Make a Mix Monday: When It Comes To Baking

Let's talk about mixes and baking for a moment.  As we have discussed previously, most of the time making mixes really can save a lot of time.

But, BUT, when it comes to baking certain things, I just don't use a mix.

For instance, the family favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe; the only things that could be mixed from that recipe are 2 1/4 cups flour, 1 tsp salt, and 1 tsp baking soda.  Generally I could whip that up fast without having it prepped and ready to just pour into my cookie dough.

Here are some pointers about using a mix, but using baking tips to make your overall product come out fantastic!

Again to our cookie recipe:

• don't use a metal bowl in which to mix your dough. 
• stir with a wooden spoon
• cream together the eggs, butter and sugar before adding the other ingredients

For bread:

• place yeast in warm water first thing
• then add all your dry ingredients
• then your wet ingredients, including your bubbled yeast mixture

 For waffles, pancakes, and crepes:

• again with the dry ingredients first
• then wet
• for fluffy waffles and pancakes separate your egg yolks from the egg whites
• whip your egg whites separately and if the recipe calls for sugar, put the sugar in with the egg whites and whip them until peaks form

• Important for all three of these is to let the batter sit for at least 10 minutes.  For crepes, it's best to keep them sitting over night or for a couple of hours