how to change your recipes to easy slow cooking recipes

How to Change Your Recipes To Easy Slow Cooking Recipes.

A slow cooker, sometimes known as a crock pot, is an electric appliance that allows you to cook meat, vegetables and spices on a low temperature for approximately 4 to 10 hours. Slow cooking is popular, because it allows you to put ingredients in a pot in the morning, set a timer and arrive back at home in the evening to find the meal ready to serve. If you want to cook your favorite conventional recipes in a crock pot, then you can usually convert them using a few guidelines. Not every recipe can be converted, but if your recipe is usually cooked with a lid, braised or simmered, it can usually be changed with good results. This article will tell you how to change your recipes to easy slow cooking recipes.



Get used to using your slow cooker. Each brand cooks slightly differently, so you should get a feeling for how hot your slow cooker runs even on the low setting. Many people believe that older slow cookers cook at a lower temperature than newer versions.

If you find that your slow cooker runs hot, then you will want to reduce the amount of cooking time listed in the recipe. You may find the vegetables are mushier and meats fall apart, if you do not make the adjustment to slow cooker recipes.



Brown the meat in a frying pan before it goes in your slow cooker. Even if this is not required on your original recipe, it adds a complex flavor to the meat because it seals in the juices. The meat will also hold together better, while it cooks for hours rather than minutes.

You can also dredge raw meat, like chicken breasts or pork cutlets, in an herb and flour mixture. Then brown it on the stove top. The result will be a more crisp, complex flavor.



Adjust the cooking time of your normal recipe. Most recipes should be adjusted to the "low" setting on the crock pot rather than "high." The following times are good guidelines to follow for time adjustments.

If the cooking time is between 15 and 30 minutes on a stove top or in a conventional oven, then set it to cook for 4 to 6 hours on low. You can also set it for 1 and a half to 2 hours on high.

If the cooking time is between 30 and 45 minutes, then set it to cook for 6 to 8 hours on low. You can also set it between 3 and 4 hours on high.

If the cooking time is between 45 minutes and 3 hours, then set it to cook for 8 to 10 hours on low. You can also set it between 4 to 6 hours on high.



Start converting recipes that already use wet heat for cooking. Look for recipes that are stewed, simmered, slow roasted or braised. These recipes will convert easily and with the best results because they use similar methods.



Buy an easy slow cooking cook book. Make sure it includes recipes for slow cooking meats, vegetables, soups, stews and even casseroles. Find the recipe in the book that is most similar to your favorite recipe and model your favorite recipe on it.



Cut the amount of liquid ingredients in half, if you are converting a stew or braising recipe in a slow cooker. The slow cooker traps liquid inside the pot, so extra liquid will result in a soupy texture.

If your recipe does not call for any liquid, and does not contain fatty meats, then add 1/2 cup (118 ml) of broth or water.



Reduce the amount of liquid you put in a converted soup recipe. If the directions say to simmer the soup uncovered, then reduce the liquid by 1/3. If you are directed to simmer it while it is covered, then reduce the amount of liquid by 1/4.



Wait to add your herbs and spices to your recipe, until the end. Herbs tend to break down and disappear over long hours in the cooker, where spices tend to become dominant. To avoid either of these things from happening, add herbs near the end of the recipe, and add extra salt and pepper before you serve.



Place root vegetables into the bottom of the slow cooker. They take longer to cook than other vegetables. Cut them into 1 inch (2.54 cm) pieces and place them underneath meats or other ingredients.



Place dairy ingredients, such as milk, cream, buttermilk or soft cheeses into the slow cooker near the end of the cooking time. Some hard cheeses, such as Parmesan or Swiss may be put in the cooker at the beginning, because they hold together more firmly.



Add cornstarch or flour near the end to thicken the recipe. If you have too much liquid in your pot, remove the lid and turn the heat up to high. You can also drain off the liquid with a baster and reduce it in a pot on the stove.

If you want to add cornstarch or flour to thicken the sauce, create a slurry first. Add a few spoonfuls of flour or cornstarch to a small bowl and mix it with cool water. Make sure there aren't any lumps before adding it to the slow cooker.



TIPS.

Recipes that call for dry heat, such as things that are baked without a cover, will not work well in a slow cooker. Food does not brown, turn crisp, and liquid does not evaporate in this appliance. Slow cookers simmer ingredients in the liquid created by liquid ingredients or in the meat and vegetables.

Use caramelized onions to add flavor to almost any slow cooking dish. If you are unable to find vegetables that will work well in a slow cooker, caramelized onions may add the needed flavor.



WARNING.

Don't lift the lid off the slow cooker until the end of its cooking time. Raising the lid just once drops the temperature and requires you to add additional cooking time to the recipe. It can also spread bacteria, if you are cooking chicken. You will need to experiment with cooking times and keep an eye on it without lifting up the lid.

November 04, 2019

how to make recipes with chia seeds

How to Make Recipes With Chia Seeds.

Chia seeds are high in Omega-3 fatty acids and contain high levels of antioxidants and valuable nutrients. They are rich in fiber and do not need to be ground for your body to absorb their nutrients. Chia seeds can be used in many different ways. Follow these steps to make more recipes with chia seeds.







Method 1 Use Chia Seeds as a Topping.



Perhaps one of the easiest ways to add chia seeds to your diet is to sprinkle them on top of breakfast foods, baked goods, salads, and even meat dishes. They can be added before or after the food is cooked. Chia seeds have a nutty flavor and can even be eaten alone but if you choose to use them as a topping, try these suggestions to make sure they pair well with your recipes.



Add chia seeds as a topping for granola or cereal. Using chia seeds with recipes that are grain-based will make the seeds less noticeable. Oatmeal, muesli, and other breakfast grains make ideal bases for a sprinkle of chia seeds.



Top baked goods with chia seeds. Breads, muffins, granola bars, and other grain-based baked goods are simple receptacles for a few chia seeds.

If added before baking, the seeds develop a toasted flavor and may settle into the batter or dough. If added afterwards, do so while the baked good is still warm to enable the seed to attach itself firmly to the product.

Cobblers and streusels can easily incorporate a small handful of chia seeds with little noticeable impact on flavor, even for sweet dishes.



Sprinkle chia seeds on dairy products. Yogurt and ice cream can benefit from the nutty flavor and added texture of chia seeds as a topping.

If you prefer fruit-based jams or syrups with yogurt or ice cream, try stirring chia seeds into the fruit topping to blend them instead of sprinkling the chia seeds as a separate topping.



Use chia seeds as a salad topping. Chia seeds can be used like nuts or sunflower seeds in regular salads. They can also be mixed in with salad dressing just prior to serving.







Method 2 Use Chia Seeds as a Substitute in Recipes.



Regardless of the type of food you want to make, chia seeds can probably be used to replace one of the ingredients. Make a list of common substitutions that you would like to incorporate into your regular dishes until you learn how to appropriately mix the chia seeds into regular recipes.



Replace eggs or oil with chia seed gel. Mixing a tablespoon of chia seeds with ¼ cup of water will provide about the equivalent of a single egg or quarter cup of oil for a recipe. Most recipes can tolerate about a 25% substitution of chia seeds for eggs or oil without a noticeable alteration in flavor.

This technique can also help stretch eggs for omelets and soufflés. Just prepare about a quarter of your egg needs by mixing in chia seeds and milk into the beaten eggs about 10 minutes before cooking them.



Use chia seeds as a thickener. Because chia seeds form a gel in liquid, they can be added to soups, stews, sauces, and marinades to help thicken the liquid in place of corn starch or flour.

Chia seeds can also be blended into juice smoothies to add the thicker texture normally provided by whole fruits or yogurt.

If you have accidentally added too much liquid to a recipe, including baked goods, adding chia seeds can thicken the dough by absorbing the excess liquid.



Bind ingredients with chia seeds. Meatballs and meatloaf can be held together with chia seeds and a bit of water once mixed with the ground meat. Jellies, jams, and compotes can also benefit from the gel properties of chia seeds.



Replace oats or pudding mixes with chia seeds. Because chia seeds firm when mixed with liquid, ground seeds and flavorful liquids help form a gel that can give the consistency of porridge when hot or pudding when cold.

For dessert-like chia mixtures, mix the seeds with sweetened or flavored milks or juices. For breakfast-like chia mixtures, stir the seeds into hot milk or water and then flavor to your preferences with brown sugar, cinnamon, or other breakfast toppings.







Method 3 Add Chia Seeds to Traditional Recipes.

Chia seeds are very versatile, and because of their mild nutty flavor, they can be mixed into virtually any regular recipe. In some cases, additional liquid will be necessary to prevent over-drying or thickening of the food. Some experimentation may be necessary to get the appropriate consistency or quantity of chia seeds for your own recipes.





Mix chia seeds into one-dish meals. Lentil or bean soups, slow-cooker recipes, and casseroles are ideal for adding chia seeds.

Stir the seeds into the broth or sauce and monitor the consistency for about 15 minutes to determine if additional liquid is necessary. If so, consider adding the primary liquid base of the recipe (milk, broth, water, or juice, for instance).



Add chia seeds to peanut butter or other spreads. Because of the nutty flavor and texture, chia seeds can easily be added to sandwich spreads to get extra fiber and nutrients.



Include chia seeds in breading and batter. Chia seeds can be added to traditional breading for chicken, pork, and even tofu to add a nutty, crunchy aspect to traditional breadcrumb or cereal-based breading. Chia seeds can also be used in batters for fish or vegetable tempura to add flavor to pan-fried, battered dishes.



Mix chia seeds into rice dishes. Traditional recipes with a base of rice, such as jambalaya or stuffed peppers, can easily tolerate chia seeds added after the rice has been cooked completely. The meals will benefit from the added nutrients of the chia seeds without altering flavor significantly.



Include chia seeds in nut mixes. Homemade trail mix, nut clusters, and snack bags can easily incorporate chia seeds to improve nutrition and add to the nutty flavor of the original dish.





Tips.

Chia seeds can be mixed with nutritious liquids and consumed quickly for a healthy sports drink or breakfast shake.

Kids can easily make their own pudding or gelatin dessert as a fun project, making it easy to please the various dessert preferences of a large family. Offer mix-ins for homemade puddings such as coconut milk, fresh fruit, cinnamon, honey, brown sugar, or Nutella.

