I apologize to all my faithful readers for not posting yesterday. I am sure your day was empty and meaningless as a result. I was busy frantically packing my bags and readying myself to birth a child. Two hours of intense contractions will throw you into a bit of a panic. So imagine my delight as I am ready to get thee to the hospital STAT and the contractions stop cold turkey. Nothing. Delightful. Anywho, I was so tired after my uterine marathon that I just went to sleep. So no blog post from me. But I am back. Still no baby, but I am back!
Today I am stealing (once again) my WFMW tip from the greatest magazine for tips on earth, Real Simple. And I am just going to fess up that I haven’t used this tip yet, but it solves one of my biggest baking frustrations. Have you ever been baking and get to the stop where you add the brown sugar only to reach in the cupboard and pull out a brown rock in a brown sugar bag. You check and yes you did seal the bag but somehow that never really matters. Somehow the rock happens anyway.
Apparently if you throw a few mini marshmallows in your bag, it will keep your brown sugar soft and moist. Brilliant. Has anyone tried this and had success? You might be asking right now what kind of person posts a tip on their blog as fact that they have never tried themselves. A nine month pregnant woman, that is the kind. If you want original, tried and true tips, head over to We Are That Family.
UnfinishedMom
says:
I’ve never tried marshmallows, but I do know that if you toss a piece of bread in there, the brown sugar will absorb the moisture from the bread and in 24 hours it’s usable again. That trick I’ve done.
UnfinishedMom´s last blog ..Keep Barrettes in Fine Hair
[Reply]
September 29th, 2009 at 10:24 pm
Laurie Paramore
says:
My only problem with the marshmallow trick would be to find a good marshmallow. My marshmallow bag looks like ONE BIG MARSHMALLOW! LOL!
I’m sorry about your false alarm–will keep you in my prayers as the time draws nearer
Laurie Paramore´s last blog ..Still busy
[Reply]
September 29th, 2009 at 10:24 pm
Emily Kay
says:
You know, I read that in Real Simple and immediately stuck two large marshmallows in with my brown sugar. I pulled out the sugar a few weeks later to use for my chocolate chip cookies and was disappointed to find a few lumps. Now, they weren’t the bad ones that can’t be pounded out, but they definitely had to be smooshed hard with the spoon while I was mixing the cookie dough. So does it work? Maybe. Not completely though.
Emily Kay´s last blog ..Prayer Request
[Reply]
September 29th, 2009 at 10:25 pm
Bernice Colyandro Photography
says:
I have never heard of the marshmallow trick but I have tried the slice of bread. That works. It also works if you put the piece of bread in your choclate cookies that you just baked. It will keep your cookies moist.
Warmly,
Bernie
Bernice Colyandro Photography´s last blog ..How to organize your pictures?
[Reply]
September 30th, 2009 at 12:32 am
The Prudent Homemaker
says:
I know what DOES work–a terra cotta brown sugar bear (or a tiny terra cotta saucer for 1/10 of the price).
You soak the bear in warm water and put him in the container (I use a plastic rubbermaid container) with your brown sugar. It stays soft for MONTHS. When the bear starts looking dry, soak him again. I can put 8 pounds of brown sugar in my container and it stays soft, even when it’s half-empty of the lid doesn’t get put on for 20 minutes while we’re eating breakfast (and the open container is underthe ceiling fan!) It even helps to soften harder brown sugar, too.
There are no lumps; it just stays soft.
We use a lot of brown suagr here (in oatmeal especially) so I empty that container every few months.
[Reply]
September 30th, 2009 at 12:40 am
Kristen
says:
You can soften brown sugar in the microwave. Place the brown sugar in a microwave save bowl. Either cover with damp paper towels or place a small cup of water next to the bowl. Microwave for 30-60 seconds. If it is still hard, up the time.
Brown sugar also freezes really well and thaws really fast so that is another way to avoid the sugar brick!
