Category Archives: Baking

Cake Box Cookies

05 Sunday Jul 2020

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This is the easiest way of making cookies and you can do so with any of your favourite cake box recipes

Ingredients

  • Your favourite cake box
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/3 cup of vegetable oil
  • 1 tsp of vanilla (optional)
  • 1 cup of chopped nuts or chocolate chips (optional)
  • 1/4 cup of sugar
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
  2. Open up the cake box and put into a mixing bowel
  3. Add eggs, oil, vanilla and optional nuts or chocolate chips
  4. Stir until well mixed
  5. Put into the refrigerator between 1/2 to 1 hour for firm up batter
  6. Using a 1 1/2″ cookie scope or table spoon, roll batter between hands for make a 1 1/2″ ball of cookie dough
  7. Roll in sugar and place on a cookie sheet lined with parchment or silicon pad
  8. Bake for about 10-12 minutes
  9. Remove and let cool about 1 minute before placing on the cooling rack
  10. To keep moist place cooled cookies in an airtight container

Enjoy

Easy Focaccia

01 Monday Jun 2020

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Foccacia3

Ingredients

  • 3 cups all purpose flour
  • 1/4 teaspoon yeast, active dry or instant (1 gm) or use 1/8 teaspoon yeast and mother from previous bake – see how to make
  • 1 teaspoon salt (6 gms)
  • 1 1/2 cups water not boiling (354 mL)
  • (about 2 Tablespoons extra flour for shaping)
  • Rectangular pan or casserole dish
  • wrks4me_terry_tested-11Parchment Paper
  • Olive oil and herbs of your preference (ie. Herbs Provence, Italian Seasoning or Rosemary)

Directions

FIRST RISE

  1. Put all of the ingredients except for the Extra flour into a bowl
  2. Mix all together til well blended
  3. Put plastic wrap over top and put in a non drafty place for 8-12 hours

SECOND RISE

  1. After 8-12 hours the dough mixture should have risen and appears bubbly
  2. Remove plastic wrap and with a spatula gently fold the dough over itself a few times. 
  3. Line a rectangular pan or casserole dish with parchment paper
  4. Turn out dough onto parchment paper and gently spread out with fingers to edges
  5. Cover with a dry towel and let rise 35 minutes to 1 1/2 depending on how dense you wish the bread. The longer it rises the more airy it will be.
  6. Preheat your oven to 425 degrees F. (I use 400, others use 450 depending on your oven)
  7. Prepare olive oil mixture (olive oil and herbs, I use Herbs Provence but you can use Rosemary or Italian Seasoning)
  8. foccacia1After dough has risen a second time, now is the time to create “dimples” in the dough by dipping your finger in some olive oil and press them all over the dough to create “dimples”.
  9. foccacia2Brush the olive oil mixture over top of dough and sprinkle with some Kosher salt is you like.
  10. Bake for 30 minutes uncovered or until golden brown and internal temperature reaches 190 degrees F.
  11. Remove bread to cool for at least 15 minutes.

Enjoy

Yeast – How to save yeast for another loaf

26 Sunday Apr 2020

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Covid Comfort FoodIf you’re finding yeast a hard commodity during this pandemic,  think of this technique of stretching your existing bread yeast to last and last.

Technique

  1. If you have started making bread (try my recipe for no kneed bread), allow the dough to rise the first time. Then before the second rise, take a good pinch (about a heaping tablespoon) and put it in a clean container with a top.
  2. Add 1/2 cup of flour and 1/2 cup of lukewarm water
  3. Mix very, very well and put it in the fridge with a lid on (can be stored for up to 2 weeks). Make sure there is no mold development otherwise you have to discard it.
  4. When you are ready to make another loaf add the mixture to the batter instead of adding dry yeast.
  5. Let it rise as usual and repeat procedure (1) as taking a pinch of bread dough and putting in a container with equal amounts of flour and water, then store in the fridge.

NOTE: If you find your bread does not rise as high as you’d like, you can give a little boost to the yeast, just add 1/8th to 1/4 tsp to your bread batter after you have added this starter.