Add chia seeds to thicken blender (Vitamix) applesauce without cooking.



Warnings.

Although chia seeds are healthy additions to a balanced diet, consuming chia seeds with every meal can add a considerable amount of fat to the diet.

November 18, 2019

How to Make the Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookie

How to Make the Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookie.

By : Lisa Kaminski.

Love cakey cookies? Or crispy ones? How about chewy? We show you how to make the perfect chocolate chip cookies according to your taste.
I’ve spent a lot of time trying to make perfect chocolate chip cookies. I’ve made the classic recipe off the bag of chocolate chips, I’ve tried chilling the cookie dough and I’ve even tried banging the cookie sheet to get a chewier texture. I’ve tried all these techniques and played with so many recipes all to find my favorite—and I’m getting closer all the time.

This being said, everyone’s perfect chocolate chip cookie is different. Some folks are crispy cookie fans and others like them soft and chewy (chewy cookie fans, check these recipes out). Getting your favorite kind of cookie is easy with just a few alterations to a basic chocolate chip cookie recipe.

The Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookie.

The Taste of Home Test Kitchen loves these ultimate chocolate chip cookies. Former staffer and recipe contributor Megimi Garcia says, “Everyone has a favorite type of chocolate chip cookie—a little crispy, a little chewy—but they all have to begin with a basic recipe. My perfect chocolate chip cookie golden brown, soft in the center and a little bit crisp on the edges. I tested lots of variations and found that, for me, this recipe is the best place to start.” With just a few substitutions, you can get the cookie you love with her basic recipe.

Ingredients.
1 cup butter, softened.
1 cup packed brown sugar.
1/2 cup sugar.
2 large eggs, room temperature.
1 teaspoon vanilla extract.
2-1/3 cups all-purpose flour.
1/2 teaspoon baking powder.
1/2 teaspoon baking soda.
1/2 teaspoon salt.
1 cup (6 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips.

Directions.

Preheat oven to 350°. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugars until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Beat in eggs and vanilla. In another bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt; gradually beat into creamed mixture. Stir in chocolate chips.
Drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls 3 in. apart onto greased baking sheets. Flatten slightly. Bake 10-12 minutes or until light brown. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool.

Chilled Dough.
How to modify the recipe: Place portioned dough into an airtight container, separating layers with waxed paper, Refrigerate 24 hours.
Result: Chewy cookies.
Are you a chewy cookie lover? Chilling your cookie dough is the easiest way to ensure you get that texture you desire. Popping cookie dough in the fridge for even just a short while can help firm up the dough and prevent it from spreading too much in the oven.

The Test Kitchen recommends chilling for at least 30 minutes, but you can even keep your dough in the fridge overnight. This can help develop some extra flavor, too.

Melted Butter.
How to modify the recipe: Use melted butter instead of softened butter.
Result: Thin, crispy cookies
While chilling the dough helps control the spread of your cookies, melting the butter has the opposite effect.

Using melted butter in your cookie dough helps create a cookie that spreads. A cookie that spreads during baking tends to be crispier and thinner which is great for crunchy cookie fans. This alteration is great for fans of thin cookies, like Tate’s Bake Shop (a favorite among our editors).

Extra Flour.
How to modify the recipe: Increase flour up to 3-1/2 cups.
Result: Dense, doughlike cookies
Adding more flour to chocolate chip cookie dough will create a stiffer dough that spreads less in the oven. These cookies tend to be a bit denser but end up chewy in the middle—almost to the point of being underdone. This is a great hack if you’re a cookie dough fan.

Baking Powder Only.
How to modify the recipe: Substitute baking powder for baking soda.
Result: Soft, cakelike cookies.
Removing the baking soda from the recipe (and adding an extra half-teaspoon of baking powder) creates a soft, cakelike cookie.

Baking Powder + Baking Soda.
How to modify the recipe: Keep as is.
Result: Chewy golden brown cookies with crispy edges
Using a combination of baking powder and soda is a great middle ground. The middles of the cookies are chewy while the outsides are crisp: the best of both worlds.

Granulated Sugar Only
How to modify the recipe: Omit brown sugar and increase granulated sugar to 1-1/2 cups.
Result: Pale, thin and crunchy cookies.
Using just white sugar produces a very thin, crunchy cookie. This technique tends to produce cookies that are a bit less flavorful (brown sugar adds a lot to chocolate chip cookies). This might be a good alteration if you’re looking for a cookie that’s super crisp, though.

Brown Sugar Only.
How to modify the recipe: Omit granulated sugar and increase the brown sugar to 1-1/2 cups.
Result: Chewy and soft cookies with a butterscotch flavor.
Soley using brown sugar has the opposite effect of using just plain sugar. Brown sugar-only cookies are chewier and softer, plus they have a more molasses-y, butterscotch-like flavor.

Other Easy Ways to Experiment.
If you don’t want to alter the basics of the recipe, that’s OK. You can still make some easy adjustments that can totally change up your go-to cookie.

Chocolate: Semisweet morsels are standard in most cookie recipes, but you don’t have to stick to this classic. Try ultra-dark chocolate chips, white chocolate chips or even flavored options like these reader-favorite Bailey’s chips or Andes mint chips. Out of morsels? You can use chopped chocolate pieces too. Chopped chocolate gives you some variety in texture with the small and large bits.
Extracts: Vanilla extract is also a standard in most chocolate chipper recipes. Experiment with different kinds of vanilla (Madagascar vanilla has a different flavor than Indonesian or Mexican, for example). You can also try almond extract, too.
Size: Tablespoon-sized dollops of cookie dough are standard, but you can up the size. Our signature big and buttery chocolate chip cookies are a quarter-cup in size.

Juli 27, 2020

How to Use Quinoa

How to Use Quinoa.

Quinoa is a whole grain cooked over the stove like rice. As quinoa is a great source of fiber and protein, adding quinoa to your diet can be a great way to add extra nutrients. There are a number of ways to eat quinoa. You can eat quinoa on its own, add it to meals, mix it in with foods, and use it for baking.

Method 1 Making Meals with Quinoa.
1. Eat quinoa on its own. Quinoa is cooked over the stove and is usually ready in about 20 minutes. Quinoa has a mild, nutty flavor and can be eaten on its own with minimal flavoring as a snack or lunch. A bowl of quinoa is a little bland, but it can be a good option for a quick and filling meal.
As quinoa does not have a lot of flavor, a bowl of quinoa can be a great meal if you're feeling a little queasy.
2. Make a breakfast or lunch bowl with quinoa. Add quinoa to a bowl and then mix in other ingredients and spices. Quinoa served in a bowl with a fried egg, veggies, a little cheese, and some hot sauce can be a great breakfast bowl. You can add any combination of foods and spices you want to a bowl of quinoa, due to its mild flavor, and have a great and quick meal for breakfast or lunch.
If you're eating lunch on the go, a quinoa bowl is a great option. It is easy to pack a quinoa bowl in a Tupperware container the way you would pack a salad.
3. Stuff vegetables with quinoa. There are many stuffed vegetable recipes, such as stuffed peppers, that require stuffing vegetables with things like beans, rice, or meats. You can substitute cooked quinoa in these recipes if you have quinoa you need to use. Quinoa can add extra fiber and nutrients to a meal, especially when used over heavier stuffings like ground beef.
4. Eat quinoa for breakfast. If you usually eat something like oatmeal for breakfast, try substituting quinoa instead. Add a bit of maple syrup to your quinoa and some nuts for a quick breakfast on the go.
Leftover quinoa can also be used as a cereal. Add some quinoa to a bowl and mix in some fresh berries. Fill the bowl with milk for a quick, easy, and nutritious breakfast.
5. Make a pasta dish with quinoa. Noodles do not have as many nutrients as quinoa and tend to have more calories. Try substituting quinoa for noodles in a pasta recipe. Instead of making spaghetti with noodles, for example, mix your sauce, meat, and cheese into a bowl of quinoa. You will still get the same basic flavor, but without the empty carbs.

Method 2 Adding Quinoa to Other Foods
1. Add quinoa to a salad. If you're having a salad for lunch or dinner, mix a handful of leftover quinoa into your vegetables. This will add extra fiber and protein,making the meal more filling and nutritious.
Nuts are frequently used to add protein to a salad. While nuts are nutritious, they are high calorie. If you're trying to cut back on calories, substitute quinoa for nuts in your salad.
As quinoa has a mild flavor, it blends well with a variety of different dressings and flavor profiles.
2. Stir quinoa into chili. A hearty chili is a great meal if you want something quick and easy to reheat. To add extra fiber and nutrients to a chili dish, mix in some quinoa during the last 15 minutes of cooking time. About two cups is enough for a full batch of chili.
Remember, quinoa only has a mild flavor. You do not need to go overboard adding extra spices after throwing in your quinoa.
3. Use quinoa instead of breadcrumbs. For things like breaded chicken or pastas topped with breadcrumbs, breadcrumbs often add unnecessary extra calories without extra nutrients. Instead of breading chicken with breadcrumbs, bread it with cooked quinoa. You can still follow the recipe more or less the same, but swap out breadcrumbs for cooked quinoa.
4. Use quinoa in a smoothie. A smoothie can be a quick and healthy snack to have before or after a workout. However, smoothies are sometimes not filling. Adding extra protein to your smoothie can help you get full faster, so add some quinoa to your smoothie before blending it. Due to quinoa's mild flavor, it will not interfere with the existing ingredient's flavors.

Method 3 Baking with Quinoa.
1. Add quinoa to a quiche. Quinoa can add extra protein and antioxidants to a quiche. For every eight eggs you add to a quiche, you can add one cup of cooked quinoa. The next time you're baking a quiche, try adding quinoa to add nutrients to the dish.
2. Bake energy bars with quinoa. Combine two cups of quinoa with a cup of whole wheat flour. Then, add any mix-ins you want such as dried fruits, chocolate chips, or seeds. Add two cups of oats, one egg, and a teaspoon of baking soda. Form the batter into bars and bake at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 minutes. This will make great energy bars to eat as a nutritious snack throughout the day.
3. Fold quinoa into a cake batter. If you want to add a little nutrition to cake, sprinkle some cooked quinoa into the batter and then mix it in. This will not interfere with your cake's flavor, but it will help slow down blood sugar spikes after eating a slice of cake.
Keep in mind, a cake is not a healthy option even with the addition of quinoa. It is still high in sugar and should only be eaten as a treat.

