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How to Make Brownies

By admin

These brownies are really good and so easy to make.

 Ingredients:

  •  200 grams butter
  • 4 eggs
  • 2 cups of sugar
  • 200 grams of baking chocolate
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla essence
  • 1 1/3 cup flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 1/2 cups chopped walnuts

 

Method:

 1)      Preheat oven to 180 degrees Celsius.

2)      Cream butter, sugar and eggs.

3)      Add melted chocolate and vanilla and beat until creamy.

4)      Add flour, baking powder and salt. Mix well.

5)      Stir in nuts and about 1/2 cups chocolate chips.

6)      Bake for 30 – 35 minutes.

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How to Make Caramel Apples

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The following recipe makes 10 caramel apples (or toffee apples as they are called in some countries). If you prefer not to use food coloring then feel free to omit it.

Ingredients and Equipment:

  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 1/4 cups heavy cream
  • 1/2 cup light corn syrup
  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • 4 drops red food coloring
  • 10 red apples
  • Wooden skewers or craft sticks
  • Chopped nuts (optional)
  • Candy thermometer
  • Parchment paper or baking sheet

Method:

  1.  Heat sugar, corn syrup and butter in a saucepan over medium – high heat.
  2. Keep stirring until the butter had completely melted.
  3. Cook until the mixture reaches 240 degrees Fahrenheit or 115 degrees Celsius.
  4. Remove from heat and stir in the food coloring.
  5. Cool for approximately 5 minutes.
  6. Line your working area with a baking sheet.
  7. Take the stems out of the apples.
  8. Insert a wooden skewer or craft stick into each apple (where the stem was).
  9. Dip the apples into caramel until well coated. If necessary, use a spoon to coat the apples.
  10. Dip the apples in chopped nuts (optional).
  11. Place on baking sheet on a baking tray.
  12. Let stand until set (approximately one hour).
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How to Make Granola Cookies

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Ingredients:

  •  4.5 cups of granola
  • 1 cup chocolate chips
  • 1 cup flour
  • 1 teaspoon of baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda (bicarbonate of soda)
  • 1/2 teaspoon of salt
  • 220 gr butter
  • 1.5 cups brown sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla essence

 Method:

  1.  Preheat oven to 180 degrees.
  2. Mix the butter and sugar for about 5 minutes.
  3. Add the eggs and vanilla essence.
  4. Add the flour and mix well.
  5. Add the granola and mix for 1 minute only.
  6. Put spoonfuls on a baking tray well apart.
  7. Bake for approximately 8 minutes.
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How to Make a Latte

By admin

Ingredients:

  • Espresso
  • 1 cup Milk
  • Flavor (optional)
  • Small metal pitcher

Method:

  1. Pour the milk into the metal pitcher.
  2. Create froth by inserting the steam wand into the cup just below the surface of the milk.
  3. Steam the milk until it reaches the desired temperate.
  4. Add 1 shot of flavor if desired.
  5. Prepare the espresso shots.
  6. Pour the shots into the coffee mug.
  7. Pour the milk over the espresso immediately (the shots should not sit for more than 15 seconds before adding the milk). Use a spoon to keep the froth back.
  8. When you are close to the top pour the froth over the milk.
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How to Make Kool Aid

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As simple as Kool-Aid is to make it is sometimes quite tricky to get it perfect. These step by step instructions will help.

Ingredients:

  • 2 quarts of water
  • 1 cup of sugar
  • 1 Kool-Aid pack

Method:

  1. Pour the water in the pitcher.
  2. Add the sugar.
  3. Add the Kool-Aid pack.
  4. Mix.
  5. Chill in the refrigerator or add ice.

Tip: This is fun to make with kids.

 

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How to Make Icing Sugar

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Icing sugar is really easy to make and costs a fraction of the cost. It is convenient to make when you run out in the middle of a recipe!

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup sugar
  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch

Method:

  1. Pour the sugar and cornstarch in to a food processor.
  2. Turn on high until the mixture becomes a fine powder.
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How to Make Granola

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Once you are already preparing granola why not make a large quantity and pack it up to give to friends! You can buy granola ready made but you cannot compare store bought granola to home made granola. Firstly, most types of granola are based on cheap ingredients. Secondly, home made granola is free of preservatives. There are several types of store bought granola that are very good but they are often quite expensive. It is really easy to prepare granola so why not give it a try! 
Here is list of recommended ingredients but you can use any ingredients and change the quantities to taste. That is one of the advantages of homemade granola – you decide what is in it and how much of each ingredient. For example, if you like coconut then put double or triple the amount. Make your favorite granola!

