Scents sell

chocolate chip cookies, freshly bakedI’ve heard it said that the scent of freshly baked bread can help to sell a house, giving it a cozy feel and a livable aroma even when the house is brand new. I’m sure more than one realtor has tried to use it to help promote a property during an open house, resorting …

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Instant coffee for baking

medaglia d’oro instant espresso jarI have two espresso machines (don’t ask why I have two – even I would say that you really only need one) and a regular drip coffee maker, so I have no shortage of caffeinated beverages in my kitchen. I still sometimes include instant coffee powder or instant espresso powder in my recipes, though, …

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Push-n-Pull Tool

Push-n-Pull Tool in actionImagine this: you’re baking a pair of 8-inch round cakes, intending to make a layer cake once they have baked and cooled. The cakes are in the oven cooking away and you notice that they are browning unevenly. You open the oven, reach inside to adjust the pans and after moving the first pan, …

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Coconut Cream Pie

coconut cream pie

 Cream pies, more than any other, seem to scream “comfort food” – even if you (like me) generally tend to prefer fruit pies, like apple. They’re not merely satisfying, but they’re so indulgent that you have to set aside any concerns about overly decadent desserts to fully enjoy …

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Kaffeehaus

Kaffeehaus: Exquisite Desserts from the Classic Cafés of Vienna, Budapest, and PragueThe hunt for baking inspiration often leads me away from some of my go-to cookbooks and on a search for ones with more unusual recipes. I’m not always inclined to purchase such cookbooks, as there are many that I know I won’t cook from regardless of how inspirational they are (some of the cookbooks …

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