How to Use the Recipes

• Collect all ingredients for recipe, measure all ingredients and place in small containers.  Put packages, boxes, etc. away before assembling measured ingredients according to instructions.
• To speed cleanup after the meal wash all utensils and wipe counter and stove tops as you go.
• Fold a terry kitchen towel in half crosswise and place under round bottom bowl to hold steady when mixing or beating ingredients.
• Place chopped nuts in dry, non-stick skillet over low to medium heat, tossing constantly with wooden spoon to toast.  To prevent burning do not leave nuts unattended.
• All measurements are level. 
• Sift flour into measuring cup placed over piece of waxed paper, without shaking the measuring cup.  Level off by gently "cutting" horizontally across the top with metal spatula.  Make a cone and pour excess flour from waxed paper back into flour canister.
• Measure brown sugar by packing into measuring cup.
• Your grandmother really did measure.  She used her hand and that one mixing bowl she knew so well as measures.  Pretend you are your grandmother.  Learn how to measure with your hand.  Cup your hand in various positions and measure how much you have to cup turn your hand inward to measure 1 teaspoon, etc.  Hints for getting started: use for dry measurements only and do not use for measuring ingredient for baked goods. 
• Measure ingredients for baked goods as accurately as possible and do not eliminate salt, soda or baking powder in recipes.  Otherwise they will not rise properly.  If you need to limit sodium from your diet, look for special recipes or cookbooks that have recipes designed to give you successful results.  You can eliminate salt from any recipe that is not a baked product.
• This is not proposed as a guide for people on special diets.   (If you want a good, sensible, nutritious, calorie-conscientious cookbook, buy a Weight Watchers book.  They are excellent and I have several.  For vegetarians there are also some good books.  Try Laurel's Kitchen.) 
• Some of the recipes in this community are purely decadent and I make no apologies. Some are comfort foods and some are for special occasions.  Not all recipes are meant for daily consumption.   You have to make your own decisions about what and when and how much to eat.