I like to show you how to do things… like how to make buttermilk if you’re fresh out.
I also like to give you things.
This post will combine these two wonders.
At the top of the page you’ll notice a new page header called November Giveaway. That’s the page you should be glued to every single day this month. That’s the page that will change every day with all sorts of prizes and such. Visit. Often.
Now! Let me show you how I show you how to make things.
Ps. I’m glad you’re here.
Buying cake flour just seems so silly. I think you should totally just make your own.
I’m in love with my cast iron skillet. Food maker meets murder weapon. Do you have one of these? Here’s how to season it!
How to make the good stuff: brown sugar.
How to make warm dough with mustard and put it in your face. How to make soft pretzels.
How to frost a freakin’ cake. You should add this talent to the list of awesome things that you can do.
Speaking of cake. I want this Honey Whole Wheat Pound Cake, right now.
Anne-Marie
Joy, if you have time, can you tell me where you got your measuring cups? The white porcelain (?) ones? They are so darling! Thanks!
Lindsey
I am also wondering where that darling little measuring cup is from . . .
Mary S
I just made brown sugar. Will NEVER buy it again. Thanks for the info!
Lucia
I looove the “How to frost a cake” post. I’ll be frosting cakes for weeks beginning from… NOW!
paige
Joy, where is your cute measuring cup from?
Love your blog!
Leah
What an awesome post! It’s 10 am and I’m already setting up to make your pretzels. Will have to report back. And make your own cake flour? How amazing is that?!
jomamma
Did you know you can make buttermilk with plain milk and vinegar too? You can.
Sarah
Who knew you could make your own cake flour?? Genius! Thank you!
Shawn
Joy!
I love the new cranberry bog at the top of your page – well done!
Beth G.
So, I have a question. How does one know who won the day’s giveaway? Not that I’ll win, you understand, as I am usually a ‘non-winner’. But just in case….
Jennifurla
I really enjoy your blog and style, thanks for sharing.
Monica
These are great tutorials! Love it!!!!
Mrs. Smith at One Smith Day
I love all these tutorials – I had no idea I could make cake flour! Love it!
Alisa
My husband has always bugged me about buying brown sugar. He finally won me over to making it and it is the best brown sugar ever. I never have buttermilk in the house and always have to make it.
Thanks for the tip on the cake flour, I always wondered about that!
Ashley
Yum, love homemade soft pretzels!
NJS
Food maker meets murder weapon.
Yes, indeed :P
Natalia - a side of simple
As if I didn’t have reason enough to visit every.single.day, now there are giveaways as motivation? Oh my :)
jenny
I’m obsessed with your soft pretzels, but I’m more obsessed with you! (does that sound creeperiffic? I don’t mean it that way.)
Baking Serendipity
I so wish I had seen this a few weeks ago before I went out and bought a giant bag of cake flour for just one recipe. Any ideas to use up the rest? Next time I am definitely making my own…bookmarked :) Thanks!
bethp262
Great stuff!
bindiyasingh7
The energy that u infuse into ur posts is just awesome…love ur blog! tried out the cake flour…thxxx
Felicia L.
Joy, why are you so friggin awesome? Is it the Los Angeles sunlight? I think it might be. I think i may have fallen in love with your blog all over again. It happens daily. much love fellow angelino!
Jen
I’m glad you’re here too.
Danielle
I’v been plotting for weeks now to make my own brown sugar from your instructions, I just haven’t baked anything lately as I’m saving all my skills for December ;)
And I will one day own a cast iron skillet! And season it myself!!
Jill
Thanks!
I have a question…it’s probably silly…but – here goes. I get the difference between cake flour and regular flour now. Thanks! What’s the difference between regular flour and BREAD flour and should I be making my own? Is it just sifted flour?
You’re great!
Deb in Indiana
I didn’t see a reply —
Bread flour has more gluten (the gluey stuff — good for bread, bad for cake).
Cake flour has less gluten (breads won’t rise correctly)
All-purpose flour is a compromise between them.
Chloe
what a fun giveaway! I can’t wait to read all the daily posts this month :)
Laura @ GotChocolate
Where’s the CHOCOLATE!!!
I have a giveaway too – http://www.gotchocolate.com/2010/10/giveaway-25-amazon-gift-card-2/
sarare
woww..I love this , So does My boyfriend .he is almost 11year older than me .i met him via agegap love “.c`o`m` a nice place for seeking age le ss love.which gives you a chance to make your life better and open opportunities for you to meet the attractive young girls and treat you like a king. Maybe you wanna check it out or tell your friends.. Just love it
Meagan
Spam.
cassie o
i’m thinking about asking for a cast iron skillet for christmas just so i can use your tips to make it tasty
Erin
I’ve been making my cake flour for some time now (since you told us how to do it!) Next on my list was to get some molasses so I could start making my own brown sugar, too. Buttermilk will have to wait until I’ve used up my buttermilk powder, but I love the tip! These are the things that making cooking fun.
Katie (The Boston Marathoner)
I love the new banner!!
Heather
I will definitely keep the brown sugar recipe in mind since I use it frequently and, therefore, frequently run out.
Also, I’m very excited for the giveaways. Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! <——see?
Kocinera
Looks like I’ve got some homework to do! Very, very yummy homework, that is. I believe ’tis the best kind…even if it makes my jeans fit tighter.
Rachel
I want that pound cake right now too! I also want your cute measuring cup.
Frieda
I love all your tutorials! That’s the best way for me to learn ~
Pegzz
I’m so glad I found your blog! Love this post! Never knew it was so easy to make my own cake flour :) Thank you!