April 02, 2020

Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies.

Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies.

By : Samantha.

Chocolate Chip Cookies are a lunchbox favorite for good reason! This chocolate chip cookie recipe has been carefully crafted to be perfectly soft, perfectly chewy, and just all around perfectly delectable.

You’ll never need another chocolate chip cookie recipe again.

A Cookie Classic
I present to you… the PERFECT Chocolate Chip Cookie. Perfectly Soft.  Perfectly sweet.  Perfectly Chewy.  Perfectly Perfect.

Before we begin, let’s go over some of the details of the recipe that make these cookies ultimate.

To Get The BEST Chocolate Chip Cookies
Melted butter:  This makes cookies chewier (and gives them a much better flavor, as the melted butter infuses into every molecule of the cookie!). Make sure you let it cool as directed after melting, otherwise it’ll melt your sugar and your dough will be too runny to use.
Chill Time: This recipe requires a small chill time to keep the cookies from spreading too much — a small price to pay for perfect chocolate chip cookies!
Room temperature eggs: If you use cold eggs it can shock the butter you just melted and cause some of it to re-solidify.  This also keeps your ingredients from mixing as well as they should.
Brown sugar:  Brown sugar is made with molasses and has more moisture than white sugar.  Because of this, brown sugar lends itself to softer, chewier cookies, and so we use a higher ratio of brown to white here for perfectly textured cookies.
Cornstarch: Nearly all of my cookie recipes call for cornstarch (cornflour if you’re in the UK).  It makes these chocolate chip cookies extra chewy and soft and helps give the cookies a little lift that we lose by melting the butter.

Chocolate Chips for Cookies.

We prefer semi-sweet in these cookies but you can sub in your favorites or use a mixture of either dark or milk chocolate or even chocolate chunks!

To Make Ahead.
Like most cookie doughs, this dough can be frozen and baked at a later date. Simply scoop onto a parchment lined pan and freeze until solid. Once frozen, remove from the cookie sheet and place in a freezer bag.

To Bake Frozen Cookies: Defrost for an hour or two in the fridge and bake as directed. If the dough is very cold, you may need to add a minute or two of cook time.

To Avoid Flat Cookies.
If your cookies come out too flat, it’s likely the flour was under-measured.  Too thick, there’s too much flour.

Using cups and teaspoons is great and convenient, but it’s extremely easy to over or under-measure some of your ingredients, particularly the flour.

How to Measure Flour: The best way to measure flour for this recipe is to gently spoon it into a measuring cup and use a straight edge to remove the excess. Using a measuring cup to scoop up the flour — packs it in and can cause to overmeasure.)

So those are our favorite tips for soft, chewy, perfect chocolate chip cookies.

Our Favorite Cookie Recipes.
Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies – Tender and chewy oat cookies.
Easy Triple Chocolate Cookies – Chocolate lover’s dream.
Chocolate Cake Mix Cookies – 3 ingredient shortcut recipe
Easy Sugar Cookies – Classic perfection.
Oatmeal Raisin Cookies – Soft and chewy with a hint of molasses.

Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies

 PREP TIME15 minutes
COOK TIME11 minutes
TOTAL TIME26 minutes
 SERVINGS45 cookies

I’m pleased to introduce you to your new favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe! These chocolate chip cookies have been carefully crafted to be perfectly soft, perfectly chewy, and just all around perfectly delectable. You’ll never need another cookie recipe again!
Ingredients.

1 cup unsalted butter melted and cooled at least 10 minutes (226g).
1 ¼ cup brown sugar tightly packed (250g).
½ cup sugar (100g).
1 large egg + 1 yolks (room temperature preferred).*
1 ½ teaspoon vanilla extract.
2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour (350g).
2 teaspoons cornstarch.
1 teaspoon baking soda.
¾ teaspoon salt.
1 ¾ cup semisweet chocolate chips (plus additional for tops, optional) (300g + additional).

Instructions.

Combine melted butter and sugars in a large bowl. Stir very well.
Add egg and egg yolk, stir well.
Stir in vanilla extract. Set aside.
In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together flour, cornstarch, baking soda, and salt.
Gradually add flour mixture to wet ingredients -- stir well so that all the flour is absorbed.
Stir in chocolate chips.
Place dough in refrigerator and chill for 30 minutes.
Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C) and prepare cookie sheets by lining with parchment paper.
Scoop dough by rounded 1 ½ tablespoon onto prepared cookie sheets, placing at least 2" apart.
Bake for 11 minutes -- cookies may still seem slightly soft in the centers, that is OK, they will cook completely on the cookie sheets. Don't over-bake or your cookies will be too hard.
If desired, gently press additional chocolate chips into the tops of the warm cookies.
Allow to cool completely on cookie sheets.
Recipe Notes.
*You can quickly bring eggs to room temperature by placing them in a bowl of warm water for 10-15 minutes.
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
NUTRITION INFORMATION.
Calories: 138, Carbohydrates: 17g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 6g, Saturated Fat: 4g, Cholesterol: 14mg, Sodium: 67mg, Potassium: 58mg, Sugar: 10g, Vitamin A: 135IU, Calcium: 12mg, Iron: 0.9mg

Juli 26, 2020

How to Bake with Protein Powder

How to Bake with Protein Powder.

Protein powder can increase your daily protein intake and make your baked goods more filling. Whey protein powder is a great addition to blueberry muffins, which are mixed with a combination of oat and almond flours. If you'd like quick brownies that are flavorful and filling, combine cocoa with protein powder, melted nut butter, and mashed bananas. For a simple breakfast, combine oats with protein powder and your favorite toppings. Bake the oatmeal cups in a muffin tin for simple, protein-packed breakfasts.

Ingredients.
Whey Protein Powder Blueberry Muffins.
1 cup (90 g) oat flour, 1/4 cup (24 g) almond flour, 3 egg whites, 1/2 cup (142 g) Greek yogurt, 1 cup (255 g) unsweetened applesauce.
2 tablespoons (21 g) honey, 1 teaspoon (5 ml) vanilla extract, 1 medium banana, peeled and mashed, 3 scoops (about 3/4 cup or 75 g) whey protein powder (plain or vanilla).
1 teaspoon (2 g) cinnamon, 1 1/2 teaspoons (7 g) baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon (2 g) baking soda, 1 teaspoon (2 g) orange zest or lemon zest.
1 cup (150 g) blueberries (fresh or frozen).
Makes 12 muffins

Protein-Powder Brownies.
3 medium, overripe bananas, 1/2 cup (125 g) smooth nut or seed butter (such as peanut, almond, soy, or sunflower).
1/4 cup (25 g) cocoa powder, 1 to 2 scoops (1/4 to 1/2 cup or 25 to 50 g) protein powder (paleo, vegan, or casein).
Makes about 9 brownies.

Protein Powder Oatmeal Cups.
3 cups (270 g) rolled oats, 3 scoops (75 g) protein powder, 1 teaspoon (4 g) baking powder, 1 teaspoon (2 g) ground cinnamon.
1/2 teaspoon (2.5 g) sea salt, 2 eggs, 1 teaspoon (5 ml) vanilla extract, 1/2 cup (128 g) unsweetened applesauce.
1/2 cup (142 g) plain Greek yogurt, 2 tablespoons (30 ml) coconut oil, melted, 1/4 cup (85 g) honey, 1 cup (240 ml) unsweetened almond milk.
2 tablespoons (20 g) hemp seeds, 6 tablespoons (63 g) chocolate chips, optional, 3/4 cup (192 g) blueberries, optional, 1 tablespoon (16 g) peanut butter, optional.
Makes 12 cups

Method 1 Using Protein Powder in Baked Goods.

1. Decide what protein powder to use. Buy protein powder online, from the grocery store, from a vitamin and supplement store, or from your local natural grocers. Since protein powders are derived from different sources, choose one based on your own health needs. Consider using: Whey or casein protein powders, which are easy to digest and include all of the essential amino acids.

Soy protein powder, which can boost bone density and reduce cholesterol.

Plant-based proteins, which can be made from hemp, rice or peas are good gluten-free and vegan choices.

2. Include moisture and fat in the recipe. Recipes that include protein powder usually have more moisture and fat because these are absorbed by the protein powder. Don't cut back on the moisture or fat because your baked goods won't have as much flavor and they'll be tough or rubbery.

Foods that add moisture include bananas, Greek yogurt, cottage cheese, cooked sweet potatoes and beets, pumpkin puree, and applesauce.

Fats used in baked goods include coconut butter, nut and seed butters, butter, and lard.

3. Avoid using too much protein powder. Don't be tempted to substitute most or all of the flour in a recipe with protein powder or the recipe won't turn out. Ensure that the batter for your baked goods isn't more than 50% protein powder or the food will be tough and dry.

4. Use the powder in recipes for breads, muffins, and cupcakes. Protein powder is great for baking because it's easy to add without changing the flavor of the food, especially if you use an unflavored protein powder. Protein powder works well in quick breads, muffins, pancakes, granola bars, and cupcakes.

Some recipes may specify which protein powder to use. If the recipe doesn't specify, use the protein powder that you're the most comfortable with using.

5. Make smart substitutions. If you'd like to use a different protein powder than the one that's recommended in your recipe, you can make a few swaps. You can substitute the same type of protein powder, but avoid substituting a completely different type of protein. Specifically, don't use a whey or casein-based protein powder in a recipe that calls for a plant-based protein powder.

If you're substituting a plant-based protein powder such as pea protein powder for another plant-based protein powder such as hemp powder, you can safely make substitutions.

Method 2 Baking Whey Protein Powder Blueberry Muffins.

1. Preheat the oven to 350 °F (177 °C) and prepare a muffin tin. Spray a 12-hole muffin tin with cooking spray or line it with muffin liners. Set the tin aside.

2. Mix together the egg whites, yogurt, applesauce, honey, vanilla extract and mashed banana. Get out a large mixing bowl and place 3 egg whites into it. Add 1 peeled banana and mash it a little. Mix in 1/2 cup (142 g) of Greek yogurt, 1 cup (255 g) of unsweetened applesauce, 2 tablespoons (21 g) of honey, and 1 teaspoon (5 ml) of vanilla extract.

