You see, I often halve recipes when I’m baking because there are only two people and a dog in my house. Half of a cake recipe usually makes a more manageable dozen cupcakes. Half a brownie recipe usually makes a small 8×8″ pan full. Half as many chocolate-filled, cheese-laden, buttercream frosted baked goods in my mouth makes my pants fit twice as well.

That doesn’t make sense? Sorry, I was never good at math.

Speaking of not good at math, I often need a little help cutting a recipe in half. Figuring out half of 1 cup is easy, but what about half of 1/3 of a cup? What if I need to know how many teaspoons are in a tablespoon? How many cups is 4 ounces? If you have these same questions, just do what I do when I have questions about anything in life: Ask Google.

No, seriously. Try it!

Type in “4 ounces in cups” and get the answer: 1/2 cup. Type in “1 tablespoon in teaspoons” and get the answer: 3 teaspoons. Type in “1/3 cup in teaspoons” and get the answer: 16 teaspoons, which makes half of 1/3 of a cup 8 teaspoons.

It’s called the Google Calculator and it’s way better at math than I am! Maybe you will find it useful too.

Later this week:

Crispy, cheesy, delicious tomato tarts!

Not convinced yet? Maybe this will do the trick.

Here are your cookies baked with a Silpat on a jelly roll pan.

So round, so pretty, so perfect.

And here are your cookies baked with a parchment / wax paper (NOT recommended) covered jelly roll pan.

So, so unfortunate. All misshapen and flat.

To recap: round, pretty and perfect cookies – use a Silpat. It also comes in handy for other things, like making sticky candy, and never needs to be greased or oiled. I love the one I have so much I’m going to be buying another one soon! You can find them on Amazon.com or at stores like Bed Bath & Beyond and Macy’s.