Monday, March 27, 2023

Product Review Muffin Top Silicone Pans



We have a product review for you this week and it's all about using silicone pans / molds.

I haven't used a silicone mold in a long time. I was looking for ways to make perfect whoopie pies and found these muffin-top silicone pans on Amazon. The title came up with whoopie pies and I bought them thinking they would work well. 

Amazon.com: Walfos Silicone Whoopie Pie Baking Pans

My first attempt was pumpkin whoopie pies. I think I put too much batter in the mold and they turned out like short cupcakes. Because they were thicker than normal, they made a thick whoopie pie. Although they were delicious, it was a bit much. I believe the batter was too thick and maybe if I had thinned the batter it would have worked better.

Recipe for the pumpkin whoopie pies ➤ Cake Mix Pumpkin Whoopie Pies.

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My second attempt at making whoopie pies was the classic chocolate. They turned out much better and simply scrumptious.  Reminded me of my mom's homemade whoopie pies. These were made with a cake mix. They definitely were a hit at our Christmas party. I'm keeping this recipe for certain! 

Recipe for the classic chocolate whoopie pies below ⮟



Not only can you make muffin tops and whoopie pies, but you can also make Egg muffins, muffin tops, tarts, eggs, cookies, mini cheesecakes or quiche, gelatins, and more. 

No need to grease the pan, the cakes came out perfect. The cleanup was super easy, nothing really stuck to them and they clean up like new. 

I did put them on a cookie sheet for stability because of how soft the mold is when handling them.

I highly recommend silicone molds and give these 5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 

  • easy cleaning
  • no greasing necessary
  • cakes come out with ease 
  • heats evenly
  • stores conveniently

Here are the details of the molds from Amazon.

  • FLEXIBLE SILICONE! EASY RELEASE! – Unlike aluminum pan, the WALFOS silicone whoopie pie baking pan doesn't need a coating to keep it non-stick, more healthy. No more metal rusting!! Without the use of extra butter or flour.
  • 100% FOOD GRADE SILICONE, BPA FREE. – WALFOS Silicone whoopie pie pan is safe for your food and good for the environment. WIDE HEAT RESISTANT RANGE: from -104℉ to 446℉(-40℃ to 230℃); No odor, no chemical coating, safe for microwave, oven, dishwasher, fridge, freezer. Just feel free to enjoy much healthier treats with your family and friends.
  • EASY TO USE & CLEAN – WALFOS Silicone Muffin Top Pan uses a shallow cup design, offering you the ability to create up to 6 large muffin tops or whoopie pies at a time, truly giving you more for less! TIP: Walfos silicone muffin baking pan has a soft texture, please put the muffin pan on the oven pan tray or oven rack when filling, it is helpful to put it in the oven when filled.
  • MULTIPLE FUNCTION – Whoopie Pie, Egg muffin, muffin tops, tarts, eggs, cookies, mini cheesecakes or quiche, gelatins, and more. With so many options you will never stop surprising your loved ones with delicious and creative desserts. 
  • Each cavity: is 3 inches in diameter and 0.7 inches deep.
  • Baking pan size: 11.6" x 6.7"
  • Each cup size: 3" x 3" x 0.7"
  • Stackable and space-saving.


Cake Mix Whoopie Pies

INGREDIENTS
  

  • One 15.25-ounce box of cake mix
  • One 3.4-ounce box of instant pudding mix
  • 2/3 cup water
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil
  • 3 eggs


FILLING
  • 3/4 cup salted butter (1 ½ sticks), softened
  • 3 cups powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup marshmallow creme

INSTRUCTIONS
 

Make the Cookies

  • Preheat oven to 350°F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.
  • In a large bowl (or the bowl of a stand mixer), add the cake mix, pudding mix, water, oil, and eggs.
  • Stir to combine then use a rubber spatula to get the ingredients off the sides of the bowl. Then beat for 2 minutes.
  • Scoop the batter onto the prepared baking sheet, making sure to put at least 2 inches between each cookie (I use a 2-tablespoon cookie scoop).
  • Bake for 10-13 minutes. Let cool completely.