[Reply]
September 30th, 2009 at 7:38 am
Kristen
says:
You can soften brown sugar in the microwave. Place the brown sugar in a microwave save bowl. Either cover with damp paper towels or place a small cup of water next to the bowl. Microwave for 30-60 seconds. If it is still hard, up the time.
Brown sugar also freezes really well and thaws really fast so that is another way to avoid the sugar brick!
[Reply]
September 30th, 2009 at 7:38 am
Melanie
says:
Sounds like an awesome idea. I’m going to try it out!!
Melanie´s last blog ..Works For Me Wednesday – Sitting Down
[Reply]
September 30th, 2009 at 8:01 am
Jen-After the Alter
says:
So many times I have started baking only to get to the brown sugar stage to find it as hard as rocks. I am up for trying anything! (maybe if I baked more this wouldn’t happen lol)
Jen-After the Alter´s last blog ..Learning On Other People’s Kids
[Reply]
September 30th, 2009 at 9:40 am
katrina
says:
Good luck with #3! sounds like you are about ready!
have no words of wisdom regarding brown sugar so will have to give this a try.
katrina´s last blog ..Boys Will Be Boys
[Reply]
September 30th, 2009 at 9:42 am
angi
says:
never heard of mallows before I have heard of bread but mallows would draw moisture as well so would work
angi´s last blog ..How to easily dry out a cell phone
[Reply]
September 30th, 2009 at 10:28 am
Jeni
says:
I saw this in the Real Simple magazine, and then forgot to try it! Thanks for the reminder.
Jeni´s last blog ..Birthday for the Chicken
[Reply]
September 30th, 2009 at 10:42 am
C @ Kid Things
says:
I’m going to 2nd (or is 3rd) the bread idea. That’s what I’ve always heard.
Sorry to hear about the contractions. I went through a lot of false contractions when I was pregnant with my daughter. I even wound up at the hospital once just because I was hoping that they would admit me anyway since I was already there. No dice. Fun times. Good luck!
C @ Kid Things´s last blog ..Never Take a Girl (Like Me) to a Car Show
[Reply]
September 30th, 2009 at 11:07 am
Lana
says:
wow, well at least now your bag for the hospital is all packed, right?
I keep waking up with contractions, but they go away when I walk around. I think I might go nuts if I had contractions for 2 hours and then the contractions just stopped. Well, id’ go nuts now, that is. This happened once already, only it was for longer than 2 hours, but I wasn’t full term yet so I WANTED them to stop – they did. Now maybe baby will come closer to the due date in 13 days
Anyways, I’m sorry. That baby will come soon anyways.
Get yourself some chocolate to reward yourself for patience
[Reply]
September 30th, 2009 at 12:19 pm
Monica
says:
Sorry about the contractions. I was in early labor with my youngest for about a week before the real thing and that was an induction so I feel your pain.
I have never heard of the marshmallow trick, but I’ll be trying it. I usually transfer my brown sugar to a sealed ziplock bag once the original bag has been opened. It seems to do the trick.
Monica´s last blog ..Mickey Mouse Pancakes
[Reply]
September 30th, 2009 at 1:36 pm
Kristi_runwatch
says:
Wow – that is an exciting day! Hopefully you’ll be packing for your “real” trip soon!
(well, not packing… that’s done.)
Kristi_runwatch´s last blog ..WFMW: Planning ahead for a worshipful Christmas
[Reply]
September 30th, 2009 at 10:10 pm
Hillary @ The Other Mama
says:
Haven’t tried it, but I have tried going to the hospital with crazy contractions and them stopping when I got there. That was fun. Not really.
Back to brown sugar- I tried putting mine in the fridge due to a tip, but it got too hard there, so it’s back in the pantry. Now desperately seeking marshmallows! Can’t wait to hear baby news! Will be praying for you!
Hillary @ The Other Mama´s last blog ..Photography Tips from a Pro {not me}
[Reply]
October 2nd, 2009 at 11:10 am