Easy English Toffee

I think that English Toffee is the easiest candy ever to make. It's very impressive to give, even though you can make it in less than a half hour.

Just out of curiosity I tried a couple no thermometer recipes I saw on Pinterest. They were disasters, the whole lot of them. Seriously the only way to guarantee a delicious batch is to use a thermometer.
It's simple and takes the guesswork out of it.

English Toffee

Ingredients

1 cup salted butter ( no substitutions please)
1 cup white sugar
1 tsp real vanilla

1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/4 cup toasted sliced almonds or toasted pecan pieces


Before you start place a sheet of foil on a baking sheet and butter it lightly. Get your nuts and chocolate ready to go. You will have no time to go looking for stuff once the candy sets.

Use a heavy bottomed saucepan and a whisk or wooden spoon. I have used silicone spatulas for stirring also. I hear now and again that you should only use a wooden spoon but I have had success with most utensils. If you use a plastic spoon make sure it won't melt or you will get yucky plastic streaked candy.(yep learned that the hard way....)

Melt the butter over medium high heat. Everyones stove is different so watching your candy from start to finish is critical. Add the sugar and vanilla. Boil your candy until it reaches 290 degrees on a good candy thermometer. That will take anywhere from 4 to 6 minutes depending on the heat. Stir constantly or it WILL scorch. It should start turning a beautiful light tan colour just before its done.

Once its reached temperature pour it out onto your buttered foil.
After a minute or so sprinkle your chocolate chips on top of the toffee. After it melts a bit spread the chocolate smooth with the back of a spoon or a spatula. Sprinkle your nuts on top. Let it cool completely.

Break into pieces and enjoy!

Banana Snack Cake

Got a pile of ripe brown smooshy bananas on the counter? Those are the best kind! As they ripen the flavor develops and they get sweeter. I have several recipes I pull out but here is todays recipe for an lickity split snack cake for those after school munchies.

Banana Snack Cake

1 stick butter or margarine (room temperature)
1 cup white sugar
2 large eggs
1 cup mashed bananas( about 3 medium)
2.25 cups white flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
.25 cup sour cream
1 tsp vanilla
pinch cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350. Grease an 11x7 brownie pan. You could use a 9x13, just adjust your baking time down accordingly.

Using a hand mixer or a whisk and some elbow grease cream together butter and sugar. Add in eggs and mix until creamy. Next stir in the flour, baking soda, and cinnamon.
Lastly whisk in the bananas, sour cream and vanilla. 

Pour into prepared pan and bake for 35 minutes. Let cool 10 minutes  before cutting.

I serve it plain but we have done frosting and sprinkles, ice cream and maple syrup, as well as peanut butter for toppings. Let the kids pick for a yummy afternnon treat.

To dress this up a bit you could add in a 1/2 cup of pecans, mini chocolate chips, or rum soaked raisins as well.

Fast Apple Coffeecake

Ever need to throw a cake together for company at the last second or need to feed a couple extra kids at snack time?
This cake is super fast and easy and sure to please.

  Upsidedown Apple Coffee Cake

1  18 oz. cake mix, prepared according to pkg. directions
or use your favorite homemade recipe for cake(May use spice cake or white or yellow)
3 - 4 cups Baking apples, peeled, cored and sliced, enough to fill
bottom of baking dish
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon of apple pie spice(if you use a spice cake mix leave this out)
1 teaspoon of cinnamon



 Pre-Heat oven to 350 *F. Grease a 9x13 pan.
Place apples in 9x13 cake pan. Sprinkle with cinnamon,apple spice,
and sugars and
stir to coat. Pour prepared cake mix over apples. Bake according to
directions on cake mix. Cake can be served warm or cold.

  ENJOY!!!

Old- fashioned Sugar Cookies

When I am stuck in the house with the kids every now and again we like to make a project out of baking something. These cookies are easy and delicious and pretty much foolproof. The boys help make the little balls and flatten them. They are smooshing experts, believe me. At holidays we get fancy with different colored sugars to sprinkle on top but usually just a sprinkle of regular white sugar will dress them up.

