Banana Pecan Cupcakes

Makes 9
From “Martha Stewart Cupcakes”

Ingredients:

1 c sifted cake flour (not self rising)
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/3 tsp cinnamon
2/3 c mashed very ripe bananas (1 1/3 bananas)
1/4 c buttermilk
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 stick butter, room temperature
1/2 c packed brown sugar
1 egg, room temperature
1/3 c pecans, toasted, chopped

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 F.
2. Put paper liners in muffin tins.
3. Mix butter and sugar. Add eggs. Add buttermilk, bananas and vanilla.
4. Add dry ingredients. Fold in pecans.
5. Fill muffin cups 3/4 full.
6. Bake 20 min.
7. Cool. Can be frozen for 2 mo in airtight containers.
8. Frost. Enjoy!

Pumpkin Muffins

Pumpkin Muffins

makes 18

INGREDIENTS:

2 C canned pumpkin or you can use fresh, but my muffins have a nicer top with canned ( not pumpkin pie filling)

3C All purpose flour- unbleached sometimes I make them with we wheat flour 1 cup WW/ 2 cups unbleached flour

2C white sugar

2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp baking powder

3/4tsp ground cloves

2 tsp ground cinnamon

1 tsp ground nutmeg

1/4 tsp allspice

1 tsp salt

2/3 cup veg oil

3 eggs- large

your muffins will come out better rise with with fresh baking powder& soda & room temp pumpkin, & eggs

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 350

Mix in med bowl pumpkin, oil & eggs In extra large bowl I mix my dry ingredients really well, make a well in center & pour in wet ingredients.

Mix until incorporated BUT DO NOT OVER MIX. If you over mix you won’t have the nice big tops.

Spray each paper with a little veg oil spray (paper comes off easy that way) & place in pan. Let batter rest about 15 minutes. Fill liners using an ice cream scoop. Cook for about 20 minutes.

These muffins are good plain but really good with cream cheese frosting on top. I also sometimes put pepita seeds (bulk bins, roasted & salted on top).

CREAM CHEESE FROSTING:

1/4 cup butter softened
4 oz softened cream cheese
2 c powdered sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla

Mix well. You’ll have extra of this frosting about a 1/2 cup extra

TFL Coffee Cake

TFL used blueberry jam and cream cheese

Makes 1 braid

Sponge
1.5 tsp instant yeast
1.5 tsp sugar
3/4 cup warm milk
1 cup unbleached all-purpose flour

Dough
1 egg
3/4 tsp salt
3 tbsp sugar
1.25 to 1.5 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter

Blueberry Filling
1 cup blueberries
2 tbsp sugar
2 tbsp cornstarch
1 tbsp lemon juice

Egg Glaze
1 egg (should actually be 1/2 egg ;))
1.5 tsp milk

Cream Cheese Filling
3/8 cup cream cheese (3 oz)
1 tbsp sugar
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
1.5 tsp egg glaze

DIRECTIONS:

For the sponge: mix the sugar, yeast, and flour together in bowl. Pour in the warm milk. Beat until smooth, then cover with plastic wrap and set aside for 1/2 hour.

Add the eggs, salt, sugar, and one cup of the flour to the sponge. Beat until smooth. Then add the butter in small chunks and beat well. Add the remaining flour a handful at a time and mix in until a soft but kneadable dough is achieved and the butter thoroughly incorporated.

Knead the dough by hand or with a mixer until it is smooth and satiny, about 5 minutes.

Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and let rise and room temperature until doubled in size, 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Deflate the dough, recover the bowl, and refrigerate overnight.

The next day, make the fillings before shaping the loaves.

Blueberry Filling: combine all of the ingredients in a small saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat while stirring constantly. Reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes, then remove from heat and let cool.
Egg Glaze: combine the egg and milk in a bowl and beat until combined.
Cream Cheese Filling: combine all the ingredients in a bowl and mix until combined

Once your filling has cooled off, take the dough out of the refrigerator and gently deflate it. Divide it into two pieces. Use a rolling pin to shape each piece into a thin (1 cm.) rectangle.

Spread your fillings in the center of the dough.

At an angle, slice the sides of the dough into tabs approximately 1 inch wide.

Alternating from side to side, fold the pieces in over the filling. When possible, gentle press on the tabs to seal the folds.

