How to Make Buttercream

If you've ever swooned over creamy, buttery frosting adorning cake or cupcakes, you've probably experienced the magnificence of buttercream. It's delicious! But what exactly is buttercream? Spoiler alert: It's a frosting that contains butter. And cream (or sometimes milk). Its sweetness comes from powdered sugar (also known as confectioner's sugar or icing sugar). Its flavor comes from extract, such as vanilla, or perhaps almond. Really, the possibilities are endless. Chocolate buttercream, anyone? How about pistachio buttercream? And…it's easy to make. Ditch the canned frosting and whip up your own buttercream! How to Make Buttercream Add 12 tablespoons (3/4 cup) of softened butter to a mixing bowl. Beat until creamy. Beat in 3 to 4 cups of powdered sugar, depending on how sweet you like your frosting. Mix in 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract (or another flavor). Add a little food coloring, if desired. Beat in 2-3 tablespoons of cream or milk, until the frosting reaches your desired consistency. Mix in a pinch of salt. Storing Buttercream Refrigerate buttercream frosting in a covered container for up to a week. When you're ready to use it, let it sit out a bit to soften, then stir it. Got leftover buttercream? You can make buttercream truffles! You can freeze buttercream for several months. Bring the frosting to room temperature and whip it again before using it. How to Make a Piping Bag You don't need to own special equipment to pipe your frosting! You can simply fill a resealable plastic bag with your buttercream, then snip off a small hole in a bottom corner with scissors. To pipe your frosting, twist the top of the bag and gently squeeze out some buttercream through the slit in the bottom corner. Swiss Buttercream Swiss buttercream is meringue-based and produces a silky, stable frosting that's easy to pipe onto cakes, cookies, etc. It doesn't crust over when it dries, like American buttercream does. Make Swiss buttercream by whisking egg whites and sugar over a double boiler until cooked to a safe temperature, then whip them into a meringue. Beat in softened butter, a couple tablespoons at a time, then add a pinch of salt and any desired flavors. Try Swiss buttercream in this delicious mimosa cake! Italian Buttercream Italian buttercream has a meringue base but is made by heating a simple syrup of sugar and water to 240 degrees F. Mix the syrup into beaten egg whites, bringing the meringue to a safe temperature. Gradually beat in softened butter until the frosting is creamy. Then, mix in any flavoring or food coloring. Planning a dinner party and need some inspiration? How about looking for a new slow cooker dinner idea? We've got you covered in our ever-growing Facebook group! If you're not a member yet, why not?! We're chatting cooking techniques, dessert ideas, and everything in between. If you're already a member, invite your friends to join us too! via Food Fanatic https://ift.tt/2OUJ7ox Food Fanatic Unsubscribe from these notifications or sign in to manage your Email Applets.

How Many Teaspoons Equal a Tablespoon

If you're making a recipe and want to know how many teaspoons equal a tablespoon, the answer is three. Unless you're talking about an Australian tablespoon. An Australian tablespoon has four teaspoons.  That's because the Australian tablespoon is larger than a U.S. tablespoon. An Australian tablespoon has 20 milliliters, whereas the U.S. tablespoon has 15 milliliters. That brings us to teaspoons. Let's do a little math. If a U.S. tablespoon (three teaspoons) is 15 milliliters, how many milliliters are in one teaspoon? The answer is 5 milliliters. Did you get that right? Interestingly, U.S. teaspoons are measured the same as in Australia and in the metric system used in the United Kingdom. How Many Half Teaspoons are in a Tablespoon? Ready for some more math? If there are three teaspoons in a U.S. tablespoon, how many half teaspoons are in a U.S. tablespoon? There are six half teaspoons in a U.S. tablespoon. Of course, since an Australian tablespoon has four teaspoons, there are eight half teaspoons in an Australian tablespoon. Measuring Spoons vs. Regular Spoons Everything we've discussed so far pertains to measuring spoons. You know, the kind with the number printed on the handle. An eating utensil is different. If you grab a regular tablespoon from your drawer, it might be larger than a measuring tablespoon. The size of eating utensils can vary by as much as 25 percent, depending on the brand, etc. The moral of the story? Make sure to use measuring spoons when you're cooking dinner or baking. Level, Rounded or Heaping? When following a recipe, always use a level teaspoon or tablespoon, unless otherwise stated. When measuring a level spoon, the ingredient should not come any higher than the edges of the spoon. When measuring a solid, you can scrape a knife across the top of the spoon to make it level. If a recipe calls for a rounded teaspoon, the ingredient will come up beyond the edges of the spoon and be rounded on top. The same goes for a rounded tablespoon. A heaping teaspoon or tablespoon means to pile on as much as the spoon can hold.  Abbreviations for Teaspoon and Tablespoon Recipes often use abbreviations for teaspoon and tablespoon. Teaspoon is abbreviated as "tsp," using all lowercase letters. Tablespoon is abbreviated as "Tbsp" with the T capitalized, or just "T." Now that you know all the ins and outs of teaspoons and tablespoons, you might want to make some cocktails or bake some cookies! Enjoy! Planning a dinner party and need some inspiration? How about looking for a new slow cooker dinner idea? We've got you covered in our ever-growing Facebook group! If you're not a member yet, why not?! We're chatting cooking techniques, dessert ideas, and everything in between. If you're already a member, invite your friends to join us too! via Food Fanatic https://ift.tt/2Naevh7 Food Fanatic Unsubscribe from these notifications or sign in to manage your Email Applets.

