REVIEW OF AUNTIE ANNE'S AT HOME BAKING KIT.

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Thanks to the folks at Auntie Anne's I had the opportunity to try their Baking kit. When I have gone to the mall , I could smell the pretzels cooking and I just had to have one. I like all types of pretzels but my favorite is salted. Now you can make your own at home. The baking kit includes all of the ingredients needed and is easy to make. Check out the video below and you can see all of the great treats that you can make.

The directions included were very easy to follow and there were illustrations to help you make the pretzels.  I have baked bread before and I am familiar with the use of yeast. After kneading the dough, and allowing it to rise, I made the pretzels. The dough was easy to work with but I was not so good in making the dough look like a pretzel. The kit came with salt and cinnamon sugar you can use as a topping. I should have watched the video before making the pretzels. Wait till you see the finished product.

My Masterpieces!!

I baked them according to the instructions but they did not look like pretzels at all. The texture was soft and they had a subtle sweet taste that everyone would like. They were fantastic and my whole family devoured them very quickly. As you can see below they looked like little cakes.

Overall the baking kit is a great product and was easy to use. I guess I have to practice my pretzel making skills and try to make them again. You can purchase the kits at a mall near you.

Disclaimer: I was given a free Baking kit for my honest review and I was not compensated for my review.

REVIEW OF THE HAMILTON BEACH COUNTERTOP OVEN (CSN STORES)

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Thanks to the folks at CSN stores, I had the opportunity to try the Hamilton Beach convection countertop oven (31199XR). This countertop convection oven is great for small kitchens or doubles as a second oven. The extra-large capacity allows you to quickly cook everything from a 5-pound chicken to a small roast or two 12'' pizzas. This countertop appliance can toast, bake, broil, and convection cook a variety of foods quickly and easily.     

Features:

• Extra-large toaster oven (6 - 8 slices) with convection.              
• Holds two 12 inch pizzas
• Convection cooks more evenly.       
• Extra-large size. Easy to clean.
• User-friendly control knob.
• Adjustable temperature up to 450 degrees F.
• 2-Hour timer with auto shut-of.
• Slide-out crumb tra.
• 2 Racks, 2 baking pans, broil grid, and user manual with recipes included.
• 1-Year limited warranty.
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My Review.

This is a handy oven to have around.  The instructions were very easy to follow and there are temperature and time guidelines included in the booklet. We did not realize how big the oven was until it was delivered. The box was huge. We did not have room on our countertop in the kitchen, so we put it on the buffet table away from anything that could burn.
We decided to make chocolate chip cookies using the convection setting. I have always known that convection cooks more evenly and quicker.The recipe told us to set the oven at 350 degrees but we decided to set the oven on 325 degrees. The cookies cooked quicker on the bottom, so it is important to rotate the trays in to oven. The cookies were done in approx 5 minutes and tasted great.

Precautionary and cleanup-

The oven's cabinet and glass door can become very hot quickly. So please be careful. There is a removable crumb tray that makes cleanup a snap. The inside of the oven is stainless steel and was easy to wipe when cooled. You can see above how easy the controls to read and if you have big hands you will not have a problem turning the dials.

Overall this is a great oven for the money. You have to experiment with the temperatures and times when cooking  if you are using the convection setting. I had to reduce the temperature and the time otherwise the cookies would have burned.  I have not tried the broiling or baking setting yet.
        
The CSN website was very easy to navigate and there is so much to choose from. There are over 200+ stores and you will  find something that you like. The item was received in excellent condition and shipping was fast. I had a great experience with CSN stores.






Disclaimer: I received the oven from CSN stores for my honest review and I was not compensated for my review.

REVIEW OF AMERICAN COOKERY BY JAMES BEARD

The Holiday season is just around the corner and you may be looking for that special meal to serve your family or friends. Let me introduce you to James Beard's American Cookery. The book contains a smorgasbord of recipes that will entice the most pickiest eaters. The book includes more than fifteen hundred of the author's favorite and most successful recipes, as well as advice on dozens of cooking questions, from choosing meats and vegetables to preserving fruit and making real cheeseburgers. A celebration of the roots of cooking in the American style.


My Thoughts-

My mom has always been looking for new and interesting recipes to make and share with our family. There are so many recipes to choose from and the preparation directions are very clear and easy to understand. I love cookies,so we decided to try the Crinkle Cookie recipe on page 714. Boy were they good and easy to make. They were devoured up quickly and no crumbs were left behind. Throughout the book there are little tidbits that talk about the history of the recipe or the food in it. So if you have that family member who loves to cook, get them a copy of the book and they will not be disappointed. 

THE COOKIES WERE MOIST AND DELICIOUS.

Disclaimer: I was given a free copy of the book from the Hachette Book Group and Little Brown & Company for my honest review and I was not compensated for my review.