Given the background description of some cooking related query, summarize the question into a title

[Q]: When creaming butter or shortening with sugar, how can I tell when it's creamed enough? With the mixer as low as 3 or 4, even a few minutes of mixing seems excessive. Also, what are symptoms could I see in cookies which have had the butter under-creamed?Update: I think that I'm familiar with the standard guides of light and fluffy, but I seem to have a hard time evaluating that when I'm watching the mixer. My cookies always seem to come out too flat, and since I'm measuring flour by weight, creaming is my next suspect.What should I look for? Are there any tests that I can do; perhaps similar to the window pane test for bread development?
[A]: How can I tell when my fat is sufficiently creamed?

[Q]: I've had a Lodge cast iron skillet for about a year. A few months after I bought it I seasoned it with too much oil (I learnt later) and the surface developed some 'bubbles' that later started flaking. I've used it almost every day and while it is fairly non stick (I can fry eggs in it) I never managed to get a smooth surface on it. Here's a photo of how the surface looks . While the surface might look like it's flaking, I do not see flakes in the food or when I'm cleaning it. Do you suggest I sand it and reseason it, or will the surface eventually smoothen out if I just keep using it?
[A]: Getting a cast iron skillet surface smooth

[Q]: I've just purchased some locally reared organic duck breasts from a local farmers market and have decided to cook them according to the Five-spiced duck breasts with honey and soy recipe.My concern is that having not cooked duck breasts before (yes, I know, shameful! =) and having picked the recipe based on the fact that it sounds good and appears to have fairly detailed instructions, my inexperience in handling duck could result in a poor end result. So:Are there any tips, things to look out for or techniques when cooking duck breast to obtain a great outcome?Are there any glaring mistakes in the method for cooking duck breast in the recipe detailed?
[A]:
Cooking duck breasts