Why Does Baking Make You Feel Good?

Baking is something we all know about, even if we don’t all do it on a regular basis. The fact is that baking is something very special when you really think about it; it’s almost a magic trick in the way it uses heat and mixing to bring all kinds of different ingredients together to create one unique and very tasty treat. 

There’s just something so good about baking and, linked to that, it actually tends to make us (the majority of people, at least) feel good when we’re doing it and even after it’s done. Despite the mess and the rules that need to be followed, it’s still a great thing to do if you want a mood-boosting activity. With that in mind, here are some of the reasons why baking makes you feel good. 

Photo by Antonio Quagliata

Nostalgia And Comfort 

One of the main reasons that baking makes you feel good and boosts your mood, giving you all kinds of positive emotions, is that it can link you back to the past and make you feel comfortable, comforted, and nostalgic in the most pleasant and warm way. Baking can bring back cherished memories of when you were a child or when your kids were little, and it’ll often make people think of happy family moments and traditions. 

Even just the smell of freshly baked pies and cakes can be enough to make you feel great because of this (the sense of smell is the one that’s linked directly to your memories, after all), but actually doing the baking is something that brings those memories really flooding back, so, of course, you’ll feel good when you’re baking. 

Creativity 

Baking does have rules you need to follow, and those rules are fairly strict, especially when compared to other types of cooking - you need to have just the right measurements to make those chemical reactions work in the right way. 

However, baking is also a massively creative thing to do when you think of the plethora of different things you can make and the various flavors and options you have. Although the measurements might have to be exact, you can make everything else up as you go along, creating new taste combinations as you go. Plus, there’s the decorating. If you’re making a cake or some kind of sweet treat, you can decorate it in any way you want to, and have a lot of fun letting your creative juices flow. That’s going to release endorphins in your body, and since they’re a natural mood enhancer, you’re bound to feel great. 

You’ll Be Doing Something Mindful

Mindfulness is an important part of life - it’s a great way to de-stress because you’re focusing on the present moment and not worrying about the past or the future, which can be upsetting or just make you feel overwhelmed. 

The issue is that it can be hard to add more mindfulness into your life, but baking could be the answer. The fact is that baking needs you to really concentrate on what you’re doing, from measuring ingredients correctly to reading the instructions for baking this classic French bread recipe or anything else you might be creating to getting your timings right, and all of that can be a way to clear your mind of everything except what you’re doing - which is a form of mindfulness. 

Hormel Chili and Their Variety of No Bean Flavors

  Disclaimer: I received the following product(s) in exchange for my review. All opinions my own.

   Did you know that Hormel Chili has a variety of no bean flavors? I never see them in stores, so when I received this package of different flavor options, I was so very pleased, as we prefer no bean chili to those with beans in them. Better on the digestive system you know, lol. 

   I love using chili to season any kind of ground meat, as it gives it a great texture and flavor. It works great for nacho meat, tacos, hotdogs, baked potatoes, the obvious chili, and so much more! The flavors I received were: Chunky Beef Chili, Angus Chili, No Beans Original, Turkey, and Less Sodium, all No Beans included. Every single one had a great flavor and were so fun to try! 

Whats your favorite Chili Flavor or Recipe that includes Chili?

You can find all the Chili flavors by Hormel Chili, on their website, where they also have several other delicious products!

   I received a complimentary(s) product in exchange for an honest review. All opinions my own.

Super Easy 2-4 Ingredient Sweet Potato Rolls

   These are the easiest Sweet Potato Rolls you could ever make, that literally call for just two ingredients!! 1 cup of Sweet Potatoes and 1 cup of Self Rising Flour. Though if you don't have self rising flour, it calls for a few more ingredients, to bring that total to a whopping 4 ingredients lol. The 4 ingredient sweet potato roll recipe is below:

1 cup all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 teaspoon of salt

1 cup of sweet potato

Mix all of the ingredients together to form a nice kneadable ball, and break off dough into 6 pieces. Roll each dough piece into their own separate ball, set them on greased baking sheet, and bake in the oven at 400 degrees for about 20 minutes. So so easy and tastes great with several different foods! I added extra seasoning to mine for a more savory taste. A little Garlic powder and a little Onion powder add a nice flavor. You could even add sugar and cinnamon instead, for a sweet roll! 

Quiche for a Crowd

Bigger than the average Quiche, this one will feed a crowd and look good doing so ;)

It fills a 4 quart 14x10x2 rectangle casserole pan and is so easy to make, this will become a family favorite! 

