My place to dream.

Mar 28 2009

SOFT CHEWY HOMEMADE PRETZELS

Today has been a windy, cold day! A great day for baking bread. I decided to try a new soft Pretzel recipe, and they turned out yummy and fabulous. In fact, I tried two different pretzel recipes. One with a homemade dough, and the other with Rhodes Roll dough. I wanted to see if there was a huge difference in taste & texture. The homemade dough, made with bread flour is slightly chewier, and a bit sweeter. The Rhodes Roll dough, is also very good. Keep in mind, that I boiled both pretzels before baking, which leads to a chewier texture. Hands down, the homemade pretzels win, but if you are in a hurry, the others will certainly be eaten very quickly!

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Take a look:

(See if you can tell the difference)

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Kosher Salt & Sesame Seeds

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Sesame Seeds & Parmesan

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I’m always trying to find a recipe that tastes like the Pretzel Maker in the mall. (They don’t boil the pretzels before baking them, but they still are chewy wonderful. Why I ask????
If you try this at home…(without boiling), they end up tasting like good bread sticks. This recipe actually doesn’t call for boiling the pretzel before baking, however…..I wasn’t willing to take the chance, that they wouldn’t be chewy…..So……I boiled mine, and let them drain slightly on a wire rack.
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I brushed them lightly with beaten egg, sprinkled Kosher salt and sesame seeds on the top, then baked them in the middle rack of the oven. Once out of the oven, I brushed the tops with melted butter, and sprinkled Parmesan on a few of them. Then…..I devoured a warm, chewy delicious pretzel!
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They have a wonderful sweetness to them. If anyone has the REAL RECIPE…..I would pay you for it!! These still aren’t quite as good, but they run a very close race. Enjoy!
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For the recipe, go here: GET OFF YOUR BUTT & BAKE
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By the way, if you want to make a really good, simple pretzel, but don’t have much time on your hands. This recipe is also fabulous:
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For this recipe, go here: GET OFF YOUR BUTT & BAKE

by Jonna

no comments

Mar 25 2009

SOFT SUGAR COOKIES with Whipped Cream Cheese Frosting

Today the sun is shining, water is dripping off a wet shingled roof, but it is SNOWY, WINDY & COLD!

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As long as mother nature insists on dumping hail and snow, we might as well keep baking! After all…. we can’t pull weeds, plant the garden, mow or rake the lawn!

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I’ve been on a cookie kick lately. It really seems to be the only dessert that I can get my fruit loving husband to eat. He doesn’t enjoy sweets like I do. What a shame! I could eat them all, but I keep a dozen or so, and give the rest away to friends & neighbors.

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I probably have 1,000 different Sugar Cookie Recipes on file, but for some reason I just keep trying new ones. This recipe comes from the “Worldwide Ward Cookbook.” It is an Old Fashioned Sour Cream Soft Sugar Cookie. If you’re like me, you think they always taste better the next day. It’s true…they soften, and the flavor of the almond and the cream cheese frosting blend together, to give you scrumptious bites!

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I added almond extract to the dough, and also tried a New delicious Whipped Cream Cheese Frosting, for you all to try. It’s a bit different than what you might be used to. It is soft & gooey, and not quite as sweet as the typical cream cheese frosting. It would be delicious on Cakes as well. The recipe will be posted on “GET OFF YOUR BUTT & BAKE.”

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These cookies aren’t anything fancy….just really good. Enjoy!

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by Jonna

no comments

Mar 25 2009

SOFT SUGAR COOKIES with Whipped Cream Cheese Frosting

Today the sun is shining, water is dripping off a wet shingled roof, but it is SNOWY, WINDY & COLD!

*

As long as mother nature insists on dumping hail and snow, we might as well keep baking! After all…. we can’t pull weeds, plant the garden, mow or rake the lawn!

*

I’ve been on a cookie kick lately. It really seems to be the only dessert that I can get my fruit loving husband to eat. He doesn’t enjoy sweets like I do. What a shame! I could eat them all, but I keep a dozen or so, and give the rest away to friends & neighbors.

*

I probably have 1,000 different Sugar Cookie Recipes on file, but for some reason I just keep trying new ones. This recipe comes from the “Worldwide Ward Cookbook.” It is an Old Fashioned Sour Cream Soft Sugar Cookie. If you’re like me, you think they always taste better the next day. It’s true…they soften, and the flavor of the almond and the cream cheese frosting blend together, to give you scrumptious bites!

*

I added almond extract to the dough, and also tried a New delicious Whipped Cream Cheese Frosting, for you all to try. It’s a bit different than what you might be used to. It is soft & gooey, and not quite as sweet as the typical cream cheese frosting. It would be delicious on Cakes as well. The recipe will be posted on “GET OFF YOUR BUTT & BAKE.”

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These cookies aren’t anything fancy….just really good. Enjoy!

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by Jonna

no comments

Mar 22 2009

NEW COOKBOOK…Cowboy Cookies!

Today, has been a long, church filled day! A big snow flakes kind of day. The weather this time of year is quite odd. Last night, it poured HARD RAIN, from the heavens. I do believe that I’m happy about this snow! I’m trying really hard to gear up for all the yard work that spring & summer brings with it. As most of you know……I’d much rather be cleaning toilets, any day! I do enjoy mowing the lawn, however. In fact, as much as I love the sunshine, and finally getting warm…..I always feel a bit of glum creep in, as spring opens up. WHY? DON’T ASK ME? I DON’T UNDERSTAND IT MYSELF?

If anyone has the answer to this, please clue me in.

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I’ve decided, that from now on, I will try to post new recipes on the “FRESH AIR” blog, so that I can comment, and ramble on about each recipe…..you know…..whether it’s a good one or a great one! On my baking blog: GET OFF YOUR BUTT & BAKE, I’m not able to do much of that, with the new, easy layout.

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So…..I guess what I’m saying, is that in order to get NEW RECIPES, you need to check this “FRESH AIR” blog first. I will then post it to the Baking Blog….soon after.

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I bought a fabulous new Cookbook the other day. It’s the Worldwide Ward Cookbook! It has over 440 recipes from LDS Cooks all around the globe. As I look through this huge book, I see several recipes that I will be trying very soon. I wanted to bake something easy today, and I spied this cookie. Just in case you are wondering…..they are DELICIOUS. (Chewy & Crispy good)

I also threw some toasted coconut in the recipe. Toasting the coconut, gave these cookies a wonderful flavor. Next time I make these, I think I will also add some dried cherries or golden raisins!

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I believe I will be sharing many recipes from this book. The cost is a bit on the expensive side, but it a giant, beautiful hardbound book. Our own Mary Zollinger from Rexburg, has two of her recipes in this new cookbook. Maybe….many of you do as well! It’s like reading a book, because it has many wonderful personal stories of those who contributed their recipes. Mary….I will be on the hunt for yours!

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COWBOY COOKIES

adapted from Worldwide Ward Cookbook
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You will need:

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1 C. Shortening

1 C. packed brown sugar

1 C. sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla

2 C. flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. salt

2 C. oats

(I used Old Fashioned, but quick will also work)

1 C. nuts, chopped (optional)

1 C. chocolate chips

1/2 cup toasted Coconut (optional)

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Directions:

Cream the shortening, brown sugar, and sugar until smooth. Add eggs and vanilla. Mix well. Sift flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt together. Mix into batter. Stir in oats, nuts, coconut and chocolate chips. Spoon onto cookie sheet, placing about 2 inches apart. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes. Makes 3 to 4 dozen cookies.

by Jonna

no comments