I just got back from taking my High School choir to Silver Dollar City for a music festival. It was such a great trip! The kids behaved really well, and the parents that went along were a huge support. After singing in Silver Dollar City (and earning top honors…cough cough) we got to experience the ShowBoat Branson Belle dinner cruise. They had a magician comedian, tap dancers/cloggers, and a men’s vocal group that made the evening a delight.
I shared a hotel room with Read more
I’m hiding in my room with 85% dark chocolate. All of my kids had the day off school and most requested a friend over or 2…or 3. That made 14 children at the house today and only 1 casualty, so far. Read more
Cake mix is a convenience food I buy, especially when it goes on sale. The delicious and effective chemicals in them give results I haven’t been able to duplicate by scratch. I’m sure it’s because I’m impatient and don’t separate eggs, or combine dry and wet ingredients separately.
It is probably also because I insist on using home ground whole wheat flour in everything I make from scratch. It’s really not good in cake….especially when compared to the box variety. It makes no sense I know. Using white cake flour would be a step up from going full force into a box mix. I’m a woman. I don’t have to make sense.
I’ve watched Cake Boss competitions where he criticized the contestants for cupcakes that tasted like they came from a box mix. “Blech, what did you do? Use a box mix?” I don’t understand the level of cake he’s on. Read more
Brownies…..savor the thought for a minute. They are the perfect accent for unexpected company, potluck suppers, afterschool snacks….any time really. Had a baby? Here’s a brownie. Experienced loss? I’ll bring a whole pan. I can’t think of a time a brownie isn’t appropriate.
If you are gluten free, you can substitute all purpose gluten free flour blend for the flour as long as the mix contains xanthan gum. In theory, xylitol will work instead of sugar in the mix and almond flour instead of all-purose flour for those on a fitness kick. (I’d be tempted to try 1/3 almond flour, 1/3 flax meal, and 1/3 oat fiber.) I haven’t tested these variations yet, so try it in a smaller batch the first time and report back how it went.
This mix can also be used for creative Pinterest recipes that call for brownie mix. 4 1/2 cups mix = a box mix that makes a 9×13 family size pan of brownies.
