Monday, September 6, 2010

Monkey Bread

A long time favorite of many. Monkey bread is easy to make.

Monkey Bread
Prep: 30 minutes
Chill: overnight
Oven: 350 degree
Makes: 12 rolls

Utensils:
Baking sheet
Ruler
Plastic Wrap
Muffin pan with twelve 2 1/2-inch cups
Measuring cups
Microwave-safe bowl
Waxed paper
Hot pads
2 small mixing bowls
Kitchen scissors
Measuring spoons
Large shallow baking pan
Wire cooling rack
Large serving plate
Spoon

Ingredients:
shortening
1/2 of a 34.5-ounce package frozen cinnamon sweet-roll dough or frozen orange sweet-roll dough (6 rolls)
1/3 cup chopped pecans
1/4 cup butter or margarine
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup caramel ice cream topping
1 tablespoon maple-flavored syrup

How to make:
1. The night before, grease baking sheet with shortening. Place frozen rolls about 2 inches apart on prepared baking sheet. Cover with plastic wrap. Chill in refrigerator overnight to let dough thaw and begin to rise.

2. Generously grease twelve 2 1/2-inch muffin cups with shortening. Divide the pecans evenly among the muffin cups. Save until Step 4.

3. Turn on oven to 350 degrees. Put butter in the microwave-safe bowl. Cover bowl with waxed paper. Microwave on 100% power (high) for 20 seconds or until butter is melted. Using hot pads, remove bowl from microwave. Place sugar in a small bowl.

4. Use the kitchen scissors to cut each roll in four pieces. Dip each piece into melted butter, then roll in sugar. Place two dough pieces in each prepared muffin cup. Drizzle with any remaining melted butter; sprinkle with remaining sugar.

5. In a small bowl combine ice cream topping and maple-flavored syrup; drizzle over top of rolls. Place muffin pan in the large shallow baking pan.

6. Put pan in oven. Bake about 20 minutes or until rolls are golden brown. Turn off oven. Use hot pads to remove pan from oven. Place pan on wire rack and cool 1 minute. Place large plate on top of muffin pan. Using hot pads turn plate and pan over so plate is on the bottom. Carefully lift muffin pan to invert rolls onto plate. Spoon any topping and nuts that remain in muffin cups onto rolls. Cool slightly. Serve warm.

Cool Cutouts Cookies

This is one of Austin's favorites.
Cool Cutouts Cookies
Prep: 30 minutes
Bake: 8 to 10 minutes per batch
Chill 2 to 24 hours
Oven: 375 degrees
Makes: 25 cookies

Utensils: measuring cups, 2 small bowls, waxed paper or plastic wrap, rolling pin, ruler, assorted 2- or 3-inch cookie cutters, cookie sheet, hot pads, pancake turner, wire cooling rack

Ingredients:
1 18-ounce roll refrigerated sugar cookie dough
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
paste food coloring
Coarse decorating sugar, if you like

How to make:
1. Open package of cookie dough. On a lightly floured surface knead the 1/4 cup flour into the cookie dough until combined. To knead, use your hands to push against the dough. Then fold the dough, turn it, and push against it, repeating until smooth. Divide dough into three equal portions. Leave one portion white. Place remaining portions in 2 separate bowls. Use your hands to mix food coloring into each portion, adding it slowly until the desired color is reached (colors lighten slightly when dough is baked).

2. On a lightly floured surface form a mound by dropping Small amounts of each of the 3 portions of dough close together in a random pattern using all of the dough. Shape the mound into a ball. Wrap in waxed paper or plastic wrap. Chill dough in refrigerator 2 to 24 hours.

3. Turn on the oven to 375 degrees. On a lightly floured surface, use the rolling pin to roll dough to about 1/4 inch thick. Cut into desired shapes with cookie cutters. Transfer cookies to an ungreased cookie sheet, leaving about 1 inch between cookies. If you like, sprinkle cookies with coarse sugar.

