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Not So Hot at Baking? These No-Bake Desserts are Total No-Brainers!

September 6, 2016 by

You may love to cook, but baking is a whole different story. From measuring ingredients to timing the oven perfectly, there are a number of things that could go wrong while baking a cake or making cookies. Luckily, these no-bake recipes don't require any of the complicated parts of baking — but they do give you some delicious results!

Nutella Cool Whip Pie
People all over the world love the chocolate and hazelnut taste of Nutella, and in this no-bake recipe, the creamy spread sits front and center. Top it with Cool Whip and crumbled cookies for a pie with lots of unique texture and sweet flavor.

Milk n' Cookies Icebox Cake
If you're looking for a dessert that looks just as good as it tastes, this is the one. Layer upon layer of chocolate chip cookies are held together by cream cheese frosting, creating a tall, attractive cake that's perfect for a birthday bash or a last-minute dinner party.

No-Bake Cookie Dough Chocolate Cups
Many people would agree that sampling the dough is the best part of baking cookies, and with this no-bake recipe, you'll get the same delicious taste of cookie dough with a more elegant presentation (and without the raw eggs!) Simply mix up the cookie dough, roll it into small balls, and coat them with melted chocolate. Then, let them set in a muffin tin to create the cup shape.

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Follow These Tips for Bakery Quality Cookies Every Time

March 3, 2015 by

If you’ve ever wondered how to get that deliciously moist, chewy cookie consistency that you normally only find at your favorite bakery, all it takes is a bit of inside knowledge. Here are some expert tips that will help you to bake better cookies at home.

  1. Use a high-quality cookie sheet. Although stainless steel cookie sheets are a bit pricier, they make all the difference when it comes to your cookies. Dark colored sheets may cause your cookies to burn on the bottom, which results in an overcooked, dry texture.
  2. Be sure to use soft butter. Many at-home bakers skip this step and use cold butter to save time, but letting the butter melt a bit can work wonders when it comes to the texture of your cookies.
  3. Know which ingredients to use for your desired consistency. If you like cookies that are thinner and crispier, add more sugar. For cake-like cookies you can add an extra egg, and for a coarse, crumbly texture, simply add baking soda.
  4. Only bake one sheet at a time. Baking multiple cookie sheets at once can cause them to bake inconsistently, so try to use only one sheet at a time. If you’re short on time you can bake a few sheets at once, but be sure to rotate them frequently.

Cookie Tips – Secrets to Making Perfect Cookies [What’s Cooking America]
Tips for Baking Perfect Cookies [Macrina Bakery]
Tip: The Secret to Baking Perfectly Browned Cookies Every Time [The Kitchn]
Tips for Getting That Perfect Cookie Texture [Baking Bites]

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Two Great Websites for Muffin Recipes

January 30, 2015 by

If you’re growing tired of the usual blueberry muffin recipe, it might be time to switch things up in the kitchen. Put your baking skills to the test with these wonderful muffin recipes from two of the best recipe sites from around the web..

Cooking Light
Cooking Light’s list of Healthy Muffin Recipes is the perfect resource for the health-conscious baker. Muffins don’t need to be packed with calories in order to taste great, and there are a number of simple ingredient substitutions that can help to make your muffins a bit more nutritious. The Tuscan Lemon Muffins are made with olive oil and fresh lemon juice instead of sugary sweeteners or phony flavors, and even the seemingly indulgent Chocolate-Chocolate Chip Muffins are a bit healthier than the store-bought kind.

Martha Stewart
For truly creative muffin recipes, Martha Stewart’s website is one of the best resources. Beautiful photos provide endless inspiration, while the easy-to-follow recipes are simple enough for even the amateur home baker. Try the easy Applesauce Muffins with light, fluffy icing, or bake some Pumpkin Doughnut Muffins for a thicker consistency and sweet, spicy flavor. Whether you prefer something dessert-like or a muffin that’s a bit more savory, Martha Stewart has a muffin recipe for everyone.

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Want to Become a Better Cook? Start by Learning These Culinary Terms!

June 27, 2014 by

When you encounter a recipe that’s full of complicated cooking terminology, it’s easy to feel intimidated. What if your chopping instead of dicing leads to a flop of a soufflé? These kitchen terms will teach you a few things about proper cooking techniques, and they’ll make you feel more confident about your next culinary endeavor.