You can discard or save the egg yolks for another recipe.

3. Stir the oat flour, almond meal, vanilla whey protein powder, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, and orange zest. Get out another mixing bowl and measure 1 cup (90 g) of oat flour into it. Stir in 1/4 cup (24 g) of almond flour, 3 scoops (about 3/4 cup or 75 g) of plain or vanilla whey protein powder, 1 teaspoon (2 g) of cinnamon, 1 1/2 teaspoons (7 g) of baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon (2 g) of baking soda, and 1 teaspoon (2 g) of orange or lemon zest.

4. Stir the wet mixture into the dry mixture. Pour the wet ingredients into the bowl with the dry ingredients and stir them until they're incorporated. The muffin batter should be smooth.

5. Fill the muffin tin and spread the blueberries on top. Use a cookie scoop or spoon to fill each hole in the muffin tin 3/4 full with batter. Get out 1 cup (150 g) of blueberries (fresh or frozen) and put about 8 berries on top of each muffin.

Avoid pushing the blueberries into the muffin batter or they may sink to the bottom.

6. Bake the blueberry muffins for 20 minutes. Put the muffin tin into the preheated oven and cook the muffins until they're golden brown and firm to the touch. If you insert a toothpick or cake tester into the center of a muffin, it should come out clean.

7. Serve or store the blueberry muffins. Let the muffins cool for a few minutes before you serve them. Store the cooled blueberry muffins in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days.

Things You'll Need.

Whey Protein Powder Blueberry Muffins : Measuring cups and spoons, 12-hole muffin tin, 2 mixing bowls, Spoon or spatula, Toothpick or cake tester.

Method 3 Making Protein-Powder Brownies.

1. Preheat the oven to 350 °F (177 °C) and prepare a baking dish. Get out an 8 x 8-inch (20 x 20-cm) baking dish or a small loaf pan. Spray it with cooking spray to prevent the brownies from sticking.

2. Melt the nut or seed butter. Put 1/2 cup (125 g) of smooth nut or seed butter into a microwave-safe bowl or small saucepan on the stove. Microwave the nut or seed butter for 20 to 30 seconds or heat it over medium-heat on the stove. Heat the nut or seed butter for a few minutes, so it melts.

3. Put the bananas, cocoa powder, protein powder, and melted nut butter into a blender. Peel 3 medium, overripe bananas and put them into a blender. Add 1/4 cup (25 g) of cocoa powder, 1 to 2 scoops (1/4 to 1/2 cup or 25 to 50 g) of protein powder, and the melted nut or seed butter.

Avoid using whey protein powder for this recipe, because it will make the brownies gummy. Instead, use plant-based, soy, or vegan protein powder.

4. Blend the ingredients for 30 seconds. Put the lid on your blender and turn it on for about 30 seconds, so the brownie ingredients are completely combined and smooth.

5. Spread the batter in the pan and bake the brownies for 20 minutes. Scoop the batter into the greased baking dish. Use an offset spatula to spread the batter evenly. Put the dish into the preheated oven and bake the brownies for 20 minutes.

6. Check the brownies and remove them from the oven. Insert a toothpick or cake tester to see if the brownies have finished cooking. The tester or toothpick should come out clean. If it doesn't, return the brownies to the oven for another 3 to 5 minutes. Remove the cooked brownies and let them cool completely in the pan.

7. Slice and serve the protein powder brownies. Cut the brownies into as many pieces as you like. You should be able to get around 9 standard sized brownies. Refrigerate any leftover brownies in an airtight container for 3 to 4 days.

You can also freeze the brownies for 4 to 6 months.

Things You'll Need.

Protein-Powder Brownies : 8 x 8-inch (20 x 20-cm) baking dish or a small loaf pan, Measuring cups, Spoon, Microwave-safe bowl or small saucepan, Blender, Toothpick or cake tester, Knife.

Method 4 Baking Protein Powder Oatmeal Cups

1. Preheat the oven to 350 °F (177 °C) and grease a muffin tin. Spray a 12-hole muffin tin with cooking spray or brush it with melted coconut oil. Set the pan aside.

2. Mix the oats, protein powder, baking powder, cinnamon, and sea salt. Get out a large mixing bowl and place 3 cups (270 g) of rolled oats into it. Add 3 scoops (75 g) of protein powder, 1 teaspoon (4 g) of baking powder, 1 teaspoon (2 g) of ground cinnamon, and 1/2 teaspoon (2.5 g) of sea salt. Stir until the dry ingredients are combined.

3. Whisk the eggs, vanilla, applesauce, Greek yogurt, coconut oil, honey, and almond milk. Get out another mixing bowl and crack in 2 eggs. Whisk in 1 teaspoon (5 ml) of vanilla extract, 1/2 cup (128 g) of unsweetened applesauce, 1/2 cup (142 g) of plain Greek yogurt, 2 tablespoons (30 ml) of melted coconut oil, 1/4 cup (85 g) of honey, and 1 cup (240 ml) of unsweetened almond milk until they're combined.

4. Stir the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Pour the wet ingredients into the bowl with the dry ingredients and stir until they're just combined.

5. Spoon the batter into the tin. Divide the batter evenly between the 12 holes of the greased muffin tin.

6. Sprinkle the hemp seeds and optional toppings over the batter. Measure 2 tablespoons (20 g) of hemp seeds and scatter them evenly over the batter in the muffin tins. Decide if you'd like to top the oatmeal cups with chocolate chips, blueberries, or peanut butter. If so, sprinkle 6 tablespoons (63 g) of chocolate chips or 3/4 cup (192 g) of blueberries over the batter.

For a peanut butter drizzle, melt 1 tablespoon (16 g) of peanut butter in a microwave-safe container for 10 seconds and drizzle it over the batter.

7. Bake the oatmeal cups for 15 to 20 minutes. Put the tin into the preheated oven and cook the cups until they become golden and completely cooked throughout.

8. Cool the oatmeal cups for 20 minutes. Remove the tin from the oven and let the oatmeal cups cool completely in the tin before you take them out. Serve the cold oatmeal cups or store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.

To freeze the oatmeal cups, store them in an airtight container for up to 4 months. To reheat them, remove 1 to 2 cups and heat them in the microwave for 20 to 30 seconds.

Things You'll Need.

Protein Powder Oatmeal Cups : Measuring cups and spoons, 12-hole muffin tin, 2 mixing bowls, Spoon or spatula.

Januari 16, 2020

how to make oat flour

How to Make Oat Flour

Want to use up your oats in a more creative and a much more delicious way than oatmeal each morning? Suffering from gluten intolerance? Looking for a way to get rid of mountains of rolled oats? Oat flour may be for you. This healthy, versatile flour is easy to make yourself, so don't waste money buying it at the health food store. You only need a food processor and one ingredient to get started.

Ingredients

Oats (Old fashioned, steel cut, or quick-cooking all work).

Blender or food processor.

Part 1 Making Oat Flour.

1. Measure out a portion of oats. The type of oats traditionally used for oat flour are called "rolled oats." These can be bought for cheap at many grocery stores, but are not always available. Luckily, you can use instant, quick-cook, or steel cut as well -- the only difference is grain size, and you're grinding them all up anyway.

Don't use oats that have been flavored in any way, as this flavor will work into your final dish. Plain oats are best.

If you're going to be using your oat flour in a recipe immediately, measure out more oats than the recipe calls for. Once you turn them into flour, they'll settle and take up a smaller volume. You'll generally end up with about 3/4 of the volume of oats you started with.

2. Pulse the oats in a food processor. Any standard blender or "Magic Bullet"-type device will also work well.In a pinch, you could use a coffee grinder. Be sure to clean it out first unless you want coffee-flavored flour. Pulse for 30 seconds or until the oats reach a fine, powdery consistency. They should look a lot like traditional plain, all-purpose wheat flour.

No blender? There are a variety of ways to make manual flour, but you need to know they will take a while. You could try.

Mincing: Using your sharpest knife, rock it back and forth over a small pile of oats to quickly chop them up. They will be a little bigger than a real flour, but will still work.

Grinding: Using a mortar and pestle, grind the oats into a powder.

Mashing: A last-ditch effort, put the oats in a resealable plastic bag, squeeze the air out, and start crushing as if washing clothing by hand. Note that this will likely take a long time.

3. Stir to mix in any stray oats, then pulse again. It can be hard to tell whether any extra oats remain in your flour, so open the food processor or blender and stir the powder a few times to be safe. Pulse again for 10 seconds or so.

4. Use or store your oat flour at once. Your oat flour is ready to use right away. You can use it roughly how you would use plain flour ordinarily, substituting it into recipes. If you need to save some, use the same rules you would use for ordinary flour. Keep it in a cool, dry place in an airtight container. Oat flour lasts for about 3 months in the cabinet and 6 months in the freezer.

These are only estimates, and oat flour will never keep as long as whole oats. Only make as much as you can use in the next few weeks.

Hot and humid environments will lower the shelf life of your flour. Cold and dry areas may be able to store their oat flour a little longer without problems.

Part 2 Using Oat Flour.

1. Use for its subtle oat flavor. The taste difference between plain flour and oat flour won't immediately jump out at you, but it's somewhat noticeable. Oat flour gives the baked goods a nutty flavor and a chewy texture, different from plain flour but not overwhelmingly so. This is perfect for certain dishes — specifically, savory-sweet baked goods tend to benefit from this taste profile.

The classic example, Oatmeal Raisin Cookies, are taken to the next level with oat flour.

In most recipes, you only need 3/4 cup flour for every 1 cup of plain flour. If a cookie recipe calls for 2 cups normal flour, you should use 1 1/2 cup oat flour. except in raised yeast breads that need gluten to give them structure.

If you're unsure how a baked good will respond, mix and match the flours. Instead of 1 cup of plain flour, try 3/4 oats and 1/4 wheat to get the textural benefits of gluten (it gives loaves of bread shape) without eating too much of it.

2. Use to reduce the gluten in recipes. One of the most popular ways oat flour is used today is as a gluten-free alternative to plain flour. Because gluten is a protein that naturally comes from wheat, using oat flour instead of all-purpose flour will usually remove the gluten from baked goods.

