Article By: Mirna Cacic

Cast iron skillets are one of those things that not many people know how to clean. You’ve all heard the stories about how you’re not allowed to use soap, or any other harsh chemicals. All you need to clean your skillet are a few basic items like salt, oil, and a sponge. Check out our tips and tricks below to get your skillet looking fresh and new!

Supply Checklist:

1) Cast iron skillet

2) Salt

3) Sponge

4) Vegetable oil

5) Paper towels

6) Kitchen towel

Step #1:

It’s important to clean the skillet each and every time you use it. This way you’ll prevent gunk from building up, making the job much easier. Don’t soak your skillet to get rid of stuck-on food, as it can make it rusty.

Step #2:

To wash your skillet, simply scrub it with a sponge under hot water. Avoid soap or steel wool, as it can strip your skillet of its seasoning.

Step #3:

To get rid of burnt or stuck-on food, sprinkle salt over your skillet and add a bit of water. Swish it around with your sponge to make a paste, and then scrub it.

Step #4:

Rinse the skillet and dry it with a kitchen towel.

Step #5:

Grab a sheet of paper towel and add a few drops of vegetable oil to your skillet. Wipe the skillet down, then get out a clean paper towel and wipe it again to get rid of any excess oil. To store your skillet, keep it in a dry place.

Photos: Sarcastic Cooking, Tori Avey, Lemons and Anchovies, Galley Kitchen Gal.

Apple cider vinegar is all-natural and can be used for so many things around your home. It can be an all-purpose cleaner, room deodorizer, flea treatment for your pets, and it’s a great immunity booster! Take a look at these 8 ways to use apple cider vinegar and you’ll never see apple cider vinegar the same way again!

1) All-Purpose Cleaner

Ditch the chemicals and try out this all-natural cleaner! We’ve mentioned vinegar cleaners before, and we’ll mention them again since we love them so much! Apple cider vinegar is antibacterial and odor absorbing, making it great to use around your home. It’s safe for pets and humans alike, so mix up 1 part vinegar and 1 part water in a spray bottle and use it wherever you need to!

2) Get Rid of Odors

If you’ve got some bad odors lurking around your home, there’s an easy way to get rid of them! Place a shallow bowl with apple cider vinegar where your odor is the strongest. Leave the bowl there until the smell is gone.

3) Pet Flea Treatment

Dilute apple cider vinegar with water (1 part water, 1 part apple cider vinegar) and rub the mixture into your pet’s fur. It’ll help keep those nasty fleas at bay without the use of harsh chemicals!

4) Erase Warts

Soak a cotton ball in apple cider vinegar and apply it to the wart. Use a bandaid to hold it in place overnight. Repeat these steps and your wart will be gone in no time!

5) Add it to Your Soups

Apple cider vinegar is not just for salads! Add it to your favorite vegetable soup for a kick!

6) Use it in Baking

Adding apple cider vinegar to your baking recipes will enhance the flavor of all the ingredients. Don’t worry, you won’t be able to detect any apple cider taste in your cakes!

7) Detox!

Add a tbsp or two to your meals to help build up your immune system. Doctors believe that adding apple cider vinegar into meals also helps improve lymph circulation.

8) Make Juice

Everyone knows that adding a spoon of apple cider vinegar to your water is great for your health, but why stop there? Add it to your grapefruit juice or grape juice for a boost!

Photos: Ebay, Inhabitat, Painter 1, Fan Pop, Teeth Health x, Food Network, Fine Cooking, Making Thyme for Health, Huffington Post.

No one likes a stale cake. Whether your cake goes stale from just cutting a slice from it, or during preparation, this bread trick will save your cake! Take a look at how to use the bread slice trick below!

So you’ve got this delicious cake, and once you’ve had a slice, how do you prevent the rest of the cake from going stale? Easy! Get out a few slices of bread and hold them in place with toothpicks! You’ll notice that the bread will get rock hard, but the cake will stay super moist!

Here is another way to use bread for cakes. If you’ve ever baked a cake, but didn’t have time to add filling and decorate it right away, you can also use the bread trick. Just lay a slice of bread right on top of the cake and leave it on the counter. The cake will stay moist and fresh while the bread will get hard. It’s like magic! Give it a try for yourself!

Photos: Baked Bree, Created by Diane, Hand Made Cake UK.

We guarantee that this will be the tastiest pumpkin pie you’ve ever had! Impress your guests this Thanksgiving with this traditional pie, and finish off your feast with a bang! This pumpkin pie uses canned pumpkin and ready made pie crust, making it a snap to put together!

The Perfect Pumpkin Pie

Easy pumpkin pie made with canned pumpkin and ready-made pie crust.

