Mushroom-Shaped Chocolate-Orange Meringues

Whimsical party food to impress.

Froot Loop Cupcakes (USA)

Fancy dressing up your vanilla cupcakes?

Creamy Chicken Tetrazzini

Savory and creamy comfort food!

I-Disgust-Me BBQ Burgers

A burger for when you've stopped caring about fat content. The only thing missing is bacon!

Crab-Topped Deviled Eggs

Eggcelent. Yeah, I went there.

Chicken-Fried Chicken with Country Gravy Dipping Sauce

Double-coated for extra CRUNCH.

Red-Bottom Cake

Imagine if a black-bottom cupcake had a baby with a red velvet cake. Now imagine a red-bottom cake. Simply another excuse to eat cream cheese frosting.

A Rather Traditional Pavlova

Dreaming of a sunny summer day in food format?

Orange Beef Burgers

A chinese takeaway in burger form.

Mexican-Inspired: Cheesy Refried Bean Quesadillas

I beat Taco Bell to their own crushed-Dorito food hell with these babies.

Marsala Chicken Dumplings

Dumplings get a makeover.

Mochacinno Fudge

Premium coffee drink fudge!

Parmesan Chicken Risotto

Risotto for picky eaters!

Whimsical Cookery is a site for adults who prefer to eat like children, or perhaps just need to cook for some children. This site contains an aversion to vegetables, a love of fried food and cupcakes, lazy shortcuts, some disturbing creations, and an ignorance of proper culinary practices...

Showing posts with label Involved Recipes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Involved Recipes. Show all posts

Saturday, 19 September 2015

Grilled Rosemary, Sea Salt, and Virgin Olive Oil Flatbread



And now for something completely different... as you can probably see, I have been on a bit of an east asian food kick lately.  Best to mix things up a bit!  Since I recently had access to a grill, I thought I'd try my hand at some grilled flatbreads. These are warm, fluffy, and lightly seasoned with rosemary, sea salt, and tiny pools of olive oil goodness.

This recipe uses a modified version of my basic pizza dough (using bread flour and longer rising times).

You will need:
1 packet quick rise-dry yeast
1 cup water
2 Tbsp oil
1/2 Tbsp sugar
1 tsp salt
2 1/2 cups (strong) bread flour
2 Tbsp fresh rosemary, chopped
Sea salt 
Virgin olive oil

Yield: 3 large flatbreads or 4 medium

1. Combine dry ingredients: salt, sugar, flour, and yeast in a medium bowl.

2. Heat water to 130F/55C, immediately add water (once heated) and oil. Stir until thick.

3. Turn dough onto floured surface, kneading for 5 minutes.

4. Return dough to bowl and cover with kitchen towel, let sit for 30 minutes.

5. Divide dough into 3 (or 4) sections and roll out to about 1/4 inch thickness (just over 1/2 cm).

6. Lightly oil your grill and allow bread to cook.  As temperatures will vary greatly depending on heat of the coals (you can be more precise and take your time if using a gas grill), it is important to flip up an edge and check for charring.  As we worked with super-hot coals, we found that just 1.5 minutes on each side was more than enough.

7. As soon as bread is off the grill, brush with oil and dust with rosemary and sea salt to taste.  Serve immediately for best taste, or reheat briefly in the oven.

Tuesday, 25 August 2015

Hiroshima-style Okonomiyaki



I made Hiroshima-style Okonomiyaki a couple months ago.  And then a million times over since then.  We are crazy for Okonomiyaki!  It is not quite like anything I've ever eaten or cooked before.  Familiar flavors, such as the savory pancake and noodles mix with the smokey katsuobushi (bonito fish flakes) and Okonomi sauce which were new to me! I highly recommend heading here for a step-by-step guide to Okonomiyaki.  Or you can find the (I think more common?) Osaka style here.


Happy Okonomiyaki-ing!

Friday, 14 August 2015

Grilled Salmon Bento


My husband and I have been greedily trying Japanese food all over London, as we simply cannot get enough!  However, that is an expensive hobby, so at some point we had to start doing our best to reproduce some of the wonderful food we've tried at home.  The recipe for rice balls (below) makes a great vegetarian side dish or would be good for little (or picky!) fingers!