Note: The rolled oats you can buy at the store aren't always 100% gluten free. Small amounts of wheat can get mixed into the oats (usually, because the equipment used to process them is also used to process wheat). This can make a difference for people with Celiac disease or gluten intolerance, so be sure to use oats that are advertised as gluten-free to fully protect friends with Celiac disease.

3. Use oat flour to give baked goods a lighter texture. Compared to plain flour, oat flour is slightly less dense, which makes foods baked from it a little fluffier than they normally would be. This can be used to make wonderfully light muffins and biscuits, though it's also great for giving a unique texture to thicker pastries like scones and soda bread.

You don't need to substitute all of the flour to get this effect. To add lightness without losing the taste or consistency of plain flour, use a half-and-half mixture.

Try using oat flour in our scone recipe for a lighter version of this delicious breakfast treat.

4. Use to coat or dredge foods. Just like ordinary flour, oat flour can be used as a coating for a wide variety of foods. For instance, if you're frying breaded cuts of meat, you can coat them with oat flour (instead of plain flour) before dipping in an egg wash and tossing with the breading. Oat flour can also be dusted on proved loaves (loaves that have finished rising, but aren't cooked yet) to create an attractive, crunchy crust.

Another excellent idea is to use oat flour when kneading bread dough to keep it from sticking to your work surface. Because of its lighter texture, it won't make the dough stiff if you incorporate too much.

5. Use oat flour for its nutritional benefits. Oat flour is great for your body even if you don't have gluten intolerance. Oats are naturally rich in protein, fiber, and help your body burn fats. They are lower in carbohydrates than most grains and are known to have minor cholesterol-reducing properties. This makes oat flour an excellent choice for your recipes — even if there isn't a special reason to use it.

Oat flour has high levels of magnesium, making it very helpful for women going through menopause or menstruation. Magnesium deficiencies are a common cause of profuse menstrual bleeding.

6. Finished.

Tips

Gluten is a protein that gives bread and bread products their springy, elastic quality.[10] Because oats don't naturally contain gluten, using oat flour in place of plain flour will change the texture of many baked goods.

In many countries, wheat flour, plain flour, and all-purpose white flour are referred to as one and the same; but plain flour and wheat flour are sold as two different items in some countries such as India. The difference is similar to the difference between brown rice and white rice. Both the ingredients are derived from the same item.

A very small percentage of Celiac patients may experience a negative reaction to oats even though they do not contain gluten. This is because the oats could be contaminated at the factory with plain flours. Make sure the oats are certified gluten-free.

Desember 05, 2019

Homemade Pizza Crust for Beginners | The Best Homemade Pizza You'll Ever Eat

Homemade Pizza Crust for Beginners | The Best Homemade Pizza You'll Ever Eat.

This easy pizza dough recipe is great for beginners and produces a soft homemade pizza crust. Skip the pizza delivery because you only need 6 basic ingredients to begin!

This is my go-to pizza dough recipe. It was published on my blog 6 years ago and after making it for the millionth time, I decided it’s time for an update with a video tutorial and clearer recipe instructions. Plus, many of you said you want to conquer your fear of yeast this year! Consider this your starting guide and refer back to it often.

(And if you’ve ever made homemade bagels or sandwich bread, you can easily make pizza dough because it’s quicker, easier, and requires less steps!)

Pizza dough is the foundation and every great pizza begins with a great pizza crust. Some like thin and crisp pizza crust, while others prefer thick and soft pizza crust. This homemade pizza crust has it all: soft & chewy with a delicious crisp and AWESOME flavor.

Why waste the time when you can just buy frozen pizza dough? Frozen pizza dough is certainly convenient, but from-scratch crust has a delicious flavor and texture that only comes from homemade. Plus, most of the work is hands-off!

Homemade Pizza Dough Ingredients.

All pizza dough starts with the same basic ingredients: flour, yeast, water, salt, and olive oil. Here’s the breakdown of what I use in my homemade pizza crust recipe.

Yeast: I use Red Star Platinum yeast. I have the best results when I use this instant yeast. The Platinum yeast is fantastic because its careful formula strengthens your dough and makes making working with yeast simple. You only need 1 standard packet of yeast (2 and 1/4 teaspoons) to get the job done.
Water: I tested this pizza dough recipe with different amounts of water. 1 and 1/3 cups is the perfect amount. Use warm water to cut down on rise time, about 100-110°F. Anything over 130ºF kills the yeast.
Flour: Use unbleached all-purpose white flour in this recipe. Bleaching the flour strips away some of the protein, which will affect how much water the flour absorbs. You can substitute bread flour for a chewier pizza crust, but add a couple extra Tablespoons of water since bread flour contains more protein than all-purpose flour.
Oil: A couple Tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil adds wonderful flavor to the dough. Don’t forget to brush the dough with olive oil before adding the toppings, which prevents the crust from tasting soggy.
Salt: Salt adds necessary flavor.
Sugar: 1 Tablespoon of sugar increases the yeast’s activity and tenderizes the dough, especially when paired with a little olive oil.
Cornmeal: Cornmeal isn’t in the dough, but it’s used to dust the pizza pan. Cornmeal gives the pizza crust a little extra flavor and crisp. Most delivery pizzas you enjoy have cornmeal on the bottom crust!

This is a Lean Bread Dough.
Pizza crust, like homemade bagels, artisan bread, and focaccia, requires a lean dough. A lean dough doesn’t use eggs or butter. Without the extra fat to make the dough soft, you’re promised a crusty pizza crust. (However, I recommend using some olive oil for flavor and to keep the interior on the softer side.) Recipes like dinner rolls and overnight cinnamon rolls require fat to yield a “rich dough,” which creates a softer and more dessert-like bread.

How to Make Easy Pizza Dough (for bread beginners!).
Watch my pizza dough video tutorial below. It’s really that easy!

Mix the dough ingredients together by hand or use a hand-held or stand mixer.
Knead by hand or beat the dough with your mixer. I like doing this by hand and you can watch me in the video.
Place dough into a greased mixing bowl, cover tightly, and set aside to rise for about 90 minutes or overnight in the refrigerator.
Punch down risen dough to release air bubbles. Divide in 2.
Roll dough out into a 12-inch circle. Cover and rest as you prep the pizza toppings.
Top with favorite pizza toppings.
Bake pizza at a very high temperature for only about 15 minutes.
Little bakers can lend a hand AND have fun in the process. Let the kids help you press down the dough and shape into a circle. They can add their cheeses and make pepperoni faces on top of the pie. Who doesn’t love a smiley pizza?

How to Freeze Homemade Pizza Dough.

This recipe yields two 12-inch pizzas. After the pizza dough rises and you divide the dough in half (step 5), you can freeze one of the balls of dough to make pizza at a later time. Or you can simply freeze both balls of dough separately. Lightly coat all sides of the dough ball(s) with nonstick spray or olive oil. Place the dough ball(s) into individual zipped-top bag(s) and seal tightly, squeezing out all the air. Freeze for up to 3 months.

How to Thaw Frozen Pizza Dough.
Place the frozen pizza dough in the refrigerator for about 8 hours or overnight. When ready to make pizza, remove the dough from the refrigerator and allow to rest for 30 minutes on the counter.

Ingredients.
1 and 1/3 cups (320ml) warm water (between 100-110°F, 38-43°C).
2 and 1/4 teaspoons Red Star Platinum instant yeast (1 standard packet)*.
1 Tablespoon (13g) granulated sugar.
2 Tablespoons (30ml) olive oil.
3/4 teaspoon salt.
3 and 1/2 cups (440g) all-purpose flour (spoon & leveled), plus more for hands and surface.
sprinkle of cornmeal for dusting the pan.

Instructions.
Prepare the dough: Whisk the warm water, yeast, and granulated sugar together in the bowl of your stand mixer fitted with a dough hook or paddle attachment. Cover and allow to rest for 5 minutes. *If you don’t have a stand mixer, simply use a large mixing bowl and mix the dough by hand with a wooden spoon in the next step.*
Add the olive oil, salt, and flour. Beat on low speed for 2 minutes. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. With lightly floured hands, knead the dough for 3-4 minutes (for a visual, watch me do it in the video above!). The dough can be a little too heavy for a mixer to knead it, but you can certainly use the mixer on low speed instead. After kneading, the dough should still feel a little soft. Poke it with your finger – if it slowly bounces back, your dough is ready to rise. If not, keep kneading.
Lightly grease a large bowl with oil or nonstick spray– just use the same bowl you used for the dough. Place the dough in the bowl, turning it to coat all sides in the oil. Cover the bowl with aluminum foil, plastic wrap, or a clean kitchen towel. Allow the dough to rise at room temperature for 60-90 minutes or until double in size. (Tip: For the warm environment on a particularly cold day, heat your oven to 150°F (66°C). Turn the oven off, place the dough inside, and keep the door slightly ajar. This will be a warm environment for your dough to rise. After about 30 minutes, close the oven door to trap the air inside with the rising dough. When it’s doubled in size, remove from the oven.)
Preheat oven to 475°F (246°C). Allow it to heat for at least 15-20 minutes as you shape the pizza. Lightly grease baking sheet or pizza pan with nonstick spray or olive oil. Sprinkle lightly with cornmeal, which gives the crust extra crunch and flavor. Highly recommended.
Shape the dough: When the dough is ready, punch it down to release any air bubbles. Divide the dough in half. (If not making 2 pizzas, freeze half of the dough for another time– see freezing instructions below.) On a lightly floured work surface using lightly floured hands or rolling pin, gently flatten the dough into a disc. Place on prepared pan and, using lightly floured hands, stretch and flatten the disc into a 12-inch circle. Lift the edge of the dough up to create a lip around the edges. I simply pinch the edges up to create the rim. If using a pizza stone, place the dough directly on baker’s peels dusted with cornmeal.
Cover dough lightly with plastic wrap or a clean kitchen towel and allow to rest for a few minutes as you prepare your pizza toppings. I suggest pepperoni & green peppers or jalapeño slices, extra cheese pizza, Hawaiian pizza, classic margherita pizza, spinach artichoke white pizza, or homemade BBQ chicken pizza.
Top & bake the pizza: To prevent the filling from making your pizza crust soggy, brush the top lightly with olive oil. Using your fingers, push dents into the surface of the dough to prevent bubbling. Top with your favorite toppings and bake for 12-15 minutes.
Slice hot pizza and serve immediately. Cover leftover pizza tightly and store in the refrigerator. Reheat as you prefer. Baked pizza slices can be frozen up to 3 months.

