Redhot Trend: Kids Cooking
by jillbcooks 12/10/2010 3:15:00 PM

Have you seen the top ten list of Betty Crocker Redhot Holiday Trends?  I am partial to number seven on the list, cooking with kids.  The Redhot Trends video includes a fun video that shows how to make a simple sweet Chex mix recipe called Reindeer Feed.  This would be a fun way to keep kids busy if you are expecting to be snowed in this weekend. I think that teaching kids to cook is exceptionally important, so I am glad that it is on trend. While making sweets and treats is fun, kids can do more than make sugary and ...

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Tags: Betty Crocker Store, gifts, holidays, reindeer feed, redhot trend

Seamless Dough Sheets
by jillbcooks 11/28/2010 4:42:00 PM

Have you seen Pillsbury Seamless Dough Sheets?  I bought them when I did my Thanksgiving grocery shopping since the regular crescent rolls were sold out. I’m glad that I did, too, because I am going to keep a couple of rolls of these on hand during the holiday season. I decided to play with the dough a little bit to see if it could form the basis for some doughnuts I wanted to make (yes, I think it will work, and stay tun...

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Tags: entertaining, holidays, Pillsbury, cinnamon rolls, seamless Crescent Dough sheet

Homemade Halloween
by jillbcooks 10/6/2010 8:39:00 AM

I once heard that time and money are interchangeable resources that have a proportional relationship. Basically, you can solve a problem with a little time and a lot of money, or you can solve a problem with a little money and a lot of time.  I tend to try the latter before the former, since I think part of the pleasure of things is the making of them.  When it comes to preparations for Halloween, I would much rather make costumes and treats than buy them pre-made. Need some inspiration?  Here are some fun food related costumes: Grapes...

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Tags: holidays, homemade, Hamburger Helper, Halloween costumes

Delight Yourself This Holiday
by jillbcooks 12/8/2009 5:54:00 PM

When I was young my mom would go over the top when it came to Christmas baking.  She would quite literally make two dozen types of cookies.  Family and friends looked forward to her cookie trays which were a thing of legend.  Now the funny this is that my mom hardly cared for the cookies herself.  Instead, she preferred fruitcake.  My sisters and I didn’t really ever care for it, even though it is deeply chocolately (think brownies) with lots of candied fruit and no citron.  As an adult, I now realize that mom made her fruitcake because she liked it.  As preparation for the holidays gets crazy, it is important to do something just for you, ...

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Tags: holidays, Swedish rosettes, pie

Easy Cheesy Latkes
by jillbcooks 12/9/2008 8:26:00 AM

Whether you spend your weeks clocking in long hours at work, schlepping the kids to and from soccer practice, or both, the days just seem to fly exhaustingly by.  Throw keeping the house clean and getting dinner on the table at a reasonable hour and one thing is certain—time is at a premium.  I am always looking for ways to make my life easier; I like to use that extra time I free up doing things I enjoy.  Sounds good, right? Having written a cookbook on Jewish foods and traditions, most people are surprised when I admit that I dread making latkes, the fancy ...

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Tags: chanukkah, easy, fry, hanukkah, holidays, Jill Bloomfield, Julienne Potatoes, latkes, oil

Looks Like Latkes Cupcakes
by jillbcooks 12/4/2008 8:32:00 AM

I positively adore watching those cake decorating contests on television and just marvel at the ingenuity of the decorators crafting these tall and elaborate masterpieces.  A few years ago I took a cake decorating course where I learned the basics.  Each week we were to bring a cake to frost and design. My husband, who signed me up for the class as a gift, especially loved when I came home from class, toting along a cake decked out with chrysanthemums, barnyard animals or intricate vines or whatever we learned that week.  Though it might be crazy to admit, we found ourselves with too much cake week to week with all this decorating practice, so I decided to make cupcakes and...

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Tags: baking, Cupcakes, coconut, decorating, family fun, hanukkah, holidays, latkes

The Miracle of Oil
by jillbcooks 12/2/2008 8:03:00 AM

As autumn days grow shorter and night falls earlier, the comfort of a cozy home and a warm dinner makes the transition into winter easier.  One way I keep my demeanor cheery in winter is by making plans for entertaining.  With Hanukkah just around the corner, I have been experimenting with recipes for gifts from the kitchen.  I have been working on making my infused oil recipe even better, as I love giving this gift to family and friends, especially for Hanukkah.  The Hanukkah story tells about how a small amount of oil miraculously burned for eight days in the Temple when the Maccabees reclaimed it.  To me, the gift of flavored oil is the perfect way...

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Tags: bloomfield, breadad, chanukkah, flavored, food safety, gift, hanukkah, herb, holidays, infused, jill, menorah, oil

Easy Easter Menu
by Heidi at Betty Crocker 3/21/2008 10:06:00 AM

Hold onto your hats, folks: I’m hosting Easter.   Since my one sister has everyone over for Thanksgiving and my other sister hosts Christmas, Easter falls to me. I’ve hosted Easter brunch two or three times now and I’ve got a menu that seems to work. It includes a Breakfast Strudel recipe I found in ...

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Tags: Breakfast Strudel, brunch, Easter, recipe, holidays

Happy Holidays!
by Heidi at Betty Crocker 12/21/2007 3:45:00 PM

I'm wrapping up stuff here at work and ready to head out on vacation for the holidays. I'm going to do my best to post from home, but photos and links don't seem to work so you'll just have live without them.In the meantime, if you need a blog fix, check out Smitten Kitchen and The Pioneer Woman Cooks! They are two ridiculously funny and entertaining blogs. Plus, they have beautiful...

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Tags: food blogs, holidays

Seasonal Sweets
by Heidi at Betty Crocker 12/17/2007 3:34:00 PM

I spent Saturday afternoon with a few friends over at A.C.’s mother-in-law’s house baking cookies. Amy made Spritz, I made Caramels and A.C.’s mother-in-law,...

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Tags: caramels, gifts, holidays