Grilled Teriyaki Salmon and Greens Salad
You will need:
1/4 cup mirin
1/4 cup sake (cheapest available seems to work fine!)
1/4 cup dark soy sauce
2 tablespoons sugar
1 Tbsp toasted sesame oil
400g (14oz) salmon
1/3 cup edamame
100g (3.5oz) fine green beans, blanched
100g (3.5oz) broccoli, blanched
1 cup sushi rice (uncooked)

Yield 2 servings

1. Prepare sushi rice by rinsing, soaking for half an hour, and then cook according to package instructions.  You may wish to season it with 1 Tbsp rice vinegar (or to taste).

2. Combine mirin and sake over a medium/low heat for 5 minutes.  Add soy sauce and sugar and stir until sugar dissolves.

3. Reduce to low heat and simmer for 15 minutes to allow the sauce to thicken.

4. While sauce thickens, oil a medium frying pan or skillet or prepare your grill.  If grilling, you may prefer to oil the the cuts of salmon directly.

5. Lightly sear the outside of the salmon and then coat in teriyaki sauce.

6. Cook salmon through, cooking times vary based on heat and size of cuts.  You should have a nice carlmelised teriyaki crust on the salmon.

7. Serve over a bed of sushi rice with greens.

8. I chilled these meals in the fridge, though you could serve heated.  

Veggie Rice Balls (Great for picky eaters!)
You will need:
1/4 cup shredded carrot
1/4 cup broccoli (omit stems)
1 Tbsp thinnly sliced spring onions
1 Tbsp rice vinegar
1 cup uncook sushi rice

Yield: 6 rice balls

1. Cook sushi rice according to package instructions.

2. Prepare the veg while the rice cooks.  In a food processor, add carrot, broccoli, and spring onions.  Add rice vinegar and pulse until you have a paste.

3. Once rice is cooked, fold in veggie paste using a rice paddle.  Work quickly and re-cover and allow steam to soften the veggie paste for a minute or two.

4. Allow rice to cool for a bit, then shape into balls.  This can be easily done by wetting your hands and shaping them by band.  Serve with teriyaki sauce





Tuesday, 19 May 2015

Bacon Bourbon Burger


It is time for summer and cookouts!  Well... soon. Very soon.  I may have jumped the gun a bit with a new burger recipe!  As this recipe is focused around the sauce, I will, perhaps once again, jump the gun and assume if you are reading this you already know how to cook a burger, form burger patties, and grill or fry up bacon.

You will need:
4 burger patties, seasoned and formed but not cooked
8 thick cut bacon rashers, cooked
4 slices mature cheddar
4 buns, toasted

For bourbon sauce you will need:
2/3 cup bourbon
1 cup water
1 Tbsp corn starch (corn flour UK)
Pinch of pepper
Pinch of salt
Pinch of cayenne pepper
Pinch of garlic powder
1 Tbsp hickory bbq sauce
2 Tbsp dark soy sauce
1 tsp ground mustard
1 tsp hot sauce (we used Louisiana brand)
2 Tbsp honey
1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar

Note: It is recommended that you start by making the bourbon sauce and setting it aside while burgers are prepared.

1. In a small pot, heat bourbon, bbq sauce, soy sauce, mustard, hot sauce, honey, and brown sugar. Bring to a low boil for 2 minutes, stirring occasionally.

2. Add a pinch of pepper, salt, cayenne pepper, and garlic powder.

3. Dissolve corn starch in water and add to mixture.  Stir until sauce thickens and set aside.

4. Grill or pan fry burgers until somewhere between medium rare and medium.  Half-way through cooking, you may wish to brush the burgers with the bourbon sauce.

5. Immediately top burgers with cheese, bacon, and drizzle bourbon sauce.

6. Place on bun and serve.  Yum!

Thursday, 7 May 2015

Ginger-Sake Fried Chicken Bites



This recipe is basically a knockoff of Chicken Karaage.  It utilises the intense ginger flavors and the warming sake typical of Chicken Karaage.  However, I have spun the authentic recipe to my own tastes and way of cooking (for example, I prefer to cook with chicken breast, instead of thighs).  This chicken is extremely tasty, juicy, addictive, and palatable to many picky eaters!

You will need for marinade:
4 medium chicken breasts (about 500g/1 lb)
2 tsp ginger paste (or fresh grated ginger)
1/8 tsp garlic powder
1 1/2 Tbsp dark soy sauce
3 Tbsp Sake

After marinading, you will need:

3/4 cup flour
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
1/2 tsp salt
Oil for deep or shallow frying, I recommend part toasted sesame/part canola oil if shallow frying and canola oil if deep frying

1. The first step is to cut chicken breast into bite size pieces and marinade in a large plastic bag with ginger paste, garlic powder, soy sauce, and sake.  If you are marinading overnight, do not add the soy sauce until an hour before preparation, as it may draw moisture from your chicken.  Marinate in the fridge for at least an hour (or overnight for more intense flavor).

