Tag Archives: cooking

It’s National Pretzel Day!

Bake your own soft pretzels. Here is an easy and delicious recipe:

Ingredients:

  • 1 package of yeast
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 11/2 cups warm water
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 1 egg, beaten
  • course salt to sprinkle on pretzels

Directions:

Stir yeast into water. Add the sugar and salt. Blend in flour with hands. Knead until smooth. Cut into pieces and roll into long, skinny twists. Put a little flour on the counter and give the child a piece of dough to create what he or she wants – balls, worms, letters, or pretzel shapes. Put onto a foil-lined, well-greased cookie sheet. Brush with the egg. Sprinkle with the salt. Bake immediately at 425 degrees for 12-15 minutes.

Photo from norcalcoupongal.blogspot.com

Have a toasted marshmallow today!

Toasting marshmallows at the end of a long green stick over a campfire is a summertime treat. This may not be possible at home, but you can still make S’mores, a messy, gooey, sweet summertime delight.

  • 2 graham cracker squares
  • 1 large marshmallow
  • Handful of chocolate chips, or half a chocolate bar
  • 2 tablespoons melted butter
  • tin foil

Place the marshmallow and chocolate between the two graham crackers (like a sandwich) and wrap in tin foil. Place in a toaster oven or under the broiler for 2-3 minutes, and voila gooey treat!

It’s National Ice Cream Day!

July 18th is National Ice Cream Day! Celebrate by enjoying a few scoops of your favorite flavor or by making your own ice cream at home. Here is a simple recipe. You can change it up by adding a little chocolate syrup, a few chocolate chips, or using a flavoring other than vanilla.

mixinbag

In a quart size zipper baggie, combine…
1 cup of whole milk or half and half
2 tablespoons of sugar
½ teaspoon vanilla extract

In a gallon size zipper baggie…
Fill ½ way with ice cubes
Add 1/3 cup of rock salt (if you don’t have rock salt you can use table salt or kosher salt)

Seal the small baggie carefully and place the inside of the large bag. Seal the large bag and shake the bags until you can see the mixture thickening (about 5 minutes.) It will be cold to hold, so you may want to carefully pass it back and forth between yourself and a partner.  Remove the small baggie and wipe the top off (to remove salt water,) unzip and enjoy!

It’s national sugar cookie day!

Sugar cookies are perfect for cutting out shapes with cookie cutters. Do it the easy way during the hot summer and purchase ready made dough in the freezer or refrigerator section of the grocery store.

Recipe:

  • Cream 1 cup (2 sticks) of butter with 2/3 cup sugar.
  • Beat in 1 egg.
  • Add 2 1/2 cups flour, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1 teaspoon vanilla.
  • Chill 3-4 hours before rolling.
  • Preheat oven to 350°F.
  • Spread a little flour on the counter to keep dough from sticking.
  • Roll 1/4 inch thick and cut into shapes using cookie cutters or a glass. Place on cookie sheet.
  • Bake 8-10 minutes or until slightly browned.
  • Allow to cool before eating.

photo by http://flickr.com/people/22334306@N02

It’s national sugar cookie day!

SugarCookie.JPG

Sugar cookies are perfect for cutting out shapes with cookie cutters. Do it the easy way during the hot summer and purchase ready made dough in the freezer or refrigerator section of the grocery store.

Recipe:

  • Cream 1 cup (2 sticks) of butter with 2/3 cup sugar.
  • Beat in 1 egg.
  • Add 2 1/2 cups flour, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1 teaspoon vanilla.
  • Chill 3-4 hours before rolling.
  • Preheat oven to 350°F.
  • Spread a little flour on the counter to keep dough from sticking.
  • Roll 1/4 inch thick and cut into shapes using cookie cutters or a glass. Place on cookie sheet.
  • Bake 8-10 minutes or until slightly browned.
  • Allow to cool before eating.

C is for Cookie!

Cisforcookie.jpg

Cookies are popular everyday, but since this is Cookie month you might want to bake your own with children ages 4 and up, or buy large plain sugar cookies at the store and have fun decorating them with store-bought icing, chocolate chips, sprinkles and other toppings.

Try this easy recipe:

Cookie Bars

  • 2 cups graham cracker crumbs (about 32 graham crackers, crushed)
  • 1 cup (6 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • pinch of salt
  • 1 can (14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk

Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl, stir to combine. Spread into a greased 8x8x2-inch square baking pan. Bake at 350° for 30-35 minutes, or until toothpick inserted near center comes out clean. Cool cookie bars on wire rack. Makes about 18 cookie bars.

Have some chocolate chips today!

National Chocolate Chip Day

Try this delicious recipe. Be sure to let the children pour and stir ingredients but don’t let them near the hot oven!

Traditional Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients:

  • 2-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 cups (12-oz. pkg.) Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
  • 1 cup chopped nuts (optional – ask about allergies)

Directions:

  • Heat oven to 375°F.
  • Stir together flour, baking soda and salt. Beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla in large bowl with mixer until creamy. Add eggs; beat well. Gradually add flour mixture, beating well. Stir in chocolate chips and nuts, if desired. Drop by rounded teaspoons onto ungreased cookie sheet.
  • Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool slightly; remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. Cool completely.

Makes about 5 dozen cookies.

photo from suppersanityclub.blogspot.com

It’s national sugar cookie day!

Sugar cookies are perfect for cutting out shapes with cookie cutters. Do it the easy way during the hot summer and purchase ready made dough in the freezer or refrigerator section of the grocery store.

Recipe:

  • Cream 1 cup (2 sticks) of butter with 2/3 cup sugar.
  • Beat in 1 egg.
  • Add 2 1/2 cups flour, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1 teaspoon vanilla.
  • Chill 3-4 hours before rolling.
  • Preheat oven to 350°F.
  • Spread a little flour on the counter to keep dough from sticking.
  • Roll 1/4 inch thick and cut into shapes using cookie cutters or a glass. Place on cookie sheet.
  • Bake 8-10 minutes or until slightly browned.
  • Allow to cool before eating.

photo by http://flickr.com/people/22334306@N02