Cooking or Baking Secrets/Tips/Tricks

[momin2013]

Does anyone have any to share?

I have one: I add a tsp. of banana extract to my banana bread/muffin batter; it makes it extra banana-y!

[NandaB]

I only buy Betty Crocker brand cake mix so when someone compliments my dessert I can say " oh thank you, its my aunt betty's recipe"

[lyingliarlies]

Lol NandaB!

Use the butter wrapper to grease the pan or cookie sheet.

Frozen veggies can be roasted in the oven just like fresh ones. Takes a little longer but tastes just as good - plus they are already cleaned & cut, & it doesn't matter if it's not in season.

[momin2013]

Jul 30, 2015 7:40:02 GMT -5 NandaB said:

I only buy Betty Crocker brand cake mix so when someone compliments my dessert I can say " oh thank you, its my aunt betty's recipe"

I do this too, but it's because it turns out 1000x better than any cake I've ever made from scratch.

[justbecause]

Replace some of the butter in cake or cookies with applesauce.
Use an ice cream scoop to measure cookies or put muffin batter in the cups without making a mess and for consistent size.

[momin2013]

S/o boxed cake mixes, I replace the water with milk. Some boxes mention this as an option, but I do it with all of them. It makes a really good, "pudding in the mix"-type cake.

[Deleted]

Sub mini sweet peppers in recipes that call for bell peppers! So tasty!!'

[quesyrah]

Jul 30, 2015 11:30:14 GMT -5 @itsbritt said:

Sub mini sweet peppers in recipes that call for bell peppers! So tasty!!'

Yum this is what we do too.

[lyingliarlies]

Jul 30, 2015 11:30:14 GMT -5 @itsbritt said:

Sub mini sweet peppers in recipes that call for bell peppers! So tasty!!'

Ooh speaking of peppers, trader Joe's sells bags of frozen pepper strips (yellow, red, & green) for pretty cheap. I think it's a 1 lb bag for 2.29, which is way cheaper than the price of fresh ones. We use them in Mexican dishes, Philly chicken wraps, etc.

[rosesandpetals]

Light a candle when cutting onions and your eyes won't burn/water.

[momin2013]

Jul 30, 2015 14:33:44 GMT -5 rosesandpetals said:

Light a candle when cutting onions and your eyes won't burn/water.

Huh, who knew? I am definitely trying this next time.

[Rainyday]

I also use the butter wrapper to grease the pan before banana bread.
Fresh lemon zest grated into baked goods.
Cooking spray on the scoop before using it when scooping batter.
I always use kosher salt in cooking, never that iodized stuff in the blue box.
If I use box mix for cake I always make my own icing, so much tastier.
Always bake with butter instead of oil or margarine.
Olive oil can always be subbed for cooking oil in baking cakes, you cannot even tell.

[rosesandpetals]

If you make brownies, put a piece of bread on them while they sit out overnight instead of using plastic wrap. The bread gets crazy hard but the brownies are still soft. I saw that on pinterest and tried it, it actually works!

[lala]

Jul 30, 2015 19:43:00 GMT -5 rosesandpetals said:

If you make brownies, put a piece of bread on them while they sit out overnight instead of using plastic wrap. The bread gets crazy hard but the brownies are still soft. I saw that on pinterest and tried it, it actually works!

I do that w/ cookies, too. I put a piece of bread in the container if they're cookies I want to stay soft/chewy. 

I will try that candle w/ the onion trick, some onions make be literally sob. 

I also save butter wrappers for greasing pans. 

I didn't know anyone still used margarine. Ick. 

Do not use olive oil in brownies, you can tell the difference & I didn't find it pleasant.