2. Add the flour, pepper, and salt to the bag, and shake!

3. Once all chicken has been coated, you have two frying options.
a.) Fill a large skillet with just under 1cm of oil and fry over a medium heat until coating is crispy and chicken is cooked.
b.) Deep fry at 175C/350F.

Both methods take 5-8 minutes, depending on size of chicken pieces. Deep frying is a bit closer to 5 minutes.

Serve hot and fresh from frying!



Thursday, 5 February 2015

Steamed Buns (Chili-Lime Beef or Battered Fish w/ Sriracha Sauce)


This recipe is also perfect for picky eaters, as you can fill them any way an individual desires!

Recipes:

Recipe for chili lime sauce for beef (Under Lime and Chili Marinade)

Recipe for Sriracha Cream Sauce

Recipe for battered fish from Jamie Oliver (ignore the chips and mushy peas)

For the buns you will need:
1/2 package dried yeast
1/2 cup water (between 120° F–130° F /49° C–55° C)
2 cups flour (suggest using low-gluten bun flour, but not necessary)
1/8 cup sugar
1 tsp salt
1 Tbsp vegetable oil
Toasted sesame oil (for brushing on outside of buns)

1. Dissolve yeast in the warm water and add 1/2 cup of the flour.  Combine and cover with cloth.  Allow to rise for 45 minutes.

2. Combine vegetable oil, salt, sugar, and 1/4 cup boiling water.  Allow to become room temperature.
3. Add remaining flour.

4. Turn dough onto floured surface and kneed until smooth.

5. Place in large greased bowl and cover with a damp cloth.  Allow to rise for approximately 2 hours or until doubled in size.

6. Divide dough into 8 equal sections and roll each into a ball.  Flatten into pancakes about 1/4 inch thick.

7. Brush both sides with sesame oil and fold dough over (it should look a bit like a taco).

8. Steam buns for approximately 10-15 minutes.  Fill and serve immediately.





Wednesday, 17 December 2014

Eggnog Truffles



I loooveed the idea of making something with eggnog this year and finally settled on this! I toyed with the idea of making a white chocolate and eggnog ganache for the inside, however, due to white chocolate's low melting point and adding in the liquid of the eggnog I decided to go with a method sometimes used in fudge making, using marshmallow fluff! However, if you sub some of the cream in a ganache with eggnog I still feel like it might work? Nevertheless, here is my full-proof recipe below!

You will need:
1/3 cup eggnog
1 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup butter
1/2 tsp rum flavoring, or to taste
1/2 tsp nutmeg
Pinch of cinnamon
1 1/2 cup white chocolate chips
1/2 cup marshmallow fluff
1 lb white candy coating or similar quality white chocolate
Nutmeg for garnish

Yield: approx 30 truffles

1. In a medium saucepan, whisk together eggnog and sugar. Add butter and keep on a low boil over medium heat for a couple minutes. Add in rum flavoring and marshmallow fluff, and whisk gently. Remove from heat as soon as marshmallow combines and add nutmeg and cinnamon.

2. With a wooden spoon, combine the white chocolate chips with eggnog mixture.

3. Once melted, pour onto a jelly role pan that has been lined with parchment paper. Refrigerate for a couple hours or until stiff.

4. To roll balls, cut out even sized squares of the truffle. The truffles look great at just under 1 inch in size.

5. Return balls to jelly role pan and this time freeze for an hour or until very firm.

6. Melt your white candy coating (they usually suggest 30 seconds at a time in the microwave at half power) in a small microwave safe bowl (just large enough to fit the chocolate is perfect).

7. Line another pan or cookie sheet with waxed paper, parchment paper, or non stick foil.

8. To dip, stick a toothpick into the side of the truffle you are dipping, cover in white chocolate, ensuring the whole area including the toothpick area is covered. Working quickly, set the truffle on your lined pan and use another toothpick to guide the truffle away from the embedded toothpick. Patch the hole with surrounding chocolate and quickly sprinkle nutmeg (which nicely hides any poor patch jobs!).

9. Return to fridge until solid and store covered in a cool place or refrigerate

Tuesday, 11 November 2014

Pondering Mole Sauces


I'm not even going to pretend that I know the secret to an authentic mole sauce recipe.  I have perused many recipes and have transformed them into something that suits my taste.

