Easy Muffin Recipes

Easy Muffin Recipes

A colleague gave this recipe to me years ago, and I've been using it ever since! The muffins are great for breakfast or afternoon tea. Try this out if you're new to baking. The recipe doesn't require any mixers, and you don't need fancy muffin pans either. The ingredients are simple and easily available too. Just get the paper muffin cups from Phoon Huat or SKP and off you go!

Muffins (American, makes 8-10 using big muffin cups)

Ingredients
225g plain flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
80g caster sugar
pinch of salt
250ml milk
100ml sunflower or corn oil
1 medium-sized egg
50g raisins* 

* You may also substitute with chopped cranberries, almond nuts, dates or whatever you have available

Method
1. Set the oven to 180 deg c.
2. Sieve the flour and baking powder into a large bowl. Add the sugar and salt.
3. Pour the milk and oil into a medium-size bowl. Add the egg and mix together well using a fork.
4. Make a dip in the middle of the flour using the mixing spoon, then pour in the liquid ingredients. Stir together until you can't see any flour. (You may see some lumps but don't worry about those!) This must be done carefully but quickly. If you mix the mixture too much, muffins will not be light and airy.
5. Using the tablespoon, fill each muffin case about ¾ full. If any mixture drips onto the tray, wipe it up before putting the tray in the oven.
6. Wearing oven gloves, place the muffins in the oven, near the top. Cook for 20-25 mins.
7. Use oven gloves to remove the muffins from the oven. When cooled, the muffins will look a little brown and feel springy when gently pressed with a finger. Let them cool for a few mins before removing them from the tray.

Follow the method above but try different flavourings:

Lemon Muffins
Add grated rind of a lemon to the flour mixture.
Add lemon juice of 1 lemon, and add sufficient milk to make up a mixture of 250 ml.
This yields really refreshing lemony muffins!

Blueberry and lemon muffins
Add 200g washed blueberries and the grated rind of half a lemon to the flour mixture.

Chocolate chip muffins
Use 175g plain flour and 40g cocoa powder (instead of 225g flour), sieved together. Add 100g chocolate chips to the flour mixture and ½ teaspoon vanilla essence to the liquid mixture.

Breakfast muffins
Use 100g wholemeal self-raising flour and 125g plain flour. Use 50g caster sugar (instead of 80g). Add 100g chopped dried (ready to eat) apricots to the flour mixture and 1 tablespoon of honey to liquid mixture.

PAULA DEEN RECIPE

paula deen recipe

RECIPE REVIEW: Paula Deen’s Grandchilds Fresh Apple Cake

Sounds delectable, doesn’t it? The word Fresh! The word apple! And the word Cake! I’m
done. Let’s make it.

Now, I’m no stranger to Paula Deen’s cooking. The woman’s recipes often look like this:


Butter, for greasing pan
2 cups butter
1 1/2 cups butter oil
1/4 cup butter juice
3 cups all-purpose butter
1 teaspoon baking butter
3 cups peeled and finely chopped butter
1 cup shredded butter
1 pinch of butter, for taste

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Generously grease a tube pan.

For the cake: in a large bowl, combine the butter, butter oil, butter juice, and baking butter; and mix well. Fold butter, butter, and butter into batter. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bathe in it until you go into cardiac arrest.

I have made many successful Paula Deen recipes. I love her personality as well. I love how she is an independent, strong woman, yet maintains her grace, humility and kindness. She knows what life is all about – and she knows how to make it taste good. So it pains me to say this, but Paula, with your “Grandgirl's Fresh Apple Cake from Georgia,” you have crossed the line.

I was drooling when I saw you make this on TV. It is a bundt cake with apples and coconut and cakey goodness – and to top it all off, you soak it for an hour in this buttery buttermilk sauce to keep it moist and rich. So I tried making it myself recently.

It was fun to make, I’ll admit. But after soaking it for an hour in the buttery buttermilk sauce, and I turned it over onto a rack to cool, I saw the sauce had only soaked through half the cake. And then it started dripping down all gooey and sticky like onto the cookie sheet beneath. Honestly, it looked a little like snot:

When it had properly cooled, I cut a piece. The top part, which had not been soaked with the sauce, tasted a bit like a dry muffin, but wasn’t half-bad. But the bottom part. Oh my god. It was disgusting. It was like eating a sponge dipped in motor oil. I think that if the sauce had soaked all the way through, it would have been evenly distributed and probably tasted good. But for whatever reason, this sauce decided to lodge itself in the bottom 2 inches of the cake, creating a kind of sludge that was just too much.

Now I may have done something wrong to cause this – I am not infallible in the kitchen. But this was a recipe for disaster. Literally! Hiyo! Seriously, when you play with that much buttery buttermilk sauce – in a cake that already contains 2 sticks of butter, vegetable oil, 2 cups of sugar and 2 cups of coconut, you’re asking for trouble.

I let the cake sit there under a piece of foil for a few days. I thought about using pieces of it to grease the squeaky doors in my apartment, but I just ended up throwing it away.

CROCK POT RECIPE

crock pot recipe

Creating a meal with a crockpot is easy. If you have pork on hand, try these crockpot recipes for dinner!

