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Follow These Tips for Bakery Quality Cookies Every Time

April 16, 2015 by

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]

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Steer Clear of These 4 Foods Before Boarding a Plane

March 19, 2015 by

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]

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Determine Your Risk for Heart Attack with This Online Tool from the NIH

February 19, 2015 by

A heart attack is a particularly frightening condition that affects both men and women, but there are a number of factors that make certain people more likely to have one. If you’re worried that you might be at risk for having a life-threatening heart condition, this helpful risk assessment tool from the NIH will help you pinpoint your risk factors.

The tool determines a person’s risk of having a heart attack in the next 10 years by asking a few simple lifestyle questions. It is designed for adults aged 20 and older. Things like age and gender are easy to answer, but other questions may be a bit trickier. Most of us don’t know our total cholesterol or systolic blood pressure off the top of our heads, but this guide makes it easy to figure them out. Click on the link to a question you don’t understand, and the guide explains how to determine these important numbers.

Once you receive your results, you can begin to take charge of your health!

Risk Assessment Tool for Estimating Your 10-Year Risk of Having a Heart Attack [National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute]

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Dip a Spoon Into These 4 Recipes for Classic Vanilla Pudding

February 5, 2015 by

Sure, you've made vanilla pudding from a box, have you ever tried to make the sweet dessert from scratch? These straightforward recipes will show you how to prepare vanilla pudding a few different ways, and some are even provided by your favorite cooking show personalities.

Homemade Vanilla Pudding [All Recipes]
Just like Mom used to make, this vanilla pudding is classic, simple, and easy to prepare.

Vanilla Pudding [Martha Stewart]
You can’t go wrong with a recipe from Martha, and this one is certainly no exception.

Vanilla Pudding [Real Simple]
With fluffy egg yolks and just a pinch of salt, this is a flavorful recipe that your guests will love.

Vanilla Pudding [Picky Cook]
Add a pinch of espresso or some chocolate shavings on top to spice up this elegant pudding dish.

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How to Host a Successful Toy Swap With Your Friends, Family and Neighbors

January 22, 2015 by

If your children are too old for their current toys but you can’t bear to simply toss them out, you may be interested in hosting a toy swap with fellow parents. A toy swap enables you to swap your child’s old or unused toys with those of other children, bringing home a whole new haul of toys without spending a penny. Here are a few tips to help you pull off a successful toy swap.

  1. Create a list of guests. Try to pick guests who you feel comfortable with, who have children in varying ages, and who live fairly close to one another.
  2. Choose the perfect location. Because of the group of people and the large amount of toys, you’ll need to hold the swap in a large, fairly spacious room. If you don’t have this type of space in your own home, see if someone else would be willing to lend their living room.
  3. Send out invitations and guidelines. Emailing invitations seems to be the most convenient way to get the word out, so include a list of guidelines for the swap at that time. Describe what types of toys to bring, if they should be cleaned beforehand, how many toys to bring, and if there are any items that you won’t accept.
  4. Make it fun. Set out snacks, make sure everyone understands the rules, and keep things light-hearted!

How To Organize a Toy Swap or Toy Exchange [About Parenting]
How to Host a Toy Swap [30 Handmade Days]
How to Throw a Toy Exchange [Shareable]

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How to Transform Your Apple Device Into Your Own Personal Chef

January 8, 2015 by

When you come home after a long day of work, it might seem exhausting to decide on something for dinner, let alone actually go through the process of prepping and cooking. Although they haven’t yet thought of a way for your iPhone to actually cook dinner for you, these helpful cooking apps are the next best thing.

How to Cook Everything
Based on the bestselling book by the same name, the How to Cook Everything app offers more than 2,000 recipes that will help you learn to cook, well, just about everything! The app’s interface is very convenient because it was designed specifically for mobile devices, and more than 400 high quality how-to photographs will give you a more visual idea of each of the book’s techniques. There are no fancy gourmet methods in here, just straightforward, delicious meals that anyone can cook.

Cooking
Portable Knowledge’s Cooking app might seem strange because it doesn’t contain any recipes, but once you learn the app’s helpful tips and tricks you’ll be able to apply them to almost any meal. The app also contains helpful cooking substitutions for less common ingredients, such as using vinegar and milk as a substitute for buttermilk. The next time you’re in a pinch in the kitchen, this is the app to use.

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6 Easy Ways to Deal With Difficult Coworkers

December 18, 2014 by

When you’re around the same people for eight hours every day, sometimes personalities can clash. Getting along with difficult coworkers may seem impossible, but these reliable tips will help you work together in harmony.