Top mole recipes:
Thick and flavorful, by AllRecipes
Dark and rich, by Nick via Macheesmo
Nice and comparatively simple, by EatingWell
Interesting flavors and a bit different by Juliann Esquivel via Just A Pinch

As you can see, there are so many different ways to make a mole.  My absolute favorites always feature chocolate or cocoa though!  Give a recipe a try if you have some time, or invent your own version!

I've served my chicken mole in small white corn tortillas, as I cannot get enough of the flavor and texture they bring to my tacos.

Wednesday, 22 October 2014

Peanut Butter Silk and Fudge Pie


There are two ways of making this diner favorite, an express way, and from scratch.  To make the crust from scratch, simply crush oreos (or the chocolate biscuit part of the oreo) until you have 1 1/4 cup, combine with a spot of melted butter and press into the base of your pan.  This is baked for about 5 minutes at 350F/175C.
The second bit that can be made from scratch is the chocolate fudge.  Chocolate fudge is not difficult to make, you simply melt 1/2 tin condensed milk (that is 400g or about 14 oz) and 175g dark chocolate (about 1 cup dark chocolate chips).

This pie can really be an amazing thing to whip together in no time with pre-made ingredients or you can take the time to lovingly prepare it yourself!

You will need:
1 9-inch chocolate pie crust base (either prepared or store-bought)
3/4 cup dark chocolate fudge (either prepared or store-bought)
225g (8oz) full fat cream cheese
1 cup smooth peanut butter
1 cup granulated sugar
1 Tbsp butter or margarine
1 tsp vanilla extract
3/4 cup heavy whipping cream, whipped (OR 1 1/2 cup Cool Whip)
1 cup mini reeses peanut butter cups (dark or milk chocolate to taste)

IMPORTANT NOTE: Reduce sugar to 2/3 cup if using Cool Whip, as it is sweetened.

Yield: 1 9-inch pie

1. In a large bowl, combine cream cheese, peanut butter, sugar, butter, and vanilla using an electric whisk/mixer.

2. Gently fold the whipped cream into the peanut butter mix.  Set aside.

3. Warm your fudge slightly so that it is spreadable, and spread over your chocolate pie crust.

4. Pour your prepared peanut butter mix over the fudge.

5. Chop up reeses peanut butter cups and top pie.  Decorate with whipped cream if desired.


Thursday, 18 September 2014

Personal Deep-Dish Pizzas


I broke out my mini springform pan again, this time for a savory recipe!  Personal Deep-Dish Pizzas!

As it is a pizza, you can put any fillings you want in it.  What follows are some filling suggestions and then a general recipe.

Filling suggestions:
Chicken + Crispy Bacon + BBQ Sauce + Mozzarella
Fresh Basil + Fresh Tomatoes + Tomato Sauce +  Pepperoni + Mozzarella + Parmesan Shavings (top)
Pepperoni + Spicy Sausage + Tomato Sauce + Mozzarella
Chorizo Sausage + Peppers + Tomato Sauce + Mozzarella

You will need:
1 packet quick rise-dry yeast
1 cup water
2 Tbsp olive oil
1/2 Tbsp sugar
1 tsp crushed sea salt
2 1/2 cups flour

Yield: 2 6-inch deep dish pizzas


1. Combine dry ingredients: salt, sugar, flour, and yeast in a medium bowl.

2. Heat water to 130 F, immediately add water (once heated) and olive oil.  Stir until thick.

3. Turn dough onto floured surface, kneading for 5 minutes.

4. Return dough to bowl and cover with kitchen towel, let sit for 5 minutes.  Now is a good time to very lightly grease your springform (or deepdish) pan.

5. Cut dough in half, and roll out.  Keep in mind it will rise to nearly twice its height.

6. Lay dough over pan and press in, as though you were placing a pie crust.  Press into sides if necessary.

7. Use fork to poke holes in dough, then cover with a kitchen towel and let rest for 15 minutes.  Preheat oven to 400 F/200C.

10. Bake on a flat baking tray at 400 F/200C for 10 minutes.  Be sure to have toppings ready.

11. Remove pizza crusts from oven, and fill your pizza(s).

12. Replace in oven, generally 10 minutes, or until cheese has melted or slightly browned. You can check the middle is heated by quickly stabbing through the fillings with a small knife. When you pull the knife out, check the temperature of the metal.  If cooking with raw meat, a food thermometer may be necessary.