Ingredients

• 1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin
• 2 large eggs
• 1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp ground ginger
• 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 (9 inch) unbaked pie crust

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 425 F.
2. Whisk pumpkin, condensed milk, eggs, spices and salt in a bowl until smooth. Pour into crust.
3. Bake for 15 minutes.
4. Reduce the oven temperature to 350 F and continue baking 35-40 minutes or until a knife inserted in the middle comes out clean.
5. Allow the pie to cool and garnish as desired.

Photos: Picture Perfect Meals, Buzzfeed.

Pumpkin season is here, and it’s a perfect time to make these scrumptious cookies! Make a bunch of them to share with friends and family – we guarantee they’ll be grabbing seconds!

Delicious Pumpkin Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients

• 1½ cups butter, softened
• 2 cups brown sugar, packed
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 can (15 oz.) pumpkin puree
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 4 cups flour
• 2 cups quick-cooking oats
• 2 tsp cinnamon
• 2 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 bag (12 oz.) chocolate chips

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 375°F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
2. In a large bowl, beat butter, brown sugar and white sugar until creamy. Add in the pumpkin, egg and vanilla. Beat until smooth.
3. In a separate bowl, combine flour, oats, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Mix into the pumpkin mixture until just combined. Fold in the chocolate chips. Using a cookie scoop or spoon, drop the dough onto the baking sheets. Space the dough about 2 inches apart.

Photos: The Wannabe Chef, Kirbie Cravings. Recipe: Love Bakes Good Cakes.

These caramel and chocolate pecan bars are so moist and delicious, we promise they’ll be gone in minutes! Sweet and with the perfect amount of crunch, these bars will set you right in the mood for fall!

Caramel and Chocolate Pecan Pie Bars

Ingredients

For the Crust

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup flour
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 tbsp cornstarch
• pinch of salt

For the Filling

• 2 cups roasted salted pecans
• 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/3 cup whipping cream or heavy cream
• 1 tbsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 tsp salt

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 F and line a 8×8 inch baking pan with aluminum foil. Spray the foil with cooking spray and set aside.
2. To make the crust, combine all the crust ingredients in a bowl and using a fork (or your hands), cut the butter into dry ingredients until evenly distributed and pea-sized lumps are formed.
3. Put the mixture into the prepared pan and pack it down with a spatula. Create an even, flat crust layer.
4. For the filling, evenly sprinkle the pecans onto the crust. Sprinkle the chocolate chips on top and set the pan aside.
5. In a microwave-safe bowl, combine 1/2 cup of butter, whipping cream, and brown sugar. Heat on high for 1 minute, or until melted.
6. Remove the bowl from the microwave and whisk mixture until smooth.
7. Return bowl to the microwave and heat again for 1 minute on high.
8. Remove the bowl and whisk again. Whisk in vanilla and salt.
9. Pour the caramel sauce over the chocolate chips and pecans evenly.
10. Place pan on a cookie sheet and bake for 30 minutes or until caramel is bubbling around the edges. Allow the bars to cool for at least 3 hours before slicing or serving.
11. Bars can be kept at room temperature for 1 week, or frozen for up to 6 months.

Photos and recipe: Averie Cooks.

We love citrus cakes, and this one is no exception! The aroma as it’s baking will surely make you want to eat it before it’s done! Using only basic ingredients, this cake is easy to whip up in no time!

Lemon Velvet Squares

This lemon cake is perfect for afternoon coffee breaks! Fluffy and moist, this cake is difficult to resist!

Ingredients

• 2 1/4 cups sifted cake flour
• 2 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter
• 1 tsp freshly grated lemon zest
• 1/2 tsp freshly grated navel orange rind
• 1 1/3 cups superfine sugar
• 3 large eggs
• 1/3 cup water
• 3 tbsp fresh lemon juice
• 1/4 cup fresh orange juice
• 1 tbsp powdered sugar, for garnish

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350 F and position oven rack on lower third of the oven. Butter a 13×9 inch baking pan.
2. Sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
3. Cut the butter into 1 inch pieces and place in a large bowl. Add in the lemon and orange rinds and mix on low speed until softened. Increase the speed to medium-high and mix until smooth and light in color. This should only take 1-2 minutes.
4. Add in sugar 1 tbsp at a time, taking 6-8 minutes to blend it well.
5. Add in eggs 1 at a time.
6. Decrease the speed to low. In a small bowl, combine water, lemon juice, and orange juice.
7. Add in dry ingredients alternating with liquids, dividing the flour mixture into 3 parts and the liquid into 2 parts. Start and end with the flour.
8. Mix until just incorporated after each addition.
9. Spoon batter into the prepared pan, smoothing with the back of a spoon.
10. Center the pan on the oven rack and bake for 30-35 minutes, or until cake is golden brown and springy to the touch.
11. Remove the pan from the oven and set on a cake rack to cool.
12. Before serving, place powdered sugar in a fine mesh strainer and dust on top of the cake. Cut into squares and serve.

Photos: All That’s Left are the Crumbs.

