A great gift idea for cooks

If you love to cook, here's a great DIY gift idea for you. It's a cookbook website that lets you compile and print a cookbook for only $10.95. I included a link here.

My friend and colleague, Angela McRae actually clipped the info out of a Woman's Day magazine for me, thinking I would be interested. She was right. I think it's a great idea.

After exploring the website, I saw some drawbacks -- for me. Mainly, I would want to create a cookbook of my own recipes or the recipes handed down from my family. With this online cookbook maker, you have a section of recipes you must choose from Woman's Day recipes. Now I am not putting down their recipes, but I usually am more excited about Martha Stewart's or Southern Living's recipes.

Also, the 8 1/2 x 11, softcover book is more of a booklet because you can choose only about 20 or so pages, then you have about half that many pages of your own. If you go over the page limit, you will have to pay around a dollar a page more and the price can mount up very quickly. But if you want to give a personalized book with recipes and include a few of your own, this would be great.

I did find the prices were hidden in the site and I had to jump through hoops to find out what the prices were. If I seem a little vague about pricing, I thought they were, too. You do have the option of working on it, saving it and going back to it, so you don't have to do it all in one sitting. You can also upload some of your own images. I just don't really like having to use their recipes.

After that, I googled "make your own cookbooks" and found another site, based in Atlanta, called "Create My Cookbook." I have a link for you here. I plan to use this site in the near future to create a cookbook of my own. I am not sure I will have time to make my cookbook before Christmas this year, but I am thinking of making cookbooks for gifts next year, or even during the year.


On this site, you can create a cookbook from 6 to 100 pages for $19.99 and it is all your (or my) recipes. You can go back to it and take all the time you need to finish it up. This is a spiral bound book with a wraparound spine and they mention how it has protection from spills. You can use their stock photos or upload your own. I really loved this site and I am going to use it as soon as I can. I think it will be a great way just to organize my recipes.

There is a hard cover version for $34.95 but I think I would start with the spiral bound version. I really need to see what one cookbook looks like before I put very much money into it. I also liked the fact that it looks like you get a price break on 20 or more cookbooks, but I don't know what the break will be. I must contact them first. I will let you know how it turns out and I appreciate Angela for finding this great do it yourself project.

Caramel apple cupcakes

I know I said I wasn't going to make another cake until Thanksgiving, but I did have to make something for our office Thanksgiving feast and I have been wanting to make these for a long time.

Apple caramel cupcakes are a twist on a recipe that I already have. They have a hazelnut topping and a cream cheese frosting. My friend Kim once said that adding cream cheese to anything made it better, and I have to agree.

I decided to use Kraft soft caramels for the caramel part so here's the recipe.


Apple Cake w/Caramel Sauce

2 cups plain flour
1-1/2 cups vegetable oil
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
3 cups grated apples
2 teaspoons soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons cinnamon
Cooking spray

To prepare apples, wash, peel and grate. Preheat oven at 350 degrees. Line cupcake pans. This recipe makes 36 small cupcakes or 30 large ones.

Combine vegetable oil, sugar and mix well. Add eggs and mix. Add apples, flour, soda, salt and cinnamon. Blend until well mixed. The batter will be pretty runny. Ladle batter into cupcake liners, using a quarter cup measuring cup. Fill each liner 1/2 to 2/3 full. Bake for 15 minutes or until done. Prick the cupcake tops with a fork and spoon on the warm caramel filling, recipe below. Allow to cool. Frost with Cream Cheese Frosting -- the recipe is below and sprinkle with chopped hazelnuts or peanuts.
This will also make a three layer cake. If making a cake, be sure to line the pans with parchment paper and bake for 25 to 30 minutes. Prick top of layers while warm and pour on caramel filling. Frost with Cream Cheese Frosting.

Caramel Filling
Melt 1 bag of soft caramels and 1/4 cup of evaporated milk
Microwave a minute at a time and stir well, until caramels are melted. It may take several minutes before mixture is melted.