Thursday, 21 August 2014

Oreo Cheesecake (US/UK)


Cheesecake #2!  Since these cookies n cream cupcakes were so tasty, I thought I'd work out a recipe for a similar cheesecake.  Enjoy!

You will need:
140g (just under 5oz.) Oreos or similar chocolate and cream sandwich biscuits
150g (just over 5oz.) Chocolate biscuits, preferably Oreos with the cream removed
3 Tbsp melted butter
350g (~12oz) full fat cream cheese
200g (~1 cup) granulated sugar
3 eggs
100ml (just under 1/2 cup (.42)) soured cream
1/2 Tbsp flour
2 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

You will also need a 6-inch springform pan.

1. Crush 150g chocolate biscuits to a fine sandy texture.  This is best done either in a food processor or in a strong food storage bag with a rolling pin.

2. With your hands, mix crushed biscuits and 3 Tbsp melted butter in the springform pan.  Press around edges to form crust.

3. Crush 140g sandwich biscuits into large pieces.  Set aside.

4. In a large bowl, cream together the sugar and cream cheese. 

5. Mix in eggs.

6. Mix in flour, soured cream, and vanilla.

7. Once smooth, stir in oreo pieces with a large spoon.  Set aside a few tablespoons for a topping after baking.

8. Pour into crust.

9. Bake for 45 minutes (or until set) at 175 C (250 F).

10.  Allow to cool before topping with remaining oreos and placing in the fridge to chill for 5-6 hours.  

Sunday, 20 July 2014

Spicy Blended Green Vegetable Soup


I've been at it again, trying to invent reasonably healthy recipes that actually taste good.  My husband agrees, I have hit the nail on the head with my spicy blended green veggie soup!  This soup uses potato and veggies as thickener instead of a roux or cream. Health! Great recipe for picky eaters as well, no bits if you leave off the garnishes that do not suit your tastes.

You will need:
1 small potato
1 clove garlic
1 1/2 spring onion
2 large stalks celery
1 cup broccoli
1/4-1/2 tsp minced green chili (depending on spice preference)
2 1/2 cups water
2 chicken stock cubes (or vegetable stock for veggies)
1 1/2 Tbsp smooth peanut butter
1/4 tsp red chili flakes (for garnish)
1 Tbsp olive oil or cooking spray

Yield: 2 large servings

1. Wash and peel potato, chop into chunks and set aside.

2. Slice one clove of garlic and set aside.

3. Wash spring onion, celery, broccoli, and chili.

4. Slice celery, spring onion, and broccoli into large segments, set aside.  If you'd like spring onions as part of a garnish for the soup, thinly slice a couple of the segments and set aside from the rest of the vegetables.

5. Mince or cut green chilies into sliver-thin strips.  Set aside any you would like to use as garnish.

6. In a medium pan, heat oil and fry garlic and celery until fragrant.

7. Add water, potato pieces, spring onions, broccoli, green chili, and peanut butter.

8. Boil, covered, for 10 minutes or until vegetables are tender.

9. After 10 minutes, remove some of the soup water (about 1/2 a cup is fine) and dissolve the chicken stock cubes before returning the soup/stock mix to the pan.  Stir and remove from heat.

10. Add soup to blender (or use hand blender) to blend soup smooth.

11. Serve hot.  Garnish with spring onions, chili slivers, and red pepper flakes to taste.

Monday, 7 July 2014

Thursday, 24 April 2014

Cookie Dough Cheesecake (UK)



Yesss I have finally perfected a home recipe for the amazing cookie dough cheesecake that I had on holiday at The Cheesecake Factory.  While it's not going to put them out of business anytime soon, this recipe is a fairly straightforward with little chance of failure.

Please note, this recipe is for a 6 inch/15cm tin, double the recipe for a full size cheesecake and adjust your cooking times.

You will need:

Cheesecake Crust:
200g malt biscuits
2 1/2 Tbsp melted butter

Cookie dough filling:
2 Tbsp butter (room temperature)
3 Tbsp granulated sugar
2 Tbsp brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/2 Tbsp water
1/4 cup flour
1/2 cup dark chocolate chips/drops

Cheesecake filling:
1/2 cup sugar
300g cream cheese (full fat)
1 cup soured cream
2 small eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract

1. Preheat oven to 100C.

2. Crush the malt biscuits and combine in a bowl with melted butter.

3. Press mixture into base of springform pan and bake for 5 minutes or until slightly golden.  Set aside.

4. Next, prepare the cookie dough filling by combining butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, and vanilla using an electric mixer until smooth.  Mix in flour until combined. 