Make the Filling

  • Place the softened butter in the bowl of a stand mixer. Beat until smooth.
  • Add the powdered sugar and vanilla and beat until smooth.
  • Stir in the marshmallow creme and refrigerate until you're ready to assemble the whoopie pies.

Assemble & Enjoy!

  • Lay half of the cookies upside-down (so the flat side of the cookie is on top).
  • Use a piping bag or a cookie scoop to transfer the filling onto the cookie halves.
  • Place the remaining cookies on top to form the whoopie pies.

Monday, March 20, 2023

Celebrate National Peanut Month with 10 Recipes Using Peanuts



In March during National Peanut Month, join the celebration featuring one of America’s favorite snack foods.

This little legume is a powerhouse of flavor and versatility. Humans have been consuming peanuts since around 1400 BC. Also known as groundnuts, the peanut grows underground and belongs to the Leguminosae family which includes peas and beans. According to the National Peanut Board, peanut consumption increased to 7.9 pounds per capita in 2021. That’s an astonishing amount of peanuts!

Two U.S. presidents were peanut farmers: Thomas Jefferson and Jimmy Carter.

photo credit of Jimmy Carter press harold

When it comes to plants packing protein power, peanuts provide a whopping 8 grams per ounce, more than any other nut according to The Peanut Institute. And remember, it’s not a nut! Nuts grow on trees. The peanut is also high in antioxidants. This goober (as they’re called in the south), is also high in vitamins E and B6, but they’re rich in minerals such as magnesium, iron, and zinc. Studies also show when paired with other nutrient-rich foods, this wonderful legume helps us absorb nutrients better, too.

Revolutionary inventions and discoveries made the peanut easier to cultivate during the late 1800s and early 1900s. One such contributor was Dr. George Washington Carver who is considered the Father of the Peanut. His dedicated research into the peanut led him to publish “How to Grow the Peanut and 105 Ways of Preparing it for Human Consumption” in 1916. His continued interest resulted in more than delicious uses for the peanut. 



Let's celebrate with some tasty recipes using peanuts. 🥜

Hot-and-Sweet Fried Peanuts Recipe

This recipe comes from Southern Living. Click on the link ↑ for the recipe. 

PHOTO: OTO: VICTOR PROTASIO; PROP STYLING: MARY CLAYTON CARL;
FOOD STYLING: EMILY NABORS HALL

Peanut Clusters Recipe

This recipe comes from Build Your Bite. Click on the link ↑ for the recipe. 

photo credit Build Your Bite

This recipe comes from Sugar Spun Run. Click on the link ↑ for the recipe. 

photo credit sugar spun run

This recipe comes from Taste of Home. Click on the link ↑ for the recipe. 

photo credit Taste of Home



This recipe comes from Cheerios. Click on the link ↑ for the recipe. 

photo credit Cheerios


Double Peanut Pie

This recipe comes from Taste of Home. Click on the link ↑ for the recipe. 

photo credit Taste of Home



This recipe comes from AllRecipes. Click on the link ↑ for the recipe. 

photo credit AllRecipes

Honey Peanut Granola

This recipe comes from AllRecipes. Click on the link ↑ for the recipe. 

photo credit AllRecipes


Thai Peanut Chicken

This recipe comes from AllRecipes. Click on the link ↑ for the recipe. 

photo credit AllRecipes


West African Peanut Stew


This recipe comes from AllRecipes. Click on the link ↑ for the recipe. 

photo credit AllRecipes


Do you have a favorite recipe that uses peanuts? Let me know in the comments below. 