4. Put cookie sheet in oven. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes or until the cookie edges are light brown. Use the hot pads to remove cookie sheet from oven. Use the pancake turner to transfer cookies to the cooling rack. Repeat with remaining dough. Turn off oven. Cool cookies completely. If you like, stir a little food coloring into the frosting and use to decorate cookies.

Try these color combinations: Red, green and plain dough for Christmas; red, pink, and plain for Valentine's Day; red, blue and plain for the Fourth of July; orange, yellow and plain dough for Halloween.

Note: Paste food coloring can be found with cake decorating supplies.

Nutrition facts per cookie: 93 cal., 4 g. total fat (1 g. sat. fat), 6 mg chol., 86 mg sodium, 13 g carb., o g fiber, 1 g. pro.
Daily values: 2% calcium, 2% iron
Exchanges: 1 Other Carbo., 1 fat

1 15- to 16-ounce can vanilla frosting, if you like

Carmelly Apple Muffins

From the book Better Homes and Gardens New Junior Cook Book

Caramelly Apple Muffins
Prep: 15 minutes
Bake: 20 minutes
Cool: 15 minutes
Oven: 400 degrees
Makes: 12 muffins

Utensils: muffin pan with twelve 2 1/2-inch cups; measuring cups; measuring spoons; medium mixing bowl; wooden spoon; 2 small mixing bowls; pastry blender; vegetable peeler; cutting board; sharp knife; fork; hot pads; wooden toothpicks; wire cooling rack

Ingredients:
shortening or 12 paper bake cups
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup granulated sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 recipe Streusel topping
1 small apple
1 egg
3/4 cup milk
1/4 cup cooking oil
1/4 cup apple butter
2 tablespoons caramel ice cream topping, if you like

How to make:
1. Turn on the oven to 400 degrees. Grease twelve 2 1/2-inch muffin pan cups with shortening or line with paper bake cups. Save until Step 6.
2. Put flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in the medium bowl. Stir with the wooden spoon to mix. Save until Step 5. Make the Streusel Topping. Save until Step 6.
3. Using a vegetable peeler, carefully cut the skin off of the apple (throw away the skin). On the cutting board use the sharp knife to cut the apple into 4 pieces. Cut out the core and cut the apple into small pieces (you should have 1/2 cup). Save until Step 5.
4. Crack the egg into a small bowl. Beat with the fork until yolk and white are mixed together. Add milk, oil, and apple butter to egg. Beat with the fork until ingredients are well mixed.
5. Add egg mixture to flour mixture. Stir with the wooden spoon until dry ingredients are wet. Stir in chopped apple. (The batter should be somewhat lumpy, not smooth.)
6. Spoon some of the Sprinkle 1 rounded teaspoon of the Streusel Topping over each muffin top.
7. Put muffin pan in oven. Bake about 20 minutes or until muffins are golden and a wooden toothpick come out clean. (To test for doneness, use hot pads to pull out oven rack. Stick toothpick in the center of one of the muffins; pull out toothpick. If any muffin sticks to it, carefully push the oven rack back into place using hot pads and bake the muffins a few minutes more; test again.) Turn off oven.
8. Use hot pads to remove muffin pan from the oven. Place muffin pan on the cooling rack and let cool for 5 minutes. Tip muffin pan to carefully remove muffins onto the colling rack. Drizzle top of each muffin with caramel ice cream topping, if you like. Cool muffins on cooling rack about 10 minutes.

Streusel Topping: Put 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour, 3 tablespoons brown sugar, and 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon in a small mixing bowl. Stir with wooden spoon to mix. Use a fork or the pastry blender with a chopping motion to mix in 2 tablespoons softened butter until mixture is crumbly.

Nutrition Facts per muffin: 225 cal., 9 g total fat (3 g sat. fat), 24 mg chol., 151 mg sodium, 34 g carbo., 1 g fiber, 3 g pro.

Daily Values: 3% vit. A, 2% vit. C, 7% calcium, 7% iron

Exchanges: 2 starch, 1 1/2 Fat

Breakfast Cookies

Cookies for breakfast? These are a great breakfast. Fast and quick, out-the-door, to-the-bus breakfast. I found them in a cookbook that I purchased for my grandsons, Better Homes and Gardens New Junior Cookbook.

