|
How do I Make Muffins Moist? Letters from our Customers Simple Ideas Make Your Own Flavored Coffees! Do you love all those fancy coffees you see in the grocery
and gourmet food stores, but don't love the high prices? Well, you don't have to
pass up your favorite caffeine rush! You can make your own flavored coffees easily
and inexpensively. Below are several recipes and suggestions on how to spice up
standard old instant coffee. The easiest way to add a punch of flavor to your coffee is
by adding flavored extracts. Search for your favorite flavors of extracts in the
spice section of your grocery store. Some good ones to try are raspberry, almond,
lemon, vanilla, and cherry nut. Just add a dash to your cup of coffee, stir, and
enjoy.
I traveled a lot for my company this year (one week- 7
airports- 6 days) and I looked at some of the food items sold in airports as gifts.
A number of companies across the country put a cup or two of beans and a packet of
herbs and spices in a mason jar, calico bag or soda type bottle (like old coke
bottle shape) , add a recipe to the outside and sell it for $8 -15 dollars. You
could give someone several different soup mixes very inexpensively. Use jars you
have or ask friends before recycling day each week. you can buy beans in bulk at the
health food store or just buy the beans packaged by the pound (Goya has some
different kinds). The beans look really nice layered (but pack full or it will
shift) or if you are using a colorful bean mixture, it doesn't need layers. Make up
the packets of spices and herbs (get them in bulk at a health food or ethnic food
store) and put into saran wrap and tape. You can put rounds of fabric and ribbon
over the lid. You can write out the recipe on a little card or print it out on the
computer and tie it to the jar. You'll have a provided a useful, healthy gift that
will be great through the winter (and it won't have MSG, too much salt or those
unpronounceable preservatives).
Click Here for Mabel's Best Spice and Dip Mix Recipes
10 Gifts for $50!
As a struggling College student several years ago I had to
find a way to give Christmas gifts to my entire family and I only had $50. Well $50
doesn't buy anything of quality for 10 family members so I came up with a plan. I
had some scraps of fabric and some glue, bristol board and embroidery thread.
I went to a local craft shop and bought baskets, tissue paper, candles and some wire
cone frames. This cost about $25. And I spent the last $5 on Christmassy candle
holders from a dollar store. Then I went to the grocery and bought some chocolate
making supplies (basically butter, choc. pieces, creams and flavorings) and that
cost about $20. Then I went on a trek through the woods and gathered acorns, twigs
and pine cones galore. My final product was a Christmas basket for each person
(couples had to share one) filled with 20 handmade Christmas ornaments, truffles and
candies, a candle holder and candles. Included in the baskets were Christmas mice
(little Christmas bread loaves made in a slightly oval shape with almond slivers for
ears, and string for tails and currants). Along with this I gave a Christmas tree
that was about 20" high made with pinecones glued to a wire frame and
embellished with bits and pieces of fabric made into bows. I also used bits of baby
breath saved from flowers that were sent to me.
Now, several years later, I asked for a Christmas list from my
family. I think that they were actually appalled at the fact that I wanted to buy
something instead of making it. And after much complaining on their part I am once
again making Christmas baskets even though it is no longer a financial necessity. Click Here for Mabel's Entire Collection 2002
How can I make my muffins moist and fluffy? If you stir your muffin batter too much, you'll end up with dense, lopsided muffins. Mix the wet ingredients well, in a separate bowl from the dry ingredients. When you add the wet ingredients to the dry, stir only enough to moisten. It's fine to leave some small lumps in the batter. I also add a 1/2 teaspoon of Cream of Tatar to my muffins, and I always expect oil to be in the recipe. When you make muffins from a ready-made mix, try adding a tablespoon of vegetable or olive oil.
|