Keep it sassy,
Kelly

🥜🥜🥜🥜🥜🥜🥜🥜🥜🥜🥜🥜🥜🥜🥜🥜🥜🥜🥜🥜🥜🥜🥜

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FTC DISCLAIMER:  This page informs you of our disclosure statement regarding the advertisements we use and disclosure of our Service and the choices we have associated with it. The compensation received will never influence the content, topics, or posts made in this blog. All advertising is in the form of advertisements generated by a third-party ad network or affiliates. Those advertisements will be identified as paid advertisements. The owner(s) of this website is not compensated to provide opinions on products, services, websites, and various other topics. The views and opinions expressed on this website are purely the owners. If we claim or appear to be experts on a certain topic or product or service area, we will only endorse products or services that we believe, based on our expertise, are worthy of such endorsement. Any product claim, statistic, quote, or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. This website does not contain any content which might present a conflict of interest.

Monday, March 13, 2023

30-Day Spring Cleaning



It's that time of year when we get excited about the warm weather. I'm looking forward to it but not so much to what comes with it such as spring cleaning. I found a 30-day plan to help with this task from TheSpruce.com. What a great way to split up the work so it won't be overwhelming. So let's get started.

Before you get started, prepare some boxes. Here’s what you need:

  • Donate Box: Anything you want to donate goes into this box. 
  • Repair Box: While you’re decluttering and cleaning, you will come across items that need to be mended or repaired. Place these items in a box until you’re ready to get them fixed. Don’t let repairs sidetrack you until you’re done cleaning.
  • Put-Away Box: If you find something that doesn't belong in a drawer, add them temporarily to a put-away box. Once you’re done with the drawer, take that box and return everything in it to its rightful storage place.

Keep a pen and paper or a digital list (my choice for lists) nearby during your spring cleaning process. On it, you can keep a running list of projects that pop up while you clean that you want to get to eventually, such as organizing books. Once you're done with your spring cleaning, then you can make a plan to tackle those projects.

Look for the link to the FREE calendar at the bottom of the post.

DAY 1 - DUST

photo credit forumlive.net


  • Take a broom to the corners of the ceiling to catch any cobwebs in your kitchen, living room, bedrooms, and bathrooms. 
  • Sweep or vacuum the floors. 
  • Dust the undersides of every chair and table in your home, and then vacuum and mop the floors around them.
  • Clean every mirror in your home, including the ones in the bathrooms, bedrooms, and entryway.
  • Dust your books and the knick-knacks on your bookshelves.

DAY 2 - CLOTHING INVENTORY 

photo credit FLICKR.COM


  • Switch out your seasonal clothing.
  • Wash your winter gloves, hats, and scarves, and pack them up for next year. Take your winter coats to the dry cleaner if necessary.
  • Sort your under-bed storage boxes. 
  • Remove odd socks from your sock drawer, and either toss them or use them as cleaning rags.
  • Go through your dresser, and pull out items of clothing you haven’t worn in a year and have no plans to wear again. Put them in your donation box.
  • Add any applicable items to the donate or mend boxes.

DAY 3 - CLEAN OUT MEDICINE CABINET 


photo credit choosehelp.com

  • Throw away expired medicines. Look up local regulations on how to properly dispose of medicines.
  • Organize your emergency supplies. Make sure you're stocked on first aid necessities.
  • Declutter your linen closet. Pull out the old towels and sheets you no longer use, and put them into your donation box.

DAY 4 - SORT SHOES 


photo credit WAYFAIR.COM


  • Sort through your shoes. Add any that you want to donate or repair to those respective boxes.
  • Clean the floors of your closets, and get rid of any unused storage solutions.
  • Wash slippers.

DAY 5 - CLEAN SMALL APPLIANCES 


photo credit sweetandsavorybyshinee.com
  • Clean your appliances, including their plugs, tops, bottoms, sides, and any accessories that came with them.
  • Deep clean your coffee maker, following manufacturer instructions. I do this monthly because of the obvious reasons, it starts to get a build-up of coffee and water stains.
  • Thoroughly clean utensils, such as can openers, that might not be washed on a regular basis.
  • Replace old kitchen sponges and rubber gloves. 