After it has been fully folded, glaze the braid with egg wash. Cover loosely with plastic (I place the entire baking pan in a clean kitchen garbage bag). Set aside to rise until doubled in size, approximately 45 minutes. While it is rising, preheat the oven to 350.

Just before placing the braid in the oven, glaze it again with any remaining egg wash. Bake on the center rack of the oven for approximately 35 to 40 minutes, rotating it once after 20 minutes so that it bakes evenly. Remove it from the oven and allow it to cool for at least half an hour before slicing.

 

TFL Buttermilk Rolls

From here.

The rolls are baked in an 8in springfoam pan and when they rise, they basically smoosh together attractively.

Buttermilk Cluster
Makes 12 to 18 rolls, depending on size

Ingredients:
6 to 6 1/2 cups (750 grams) bread or all-purpose unbleached flour
1/2 tablespoon salt
1 envelope (2 1/2 teaspoons) active dry or instant yeast, or 1 15 gram cake fresh yeast
1 tablespoon warm water
1 3/4 to 2 cups buttermilk
1 tablespoon honey

Glaze:
1 egg beaten with 1 teaspoon water

Topping:
1-2 tablespoons seeds (poppy, sesame) or grains (cracked wheat, rolled oats)

Combine the flour and salt in a large bowl. Combine the warm water and yeast in a small cup and allow to proof for 10 minutes.

Pour the yeast, buttermilk, and honey into the flour mixture and mix well. If the dough is so dry that some of the flour won’t stick, add a bit more buttermilk or water. If the dough is too sticky to knead, more like a batter, add more flour by the tablespoon until the correct consistency is achieved.

Knead by machine or hand for approximately 10 minutes. Return the dough to the bowl, cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a damp cloth, and set aside to rise until the dough has doubled in size, approximately 90 minutes.

Divide the dough into 12 to 18 pieces. If you are a stickler you can scale them so that they are even, but I just cut them roughly the same size. Shape each piece into a neat ball and place in a round dish or spring-form pan close together.

When all of the rolls are in the pan, cover again with plastic or a damp towel and set aside to rise again for 45 minutes to an hour. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 425.

Uncover the rolls and brush gently with the egg wash. Sprinkle on the grain topping, if you like. I used cracked wheat.

Bake for approximately 30 minutes, until the rolls are firm and spring back when tapped.

Unmold the rolls from the pan and serve warm.

KA Harvest Bread

No knead bread for cast iron dutch oven.

INGREDIENTS

3 1/4 cups King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose Flour
1 cup King Arthur 100% Whole Wheat Flour
1.5 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon instant yeast
2 cups cool water
3/4 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup golden raisins
1 cup coarsely chopped pecans or walnuts

Optional:
1 1/2 c water
1 shot whiskey (or amaretto or rum or orange juice)

DIRECTIONS

1. Mix the flours, salt, yeast, and water in a large bowl. Stir, then use your hands to mix and form a sticky dough.
2. Work the dough just enough to incorporate all the flour.
3. [RISE1: 24 hours in covered mixing bowl] Cover the bowl with plastic wrap, and let it rest at room temperature overnight, or for at least 8 hours; it’ll become bubbly and rise quite a bit, so use a large bowl.
4. Soak raisins and cranberries in 1.5 c water and 1 shot of whiskey. (optional)
5. Roast walnuts on stove until lightly toasted. (optional)
6. [THE NEXT DAY] Drain the whiskey from the raisins and cranberries. Add to dough. Roughly chop the walnuts. Add to dough.
7. Then turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface, and form it into a log or round loaf to fit your 14″ to 15″ long lidded stoneware baker; 9″ x 12″ oval deep casserole dish with cover; or 9″ to 10″ round lidded baking crock. Place the dough in the lightly greased pan, smooth side up.
8. [RISE: 2 hours in covered lightly greased mixing bowl] Cover and let rise at room temperature for about 2 hours, until it’s become puffy. It should rise noticeably, but it’s not a real high-riser.
9. Using a sharp knife or lame, slash the bread in a crosshatch pattern.
10. Place the lid on the dutch oven, and set the oven temperature to 450°F. Let the dutch oven warm while the oven is preheating.
11. Take hot dutch oven out of oven, lightly spray with cooking spray (it will smoke), and sprinkle with a little cornmeal. Then put slashed dough into the dutch oven, COVER AND BAKE for 45 to 50 minutes.  THEN REMOVE THE LID and bake  for another 5 to 15 minutes, until it’s deep brown in color, and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center registers about 205°F.
12. Remove the bread from the oven, turn out onto a rack, and cool before slicing.
13. Enjoy!