Notes.

Freezing Instructions: This recipe yields two 12-inch pizzas. After the pizza dough rises and you divide the dough in half (step 5), you can freeze one of the balls of dough to make pizza at a later time. Or you can simply freeze both balls of dough separately. Lightly coat all sides of the dough ball(s) with nonstick spray or olive oil. Place the dough ball(s) into individual zipped-top bag(s) and seal tightly, squeezing out all the air. Freeze for up to 3 months. To thaw, place the frozen pizza dough in the refrigerator for about 8 hours or overnight. When ready to make pizza, remove the dough from the refrigerator and allow to rest for 30 minutes on the counter. Continue with step 5.
Overnight/All Day Instructions: Prepare the dough through step 3, but allow the dough to rise for 8-12 hours in the refrigerator. (If it needs to be in the refrigerator for longer, use cooler water in the dough which will slow the dough’s rise and allow for more time.) The slow rise gives the pizza dough wonderful flavor! When ready, continue with step 5. If the dough didn’t quite double in size overnight, let it sit at room temperature for 30-45 minutes before punching down (step 5).
Special Tools: KitchenAid Stand Mixer, Dough Scraper, Pizza Pan, Pizza Cutter
Yeast: Red Star Platinum yeast is an instant yeast. You can use active dry yeast instead. The rise time will be up to 2 hours. Reference my Baking with Yeast Guide for answers to common yeast FAQs.
Pictured Pizza: This recipe yields 2 pizzas. For each, top with 1/2 cup pizza sauce, 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, pepperoni slices, thinly sliced green pepper or jalapeño, and a sprinkle of Italian seasoning blend or dried basil.

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Juli 19, 2020

Easy Ramen Noodle Recipe | How to Made A Giant 25-Pound Ramen Bowl.

Easy Ramen Noodle Recipe | How to Made A Giant 25-Pound Ramen Bowl.

Ramen Noodle Recipe is a simple weeknight meal!  Packed with crunchy vegetables and slurpy ramen noodles, it’s perfect when you are short on time but want a delicious meal! Only 20 minutes to make and better than takeout!

Ramen Noodle Bowl.
I love Asian food, it’s my favorite cuisine! Thai Noodle Soup, Tuna Poke (I fell in love with that while in Hawaii) and Chicken Teriyaki – delicious!

BUT I may be introducing a new flavor to you today. Have you ever tried ramen?

It’s big and full of flavor and usually has a protein like pork belly, chicken or beef. It’s filled with crunchy vegetables and often topped with a soft boiled egg. Delicious!

Ever since the first time I tried it, I worked to duplicated the flavors. It took me awhile because I was trying to make it too complicated. So here’s the deal. If you go to a ramen restaurant – they will have the most amazing broth that has taken a day or two to make.

Don’t get me wrong – it is totally worth it and completely delicious!

But that isn’t realistic for us home cooks, right? If I don’t have two days to make a broth, I’m pretty sure you don’t either! My version takes only 20 minutes! It’s light on protein and filled full of crunchy vegetables.

Here’s another bonus, since I developed my broth recipe, ramen broth is now readily available for purchase at the grocery store or online! Even better, right? YES!!

Ingredients for Ramen Noodle Bowl.

yellow onion, carrot, bok choy, spinach and garlic – loads of crunchy fresh vegetables, crisp and fresh.
chicken breast – leftover rotisserie chicken works great for this recipe.
ramen broth – readily available in most stores or online.
ramen noodles – remember the packet you used as a teenager? That will work great, just discard the packet.
Chinese Five Spice – to add a burst of flavor.
canola or vegetable oil – a flavorless oil is best.

Ramen Noodle Bowl Recipe.
What goes into traditional ramen?
proteins – sliced barbecued or braised pork, chicken, shrimp or tofu
green onions – add a light oniony flavor.
greens – bok choy, spinach
soft boiled egg – adds so much richness when it tops the bowl.
carrots, steamed broccoli, sautéed mushrooms – add your favorite vegetables!
top with white or black sesame seeds to add flavor and crunch.
What is the difference between pho and ramen?
Ramen has is a darker, richer broth and is cloudy. It is made from pork bones cooked at a rolling boil.

A traditional pho broth is made from beef bones and flavored with star anise, charred ginger and cinnamon.

What kind of noodles are used in ramen?
Ramen noodles are made from a  wheat-based noodle, though if that is a concern in your diet rice-based noodles are also readily available.

Steps to make Ramen Noodle Bowl.

Peel and slice the onion and carrot.
Clean the Bok Choy, slice in half.
Wash the spinach, mince the garlic.
Use a large stock pot on medium heat, add the oil. Stir fry the onion, carrot and Bok Choy, season with Chinese Five Spice
While the vegetables are cooking shred the chicken breast, set aside.
Next, add ramen stock to the cooked vegetables, increase heat to high and bring to a boil.
Add the ramen noodles. Cook according to package directions.
The last minute of cooking add chicken and spinach. Stir in the noodles together with the ingredients.

Ramen Bowl Recipe.
Substitutions for Ramen Noodle Bowl.
Make this recipe vegetarian by omitting the chicken breast and substituting vegetable stock for the chicken. Add firm tofu and edamame – delish!
Leftover barbequed pork is another great substitute to switch up this meal.
It’s that easy!

More delicious Asian bowls to love!
You know I haven’t met many Asian meals I just don’t love. It’s the spice and and all the flavor when something as simple as Sesame Noodles becomes a spectacular meal. Of course you can doll them up a little more by making Korean Black Bean Noodles – wow, just so much flavor!

Of course you can round out this meal with Korean BBQ Beef, Mongolian Beef or Honey Walnut Shrimp. There are a ton of recipes to choose from!

If you’re going to serve up a feast, let me suggest a few more recipes! Korean Style Beef Broccoli is delicious! Served with Chicken Fried Rice, maybe toss in some Asian Sliders or Homemade Potstickers – YUM!!!


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Juli 19, 2020

why our hunger is rising rapidly and how to sate it

why our hunger is rising rapidly and how to sate it

I once did an idle poll of all the ways people’s mothers had called them fat and my favourite … well, it was a joint three-way between: “You could eat one more potato than a pig”, “Your brother is slimmer and more handsome, but that’s made him arrogant” and “Darling, you’re at what I would call your winter weight.” Ah, winter weight: is it a real thing or just a caustic critique? It’s both.



Some people don’t get hungrier when the seasons change and think it’s one of those things that happens to women, and bears. Those people are the outliers; they just don’t know it. A drop in ambient temperature increases energy expenditure in both sexes (also in bears). It shouldn’t matter enormously on a basic calories-in-calories-out model, because we’re talking just 150 calories a day. You use extra energy, you eat a banana; this is the smallest inconvenience the change in seasons has to offer, less annoying than having to find your cagoule. However, the human body being somewhat more complicated than a basic book-keeping system, all your appetite hears is the activation. It’s like the Hulk. It doesn’t want to do just one job. It’s a force of nature, not a supplier of goods and services. It wants to burst out of its clothes and keep on going until you, too, have burst out of your clothes.



There’s also a serotonin angle, as the sunlight recedes and your hormonal pathways try to source joy from other places, at which point a banana won’t cut it. And then, of course, there’s a feedback loop. You start by craving refined carbohydrates for a reason, but then you want more cake because you just had cake, as with heroin.



There’s a strong argument that says: who cares? Be your winter weight. And, sod it, while you’re there, why not eat one more potato than a pig? But let’s say you’re one of those people who hates being at the mercy of uncontrollable forces under the skin. There are things to eat in winter that don’t come from Greggs.



The point isn’t that you should eat hot food because it increases your body temperature from the inside. It doesn’t create a little pocket of heat in your stomach that emanates to your extremities for the rest of the day – it’s food, not uranium; the Ready Brek ad was basically mis-selling. But complex carbohydrates take more energy to digest, so will be both satiating and warming, which leads inexorably to the stew or hearty soup.



I start with pearl barley. I’m always bored with it by Christmas and by June I’ve forgotten how to cook it (it’s easy, like rice, only takes four times as long), but in the first cold snap it is powerfully cheering and fills your kitchen with a delicious, heady smell, as if you were living in a 16th-century brewery and will be ready for a massive knees-up in six months’ time. Delia Smith’s One Is Fun – perhaps the most controversial work in her canon, having caused lifelong rifts since the 1980s as friends presented it to each other as a passive-aggressive gift item (“You’re going to be alone for ever, at least eat nice soup”) – has a pearl barley soup of such substance, such rough but pleasing texture (squishy; no, wait, chewy; no, wait, slightly sticky; ah, hang on, also crunchy) and such an ancient vibe – you can taste the centuries of embedded knowledge, one generation passing carrot-wisdom on to the next, back into the mists of time – that while you’re on the first bowl, you feel as though you could eat it every day, for every meal, for ever. This will, unfortunately, turn out not to be true.



I don’t want to bang on about meat, painfully aware of how often I’ve claimed to be nearly vegan and then had a salt-beef sandwich. But the classic stew is barley with lamb, and William Drabble’s recipe is as close to perfect as it gets.



This will all take a lot longer than pasta and someone is sure to bang on about their slow cooker, and how it revolutionised their lives, because suddenly they were chopping onions at 7.25 in the morning and coming home to a delicious meal of very intense onions. I find this a slightly saddening life fix because part of the pleasure of making a stew is feeling that it was your skill – browning it, poking it, going back to have a look at it – that brought it to that point of excellence. Also, all those delicious smells, like a full-house scented candle made of food, except not £65 (there is no stew as expensive as a candle, except cassoulet). It’s better to make it on a Sunday and eat it all week.

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Acknowledgements

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November 01, 2019

The Best Homemade Pizza Dough Recipe | The Best Homemade Pizza You'll Ever Eat.

The Best Homemade Pizza Dough Recipe | The Best Homemade Pizza You'll Ever Eat.

The problem with that dough, though, is that it is best when it has had some time to “age” in the refrigerator. And, well, while I am a stickler for a menu plan, I rarely stick to the order on my menu plan, often making what sounds the best on any given day instead of the actual meal planned for that day. And if I had endless refrigerator space, I’d keep some of that dough on hand always, but that’s not the case either.