Recommended list of ingredients:

• 400 g coarse oat
• 100 g instant oats
• 100 g pumpkin seeds
• 100 g sunflower seeds
• 100 g almond flakes
• 4 tablespoons sesame
• 1 Cup honey or brown sugar (you can mix them both)
• Half cup vegetable oil
• 1 tablespoon cinnamon
• Pinch of salt
• 3 tablespoons shredded coconut
• 1 / 2 cup raisins
• 1 / 2 cup dried cranberries

If you are making the granola as a gift then you will need cellophane bags or jars.
 
Preparation:
 
1. Preheat oven to 150 degrees celcius.
2. Mix all ingredients in a bowl (except the last three).
3. Spread on baking tray.
4. Bake for half an hour and mix every ten minutes or so to avoid burning.
5. Add the coconut approximately 10 minutes before the end.
6. Add the cranberries and raisins.
7. Cool.
8. Put the granola in cellophane bags and tie with raffia or alternatively put in a clean jar.

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How to Make Gravy

By admin

Ingredients:

  • Roast with onions
  • 2 tablspoons of flour or 1 tablespoon of gravy powder
  • 1 cup of hot water
  • salt and pepper

Method:

  1. After the roast is done, drain off the fat in a pan without disturbing sediment.
  2. Leave the onions from the roast in the pan.
  3. Cook over low heat.
  4. Add about 2 tablespoons of flour or 1 tablespoon of gravy powder.
  5. Mix well (keep stirring to prevent burning).
  6. Add 1 cup of hot water gradually, while stirring constantly. If the gravy is too thick then add more water.
  7. Season to taste.

Strain.

Serve hot.

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How to Make Pancakes

By admin

Ingredients:

  • 125 gr flour
  • Pinch of salt
  • 30 gr sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1 tablespoon butter or margarine
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • Syrup (maple or chocolate)

Method:

  1. Sift the flour and salt.
  2. Make a well in the center.
  3. Add sugar, well beaten egg and half the milk.
  4. Mix well.
  5. Add the remaining milk, melted butter and baking powder.
  6. Drop spoonsfuls on to greased hot plate or pan. When they start to bubble, turn and cook until the other side is lighly browned.
  7. Put the pancakes on a cloth until cool (this keeps them soft).
  8. Serve with syrup (maple or chocolate).
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How to Make a Fruit Tart

By admin

The advantage of this cake is that it is very quick and easy to prepare and is really fail proof! The total preparation time is under two hours.

Ingredients:

For the base:

    * 2 cups flour
    * 7 oz (200 gr) of butter or margarine
    * 1/2 cup sugar
    * 1 egg
    * 1 pinch of salt
    * 1/4 cup of flour

Filling:

    * Ready made custard or vanilla pudding or a box of vanilla pudding powder made with double cream and milk (according to the instructions on the box).
    * Fruit (whatever is in season or available).
    * Glaze (if you do not have glaze you can use apricot jelly (jam).

Equipment:

    * Baking sheet (optional).
    * Pie dish or quiche dish (preferably with a removable bottom).

Method:

   1. Preheat the oven to 350 F (180 c).
   2. Mix the sugar, butter and 2 cups of flour in a food processor.
   3. Add a pinch of salt.
   4. Add the egg.
   5. As soon as the mixture forms a ball turn the food processor off.
   6. If it doesn’t form a ball and the mixture looks too soft then add more flour. As a rule, the softer the butter/margarine is the more flour you need.
   7. Roll the dough out on a baking sheet.
   8. Grease the pie dish
   9. Put your hand under the baking sheet and turn the dough upside down into the pie dish.
  10. Gently peel the baking paper away.
  11. Fill in any holes that have formed with the extra dough or dough from the sides.
  12. Push the dough upwards to fill all of the sides.  Make sure that you don’t have any thin areas.
  13. Use a rolling pin to roll along the top and form a nice edge.
  14. Put the base in the oven and bake until it is lightly browned. (No need to fork it or fill it with beans or anything like that….).
  15. When it is ready and has been cooled fill with the pudding.
  16. In the meantime, prepare the filling. Use either ready made pudding, custard powder or instant pudding.

Cut up the fruit. Fruit should be cut into thin slices. Berries will obviously be added as is.
Lay the fruit around the tart. The more time you have the closer you can lay them.
Either use glaze according to the instructions on the box or heat apricot jelly (jam) in the microwave for a few seconds until it melts. Let it cool slightly and then brush it onto the pie/tart.

Tip/Variations:

The pie should be made as close to serving as possible.

If you are in a rush and need to finish within an hour then feel free to use a ready made pie dish.
For those of you on Weight Watchers there are approximately 62 points in the base. The filling and fruit depend on the ingredients that you use. If you use a low fat and low cal filling you get a delicious piece of fruit pie for only 6 points!

Category: Cakes, Recipes  One Comment

How to Make Granola Bars

By admin

Do you find that commercial granola bars are often loaded with cheap ingredients and others that make your wonder how a granola bar was ever considered healthy… This recipe will enable you to make delicious low fat healthy granola bars in under 20 minutes and at a fraction of the cost of commercial ones.
 