Protein Overnight Oats Recipe

Print Save Protein Overnight Oats Recipe Embed Ingredients 3/4 cup Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk 1/2 cup Vanilla Greek Yogurt 1 scoop Vanilla Protein Powder 1/4 teaspoon Pure Vanilla Extract 4 teaspoons Ground Cinnamon 1/2 cup Steel Cut Oats Directions Pour almond milk, yogurt, and protein powder into a jar – whisk or stir to combine. Stir in vanilla, cinnamon, and oats. Store in the refrigerator overnight. Top with fruit, nuts, or granola and enjoy.   Recommended Ball Canning Jars Ball Mason Jars Dreamfarm Supoon via Food Fanatic https://ift.tt/2xIpSIC Food Fanatic Unsubscribe from these notifications or sign in to manage your Email Applets.

How Long Does it Take Eggs to Boil?

How long does it take eggs to boil? It depends on whether you're making hard-boiled eggs or soft-boiled eggs. Hard-boiled eggs have firmly cooked whites and yolks. They're the kind used for deviled eggs and dyed Easter eggs. Soft-boiled eggs feature a runny yolk and usually, firm whites. You can dip your toast in the yolk of a soft-boiled egg. Before you begin making the eggs, make sure you have the best kind for boiling. While fresh eggs taste delicious, older eggs are much easier to peel. You can keep your eggs in the refrigerator for a week or two to make it easier to peel them. How to Hard Boil Eggs Place your eggs in the bottom of a pot in a single layer and cover with cold water, until there's an inch of water above the eggs. Cook uncovered, over medium-high heat on your stove, until the water comes to a rolling boil. Turn off the heat, cover the pot, and let your eggs sit for 12-15 minutes, depending on their size. At high altitude, let the eggs sit for 20 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, remove the eggs to a colander and run cold water over them to stop the cooking. Store hard-boiled eggs in the refrigerator for up to a week. How to Soft Boil Eggs Bring a few inches of water to a boil in a pot over medium high heat. Lower the heat to a simmer. Carefully add your eggs to the simmering pot. Boil the eggs for 5-6 minutes. Remove the eggs with a slotted spoon and place them in a bowl of ice water to cool off. Either peel the eggs or just slice off the tops, so you can dip your toast inside. Store soft-boiled eggs in the refrigerator for up to four days. Are you tired of the dinner routine? Stuck in a rut or looking for fun new recipes to try? Our Facebook Group is growing every day! If you haven't joined yet, we invite you to come check it out and join the fun. You can ask for recipe ideas, talk about cooking techniques, or get help figuring out the right new pan set for you. If you've already joined, invite a friend along! via Food Fanatic https://ift.tt/2DBurd7 Food Fanatic Unsubscribe from these notifications or sign in to manage your Email Applets.

