The Trick to Out-Of-The-Box Baking

Now I am not a cuisine Queen or connoisseur of baked goods, but I can
make some pretty mean out-of-the-box brownies, cakes and cupcakes~~
and truly I'm not one to brag so listen up!  Super easy trick passed
down from my all-knowing Momma (although she can whip baked goods up
from scratch, unlike me). If you are baking brownies add ingredients
as directed on the box, I usually opt for Betty Crocker triple chuck, 
my personal fav :) Then simply add 3/4 a block of cream cheese, mix
until well blended and then bake as directed. They will be the
gooiest most fudge like brownies ever! I promise you! I suggest
serving warm with 2 scoops of Peppermint Stick Ice Cream over top.
The perfect holiday treat and is beyond uuhh-mazing :) 

Now if using cake batter, follow directions in the back of the box,
then add 1 cup of Sour Cream and mix until well blended. Yes I said
sour cream people, not a typo, but I swear you will not taste it, not
one bit, my husband hates sour cream and there for I do not tell him I
do this and he LOVEEESSSS my cupcakes or as I like to call them
Pamcakes. Bake as directed. Cool. Frost and decorate to your liking
:)  I highly suggest my absolute favorite--
 

Side note, I usually use reduced fat or fat free Sour Cream and Cream
Cheese. You can't taste any difference when baked so why waste the
calories!

  

Hope this is helpful and you can possibly put this to good use with all of your Holiday Baking!  Merry Christmas to all and to all a goodnight! 

xoxoox

Pam

Word of the Day

The Word of the Day for Thursday, November 4, 2010 is:

brumal \BROO-muhl\, adjective: Of winter.

The congregation of hat-boxes and brumal desks and dressing-cases was prodigious. -- William Makepeace Thackeray, Vanity Fair


Her brother wintered at Welland; but whether because his experience of tropic climes had unfitted him for the brumal rigours of Britain, or for some other reason, he seldom showed himself out of doors, and Swithin caught but passing glances of him. -- Thomas Hardy, Two on a Tower

Brumal originates as the Latin brumalis, "pertaining to winter." When the French Republic renamed the months of the year, the second month was called Brumaire, "the foggy month."

This shall be my word of the day for this winter season.  Thank you http://www.dictionary.com/ for some enlightenment, I like your word today.  Watch out, Wordsmith in the making..

Word of the Day

In an effort to expand my vocabulary I signed up on Dictionary.com and they send you a word of the day. Half the time I don’t check it, however today I did and loved it so thought I ought share!



Word of the Day for Monday, October 4, 2010
nympholepsy \NIM-fuh-lep-see\, noun:
1. A frenzy of emotion, as for something unattainable.


A frenzy of emotion. Oh how many times I’ve experienced a frenzy of emotion, for so many reasons! Joy, pride, love, fear, excitement, anticipation etc. etc. Nympholepsy. Thanks dictionary.com. Another vise for a case of the Mondays!