Great stocking stuffer - Pie Weight Disc

Looking for a stocking stuffer for your favorite cook?
This gadget from Williams-Sonoma ($12.95) is one of my new favorites.  What is it? a Pie Weight Disc.
It replaces that pesky parchment paper, baking beads or beans you use when baking pie crust "blind".  No more paper ripping and beads dropping all over the place.  
The "petals" gently hold the sides in place until the crust is partially baked and is easy to remove.  Caution: the handle is hot.

Tips for Easier Baking (Plus Christmas cookie videos)

The French have a term for it:  "mis en place".  It means: "everything in its place".  Like many cooks, it took me some time to learn that this is a huge timesaver when you are baking or cooking.  There is nothing more frustrating to be in the middle of a recipe only to find you are out of that one ingredient or implement that is essential for the dish you are preparing.  So here are some tips which I hope you will find helpful for both gearing up for holiday baking and your everyday cooking


.This video provides ten tips for streamlining the baking process. Happy baking!

Getting ready to bake Christmas cookies? Watch these videos for easy to make treats....all family favorites.









Italian Sausage Dinner


Here is a video of my preparing a sausage, potato, onion and red & green pepper meal.....great for dinner or lunch. The video is taken from my "Betty Visits England" video. The highlight of the trip was a visit to Cockburn's butcher shop in Bedale, Yorkshire. We had the opportunity to watch the sausage made by Wayne Pearson.