To make this quiche, you begin by first making the Crust.

You need the following ingredients for the CRUST:

Dash of Salt

2 2/3 cups of Flour

1/2 cup or more of butter

4TBS give or take of water 

Your choice of seasoning 

(I used Italian Seasoning, Garlic Powder, and Black Pepper)

   Mix dough together to be moldable to form into greased pan. Kind of like pizza dough texture, though it will be a little bit stickier, just make sure you get the dough pressed all across the pan and edges to form a nice crust on this quiche. Use a fork to poke lil holes across, and to crimp the edges for a nice look. Bake crust in the oven at 375 Degrees for about 20 minutes. During this time, get your egg filling ready. You can use any kind of filling add-ins but you will need the following for the FILLING:

12 Eggs

Seasoning

1-2 Cups of Cheese

Veggies and/or Meat  

   For ours, I used Cajun seasoning, as well as Black Pepper, Garlic Powder, and Onion Powder. For the cheese, I used Pepper Jack. I say 1-2 Cups, because it depends on how cheesy you want yours to be. I think I used maybe a cup and a half. For the veggies, I used Spinach and canned (drained) tomatoes. For the meat, I used pulled pork, but just about any meat would be fine for this. 

   Blend all ingredients together, and once the crust has completed its 20 minutes, pull that out of the oven and pour in your recently made egg mix filling. Make sure it is spread all across the crust, and place back in the oven for about 45 minutes. Be sure to check on it, as ovens vary so it could be more or less time. Once cooked through all the way, pull out of the oven and let cool. Then enjoy!!

Mexican Baked Eggs Cast Iron Comfort Food

   Awhile back, I came across this really delicious Mexican Baked Egg recipe that seemed easy enough to make. My sweet husband decided to make it for dinner one night, using supplies we had on hand, and with a little flare of his own added to it! Ours came out so delicious! This dish is a comfort food of sorts, and really hits that spot when you're craving a hearty Mexican dish.

 To make this dish, you need an approximate of the following ingredients:

 To see the original recipe, visit domesticsuperhero.com for theirs, plus full instructions.

6 large eggs 

shredded cheese

diced peppers

chopped onions

1 tsp olive oil

seasoning (we used Cajun, black pepper, and garlic)

1 can of chopped tomatoes in juice

1 can of beans rinsed and drained

1 can of diced green chiles

(In our recipe, we didn't really follow along exactly, we just used what we had on hand and added in tator rounds for extra deliciousness.)

 

   Preheat oven to 450F. Oil your cast iron pan and begin layering the tator rounds. In a separate bowl, mix together the canned tomatoes with juice, beans, and diced green chilies (I think he used pico de gallo for ours) and place all that atop of the tator rounds. Lots of cheese was also sprinkled throughout all of this. We used Cheddar and Pepper Jack cheese. Once all this was layered into the pan, the eggs were cracked on top of it, and placed in the oven to bake until fully cooked. When the eggs were cooked, more cheese was sprinkled across the top, and set back in the oven on the broil to give the top a nice melted crispyness. Once cooked through, pull out the oven to cool for a few minutes. And enjoy!!

   I recommend adding extra pico de gallo and sour cream to the top! This dish was so very delicious. It's fantastic! One we will definitely be adding to our recipes to continue making in the future!

International Haiku Poetry Day

Happy International Haiku Poetry Day! 

What a great day to write a Haiku Poem. So easy to do, just get those creative juices flowing and start by making a 3 line stanza: the first line 5 syllables, second line 7 syllables, and the third line 5 syllables. My son made a silly little Haiku I will share with you. We also made delicious lemon cake! 

 

Kids in The Kitchen With Won Ton Wraps

   Looking for an easy way to get your kids in the kitchen to help out with making meals? Won Ton Wraps are perfect for beginner lessons! You can fill the wraps with all kinds of different filling ideas... whether you make it sweet or savory, the options are endless! My son loves working with won ton wraps...Some of his favorite things to make are pizza squares, cheese balls, or meat filled egg-rolls. Prepare the filling ingredients and make a "buffet line" for easy work space. The great thing about these wraps is you can bake or fry them. I personally love them fried, but baking is less messy haha. Either way, they come out delicious!

What are some other quick easy meals, your kids enjoy helping with?

Baking with Milkman Instant Lowfat Dry Milk

Disclaimer: I received the following product(s) in exchange for my review. All opinions my own.