How to Cook Bacon in the Oven

Have you ever found yourself trying to fix breakfast for a crowd? Even four people can seem like a crowd when you're trying to make pancakes or eggs, plus bacon. What if you don't have enough pans or space on your stove? How can you possibly make everything at once? That's when it makes sense to cook bacon in the oven. It's a stress-free solution, because you don't have to worry about flipping, and the cleanup is so much easier. Are you sold yet? Here's what you need to do. Keep in mind it's best not to preheat the oven before adding raw bacon. Bacon needs to cook slow, so the fat renders out gradually and produces an even result. How to Cook Bacon in the Oven Line a baking sheet with foil for easier cleanup. Parchment paper also works well. Lay the bacon slices out in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet. For crispier bacon, you can place a cooking rack on your baking sheet and place the bacon on the rack, so the air will circulate around it. Place the bacon in a cold oven and then heat it to 400 degrees F. Bake for 25-35 minutes, depending on how crunchy you like your bacon. Thicker bacon will take longer than thin. Lay the bacon on a paper towel-lined platter to drain and cool. How to Save Bacon Drippings Did you know you can save bacon grease for use again? You'll need to discard any remaining bits of meat though, since they'll burn if cooked again. Once your bacon is cooked, strain out the solid bits by pouring the drippings through a sieve and into a metal container. If you want to use a glass jar, make sure the grease is no longer hot, so the glass doesn't shatter. Store bacon grease in the refrigerator for at least a month. You can use it in place of oil or butter when cooking. How to Get Rid of Bacon Grease Never pour bacon grease down your drain, or it will eventually clog your pipes. Let the grease solidify at room temperature or the refrigerator, then toss it in the trash. Now that you know how to cook bacon in the oven, try making Brown Sugar Jalapeno Bacon, a Breakfast BLT, or use avocados in this BLAT with Spicy Candied Bacon. And, if you're wondering about cooking bacon on the stove or in the microwave, be sure to check out How to Cook Bacon for all the details. Happy eating! Are you tired of the dinner routine? Stuck in a rut or looking for fun new recipes to try? Our Facebook Group is growing every day! If you haven't joined yet, we invite you to come check it out and join the fun. You can ask for recipe ideas, talk about cooking techniques, or get help figuring out the right new pan set for you. If you've already joined, invite a friend along! via Food Fanatic https://ift.tt/2IinzzH Food Fanatic Unsubscribe from these notifications or sign in to manage your Email Applets.

How Many Fluid Ounces in a Cup?

How many fluid ounces are in a cup? It seems like a straightforward question in cooking and baking. But, the answer depends on where you live. Did you know liquid is not measured the same way worldwide? The United States has its own system of measurement. It's different than the metric system and the British imperial system. The United States Customary System (USCS or USC) developed from English units used by the British Empire before America became an independent country. But, then, in 1824, the British Empire overhauled its measurement system, instituting imperial units instead. By the late 20th century, most of the countries from the British Empire switched to the metric system, which is based on decimals. But, some imperial units are still used in the United Kingdom, Canada and other nations that used to be part of the British Empire. The metric system is now used by almost all nations. In fact, the United States is the only industrialized country in the world that doesn't use the metric system as its main system of measurement. But the metric system doesn't use ounces. It measures liquid in milliliters. So, if you want to know how many fluid ounces are in a cup, we need to look at U.S. measurements and imperial units. U.S. Fluid Ounces Per U.S. Cup When using United States measurements, there are 8 fluid ounces in a cup. Imperial Fluid Ounces Per Imperial Cup There are 10 imperial fluid ounces in an imperial cup. U.S. Fluid Ounces Per Imperial Cup There are 9.6 U.S. fluid ounces in an imperial cup. So, an imperial cup is bit larger than an American cup. Imperial Fluid Ounces Per US Cup There are 8.3 imperial fluid ounces in a U.S. cup. Confused yet? You might want to head over to the cocktails section. Cheers! Are you tired of the dinner routine? Stuck in a rut or looking for fun new recipes to try? Our Facebook Group is growing every day! If you haven't joined yet, we invite you to come check it out and join the fun. You can ask for recipe ideas, talk about cooking techniques, or get help figuring out the right new pan set for you. If you've already joined, invite a friend along! via Food Fanatic https://ift.tt/2zsAzjz Food Fanatic Unsubscribe from these notifications or sign in to manage your Email Applets.