Breakfast Cookies
Prep: 25 minutes
Bake: 12 minutes
Oven: 350 degrees
Makes: 12 cookies

Utensils Needed: cookie sheet, table knife, large mixing bowl, electric mixer, measuring cups, rubber scraper, measuring spoons, small mixing bowl, wooden spoon, hot pads, pancake turner, wire cooling rack.

Ingredients:
shortening
1/2 cup butter, softened
2/3 cup packed brown sugar
2 eggs
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup rolled oats
1 cup dried mixed fruit bits, dried cranberries or cherries; raisins; or snipped dried apricots
1/2 cup dried banana chips, broken up
1/2 cup chopped walnuts, peanuts, pecans, or almonds

1. Turn on the oven to 350 degrees. Grease a cookie sheet with shortening. Save until Step 4. Cut up butter with the table knife.

2. Put butter in the large mixing bowl. Beat with the electric mixer on medium speed about 30 seconds or until butter is creamy. Stop mixer. Add brown sugar. Beat on medium speed until combined, stopping the mixer occasionally and scraping the bowl with the rubber scraper. Stop mixer.

3. Add eggs and vanilla. Beat on medium speed until combined. Put the whole wheat flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in the small bowl. Stir with the wooden spoon. Stir flour mixture into egg mixture. Stir in oats, mixed fruit bits, banana chips, and nuts.

4. Scoop the dough with the 1/4-cup measuring cup. Drop the dough in mounds 2 inches apart onto the prepared cookie sheet. If necessary, use the rubber scraper to push the dough from the measuring cup. Use your hands to slightly flatten dough on cookie sheet.

5. Put the cookie sheet in the oven. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until cookie edges begin to brown. Use hot pads to remove cookie sheet from oven. Let cookies remain on cookies sheet for 1 minute. Use the pancake turner to move cookies to the cooling rack. Repeat with the remaining dough, letting cookie sheet cool between batches or use a second cookie sheet. Turn off oven when all of the dough is used.

Note: If you have a cookie scoop 1/4 cup size use may use it instead of the measuring cup.

Nutrition facts per cookie: 284 cal., 15 g total fat (7 g sat. fat), 57 mg chol., 198 mg sodium, 36 g carb., 3 g fiber, 5 g pro.
Daily values: 7% vit. A, 1% vit. C, 4% calcium, 8% iron
Exchanges: 1/2 fruit, 2 starch, 2 fat

Neglected

I am sorry that I have been neglecting my blogs over the summer. I will try to do better now that the summer vacation is over.
I am going to add some recipes this month. Have fun with these ideas.

Saturday, June 26, 2010

How important is cooking with your kids?

Just how important is cooking with your kids? I don't have any scientific research data to share, I just know it is a time when you can interact with them, help them make healthy choices in food and maybe they will find out what ingredients are in some of the foods they protest eating.
My one grandson loves peanuts, but decided he didn't like peanut butter. He has never even tried it, just decided he didn't like it. This week we made homemade peanut butter. We made it just from peanuts, then we added a little salt, and then we added a little honey (which he protested he didn't like until he tasted a little on a spoon... surprise "I like that.") We were going to make some butter, but ran out of time. We have the ingredients to make our Welsh cookies, but time ran out. I don't know where the week went. We are planning to get together soon again. And the summer is only 1/2 over. We will make our other stuff in the next few weeks. I may go ahead and make the cookies and freeze them and then they can help me bake and decorate them.

Friday, June 18, 2010

Wedding Shower Invite

I have been invited to my nieces shower. No surprise. However I received a recipe card with it. I am wondering if this means I am to send or bring a recipe to the shower. If I do I know which she wants more than anything... Baked Mac and Cheese. Maybe I will give her my homemade Barbecue sauce recipe also.