Recipe #1 - APPLE GLAZED PORK ROAST

4 lb. pork loin roast
6 apples
1/4 cup apple juice
3 T. brown sugar
1 t. ginger, ground

Rub roast with salt and pepper. Brown pork roast under broiler to remove excess fat; drain well.

Core and quarter apples. Place apple quarters in bottom of crockpot. Place roast on top of apples. Combine apple juice, brown sugar, and ginger. Spoon over top surface of roast, moistening well. Cover and cook on Low for 10-12 hours, until done.

Recipe #2 - BARBECUE PORK ROAST

1 pork roast (or beef)
Juice of 1 lemon
1 small onion, cut up
1 teaspoon sugar
1 bottle barbecue sauce

Cook roast covered in water (start with hot water) in crockpot overnight on low 10-12 hours. Pour off water and pull meat into shredded pieces. Saute onion in a little butter. Combine barbecue sauce, onions, sugar and juice of lemon with meat in crockpot and cook on high for 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 hours, or on low for 3 to 6 hours.

Recipe #3 - CAJUN BREW PORK N BEANS

5 cans Pork-n-Beans (2nd to smallest size)
2 8oz cans tomatoe sauce
2 onions (chopped)
6 hot links (sliced)
1/4 bottle barbeque sauce (average size)
The following are "to taste"
Worcestershire sauce
Hot sauce (I like Crystal hot sauce)
Cajun Seasonings (I like Tony Chacere's seasonings)
Liquid smoke
Mustard
Brown Sugar

Mix all ingredients in a crockpot and crank it up to high. Let it cook all day, stirring occasionally. Can also be made on the stove top, but let it simmer for several hours stirring occasionally.

RECIPE SCAMPI SHRIMP

recipe scampi shrimp

Many people have different ideas on how to prepare great shrimp scampi recipes as you will see below. Some of the ingredients are the same and usually it is served with pasta. The type of pasta that you serve with your dish is up to your own taste.

Here are two shrimp scampi recipes that do vary in style. For the first one you will need:

2 pounds of shrimp,
¾ pound of melted butter or margarine,
3 chopped green onions,
4 tablespoons of crushed garlic cloves,
¼ cup of lemon juice,
½ cup of dry bread crumbs,
1 egg,
1 teaspoon of seasoning salt,
2 teaspoons of hot sauce and salt and pepper to taste.

Be sure to clean and de-vein your shrimp. Preheat your broiler. Cut them into a butterfly style. Place them in a large pan. Now, combine the butter, green onions, garlic, lemon juice, bread crumbs, and egg, seasoning salt, hot sauce, salt and pepper. Now place this mixture by spoonfuls over the shrimp. Broil for around 5 minutes until done.

Other shrimp scampi vary also in the ingredients but are just as tasty as the one above. For this recipe you will need:

1 pound of thin spaghetti noodles,
1/3 cup of olive oil or vegetable oil,
2 pounds of shrimp,
1 tablespoon of chopped garlic,
¼ teaspoon of crushed peppers,
¼ cup of chopped green onions,
1 cup of diced mushrooms,
¼ cup of white wine,
¼ cup of butter,
salt and pepper to taste.

To prepare you need to cook the pasta until it is al dente, usually around 3 to 5 minutes, drain and set aside. In a large skillet, heat the oil. When the oil is hot, (sprinkles of water will dance around the pan) sauté the shrimp for a few seconds. Now add the garlic, peppers, green onions and mushrooms. Cook for about one minute. Now add the wine and bring to a boil, cook until slightly thick. Remove from the heat and add the butter, stir until dissolved. Now, you can add the pasta and gently stir. This is a very wonderful and unique dish that everyone will love.

Finding the best shrimp scampi recipes are a matter of taste. You can try all different types of spices and other ingredients that you want to try to create your own recipes. Usually shrimp scampi is kind of spicy, so you can try other items such as salsa, for a new and unique flavor that no one else has thought of to add to the basic recipe.

PIE RECIPE SHEPHERD

pie recipe shepherd

Traditional nursery food has made a come back in our family recently. I haven’t bothered making shepherd’s pie (or cottage pie, as it is also known) for ages, as the children just used to eat the potato from the top and leave the mince. Mince in general has been rejected too. If I use the same minced beef to make meatballs or burgers the kids devour it, but they hate picking out all the little bits of vegetables that I hopefully put into it, when I make the shepherd’s pie, in the hope of smuggling a few vegetables into their diet. Anyway my son actually requested shepherd’s pie the other day, so yesterday I made it and they gobbled it up, vegetables and all, several servings each, so I’ve gained one more dish for the regular list.

Recipe for Shepherd’s Pie

To feed four
500g/1lb good quality minced beef or lamb (hamburger beef)
1 onion
2 carrots
1 stick of celery
1 clove garlic
2 large fresh tomatoes or half a tin of tomatoes
2 tablespoons olive oil
a dash of wine
a few drops Worcestershire sauce
2 bay leaves
salt and pepper
water or stock
potatoes
small piece of butter - about 20g/1oz and milk to mash with

Finely chop the onion and saute over a low heat in the olive oil until soft and translucent. Add the carrot, celery and garlic also finely chopped. Saute all together for five minutes. Turn up the heat and add the meat, breaking up the lumps and cooking until it has just lost the raw redness. Don’t overdo it at this point. Add the splosh of wine, (white or red, whatever you have open. If you don’t have any it’s not essential) and stir till it has evaporated the alcohol. Add the tomatoes skinned and chopped. Now put in the rest of the seasonings and pour in enough water or stock to only just cover the meat. Bring to a simmer, put on a lid and leave to cook at a simmer for 1-2 hours.