Ingredients:

    * 1 1/2 cups of thick oats (not the instant variety) and sesame seeds (change the proportions according to your preference)
    * 1 1/2 cups of seeds, nuts, coconut, raisins, chocolate chips, Rice Crispies (you can choose a combination of these and then decide on the proportions according to your preference)
    * 1/4 cup of brown sugar
    * 1/4 cup of honey
    * 1/4 cup of tahina  (see picture below)

Method:

   1. Lightly toast the oats and sesame seeds in the oven or in a pot on the stove.
   2. In an empty pot mix the sugar, honey and tahini.
   3. Cook on the stove for about 1 minute at a low temperature.
   4. Add the toasted ingredients and the rest of the ingredients to the pot.
   5. Mix well.
   6. Put the mixture in a pan. Cover it with a sheet of baking paper and press down firmly so that the mixture is tightly packed in the pan.
   7. Put the pan in the fridge for a few minutes (approximately 10 minutes).
   8. Cut into bars or squares.
   9. Put it back in the fridge for about 30 minutes.
  10. Separate the pieces and store in the fridge or freezer in an airtight container.

Tips:
These granola bars make an excellent snack for kids and a much healthier alternative to candy bars.

You can wrap these up nicely and they will make a nice healthy gift.

When purchasing tahina make sure that you get a product that is 100% ground sesame and not a dip or other product made by diluting the concentrated tahina.

If you are in a rush and want to make the recipe in under 10 minutes then don’t toast the ingredients (it doesn’t make a huge difference if you don’t) and cut the bars after only a few minutes in the fridge.

If you wait too long to cut the bars then they will be too hard to cut.

Variations:

Any ingredients can be used as long as you have 3 cups of dry ingredients to the 1 1/2 cups of honey, sugar and tahina.  The reason that the dry ingredients have been seperated is to toast those ingredeints that need to be toasted. Feel free to add any other dry ingredient that you want as long as you keep the quantities constant.

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How to Make Chocolate Truffles

By admin

This is a great recipe to make together with kids. It is suitable for kids of every age and a perfect solution for those looking for preschool crafts.

Materials:

    * 250 gr or 9 oz cookies or biscuits (with no filling such as digestive, marie, petit beurre, etc)
    * 200 gr or 7 oz milk chocolate
    * 1/2 cup of full cream
    * To decorate: dessicated coconut, 100s and 1000s, crushed biscuits /  cookies, etc.

Method:

1. Wash your child’s hands.
2. Put various toppings in small containers on the table.

3. Put the cookies / biscuits in a sturdy bag and allow the child to crush them with a rolling pin of a can of peas (or anything else for that matter…).  This step is optional but it is half the fun for kids.

4. Put the cookies in a food processor to grind them (assuming the kids left big pieces which need to be ground).

5. Using the microwave or over a small flame on the stove melt the chocolate in the double cream until the chocolate has melted. This step should obviously be done by an adult.

6. Help your child to mix the chocolate and cream mixture with the cookie crumbs.

7. Wet your child’s hands and show him or her how to make little balls with the mixture.

8. Once he or she has formed a ball roll it in one of the toppings.

9. When all of the balls are ready put them in the fridge.

10. They should be ready to eat within approximately 30 minutes.

Tip/Variations:

If you wet your hands before working with the mixture it is much easier to form the balls.

If the mixture is too dry you can add a bit of cream or milk. If it is too soft you can refrigerate it until it hardens.

For a more professional look put each ball in a paper cup.

Category: Cookies, Recipes  One Comment

How to Melt Chocolate

By admin

Working with chocolate is a fun edible craft enjoyed by both adults and children. It is very simple and you can make delicious craft projects easily using the melted chocolate. Although this is a fun craft for kids they will need your help melting the chocolate and working with it while it is still hot.

When melting chocolate the two most important rules are:

    * Take care not to burn the chocolate.
    * Do not add any water to the chocolate while melting.

From our experience, there are three successful methods to melt chocolate:

   1. Using a double boiler – boil water in the bottom saucepan (pot). Once the water has boiled add chocolate to the inner saucepan and put the inner saucepan in the outer bigger saucepan. Keep simmering until the chocolate has melted.
   2. Microwave – some people think that this is the easiest and most effective method to melt chocolate. The setting and amount of time depends on your microwave. If you leave it in for too long it will burn.
   3. Using a plastic pot over a metal pot. This is really an easy method to improvise for those who do not have a double boiler. Fill a metal pot with boiling water. Add chocolate to a plastic or glass pot or bowl. Place the bowl with chocolate over the metal pot once the water has boiled. Do not continue simmering the vapor from the water will eventually melt the chocolate. Make sure that the bowl is bigger than the pot and totally covers it so that the vapor does not escape. This method will take more time than the first two but it is very easy and fail proof. Since you do not simmer the water the chocolate cannot burn.