5. Stir chocolate chips into cookie dough and then set aside.

6. For the cheesecake filling, you first need to mix (with an electric mixer) the granulated sugar and cream cheese.  Once smooth, add the soured cream, eggs, and vanilla.  Mix.

7. Bring oven temperature up to 175C while you assemble your cheesecake.

8. Assemble cheesecake by pouring the cheesecake filling into the prepared crust. 

9. Drop round portions in a circle around the cheesecake.  Press to submerge dough if it does not sink, as it will start cooking if it is peaking out.

10. Bake cheesecake at 175C for 30-40 minutes.

11. Allow to cool and then chill for 2-3 hours.  Sprinkle with chocolate chips for decorations if you wish.








Sunday, 13 April 2014

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Ice Cream (US/UK)


I've come up with an extremely successful peanut butter and chocolate chip ice cream recipe! This relatively simple ice cream recipe actually tastes more like gelato due to the added creaminess from the peanut butter, but I am hesitant to label it as that as I do not wish to incur ire from foodies.

For one batch that fits perfectly in a standard ice cream maker you will need:

1 cup whole milk
1 cup double cream (half and half)
2/3 cups granulated sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
200g (7oz) smooth peanut butter
140g (5oz) dark chocolate (or semi-sweet) chocolate chips

Note: This recipe assumes that you have chilled your ice cream maker or are familiar with how to make freezer ice cream.

1. Combine whole milk, sugar, and vanilla extract in a pan over low heat.  Remove from heat as soon as smooth and set aside to cool.

2. Using an electric mixer, beat the double cream until it becomes aerated and starts to stiffen.

3. In a large bowl (that can easily be poured from), add the peanut butter and milk mixture.  Combine using an electric mixer until smooth.

4. Fold in the cream.

5. Add mixture to ice cream maker and allow to set.  Once the ice cream is semi-frozen, add the chocolate chips and allow them to be folded in.

6. Remove mixture from machine, store in a freezer-safe container, and freeze for at least 1 hour or until ice cream is the correct consistency.



Monday, 24 March 2014

American-Style Mint Chocolate Chip Buttermilk Pancakes



I saw pics of these pancakes on Pinterest and Buzzfeed and I just had to make my own!!!   They are so beautiful and taste just as good as they look.  I wished there was more people around to share them with when I was cooking!  I believe that they could benefit from using mint chocolate chips, but those are not easily available to me where I live in London.  But if you can get some, go for it!

You will need:
1 1/3 cup flour
2 Tbsp granulated sugar
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1 cup buttermilk
1 large egg
2 Tbsp butter (melted, but not too hot to scramble the egg!)
2 tsp peppermint extract
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup milk (added a bit at a time until batter is correct consistency)
Green food coloring
3/4 cup mini dark chocolate chips OR mint chocolate chips
Whipping cream + 2 Tbsp granulated sugar, whipped! OR already prepared whipped cream)

Yield: 12 medium pancakes (that are very filling!)

1. In a large bowl, sift flour, sugar, salt, baking soda, and baking powder.

2. In a smaller bowl, whisk the buttermilk, egg, butter, peppermint, vanilla, and your green dye (amount to preference/quality of dye).

3. Slowly stir wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and add milk until batter is a reasonably runny consistency (but will still hold a bit of shape).

4. Mix in chocolate chips.

5. Heat a frying pan to medium and add some butter to ensure a non-stick surface.  Butter should sizzle, but not start smoking!

6. Drop batter into pan, spreading into circle if necessary.

7. Cook for a couple minutes until edges start bubbling, then flip and repeat!

8. Once all pancakes have been cooked, serve with whipped cream (or maybe ice cream?).  The pancakes really benefit from the dairy, I promise you.




Monday, 24 February 2014

Chicken and Chorizo Soft Tacos



This dish pulls from two different recipes, one for grilled chicken and another for chorizo tacos!  All of the flavors meld well together, and the chicken is perfectly seasoned and tasty on its own! The chorizo adds something special to this otherwise traditional tex mex style taco.