 

Sugar cookies

makes 3 dozen

1 cup butter
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
2 tsp baking powder
3 cups flour
pinch salt


Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Cream butter and sugar until fluffy. Beat in egg and vanilla.
Add baking powder,salt, and flour 1 cup at a time.
Do not chill dough.
Portion into small balls.
Flatten on ungreased cookie sheet.
Bake at 375 degrees for approximately 8 minutes or until light golden brown.
Let cool a couple minutes before moving to a cooling rack so they don't fall apart.



Not the healthiest snack but the occasional treat is a nice indulgence. Enjoy!

Vegan Chocolate Cupcakes

I am not strictly vegetarian or vegan, however, my  diet tends to those foods. I am not afraid of those labels because of that so I frequently try out vegan recipes. Every now and then I find a gem that makes it's way into my every day cooking. These cupcakes are one of those recipes.

My kids loved these. Instead of frosting them I just dust them with powdered sugar. You could be creative and serve with fresh raspberries and whip cream or a decadent fudge frosting.

Vegan Chocolate Cupcakes

 

makes 12 cupcakes or 24 mini's or 6 texas size

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup sugar
1/3 cup cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup strong coffee
1/4 cup grapeseed oil (or canola)
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 tablespoons molasses
2/3 cup vegan dark chocolate chips
Confectioner’s sugar (optional)


Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease or line a 12-cup cupcake pan.

In a medium bowl, stir together flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. In another bowl, whisk coffee, oil, vanilla, and molasses. Pour the coffee mixture into the dry mixture and mix with a wooden spoon until smooth and combined. Do not over beat. Mix in chocolate chips. Place batter evenly into cupcake pans, about 2/3's full. I use an ice cream scoop.

Bake for about 20-25 minutes, or until cupcakes spring back when lightly touched in the middle. Let cool completely in the pan.

Candied Orange Peels

I remember these little tidbits from when I was a kid but had totally forgotten them. I came across a recipe for scones with them and decided to check out making them. They were very easy and came out perfect the first time. I just made a huge batch for Christmas presents. I've seen them dipped in chocolate on my web forays for recipes, yummy!

Candied Orange Peels

3 oranges
2 cups sugar
2 cups water
extra sugar for dipping, I used about 1 1/2 cups


Peel oranges carefully. Cut peel into small strips. Using a paring knife remove extra pith from peels(the bitter white part). Leaving a little is OK. They don't have to be perfect.

Place peel in a saucepan in cold water to cover. Bring to a boil. Drain off water and repeat process with cold water. Do this a total of 3 times to ensure your finished product has no bitterness. Set aside. DO NOT SKIP THIS STEP.

Bring water and sugar to a boil in saucepan. Add peels and turn heat to medium low, just barely a low boil. Simmer for as long as it takes for peels to become translucent. Mine took 50 minutes, I had read it could take as little as 30 minutes or as much as an hour. Keep an eye on them after 30 minutes.

Working fairly quickly roll peels in sugar and lay out on either wax paper or racks set over cookie sheets(to catch drips). Let dry completely. 4 hours is what most people said, I let mine sit for a couple hours and they were fine.

Package in pretty jars or tins. I think these are delicious eaten the way they are but they really kick up a nice batch of scones. These below were dipped in the sugar.

Healthier Peanut Butter Cookies

I make peanut butter cookies for the kids on Thanksgiving. They don't like pies and can carry them around while they are playing. Who doesn't like cookies?

I've been on the healthy eating bandwagon lately. The argument I hear most is the 'I don't have the time or money' excuse. I usually come back with the fact that a lot of little changes will make a big difference. So I have been tweaking some of my traditional favorites. Here's a new  version of my Thanksgiving peanut butter cookies. The kids loved them and I had to slap away a few adult hands as well.