Step 1: Dough that has risen overnight (first rise)
Step 2: Take out a walnut size (heaping tablespoon) and put it in 1/2 cup each of water and flour
Step 3: Mix all into a slurry (If not required put in the fridge)
Step 4: Add slurry to your new loaf and following your bread directions
Step 5: Enjoy your new loaf of bread (repeat procedure each time you make a new loaf by saving some risen dough in the fridge

No Kneed Dutch Oven Bread

07 Tuesday Apr 2020

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No kneed bread

WCovid Comfort Foode are all staying inside during these trying time. So what better way of passing time then to make some bread. Here is a simple way to making yourself and someone you love happy during this pandemic. MAKE BREAD.

Ingredients

  • 3 cups all purpose flour
  • 1/4 teaspoon yeast, active dry or instant (1 gm)
  • 1 teaspoon salt (6 gms)
  • 1 1/2 cups water not boiling (354 mL)
  • (about 2 Tablespoons extra flour for shaping)
  • Dutch Oven
  • wrks4me_terry_tested-11Parchment Paper

Directions

FIRST RISE

  1. Put all of the ingredients except for the Extra flour into a bowl
  2. Mix all together til well blended
  3. Put plastic wrap over top and put in a non drafty place for 8-12 hours

SECOND RISE

  1. After 8-12 hours the dough mixture should have risen and appears bubbly
  2. Dust your surface with flour and gently turn out dough mixture
  3. Dust the top of the mixture and fold dough over a few times. Shape into a ball and place into a parchment lined bowl. (You don’t have to use parchment, but it makes it easier to lift out)
  4. Cover bowl and let rise 35 minutes to 1 1/2 times its size depending on how dense you wish the bread. The longer it rises the more airy it will be.
  5. Preheat your oven to 425 degrees F. (I use 400, others use 450 depending on your oven)
  6. Put your dutch oven in the oven to get it piping hot (25-30 minutes)
  7. Once the dutch oven is hot, [Be careful to remove dutch oven (very hot)], place parchment with dough directly in the dutch oven, and cover.
  8. Bake for 30 minutes with cover on and then remove cover and continue to cook for 5-20 minutes or until golden brown and internal temperature reaches 190 degrees F.
  9. Be careful to remove dutch oven (very hot) and remove bread to let it cool for at least 15 minutes.

Adapted from original recipe

Original Video Instructions

Hummingbird Cake

09 Monday Dec 2019

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Humminbird Cake

Ingredientswrks4me_terry_tested-11

Cake

  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 1/2 cups vegetable oil
  • 1 1/2 tsp vanilla
  • 1 can crushed pineapple (NOT DRAINED) (8 ounces)
  • 2 cups chopped bananas (1 1/2 cups mashed) or 3 bananas
  • Shortening (for greasing pan)
  • 1 cup chopped pecans (toasted pecans)

Icing

  • 1/2 cup chopped pecans
  • 1/2-3/4 cup(s) flaked coconut (depending on your taste)
  • 1-2 package(s) of cream cheese (8 ounces ea., depending on your taste)
  • 1/2 cup of butter
  • 4 cups of icing sugar (16 ounces)
  • 1-2 teaspoons vanilla (depending on your taste)

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  2. Combine flour, sugar, salt, baking soda and cinnamon in a large bowl
  3. Add eggs and oil, stir until ingredients are moistened
  4. Stir in vanilla, pineapple, bananas and 1 cup of chopped toasted pecans (put pecans on a baking sheet and put under the broiler for a minute or two while stirring to ensure they don’t burn)
  5. Pour batter into 3 well-greased and floured 9-inch cake pans
  6. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes our clean.
  7. Remove from pans after cooling for about 10 minutes and then cool cake completely before icing (about 1 hour)
  8. Cream butter in mixer and add vanilla and gradually add icing sugar. Stir in coconut.
  9. Spread 1 cups of cream cheese icing over first layer and top with second layer and top with another cup of icing, then top with last layer and frost the top and sides with remaining icing. Decorate top with pecan half’s and pecan pieces

Note: I know prefer to use two jello roll pans (these pans are smaller than a cookie sheet) lined with parchment paper instead of cake pans. I use an ice cream scoop to divide the batter between the pans. This makes 4 equal layers. Back around 15-20 minutes instead of 30 minutes as they are less thick. Once each layer is cooled enough I simply cut them in half including the parchment paper and stack them onto of each other til I’m ready to frost them. I then remove the parchment paper and ice each layer but not the sides. I then trim each side to make it nice and neat. To serve cut the cake down the middle and then serve 1-2 inch slices.