Cream Cheese Frosting
2 eight ounce packages of cream cheese
1/4 cup butter (1/2 stick)
2 lb. Confectioners' sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla flavoring
1/2 cup of hazelnuts or peanuts, chopped

Mix cream cheese, butter and flavoring until creamy. Add Confectioners' sugar and mix on high until creamy. Pipe onto cupcakes using a pastry bag and large size coupler and tip. Top with nuts. This will make enough to generously frost a three layer cake. You may want to add another cup of nuts to top a cake.

Lower fat option: You can also substitute 1/2 cup of applesauce for 1/2 cup of the oil.

Flu Patrol

We have heard all about the flu on the news, and depending on your area, the H1N1 or swine flu is either at its peak or just past it.

My concern, and the concern of many health care professionals is that another wave of flu is on its way. I just want to give a gentle reminder that you need to take the regular flu shot as soon as possible. Even if you have had the H1N1 virus already, you could still be hit by the second wave.

I do think it is time to get aggressive and be very careful to avoid the spread of germs. One of the best ways to do this is simply to wash your hands -- and do it often. I have read that hand washing is a lost art and I can believe it. Many feel that washing hands could significantly cut the spread of colds and flu. Also, consistently carrying wipes and using them before eating, touching others or your own eyes, nose or mouth would greatly reduce the spread of the germs that cause colds and flu.

A problem with using most commercial wipes is they really don't have what it takes to kill the spread of a virus. Wipes must contain at least 70 percent alcohol to kill these germs, so putting a little Purell on our hands might not be enough. (Most products don't contain that much alcohol.) Also, some products don't have any alcohol at all.

I recently heard a scientist speak on public radio about his flu studies. He said that according to his research, wiping alone, with nothing, was as effective as using a store-bought product, like Purell. So, just wiping can remove germs -- still hand washing is the best protection against disease. He also said that staying out of public bathrooms is a good idea. When that can't be avoided, use a towel or wipe to open/close the bathroom door and turn off the faucet.


I have a formula for making alcohol wipes you may want to try. I purchased some dry facial wipes in the cosmetic department at the drug store and a bottle of alcohol. I put the wipes in a baggie and poured alcohol over them. I then added a couple drops of orange essential oil just to pretty up the smell. I then double-bagged the wipes because I didn't want the alcohol to leak out. I carry this around to wipe my hands when washing is not an option. Read here about the CDC's hand washing suggestions.

Another thing I personally think is helpful is using a nasal rinse at least twice a day and whenever I feel I have been exposed to sneezes and coughs. I have blogged about this before. I like to use a pre-packaged rinse and, during flu season, I also add one (and only one) drop of grapefruit seed extract to the rinse. More than one drop could burn your sinues. This is strong stuff, but I think it is helpful for me. Your doctor may disagree, so please ask him before adding anything to your nasal rinse. Grapefruit seed is a compound that will work on mold, bacteria, virus germs and even candida. Many with sinus problems swear by it, but is potent so proceed with caution when using it. I have a theory that the warm water you use with a nasal rinse can kill germs. Germs don't really hang around in warm places, if they did, we would get the flu all year long.

So my suggestions for aggressively avoiding and preventing the spread of the flu?

1. Get a flu shot.

2. Wash hands often using guidelines of the CDC.

3. Sneeze into your sleeve, like Elmo.

4. Use alcohol wipes and wipe vigorously.

5. Avoid public bathrooms when possible and avoid touching door handles in public places.

6. Go to your doctor if you think you may be getting the flu. If you take Tamiful within the first 48 hours, the flu can be shortened significantly.

7. Stay at home if you have the flu or flu symptoms.

8. Wear a mask when around an infected person and, again, wash your hands after coming in contact with them.

9. I like to use Lysol wipes (see top photo) in my work area to keep germs at bay. Don't forget your phone.

10. Use wipes on shopping cart handles, and on anything people have handled.

Turkey deals

Please forgive me for the rather bad photo, but it is definitely the year to buy a turkey for Thanksgiving. I just had to post this, just in case you missed the sales fliers this weekend.

I have not seen turkey prices this low in years. Last year the best price I found was 69 cents and this year you can buy turkeys for 37 cents per pound -- unbelievable. Now is the time to buy one for Thanksgiving, another for Christmas and another to give away. I have three turkeys in my freezer. Two of them were 40 cents a pound and the third I purchased at Whole Foods for $1.69 a pound and it was a free-range, antibiotic free turkey. The last time I checked on the price of those, the price was well over $2.00 a pound.

