Tag: Baking

Cherry Cobbler

11 Comments

Most of the time, I don’t have the heart to bake with fresh fruit that is delicious (i.e. blueberries, cherries, raspberries, blackberries, strawberries, etc.).  I usually think they should be enjoyed, raw, delicious and completely on their own (I don’t understand putting sugar on strawberries!), as nature intended.

But if someone gives me some fruit and asks me to bake something with it, do you really think I’d say no?

Cherry Cobbler

from All Recipes

3 tablespoons butter (I used EarthBalance)*
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup all purpose flour
1/2 cup whole wheat pastry flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 cup milk*
1 cup sugar
1 tablespoon flour
1 cup boiling water
3 1/2 cups fresh pitted cherries
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Spread cherries in a greased 9 inch pie pan or 9×9 square baking dish.   Combine the first seven ingredients in a bowl. Spread the mixture over the cherries.  Combine the 1 cup of sugar with a tablespoon of flour and a cup of boiling water then pour it over the batter and cherries.  Bake for 45 minutes.

*Use non-dairy milk and Earthbalance to make it vegan.

Potential Problems You Might Face in Making This Cobbler:

  • Pitting the cherries if you don’t have a cherry pitter.  –> Solution: Enlist the help of a friend.  Slice the cherries in half and pull out the pit with your fingers.
  • Temptation to eat the entire thing –> Solution: Give it to the friend who helped with the pitting.
  • Feeling that you need an occasion to make this.  –>  Solution: New season of Mad Men started last night, make this next Sunday and have a piece with Don Draper and an Old Fashioned.

Was anyone else as sorely disappointed as I was at that first episode last night?

Naturally Nutty Zucchini Muffins and a Wine Trick

8 Comments

A few nights ago, my roommate and I were talking about muffins.  Yesterday morning after my nap (at 10:30am!  Isn’t that nuts!??!  I’m ridiculously tired these days) I was inspired.

Naturally Nutty Zucchini Muffins

1/2 cup Naturally Nutty Cinnamon Vanilla Sunflower Butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup egg substitute (or 1 egg)
1/2 cup milk
1 cup whole wheat pastry flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 small zucchini, grated (about 1 cup)

Preheat oven to 350F.

Cream together the sugar, sunflower butter, egg and milk.  Add whole wheat pastry flour, baking soda, and baking powder  and mix together.  Fold in grated zucchini.  Place in greased muffin pan and bake for approximately 20-22 minutes.  Makes 10 muffins.

I have to confess the whole reason I made these up was because I wasn’t a fan of the Naturally Nutty Cinnamon Vanilla Sunflower Butter.  I got two jars a while back from one of Kath’s Open Sky deals.  While it tastes okay, I’m not a HUGE fan of it on its own.

However, baked into these, it tastes good!  If you don’t have Naturally Nutty Cinnamon Vanilla Sunflower Butter on hand you can use 1/2 cup of any nut butter + 1/2 tsp vanilla + 1/2 tsp cinnamon!

These aren’t the sweetest thing in the world but they’re tasty enough for a baked treat.  Definitely not bad for about 150 calories. But honestly, not what I was  expecting.   The batter tasted a million times better than the baked product.   Oh well.

A few days ago my friend sent out this video about opening a bottle of wine with a shoe. I can’t insert it here for some reason but watch it! It’s nuts!

So we tried it.  Here’s the recap.

We rewatched the video (tools ready).

Tapped the bottom.

Hit it against a wall and nothing.

Tried a door frame.

Hmmm maybe it has to be a real cork not a synthetic cork.  Good thing we have another bottle.  Start over.

Brick outside maybe?  Still looking for other hard surfaces.

Hmm maybe it’s the shoe.  Let’s try a cowboy boot (his, not mine, in case you were wondering).

Nothing. We’ll try again later.

We’re thinking maybe it has to do with the bottom of the show. We’re going to try with one of my hard bottom leather boots instead of a rubber soled shoe.

Isn’t that video nuts!?!?  Anyone speak French who can tell me if I’m missing something?

Challah

13 Comments

I have a really cheesy joke that I’m going to refrain from saying involving a crappy Gwen Stefani song.  I’m sure you can guess what it is.

Instead, I’ll just tell you about this creation.

I’m not really a bread baker.  I don’t really have the patience to wait for dough to rise numerous times.  But yesterday seemed to be that day.  Challah won me over.   I want to try bread making again.

Challah

from Cooking Bread

1/2 cup warm water
1 egg
1 egg yolk (reserve white for egg wash)
1 tbsp oil
1 1/2 tbsp honey
2 1/4 cup bread flour
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 tsp yeast
tbsp of milk + egg white for egg wash

Combine water, eggs oil and honey.  Once they’re all whisked well together, add 1 cup of flour, yeast and salt and beat together.  Let it sit for 15 minutes.  After it has sat for 15 minutes, add the rest of the flour, 1/4 cup at a time.  Once you’ve mixed it as much as possible.  Turn it onto a surface and finish incorporating the flour.  Knead for 10 minutes until dough is soft and elastic.

Put dough in a greased bowl.  Place in a warm spot for about an hour to an hour and a half (I turn the oven on for 2 minutes just to warm it up, then put the dough in there).    Once the dough has risen, divide into 3 equal sized pieces.  Roll into long pieces and braid.  (For step by step photos click here).  Once braided, allow to rise another hour or so.

Brush with egg wash and bake at 400F for 15 minutes, then turn the oven down to 350F and bake for another 15 minutes.

I was a little concerned before making this.  The braiding part seemed particularly intimidating but it was surprisingly easy.  I would definitely say it’s worth a try.

Not to mention fresh challah with dijon mustard, asiago, sliced artichoke hearts and spinach is a wonderful combination.

4th of July is this weekend!  Any plans?