The quantity of potatoes depends on how many you have to feed. You can have a thin layer of potato topping or if you need to stretch the meat to feed lots of people, a really thick layer of potato, which is what the children prefer anyway. Peel the potatoes and boil them till soft. Then drain all the water away and let the steam evaporate, so they dry a little then mash them with the butter, milk and salt and pepper until they are soft, but not too runny, mashed potatoes. In a roasting dish or any ovenproof but not too shallow dish, put the cooked meat in a thick layer, then top with the mashed potatoes. Smooth them out with a fork, so there are lines and swirls and peaks of potato that will brown nicely and put the dish into a preheated oven 200C/400F for twenty minutes or until the top has browned to golden. If the meat and potatoes have only just finished cooking and still hot you can just brown the top under the grill. This can all be assembled and kept in the fridge until needed too, then it would need at least thirty minutes to cook through again.

Traditionally shepherd’s pie was made with minced lamb and cottage pie with minced beef but my family has always called both shepherd’s pie. It also used to be a dish to use up leftover cooked meat from a roast, rather than starting fresh with raw mince, but we like it like this - comfort food for winter.

BISQUICK RECIPE

bisquick recipe

One of the best tasting breakfast recipes for the fall months is sweet potato biscuits. We also love to serve them at parties; making a mini version, cut with a cutter about a inch diameter and putting country ham on them. If you were from where we're from, you would be putting Smithfield country ham on them, truly one of the best, is not the best hams in the world. Regardless, we hope you will try these sweet potato biscuits.

Sweet Potato Biscuit Recipe


2 cups sweet potato - cooked and mashed

4 cups self-rising flour

1 stick butter - melted

1/2 tea baking soda

1/2 tea baking powder

1 1/4 cups buttermilk

3 Tablespoons sugar

Mix sweet potatoes, butter and milk until well blended. Stir in flour, baking soda and sugar. Shape into a ball and knead 8-10 times on well floured board. Roll out 3/4-1 inch thick and cut with 2" biscuit cutter. Bake on a greased baking pan in a preheated 400 degree oven 15-20 minutes until very lightly browned. Fill with some good Smithfield ham and you are good to go!

Makes about 15.

Note: I like to roughly mash the sweet potatoes instead of smoothly to get little flecks of sweet potato that you can see in the finished biscuits.

If you need a fast and easy secret for low fat cheese biscuits, get low fat bisquick and a low fat cheddar cheese. Hide the box. It isn't as good as fresh but few people will guess your secret.

Almost everyone that likes biscuits loves cheese biscuits. For a great biscuit recipe: visit our recipe-of-the-week Cheese Biscuit Recipe

Enjoy it and be sure to let us know what you think. We love to hear from people.

Peggy Bloodworth left a job as a sales VP in a high tech company entertaining clients around the world for a personal chef and catering business where she is chef for swank party givers in Research Triangle Park, NC. More party ideas, recipes, menus and pictures can be found on her website swank website. She maintains a large garden and vineyard. Menus are well researched, recipes are mostly original and the ingredients are fresh, organic and more frequently than not, from her garden.

BETTY CROCKER RECIPE

betty crocker recipe

Betty Crocker is an icon that many of us have grown up with through the years. Betty Crocker is synonymous with cookbooks and cake mixes. I can still remember seeing the picture of good old Betty on the box of those delicious cake mixes.

The name Betty Crocker has historical significance as well. The name “Betty Crocker” was developed to market products to homemakers, and created from combining the last name of a retired company executive, William Crocker, betty crocker recipe and a pleasant, comfortable female name, Betty. I can assure you that the name was not borrow from the Flintstones. According to an online source, General Mills became inundated with requests for recipes and baking suggestions, and to make the responses more personal, the company responded with letters using the signature of a secretary who won an office contest. That really made Betty Crocker come alive and women all over America suddenly felt as if a kindred spirit. This was in 1921 and this same signature is still used today. There is almost something comforting about that, although I'm not really sure why I feel that way.

In 1924 the first Betty Crocker School of the Air, the nation’s first cooking show debut across the land through the radio. It lasted an astounding 24 years. In 1936 an artist combined the features betty crocker recipeof the women who worked in the company’s home department in the official likeness of “Betty Crocker”, but the truth is that Betty's image has changed to maintain a modern look.

Now we’re all clear on the fact that Betty Crocker was never a real person (she was voted the most popular woman in the country second to Eleanor Roosevelt!) let’s move on to all those great Betty Crocker recipes and products.

The very first Betty Crocker cookbook was made available to the American population in 1950. It was called the “Betty Crocker Picture Cook Book”. For nostalgia's sake it has been republished in all its original glory and you can get it online at www.amazon.com or you can grab it at your favorite bookstore. This cook book is resplendent with black and white and color pictures.