Healthier Peanut Butter Cookies

1/2 cup (non transfat please) margarine
1/2 cup peanut butter
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 large egg
1/2 tsp baking soda
pinch cinnamon
pinch salt
1 1/4 cup quick rolled oats ( not steel cut)
3/4 cup whole wheat flour

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Cream the sugar, peanut butter, and margarine until smooth.
Add egg, soda, salt and cinnamon.
Stir in the oats and the flour. The dough will be thick.
Drop by spoonsful onto an ungreased cookie sheet.
Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes.
Let cool. Makes about 2 dozen depending on how big they are.

Leftover graham cracker crumbs?

If you are like me you always have a bit of crumbs leftover when I crush them for pies or  have a box that's been on the shelf for forever waiting for something to be used in after I make a holiday cheesecake. I found this recipe tucked away in a pile of old recipes I got from a recipe sharing club years ago. I made some up and my boys adored these bars. It got rid of that lonely baggie of crumbs in my freezer too!

Graham Bars

1/2 cup softened butter (1 stick)
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 egg
2 Tbs milk
1 tsp. vanilla
2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1/2 cup flaked coconut
1/2 cup chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Grease an 8 inch square pan.
Cream butter and sugar until smooth.
Beat in egg, milk, and vanilla.
Stir in crumbs, coconut, and chocolate chips.
Spoon into baking dish and lightly pat flat if needed.
Bake 25 minutes until lightly browned.
Cool. Cut into bars.
 Yummy bars! Perfect for a lunch box treat or afterschool snack.

Easy Toffee

Heavenly Toffee for a Hostess Gift

I was having a nostalgia moment the other day and found this recipe I hadn't made in forever. It's incredibly easy and delicious and would be a perfect treat to take to someone's house for an indulgent treat.

Ingredients

2 cups butter

2 cups white sugar

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

1 cup finely chopped almonds

Directions

In a large heavy bottomed saucepan, combine the butter, sugar and salt. Cook over medium heat, stirring until the butter is melted. Allow to come to a boil, and cook until the mixture becomes a dark amber color, and the temperature has reached 285 degrees F (137 degrees C). Stir occasionally.

While the toffee is cooking, cover a large baking sheet with aluminum foil or parchment paper.

As soon as the toffee reaches the proper temperature, pour it out onto the prepared baking sheet. Sprinkle the chocolate over the top, and let it set for a minute or two to soften. Spread the chocolate into a thin even layer once it is melted. Sprinkle the nuts over the chocolate, and press in slightly. Putting a plastic bag over your hand will minimize the mess.

Place the toffee in the refrigerator to chill until set. Break into pieces, and store in an airtight container.

Granola Cookies

Granola Cookies

A friend stopped by for coffee and tucked into these yesterday and was truly amazed at how good they were. Apparently she had bad experiences with oatmeal cookies and couldn't get them to come out right. My secret is using my own granola instead of rolled oats. It adds a bit of texture and crunch and has all sorts of healthy goodies tucked in like flax seed and wheat germ..

Granola Cookies
1 cup butter or margarine
2/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 eggs
2 cups flour
3 cups granola
1 cup chocolate or carob chips

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Cream together the sugars and the butter. Add eggs. Use mixer to add in flour and baking soda. Stir in granola.Stir in the chocolate chips.
Drop by heaping tablespoon onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 375 for about 11 minutes until lightly browned. Everyone's oven is different so start peeking on the first sheet at 10 minutes.
I get 30 cookies form this recipe.

You can substitute granola cereal if you don't have any homemade granola around. Chocolate chips can be swapped out for dried cranberries or raisins as well.( I've used chopped dried apricots, too)
I keep a  batch of dough in my freezer, shaped into logs and wrapped in wax paper to bake off in cookie emergencies.

Peanut Butter Cupcakes

Perfect School Break Snacks!

