LIQUIDS -  Use a glass measuring cup.  You should look straight at the mark or level you’re trying to read.

SOLIDS  - Use plastic or metal spoons and cups.

              *  Over-fill your cup or spoon with the solid

              *  Use a spatula or  the straight edge of a knife to level off the solid.

When measuring:

             a)  brown sugar  –   pack the sugar into the cup.

             b)  cocoa  -   pack the cocoa lightly.

             c)  butter / cheddar/cream cheese  -  since most of our commercial butter come in blocks (1 cup each) or      sticks as the butter is not melted or too soft to have lost its shape.  Simply cut the butter into the desired measurement  …. 1/3 cup, 1/4 cup, 1/2 cup… etc.

             To get one tablespoon, cut up the butter into 16 parts.  Since there are 16 TB = 1 cup, each section will be = 1TB.  If you need 3 TB, simply get 3 sections.