Just a Hint

I've been trying to create the perfect soft, chewy peanut butter cookie. I haven't gotten the recipe just right yet, but I have discovered the delicious importance of topping them with sea salt before baking. That hint of saltiness does wonders and seems to be just what peanut butter calls for.

Chicken Perfected

I'm sharing a tip on cooking chicken by way of one of my favorite food sites, The Kitchn. When Jonah and I eat chicken, I usually cook thighs because white meat can end up dry and bland all too easily, but thanks to this foolproof method for moist chicken, I'll be switching things up.

You just brown the chicken breasts in a skillet for one minute, flip them, cover them and leave them untouched for 20 minutes, 10 minutes with the heat on low and 10 with the heat turned off. Wham, bam, perfect chicken breasts. I used this method for the chicken I added to a roasted vegetable soup over the weekend and was amazed. It was a "Jonah! Come try this!" moment. And then we had to stop ourselves from eating it all, so there'd be some left for the soup. I hope you give it a try too.

[full "recipe" found here: cooking perfect chicken breasts]

Strawberry Cake for Your Sweet

This cake idea has been bouncing around in my head since last Valentine's Day. It's a strawberry cake with white chocolate frosting, so you end up with a tasty, out-of-the-ordinary cake and a cutesy pink and white color combination. I think my cake could still use some tweaking, since it was a bit dense, but this is the recipe I used, halving the gelatin and using unsweetened frozen strawberries. I'm curious to try this recipe too.

As far as the frosting goes, this cream cheese and white chocolate blend is just right. I'm already imagining it on top of carrot cupcakes for Easter. I really like the sweet strawberry cake paired with the more subtle frosting. It would be great for a girly birthday party or a shower, and of course, for sharing with those closest to your heart on February 14.

White Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting

1 8 oz. package of cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup of butter (1 stick), softened
6 ounces white chocolate, melted and slightly cooled
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups powdered sugar, sifted

Using an electric mixer, beat cream cheese and butter until blended. Add melted white chocolate and vanilla extract. Measure 2 cups of powdered sugar, then sift. Add sifted sugar to mixture gradually until combined.

Quote Me

So here's something cool that happened. A few months ago, Ladies' Home Journal contacted me about holiday entertaining tips. I sent them a few ideas and this month, a piece of my advice is in print! It's fun and exciting, a little blogger dream come true. The issue also includes an article on a cookie swap with Ina Garten and some big time bloggers with lots of yummy-sounding recipes. It's definitely worth a look.

Happy Friday, friends! Any big weekend plans? My in-laws are in town, so we'll be holidaying it up in NYC!

Quick Fixes for Apartment Kitchens

This post is supported by RONA, a Canadian retailer of home improvement merchandise including kitchen cabinets and more.

When you live in an apartment like me, it doesn't feel like there's a lot you can do to make a kitchen your own, but a few simple touches can make all the difference. Here's a look at my kitchen.

Start small - Cute, colorful dish towels are one of my favorite items to buy when it comes to brightening up the kitchen. It's a small purchase that brings in personality and color.

The doors - Depending on your landlord, you may have the option to paint your cabinets or even remove the doors for an open storage look. If neither of those are possibilities, switching out the hardware on your cabinets gives you a little creative control.

Accessorize - Add a table lamp to the countertop, artwork to the walls, a rug, a stack of cookbooks. Kitchens can be the forgotten land when it comes to interior decorating, but it just takes a little effort to make it a room that reflects your style.

On display -- Apartment storage is often limited, and there's no need to hide everything. Adding shelving and pot racks is a great way to make your private items public. Don't be afraid to have those whisks and wooden spoons, Le Creuset pots, spices and that pretty bottle of olive oil out in the open.

How do you add style to your kitchen?

Advice From the Best

I don't believe in twisting yourself into knots of excuses and explanations over the food you make. When one's hostess starts in with self-deprecations such as "Oh, I don't know how to cook...," or "Poor little me...," or "This may taste awful...," it is so dreadful to have to reassure her that everything is delicious and fine, whether it is or not. Besides, such admissions only draw attention to one's shortcomings (or self-perceived shortcomings), and make the other person think, "Yes, you're right, this really is an awful meal!"

--Julia Child, My Life in France

Don't you just love her? Happy Friday!

Necklace Knot

For months, I had a tiny knot in the chain of this necklace. Is there anything more frustrating? I picked at it with a straight pin for hours with no success. Finally, I thought to search the internet for some assistance. I found it. Use oil to loosen up the knot. Baby oil and any type of cooking oil are said to work equally well. I went with canola oil since it was at the front of my pantry.

Lay the necklace on a flat surface. Provide a small pool of oil for the knot to sit in and then use two straight pins to unknot the chain. I had it done within a minute flat. Use a cloth to wipe the excess oil off the necklace and the flat surface. Triumph! Necklace restored. Let me know if you get a chance to try it out!

Well and Good

I came across an article today that featured natural remedies for your body's little aches and annoyances. My favorites: dark chocolate to curb a cough, olive oil for chapped lips, and a teaspoon of sugar for the hiccups. I wonder what chocolate chip cookies cure.

Three Things I Learned from Unemployment

My first day of work at my new job is tomorrow, so I thought it was a good time to reflect on the ups and downs of unemployment. Here are my three pieces of advice:

1. Don't put all your eggs in one basket.
If your world revolves around your job, then you will spin out of control when it's taken away. Make sure other things are there to fill your time. Explore other interests, try new things, and take the time to figure out if what you've been doing is what you want to keep doing.

2. Don't turn on the TV, or you may never turn it off.
The Today Show leads to Ellen, then it's time to flip over to the Food Network, and by the time Oprah rolls around, you've spent the whole day distracted. Instead, take 20 or 30 minutes and go for a walk -- exercise and a break in one.

3. You will find a job.
Don't be disheartened. You will go back to work, so enjoy the free time you have doing things you enjoy, not sitting in front of the computer all day hitting refresh on job sites.

Off the Scuff

A scuff mark on a pair of patent leather shoes just about ruins them in my mind. But after hunting around online, I've found a solution. Yesterday, I rubbed a little non-acetone nail polish remover on my marred patent leather flats with a cotton ball, and the scuff mark came right off. When you're done, just wipe the spot with a damp cloth to ensure you get rid of any residue. Some people have said that using nail polish remover also took the shine off their shoes, so try it out on a small area first. But it worked for me, my coral patent flats are shiny and scuff-free again.

Halloween Hostess Finds

With Halloween upon us, I thought I'd share a few of my favorite finds and some sweet treats I've come across. I hope these liven up your Halloween weekend or give you inspiration for next year.

• super-cute and creative candy corn cookies
  
• deadly and decadent pumpkin swirl brownies
  
• a ghoulish vampire kiss martini
  
• non-perishable, cuddly pumpkins
  
• candy for those sophisticated trick-or-treaters
  
• an adorable but haunted headband
  

Happy Halloween!

Garlic Hands Be Gone

I absolutely love cooking with garlic, but one of my biggest pet peeves is the odor that's left on my hands when I'm done. For flavor, garlic's a yes, but for perfume, a big no. Luckily, there's a solution and it comes in the deodorizing form of stainless steel. Simply wash your hands with soap and water, while rubbing them against something made of stainless steel. Anything from a faucet to a knife to pots and pans ought to do the trick. If you're looking for a sleeker solution or a gadget for your foodie friends, many companies, like Lekker, make a stainless steel "soap" designed for this exact purpose. Apparently the stainless steel method doesn't work for everyone, but it did work for me. So next time you're making spaghetti sauce, give it a try. Your loved ones will thank you.