   A great item to have in your pantry is Milkman's Instant Low Fat Dry Milk! It's shelf stable for quite some time, until you are ready to use it, and each bag is the equivalent to one quart of milk. You can use it in several recipes, wet or dry, depending on what you make, and it works just like milk should!

   I really love this brand of powdered milk. It took me back to my childhood when we would drink powdered milk after running out of 1% milk. The flavor is sweet and creamy, and it works great in baking recipes! I love that it can sit in your pantry as a powder and ready to use when needed, just by adding water! Such a great product to have on hand! I made delicious little biscuits and you couldn't even taste the milk in them! See how perfect they came out? :)

  I received a complimentary product in exchange for an honest review. All opinions my own.

 

Homemade Rich and Fluffy Cosby Cake

   Do you remember the episode of the old Cosby Show, where Cosby brings out a luscious white birthday cake with strawberries around the top....He attempts to cheer his wife up, trying to get her to take a bite... 1 cake becomes 2, then 3... It's such a cute scene and that cake has always looked so delicious! My husband told me awhile back, that when he saw that episode as a kid, he always wanted to eat that cake and it made him feel so happy. So I decided to surprise him with my own homemade cake that could slightly resemble the Cosby Cake! I'm sure it was no where near as good as the real Cosby Cake haha, but this one was definitely satisfying. 

To make the cake, I followed a Vanilla Pound Cake recipe I found from Martha Stewart, and for the frosting, I made a Cream Cheese Cool Whip Frosting I found on key ingredient. I will share both recipes below. The cake turned out very rich and filling, and best eaten cold!

Vanilla Pound Cake Recipe

Ingredients:

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature, plus more for pan
2 cups all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled), plus more for pan
1 cup sugar
4 large eggs
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon salt 

Directions:

Step 1: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter and flour a (8 1/2-by-4 1/2-inch) loaf pan; set aside. 
Step 2: Using an electric mixer on high speed, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition; add vanilla and salt. With mixer on low, gradually add flour, beating just until combined (do not overmix). 
Step 3: Bake until a toothpick inserted in center of cake comes out clean, about 1 hour (tent with aluminum foil if browning too quickly). Let cool in pan 15 minutes. Invert onto a wire rack, and turn upright to cool completely.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Cream Cheese Cool Whip Recipe

Ingredients:

1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1 (16-ounce) container whipped topping (thawed, if frozen)
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 (3.5-ounce) package instant vanilla pudding mix (or other desired flavor), optional

Directions:

In a large mixing bowl, stir together softened cream cheese with the Cool Whip. Add the sugar, vanilla, and optional pudding mix.  Stir until all the ingredients are thoroughly combined.
If you would like a colored frosting, add several drops of food coloring and mix. Continue to add food coloring, stirring after each addition, until the frosting is the desired color. - Obviously I left our frosting white.

   Both of these recipes were taken straight from the linked websites and made pretty straight forward. They were equally easy to make, and so so good! If you ever make them, be prepared for some dense, yet delicious cake!!

The Little Potato Company Terrific Trio Potatoes

Disclaimer: I received the following product(s) in exchange for my review. All opinions my own.

    I love these little potatoes!! The "Terrific Trio" by The Little Potato Company are the best tiny potatoes I've ever eaten. They're so creamy and they bake in the oven quick and easy. Comfort Food at its finest.

   The potatoes come pre-washed, straight from the farm they were grown on. And the best part is you don't even have to peel these babies! They make an excellent dish, either by themselves or cooked in a dish. They are truly delicious potatoes, I would even say they are addicting haha. Me and my family loved them! In the bag I purchased, it contained three different types of potatoes: red, blue, and yellow creamers, each one with a slightly different taste.

   The potatoes were so easy to cook, all I did was chopped them in half, toss them in olive oil, added some seasoning, and baked them in the oven at 400 degrees for about 30 minutes. The potatoes become soft and have an exquisite creamy taste, which makes them excellent even on their own! I made a delicious little potato salad with ours, filled with beans, chopped steak, and tomatoes, tossed with shredded Pepper-jack cheese, and laid over a bed of romaine - then drizzled with Kewpie Mayo!

I love everything about The Little Potato Company's Terrific Trio potatoes. I am amazed by their quality and that they have so many varieties. Check out their website at littlepotatoes.com to see all their products, as well as recipe ideas, and more!

 I received a complimentary product in exchange for an honest review. All opinions my own.

