Whether you’re just starting out in your 1st kitchen or adding to you favorite baking tools you already have, you’ll have more fun creating your favorite goodies if you keep the basic necessities nearby. There’s nothing worse than getting ready to make a pie or cake and realizing you’re missing one of the essential items to get the job done. Then you end up running out to the store and paying more than you should have for something that may not be the best tool you could have chosen for your money.

Stainless steel cookie sheets, square or round cake pans, loaf pans, muffin pans, potholders and oven mitts, mixing bowls and whisks - these are just a few of the many tools you’ll want to have to bake up your holiday desserts in a snap!

Yes, it’s time to make some of our favorite fall pies - apple, sweet potato, pumpkin.  We admit it’s always time for a great pie, but when this wonderful season arrives our yearnings always seem to quickly turn to the seasonal favorites.

While we make our own pie shells, you should never let making a pie shell stand in the way of you making a delicioius homemade pie. There are plenty of good pie shells available in your favorite store’s frozen section that will serve just fine - so you can just concentrate on the filling. You’ll find the recipes for these are pretty simple and you can tweak the spices on desserts like pumpkin pie to suit your own tastes. Practice makes perfect - plus it’s fun to taste every attempt.

Fondue, which was a big hit in the 70’s and early 80’s, seems to have made a comeback. If you’ve never tried fondue, you really should. It’s a fun treat for any chocolate lover. Or if you don’t want to go the sweet route, you can always go with a cheese dip.  Gourmet Standard makes a beautiful stainless fondue set that is sure to be a hit at your next dinner party.

This is a unique and stylish fondue set, perfect for entertaining at any gathering .  And it’s not just beautiful, but it’s sturdy and built to last. And the parts can be placed in the dishwasher to easy clean-up after your party. It certainly is not your average serving dish!

When I was growing up, I spent a lot of time in the kitchen with my grandmother - she was a wonderful cook and she had the knack for making great desserts too.  She grew up in Europe, where her family had a bakery, so I suppose it was in her blood and mine too.  I credit her for the love I have for cooking and creating special baked goods and desserts. And it’s also her patience with me as a child that has made it so easy for me to enjoy cooking with my children.  I highly recommend it for all parents. Because it’s really not about what you make, or even how it turns out, but about the wonderful time spent together and the memories that will last forever.

Next time you’re trying to come up with something different to do with your child, how about making a batch of cookies, or a frozen fruit treat? Or you can make banana muffins, cupcakes, chocolate covered pretzels…anything fun and simple. You can start by just letting your little one add an ingredient, or help with the mixing, or spoon the cupcake batter into the cupcake liner. And it doesn’t have to be perfect, it’s actually better if it isn’t- because you want them to remember the joy of cooking. So make it fun and then enjoy the tasty results with some milk or a hot cocoa. It’s just that simple.

If you enjoy baking breads and desserts as much as we do, then you’re likely on the lookout for new ideas and tips as much as we are. We love to bake and we enjoy trying new ideas too, though we’re not about to give up some of our favorite cakes or muffins. It’s just fun to add new things into the routine sometimes.

Here are some dessert ideas we came across recently that even reminded us of some treats we hadn’t made in a long time, like macaroons and espresso cheesecake. There’s is nothing more satisfying than a silky homemade cheesecake with fresh coffee after a delicious dinner - yum!