Cooking and Baking

• the obvious ones; spoon and fork!
• a variety of kitchen knives
• cutting boards
• electric beaters
• mixing bowls
• pots and pans
• rolling pin

• measuring cups; for liquid and/or dry ingredients
• teaspoons and tablespoons
• cheese grater
• blender
• skillet
• spatula
• wire whisk

1. Always cut away from yourself - NEVER towards yourself
2. If you have long hair, tie it back.
3. Keep all flammable objects (including your hair) away from flames, and use an oven mitt.
4. Wash your hands A LOT.
5. When boiling water, salt the water after it's boiling.  If you salt it before, it will take longer to boil.
6. Even if cookies don't look like they are completely done, take them out; they bake a little more just sitting on the pan.
7. Put hard-boiled eggs on ice to cool; this will make them easier to peel.

Pesto Pasta Primavera

A delicious mixture of sautéed vegetables and creamy pesto sauce, all on top of freshly made noodles.  Feel free to experiment with different vegetables and sauces!

Ingredients:

Directions:

1. Prepare the vegetables (cook broccoli and green beans in the microwave until about halfway cooked if frozen).  Chop off the broccoli's stems and cut florets in half.  Chop green beans until they are about an inch and a half to two inches long.  Dice the carrots.  Mince the onion.

2. Pour olive oil into large frying pan.  Add any desired spices before adding the vegetables.  Turn flame on high.  Add the carrots, stir to make sure the are coated in olive oil, cover the frying pan and let sit for two minutes.

3. Turn the flame down.  Add broccoli, green beans, and onions.  Stir vegetables together, cover and let sit about 10 to 15 minutes, or until the vegetables are as tender or tough as you want.

4. About 5 minutes into the sautéing process, stir minced garlic into the vegetables.  Cover for the rest of the time .

5. Prepare the pasta according to package directions.  Make sure the pesto sauce is ready at this point.

6. Drain pasta, and toss it with the sautéed vegetables.

7. Enjoy, and feel free to experiment with different vegetables and spices.
    

Pesto sauce

A flavorful sauce that goes well with all pastas (don't be afraid just because it's green!).

In a food processor or blender, combine basil, garlic, Parmesan cheese, olive oil, pine nuts, and pepper.  Purée until smooth.  Use pesto immediately, store in an airtight container in refrigerator for up to 4 days, or freeze.

Cream Cheese Brownies

A great twist on the normal brownie.  Super moist and delicious.

1. Prepare brownie mix as directed on package.  Pour into greased 13x9-inch baking pan.

2. Beat cream cheese with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth.  Add sugar, mixing until blended.  Add egg and vanilla; mix just until blended.

3. Pour cream cheese mixture over brownie mixture; cut through batter with knife several times for marble effect.

4. Bake at 350°F for 35 to 40 minutes or until cream cheese mixture is lightly browned.  Cool; cut into squares.  Makes 24  Note: Do not use brownie mixes that include syrup pouch.

From the Philadelphia Brand cream cheese box.

Carrot Cake

A lovely, moist carrot cake.  Goes great with cream cheese frosting!

1. Mix sugar and oil in large mixing bowl.
2. Add and mix beaten eggs.
3. Add flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt.  Mix thoroughly.
4. Grate or chop carrots until they are in tiny pieces.  Add and mix.
5. Bake in a tube pan at 350° for 1 hour.
6. Let cool in pan for 30 minutes, then take cake out of pan and cool completely before frosting.

Cream Cheese Frosting

Tastes great, and not too sweet.  Perfect with carrot cake.

1. In a mixer bowl beat together cream cheese (previously softened) butter or margarine, and vanilla till light and fluffy.

2. Gradually add powdered sugar, beating until smooth.

3. Spread over cooled cake.

4. Cover; store in the refrigerator.

• Allrecipes.com : Full of great meal ideas, with a special feature-type in your available ingredients, and it will give you some recipes.  Don't forget to check out recipe reviews and instructional videos!
• Redbook recipes : Some great, healthy meal ideas from the Redbook magazine.
• Food Network: Contains shows and videos as well as recipes