So even though I adored that recipe, I knew I needed a recipe that could be made the same day. It would just work better for my family.

That’s when I tried a recipe from Budget Gourmet Mom (unfortunately, her blog is no longer online). It was the best pizza dough that I had come across. I made it many times, and claimed that it was my new favorite. But over the past couple of years, I have, at least in my opinion, perfected the method of making the best pizza you will have at home.

I don’t say this lightly. I’m not kidding you when I say I’ve made this recipe dozens and dozens of times.

The Secret to the Best Homemade Pizza Dough

The secret is in how much flour you add to the dough. This is where I get a little unconventional, because the ingredients are all pretty normal. But my #1 thing that I have said for years with bread making is that I think many times people fail and end up with dry, dense bread because they are adding too much flour. And when I thought about the pizza dough recipe from Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day, I thought about how wet that dough was, and how I never questioned it because I always did the ingredients by weight and just trusted.

So where this recipe differs from most is the amount of flour and the consistency of the dough.

My #1 rule – less is more.

I have included step by step photos below to walk you through it, but the most important step is to not keep adding flour until the dough is not sticky anymore. Sticky means you are doing it right in this recipe. (See – told you this was different. This goes against pretty much every other pizza dough recipe out there.) Don’t be afraid about the dough sticking everywhere when you roll it out. It’s not quite as sticky after it rises, and you’ll use some additional flour to shape it and roll it.

This recipe might not come easy the first or second time you try it. It’s one of those recipes that might take a little bit of practice. But believe me – for the perfect homemade pizza, it’s totally worth it.

Tips for Making Homemade Pizza Dough
I know I’m already totally long winded here, but here are a few additional tips:

This makes 3 1-lb balls of dough. It’s a lot, but I usually make 3 pizzas (we’ll eat 2, and save the third for leftovers). Most recipes call for a 1 lb ball of dough, but in all honesty, we usually like our pizza a little more on the thin side. So I have halved this recipe and made 3 pizzas, or I will make 4 pizzas from this recipe. It is easy to halve, so feel free to do so. Also, not everyone’s mixer has the capacity to make this much dough. Use common sense.
I usually make my dough a couple of hours before I need it and just refrigerate the dough until needed. It’s a little easier to roll out when it’s not super cold, but straight from the fridge still works. I recommend making it within 24 hours, though, as the dough will continue to rise, even in the refrigerator.
When it comes to baking your pizza, I always recommend using a pizza stone. They are pretty inexpensive and make a huge difference. I bought mine at Bed Bath and Beyond for $20 years ago and have probably used it over 100 times and it is still going strong. I always preheat the oven for at least 30 minutes. I also use parchment paper when baking my pizza because 1) my husband doesn’t care for the cornmeal on the bottom of the pizza, 2) I’m terrible at transferring the pizza from the pizza peel to the stone. Parchment paper works well for me.
To bake the pizza, if you aren’t following a specific recipe, I’ll crank my oven up as high as it goes and bake each pizza for about 10 minutes.

How to make Homemade Pizza Dough

Whew!! That was a lot. 🙂 Here is the step by step – I hope you love this recipe as much as we do!

Start by combining warm water with your yeast and some sugar. It should start to froth up after a few minutes. If it doesn’t, toss it and start again. You water may be too warm or your yeast may be bad. Once it’s frothy, add in the vegetable oil.

Combine the salt and the flour, and start adding the flour to the mixer, 1/2 cup at a time.

Once you have added the flour, the dough will still look pretty wet and sticky. It will not pull away from the sides of the mixer by itself, but you should be able to scrape it down with a spatula. You may need to add a little bit more flour, depending on your environment, but don’t go crazy.

Most pizza dough recipes will say it should be tacky but not sticky – not this one. It should stick to your fingers still.

Grease a large bowl. I usually just pour some vegetable oil or olive oil in the bottom of the bowl, then scrape the dough out into the bowl. You will need a spatula to scrape the dough from the mixer bowl. Then using greased hands, turn the dough over to coat the outside of the dough in the oil.

Cover the dough with a towel or greased plastic wrap and allow it to rise until it is double in size. This usually takes about an hour, depending on how warm the house is. I will often put the bowl in the oven with just the oven light on, which tends to give it a good temperature for rising.

Sprinkle some flour on a work surface. Lightly punch the dough down, then turn it out onto the floured surface.

Use floured hands to start pulling the dough up and around, gathering the ends together and forming a smooth ball on one side.

Turn the ball over, so the top now is smooth.

Divide the ball into 3 equal portions. You can weigh them to keep them even, or I almost always just eyeball it.

Voila! Your pizza dough is ready for baking. If the dough is still a bit sticky when you go to roll it out, just sprinkle on a little more flour. I like to actually use my hands to stretch the dough instead of rolling it, which helps with any sticking as well. But you’ll be surprise at how not sticky the dough is at this point.

Use the dough to bake up your pizza with your favorite toppings!

Tools Used to Make this Homemade Pizza Dough
I use a bench scraper to cut the dough and to clean the flour off the counter. I love it!
I highly recommend a pizza stone for baking your pizza. It really makes a big difference in the final pizza!

Ingredients : 2 1/2 cups warm water, 1/4 cup sugar, 3 teaspoons instant yeast, 1/4 cup vegetable oil, 6 cups all-purpose flour, 2 teaspoons salt.

Instructions.

In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the water, sugar and yeast. Allow the mixture to sit for a few minutes until frothy. Add in the vegetable oil.

In a bowl, combine the flour and the salt. Add the flour to the yeast mixture, 1/2 cup at a time, mixing well between additions. Continue adding the flour until the dough can be pulled away from the sides of the bowl with a spatula, but the dough will still be quite sticky. You may need to add in a little bit more or less flour, but the key is to remember that the dough will still be sticky and will stick to your fingers when you try to pull it apart.
Grease a large bowl, then scrape the dough into the bowl. Turn the dough to coat it in oil. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a towel and a let the dough rise at room temperature until doubled, about 1 hour.
Turn the dough out onto a well-floured work surface. Pull the dough around to the bottom, stretching it to create a smooth ball. Cut the dough into 3 equal portions. Each ball will be approximately 1 pound of dough.
Roll out the dough to use in your favorite pizza recipe, or refrigerate until needed. (I have refrigerated it for several hours, up to overnight, but the dough will continue to rise, even in the refrigerator, so I try to use it before 24 hours.
To bake, preheat a pizza stone in the oven as hot as you can go for at least 30 minutes. (I usually go between 475ºF and 500ºF.)
Prepare your pizza with your desired toppings and bake until the crust is golden, 8-10 minutes.

Recipe Notes.
*This makes 3 1-lb balls of dough. It’s a lot, but I usually make 3 pizzas (we’ll eat 2, and save the third for leftovers). Most recipes call for a 1 lb ball of dough, but in all honesty, we usually like our pizza a little more on the thin side. So I have halved this recipe and made 3 pizzas, or I will make 4 pizzas from this recipe. It is easy to halve, so feel free to do so. Also, not everyone’s mixer has the capacity to make this much dough. Use common sense. 🙂

*I usually make my dough a couple of hours before I need it and just refrigerate the dough until needed. It’s a little easier to roll out when it’s not super cold, but straight from the fridge still works. I recommend making it within 24 hours, though, as the dough will continue to rise, even in the refrigerator.

*When it comes to baking your pizza, I always recommend using a pizza stone. They are pretty inexpensive and make a huge difference. I bought mine at Bed Bath and Beyond for $20 years ago and have probably used it over 100 times and it is still going strong. I always preheat the oven for at least 30 minutes with the stone inside on a high temp. I also use parchment paper when baking my pizza because 1) my husband doesn’t care for the cornmeal on the bottom of the pizza, 2) I’m terrible and transferring the pizza from the pizza peel to the stone. Parchment paper works well for me.

Nutrition information provided as an estimate only. Various brands and products can change the counts. Any nutritional information should only be used as a general guideline. Nutritional counts do not include toppings.

Nutrition.
Serving Size: 1 sliceCalories: 138Sugar: 3 gSodium: 194 mgFat: 2 gSaturated Fat: 0 gUnsaturated Fat: 3 gTrans Fat: 0 gCarbohydrates: 25 gFiber: 1 gProtein: 3 gCholesterol: 0 mg.


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Juli 23, 2020

how to substitute cream of tartar

How to Substitute Cream of Tartar. 

Cream of tartar is a powder ingredient used in many recipes to stabilize egg whites, act as a leavening agent, or prevent sugar from crystallizing. If you are working on a recipe and realize you are out of cream of tartar, no worries! You can easily substitute it with lemon juice, white vinegar, and baking powder, to name a few. Alternatively, omit the cream of tartar substitute if making frostings or syrups. Modify your recipe slightly, and you can easily substitute cream of tartar.

Method 1 Substituting with Common Kitchen Ingredients.

1. Substitute lemon juice for a very effective option. When mixing ingredients for your particular recipe, swap equal parts of cream of tartar for lemon juice. Most recipes call for 1/4 tsp (1.2 g) of cream of tartar. The acidity in lemon juice is similar to that in cream of tartar, so this makes for an easy swap.

This is particularly a good idea if you are making lemon meringue pie.

2. Choose white vinegar if you are beating egg whites. White vinegar and lemon are both very helpful substitutes that work great to mimic the effect of cream of tartar. Add equal parts of white vinegar to your eggs as you beat them to easily whisk them up and make them extra fluffy. The acidity of the vinegar helps to add volume, similar to cream of tartar.

If your recipe calls for 1/2 tsp (2.4 g) of cream of tartar, use 1/2 tsp (2.4 g) of white vinegar instead.

You may have to add a little bit of sugar to taste if the mixture is too bitter.

3. Try baking powder if you need a leavening agent. If your recipe calls for baking soda and cream of tartar, swap it out for baking powder. Baking powder is another effective leavening agent that you can use in a pinch. Use 1 tsp (14.9 g) of baking powder to replace 1/3 tsp (1.65 g) of baking soda and 2/3 tsp (3.3 g) of cream of tartar.

Baking powder is essentially a mix of baking soda and cream of tartar, so this won’t change your recipe much at all.