  1. Beat. To beat a mix or batter is not the same thing as mixing it. Beating involves briskly whipping with a spoon, wire whisk rotary beater, or electric mixer, and it incorporates air into the ingredients in order to obtain a light, fluffy consistency.
  2. Blacken. Blackening a piece of meat or vegetables is a popular Cajun cooking technique that chars seasonings onto the food in order to give it a crunchy, spicy coating. This involves cooking over high heat in a heavy skillet.
  3. Fold. If a recipe calls for you to fold one ingredient into another, it means to combine them without decreasing their volume. Use a rubber spatula in vertical swipes across the mixture, pulling some of the mixture from the bottom to the top each time.
  4. Garnish. Once your dish is completed, you may garnish it by adding a decorative bit of fresh herbs, fruit or greens.

Glossary of Basic Cooking Terms [Les Petites Gourmettes]
Cooking Terms [Recipe Goldmine]
Glossary of Cooking Terms [UMN]
Glossary of Cooking Terms [Better Homes & Gardens]
Culinary Terms [About.com]

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Memorize This Must-Know Kitchen Terminlogy

June 20, 2014 by

If you’ve ever encountered a cooking term that you didn’t understand in a new recipe, you know how confusing it can be. From julienne to mince, there’s a whole slew of complicated terminology that seems foreign to the amateur chef. Here are a few simple definitions that will help you with your next adventure in the kitchen.

  1. Braise. Braising involves browning meat or vegetables in a bit of hot fat before cooking them slowly in a shallow pool of liquid. This is a great technique to soften less tender cuts of meat or veggies.
  2. Devil. To devil something, such as an egg, you simply coat it with a hot seasoning like hot sauce or mustard.
  3. Dredge. Dredging means to coat something like meat or vegetables with flour, breadcrumbs, or cornmeal.
  4. Flambe. This term is usually found in more gourmet recipes. It involves sprinkling a food with a liqueur and lighting it on fire before serving.

Glossary of Basic Cooking Terms [Les Petites Gourmettes]
Cooking Terms [Recipe Goldmine]
Glossary of Cooking Terms [UMN]
Glossary of Cooking Terms [Better Homes & Gardens]
Culinary Terms [About.com]

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There’s No Need to Knead With These 4 Bread Recipes

May 9, 2014 by

Baking bread at home seems difficult, but no-knead recipes make it much easier than ever before. You’ll impress your family and your guests with the scent of freshly baked bread coming from the oven, and you’ll be the only one who knows just how easy it was to prepare.

No-Knead Bread [Steamy Kitchen]
This recipe creates a rustic, gourmet-looking loaf of bread, and it’s so simple that a four year old can make it— and one has! The New York Times made this no-knead recipe famous, but its reliability is what makes it so popular.

No-Knead Bread [Smitten Kitchen]
Using instant yeast to create a fluffy, dense center and a crispy outer crust, this incredible bread recipe is the perfect addition to any sandwich or evening meal.

No-Knead Crusty White Bread [King Arthur Flour]
If you want to make a large amount of bread for a gathering or holiday party, this is the recipe to use. It makes use of the same simple no-knead technique, but this recipe yields four full-sized loaves.

How to Make No-Knead Bread [The Kitchn]
This online tutorial will show you the most important steps for making no-knead bread, with detailed pictures along the way. It also includes video tutorials for certain techniques, such as shaping the dough into a perfect ball.

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Baking Tip: How To Successfully Double A Recipe

February 15, 2013 by

Have you doubled a recipe, only to have the end result look nothing like it did when you made just a single batch? Well, you're not alone. Baking is a science, and calls for very exact measurements. The next time you're baking up a storm, check out these tips from The Kitchn about how to double a recipe:

Cakes, Muffins, and Cookies
Even if you're doubling all the other ingredients, be careful not to double baking soda, baking powder, yogurt, and buttermilk. The amounts of these ingredients need to be changed when you're doubling everything else — otherwise the recipe may not quite work.

Breads
Most breads contain yeast rather than baking powder or baking soda. Beneficially so, since yeast can be doubled without much of an issue. However, a kitchen scale makes it much simpler to do, since you'll be measuring by volume rather than sight.

Click here to learn more specifics about how to double recipes when baking.

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