It really does cover the entire spectrum including everything from the most basic of recipes to the really involved, with such helpful tips on selection, presentations and table settings. They actually betty crocker recipe suggested that the cook, in order to take a well-deserved rest, should lie on the floor for a quick five minutes nap. What do you think, are you up for it? Most of us would probably choose the couch or recliner over our kitchen floor. It's really funny how times have changed.

Betty Crocker products can be found in just about every kitchen in America. It really is an all-American product. The brownie and cake mixes are truly delicious, and become easier and more convenient to whip up. Our lifestyles have become so hectic that not many people have time to spend in the kitchen baking. It really is great to be able to craft a box of Betty Crocker and within a short period of time create a wonderfully fresh and delicious dessert. That’s my kind of cooking – no fuss, no muss!! Betty Crocker will be betty crocker recipe there for our kids, just as she was for us, our parents, and their parents, in our pantries and our cupboards. Betty Crocker is an American icon!

SLOW COOKER RECIPE

slow cooker recipe

n my 'un-biased' opinion, the slow cooker is one of the most convenient and easy to use appliances in my kitchen. The time savings features of the slow cooker and the delicious dinners that have resulted more than offset any minor drawbacks.

Before I list my top reasons why the slow cooker is the most useful appliance in any kitchen, I will list a few of the areas where it does not perform as well.

- Large cuts of meat such as boneless prime rib or leg of lamb are still best when oven roasted.

- Except for stews and chowders, the slow cooker does not cook fish very well.

- The slow cooker collects a lot of the juices since the steam does not escape during cooking and these juices can become diluted and watery, which can affect the flavoring of the food.

- If not careful, a slow cooker can overcook food -especially some of the more tender meats and poultry.

These drawbacks are relatively minor compared to the positives which I will list now.

- The slow cooker needs virtually no tending while it cooks, freeing you up to do other chores or recipes.

- The slow cooker will tenderize less expensive, tough cuts of meat and make great stews out of them.

- The slow cooker allows you to be out of the kitchen for extended periods of time -sometimes even all day.

- Burning your food is rarely a problem. The slow cooker will make many dishes for you better than any other appliance -especially those that tend to stick to the bottom of a pan.

In my opinion the slow cooker is one of the most under-utilized and yet superior of kitchen appliances. When used for what it does best, you will find that you are able to prepare great dishes in less time than you though possible!

MEAT LOAF RECIPE

meat loaf recipe

Here are 3 different, easy to make, recipes for meatloaf.

Meatloaf Recipe 1

Ingredients:

2 Eggs
1/2 cup water
Two tablespoons of soy sauce
1 small onion diced
2 Lbs. ground beef
8oz package of pre-made stuffing, (such as Stove Top)
salt & pepper to taste

Directions:

Preheat Oven to 350°F

Beat eggs, water, and approximately two tablespoons of soy sauce together in a separate bowl and set aside.

Get a large bowl and mix the ground beef and stuffing together. Make sure to use your hands and combine the mixture well, as this is the most important step.

Slowly work the egg mixture into the meat and stuffing, once again making sure to combine all ingredients well.

Pick up big ball of meat and pack in hands until you have formed a loaf.

Place in ungreased loaf pan and place on center rack in oven for 45-55 minutes uncovered until center of meatloaf is browned. Drain excess grease off side of pan and let stand 5-10 minutes before cutting and serving.

Meatloaf Recipe 2

Ingredients:

1 onion, chopped
1-2 celery stalks, chopped
1 cup cracker crumbs
1 clove garlic, diced
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon allspice
sprinkle of curry powder
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
2 eggs
2 lbs. ground beef
1-2 cans of mushroom soup
Makes 1 bread pan of meat loaf

Directions:

Mix meat, eggs, and spices
Mix in vegetables and crackers
Bake at 400°F
Drain off grease when brown 10-20 minutes
Add 1-2 cans of mushroom soup on top
Bake until done
Total baking time 1.5-2 hours

Meatloaf Recipe 3

Ingredients:

1 1/2 pounds of ground beef
1 cup Ritz crackers
2 beaten eggs
8 ounces Del Monte tomato sauce
1/2 cup fine onion
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

Pound the Ritz crackers until fine like bread crumbs.

Mince the onion until fine.

In a separate bowl, add the meat and the other ingredients and mix with your hands until the ingredients are all mixed together and the mixture is smooth.

Grease a glass baking pan with vegetable shortening.

Put the meat mixture in the pan and shape like a football.

Bake in the oven for 1 hour.

Take out the meat loaf and serve warm.

TILAPIA RECIPE

tilapia recipe

Tilapia is now the fifth most popular seafood consumed in the United States according to the American Tilapia Association. It is the fastest growing aquaculture crop in the United States and around the world.

Tilapia, sometimes referred to as St. Peter’s fish (since it is thought to be the fish caught by St. Peter in the Sea of Galilee), has been farmed in Israel for about 2,500 years. There are over 100 species of Tilapia as well as a number of hybrids. Drawings of tilapia farming have been found on Egyptian tombs dating back to 2,500 B.C.

Tilapia played a very important role for the Taiwanese people after World War II. Many people would have died if the fish hadn’t been readily available as a low cost food source. It is hoped that Tilapia can be served as a protein source to help out other poor countries.

