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jillbcooks 6/30/2009 9:05:00 AM
Fourth of July Safety Tips
How has July nearly sneaked up on us already? With only one day left in June, many of us are busy making plans for July Fourth. I am happy and relieved to be attending a wedding that day since it isn’t one of my favorite holidays. I have always been a bit of a milquetoast when it comes to fireworks. They sort of make me nervous, especially ones that consumers can buy and use. Inevitably, when I was young, I’d disappear into the house when dusk settled and my uncles and cousins started shooting off rockets and Roman candles.
Incidentally, just about the same time that fireworks started, my aunt would start ...
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fireworks safety, July 4th, July Fourth, spice cake
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jillbcooks 6/25/2009 8:22:00 AM
I just registered to compete in the Baked Goods contest at the Minnesota State Fair. From here on out, I am on the lookout for ideas and inspiration. I know that I want to find a way to put a contemporary twist on a classic recipe. I have been really into baking bundt cakes this year, so I think that I want to use a basic bundt recipe as my starting place. Now the key is to think about how to make it fresh and different. I really would love to win a blue ribbon at the Minnesota State Fair. I think my Turtle Bundt cake needs some tweaking, but has a lot of promise. I will keep you up to date here as I keep ...
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Minnesota State Fair, Asian Noodle Salad, bundt cake, Create a Stir, recipepe contest, Suddenly Salad
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jillbcooks 6/23/2009 9:55:00 AM
In an effort to lighten up for summer, I have been looking through my collections of cookbooks and recipes clipped from magazines and scrawled on scrap paper. I came across a Classic Pillsbury recipe magazine which must have belong to my mom…since it is twenty years old.
When it comes to eating more wisely, I fail miserably if I try to go to extremes and exclude all treats. I do have a sweet tooth, so any feeling of deprivation when it comes to treats, and I will abandon my whole eating plan.
Here are some of the great recipes I have been trying out. Like most anything, these, too, are best in moderation.
Melon Wedges
8 oz. carto...
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summer desserts, angel food cake, lighter desserts, melon salad
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jillbcooks 6/18/2009 8:09:00 AM
If I were a brand of shoe, I would be a Manolo Blahnik.
If I were a crazy writer, I would be J.D. Salinger.
If I were a plastic Army man, I would be a radio operator.
If I were a character in Harry Potter, I would be Sybill Trelawney.
If you Facebook, you probably recognize these quizzes. They are silly and can be a great way to waste time, but they are fun and sometimes illuminating. When I see a friend’s quiz results, I inevitably want to see how my results will turn out.
I love Betty Crocker’s new quiz: What Kind of Cupcake Are You...
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Betty Crocker Facebook Fan Page, facebook, Heart Cupcakes, Quiz, What Kind of Cupcake Are You
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jillbcooks 6/16/2009 8:39:00 AM
In my line of work as a food writer, I read a lot. At any given time, I have a stack of cookbooks that are my current reads piled up on my desk. I love to use the library as a resource, so I can sample many books without having to buy them. When I find a great idea, I will scan the pages and file them on my computer for later use. I am currently reading Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French cooking and am captivated by her upbeat tone.
In the last few years there has been a huge proliferation of food blogs, which can also be excellent resources for inspiration. Ideas and recipes on blogs tend to push the envelope a little more than those in books....
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cookbook, blogs, cupcake kebabs, SeriousEats.com
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jillbcooks 6/16/2009 7:46:09 AM
Profile picture....
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jillbcooks 6/11/2009 7:46:00 AM
A poll on the Betty Crocker website recently asked what your favorite summer fair foods. Lemonade, sno-cones and funnel cakes were mentioned, but the most popular choice—by far—was corn dogs. 
Once, in the dead of winter, my husband and I hosted a summer themed dinner party. We wanted it to be whimsical, so we wore Hawaiian shirts, served all kinds of fair foods like lemonade, corn on the cob, and corn dogs. Making the corn...
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corn dogs, cornbread mix, fair foods, summer foods
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jillbcooks 6/9/2009 8:38:00 AM
Did you know that all next week, by Presidential proclamation, all government buildings and citizens are requested to fly the American flag? This upcoming Sunday, June 14, is Flag Day, and the week that follows is national Flag Week. Flag Day is my husband’s favorite holiday of the year. He says he likes the story of Bernard Cigrand, a teacher in Wisconsin, who in 1885 organized the first formal public observance of Flag Day. Cigrand became a passionate ambassador for the holiday and eventually formed the American Flag Day Association.
...
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brownies, Betty Crocker Store, Flag Day, July 4th, pastry cutters, star shaped
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jillbcooks 6/4/2009 8:11:00 AM
BettyCrocker.com member KittyTrixie left an interesting post in the Cooking and Baking with Kids forum this week. The member asked for ideas to help an impatient 16 year old learn to cook and feed himself well, especially in the summer months when he is home more often.I am so impressed with all the great replies. They really show how passionate and knowledgeable other BettyCrocker.com members are. Among the suggestions were:
• explore cookbooks• use the microwave •...
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cooking, teens, fiesta enchiladas, instructional videos, recipes for beginners, teaching
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jillbcooks 6/2/2009 8:20:00 AM
When I go on vacation, I love to explore food. I don’t look for the most expensive or exotic foods, but the ones that are much beloved by locals and show off the character of a town. My previous post on my hometown favorites shows the kind of humble but perfect food that I love.
A few years ago, we went to Maine and loved trying foods like lobster rolls and blueberry pie. I find that I take a lot of pictures of the foods I encounter on vacation. I like to remember those moments and try to recreate them at home. It can be difficult to find the...
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vacation, culinary tourism, food tour, Maine, Milwaukee, staycation