This is a good idea if you want to add cream of tartar to blueberry pancakes, for example.

4. Use buttermilk if your recipe calls for lots of dairy. If you’re making a dish with lots of milk or cream, like pies or puddings, you can use buttermilk to add acidity and replicate cream of tartar benefits. Remove 1/2 cup (118.3 mL) of liquid for every 1/4 tsp (1.2 g) of cream of tartar, and then add 1/2 cup (118.3 mL) of buttermilk instead.

Buttermilk is an acidic liquid that is left over after churning butter. It is often used in baking pancakes and birthday cakes.

In some cases, you can substitute yogurt for buttermilk. Add milk to your yogurt until it is the same consistency as buttermilk, then use the same buttermilk proportions to substitute your cream of tartar.

5. Skip over the cream of tartar if you are making frostings or syrups. If you are making sugary toppings including icing, syrups, and frostings, leave out the cream of tartar rather than trying to find a substitute. Your topping may crystallize and get hard, but you can easily reheat it in the microwave or stovetop to soften it.

Do this if you are topping cookies, frosting a cake, or stuffing donuts, for instance.

Method 2 Using Cream of Tartar.

1. Use cream of tartar to stabilize egg whites when making meringue. Cream of tartar is what gives meringue its creamy, fluffy texture. Use your meringue to make cookies, pies, and other tasty desserts. Typically, you can use 3 egg whites and 1/4 tsp (1.2 g) of cream of tartar to make delicious meringue. Be sure to beat your egg whites well until they are foamy.

Consult your recipe to determine how much cream of tartar and egg whites to use.

2. Add cream of tartar when making baked goods for a leavening agent. Mix cream of tartar with baking soda to create a chemical reaction, resulting in extra-fluffy treats. Use cream of tartar to help cookies, pancakes, and other baked goods.

The amount of cream of tartar and baking soda to add to your ingredients depends on your particular recipe.

For example, add 2 tsp (9.9 g) of cream of tartar when making Snickerdoodles for fluffy, yummy cookies.

3. Include cream of tartar to prevent sugars from crystallizing in icings. The acidic base of cream of tartar helps keep sugars from hardening up when making icings, frostings, or syrups. In addition, cream of tartar gives these sugary toppings a smooth, consistent texture.

For instance, if you are making icing with 3 cups (710 g) of confectioners sugar and 2 egg whites, add 1/4 tsp (1.2 g) of cream of tartar for a creamy touch.

Things You’ll Need.

Recipe.

Lemon juice.

White vinegar.

Baking powder.

Buttermilk.

Tips.

If you store cream of tartar at room temperature in an airtight container, it should stay good indefinitely.

You can also use cream of tartar and lemon juice to help clean household items.

Cream of tartar can be used to substitute baking soda in some recipes.

Warnings.

Remember that these substitutions may have similar results, but your finished product may still come out differently. After all, it is a substitution. You can expect subtle changes in texture and overall appearance.

November 30, 2019

how to easy cook shumai

How to Easy Cook Shumai.

If shumai is your favorite dish at Japanese restaurants, there's no reason not to recreate them at home. These tasty dumplings are usually filled with ground shrimp and pork, so they're easy to make with a food processor and some store-bought wonton wrappers. For traditional shumai, you steam the dumplings in a bamboo steamer, but you can still prepare the dish quickly and easily so there's no need to head to a restaurant when a craving hits.







Preparing the Filling.



Ingredients Filling.

2 pounds (907 g) large shrimp, peeled and deveined.

1 pound (454 g) ground pork.

3 tablespoons (45 ml) toasted sesame oil.

3 tablespoons (45 ml) soy sauce.

1 tablespoon (8 g) cornstarch.

3 tablespoons (11 g) fresh ginger, peeled and grated.

5 cloves garlic, smashed.

4 green onions, chopped.

4 egg whites.

1 lemon, juiced.

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper.

4-ounce can (115 g) water chestnuts or bamboo shoots, minced.



Combine all of the filling ingredients except the water chestnuts. Add 2 pounds (907 g) of large peeled and deveined shrimp, 1 pound (454 g) of ground pork, 3 tablespoons (45 ml) of toasted sesame oil, 3 tablespoons (45 ml) of soy sauce, 1 tablespoon (8 g) of cornstarch, 3 tablespoons (11 g) of fresh ginger that’s been peeled and grated, 5 smashed cloves garlic, 4 chopped green onions, 4 egg whites, the juice from one lemon, and kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste in a food processor. Pulse the ingredients until they’re smooth.

You’ll likely need to pulse the ingredients 3 to 5 times to get the right texture. It should be slightly chunky, not completely pureed.



Transfer the mixture to a bowl and fold in the water chestnuts. Once the filling mixture is smooth, use a spatula to transfer it to a medium bowl. Add a 4-ounce (115 g) can of water chestnuts that have been minced to the bowl, and gently fold them in.



Make a small patty with the filling to test the seasoning. When the water chestnuts are incorporated, use clean hands to form a small patty with the filling. You should use approximately 2 tablespoons (17 g) to make the patty.



Heat 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of canola oil in pan and add the patty. Place a small saute pan on the stove over medium-high heat. Allow the oil to heat for 3 to 5 minutes, and then place the patty made of the filling in the oil.



Cook the patty until it’s browned and drain on paper towel. With the patty in the oil, allow it to cook until it’s browned on the first side, which should take 2 to 3 minutes. Flip the patty over, and cook it for another 2 to 3 minutes or until both sides are browned.



Taste the patty to determine if the filling is seasoned properly. Once the patty is finished cooking, transfer it from the pan to a paper towel-lined plate to drain for a minute. Next, taste the patty to see if you like the filling’s seasoning. If necessary, mix in some more salt and pepper.

You can mix in more of any other seasonings that you feel are lacking as well. For example, you might add a little more ginger or garlic if you want those flavors to be stronger.

If you decide to add more seasonings to the dumpling filling, it's a good idea to make a second patty for tasting to ensure you're happy with the flavors.







Filling the Wonton Wrappers.



Ingredients Wrappers.

10-ounce (284 g) package wonton wrappers.

Napa cabbage leaves, for lining the steamer.

Canola oil.



Brush the edges of a wonton wrapper with water. For the shumai, you’ll need a 10-ounce (284 g) package of wonton wrappers. Unwrap the wontons and cover them with a damp paper towel to keep them from drying out. Next, lift a wrapper from the pile and use a pastry brush to wet the edges with water.

If you prefer, you can use a beaten egg to dampen the edges of the wonton wrappers. The egg is stickier, which can help the wrappers stay closed. However, it's easy to over-saturate the edges with egg so they don't stay closed as well. Using water typically offers more control.



Form a cup with the wrapper in your hand. Make a circle with your thumb and forefinger and lay the wrapper on top. Press down gently so the dough forms a cup shape in your hand.



Add some of the filling to the center and pat it down. Place 2 teaspoons (6 g) of the filling in the center of the wrapper. Use the back of the spoon to gently press down the filling.



Squeeze the wrapper around the filling. If any of the wrapper’s edges are overhanging, fold them up around the filling. Press the wrapper around the filling to ensure that it’s secure, though the filling should be exposed at the top.

Image titled Cook Shumai Step 11



Tap the top and bottom of the dumpling so it’s flat. When the shumai is secure, tap the bottom of it against a plate, countertop, or other work surface to flatten it. Use the back of a spoon to flatten the top of the dumpling as well.

If you like, you can add some frozen peas and/or carrots to the top of the shumai as a topping when you’re finished shaping them.



Repeat the process until all of the shumai are filled. After you’ve filled the first dumpling, set it down on a clean plate. Continue shaping and filling all of the dumplings until you’ve used up all of the wonton wrappers.







Steaming the Shumai.



Line a bamboo steamer with cabbage leaves. To cook the shumai, you need a bamboo steamer. Lay several leaves of napa cabbage in the bottom of the steamer to line it.

You can substitute lettuce for the cabbage if you prefer.

Two to three leaves is usually enough to line the steamer.

If you don't have a bamboo steamer, you can substitute a metal steamer basket. In addition to lining it with the cabbage leaves, though, it's a good idea to mist it with baking spray first to ensure that none of the dumplings stick if there are any gaps in the leaves.



Bring some water to a boil in a large pan. Add 1- to 2-inches (2.5- to 5-cm) of water to a large, wide pan. Place it on the stove over high heat, and allow the water to come to a boil, which should take about 3 to 5 minutes.



Place the steamer over the pan and add the shumai. When the water has come to a boil, set the steamer over the pan. Use tongs to place the dumplings into the steamer, and cover the steamer with its lid.

Make sure the water doesn’t touch the bottom of the steamer. However, you may need to add more water to the pan as it evaporates during the steaming process.

Depending on how large the steamer is, you may need to cook the shumai in batches.



Steam the dumplings until they’re cooked through. Once the shumai is in the steamer, reduce the heat to medium. Allow the dumplings to cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until they are cooked through.









Serving the Shumai.



Ingredients Dipping Sauce.

5 tablespoons (75 ml) Asian chile paste.

10 tablespoons (150 ml) light soy sauce.

Makes 60 dumplings.



Mix the chile paste and light soy sauce together. While the shumai is steaming, add 5 tablespoons (75 ml) of Asian chile paste and 10 tablespoons (150 ml) of light soy sauce to a small bowl. Stir together well so they are completely blended.

You can substitute your favorite Asian dipping sauce if you prefer. Even plain soy sauce can work well.



Use tongs to remove the shumai from the steamer. When the dumplings are cooked through, carefully remove the steamer from the pan. Use a pair of tongs to remove the shumai from the basket and transfer them to a serving platter or plate.



Place the dipping sauce on the platter and serve the shumai while still hot. Once you’ve arranged the shumai on the platter, add the bowl of dipping sauce. Set the dumplings out to serve while they’re still warm.

Store any leftover shumai in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They should stay fresh for 3 to 4 days.





Tips.

Some shumai recipes include mushrooms in the filling. You can fold in 3 to 5 shiitake mushrooms that have been soaked and finely chopped with the water chestnuts if you like.

Things You’ll Need.

Food processor.

Spatula.

Medium bowl.

Small saute pan.

Paper towel.

Plate.

Large, wide pan.

Bamboo steamer.

Tongs.

November 17, 2019