You will need:
2 lbs Skinless Chicken Tenderloins (tenders)
2 Tbsp olive oil
1 tsp salt
1/8 tsp ground pepper
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp onion powder
---
15 oz (425g) uncooked chorizo sausage
1 1/2 cup grated cheese
         (I used a mix of Monterey Jack, Cheddar, Queso Quesadilla and Asadero Cheese)
1 cup sour cream (low fat sub is fine)
15 small white corn tortillas (or flour tortillas if you prefer)

Yield 15 small tacos

1.The first step is to cook the chorizo sausage.  To do this, remove the casing from the sausage(s).  This is easily done by squeezing the meat from the casing directly into your frying pan.

2. Cook on a medium heat until the chorizo begins browning.  Drain excess grease and press with paper towel to remove any remaining grease.  Set aside for reheating right before serving.

3. The next step is the cook the chicken.  The best way to cook this chicken is on a grill or griddle (or George Foreman)  Preheat this if necessary.

4. Clean and trim the strips of chicken.  Set aside.

5. In a medium bowl, combine oil, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder.

6. Add strips of chicken to bowl and coat evenly.

7. Place on the grill/griddle at a medium-high heat.  Since grills and griddles vary, I am hesitant to suggest a set time.  Do ensure chicken is thoroughly cooked before serving.

8. Once all chicken is cooked, you will need to cut each tender into thin strips (see photo).  Now is a good time to reheat the chorizo if it has had a chance to cool down.

9. You can begin assembling the tacos by sliding the cut chicken on a spatula and placing it into the center of your shell.  Top with a spoonful of chorizo, cheese, and sour cream. 

Wednesday, 5 February 2014

Rainbow Cupcakes


The world's cheeriest cupcakes!  Perfect for summer parties, or in pastels for easter!  These cakes are easy to make, but a bit more time consuming than typical cupcakes.  To save time, and to get truer colors, I usually use a white cake mix.

You will need:
1 box white cake mix batter prepared (or 1 recipe white cake batter)
6 small bowls
Rainbow of food colourings (Red, Yellow, Blue required)
Frosting recipe below!

Yield: 20 cupcakes

1. You will need to divide the batter into six bowls.  1 bowl should have an extra 3 Tbsp of batter (this will be the red).

2. Dye each, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple.  Without being too patronising, if you do not wish to invest heavily in food dye, orange, green, and purple can be made from red, yellow, and blue. The higher quality the food dye is, the more vibrant your results will be.

3. Line a cupcake tray with 20 wrappers.

4. Begin layering, starting with purple at the bottom.  Use only enough of each color batter to cover the previous color to avoid running out.

5. When you get to the last layer, red, use a bit more as the dome shape of the top of the cake requires more of this color.

6. Bake as per recipe instructions.

Vanilla Buttercream Frosting

You will need:

1 cup butter (two sticks) - room temperature
4 cups powdered sugar
2 1/2 tsp clear vanilla
1/4 cup skim milk


1. With an electric mixer, cream the butter.


2. Add milk and vanilla.

3. Add powdered sugar and beat, one cup at a time, until smooth.

4. Frost cupcakes.

Tuesday, 14 January 2014

Pull-Apart Breakfast Pumpkin Bread


Happy New Year!  I present to you the perfect frozen Sunday morning or even Christmas morning treat.  I used this recipe as a guide, but had to make a few mods as I wanted it a bit more 'pumpkiny'.  Also rum is a no-go for me, so I made a really simple classic cinnamon roll glaze to go with it.

My modified ingredient list:
2 Tbsp unsalted butter
1/2 cup milk
2 1/4 teaspoons (1 envelope) active dry yeast
1 cup pumpkin puree
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 tsp salt
2 1/2 cups bread flour
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3/4 cup granulated sugar
2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp fresh ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp ground cloves
2 Tbsp unsalted butter

Topping:
1/3 cup milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
3/4 cup powdered (icing) sugar

Recipe as written by Willow Bird Baking
Directions:
"Make the pull-apart bread dough: Grease and flour a loaf pan and set aside. In a saucepan over medium-high heat, brown the 2 tablespoons of butter. Let it bubble and foam and when you see it start to brown, stir it so that it browns evenly. When it’s the color of dark honey, remove it from the heat and pour it into a large heat-safe mixer bowl to cool. In the same saucepan over medium-low heat, warm the milk until it bubbles. Remove it from the heat and pour it into the bowl with the butter. Let these cool until they’re about 100-110 degrees F (use a candy thermometer to check). Set the saucepan aside for another use later. I use the same one throughout the entire recipe; why do more dishes?