 

Elbow Noodle Lasagna With Classico Organic Roasted Garlic Sauce

 Disclaimer: I received the following product(s) in exchange for my review. All opinions my own.

    Made with fresh roasted garlic and sun roasted tomatoes, Classico Organic Roasted Garlic Sauce really brings out the organic home made taste! And the best part, is that this sauce is made with ingredients you know and understand, such as tomato puree, diced tomatoes in juice, roasted garlic, evaporated cane sugar, extra virgin olive oil, garlic, onions, sea salt, and roasted red bell peppers, just to name a few, and all organic!

  
   With the Classico Organic Roasted Garlic Sauce, I made an easy but delicious, cheesy elbow noodle lasagna, and you could really taste garlic! It's a spectacular sauce with a real homey flavor and aroma. I can imagine it would be just as good on a pizza or chicken Parmesan! It's definitely one of those products you would want to keep on hand for easy and versatile dinner nights!

Classico Organic Roasted Garlic Sauce can be found in your local grocery stores or purchased online at Walmart or Instacart.

 I received a complimentary product in exchange for an honest review. All opinions my own.

Original Sweetpotatotasts Mini Pizzas

Disclaimer: I received the following product(s) in exchange for my review. All opinions my own.

   An interesting substitute for toast, these Sweetpotatoasts are pre cooked, sliced sweet potatoes that you bake in the oven or toaster to get them crisp, then top them with your desired ingredients. The Original Sweetpotatoasts are really easy to use and have a great taste! 

 

   I made ours for dinner, layering marinara sauce, caramelized ham chunks, pepperoni, and pepper jack cheese across our slices, then baked til crisp. They tasted delicious! Like little mini pizzas, without the bread. I would love to try more topping ideas in the future!

 

You can find Sweetpotatoasts in your local grocery stores, as well as more Caulipower products and information at eatcaulipower.com

 

 

  I received a complimentary product in exchange for an honest review. All opinions my own.  

Breakfast Stuffed Waffle Biscuits

   Have you ever made biscuits in a waffle iron? They don't quite fit right, at least in my experience, but if you can get the biscuits to fit enough to bake inside, the end result is delicious! 

   I made Breakfast Stuffed Waffle Biscuits, filled with eggs, ham, pepperoni, and cheese. You want the eggs to be precooked, so I made little muffin eggs in the oven, beforehand, but you can also do scrambled. 

You begin by taking a can of layered biscuits, so you can tear each biscuit apart, into two. Roll them flat, as flat as you can get them before they rip, then begin filling them with your eggs/meats ect. Top with the other layer you rolled and crimp the sides together. 

Place in the center of your well greased waffle iron and use as your normally would. When the iron is done, so is your stuffed biscuit! It comes out beautifully, with a little crisp on the edges, and it tastes even better!! 
 

   This is such a quick and easy meal to make, and the biscuits can be filled with all kinds of things that suit your tastebuds. Just beware, it left my waffle iron a mess, so the cleanup is not so fun. This was probably due to the grease/sauce from the cheese/meat, leaking out and burning. I might have just stuffed the biscuits too full 😌🤭

Nacho-Style Twice Baked Potatoes

   As a member of Influencer, I joined in on the My Food and Family virtual vox box, and chose a recipe to make for my family and share it with you. I chose to make the Nacho-Style Twice Baked Potatoes, perfect for a Fall afternoon. To make these, I needed the following ingredients:

4 baking potatoes 

1/4 cup milk

1/2 cup Taco Sauce

1/2 cup Shredded Cheddar Cheese

1/2 cup crushed tortilla chips

1/2 cup Jalapeño Cream Cheese Spread

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 400°F. 
• Wash the potatoes 
• Prick them up with a fork.
•  Bake in the oven at 400°F for 1 hour. 
• After the hour is up, pull potatoes out and let them cool for a few. Change the oven temp to 350°F. 
• Cut potatoes lengthwise in half; scoop out centers into medium bowl, leaving 1/8-inch-thick shells. 
• Add cream cheese to potato flesh; beat with mixer until blended. 
• Add milk; beat until potato mixture is light and fluffy. * I added in my own touch here. A little salsa, ranch, and seasoning (Cajun, Black Pepper, and Garlic Powder)
• Spoon mashed potatoes into potato shells; place on baking sheet. Drizzle with taco sauce, top with cheese and crushed chips. I also sprinkled some red peppers and drizzled Japanese Kewpie Mayo across the top of ours.
• Bake 20 to 25 min.