1. Choose your words wisely. By removing direct pronouns like “you” from your discussions, your coworker will feel less accused or targeted. Make your directions and criticisms about the project, not the person.
2. Talk face-to-face whenever possible. It’s easy to sound brash in an email, and speaking on the phone or in person can eliminate that worry (and your coworker’s resulting anger).
3. Minimize contact. If you frequently chat with a whiny or sullen coworker simply to be polite, start keeping things short and sweet. A simple "good morning" works in place of your usual "how are you," which often leads to unwanted conversation.
4. Be tactful about complaints. If you have to bring a problem to your boss, plan what you’ll say beforehand to avoid sounding angry or accusatory.
5. Avoid gossip. Respond with uninviting phrases like "Oh really?" when you’re faced with office gossip. If you act disinterested, gossip will likely start to pass you by in the future.
6. Just breathe. Take a deep breath when you feel yourself start to get angry and you may avoid a nasty altercation.

Tips on Managing Difficult People [Harvard Business Review]
20 Ways to Deal with Difficult Coworkers [iVillage]
Ten Tips for Dealing with Difficult Coworkers [All Business]
How to Deal with Difficult Coworkers [Forbes]

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Bake Your Own Bread With These Recipe Sites

December 4, 2014 by

Who doesn’t love the taste of warm, crusty bread right out of the oven? Though homemade bread may seem intimidating to many at-home chefs, these simple websites offer bread recipes for cooks of all skill levels. Whether you’re looking for a sweet cinnamon raisin loaf for tomorrow’s breakfast or an elaborate multigrain baguette for a dinner party, these websites have recipes for every type of bread imaginable.

All Recipes
All Recipes is a go-to website for just about any recipe you can think of, and their bread section leaves nothing to be desired. It features recipes of the day with mouth-watering photos of breads, muffins, and biscuits, as well as a variety of staff picks that are tested by the site’s knowledgeable employees. If you have a specific bread in mind, All Recipes also offers a handy search bar that allows you to search by the name, ingredient, or purpose of the bread.

Food Network
If you’ve ever watched a show on the Food Network and wondered how to make the fresh, delicious breads from your favorite shows, the bread section of the network’s website is the place to go. This page offers simple, instructional recipes for the simplest no-knead breads to the most complex bread puddings, and they’re all ranked by level of difficulty.

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New to Running? These 2 Fitness Programs Are for You!

November 20, 2014 by

Running for exercise always looks so enjoyable in the movies—sprinting through your local park, the wind through your hair, maybe a dog by your side. In real life, however, even just finding the motivation to get onto the treadmill can be difficult. Here are two simple programs that will help you start a running routine.

Running for Beginners
This site offers a variety of different workout plans for runners of all levels, from those who want to run a simple 5K to more advanced runners who need help with marathon training. The Couch to 5K program is especially helpful, because it allows you to start from scratch – i.e. your couch – and it guides you every step of the way until you’re ready to run a full 5K.

How to Start Running
Real Simple magazine’s How to Start Running guide focuses on helping beginning runners find the motivation to want to run. Sticking with any workout plan is all about enjoyment, and this low-key plan helps you to avoid injury, stretch properly, and slowly build up your distances so that you don’t get burnt out on running. This guide also offers premade playlists that you can listen to while running on the street or on the treadmill.

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Two Surprising Sources of High Fructose Corn Syrup

October 16, 2014 by

High fructose corn syrup is a main ingredient in many packaged or processed foods, a fact that's caused quite an intense debate among many nutritionists and other food authorities. While some think that it isn’t so bad for you, others argue that high fructose corn syrup is one of the major causes of our nation’s rise in obesity. If you want to avoid the controversial ingredient, here are two surprising products that you should steer clear of at the grocery store.

  1. Juices. Though fruit juices may seem healthy, many of the store-bought brands are actually fruit juice cocktails rather than 100% fruit juice. If a juice is more of a cocktail juice, there’s almost a definite chance that it contains high fructose corn syrup. A simple way to avoid these types of juices is by looking for types that aren't made from concentrate, or you can also check the ingredients list to look for the sneaky syrup yourself.
  2. Cereals. Even supposedly healthy breakfast cereals often contain high fructose corn syrup. Don’t believe that just because a cereal also contains whole grains or wheat it’s necessarily healthy; in fact, those types often need the syrup to make them taste more flavorful. Always check the ingredient label before you purchase your next box, or get to know a few brands that don’t use high fructose corn syrup in any of their products.

Corn Syrup in Unexpected Foods [HuffPost Healthy Living]
Surprising Products that Contain High Fructose Corn Syrup [Divine Caroline]
(Not So) Sweet: Surprising Foods Containing High Fructose Corn Syrup [Babble]
6 Popular Foods with High Fructose Corn Syrup [FitDay]

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