If you notice in the rather fuzzy photo above, a Butterball turkey is 77 cents a pound -- that's a 20 cent savings for each pound. Also notice that sweet potatoes are the same price as the turkey. I am fascinated by that.

Anyway, buy now and buy cheap. Worried about roasting your turkey? Buy one of those roasting bags and put it in and just don't overcook. A friend of mine was saying she always roasts her turkey at 250 degrees and cooks it overnight. Her turkey always falls off the bone and is very tasty. I think I am going to try that with one of my turkeys.

A break from the rain

We've had just about everything this fall. There have been some pretty days, but we've had some really bad weather, a hurricane in November and now, it feels like our first real stretch of extremely pleasant weather. I think that is only right after the last few days when it poured for two solid days.

I must say, I have missed the pretty fall days and am happy they will make a return appearance this weekend.

I am happy for my garden, too. My collards, greens, lettuce and snow peas really need this to produce. Every bit of the sunshine we see this weekend will make my collards that much better. I am hoping they will be ready for Thanksgiving dinner.

Green Smoothies

Today I am going to talk about something very healthy -- so if that is where you are, you will like this post but for those of you who aren't there, just cover your ears and hum something like -- The Battle Hymn of the Republic. If you're still with me, read on.

A few weeks ago I was introduced to the concept of green smoothies. I thought it was a very interesting concept: Make a healthy drink by mixing fruit and vegetables together in a high-speed blender with ice cubes and you will have a good tasting, very healthy snack (or meal).

My daughter tried it, and loved it. She has been raving about how good she feels with smoothies added into her daily diet. I wanted to try it then, but I had one drawback. My blender had recently died and I just had not had enough time to replace it.

Last weekend, I bought an Oster Fusion blender. It probably won't last as long as the high powered Vitamix blenders but so far I really like it. It chops and crushes ice with ease. I'm not sure how long it will last but it has to last as long as my last blender. I figure I can't loose because the Vitamix is $300 + and the Fusion blender was around $50.

I am still amazed that my carrot, which is usually chopped (at best) in the blender was pureed so finely that I didn't notice any texture. Really amazing!

My recipe:

1 carrot, peeled and sliced
1/3 mango, peeled and chopped
1/2 cup almond milk
4 drops of liquid stevia
a handful of lettuce with radicchio
ice

I mixed the carrot, mango, lettuce and almond milk until it was smooth and then added the ice and stevia. It was so creamy and smooth. I could not believe it.

You can add other fruits, especially frozen berries, peaches or/and seeded oranges.

Adding spinach, kale or watercress would probably be healthier than the lettuce, but I didn't have any. Wouldn't this be a good way to get kids to eat more greens?

I added stevia but you could start with Splenda. After you get used to the taste, you could use less and less sweetener.

The idea is to eat whole fruits and vegetables. I love fruit and vegetable juice, but they are not as beneficial as including the whole fruit with the fiber. The blender grinds it up so well that you don't know you aren't just drinking juice. Make sense? Try it. You may like it and you would be healthier for it.

All You Magazine

While I am recommending magazines, I thought I should include "All You." I found out about this magazine from Holly, my wonderful daughter-in-law, who is a legend in our family for saving money and coupon shopping. She tells me about the great deals she finds and saves me money every week.

This is a magazine that on the surface is not the most inspiring magazine I've ever seen, but it does have hundreds of tips about fashion, food, shopping, emotional issues and more. This issue has a great feature on new hairstyles and the recipes sound interesting.

But, the best thing about this magazine -- the coupons. Really, really good coupons for substantial savings that don't expire in a week. You can see on the cover that the coupon savings are $49.57, and I can see that. I like the coupons because they are for really useful products I use all the time. In fact, I just bought a 6-pack of Viva paper towels for under $4, thanks to a coupon I clipped from the latest issue.

The down side -- you really must read before you clip because as you cut out the coupons you cut out the helpful tips and recipes! It really does pay for itself in a very short period of time.