~ Enjoy!! ~

These were delicious and so easy to make! The crunched up Doritos on the top were the perfect addition to these baked potatoes. They added a nice texture and the taste was superb! I also added my own touch to a few things. I gave an extra kick to the potatoes by adding a little salsa, Avocado Goodness Ranch, and seasoning (Cajun, Black Pepper, and Garlic Powder) to the mix, as well as sprinkling on red peppers, and a drizzle of Japanese Kewpie Mayo. It was a perfect Fall meal! 

#contest #RecipesByMFAF @MyFoodAndFamily @Influenster


I participated in this campaign as a member of Influenster and compensation has been involved. All opinions are my own.

Daily Goodie Box - August 2019

Disclaimer: I received the following product(s) in exchange for my review. All opinions my own.

   I received some great items in the August Daily Goodie Box! Check it out below to see all the fun things I tried.

DRY Soda Company - These Culinary-Inspired Sparkling Sodas are lightly sweetened and made with botanical flavors. I received the flavor: Rainier Cherry to try, and wasn't that thrilled with it, as I prefer my sparkling waters to have a stronger flavor. This one was pretty dry in taste, but added a nice touch when I mixed juice in with it. I do like that there are some unique flavors with this brand, so maybe I would like another flavor better!

Bubba’s Fine Foods - Grand Garlic Parm ‘Nana Chips - These are really interesting in the fact that they are made with Bananas and tasted so much like potato chips! They have a great taste and are seasoned perfectly. I would love to see them a bit thinner, more like potato chips, but overall they're really great. I do wish they weren't made with coconut oil, as those with but allergies can't have them.

Foods Alive - Nutritional Yeast. This is my first time trying any kind of nutritional yeast and I am shocked with the great flavor! It tastes so similar to popcorn. It's unreal, that this isn't real cheese haha. I am happy to see that there is this option for those who can't have or choose not to have animal produced cheese. I love that this can be used for so many food items: popcorn, garlic bread, soup, salad, and so much more! It makes a great addition to protein, fiber, and vitamins.

Natralia - Heel Balm - A lotion made specifically for rough, dry feet. It is said to have visible results within 3 days. It will soften your skin, using a balanced blend of Shea Butter, Rosemary Oil, Safflower Oil, and Aloe Vera. It has a decent minty smell, that kind of reminds me of a mix of Tiger Balm and Foundation Makeup. I haven't noticed complete results over 3 days, but it does make my feet feel nice when I apply it before bed.

Evo Hemp - Mocha Chip Hemp Bar - Made with just 7-10 ingredients and no added sugars, fillers, oils, or sulfates, the Evo Hemp Mocha Chip Bar was one of my favorite items to try! I was pleasantly surprised with how delicious this Hemp Protein Bar is! It has an interesting texture, that reminds me of the center of a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup. It's very soft and creamy like peanut butter with bits of crunchy pieces due to the cashew butter, pea crisps, and chocolate chips. The flavor is sweet and very enjoyable, making it feel like a dessert in every bite! I would love to try all their flavors!

Aqua Biome™ - Fish Oil Classic Strength - I love the benefits that are said to be given with taking fish oil pills (promotes digestion, balances mood, supports the immune system, joints, and so much more) so I will continue trying these out, but the fishy burps are almost unbearable when I'm not a fan of fish flavor lol. With every burp, it tastes as if I just ate a larger piece of salmon. Definitely take on a full stomach and probably before bed to avoid bad breath during the day ;)

SolarDerm - After Sun Facial Moisturizer helps sooth the facial skin after sitting in the sun for too long, which is especially good to use after getting a sunburn. It also helps prevent premature aging and skin cancer by using natural resources from green tea and oats, to replenish skin and keep it hydrated. There is a slight scent to this moisturizer, though it fades after time. It leaves my skin feeling soft and nourished, I really like it!

Flathau’s Fine Foods - All Natural Shortbread Cookies - These Shortbread Cookies are so delicious! My favorite item from this Goodie Box because they're so great. The cookies are soft enough, with a nice little crunch and they have a hint of caramel to the taste. They are a bit crumbly, but worth every bite. 

 I've enjoyed trying another batch of products and looking forward to the next! Would you like to try your in Goodie Box for free? Join the Daily Goodie Box to receive your own set of products to test!

 

   Daily Goodie Box. It's more than just Free Samples! 

 I received a complimentary product in exchange for an honest review. All opinions my own.