Tofu Chocolate Silk Pie

Buy 1 graham cracker crust or chocolate graham cracker crust from the store.

OR

Follow directions for crust below to make the pie vegan.

NOTE: This has rave reviews on Minimalist Baker’s website, and the tofu is said to be undetectable. Nonvegans seem to like it too.

INGREDIENTS:

CRUST:

1 1/2 cups raw walnuts
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa or cacao powder
1 heaping (packed) cup pitted dates, soaked for 10 minutes in warm water and drained

FILLING:

12 ounces silken tofu, drained, patted dry
1 3/4 cups dairy-free semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup light or full fat coconut milk (or another dairy-free milk)

DIRECTIONS:

1. Prepare the crust by pulsing walnuts and cocoa powder in a food processor until it reaches a fine meal. Remove and set aside.
2. Place soaked dates in the food processor and process until small bits remain and it’s sticky. Add back in the walnut-cocoa meal and process until well combined.
3. Transfer to a glass pie pan lightly oiled with coconut oil. Alternatively, place parchment in the bottom for easy removal. Place a piece of plastic wrap over the crumbs and press with your hands to form a uniform crust that goes up the sides (see photo). Pop in the freezer to set.
4. Melt the chocolate chips over a double boiler or in the microwave in 30 second increments. Once melted, work quickly to add to a blender along with the tofu and coconut (or other dairy free) milk. Blend until smooth, about 1 minute, scraping down the sides as needed.
5. Pour over crust and smooth. Cover and freeze until set. Alternatively, refrigerate for at least 2 hours or until pretty firm. For easiest serving and longer storage, freeze.
6. Serve and top with coconut whipped cream. Will keep in the fridge for several days, though best when fresh. Freeze for up to a few weeks, covered well.

Adapted from: https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/moo-less-chocolate-pie-recipe-1938390

ALTON BROWN RECIPE:

INGREDIENTS:

FILLING:

ounces semisweet chocolate chips
1/3 cup coffee liqueur
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 pound silken tofu, drained
1 tablespoon honey
1 (9-inch) prepared chocolate wafer crust, recipe follows

CHOCOLATE WAFER CRUST:

6 1/2 ounces chocolate wafer cookies
1 tablespoon sugar
3 ounces unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled

DIRECTIONS:

Place enough water in the bottom of a 4-quart saucepan to come 1 inch up the sides. Bring to a simmer over medium heat.

Melt the chocolate chips with the liqueur and vanilla in a medium metal bowl set over the simmering water, stirring often with a rubber or silicone spatula. Combine the tofu, chocolate mixture and honey in a blender or food processor and spin until smooth, about 1 minute. Pour the filling into the crust and refrigerate for 2 hours, or until the filling sets firm.

CRUST:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Spin the cookies and sugar in a food processor until fine crumbs. Then drizzle in the butter, pulsing to combine. Press this mixture firmly and evenly into the bottom, up the sides and just over the lip of a 9-inch metal pie pan.

Bake on the middle rack of the oven until crust is set and appears dry, 18 to 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool completely, about 1 hour.

NOTE: For vegan, replace butter with vegan alternative in pie crust.

Tofu Lemon Bars

Egg free, Protein Rich, Good reviews.
I have not made these but would like to try.

INGREDIENTS:

CRUST:

1/2 c coconut oil, melted
1/4 c sugar
1/4 c salt
1 tsp vanilla extract
1.5 c whole wheat pastry flour

FILLING:

1/2 c silken tofu
3/4 c cane sugar
1 tbsp grated lemon zest
1/4 c lemon juice
1/4 tsp baking powder
2 tbsp whole wheat pastry flour

DIRECTIONS

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Brush an 8-inch-square baking dish with oil, then line with parchment, leaving an overhang, and brush parchment with oil. Set aside.
2. Make the crust: Stir together 1/2 cup oil, sugar, vanilla, and salt. Add flour and stir until just combined. Press dough into prepared dish and bake until pale golden-brown, about 20 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, make the filling: Process tofu, sugar, lemon zest and juice, baking powder, and flour in a food processor until smooth. Pour onto baked crust and bake until set, 25 to 30 minutes more. Let cool completely, then dust with confectioners’ sugar and cut into squares.