Nutrition:

Tilapia are high in protein, low in sodium, low in fat and contain Omega-3 fatty acids, anti-oxidants, B complex vitamins and minerals, including calcium, iron, potassium, and phosphorous. They also have extremely low mercury levels compared to other fish due to their short life spans.

Buying, Storage and Handling:

Purchase seafood last and keep it cold during the ride home. Fresh tilapia should have a shiny surface with tightly adhering scales. Gills should be deep red or pink, free of slime, mucus, and off-odor. The belly cavity should be clean with no cuts or protruding bones. They should have a mild aroma, similar to the ocean. Keep raw and cooked seafood separate to prevent bacterial cross-contamination. After handling raw seafood, thoroughly wash knives, cutting surfaces, sponges and hands with hot soapy water. Always marinate seafood in the refrigerator and discard the marinade when finished.

Beer Marinated Tilapia

Serving Size: 6 Categories: Main Dish

INGREDIENTS

• 2 and 1/2 pounds tilapia fillets
• 2 teaspoons butter or margarine (2 to 4 teaspoons) -- softened
• 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
• 1 can beer/ale
• 1 tablespoon chopped shallots

LEMON-PARMESAN SAUCE

• 1 cup mayonnaise
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

GARNISHES

• 2 lemons -- sliced

Fresh parsley

Rinse the tilapia fillets in cold water and drain thoroughly. Marinate the tilapia in a shallow pan with the beer and shallots in a shallow pan. Top with butter or margarine and lemon juice. Broil about 4 inches from the source of heat for approximately 5 to 6 minutes or until the fish is opaque and flakes easily when tested with a fork. Top each portion with 1-2 tablespoons of Lemon-Parmesan Sauce; broil 2-3 minutes or until sauce puffs and turns golden brown. Place fillets on serving plate; garnish with lemon slices and fresh parsley.

BASA FISH RECIPE

basa fish recipe

Basa Fish is one of the healthiest meats that you can eat, but most people have no idea how to cook these healthy Basa fish recipe. I am not talking about the frozen fish fillets that can be full of sodium or have other non-healthy breading on them; I am talking about Basa fish.

Because of the great amount of omega-3 fatty acids these fish contain the American Heath Association recommends that you eat this sort of fish twice a week. These fish can be cooked in an array of ways that will bring a healthy but tasty fish dish to your table.

One great healthy fish recipe is Baked Salmon. This dish is easy to prepare and is sure to please even the meticulous of people at your dinner table.

For this recipe you will need:

1. 1 ounce can of salmon,
2. 8 ounces of tomato sauce,
3. ½ teaspoon of hot sauce,
4. 3 tablespoons of Miracle Whip,
5. 1 sliced tomato,
6. 1 ounce of grated low fat cheddar cheese,
7. 3 tablespoons of cream or milnot,
8. 1 teaspoon of garlic powder,
9. salt and pepper to taste.

Pre-heat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

Flake the salmon and place it into a medium sized oven pan. In a bowl, mix the tomato sauce, cream, salt, and garlic powder. Pour over the Basa fish. Place the tomato slices on top in a decorative manner and then scatter the cheese on top. Bake until cheese is melted.

You can try this recipe with either tuna or mackerel as well. Either type of Basa fish will bring a delightful taste to your palate that is sure to become a family favorite. Along with your healthy fish recipe, you can prepare other green vegetables such as fresh green beans, broccoli, or Brussel sprouts. However, if want something quick, just fix a green salad.

No matter which type of Basa fish you choose, your healthy fish recipe will be enjoyed time and time again. You may wish to try adding other vegetables such as onion, green pepper, or even zucchini for a unique and tasty treat.

hunza bread recipe

hunza bread recipe

hunza bread recipe
Fresh bread is one of the simple joys of living: the appetising smell of it baking, then with the loaf fresh out of the oven, the temptation of tearing a hunk off the loaf before it has even had time to cool down. Riding home in the car from a bakery, or even a supermarket, with a warm, new loaf in a brown paper bag, you have to have an iron will to get home with that loaf intact, especially with children in the car with you too.

Baking bread at home can be fun, if you are not under pressure. It is a task that children can help with, kneading alongside you. When you are forming the loaves you can section off some dough for them to make their own sculpturally shaped rolls, which they can take to school proudly in their lunch boxes the next day. Then you get to fill your house with the scent of baking bread, making it feel warm and welcoming on even the most dismal winter day.

Breadmaking machines, of the sort that you feed it the ingredients then it spits out a ready baked loaf a few hours later are a boon to those with no time to bake for themselves – you get the pleasures of waking up to the aroma of bread wafting through the house, without any of the labour to produce it. If you have time though, making bread is not hard. It can be a relaxing, meditative experience. As your hands rhythmically knead the dough, you can let your mind wander and feel the link with all the men and women who have gone about this daily task over the centuries.

If you have never tried making bread before, try this simple recipe for a plain white loaf first. Nothing fancy, just plain, delicious white bread with far more chew and texture than shop bread could ever have.

hunza bread recipe

1kg/2.2lbs white bread flour
15g/4 ½ teaspoons instant yeast
1 tablespoon salt
about 700ml/ not quite 3 cups water

You need a large mixing bowl or you can heap the flour onto a clean surface and make a well for the water. I use a bowl and mix the flour and salt, make a well for the yeast, then pour the water in, gradually stirring with a knife. Once it has come together into dough, tip it out onto a floured surface and knead for 10 minutes, sprinkling on more flour as you go, when it gets too sticky.

