The Prepared Pantry's
Helpful Baking Tips

In This Issue:
• The “How to Bake” Series
• How to Bake: Yo-yo Cookies
• Kitchen Tip
• New Products: Cookie Half-Paks
• Unadvertised Specials
• Healthier Pies

The “How to Bake” Series

It’s the first of the year and we’re looking for ways to make our newsletter better. Our conclusion? Include more “how to” information. So beginning today, we’re going to start a “How to Bake” series. We’ll take a product that illustrates at least one baking technique and walk through the process with words and pictures. We’ll explain why it works—kind of “the art and science” of baking--and point out what could go wrong. We’ll include information that will be helpful to both the veteran and newcomer. Don’t look for “How to Bake” every issue but, if you like these features, we’ll include them often.

In this issue, we have included “How to Bake: Yo-yo Sandwich Cookies”. The lessons and hints here are applicable to most refrigerator cookies. (Click here to see.)

New Products: Cookie Half-Paks

Several weeks ago, we introduced our Yo-yos, those scrumptious little chocolate sandwich cookies, in a half-pak, a single double-sized mix in a package. Judging from customer response, it was the right thing to do. We converted most of cookie products to half-paks giving you the option of trying single mixes to see which cookies are your favorites. The following cookies are now available in single mix packages:

• Caramel Vanilla Biscotti
• Chocolate Yo-yo’s
• Country Farm Snickerdoodles
• Swiss Chocolate Slices
• Almond Chocolate Chip Cookies
• Brownie Chocolate Chip Cookies
• Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

Unadvertised Specials (Save 25%)

We should have figured this out sooner. It doesn’t cost anything for us to post products in our newsletter so why not pass the savings on to our subscribers? So from time to time, we would like to make a product available to you for a limited time at a special savings. This week, we would like to offer our Classic Parker House Rolls at a savings of about 25%. Our bread machine mix is offered to our subscribers only through next Tuesday, January 13, for $5.25 for a package of two mixes. The mixes are sized to fit your bread machine. (Click here to see.) Our traditional mix (that you can make by hand or with a mixer) is offered in a two mix package but each mix is about twice as large as the bread machine mixes. We are offering this to our subscribers for $6.75 through next Tuesday. (Click here to see.) We think you will enjoy these buttery, attractive rolls.

Refer a Friend

If you have friend or family member that you think would appreciate these newsletters, you can share our newsletter with them in three ways. (1) Send us an email and we will contact your friend with subscription information. (2) Click here to sign up your friend or (3) forward this email to a friend with the suggestion that they subscribe. Every subscriber will have a chance to win 1000 cookies (mixes to make 1,000 cookies to be exact) on Christmas Eve.

There is no cost and your friends can unsubscribe at any time with the click of a button. We do not share email addresses.

Healthier (Better) Pies

We don’t often bake with shortening. Shortening is 100% heat processed hydrogenated oil. We think butter is a healthier choice.

Most of the pie crust recipes that we grew up with, called for shortening. Butter can be substituted and we think it makes a better tasting crust. Since butter is 15% water, you may need to slightly reduce the water that you add. (The amount of water is always variable—the coarseness of your mixture and the temperature will affect water absorption.)

For a flakier crust, try adding Ľ teaspoon baking powder for every 2 ˝ cups of flour.

By the way, most pumpkin pie recipes call for evaporated canned milk. We substitute regular milk and reduce the amount by 10 to 15%. The pie may not be quite as rich but if anyone can tell the difference, they haven’t told us.

Cooking Tip: Kitchen Shears

One of the most used instruments in our kitchen is kitchen shears. Not only are they regularly used to open packages but they are used for all sorts of trimming and shearing duties.

To cut canned tomatoes quickly and easily, pour them into a bowl (or cut them right in the can) and cut them to the desired size with your kitchen shears.

We keep one set of shears in an open mouth container (along with other frequently used instruments like thermometers) on the counter where we can reach them quickly but not cut ourselves. Keep your shears sharp with a knife sharpener.

Missed Newsletters: Retrieve Them Here

If you missed a newsletter in the past few weeks and would like to see them, you can do so by clicking below.

January 5 (click here)

• The “How to Bake” Series
• How to Bake: Yo-yo Cookies
• New Products: Cookie Half-Paks
• Unadvertised Specials
• Healthier Pies

December 29 (click here)

• Troubleshooting Machine Bread
• Favorite Machine (or Other) Breads
• Build a Ring with Your Machine
• Side Notes
• Freshness Counts
• All Those Used Bags

December 15 (click here)

• New Products
• What to Do with Leftover Bread
• To Egg or Not
• Emergency Bread: A Usable Recipe

December 8 (click here)

• The Primer for the Perfect Cookie
• New Improved Yoyos
• Gifts for Under $6
• A Baker’s Gift Suggestion

December 1 (click here)

• Troubleshooting Cookies
• A Holiday Special: The Heritage Collection
• What to do with Leftover Cranberry Sauce
• Finding a Substitute for Rum
• Can I Substitute Butter for Shortening?

November 21 (click here)

• Keeping Holiday Food Safe
• Building Better Burgers
• Gift Giving with a Personal Message
• Picture Perfect Bread