Redstone Restaurant Cornbread

NOTE: I don’t know if this is the original recipe, but it sure is good! 🙂

INGREDIENTS

3⁄4 cup cornmeal
3⁄4 cup all-purpose flour
1⁄4 teaspoon salt
1 1⁄2 tablespoons baking powder
4 eggs
3⁄4 cup sugar
7 ounces creamed corn (1/2 can)
2 ounces diced green chilies, drained well (1/2 can)
1⁄2 cup butter
1⁄2 cup shredded monterey jack and cheddar cheese blend

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 400°F.
2. Mix together all ingredients in the order given.
3. Pour into greased 8″ or 9″ iron skillet.
4. Bake 35 minutes. Insert toothpick- if it comes out clean the corn bread is done. If not, continue baking & check every 5 minutes with a toothpick.
5. Serve warm with Maple Butter.

MAPLE BUTTER

1 lb butter
1 cup maple syrup
1⁄2 teaspoon kosher salt

1. Allow butter to soften to room temperature.
2. In mixer, (use a paddle attachment if available) whip butter & Salt until creamy.
3. Slowly drizzle syrup into mixture until well blended.

Peach Cobbler

Adapted from Southern Living.

INGREDIENTS

1/4-1/2 cup unsalted butter
1-2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup white sugar
1/4 c brown sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
Pinch of salt
1 cup milk
4 cups fresh peach slices, peeled
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tsp vanilla extract (optional)
orange zest (optional)
Ground cinnamon or nutmeg (optional)
Chopped pecans (optional)

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 375 F.
2. Put butter in 13 x 9 pyrex dish. Put dish in oven. Let butter melt.
3. Put peaches on top of butter.
4. Mix remaining ingredients, pour on top of peaches.
5. Bake 40-45 min.
6. Serve with ice cream.

 

Iced Hermits

INGREDIENTS

FOR THE COOKIES
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened, plus more for baking sheet
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 tablespoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon coarse salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
Pinch of ground cloves
1 1/4 cups packed dark-brown sugar
2 eggs
1/4 cup unsulfured molasses
1 cup chopped candied ginger, cut into 1/4-inch pieces
3/4 cup raisins

FOR THE ICING
1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
2 tablespoons whole milk, plus more if needed
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 cup sifted confectioner’s sugar, plus more if needed

DIRECTIONS

1. Make bars: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 10-by-15-inch rimmed baking sheet. Line bottom with parchment paper, and butter parchment; set aside. Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, ground ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, pepper, and cloves in a medium bowl; set aside.
2. Put butter in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Beat on medium speed until smooth. Add brown sugars; mix until pale and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Mix in egg and yolk, and molasses. Reduce speed to low; gradually mix in flour mixture. Mix in 1/2 cup candied ginger and the raisins.
   Spread dough evenly onto prepared baking sheet. Bake, rotating sheet halfway through, until firm, 18 to 22 minutes. Let cool completely in baking sheet on a wire rack.
3. Make icing: Put brown sugar, milk, and butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Cook, stirring constantly, until butter has melted and sugar has dissolved. Remove from heat; whisk in vanilla and confectioners sugar. If icing is too thick to drizzle, stir in more milk, a teaspoon at a time. If icing is too thin, stir in more confectioners sugar, a teaspoon at a time. Let cool slightly.
4. Drizzle bars with icing; sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup candied ginger. Let stand until icing has set, about 15 minutes. Cut into 2-inch squares. Bars can be stored in single layers in airtight containers at room temperature up to 5 days.

NOTE: These bars are a bit on the dry side. I added 1/4 c milk to keep them moist. With the milk, they will not store as long as they would otherwise.

NOTE2: DO NOT double the spices in this recipe. They already have an “Indian” level of spice. You’ve been warned. ^^

NOTE3: These are really delicious, amazing cookies.

NOTE4: The icing tastes a lot like New Orleans pralines. Yum yum.