Friday, December 31, 2010

New Years Resolutions

          Happy almost new years everyone!! I have decided to make this one a dedication to this AMAZING event! I have a challenge for you all, and for me too...new years resolutions.

1. Try at least 1 new recipe every week
2. Try 10 interesting ingredients that you have never heard of before
3. Invent 5 recipes and dedicate them to 5 people you love/5 celebrities
4. Rearrange your kitchen
5. Send me your invented recipes and ill try them. chelsea.f@shaw.ca

          Happy New Years Everyone!!!!! These are some of my cooking new years resolutions and some ones that I challenge YOU with. (PS. yes I did post early. I have to be with family again tomorrow) GOODBYE 2010!!

Friday, December 24, 2010

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

     Since tomorrow is Christmas and I usually post on Saturdays, I thought I would post a little early so I could spend all of tomorrow with my family and friends, but still help all you cooks out there. :)
     Now, I don't have a recipe for you today but I do have some gift ideas. Like me, you might have trouble getting presents for "everyone" or might even be financially impaired. At Christmas time, I do buy some presents, but most of my presents are homemade. Here are some ideas for homemade presents.

1. Fabrics: If you are good with your hands, you can knit, crochet, or even sew (although this is more expensive) clothes and accessories for your family and friends. I have knit a lot of presents this year.
2. Baking: Since this IS a cooking blog I have to have this one, but it’s also one of my favorites. You can get a box or a bag with nice ribbon and put a whole bunch of little samples of your favorite recipes in it. **You can also make a cookie mix or a muffin mix. Meaning, you get the ingredients (dry ingredients) and layer them nicely in a jar or a tube bag (it depends on your preference)
3. Homemade Cards
4. Mix CD's: I really like giving these, whether it’s full of Christmas music or a mix of all types of genres. It’s your decision :)

     Well there you go. you don't have to do just these things, there’s so much you can make for the Christmas holidays, these are just my favorites. Happy holidays children and peace!! :D

Saturday, December 18, 2010

Chocolate Chip Muffins

     Before I show you this recipe, I would like to say that if you want to have tips on making a perfect muffin, visit my earlier post at http://pppiano99-recipeforsuccess.blogspot.com/2009/10/how-to-make-delicious-muffin-ps-this-is.html.

Ingredients:

1 1/4 cups quick cooking oats *optional
1 1/4 cups milk
1 egg
1/2 cup vegetable oil
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
3/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1 cup chopped pecans *optional
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
4 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt

     Combine oats and milk and allow to stand for 15 minutes. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (205 degrees C). Grease each cup of one 12-cup muffin tin.
     Stir egg, oil, 1/2 cup of the brown sugar, chocolate chips and 1/2 cup of the pecans into the oat and milk mixture.
     Combine flour, baking powder and salt. Add oat mixture to flour mixture, stirring until just moist. Fill each cup of one 12-cup muffin tin 2/3 full. Sprinkle tops with the remaining brown sugar and pecans.
     Bake at 400 degrees F (205 degrees C) for 20 to 25 minutes.

Saturday, December 4, 2010

Chocolate Chip Scones

          Do you know what I love about scones? You can make them anyway you want them. Dried fruit, fresh fruit, chocolate chips, nuts, anything. This one calls for chocolate chips but you can litterally substitute whatever you want in it. You can even just take it out in general and this is the perfect breakfast, and perfect snack.


Ingredients
2 cups (260 grams) all purpose flour
1/4 cup (50 grams) granulated white sugar
1 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (113 grams) (1 stick) unsalted butter, cold and cut into pieces
1/2 cup (90 grams) milk or semi sweet chocolate chips or chunks
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2/3 - 3/4 cup (160 - 180 ml) buttermilk

*If you don't have buttermilk, and I usually don't, you can just have 1 cup of milk to 1 Tbsp. of lemmon juice/vinegar.

          Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C) and place rack in middle of oven. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
          In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Cut the butter into small pieces and blend into the flour mixture with a pastry blender or two knives. (The mixture should look like coarse crumbs.) Stir in the chocolate chunks (or chips) and dried cherries. In a small measuring cup whisk together the buttermilk and vanilla extract and then add to the flour mixture. Stir just until the dough comes together (add more buttermilk or flour as necessary). Do not over mix the dough.
          Transfer to a lightly floured surface and knead dough gently four or five times and then pat the dough into a circle that is about 7 inches (18 cm) round and about 11/2 inches (3.75 cm) thick. Cut this circle in half, then cut each half into 4 pie-shaped wedges (triangles). Place the scones on the baking sheet. Brush the tops of the scones with a little milk.
          Bake for about 15 to 20 minutes or until golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. Remove from oven and place on a wire rack to cool.
          Makes 8 scones.

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Fluffy Peanut Butter Cookies

Ingredients
1/3 cup peanut butter
¼ cup butter, softened
¼ cup white sugar
¼ cups packed brown sugar
1 eggs
1 tbsp. Milk
1 tsp. Vanilla extract
½ cup all-purpose flour
1/4 tsp. Baking powder
1/8 tsp. Salt

     Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
     In a large bowl, cream together the peanut butter, butter, white sugar, and brown sugar until well blended. Beat in the egg, milk, and vanilla one at a time. Combine the flour, baking powder, and salt; stir into creamed mixture. Roll tablespoonfuls of dough into balls. Place cookies 2 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheets. Press each ball once with fork tines.
     Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven, or until edges are lightly browned.

Friday, September 24, 2010

Apple Crisp/Crumble recipe

     This recipe is absolutly delicious. I found it and made my adjustments. I made it for my youth group and they loved it. I hope you enjoy:

Topping:
1/2 cup (65 grams)           all purpose flour
1/4 cup (50 grams)           granulated white sugar
1/4 cup (55 grams)           light brown sugar
1/2 tsp.                            Ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp.                            Fresh or ground nutmeg (optional)
1/8 tsp.                            Salt
6 tbsp. (84 grams)           cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces
1/3 cup (30 grams)          old-fashioned rolled oats
Filling:
2 1/2 pounds (1.2 kg)      Apples; Preferably Gala (Peeled, cored, and cut into 1 inch chunks)
2 tsp.                               Lemon juice
3 tbsp. (40 grams)           white granulated sugar

     Preheat oven to 375 degrees F and place rack in the center of the oven. Butter or spray with a cooking spray, a 9 inch (23 cm) deep dish pie plate or an 8 x 8 x 2 inch (20 x 20 x 5 cm) baking dish. (Can also make 8 individual ramekins.) Set aside.
     For Topping: Place all the topping ingredients (flour, sugars, spices, butter, oats and nuts) in a bowl and work in with a fork (looks like coarse meal) and there are no large pieces of butter visible. Set aside while you prepare the filling.
     For Filling: Place the apple chunks in a large bowl. Toss with the lemon juice and sugar. Transfer to your prepared baking dish. Spread the topping evenly over the apples.
     Bake for approximately 30-40 minutes (20 - 25 minutes for individual ramekins) or until bubbly, and the topping is golden brown. Remove from oven and place on a wire rack to cool for about 30 minutes before serving.
     Serve with softly whipped cream or vanilla ice cream. Refrigerate leftovers and reheat before serving.
     Makes 4 servings.

Monday, September 20, 2010

Todays Tid-Bit

     Here is a little Tid-Bit for today...it's not much but it should do. I personally think this is a good piece of advise.
     When shopping for oatmeal, go to super store. Get the no-name brand of rolled oats. It is absolutly apperent that you get rolled oats, not quick cooking ones. Let me tell you why...
     The quick cooking oats are good if your making oatmeal, so if thats all your making then disregard this post. But if you are planning on putting them in baking then the rolled oats are the best option. They have better texture, and use the moisture and sugar to your benefit. Unfortunatly they don't taste the same when making oatmeal...but that can be easily fixed. Before making oatmeal, use a food processor and grind up the rolled oats a little. (Ps. thats pretty much what the companys do to make quick cooking oats) This way everyones happy. Also you have a better tasting recipe, you buy only one kind of oatmeal, and you save money if you get the no-name brand one at superstore. Happy shopping :)