Becks (English Muffins)

Hmmm, why Becks you ask? It's the nickname.... For my little English Muffin.... David Beckham :-)

Ok, a thought before I begin. I LOVE English muffins, and have been on a quest for a great, doable recipe. I think this is the one. You see, the thing I love about English muffins is the light texture and little nooks and crannies that soak up the honey butter or jam. After several failures (ok a lot,) I've pronounced this one to be my favorite. However, if I do find another good one, I'll for sure share!

English Muffins (adapted from Alton Brown, Food Network)

1/2 cup non-fat powdered milk
1 TBS sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
1 TBS. shortening
1 cup hot water
1 envelope dry yeast (approx 2 1/4 tsp)
1/8 tsp. sugar
1/3 cup warm water + 1 TBS
1 cup all purpose flour, sifted
3/4 cup wheat flour, sifted
non-stick cooking spray
electric griddle
3 inch metal rings (available at any kitchen store)

Directions:

In a bowl, combine the powdered milk, 1 TBS. sugar, and salt. Melt the shortening in the hot water. When cooled down, add milk mixture to water and shortening, mix well. Set aside. In a separate bowl, combine the yeast and 1/8 tsp sugar in 1/3 + 1 TBS. cup warm water and rest until yeast has dissolved. Add this to the dry milk mixture. Add the sifted flour and beat thoroughly with a wooden spoon. Cover the bowl and let it rest in a warm spot for 30 minutes.

Pre-heat griddle to 275 degrees.

Beat the mixture thoroughly. Place metal rings onto the griddle, and coat lightly with spray. Using and ice cream scoop, place approx. 1 1/2 to 2 scoops into each ring, make sure rings are no more than 3/4 way filled. Cover with a pot lid. Cook 3 minutes. Remove lid and gently flip rings. Cover with the lid and cook another 3 minutes or until golden brown. Place on cooling rack, remove rings and cool. Split with fork, toast and serve!

Chocolate cake blob

Ok, you are thinking it, I'm going to say it. My ganache on the chocolate cake looks like mud, or *ahem* something, oozing over the edges. People, I bite at taking pictures, and I promise it is chocolate. Keep practicing, keep practicing.

Music I love to cook to.....

Self-pity cake

I am deep in the trenches of potty training, and heaven help me, I needed some chocolate. This is by far my favorite chocolate cake recipe. I could drink the chocolate ganache! I've done some tweaking that may seem odd, the cornstarch is an emergency cake flour replacement, and to help with the altitude I'm at (4,500) Also, I make sour milk, which I've included the instructions for as well. Make sure to save some for me! And remember folks, I'm still in the beginning photog stage!

Chocolate Self Pity Cake

*2 1/4 Cups flour, approximately...(Put 1 TBS. of cornstarch in each 1 cup measurement, then fill remaining with flour. Don't worry about this in the 1/4 cup.)
*3/4 Cup unsweetened cocoa
*1 3/4 Cups sugar
*2 tsp baking soda
*1 1/4 tsp. salt
*1 1/2 Cups sour milk....(in glass measuring cup, put 1 1/2 TBS. white vinegar
then pour milk to equal 1 1/2 cups. Let sit for 5 minutes.
*1 Cup canola oil
*3 large eggs, room temperature
*1 1/2 tsp. vanilla


Have I confused you? Please let me know if these directions make you lost!!

Preheat oven to 350. Grease 10 inch Bundt pan, dust with cocoa.
In large bowl, combine flour, cocoa, sugar, baking soda, and salt.
In medium bowl, with whisk, mix sour milk, oil, eggs and vanilla until blended. Add milk mixture to flour mixture and whisk very well until smooth.

Pour into prepared Bundt pan, bake until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, approximately 40 minutes. Do not over bake!!! Cool in pan for 10 minutes, removed from pan, let cool completely on wire rack. Spread on chocolate Ganache and enjoy!

Chocolate Ganache

1 Cup whipping cream
12 ounces chopped milk or semi-sweet chocolate. ( I use plain old chocolate chips.)

In medium saucepan, bring whipping cream just to a boil over medium high heat. Remove from heat, add chocolate, DO NOT STIR. Let stand for 5 minutes. Stir until smooth. Cool for 10 minutes, spoon over cake or cupcakes.

Cheddar and Cream Cheese Stuffed Peppers

Oh baby, if you like sweet bell peppers, this is your dish. I passed on the chicken nuggets one afternoon and made these little treasures for a Mommy lunch. They would also be a great side dish.

6 Mini sweet bell peppers (these are usually sold in packages.)
1/2 Cup Light cream cheese (I'm not even going to try to pronounce the name if it.)
1/4 Cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 tsp. garlic salt
toothpicks

Wash and dry peppers. Preheat oven to 350. Combine cream cheese, cheddar and garlic salt. Cut just the tops off of the peppers, keep them and place them aside. Stuff peppers with cheese mixture. Depending on how large your peppers are, you may need more cheese mixture, sorry! Place tops back on peppers, place a toothpick into the top, and then through one side of the pepper. This is just to keep the cheese in while baking. Bake 15-20 minutes or until cheese is hot and peppers are crisp tender. Ohhh baby!!

Hidden camera in my kitchen...

Cake Cornbread

I love this cornbread recipe. It's great with a hearty soup, or a nice salad. It's so moist, it tastes like cake. If you have a grinder that will grind popcorn, I hightly reccomend it, it is great! I've also done this recipe with 1/2 cup white flour and 1/2 cup whole wheat with great results.

Corn Bread

1/2 Cup butter
2/3 Cup sugar
2 eggs (room temperature)
1 Cup sour milk **see note**
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 Cup cornmeal
1 Cup all purpouse flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. honey

*For sour milk-- In glass measuring cup, pour in 1 TBS. white vinegear, add milk until it reaches one cup. Let sit for 5 minutes.

Preheat oven to 375. Melt the butter. Once melted, remove from heat and quickly whisk in the eggs, sugar, honey, milk and baking soda until there are no lumps. Mix in the cornmeal, flour and salt until most lumps are gone. Pour into a greased 8 inch square pan, bake for 30-40 minutes until golden brown and toothpick comes out clean. Do not over-cook. I usually double the recipe and bake in a 9x13 pan.