Wordless Wednesday

Tips and Tricks Tuesday

Today's tips and tricks is a kitchen one, again. What can I say, I like to cook and stuff!

Working with garlic

First for the peeling - simply take your clove, lay it on the counter, place your (big) knife side ways and hit with the heel of your hand to smash the garlic. You don't need to smash it to smithereens, just enough to crack it. Then simply remove the skin (it will almost fall off). If you are afraid of using your knife, take a small glass or bowl.

If a recipe calls for whole garlic, smashing it is actually ideal, it helps all those yummy flavours come out. 

Source

Here is my favourite trick: use your cheese grater to "cut" up the garlic. Use the tiny holes (typically for zest) and grate directly into your dish. This is way easier then any chopping and makes virtually no mess. I own one similar to the one pictured and use it almost exclusively for this purpose (a regular cheese grater works just fine too.)  My husband also prefers this method over pressing, as a garlic press is difficult to clean.


This trick works great for ginger too!

Next time you need some garlic try these out, you just may be impressed. :) 

Photo-a-day Challenge

Yesterday I mentioned doing not one, but two challenges during the month of December. (As mentioned, I have lost my mind)

My original idea was to do the 25 Days of Christmas on here and the Photo-a-day Challenge on my Facebook page. Well I've now scrapped that idea and have decided to bombard you all with both challenges on here. 

Here is more on the Capturing December Photo-a-day Challenge:

This very awesome challenge is being hosted by A Content Housewife. She has posted a list of things to capture and post everyday. I already know that I'll be including Kaleb in some pictures so it should make things interesting, to say the least. 

25 Days of Christmas

I am officially crazy.

I really enjoyed the 31 day challenge in October and was planning on doing a 'Capturing December Photo-a-day Challenge' that was posted in my mommy group. Then today, Randi over at Sowdering About in Seattle posted about doing a 25 Days of Christmas link up, so I've decided on doing both. Yep, officially crazy.

However, I don't want to bombard you all, so I'll be doing the photo challenge on my Facebook page and the 25 Days on here. You know, spread the love :)

So what's my plan for the 25 Days? I have no clue. The whole point of it is to do Christmas activities, crafts and baking for 25 days. So that's what I'll do.

I'm very excited for these challenges, Christmas is my favourite time of year and the fact that I've got a baby this year, makes it extra special!


Day 1: O Christmas Tree!
Day 2: Ice Ornaments - Update
Day 3: Christmas Service
Day 4: Christmas Lights 

Recipe - Hot Fudge Pudding Cake

The following recipe is one of my favourite desserts - both to eat and to make. I also like it because I always have all the ingredients on hand.

Prep time: 10 min
Bake time: 35-40 min
Cool Time: 15 min  

Cake:
3/4 cup Granulated Sugar
1 cup Flour
1/4 cup Cocoa
2 teaspoons Baking Powder
1/4 teaspoon Salt
1/2 cup Milk
1/3 cup Butter, melted
1 1/2 teaspoons Vanilla Extract

Fudge:
1/2 cup Granulated Sugar
1/2 cup Light Brown Sugar, packed
1/4 cup Cocoa
1 1/4 cups Hot water

1. Heat oven to 350F

2. For Cake mixture: Stir together sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder and salt. Stir in milk, butter and vanilla; beat until smooth. Pour batter into an ungreased 9-inch square baking pan.

3. For Fudge mixture: Stir together sugar, brown sugar and cocoa; sprinkle mixture evenly over batter. Pour hot water over top. Do not stir.

4. Bake for 35-40 minutes or until center is almost set. Let stand 15 minutes; spoon into dessert dishes, spooning sauce from bottom of pan over top. Garnish with whipped topping.


*This recipe is taken from the cookbook: Old-Fashioned Favorite Recipes of All Time, published and copyrighted by Publications International, Ltd.