Original Recipe Link

 

Apples 101

21 Monday Oct 2019

Posted by in Baking, Dessert, Salads, Side Dishes, Snacks, wrks4me - Recipes

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apples 101

Good to know?

  • Apples are members of the rose family
  • Apple trees take about 4 to 5 years to produce fruit
  • Apple trees may be propagated by budding or grafting
  • Pour a little citric juice (ie. lemon, lime, grapefruit or apple juices) or even saltwater over peeled apples to prevent them from browning
  • Smaller apples keep longer than larger ones
  • Store baskets or bushels of apples covered with perforated plastic in the dark in a well-ventilated room 32-39 degrees F. (0-4 degrees C) to prevent shrivelling
  • It takes about six medium apples about 2lbs (900g) for a 9″ pie or 3 cups (700ml) of apple sauce

Uses for Common Apples

Eating Whole

 Salads Baking Sauce

Cider
Ambroisia

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Braeburn

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Cortland

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Empire

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Fiji

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Golden Delicious

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Granny Smith

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Honey Crisp

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Idared

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Jonathan

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Johnagold

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Mcintosh

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Northern Spy

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Pink Lady

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Red Delicious • •
Royal Gala • •
Spartan • •

2 Minute Keto Microwave Bread

27 Friday Sep 2019

Posted by in Baking, Breakfast, Gluten Free, Low Carb

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2 minute keto bread 2

Ingredientswrks4me_terry_tested-11

  • 1/2 cup (56 gm) Almond Flour
  • 1/2 Scoop (1 rounded tbsp or 15g) Unflavoured Whey Powder (if you don’t have Whey Powder use more Almond Flour) p.s. I have used Vanilla flavoured as well if you don’t have unflavoured. Can’t taste
  • 1/2 tsp (2-3gm) Erythritol (or your favourite sugar-free sweetener)
  • 1/2 tsp (2-3gm) Baking powder
  • 1/4 tsp Xanthan Gum
  • 70g Water (approx. 1/3 cup)
  • 1/8 tsp salt (optional)

Directions

2 minute keto bread

  1. Spray cooking oil into a 3 cup microwave-safe container
  2. In a separate bowl combine all ingredients until well mixed
  3. Put into the microwave container
  4. Put into the microwave and bake for 1 1/2 to 2 minutes depending on the power of your microwave
  5. Remove when cooled and cut in half and then in half again to get 4 pieces

Terrific toasted2 minute keto bread 3

Enjoy

Original recipe

 

 

 

Soda Cracker Crust and Easy Lemon Pie

26 Friday Jul 2019

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Soda Cracker Pie

Ingredients:

For the crust:wrks4me_terry_tested-11

  • 1 1/2 sleeves of salted soda crackers (about 6 ounces or 60 crackers)
  • 1/2 cup cold unsalted butter
  • 3 tablespoons sugar
  • Optional: 1 Tablespoon of lemon zest

For the filling:

  • 2 (300 ml) cans of sweetened condensed milk
  • 5 egg yolks
  • 1/2 – 3/4 cups of lemon or lime juice or a mix of the two
  • 1 cup Fresh whipped cream, for garnish plus 2 tablespoons of sugar
  • Coarse sea salt (or Kosher salt), for garnish

Directions:

Option 1

For the crust:

  1. Put crackers into a plastic bag and crush them fine
  2. Put crushed cracker into a bowl and add cold butter and sugar
  3. Mix together til looking like coast meal
  4. Press into a pie shell up the sides and bottom
  5. Refrigerate for 15 minutes before baking in a preheated 350 degree F. oven
  6. Put into oven and bake for 15-18 minutes or until crust is golden brown

For filling:

  • Put condensed milk, yolks, lemon and optional lemon zest into a bowl and whisk or beat till smooth
  • Bake for 14-16 minutes or until filling is set
  • Refrigerate until cold
  • Serve topped with whipped cream and a sprinkle of kosher salt

For whipped cream:

  • Put whipped cream into a cold bowl along with sugar and whip till cream reached stiff peaks.