Knead by holding the dough with one hand and stretching it away with the heel of the other, fold it back on itself and repeat. It will start off sticky and lumpy and gradually become smooth. After 10 minutes it should feel springy and rise up again if you dent it with your finger. Put it in the bowl again, cover with a plastic bag or clean cloth and leave in a warm place away from draughts for an hour and a half, till it has doubled in size. If you are in the depths of winter and no warm places are available, it will still rise, just taking longer. Go by the doubling in size rather than the length of time it takes.

Knock the dough down - squashing all the air out of it again - then shape it into two loaves, which can be round, long, plaited or sculptural! Put the loaves onto a floured or lightly oiled baking tray. Leave to rise again for 3/4 of an hour, again covering with a plastic bag or cloth, then bake at 200C/400F for 30 minutes. (If the kids make small rolls they'll be done sooner, check after 15 minutes). The bread is done when it sounds hollow as you knock on the bottom of the loaf.

The great thing about bread is that it'll be edible even if you over-bake it, just crustier. My only failure with this recipe was the first time I made it. I made one huge loaf with this quantity and the centre was a bit underdone, but even then we could eat the rest of it.

Cool your loaves on a wire rack and try not to scoff the lot while it is still warm...

Once you’ve had a few tries with this hunza bread recipe, and convinced yourself you can bake, it is no great leap to try out other yeast breads. The process is the same for most of them. The only danger is that once you start baking your own bread, your family won’t let you stop!

oxtail soup recipe

oxtail soup recipe

Ingredients
2 pounds oxtail, cut in 1 to 1-1/2-inch chunks and trimmed of excess fat
1/2 cup unsifted flour plus 2 tablespoons
2 tablespoons beef drippings or cooking oil
2 medium-size yellow onions, peeled and minced
2 quarts water, or 6 cups water and 1 pint beef broth or bouillon
2 tablespoons tomato paste
2 teaspoons salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 bay leaf
1/2 teaspoon thyme
3 cloves
2 sprigs parsley
2 medium-size carrots, peeled and diced
1 stalk celery, diced
1/3 cup dry sherry or port wine (optional)

Instructions
Dredge oxtail in 1/2 cup flour, then brown in drippings in a large, heavy kettle over high heat; drain on paper toweling. Turn heat to moderate and stir-fry onions 8 to 10 minutes until golden; sprinkle in remaining flour, mix well, and brown lightly. Slowly add water, stir in tomato paste, salt, and pepper, also bay leaf tied in cheesecloth with thyme, cloves, and parsley. Return oxtail to kettle, cover, and simmer 3 hours until meat is fork tender; cool and skim off fat; remove cheesecloth bag. Separate meat from bones, cut in bite-size pieces, and return to kettle along with carrots and celery. Cover and simmer 10 to 15 minutes until carrots are tender; if you like, mix in sherry. Serve as is or strain kettle liquid, serve as a first course, and follow with oxtail and vegetables.

Yield: 6 servings

recipe watcher weight

recipe watcher weight

If you are a considering both your weight and nutritional health then the Weight Watcher Complete Cook Book (s) can be a very valuable tool. Weight Watcher Complete Cook Books have had numerous version released over the years, with changes in recipes and the changes to match their Weight Watcher Diet Programs. This article will offer an objective review of the Weight Watcher Complete Cook Books, detailing its advantages and disadvantages and whether or not it will be useful to you.

As mentioned in the introduction there are several version of Weight Watcher Complete Cook Books available, some even date back far enough to be currently out of print. They generally come in the form of a significant number of recipes (500, give or take), which are often based in handy loose-leaf binder. The recipes you will find in the Weight Watcher Complete Cook Book, no matter what version you are using, are extremely varied and cover a whole gamut of sauces, breads, soups, meats, chicken, fish, and vegetarian entrees, pasta, vegetable, grain, and potato side dishes, and MOST IMPORTANTLY, deserts. The meals and recipes in the book are based around healthy and nutritional principles, however they are not so different from many of the favourite foods you may already enjoy as part of your diet. The inclusion of familiar foods in the Weight Watcher Complete Cook Book includes; Pizza, Oven “Fried” Chicken, Beef Stew, Tuna Noodle Casserole, Chocolate Cake and much more. There is also a great number of incredible International inspired recipes that have been adored by customers worldwide. Thus the Weight Watcher Complete Cook Book’s certainly have quality and quantity in terms of recipes, however it is the nutritional focus that differentiates it from your everyday cookbook.

The best feature of the Weight Watcher Complete Cook Book’s, and all Weight Watcher Cook Books, is the nutritional breakdown that is provided with each recipe. Used generally as the basis for the Weight Watcher Program (particularly the Weight Watcher Points Plan), the Weight Watcher Complete Cook Book focuses on recipes that a tasty and nutritional by giving the dieter a review of the nutritional elements in each recipe (inc. the total Weight Watcher Point Value of the meal). The breakdown in the Weight Watchers Complete Cook Books includes details of the calories, fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, sodium, carbohydrate, fibre, protein, and calcium, as well as the Weight Watcher Points. The Weight Watchers Cook Book’s are extremely balanced providing recipes for all types of dieters, whether you are a busy single professional who only has time for a quick after-work meal, or a house-wife (husband) who wants to prepare a nutritional dinner for the a family of four, this book has it all.