Peanut Butter Cupcakes

1 3/4 cup white flour

1 TB baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 cup creamy peanut butter

1/4 cup margarine

3/4 cup sugar

2 large eggs

1 tsp vanilla

1 cup milk

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line muffin tins with paper liners.

Whisk together flour, salt and baking powder. Set aside.

In a large bowl cream together peanut butter and margarine. Add sugar and beat until fluffy.

Add eggs , one at a a time. Beat in vanilla. Slowly beat in flour mixture a little at a time, until all is incorporated.

Fill muffin tins 2/3 full.. Bake for 18 minutes.

I frost these with a little strawberry jam but chocolate frosting would be yummy too.

Black Bean Brownies

Can I have the recipe for THOSE brownies?

A few people have asked me for this already this year so I thought I would post it. It's a rich and delicious fudge brownie recipe with a secret ingredient. I have been making these for years.

Black Bean Brownies

1 (15 oz) can black beans

4 oz unsweetened baking chocolate

1 tbsp. butter

3 eggs

2 cups sugar

3 tbsp flour

1 tsp cinnamon

2 tsp vanilla

Rinse and drain beans. Process beans and 1 egg in the food processor. Melt chocolate and butter in the microwave( about 1.5 minutes in mine). In a large bowl combine the bean puree, sugar, flour, vanilla, cinnamon, and remaining eggs. Add chocolate and beat with mixer until smooth.

Pour into 9x13 pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes or until toothpick in the center comes out clean.

Homemade Cake Mix

Yeah, Yeah, I forgot to post it.Don't forget the granola bar recipe posted earlier.......

       Basic Cake Mix

8 cups all-purpose flour
5 cups sugar
1/4 cup baking powder
1 tablespoon salt
2 cups shortening

In a large bowl stir together the flour, sugar, baking powder,
and salt. With pastry blender cut in shortening till mixture resembles very fine crumbs. Divide mix into five equal portions (about 3 1/3 cups each). (I use Quart canning jars, you could use Ziploc Freezer bags.)
 

Place in airtight containers. Store in a cool, dry place up
to six weeks. Or place in freezer containers and freeze for up to 6
months. Don't forget to label them! You'll have no idea next summer what that bag is!

Yellow Cake

1 pouch of cake mix
3/4 cup of milk
2 eggs
1 teaspoon real vanilla
 

Grease and flour a 13 x 9 pan. Set aside. In mixing
bowl combine the mix and the milk. Beat at low speed of electric mixer till moistened. Beat 1 minute at medium speed. Add eggs and vanilla. Beat 2 minutes at medium speed. Spread batter evenly in  pans. Bake in 350 degree oven about 20 minutes or till wooden pick comes out clean. Cool pans for 10 minutes and remove cake to cool completely.

Gingerbread Biscotti

These are Yummy!!!

Gingerbread Biscotti

1 c Almonds, blanched

3/4 c Sugar

1/4 lb Butter

1/2 c Molasses

1/4 c Ginger, fresh minced

3 Eggs, large

3 c Flour

1/2 Tb Baking powder

1 Tb Cinnamon

1 tsp Nutmeg

1/2 tsp Cloves

1/2 tsp Allspice

Place almonds in a 8 to 9 inch square pan. Bake in a 350 F. oven until golden, 10 to 15 minutes. Let cool, coarsely chop, and set aside.

In large bowl of an electric mixer, beat sugar, butter, molasses, and ginger until smooth. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating after each addition.

In a bowl, stir flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, allspice and almonds. Add to egg mixture; stir to blend. On two greased 12x15 inch baking sheets, use well-floured hands to pat dough into 4 flat loaves, spacing them evenly on sheets; each loaf should be about 1/2 inch thick, 2 inches wide and the length of the baking sheet. Bake in a 350 degree oven until browned at edges and springy to touch, about 25 minutes; switch positions of pans halfway through baking.

Let loaves stand on baking sheets until cool to touch, about 15 minutes, then cut into long, 1/2-inch thick diagonal slices. On baking sheets, arrange slices close together with a cut side down. Return to oven and bake at 350 F. until cookies are brown, 15 to 18 minutes longer; switch positions of pans halfway through baking.