Stir the sugar and yeast into the milk/butter mixture and let it sit for about 10 minutes to proof (it should foam; if it doesn’t, discard it yeast and try again with new yeast). Stir in pumpkin, salt, and 1 cup flour. If you haven’t already, fit your mixer with a dough hook. Add the rest of the flour 1/2 cup at a time, stirring between each addition. When the dough is combined, knead on low speed with a dough hook until smooth and elastic (about 4 minutes with a mixer).

Place the dough in a greased bowl and cover it with a damp cloth. Let it rise in a warm place for about an hour until it doubles in size (After it rises, you can put it in the fridge overnight to use it in the morning, but let it sit out for half an hour before rolling if you do.)

Make the filling: While the dough is rising, whisk the sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg together in a small bowl. Toward the end of the rising time, melt the 2 tablespoons of butter for the filling in the saucepan over medium-high heat and brown it as directed above. Put it in a small heat-safe bowl to cool for use later.

Shape and bake pull-apart bread: Knead a sprinkling of flour (about 1 tablespoon) into the dough, deflating it, and recover it. Let it sit to relax for 5 minutes. Flour a large work surface and turn your rested dough out onto it. Roll it out to a 20 inch long and 12 inch wide rectangle, lifting corners periodically to make sure it’s not sticking. If it seems to be snapping back, cover it with your damp towel and let it rest for 5 minutes before continuing (I had to do this twice during the process).

Spread the browned butter over the surface of the dough with a pastry brush and then sprinkle the sugar mixture over the top, patting it down to ensure it mostly sticks. Joy the Baker encourages you to use it all even though it seems like a ton, but I admit I got squeamish at the amount and only used most. It was fine despite my nerves. Go ahead and pile it on.

With the long edge of the rectangle toward you, cut it into 6 strips (do this by cutting the rectangle in half, then cutting each half into equal thirds. I used a pizza cutter). Stack these strips on top of one another and cut the resulting stack into 6 even portions (again, cut it in half, and then cut the halves into equal thirds). Place these portions one at a time into your greased loaf pan, pressing them up against each other to fit them all in. Cover the pan with your damp cloth and place it in a warm place for 30-45 minutes to double in size.

While dough rises, preheat oven to 350 degrees F (or 325 if you have a glass loaf dish instead of a metal pan). When it’s risen, place the loaf in the center of the oven and bake for 30-35 minutes until dark golden brown on top (if you take it out at light golden brown, it’s liable to be raw in the middle, so let it get good and dark). Cool for 20-30 minutes on a cooling rack in the loaf pan while you make the glaze.

Assemble and serve: Use a butter knife to loosen all sides of the bread from the loaf pan and gently turn it out onto a plate. Place another plate on top and flip it to turn it right side up. Drizzle glaze over top. Serve each piece slightly warm with a drizzle of glaze."

Icing
To make Whimsical Cookery's icing, simply whisk together the milk, vanilla, and powdered sugar.

Saturday, 14 December 2013

Mint Christmas Tree Meringues


2 oz./approx 50g semi-sweet bakers chocolate for stars
4 eggs whites
1 cup granulated sugar
1/8 tsp cream of tartar
1/8 tsp mint extract
Green food coloring (I used 4 drops of McCormick brand)

Prepare chocolate stars FIRST by heating a small amount of chocolate, and using a small piping tip (or cut the tip of a plastic bag), pipe out a few dozen stars in chocolate onto wax paper or parchment.  These can then harden while meringues bake.

For the meringues:
1. Preheat oven to 200F/100 C.

2. In a bowl, beat egg whites and tartar until mixture begins to thicken.

3. Slowly add sugar to the mixture until meringue is able to hold stiff peaks.

4. Beat in mint extract and food coloring.  Be careful not to overdo it on the food coloring, as it will cause your lovely stiff meringue to become a gooey mess.

5. Line a baking sheet with parchment or some other non-stick surface.

6. Add mixture to a piping bag with a large cupcake decorating nozzle (see picture of meringues for idea of what type of nozzle would be best).

7. Pipe meringues wide at the base to a point, as though you were using a soft-serve ice cream machine (again, see picture).

8. Bake at 200F/100C for about 2 hours 10 minutes.  Do not open the oven door.  Simply turn off the oven and allow meringues to cool down for another half an hour in the oven.  Then remove and allow to cool.

9. Once cool, you can attach the chocolate stars by heating up any leftover chocolate from before, and dipping the tips of the trees in the warm chocolate.  Set stars on top and allow to cool again.