Butter and Babies

As a kid, do you remember holding a dandelion under chin?

We talked about it on the show last week. (It was Dandelion Day on Tuesday, April 5th). If there was a yellowish reflection, that meant you liked butter, right? I don't know the origin of that practice but I think I ALWAYS had the yellow color reflected under my chin! I loved butter and still do. On today's show I shared some interesting facts about butter.

Have you wondered which is better salted or unsalted?

• Unsalted is best because the amount of salt can vary from brand to brand.Salted butter contains more water, which can interfere with gluten development
• Salt masks butters naturally sweet, delicate flavors and can be overwhelming

Where should you store butter?

• Place in back of fridge where it’s coldest. Don't use the compartment in the door.
• Butter will keep for 2 1/2 weeks in the refrigerator and up to 4 months in the freezer.
• Place in ziplock bag (before freezing) so that it won’t pick up other odor

Why is it important to use the proper temperature in a recipe?

• Chilled butter-should be cold and unyeilding
• Cold butter melts during baking leaving behind small pockets of air that create flaky layers in recipes like pie dough and croissants.
• Room Temperature-should easily bend without breaking
• Softened butter is flexible enough to be whipped but firm enough to retain the incorporated air-vital to making cakes with a tender crumb.
• Melted and Cooled-should be fluid and slightly warm
• Butter is roughly 16% water; when melted, water breaks from the emulsion and helps create gluten for chewier cookies.

On Monday, I spoke with Lesley Bolton regarding her new book, "THE COMPLETE BOOK OF BABY NAMES: THE MOST NAMES, THE MOST UNIQUE NAMES, MOST IDEA GENERATING LISTS (600+), AND THE MOST HELP TO FIND THE PERFECT NAME."

It really is the most complete baby name book that I have ever seen! Lesley said that it's very important to select the right name. You need to think about your child and most people select a first name that has meaning-not necessarily what the name actually means, but why it has meaning to the Mom and Dad. You also need to consider how the first name sounds (on it's own) and also when paired with the last name. The trend right now is for more traditional, classical names and the Social Security office will release the top 10 for 2011 this May. So stay tuned....

Artificial Sweeteners and Almonds

You might use a sugar substitute in your cup of coffee and think nothing of it. However, when you bake with sugar substitutes you may have experienced problems. Sugar substitutes can' t stand up to the prolonged heat of the oven and therefore your baked goods can loose volume, taste less sweet, show tunneling or appear crumbly and lighter in color than those items baked with sugar. If you need to cut calories and carbs in your daily diet here are a few tips to keep in mind when using sugar substitutes during baking:

• Add 1 tsp. vanilla extract for every 1 c. sugar substitute to enhance flavor


• Flatten cookie dough before baking by gently pressing it with your palms. Sugar substitutes often prevent cookie dough from spreading.


• Use cold brewed coffee inplace of some liquid in chocolate flavored recipes to enrich the chocolate notes


• Create volume by using whipped egg whites instead of whole eggs. (2 egg whites for every 1 egg)


• Reduce air tunnels in baked goods by cutting the fat into dry ingredients before adding the liquid ingredients


• Achieve more height by switching from 9" pans to 8" round or square pans with 2" tall sides

Today is National Almond Day

A handful of almonds is an excellent source of vitamin E and magnesium. Plus almonds offer potassium (200mg), calcium(75mg), and iron (1.0mg).

These tasty nuts are a great way to stop that mid-afternoon "hungry" feeling. The protein, fiber and monounsaturated fat will keep you satisfied longer. There is also scientific evidence that suggests that eating 1.5 oz. per day, along with a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol may reduce the risk of heart disease.

Gingerbread and Good Neighbors

Today is National Good Neighbor Day.
So why not offer to do something nice for one of your neighbors. Maybe you can help them with outside yard work, run errands, or bake an extra batch of cookies to share.


If you don't know your neighbors, today would be a good day to get acquainted. Why not try these delicious Gingerbread Cupcakes and share them?

GINGERBREAD CUPCAKES
1 c. all purpose flour
½ tsp. baking powder
½ tsp. ground ginger
½ tsp. ground cinnamon
¼ tsp. baking soda
Dash of salt
1 slightly beaten egg white
1/3 c. molasses
1/3 c. water
3 Tbsp. cooking oil
Sifted powdered sugar (optional)

Line 8 muffin cups with paper liners; set aside. In medium mixing bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, ginger, cinnamon, soda & salt; set aside. In small mixing bowl
Stir together egg white, molasses, water & oil. Stir molasses mixture into flour mixture just until blended. Spoon mixture into prepared muffin cups. Bake at 350° for
15-20 minutes or until cupcakes spring back when pressed lightly in center. If desired, sprinkle with powdered sugar. Serve warm or cool. Yield: 8 cupcakes

How to make a "Murphect" Muffin:

• Don't over mix!
• Recipes with less butter and sugar will give you a more "bread-like" muffin. Those with more butter and sugar will result in a more "cake-like" muffin.
• All ingredients should be at room temperature before you begin.
• Thick, lumpy batter is good.
• Position the oven rack in the middle for best heat distribution.
• Let muffins cool a few minutes before turning out of the pan.
• Muffins are best when made fresh, however, if you wish, wrap cooled muffins in plastic wrap; freeze for up to two months. Thaw, still wrapped, at room temperature.

Books, Baking Tips and your Brain

We spoke with Dr. Stan Cupery on Tuesday.

Dr. Cupery is a local retired physician. He lived and worked in Beaver Dam for over 25 years and also opened a clinic in nearby Randolph for 5 years. He had started the concept of this novel back in the 1980's but got so busy with his practice and his family that it had to be shelved until recently. His novel, SCARS OF EASTON, is a medical intrigue set in the 1960's. It's always a pleasure to speak with someone from the area. Dr. Cupery's book is available at the Beaver Dam Community Hospital gift shop and also at our local bookstore, Book World.

Did you know you can flavor coconut to enhance your recipes?

One of my listeners called with these tips-

To 1 & 1/3 c. coconut add:

• 1-2 Tbsp. dry JELL-O (any flavor)


• 1/2 tsp. baking cocoa + 1/2 tsp. instant coffee


• 1/4 tsp. imitation maply flavoring


• 2 Tbsp. juice from strawberries or other fruit


• 3-4 tsp. orange juice concentrate

On Wednesday, we talked with Dr. Martha Burns, a practicing clinician and faculty member at Northwestern University, about training kids brains and "brain fitness". Dr. Burns said that during the summer, children can lose much of the knowledge they've gained during the previous school year. We talked about the need for parents to be "pro-active" if they notice that their children are falling behind in their studies. There are various "brain games" that you can engage your children in-30 minutes per day of brain fitness might be just what is needed to make the difference. For more information, you can go to http://www.brainprolearning.com/

I was scheduled to talk with Mari Frank, about her book "THE IDIOTS GUIDE TO IDENTITY THEFT" today, however, she had an unexpected conflict so we have rescheduled that interview for early October. I think almost everyone knows someone who has gotten their identity stolen. Mari is a lawyer and lives in California. She has vested interest in this subject because it also happened to her. This topic should make for a very interesting interview.