In addition to the bulk quality of the Weight Watcher Complete Cook Book’s there are also several little features that are very beneficial:

- handy tips for use of leftovers

- the inside scoop on how Weight Watchers tamed calories and fat, while maintaining tasty meals

- helpful hints for getting meals on the table faster

- basics of related Weight Watcher Plans

Now some of the negatives for the Weight Watcher Complete Cook Book. While the nutritional breakdown is extremely useful for dieters, the Weight Watcher Point Values will only be relevant if you have an understanding of the points, and generally if you are taking part of a Weight Watcher Point System plan. Furthermore many of the older versions of the Weight Watcher Complete Cook Books are now outdated due to changes that have occurred in the points system employed by Weight Watchers as the plans have changed. If you are planning on purchasing a Weight Watcher Complete Cook Book as a supplement to your Weight Watcher Plan it is recommended you ensure that it relates to the current plan you are on.

Therefore if you are after a Weight Watchers Complete Cook Book it is certainly a choice that will provide your cooking with a variety and taste equal of any cook book on the market, while also looking after your weight and health. However if you are using the Weight Watcher Complete Cook Book to supplement your Weight Watcher Plan then it is very important to ensure the version you purchase matches the plan you are currently under.

pork chop recipe

pork chop recipe

Pork chops can make a great meal any time of the year. Because of the wonderful flavor of pork chops, you don't need a complicated recipe to make them absolutely fantastic.

One of my favorite pork chop recipes that I make the most often only uses about 2-3 ingredients. None are hard to find, as long as you shop at a large grocery store. Some of the smaller, home town stores may not have one or two of these ingredients.

Pork Chops in White Wine

Ingredients:
4 Pork Chops
Fennel Seeds
White Wine
Garlic Salt (optional)

Directions:
Add a good layer of white wine to the pan. Add pork chops and sprinkle with fennel seeds. Cook on Medium heat for about 5-10 minutes or until brown. Flip to cook other side and cook additional 5-10 minutes. Repeat with additional chops.

There are other variations of this recipe that include adding the optional garlic salt or mushrooms to the chops. Usually I add garlic salt for extra flavor, but this completely optional. Sometimes I'll even add cream of mushroom soup for an extra tasty meal.

You can always get creative with your pork chop recipes, or use ones with multiple ingredients. Although some of the best recipes you will find are often the most simple.

copycat recipe

copycat recipe

f you enjoy eating out at restaurants quite regularly then you will undoubtedly have your own favorite restaurants and favorite dishes you always order when you go there. Eating out at restuarants all the itme can become costly after a while, sure it's great to get out, but if you are doing it 3 times a week or more it can add up quickly.

A solution is to enjoy your favorite meals at home by using restaurant copycat recipes. A copycat restuarant recipe is a specially researched and reverse engineered recipe created by experts through trial and error in order to capture the taste of a popular restaurant recipe that would otherwise be kept secret. Big chain restaurants and even smaller restaurants will jealously guard their recipe secrets so as to not lose business. You can however take advantage of other peoples experience in recreating these dishes by finding copycat restaurant recipes and cooking from them at home.

Following other peoples copycat recipes will take out all the guess work from cooking your favorite dishes at home. Why waste your time with trial and error trying to find the exact method to recapture a classic meal? Copycat restaurant recipe books can be found on the web by respected authors who will walk you through the simple step by step methods to cooking your favorite dishes. Many will give you instant download access to thier books for a small price and you will be cooking away in no time.

You can create successful dinner parties and offer up a range of famous dishes that will amaze your guests and family. Not to mention of course the money you would save. Hundred's of previously secret recipes from some of America's most loved restaurants have been put together in copycat restaurant recipe books that can be downloaded for immediate access. Best of all you don't need to be a superstar in the kitchen to get started, all you need is very basic cooking skills, even if you can only fry an egg, you'll be able to understand and recreate restaurant quality meals at home.

smoothie recipe

smoothie recipe

There are two good reasons to make a healthy recipe smoothie:
 1) They taste great; and
 2) They are filled with lots of fruit that have health benefits for your body. Here’s a sample of popular smoothie recipes that can be a positive addition to your daily diet.

Orange Julius Smoothie – This is a delicious drink made with orange juice, milk, and vanilla extract. The Orange Julius franchise is responsible for creating this popular smoothie, and if you can find an Orange Julius location in your town, you’ll be in for a real treat.

Strawberry Orange Smoothie – Made with fresh or frozen strawberries, orange juice and honey. A wonderful sunkissed drink to help you wake up in the mornings.

Chocolate Banana Smoothie – Made with a ripe banana, chocolate syrup and milk. A healthier way to get your chocolate fix!

Classic Blueberry Smoothie – Made with fresh or frozen blueberries, frozen juice and yogurt. Blueberries have lots of antioxidants, so you can enjoy this knowing you’re helping your body stay strong and healthy.

Tropical Five Fruit Smoothie – Made with banana, kiwi, mango, papaya and orange juice. Escape to the tropics with this exotic blend of flavors. Mangoes are packed with vitamins. A great energy recipe smoothie.

