When you hear the term “bulk,” do you envision cases and 5 gallon containers, and say to yourself, “I just don’t need that much of anything?” You probably don’t. But “bulk” means something completely different in food stores — it refers to how the store offers the product, not how much you have to buy. Actually, one of the advantages of buying in bulk is that you can get as little or as much of a product as you want – literally a pinch or a pound.

The idea that you have to buy large quantities is one of … read more

We think the best brownies have moist centers, a paper – thin crackly crust, and lots of chewy edges. If you agree, you’ll love the Edge Brownie Pan — it’s the only gourmet brownie pan that adds two chewy edges to every brownie! The award-winning design also improves baking performance by circulating heat evenly to the pan’s middle, where food typically takes longer to bake.

In the current economic climate, budgets are tight and families are trying to make every penny count. A recent survey by the Midwest Dairy Council revealed that “more than half of consumers say price, not nutrition, is the most important factor when grocery shopping in this economic climate.”

It’s important for your family’s health – and your pocketbook – to know that it is possible to buy nutritious foods and still keep costs low. While some cheaper foods have a low price tag in the short-term, their low nutrition levels can cost your family in the long run.

Good … read more

Shamrock Cookies

Ingredients:
½ cup shortening
½ cup butter or margarine
2 cups sugar
3 eggs, beaten
½ tsp salt
5 cups flour
¼ cup milk
1 tsp vanilla

Instructions:
Preheat your oven to 350ºF.

Mix shortening and sugar until creamy using an electric mixer. Add the eggs and combine well. Stir in milk, vanilla and salt. Then carefully mix in the flour. Work the dough with your hands for a minute.

Flour a rolling pin and roll out the dough to about 1/8 inch thick. Use more flour if needed if dough sticks to your rolling pin.

With a shamrock cookie cutter, … read more

There’s no better authority on delectable desserts than Martha Stewart. She and her ingenious team of editors have consistently created the most delicious recipes, and their dedication to simple instructions, how-to photographs, and beautiful styling is unparalleled. And there’s no more in-demand dessert right now than cupcakes.   

Rain showers and blooming flowers aren’t the only things that will be kind to your sense of smell this spring. It’s also the time of year when you start to bake up homemade breads, cookies, and moist crumbly muffins.

This year, mix in some new recipes with some longtime family favorites. Here are some tips for making yummy treats that will have the entire neighborhood gathering outside your kitchen this spring:

* Bake quick breads in the center of the oven rack for best heat circulation.

* Use a spring-handled ice cream scoop (No. 20 or No. 24) to fill muffin cups … read more

Bread makers are a big hit with any cook. It allows you to easily bake freshly made bread without much hassle and mess. The great thing about a bread maker is that all you need to do is throw everything together and forget about it until time is up. How easy is that? It would never be that easy using your traditional oven.

Choosing the right bread maker is relatively easy. All you need to do is visit your local store that sells kitchen appliances and choose the one that best suits your needs. Of course, the internet can … read more