Baking secrets

As I said in my previous post, "I love to bake". When I have time, I love to get out all the ingredients, measure them out and mix them all together. Now, I don't love to clean-up as much but Grace loves to wash all the bowls, measuring spoons, spatulas, etc. so we make a great team. We just need to stop fighting over who gets to lick the bowl!



But, when I don't have time to make brownies or cookies from scratch, there are two go-to mixes that I rely on heavily.

The first - Ghiradelli Triple Chocolate Brownie Mix.

I have only seen this mix at Costco. In the regular grocery stores, I have seen the Double Chocolate Brownie Mix but, trust me, it is not the same as the Triple Chocolate mix. These brownies are absolutely the most moist, decadent brownies that I have ever made at home. Keep in mind though, that I generally like box-mix brownies. Sometimes the brownies made from scratch just taste too home-made for me.

The second - Betty Crocker Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies Mix.

Now, had this been a few months ago, I would have posted that the Trader Joe's Chocolate Chip refrigerated (not to be confused with the frozen which is not as good) cookie dough was, by far, my go-to chocolate chip cookie dough. But, much to my dismay, they have discontinued it (hopefully, just temporarily). So, in the mean time, I use the Betty Crocker bag mix. And as long as I am confessing, I must tell you that I use the alternative recipe on the bag which calls for vegetable oil instead of butter. I'm quite sure that makes them low-fat. They are chewy, moist and delicious.

Of course, with both of these mixes, our family prefers everything just slightly undercooked.

We had such a sweet tooth craving this weekend that I actually made both the cookies and the brownies. Let me just tell you - this does not bode well for my attempt to lose a few pounds before Kerri and Mark's big day!

I love to bake!

I have always loved to bake... cookies, cakes, anything sweet. As a disclaimer, I am intimitated by yeast so I have not conquered the breads yet. However, someday I will face my fear of getting the perfect temperature water... I know it can't be too hot or it will kill the yeast and if it's too cold, the yeast won't grow - it needs to be just warm enough to activate the yeast. Sounds very complex to me.

I have recently discovered the world of baking blogs. I had no idea this world existed until a couple of weeks ago when I saw some links to baking blogs on my sister-in-law's blog (she loves to bake too). Now I find I can't get enough of it... I love to read through the various blogs and see pictures of these phenomal-looking desserts. I love to print out recipes and try new ones.

I told my mom the other night that I just love baking. She asked how I could possibly have time to bake when I am so busy with work and two little ones. I told her that no matter how exhausted I am, I always have energy to try a new recipe - even if it's after a long day! It is a way of relaxing for me. (If only I could have a sous chef to clean up after me!)

Now the problem with loving to bake is that of course you have to try what you make and if it turns out good, you can end up eating a lot of what you make... and that doesn't bode so well for someone who had a baby 6 months ago and is trying to lose those last 5-10 pounds before Kerri and Mark's big wedding day!

Now I need to decide what I am going to bake for dessert on Easter!

Here are some of my new favorite baking blogs... oh, and you can even use this website - Food Blog Search - to search for your favorite recipe on food blogs.

Baked Perfection

My Baking Addiction

Joy the Baker

The six-month check-up

Abigail had her 6-month check-up last week. She is 17 lbs, 6 oz (80th percentile) and 27 inches long (95th percentile). She is meeting all the milestones - starting to sit up by herself, eating cereal and all of the 1st stage foods, rolling all over the place and babbling (sometimes sweet babbles and some very loud noises too - trying to find that voice of hers)! She is still sleeping well and can now put the paci (or, as we call it - a xuxa - which, thanks to my sister-in-law, Maurilia, I now know how to spell - it is pronounced shoo-sha) in herself - provided she can find it!

Abigail loves to grab at anything you hand her and loves to chew on everything. Grace is also interacting more and more with Abigail. I keep thinking that she is teething but I have been thinking that now for a couple of months. Grace loves to make Abigail laugh and giggle and it is so cute to watch the two of them together. We are so blessed with a happy and healthy baby and little girl!

Life is busy with two little ones... the race continues (see my initial post)... but while it is challenging to juggle so many different things, it is very rewarding. The smiles, the hugs, the random "I love you mommy and daddy" (from Grace - Abigail is not quite talking yet) are so wonderful!

We are looking forward to Easter weekend... and hoping the bunny will pay a visit to our house so we can have an egg hunt!