Creamsicle Smoothie – Made with fresh cantaloupe melon, orange juice, vanilla extract and honey. This yummy drink will remind you of the ice cream version you enjoyed on lazy summer days as a child.

Berry Brainstorm Smoothie – Made with frozen strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, juice and yogurt. The official drink of superheroes and people who need extra brain power to accomplish amazing tasks. A great frozen fruit smoothie recipe.

Pina Colada Smoothie – Made with pineapple, banana, coconut and milk. A tasty slimmed-down version of the popular alcoholic drink. The real pina colada has 644 calories—ouch!

Cherry Vanilla Smoothie – Made with frozen cherries, raspberries, vanilla yogurt and milk. If you love cherries drenched in creamy vanilla, this is your smoothie.

Creamy Coffee Smoothie – Made with instant coffee, sugar and heavy cream. Okay, maybe it’s a little heavy on the calorie side, but this is a great way to add variety to your daily java routine.

Lasagna recipe

Lasagna recipe

Lasagna is a popular oven-baked pasta dish. The classic lasagna, if such a dish can be said to exist, is based on a meat and tomato ragu and a bechamel sauce. These are layered between sheets of pasta dough (two or three layers for a lasagna) in an oven dish, covered with cheese (usually parmesan or mozzarella) and baked in the oven for about half an hour.

Many lasagna variations exist. Vegetable lasagna, lasagna without bechamel, chicken lasagna, meatless cheese lasagna, lasagna without any sauce (just vegetables and/or meat) or even lasagna without the pasta.

When creating a lasagna, start with the main ingredient (ragu, vegetables, seafood, etc.), add a layer of bechamel, then one layer of pasta sheets and then the main ingredient again. Continue until the oven dish is full. End with a layer of pasta, spread some bechamel on top and sprinkle the cheese over it.

Some recipes call for the bechamel to be mixed through the ragu or tomato sauce, while others tell you to layer it between the pasta and the ragu. This seems to be based on personal preference and taste.

Besides sprinkling cheese on top of the lasagna, it's also a good idea to mix some through the bechamel sauce, to give the lasagna some cheese flavor throughout, instead of just on top. Turn the heat off under the bechamel sauce before adding the cheese, or the sauce will become rubbery.

When it comes to the pasta dough there is a choice between home-made pasta and store bought dried pasta. Since dried pasta is made with just water and flour and home made fresh pasta usually includes eggs, there is a distinct difference in flavour and texture. The main difference, however, comes from ease of use. Making pasta from scratch can be a lengthy process and takes some practice to get it right. Fresh pasta also needs to be precooked before assembling the lasagne. See the pasta page for a fresh pasta recipe.

Dried pasta is usually precooked, so it can be put in to the oven dish straight out of the packet.

In the US, pasta sheets generally have a curvy surface. Outside the US, they are almost always flat.

Here is a recipe for traditional lasagna. For more lasagna and pasta recipes visit Good Cook Recipes.

Ingredients:

2 tbsp olive oil
1 large onion, finely chopped
3 lbs Minced beef
4 cloves of garlic, finely chopped or crushed
1 can chopped plum tomatoes
10-15 basil leaves, chopped or torn (or 1 tsp dried basil)
1/2 tsp dried oregano
5 crushed black peppercorns (or to taste)
1 tsp sea salt (or to taste)
1/2 tsp sugar
One pack of lasagna sheets
1 1/2 pints Bechemel Sauce *
Finely grated parmesan

* Bechemel Sauce:

1/4 cup (4 Tablespoons) butter
1/4 cup flour
2 cups milk
Salt, white pepper, and nutmeg, as desired

Melt the butter in a sauce pan. Add the flour and whisk together over medium heat for 2-3 minutes. Do not allow to brown. Remove from heat and allow to cool nearly to room temperature.

Add hot milk and whisk to combine.

Add the salt, white pepper, and nutmeg, and heat till just simmering.

If desired, you may bring the sauce to a boil; once the béchamel sauce has come to a boil, lower the heat to low and very slowly simmer for about 45 minutes. Stir it often with a whisk to avoid sticking to the bottom. Do not allow the sauce to brown. The longer the sauce is simmered, the smoother it becomes due to the cooking and swelling of the starch grains

Preparation:

Heat the olive oil in a heavy base or non-stick pan over a medium-high heat. If the oil browns, turn the heat down. Add the onion and fry until golden brown.

Increase heat to high and add the meat and garlic. Fry until brown. Minced/ground beef takes some time to cook well. Fry until there is little moisture left in the pan. If necessary, spoon out any excess fat. Add the tomatoes, cover the pan and lower the heat and simmer for 20 minutes. Meanwhile, prepare the bechemel sauce.

Pre-heat the oven to 375 f.

Mix the basil, oregano, salt & pepper in to the ragu.

Place a thin layer of ragu in the base of the ovenproof dish and cover with a single layer of pasta sheets. Spread a layer of bechemel sauce over the pasta. Repeat this until you run out of meat, making sure that you have enough bechemel sauce left to cover the top layer of pasta.

Sprinkle the grated parmesan over the top.

Place the dish in the oven on the top shelf and cook for about 45 minutes, or until the top is lightly browned and the sauce is bubbling.