Transfer biscotti to racks and let cool completely. Serve, or store airtight up to 1 month.

Peanut Butter Biscotti

I have been on a biscotti binge for this winter to keep the cookie jar full. Its OK if they are crispy and I have found a ton of yummy flavors. 

I am making some for Valentines day to put in coffee mugs with some cocoa mix for little inexpensive gifts.  It's my favorite treat on a snowy cold winter evening. How can you go wrong?

Peanut Butter Biscotti

2 3/4 C. flour

1 3/4 C. sugar

1 t. baking powder

1/2 t. salt

3 eggs, beaten

1/3 C. peanut butter

1/4 C. water

1 1/4 C. roasted peanuts, unsalted

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a large mixing bowl combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. In a separate bowl, lightly beat together the eggs, peanut butter and water. Add to flour mixture and mix just until ingredients are incorporated. A little more water, a teaspoon at a time, can be added if mixture is too dry to make a smooth dough. Stir in peanuts.

Divide the dough into two portions, and form each into a log approximately 3 inches in diameter. Place the logs on the cookie sheet about 3 to 4 inches apart and flatten them slightly with the palm of your hand. Bake in preheated oven until light brown, about 40 minutes. Take out of the oven.

Turn the oven down to 300 degrees. Let logs cool for 10 minutes, then cut into 3/4-inch thick bars. Place bars, cut side down, back on the cookie sheet and bake until crisp, about 20 minutes.

Making Chocolate Pound Cake for Gifts

This recipe makes a fabulous pound cake that always has the recipient asking for the recipe. Simple and classic, it makes a great gift if made in the smaller loaf size but also an impressive Bundt if you would prefer.

Chocolate butter pound cake;

Cream well in a mixer(hand or stand, Ive used both)

3 sticks unsalted butter

3 cups white sugar

2 tsp real vanilla

1/4 tsp salt

Add, one at a time,

5 large eggs

Beat until well blended.

Sift together,

3 cups white all purpose flour

1 tsp baking powder

3/4 cup good baking cocoa powder.(not ground chocolate or drinking cocoa)

Add these ingredients to the creamed mixture alternately with

1 1/4 cups light cream

Beat well.

Bake in a preheated oven at 350 for the following times.

(1) 10 inch tube.....1 hour 20 min

(2) 9 by 5 loaf pans....1 hour 15 min

(8) mini loaves.......50 min

(12) jumbo muffins....45 min 

Optional Glaze

1 1/2 squares(oz) unsweetened baking chocolate

2 tb butter

confectioners sugar

1 tsp vanilla

in a saucepan melt together butter and chocolate. Remove from heat and add enough sugar to make a thin glaze to pour over cake.

Helpful tips.......

DO NOT SUBSTITUTE ingredients!! It will effect texture and flavor, not in a good way.The only exception is using fat free 1/2 and 1/2 for the cream.

Butter and flour your pans. I use the wrappers from the butter to grease my pans.Let items cool a 1/2 hour and then remove. If they cool completely they will only come out with a spoon.If doing the jumbo muffins I use paper cups.

Butter and eggs should be close to room temperature.I take them out when I preheat the oven before I start.

Have fun and enjoy!

My Family's Favorite Granola Bars

Over the years I have experimented with what seems like a hundred different recipes. A couple of years ago I found this one for soft granola bars that are alot like the ones you buy. You can customize them a few different ways. My kids adore them for snacks, lunch boxes, and middle of the night gaming sessions.

This recipe does use a cake mix. I personally don't buy them, I make my own and it works fab. Check the options note for conversion. Yes,Yes, I'll post my cake mix recipes later for those of you who are intrigued by the idea.

