience. That's according to the cafe's many glowing Yelp reviews, which laud Lola's relaxed ambiance and friendly service as much as the cafe's freshly roasted coffee beans.

Here, empty burlap coffee sacks are suspended from the ceiling, adding a rustic flair to the open, light-filled space below. There are plenty of tables arranged throughout the cafe, so you're likely to be able to find a place to sit, even during the morning rush. That's when Lola Savannah Coffee Lounge reaches peak activity; locals hurry in for freshly toasted bagels and to-go espressos before work, while some choose to sit and linger with a bowl of oatmeal, a latte, and the newspaper.

Arriving with your laptop in tow? Regular visitors say the free Wi-Fi is fast and reliable.

Lola Savannah Coffee Lounge
6317 Bee Cave Road
Austin, TX 78746
(512) 732-0093
www.yelp.com/biz/lola-savannah-austin

Happy Spring!

Everything is starting to bud and bloom! What are you doing to enjoy this lovely change in weather?

Baguette et Chocolat: A Colorful Parisian Culinary Experience

Baguette et Chocolat creates French pastries that are almost too pretty to eat, but they’re so decadent that you won’t be able to resist. The authentic French bakery and fine pastry shop is located in Bee Cave, Texas, and it features a quaint, modern interior with decorative light fixtures and a few cafe tables scattered throughout.

Baguette et Chocolat gets very crowded around breakfast and lunch times, but the spacious counter area makes ordering fairly efficient. The glass display case shows off the wide selection of intricate French delicacies, from almond croissants to colorful macarons in a variety of flavors. Regulars rave about the freshly brewed coffee and specialty espresso drinks, and croissant sandwiches and crepes make a unique meal.

However, Baguette et Chocolat is best known for its made-from-scratch baguettes baked fresh daily. Head over from Paseo at Bee Cave to try one for yourself.

Baguette et Chocolat
12101 Bee Cave Road
Bee Cave, TX 78738
(512) 263-8388
www.baguetteetchocolat.com
www.yelp.com/biz/baguette-et-chocolat-bee-cave

Steer Clear of These 4 Foods Before Boarding a Plane

Pre-flight jitters can be exacerbated by eating the wrong foods before take-off. However, there are ways that you can calm your stomach before your flight. Avoid these four foods before flying to keep your digestive tract in good spirits.

  1. Alcohol. Although many travelers use alcohol to soothe their nerves before a flight, if you have a sensitive stomach this is not the best idea. Alcohol also becomes more intense at higher altitudes, which can cause you to feel much tipsier in the air than you did on the ground.
  2. Greasy foods. If you’re in a rush to eat lunch before running to the terminal, avoid that greasy burger and fries. Many studies prove that your body has a much harder time digesting sodium and saturated fats at higher altitudes, which means that your supersized meal will start to feel even more supersized in the air.
  3. Beans. Avoid foods that are known to make you gassy, such as beans, cabbage, or broccoli, as bloating will cause even more discomfort at high altitudes.
  4. Carbonated drinks. Sodas and energy drinks cause dehydration, which is already problematic during air travel. Opt for hydrating water instead.

Five Foods to Avoid Before Flying [Independent Traveler]
10 Foods to Avoid Before Boarding a Plane [AARP]
What Not to Eat Before Flying! [NerdWallet]
8 Foods You Should Never Eat Before Flying [Yahoo! Travel]

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

May the luck of the Irish be with you! How will you be celebrating today?

Zilker Nature Preserve: Escape the Noise of the City

Just west of where the Mopac crosses the Colorado River lies the Zilker Nature Preserve, a wonderful place to experience the tranquility and beauty of nature without driving way out into the country. The preserve maintains 60 acres of plants, wildlife, and untamed landscape native to central Texas.

Well-tended trails wind through the brush, making this an ideal spot for a morning walk or brisk jog. Birdwatchers appreciate the variety of avian life that frequents the area, while swimmers and kayakers enjoy the preserve's easy access to Town Lake. Photographers should take the Overlook Trail to catch a spectacular view of downtown Austin.

You should know that parking can be a bit tricky here, especially on Saturdays, so your best bet might be to park at Zilker Park, then hike to the trail head just off Barton Springs Road.

Zilker Nature Preserve
302 Nature Center Drive
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 327-8181
www.austinparks.org/our-parks.html?parkid=696
www.yelp.com/biz/zilker-nature-preserve-austin

“Hair of the 3-Legged Dog”: An Austin Day Party on March 19

With so many great events coming up next week in Austin, it can be hard to figure out what to attend. So, here's a suggestion: "Hair of the 3-Legged Dog." This event's presented by The Austin Chronicle (and sponsored by Greystar), and it's named after the Chronicle's mascot Hank.

It takes place on Thursday, March 19 from 12 p.m. until 4 p.m. and brings food, drinks, and fun to The Liberty Bar on East Sixth Street in Austin. Four local artists will play music at the event: Sweet Spirit, Anya, Bop English, and Flesh Lights. There'll also be snacks from Tacodeli, Rhythm Superfoods, Baked By Amy's and more to fuel Austinites for another day of SXSW.

Want to learn more about "Hair of the 3-Legged Dog"? Click here to visit The Austin Chronicle's page about the event.

"Hair of the 3-Legged Dog"
Thursday, March 19 from 12 p.m. until 4 p.m.
The Liberty Bar
1618 1/2 East Sixth Street
Austin, TX
www.austinchronicle.com/dayparty

Falconhead Golf Club: Stay On Par at This Scenic Course

Falconhead Golf Club is one of the more popular public golf courses in Austin. Whether you want to work on your swing or get competitive by joining a league, this scenic course has something for golfers of every skill level. The course was designed by the PGA Tour Design Center to make it both challenging and fun for new golfers, and it features five sets of tee boxes that enable players to customize their own round. You’ll be able to see for miles from Falconhead's many rolling hills, which are signature to the Central Texas Hill Country where Austin is located.

Leagues for men, women, and seniors add a bit of friendly competition to the game, while the Falconhead Golf Shop offers everything you need to keep your golf bag stocked. Finish the day with dinner and drinks at Talon’s Bar and Grill!

Book your tee time on the Falconhead Golf Club website.

Falconhead Golf Club
15201 Falcon Head Boulevard
Austin, Texas 78738
(512) 402-1558
www.falconheadaustin.com

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