Option 2 (Easiest method – food processor)

For crust:

  • Put crackers, butter and sugar into food processor and pulse until well mixed
  • Press into a pie shell up the sides and bottom
  • Refrigerate for 15 minutes before baking in a preheated 350 degree F. oven
  • Put into oven and bake for 15-18 minutes or until crust is golden brown

For filling:

  • Put condensed milk, yolks, lemon and optional lemon zest into food processor and pulse until smooth
  • Bake for 14-16 minutes or until filling is set
  • Refrigerate until cold
  • Serve topped with whipped cream and a sprinkle of kosher salt

For whipped cream:

  • Put whipped cream into a cold bowl along with sugar and whip till cream reached stiff peaks.

Note: You can use this pie crust for other pie fillings as well, such as a coconut or banana cream pie. Chocolate or butterscotch pie, or if you prefer, a key lime pie instead of a lemon.

Enjoy

 

 

 

 

Truly Delicious Low Carb/Low Sugar Chocolate Chip Blondies

28 Thursday Feb 2019

Posted by in Baking, Low Carb, wrks4me - Recipes

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Sugar Free Blondies

Ingredientswrks4me_terry_tested-11

  • 4.5 ounces (130g) unsalted butter softened (You can use salted butter if that’s what you have)
  • 4.5 ounces (130g) natural peanut butter smooth (You can use regular smooth peanut butter if that’s what you have, just watch the sugar content)
  • 3 ounces (85g) Stevia/Erythritol Sweetener or Sugar substitute
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1 ounce (28g) coconut flour
  • 1 teaspoon Baking Powder
  • 3.5 ounces (100g) Sugar-Free Chocolate Chips

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven 180C/350F
  2. Put peanut butter and softened butter into a mixing bowl and beat on medium speed until smooth
  3. Add your sugar substitute and beat on medium speed until the mixture is light and fluffy
  4. Add eggs and vanilla and beat continue to beat until well combined
  5. Add coconut flour and baking powder and beat on until the ingredients are mixed
  6. Fold in with a spatula the chocolate chips
  7. Pour the mixture into an 8″x8″ lined square cake tin
  8. Bake for 20 minutes, or until a skewer comes out clean
  9. Allow to cool before cutting into 16 pieces (note: the squares will drop a little as they cool)

Enjoy

Double Chocolate Chip Cookies

09 Sunday Dec 2018

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Double Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredientswrks4me_terry_tested-11

  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt (use only half if you use salted butter)
  • 4 ounces milk chocolate squares (chopped)
  • 4 ounces of chocolate chips
  • 1/2 cup or (8 tablespoons) unsalted butter
  • 1 1/2 cups sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

DirectionsDouble Chocolate Chip Cookies 2

  1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
  2. Whisk together flour, baking soda, cocoa powder, and salt (if using unsalted butter) into a bowl (put aside)
  3. Over medium melt butter and add chopped chocolate into a pan. Cook until all is melted
  4. Put melted chocolate mixture into a mixing bowl and add sugar, eggs, and vanilla; mix on medium speed until combined.
  5. Reduce speed to low and gradually mix in flour/cocoa mixture.
  6. After all is mixed fold in chocolate chips.
  7. With a cookie scoop (1 1/2 inch) scoop batter onto a lined baking sheet (I prefer a silicon pad)
  8. Bake approximately 15 minutes or until cookies are flat and surfaces begin to crack.
  9. Let cool on wire racks.

Options: Add your favourite chopped nuts (ie. Walnuts or Pecan) along with the Chocolate Chips

Enjoy