The Tim Horton’s bread bowl may be back, which is great news for us! We can’t get enough of the bread bowl, and we’re impatiently waiting for it to come back! If you’re impatient like us, there is a way to make your own! For this bread bowl, a thick, hearty soup works best. We especially love thick chicken noodle or potato soup! We used white flour in this recipe, but you can substitute it for dark for a healthy alternative. You don’t just have to put soup in these! How about cracking an egg inside mini bread bowls and baking it? You can also fill it up with some tasty mac and cheese! The possibilities are endless!

Tim Horton’s Home-Made Italian-Style Bread Bowl

A thick, hearty soup goes best with these bread bowls! Try beef stew or potato soup! These bread bowls can be frozen for up to a month.

Ingredients

• 2 (.25 ounce) packages active dry yeast
• 2 1/2 cups warm water (110 degrees F)
• 2 tsp salt
• 2 tbsp vegetable oil
• 7 cups flour
• 1 tbsp cornmeal
• 1 egg white
• 1 tbsp water

Instructions

1. In a large bowl, dissolve the yeast in warm water. Leave it to sit about 10 minutes until creamy.
2. Add the salt, oil, and 4 cups of flour to the yeast and beat well. Stir in the remaining flour, about a 1/2 at a time, and beat well with an electric mixer after each addition.
3. Turn out the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead it until it’s smooth.
4. Lightly oil a large bowl and place the dough in the bowl. Turn the dough around to coat with oil. Cover with a damp cloth and leave it to rise in a warm spot until it has doubled in size. (About 40 minutes.)
5. When the dough has risen, punch it down and divide it into 8 equal portions. Shape each portion into a 4 inch round loaf. Place the loaves on slightly greased baking sheets that are sprinkled with cornmeal. Cover the loaves and let them rise again in a warm spot until they’ve doubled in size. (About 30-40 minutes.)
6. Preheat your oven to 400 F.
7. In a bowl, beat together the egg white and 1 tbsp of water, and lightly brush the loaves with half of the egg wash.
8. Bake for 15 minutes, then brush with the remaining egg wash. Bake for an additional 10-15 minutes until golden. Cool on a wire rack.
9. To make the bowls, cut a 1/2 inch thick slice from the top of each loaf and scoop out centers. You should be left with 3/4 inch thick shells.
10. Fill the bread bowls with hot soup and serve immediately.

Photos: The Poch Times, Pillsbury, That Was Vegan.

Everyone knows that bundt cake and coffee go together like peanut butter and jelly! This poppy seed bundt cake is the perfect companion to your coffee. Whether it’s sitting outside with a good book, slice of bundt cake, and a cup of coffee, or serving it to your guests as a dessert, we’re sure that this cake is perfect for any occasion! In this recipe we used vanilla pudding mix, which adds the perfect taste and sweetness to this cake.

Poppy Seed Bundt Cake

Easy and quick cake that you can whip up anytime! Perfect for coffee or tea breaks and dessert. We’re sure your guests will be impressed and reach for seconds!

Ingredients

• 1 (18.25 ounce) package yellow cake mix
• 1 (3.4 ounce) package instant vanilla pudding mix
• 2 tbsp poppy seeds
• 1 cup water
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 4 eggs
• 1 tsp almond extract

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Grease and flour a 10 inch bundt pan.
3. In a bowl, combine cake mix, pudding mix, and poppy seeds. Make a well in the center and add the water, oil, and eggs. Beat on low until well combined. Pour batter into bundt pan.
4. Bake for 50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Leave it to cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then turn it onto a wire rack to cool completely.

Photos: Bite, Herald Sun

These soft cranberry scones are made with kitchen cupboard staples, and are quick to whip up for breakfast or brunch. You can spread them with butter or jam, and even dip them in your tea or coffee. In this recipe we used cranberries, but you can use blueberries or strawberries as well. Remember, when mixing the dough, don’t over-mix or you’ll end up with a hard, dense scone.

Soft Cranberry Scones

These cranberry scones make the perfect Sunday breakfast or brunch. Quick to prepare and bake, they’re great for unexpected guests!

Ingredients

• 1 cup flour
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/8 tsp salt
• 1/4 cup cold butter
• 3 tbsp 3% milk
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1/4 cup dried cranberries
• 1/4 tsp coarse sugar

Instructions

1. In a bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Cut in the butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
2. In another bowl, combine milk and 2 tbsp of the beaten egg. Add to the crumb mixture and until just moistened.
3. Stir in cranberries.
4. Place the dough on a floured surface and knead gently a 6-7 times. Pat the dough into a 6 inch circle, and cut into 4 wedges.
5. Place the wedges onto a baking sheet coated with cooking spray. Brush with the remaining egg and sprinkle with coarse sugar.
6. Bake the scones at 425° for 12-15 minutes or until golden brown. Serve warm with jam and butter.

Photos: Greedy Guts, Food Coma Blog, In Good Taste Blog.