Friday 24 February 2012

s'more please


s'more cookies! i had to make them. ever since i saw them on the baking robot. they are some of the best cookies i've ever had. however, some of the marshmallows in some completed disappeared. i suspect this is because they weren't really frozen after a bit, so don't forget that important step: FREEZE YOUR MARSHMALLOWS.


'ere ya go.

Ingredients
3 cups AP flour
2/3 cup coco powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 tsp vanilla
2 large eggs
1 large dark-chocolate bar, finely chopped (i used one from ikea)
One bag of mini marshmallows- frozen.

To roll:
1 cup graham cracker crumbs
1/2 cup sugar

Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 400*F
2. Combine flour, coco, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl. Mix well.
3. Cream butter with sugars, eggs and vanilla.
4. Add flour mixture gradually to butter & sugar mixture.
5. Mix in chocolate to dough (it will be very stiff)
6. Mix together graham crumbs and sugar in a small bowl.
7. Take marshmallows out of the freezer and wrap some chocolate dough around 4-5 marshmallows until totally coated. Roll the ball of cookie dough in the crumb & sugar mixture until coated.
8. Place on a parchment paper-covered cookie sheet an 2 inches apart.
9. Bake for 10-12 minutes.
10. Consume.

Saturday 18 February 2012

Banana streusel muffins


Bonjour madames et monsieurs.

This morning I woke up disgustingly early since my work schedule during the week doesn't allow for any extra sleep, ever. So in being awake for that extra time, I baked. Banana muffins are always yummy but I wanted to mix it up a bit, so I added a streusel topping :) I am pleased to say they were a great breakfast and a great start to the weekend. Wanna make some? Follow the easy steps below.


Ingredients
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
2-3 medium bananas, mashed
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 large egg
1 tsp vanilla
2-3 tbsp milk

Streusel topping:
1/3 cup brown sugar
2 tbsp flour
2 tsp cinnamon
1 1/2 tbsp butter

Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 375*F
2. Sift flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt into a large mixing bowl. Mix well.
3. In a separate bowl, mix together bananas, sugar, oil, egg and vanilla. Proceed to fold wet mixture into the dry mixture in the large bowl, just until all incorporated. If needed, add 2-3 tbsp milk to moisten the mixture a bit more.
4. Mix together brown sugar, flour and cinnamon. Then, using a pastry blender or two knives being pulled in opposite directions, cut in the butter until the mixture is fine crumbs.
5. Line a muffin tin with liners and spoon batter evenly into each liner so that they're about 3/4 full. Spoon streusel crumb mixture on top of the batter.
6. Bake for about 18-22 minutes. Transfer to wire racks to cool.



Friday 10 February 2012

Orange Cinnamon Buns





Happy Friday! Thank god! This week has been a little crazy for me, but I've got skiing to look forward to tomorrow and I was still in high enough spirits to make these beauties tonight after my super long work week. They turned out great considering it was the first attempt. This recipe was a request someone made :) and I encourage more suggestions!




Ingredients
Rolls
  • 2 1/2 - 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 4 1/2 teaspoons quick rise yeast ( I used Fleischmann's)
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup luke-warm milk
  • 1/4 cup butter, at room temperature
  • egg, at room temperature
Filling

  • 2 tablespoons butter, at room temperature
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  •      2 teaspoons cinnamon
  •      zest from one orange

Glaze

  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 2 tablespoons butter, at room temperature
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
  • 3 tsp freshly squeezed orange juice (or milk if you just want to make a plain glaze)

Instructions
1. Combine 2 cups of flour, yeast, sugar, and salt.
2. Heat milk at a low power in the microwave until lukewarm.



3. Add the warm milk, 1/4 cup butter and egg to the flour mixture and mix at a low speed until ingredients are combined, scraping sides of bowl frequently.
4. Continue to add the remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time until the dough begins to leave the sides of the bowl.
5. Turn dough out onto lightly floured board and knead until it is smooth and elastic.


6. Spray bowl with cooking spray and place dough in bowl, turning once to bring greased side of dough up.

7. Cover and let rise in a warm place until double in size (about 1 hour).

8. Punch down dough, pull edges into center, and turn over in the bowl; let rise again (20-30 min)
9. While dough is rising, combine sugar and cinnamon for filling.

10. Roll dough into 9"x18" rectangle then spread 2 tablespoons softened butter over dough and sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon mixture, and then orange zest.
11. Roll up tightly beginning at wide side and seal well by pinching edges of roll together.
12. Cut roll into 1" slices by placing a piece of dental floss under roll, bringing ends of floss up and crossing at the top and pulling the ends in opposite directions, cutting through the dough.
13. Spray a large baking pan with cooking spray and place rolls in pan a little apart from each other.
14. Cover pan and let rise until double in bulk (about 20-30 minutes). **I wouldn't say mine necessary doubled after 20-30 minutes, but they did rise a bit more.
15. Bake in a 375°F oven for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown and completely baked through.

16. To make glaze, combine powdered sugar, 2 tablespoons butter, and vanilla in a small bowl; gradually stir in OJ/milk until desired consistency.
17. Cool rolls for about 5 minutes, then spread or drizzle glaze over rolls and serve warm.

* Recipe slightly adapted from Dulce Dough

Sunday 5 February 2012

Cream of Broccoli Soup

Good evening...

I thought I'd switch it up for you guys and post an actual meal instead of dessert for once (god knows you can't ALL be dessert lovers). So tonight I decided to make cream of broccoli soup, which is exceptionally easy and takes next to no cooking skill, but in case you're still hesitant, here's whatcha do:

Ingredients
1 large head of broccoli, chopped
3 ribs of celery, chopped
2 peeled potatoes, chopped
1 medium onion, chopped
3 cloves of garlic, minced
1-2 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
1 tsp parsley leaves
2 bay leaves
5 cups of water

Optional: I used the rind of my used-up parmesan and simmered it with the vegetables for some added flavour

Additionally:
1/2 cup cream
1 cup shredded parmesan cheese

Instructions:
1. Add all vegetables & garlic (& parmesan rind) to a large pot with water. Add the bay leaves & spices. Bring to a boil.
2. Once boiling, turn the heat to low and cover, simmering for about 25-30 minutes.
3. Remove the bay leaves & rind. Turn off the heat and allow to cool down a bit before adding the mixture to a blender (perhaps a bit at a time, according to how big your blender is) and puree the soup. Add the pureed soup to another pot.
4. Mix the puree with the cream & parmesan over low-medium heat for 5-10 minutes, stirring well to ensure it's all incorporated.
5. Serve while hot with bread & butter :)

Thursday 2 February 2012

Carrot cake...in a mug!

Hey guys :)

So do you remember the first time you heard about cake-in-a-mug? Specifically, chocolate cake in a mug. it was all the rage back in 2011... but carrot cake is the new chocolate. Therefore, I present you with carrot cake in a mug. Tasty? Definitely. Healthy? ...well the carrots must add some nutritious value, right? Try and see for yourself.

Ingredients
5 tbsp all purpose flour
4 tbsp brown sugar
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp cinnamon
Pinch of nutmeg
Pinch of salt
1 egg
3 tbsp milk
3 tbsp oil
Dash of vanilla
Approx. 2 tbsp zested carrot (about 1/4 of a large carrot)
Powdered sugar (for topping)

Instructions


Mix all ingredients in a large mug. Microwave on high for 1 minute & 30 seconds. Sprinkle top with powdered sugar. Enjoy.