Breakfast & Baking Tips

Reheating Refrigerated Bread
To warm biscuits, pancakes, or muffins that were refrigerated, place them in a microwave – then place beside the bread item; a cup of water. The increased moisture will keep the food moist and help it reheat faster.

When you are baking breakfast muffins or coffee cake, double the batch and freeze half. Especially with the holidays approaching, extra baked goods are great gifts to take along to brunches.

Measuring Cups
Before you pour sticky substances into a measuring cup, fill it with hot water. Dump out the hot water, but don’t dry the cup.

Next, add your ingredient, such as peanut butter, and watch how easily it comes right out.

Make your own vanilla sugar. Place a cup of white sugar in an air tight container with two whole vanilla beans. In about a week you will have wonderful vanilla sugar to pour over fresh fruit, or to put in baking items.

Make your own vanilla extract. Slit a couple of vanilla pods in half, cut them into pieces and place in a clean (air tight) jar. Add in 1/3 teaspoon of white sugar and 3 ounces of vodka. Make sure the vanilla beans are completely covered. Shake the mixture and be sure to keep in a dark, dry place. Give it a shake about once a week for several weeks (or keep it a few months for a more concentrated flavour).

These homemade items would also be valuable inclusions in a gift basket for a teacher or family member.