DAY 6 - DEEP CLEAN REFRIGERATOR 


photo credit wrenkitchens.com

  • Thoroughly clean your fridge and freezer by removing all shelves, racks, and storage containers and washing them. 
  • Toss any old food. 
  • Wash your ice cube trays. 
  • Wipe down the sides of the fridge and freezer. 
  • Then, put everything back in. If you’re afraid of food spoiling, use a cooler to keep food cold while you work.

Day 7 -  CLEAN OUT KITCHEN CABINETS


photo credit nuestrasaventurasentexas.com

  • Take everything out of your cabinets, and clean all the surfaces before replacing the items.
  • Check the cabinets for any unexpired food you don't plan to eat that can be donated. Throw out expired or questionable food.

Day 8 - TOSS BATHROOM CLUTTER


photo credit tutames.com
  • Declutter and clean your bathroom storage by taking everything out, and cleaning the backs, sides, and bottoms of the cabinets and drawers.
  • Dispose of any expired bathroom cleaning products.
  • Replace any old, worn toothbrushes and/or razors.
  • Wash or replace your shower curtain liner.

Day 9 - WASH HOUSEHOLD LINENS

photo credit chewy.com

  • Wash your couch covers, pillow covers, and other linens used around the house. Bedroom linens will come later.
  • Launder the drapes in your living room, dining room, and bedrooms. If you can’t wash them on-site, bring them to the dry cleaners.
  • Wash your ironing board cover.
  • Wash your tea towels and kitchen towels.
  • Toss small rugs, bathroom mats, and bathrobes in the wash.

Day 10 - CLEAN ELECTRONICS

photo credit windex.com

  • Clean your remote controls.
  • Clean your phones and tablets.
  • Dust the screens of televisions, computers, and keyboards.
  • If you still have these, sort through your old CDs and VHS tapes for items to donate.

Day 11 - ORGANIZE JUNK DRAWER




  • Organize your junk drawer to make sure all items in it have a purpose.

Day 12 - CLEAN OVEN




  • Deep clean your oven following manufacturer instructions.
  • Clean your cooktop and ventilation hood.

Day 13 - CLEAN WINDOWS

photo credit movingwall.org


  • Remove your window screens, and vacuum them using the handheld attachment on your vacuum cleaner. Then, soak them in soapy water before rinsing. 
  • Use dish soap diluted in water and a microfiber cloth to wipe down your windows. Then, spray on vinegar diluted in water, and wipe the windows with a clean towel to dry them.
  • Dust your windowsills and frames, and touch up any chipped paint around the sills.

Day 14 - TOSS OLD PAPERS, MAGAZINES, NEWSPAPERS

photo credit Bob Vila


  • Recycle old magazines, newspapers, and packing materials.
  • Organize old paper or plastic shopping bags that are lying around in one location, so you can reuse them.
  • Shred sensitive documents you don't need anymore. Scan important papers, and shred the originals if they don’t need to be saved.

Day 15 - WASH MAKEUP AND HAIR BRUSHES

photo credit maekupbrushesasa.ga


  • Deep clean your makeup brushes and hair brushes.
  • Toss any liquid makeup over 3 months old and any powdered makeup over a year old.
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Day 16 - CLEAN OUT YOUR PLUMBING

photo credit jcnplumbing.com


  • Clean every drain in your home using this method: Pour boiling hot water down the drain, add baking soda, and then add vinegar. Then, cover the drain with a plug for a few minutes. Follow with another pour of boiling water.
  • Schedule a plumber for any leaky or otherwise damaged faucets you can't fix yourself.

