How to Keep Homemade Cookies Fresh
Apr/102
I’m famous for a lot of stuff….at least I think I am. But, one thing I know for sure that I’m famous for is my chocolate chip cookies. I’ve been making these since I was nine years old – that’s 32 years, so you’d think I’d have the recipe down by now!
Keeping homemade cookies fresh is a snap!
Over the years, the best way I’ve found to keep homemade cookies fresh is to add some bread to the bag/container. Somehow the bread gets stale but the cookies don’t. Keep replacing the bread to keep the cookies fresh, and you’ll know when it’s time because the bread will be hard as a rock! I like to use the butt-ends of the bread, as those never seem to get eaten in my house…
Happy baking!
Hallelujah – Our New Boxes Arrived!
Feb/100
I’m happy & proud to announce that Family Plaque is now utilizing a 100% recyclable packaging solution! Since starting the business, we’ve used Styrofoam corner guards (much to my dismay) to protect our plaques – and they work great. But (and it’s a big but), every time I heard one of these Styrofoam “four packs” break apart to be used for shipping, I cringed. I’d imagine all those tiny white particles that came loose during the breaking process floating off…off…off..off and right into the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. The thought that Family Plaque was contributing to that made me sick to my stomach.
Styrofoam Corner Guards (bye bye!)
I complained about it long enough that my darling Engineer husband devised the new packing solution, and it requires no corner guards or bubble wrap. The plaque sits snug in a custom two-piece, die-cut box (bottom portion shown in picture below) and then a cardboard “skin” is wrapped around it and the box is taped up. Family Plaque customers may now take out their plaques when they arrive and immediately put the box in the recycle bin – no muss, no fuss. Check it out:
Family Plaque's New Custom Packaging Solution!
To say I’m thrilled with the new box design is an understatement. And, oddly enough, the very same day the boxes showed up — without us knowing they would be delivered that day — I bought The Boss a new bedtime book: Dr Seuss’ The Lorax. I can’t remember if I read this as a child, maybe I did, but the last page seriously brought a tear to my eye when I read it to my son for the first time. It goes like this:
“SO…
Catch!” calls the Once-ler.
He lets something fall.
“It’s a Truffula Seed.
It’s the last one of all!
You’re in charge of the last of the Truffula Seeds.
And Truffula Trees are what everyone needs.
Plant a new Truffula. Treat it with care.
Give it clean water. And feed it fresh air.
Grow a forest. Protect it from axes that hack.
Then the Lorax
and all his friends
may come back.”
Come to find out, there is an entire forest preservation movement based around this book. It’s called The Lorax Project and I highly encourage you to visit the website to learn more about it.
We’ve all got to do our part to love & protect Mother Earth – and I’m happy Family Plaque has taken yet another step in the right direction!
Get your grill on for the 4th of July!
Jun/090
Jack Stack BBQ Sauces & Rubs
My younger brother Reid and his wife Keely live in Kansas city. We don’t get to visit them as much as we like, but every time we do, we make a point to get our grubby little hands and watering mouths on some Jack Stack BBQ.
During our last visit, which was Memorial Day weekend, I went with Reid to pick up some Jack Stack. Knowing my husband loves to grill, Reid suggested I buy some of the KC Meat & Poultry Rub. I bought a bottle, threw it in my purse and kind of forgot about it. I mean, hello! I had bar-b-que waiting to be eaten!
The other night, my husband fired up the grill and cooked some chicken that was seasoned with olive oil and the rub. I wasn’t expecting much – I mean, chicken is chicken. But, I have to say, it was absolutely delicious – surprisingly so, really. There was no muss, no fuss – just chicken, olive oil and the rub. We couldn’t get enough.
Jack Stack BBQ offers its sauces and rubs for purchase online. So, get ready for the 4th of July, get some rub and get your grill on!
The Boss & The Husband grillin' it up, 2007