Mama's Granola bars

1 package yellow or white cake mix( the 18 oz size)

2 1/2 cups rolled oats

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup vegetable oil

1 large egg

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 cup raisins

1/2 cup chopped walnuts

1/2 cup chocolate chips

Grease a 13 by 9 pan. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Mix together all the dry ingredients except the raisins and nuts. Add in the wet ingredients with a wooden spoon until just crumbly. Mix in the raisins and nuts and pour into prepared pan.

Pat down and bake 20 minutes at 350 or until lightly browned. 

Let cool COMPLETELY or partially freeze before cutting to get nice bars. I get 16 bars by cutting in half the long way, then 8 bars on each half for a nice granola bar size.

Options

I use 3.5 cups homemade cake mix for the store bought cake mix.

You can sub these ingredients or use what you have on hand to add up to no more than 1 1/2 cup.

Dried cranberries, coconut, almonds

2 or 3 kinds of chocolate chips for a slightly healthier cookie taste.

dried apple pieces and walnuts(up the cinnamon a bit)

Pecans and toffee bit pieces( OK no longer healthier but YUM)

carob chips, raisins, and peanuts 
Add 2 tablespoons flax seed for some more fiber and nutrients

Best Chocolate Cupcakes

So of course I need a fabulous chocolate cupcake recipe to go with the fudge frosting I posted awhile ago. I take my cupcakes very seriously and have tried a gazillion different recipes until I found this one. Its from Deep Dark Chocolate by Sara Perry and Jane Zwinger at Chronicle books.
Ive used it for wedding cupcakes and for 'just because'. Its always a hit.

Chocolate Cupcakes

1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 cup very hot coffee
1 cup AP flour
1/2 baking soda
pinch of salt
6 tablespoons butter at room temperature
2/3 cup white sugar
1 large egg
1 large egg yolk
1/2 teaspoon real vanilla extract


Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Add liners to a standard 12 cup muffin tin.
In a small bowl combine the cocoa and coffee.Stir until blended and let rest 5 minutes.
In another bowl whisk together the flour, baking soda and salt. Set aside.

In a mixer beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs and vanilla.
Stir the cocoa mixture then add it into the utter mixture a bit at a time, alternating with the flour mixture until just blended and smooth.

Divide the batter equally among the muffin tins, filling them about 3/4 full. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 20-24 minutes. Do not over-bake. In my electric oven its closer to the 20 minutes so you should start checking then.

Their book has a ton of fab recipes and last time I checked could be tracked down online at Amazon. Deep Dark Chocolate is a keeper!

Simple Chocolate Sauce

I ran out of chocolate syrup for the boys milk today and had to make a new batch.This recipes make a chocolate syrup that's awesome over ice cream, to make chocolate milk, or in any recipe calling for chocolate syrup (like brownies!).

No chemicals or preservatives or mystery ingredients are in it and its the best tasting Ive ever had.

I don't remember where Da got the original recipe but we have used it forever.

Chocolate Syrup

1/2 cup of cocoa
1 cup of water
2 cups of sugar
pinch salt

 

Whisk cocoa into the water until dissolved over high heat. Add the sugar.

Stir well while the syrup starts to boil.  Boil for 3 minutes on medium heat.

Add the salt. Stir well. Cool, store in the refrigerator.

If you have some real vanilla on hand add a 1/2 teaspoon with the salt.

Makes about a pint or so. 

Harvest Apple Cake

My  recipe for a rich Harvest apple cake that's fabulous served with ice cream.

3 cups diced apples
1 cup chopped pecans
2 teaspoons real vanilla
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
3 cups AP flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups sugar
1.25 cups vegetable oil
3 large eggs

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Grease a 10 cup bundt cake pan or tube pan.
Mix together the apples, pecans, cinnamon, and vanilla.
In a separate bowl beat together the oil, sugar, and eggs until well mixed. Add all the dry ingredients and mix well.
Fold in the apple mixture. Put batter into prepared plan.
Bake for 1 hour 30 minutes.
Allow cake to cool in pan after baking for 1 hour then turn out onto plate.