Day 17 - SWITCH OUT SEASONAL DECOR



  • Remove any winter decorations still hanging around, including throw pillows, candle holders, throw blankets, and vases.  
  • Switch scented candles, hand soaps, etc. from winter scents to fresh spring ones.
  • If you have a fireplace, thoroughly clean it to remove dirt and debris from winter use.

Day 18 - VACUUM FURNITURE

photo credit mtoclean.com


  • Move the couch and any heavy chairs, and clean and vacuum underneath them.
  • Use the handheld attachment to vacuum the couch and chairs themselves. 

Day 19 - CLEAN OUT GARAGE

photo credit jdogjunkremoval.com


  • Declutter your garage, and throw out any unneeded items you haven’t touched since last spring.
  • Wash your gardening gloves, and rinse and wipe off the shoes you wear to do yard work.
  • Sweep your porch, patio, or front steps.

Day 20 - CLEAN OUT OFFICE ITEMS

photo credit learndobecome.com


  • Go through your desk drawers, and toss broken items, such as dead pens.
  • Collect and keep office items, such as paper clips, all in one place in your home.
  • Take your stash of coins to a coin machine or the bank.

Day 21 - SORT MUGS AND GLASSES

photo credit kitchenseer.com


  • Declutter your mugs and glasses. Donate the ones you no longer want, and wash and put away the rest.
  • Wash reusable water bottles and water-filtering pitchers. Then, change the filters.

Day 22-  ORGANIZE BAGS



  • Organize your bags, including backpacks, briefcases, and suitcases. Declutter the insides, and then clean and store them.
  • Clean out your everyday bag or wallet.
  • Wash and store reusable shopping bags all in one place.

Day 23 - REPAIR BROKEN OR DAMAGED CLOTHING



  • Either mend any damaged clothing yourself, or take it to a tailor.
  • Take any shoes or boots that need repairs to a cobbler. 

Day 24 - ORGANIZE HOBBY SUPPLIES AND OTHER COLLECTIONS 

photo credit home-dzine.co.za


  • Organize your hobby supplies. This can include crafting supplies, board games, or sporting equipment. 
  • Polish silver jewelry, silverware, and any other items that have become tarnished.

Day 25 - GET KIDS INVOLVED IN CLEANINGt the Kids Involved in the Cleaning

photo credit simplytodaylife.com


  • If you have young children, teach them how to clean something in their room, and make that their chore from now on.
  • Go through your books (including kids’ books), and donate the ones you don't want anymore.

Day 26 - DUST AND VACUUM SOME MORE

photo credit homeviable.com


  • Dust your blinds, and then vacuum the floor around them.
  • Dust around your stairs, and then vacuum them.
  • Wipe down your baseboards and other molding where dust tends to collect. Then, vacuum the floor near them.

Day 27 - WASH THE WALLS

photo credit impressiveinteriordesign.com


  • Wash any interior walls that have marks or stains.
  • Touch-up chipped or discolored paint.

Day 28 - WASH BED LINENS 

photo credit thescottishsum.co.uk


  • Wash your bed linens, including any mattress covers, duvet covers, pillow liners, throw blankets, and throw pillows.
  • If you have a guest room and the bed hasn’t been used in a while, strip the bed down to the mattress and wash all the linens.

Day 29 - SELL OR DONATE UNWANTED ITEMS 



  • Did you keep a list of items to sell? Now is the day to take your items to the consignment store or to photograph them to sell online.
  • Bring donations to a local charity.

Day 30 - THROW IT AWAY

photo credit americanmadedumpsters.com


  • Take a trip to the dump to get rid of any large items that are beyond repair.
  • Check your local regulations for how to get rid of other unwanted items, such as old paint.
  • Wash your garbage cans and recycling bins. Either do this outside or in your bathroom, scrubbing your tub afterward.


If you are interested in downloading the 30-Day Spring Cleaning Calendar, it's FREE!
Click the link → CALENDAR



Now, who is going to do this with me? Let me know in the comments below. 

Keep it sassy,
Kelly

😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊

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