Meg H.
I love how you showed me how to make pumpkin pop tarts. Freakin’ good!
Holly H.
Love the cake flour recipe. I just ran out – no need to buy more!
Gen
And we’re glad you’re here too!
Patda
DIY Cake Flour; how great is this ‘trick’! Thanks!
izzy
joy!
i have many things to tell you.
#1: i love the new banner
#2: i love you
#3: i have a suggestion: can you make a little spot on this website so that we can save our favorite recipes? (it will be hard, of course, since we love all your posts, but sometimes it’s nice to be like ‘ohh! THERE’S that good new recipe for using up all my oats! or Oh yes, there is my favorite cake recipe, which I make a day ahead of time for all of my parties: rootbeer chocolate cake. etc.)
#4: what’s up with the new ads? are you getting money out of it?? i hope so! otherwise they would be stoopid.
#5: i am so happy that it’s november. not so much for the giveaways (which are, of course, fantastic), but because it means that every single day i will get to read a new post from you. thanks.
hope you had a great halloween. thanks so much for being so awesome.
izzy
Loren
mmmm, soft pretzels and mustard. Thank you.
LauriJean
“How to make cake flour” is a gift unto itself. Thanks!
S.
Putting warm dough with mustard in my face sounds incredible!
Pat
The ‘how to …..Do things” on this page are a gift in themselves. Thank you!
Sherry Bocek
Thanks for the “How To’s”. Could you please tell me what is different in “Pastry Flour”? I can’t seem to find it explained anywhere so have not yet make the pie I really want to make that calls for it. Haven’t found it in my local store. Thanks.
Mike
…. and here, today, I’m making something with buttermilk and forgot to get it at the store – and come home to find “how to make Buttermilk” on your page, in my Yahoo bucket.
THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
heather
LOVE the new header! and thanks for all the simple tricks…such great time- and money-savers!
Patty
It can’t be said too often…you rock!
Georgia @ The Comfort of Cooking
I need to know how to do pretty much all of this. Off to check out the links now. Thanks for sharing, Joy!
nancy k.
Thanks for all the great tips, especially the cake flour one.
Any new kitty pics reading for posting? Guess I need an orange kitty fix!
Maria
GREAT tips!! Who knew you could make your own cake flour???
Can’t wait to make the honey ww pound cake recipe for my honey!!
;-)
Liz @ Tip Top Shape
Yay, I always get annoyed when cake flour is called for in a recipe because I never want to buy it! Now I don’t have to!
Angela @ diary of a deaf girl
I’m excited to see all the fall recipes I know you’ll dish. Love your blog!
Vanessa
THANKS Joy the TEACHER! I’ve learned so many yummy recipes from you and have a new found love for my cast iron skillet.
Ausra
Thank you, Joy, for sharing all the great ideas and tips on how to do things! You’re better than encyclopedia, since you write the tips of advice with a grain of humour (OK, a BIG grain) :)
The Boob Nazi
The cake flour one will be so helpful in the future.
Maria
Awesome! Just this weekend I was telling someone about your “how to make brown” sugar instructions. Thanks so much for posting all of these! So cool, not to mention how much money this all saves.
the blissful baker
i love your how-tos! i would like some honey whole wheat pound cake as well, yumm!
Heather (Heather's Dish)
it’s official, i’m making my own cake flour from now on. i love learning new stuff!
alana (at) the food
i agree…buying cake flour is a nuissance!
and good on ya for the giveaways!
thanks!
HappyWhenNotHungry
Thanks for sharing how to make cake flour. It’s so expensive and this is so easy. Looking forward to all these giveaways too :-)
Beth Gallagher
Ok, as my last comment disappeared, one more try…… I adore all things ‘Minted’, so of course must comment. Thanks for the chance to win!!! :)
Tabitha (From Single to Married)
just had to tell you that the new header looks cool!
homegrown countrygirl
Totally didn’t know that cake flour trick… thanks, Joy… you’re fab!!!
Katrina
Thanks for posting the giveaway page! You’re the best.
kat
I’m glad i’m here too :)
Jessica @ How Sweet It Is
I need all the cake-frosting help I can get!
Estela @ Weekly Bite
I heart my cast iron skillet!!
I also heart your recaps :)
Cindy
You make everything seem EASY to accomplish—-love your photos too!
Your blog is an inspiration!!! Thank YOU!
Shauna
I love all of the things that you’ve showed us how to do, because every time I make something that you’ve posted here, I’m declared “the world’s best cooker” by my children and a “horrible, evil, most amazing baker ever for bringing that awesomeness into the office” by my coworkers. I can’t wait to hear what epithets are hurled at me for delivering little jars of vanilla extract goodness to my family and friends for Christmas – so thanks for being fabulous! :)
Silvia
Your ideas are totally helpful, how to make buttermilk saved my day!
Lauren at KeepItSweet
i am definitely checking out how to make cake flour
notyet100
wow,..nice one,..
Joe @ Eden Kitchen
Joy, I love all your tips and tricks. You are a total genius :)
Wei-Wei
I made those soft pretzels ;]
Jessica @ bake me away!
Wow, is that a cranberry harvest in your banner? I don’t think I’ve ever seen one outside of Ocean Spray commercials, so it’s like they only exist in TVs…and now your banner.
Thanks for the handy post!
Karen
Thanks to you I frosted my very first cake nearly a year ago now :) Indeed one of the skills anyone should have, especially if the cake has a delicious butterscotch filling… haha