Tip/Variations:

After you have used the melted chocolate let it dry and harden in a dry cool place. Do not put it in the fridge or freezer  to dry. If you do put it in the fridge or freezer you will find that when you take it out it will melt quicker than if allowed to harden out of the fridge. If it is very hot or you are in a hurry then you will have no choice but to put it in the fridge.

Once you have melted the chocolate there are many craft ideas that you can use to make edible projects using the chocolate:

Chocolate flowers
Making chocolates with kids
As an easy alternative to icing or frosting a cake

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How to Make Steamed Buns

By admin

These buns are steamed and therefore both low fat and low calories.

Materials:

    * 2 tablespoons of sesame seed or peanut oil
    * 1 cup water
    * ½ cup caster sugar
    * 3 cups plain flour
    * 2 teaspoons baking powder
    * 2 tablespoons dry yeast
    * Bread maker
    * Steamer

Method:
 

   1. Put ingredients in bread maker in the above order.
   2. Set for “dough”.
   3. When ready, knead dough until smooth, (you can add a bit of flour if you need to).
   4. Divide into 16 pieces.
   5. Knead each piece into a ball, flatten each ball, place one or two teaspoons of dolce de leche, chocolate or jam on center of each ball. Gather edges to enclose filling, pinch together to seal.
   6. Place buns pinched side down in a steamer about 3 cm apart.
   7. Cover.
   8. Cook over boiling water for about 10 minutes or until buns are dry to touch.
Tips:

    * You can spread chocolate spread and 100s and 1000s on the buns.
    * Buns can be made a day ahead. Reheat in steamer for 4 minutes.
    * Store covered in fridge.

Makes about 16 buns.

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How to Make a Chocolate Cake

By admin

Submitted by Faith

This is an easy, delicious and fool-proof recipe for chocolate cake.

Ingredients:

    * 5 eggs
    * 1 1/3 cup oil
    * 2 1/2 cups sugar
    * 3 cups of flour
    * 3 tsp baking powder
    * 1 1/2 tsp salt
    * 1 1/3 tsp baking soda
    * 1 1/2 tsp vanilla
    * 1/2 cup cocoa
    * 1/2 cup drinking chocolate
    * 1 3/4 cup strong coffee (made with about 1 tbsp of instant coffee in hot – yet not boiling – water)

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 160 C° or 325 F°.
2. Beat eggs, oil and sugar until well beaten.
3. Add the rest of the ingredients. (The batter comes very runny so don’t think that something has gone wrong…).
4. Bake for an hour at 160 C° or 325 F°.

Tip:

When making this cake for kids you can reduce, eliminate or replace the coffee with chocolate flavored powder.

Category: Birthday cakes, Cakes, Recipes  Leave a Comment

How to Make a Balloon Cake

By admin

 Submitted by Navit Vishky

This balloon birthday cake is made with 3 round cake tins. If you don’t have 3 tins you can just use one tin 3 times which will obviously take more time. You can also use different sizes and have balloons in different sizes or alternatively make only one big balloon. Another variation is to use muffin tins and make lots of little balloons. In this case it is suggested to make one balloon for each guest.          
     
    Equipment:

  • 3 Circular aluminum tins (diameter of 20 cm) or muffin tin

  • Pieces of ribbon (as per number of balloons)

  • Rolling pin

  • Serving tray


Ingredients:

Method: 

  1. Prepare the round cakes. Fill the cake dough up to the top so that when it rises the top of the cake will be rounded. Allow the cakes to partially cool then take them out of the tins and place them on a wire rack to cool.
  2. Cut around the top edges of the cakes (using a small sharp knife) to form a round shape.
  3. Spread the cake with jelly /  jam.
  4. Color the sugar dough in the required colors. See tips on working with sugar dough (rfm).
  5. Roll the colored sugar dough with a rolling pin to form a round shape big enough to cover the cake.
  6. Pick up the dough using the rolling pin and place it over the cake. Cut around the cake using a sharp knife. Keep the remaining dough to produce the ends of the balloons (tie).  
  7. Move the balloon cake to the serving tray. Dust your hands with powdered sugar and gently squeeze the cake in order to shape it into a balloon shape and remove any air bubbles.
  8. Take the left over dough and form a triangular shape. Flatten the edges until you form a tie for the balloon. Attach it to the balloon with a drop of water.
  9. Tie a ribbon over the join so as to hide it.
  10. Repeat this process with the other cakes (balloons).
  11. Your Balloon Cake is ready!! Happy Birthday!
Category: Birthday cakes, Birthday cakes, Birthday cakes for kids, Fondant cakes  Leave a Comment