Let's Bake and Decorate!

According to Chase's Calendar of Events, October is National Bake and Decorate month. What better time of the year to do this than when the days are winding down, the summer madness is over and we're starting to get that cocooning feeling.  So, for those of us who maybe need a little help with cooking and decorating, or just looking for fresh ideas, here are several resources available at the Library.

One of the magazines that the Library subscribes to is Sandra Lee Semi-homemade. Her mantra is "Keep it Simple, Keep it Smart, Keep it Sweet, Keep it Semi-homemade. Her recipes typically include a pre-made item, such as  pie crust or a box of cake mix.  In the latest issue (September/October), she has recipes for Caramel Spice Cake and S'mores Tarts, both of which look deliciously good. Also included in this issue are money saving meal recipes.

For those that need visual aid, there are several DVDs that you can watch. One is called The Complete Guide to Cake Decorating and Baking - a comprehensive introduction to everything there is to know about baking and decorating cakes. And when you're ready, you can't go wrong with Martha's Baking Favorites. Martha Stewart goes over techniques and the basics before showing you how to do the actual baking of cakes, pies, and cookies. It's all "good things".

As far as decorating, the September/October issue of Chicago Home and Garden Magazine has an article on "Color - room to room paint schemes", with tips on how to choose paint color that will flow from one room to the next. 

From the Home Decorating Series " You Can Do It" with Christopher Lowell, there are 3 DVDs available: Seven Layers of Design and Color Courage, Savvy Surfaces and Merchandising the Home, and Nurturing Spaces and Double Duty. Or perhaps you want ideas on how to "bring new life to old finds". If that's the case, then watch Chris Olsen's Refresh Remix Restyle for easy step-by-step instructions.

These are just a few of the magazines and DVDs on cooking and decorating that you can find at the Library.