Thursday, April 29, 2010

Fudge Frosting

Fudge Frosting (To cover top and sides of 3 9-inch layers)
6 squares Unsweetened chocolate
4 cups sugar
1/4 cup flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/3 cups sweet milk (Eagle Brand Milk)
2 teaspoons vanilla
6 Tablespoons butter
5 - 6 tablespoons cream

1. Melt chocolate in saucepan over low heat.
2. Combine sugar, flour and salt with chocolate.
3. Add milk gradually, blending well.
4. Cover saucepan and bring to boil slowly, stirring occasionally.
5. Boil slowly two minutes.
6. Uncover and boil to soft ball stage (232 degrees F), stirring occasionally.
7. Remove from heat, add vanilla and butter.
8. Cool frosting to lukewarm without stirring.
9. Beat until frosting loses its gloss.
10. Add cream and continue to beat until right consistency to spread.
11. Spread quickly on cake.
(For 2 8-inch layer cake, use 1/2 of this recipe.)

Thursday, April 8, 2010

Can't get the lid off of a jar?

If you are anything like me, jars give me trouble. I am a "klutz"... I fear dropping a jar and crash... splatter.... oh my I did it again.

Here are some hints to help you get jars open easier. Hold the jar upside down and pour warm vinegar around the neck. This is where the glass jar and the top lid meet. Twist.
Here is another idea... purchase one of those jar openers. They come in various types.
Sometimes I use a hand towel. I put one end around the jar and the other end around the lid. I twist in opposite directions.
My grandmother and mother tap the lid with the handle of a butter knife, then twist.

If you have any other suggestions send them to me. I will be glad to share them with others.

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Food Equivalents

Grocery shopping can be challenging for most of us. We find a recipe we would like to make; however we don't know how much to purchase because it contains fresh produce. How many apples makes a cup? Do I need this whole bag or just one?
Fresh produce is one of the special Food Equivalents we will be adding to the side bar as we add recipes that need those equivalents. Check back often so you can see if we have added an equivalent you need.

Monday, March 1, 2010

Menu Planning

Anyone that has been in my classes understands that I believe MENU planning is the key to a great, hassle free meal. I also believe that the family should be involved in the planning.

When we allow our children and others members of our family help plan the meal we are telling them they are important. If your children are like mine were, they did not all like the same things. How did we solve this problem? We would let them have a voice in dessert, vegetables, meat... and then we would have at least one thing that each of them liked, most of the time they agreed on what we had planned.

Here are a few other suggestions in how to get the kids involved in mealtime.
1.) Encourage the children to try everything. Keep a log on what they like or don't like. If you date it, then you can explain to them that their taste change from time to time and that just maybe they will like it now.

2.) Don't let them not try new things. Keep introducing new foods to them. I know that sometimes they don't like the texture, more than the taste. Encourage them to at least try. If they truly don't like it, don't force them to eat it. This could make them not want to ever try something new. Keep something handy that they do like and let them have it when they try.

3.) Have the children have a voice in the menu.

4.) Take the children to the grocery store to help purchase the groceries. Have them help pick out fresh fruit (if in season, otherwise use frozen or canned), some vegetables they like or would like to try.

5.) Allow them to help pick out napkins, paper plates and cups. This makes them feel they are having a voice in the table settings along with the meals. It helps them have some ownership in what they have to eat.

6.) Have the children help with meal preparations. There are many things they can do. It makes them proud of what they have done and more willing to try something new.

7.) Make a cookbook of favorite family recipes. Have them help you. When you finish it becomes their recipes. Let them choose at least one recipe a month to add to the family menu.

Sunday, February 28, 2010

Welcome

Welcome to my first blog posting for this blog. I am a teacher of special needs students. I am constantly trying to create new ways to get the students interested in learning. I am opening an online school in the summer. If you are interested in information about this program and having your child(children) be apart of my programs, email me at letshelpothers@gmail.com

Thanks for coming by. I will post my first kid friendly recipe soon. Look for a video with some of the recipes... my grandchildren will be leading the instruction video when one is needed. Pictures will be furnished. This is from a kid friendly kitchen.