Tag Archives: cooking

Travel/Food

Peanut Butter Blossom recipe review

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By: Norah Hoglund

Peanut butter blossom cookies are one of my favorite types of cookies. I really like the taste and I also think they are super cute! I am going to be reviewing a recipe from preppy kitchen.com

Here is the link to the recipe: link

Review

Taste

The combination of peanut butter and chocolate is perfect in these cookies. Peanut butter adds saltiness and the chocolate adds the perfect flavor to complement it. It is one of my favorite flavor combinations. I find it best to eat these cookies fresh out of the oven so that the chocolate is still melted. I also like how these cookies are rolled in sugar because it adds a nice texture on the outside. I would rate the taste a 10/10.

Baking Process

These cookies were quick to make and they didn’t have to bake for very long. You can also fit quite a few of them on a pan since they are small and they don’t expand too much. The only tricky part is that you have to have all the Hershey Kisses you need unwrapped so that you can put them on the cookies right after they come out of the oven. I would rate the process an 8/10

Overall, I would rate this recipe a 9/10 and would definitely make these cookies again.

Recipe

Ingredients

  • ¾ cup creamy peanut butter (188g)
  • ½ cup unsalted butter softened (113g)
  • ½ cup granulated sugar plus more for rolling (100g)
  • ½ cup packed light brown sugar (110g)
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 1 large egg room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1½ cups all-purpose flour (180g)
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • 36 Hersey’s Chocolate Kisses unwrapped

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 375°F. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, or the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the peanut butter, unsalted butter, sugars and salt. Cream together by beating on medium speed until well combined. Add the egg and vanilla. Beat until well combined. Scrape down the bowl. Add the flour and baking soda and beat on low speed just until combined.
  3. Scoop the dough and roll into 1-inch balls. Coat in additional granulated sugar if desired. Place on the prepared baking sheet 2 inches apart.
  4. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes or until the cookies look puffy and cracked and the bottom just start to turn brown. Immediately press a chocolate kiss into the center of each cookie. (The cookies will crack and that’s okay!) Allow the cookies to cool completely on the pan, until the chocolate is set. Serve or store in an airtight container for up to 1 week.
Travel/Food

Dampfnudel recipe and review

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By: Nils Hilleson

Ingredients:

Dough:

  • 3 C flour
  • 1/4 C sugar
  • 3 tsp dry yeast
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 C warm milk
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/4 C butter, softened

Poaching liquid:

  • 3 tbs butter
  • 1/4 C sugar
  • 1 C milk

Steps:

  • Blend 3 C flour, 1/4 C sugar, yeast and salt in a stand mixer
  • Add warm milk, 2 eggs and 1/4 C softened butter into stand mixer and mix until dough forms a ball
  • Transfer to a bowl and let rise for 1 hour
  • Knead dough, cut into 8 pieces and allow 30 minutes to rise
  • Melt 3 tbs butter in a heavy pot over medium heat
  • Add 1/4 C of sugar until browned (about 5 minutes)
  • Add 1 C milk
  • Arrange dough into the pot
  • Cover and cook at low heat for 10-15 minutes
  • Add sauces of your choice

My dad makes Dampfnudel around December most years so I thought it’d be good to learn how to make it. I also made a vanilla and caramel sauce to add to the Dampfnudel but people add different things to it; I did see multiple other Dampfnudel recipes that use vanilla sauce though.

Dampfnudel isn’t always sweet and can be made savory but I’ve never had a savory Dampfnudel. I didn’t realize how much waiting is involved in making Dampfnudel. I really like Dampfnudel because of how sweet I make it and how soft it is.

I decided to do this since, to my knowledge, Dampfnudel seems relatively unknown and I really like it so I think more people should know about it.

This is a modified recipe from my parents recipe.

Travel/Food

Crepe recipe and review

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By: Nils Hileson

Ingredients:

  • 2 eggs
  • 3/4 cup of milk
  • 1/2 cup of water
  • 1 cup of flour
  • 3 tablespoons of melted butter

Steps:

  • Add all ingredients to a bowl and whisk vigorously for 10-20 seconds until smooth.
  • Put the batter in a bowl with a lid and place in the fridge for 1-2 hours
  • Put a pan on a burner at low-medium heat and add butter
  • Add 1/3 cup of batter in pan
  • Swirl pan until the surface is coated with a thin layer of batter
  • Let sit until the edges start to peel off the pan then flip the crepe
  • Wait until it’s only a little crispy and then put on a plate

You can add toppings like;

  • Butter & sugar
  • Jam & whipped cream
  • Nutella & banana
  • Butter, sugar & cinnamon
  • Scrambled egg

The crepes were really good, I made three; one with Nutella and banana, one with cinnamon and sugar and one with scrambled egg. Crepes are really good due to how many different things you can put on them. While most crepes are made sweet you could make one more savory.

They are also pretty easy to make but it’s easy to accidentally cut them due to how thin they are.

The crepes tasted really good the egg one might’ve been my favorite as the cheese I put in the egg and the crepe itself worked really well together. The other crepes also tasted really good though, both being sweet in different ways.

Due to how much batter I had we ended up with a lot of extra crepes since the crepe doesn’t take much batter to make due to being so thin. When making crepes the first one will almost always come out really bad as the pan isn’t quite ready yet so the first one will look bad.

Overall crepes are really good and pretty easy to make.

This recipe was a modified version of my dad’s.

Travel/Food

Brownie recipe review

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By: Norah Hoglund

Brownies are one of my favorite desserts. I love chocolate pastries and a good brownie is one of my favorite things ever. I have made many different recipes and today I am reviewing a recipe from Baker by Nature.

Link to the recipe: here

Review

This recipe made really good brownies all around. The top was crackly, just like it was advertised. They were very fudgy in the middle, but not undercooked. The edges were very crispy, which is good for the edge piece kind of people. I really enjoyed the chocolate chips that were mixed into the batter. They added a very nice texture to contrast the pastry texture. The chocolate flavor was strong, but it was still very sweet. As the brownies cooled, the edges got a bit more crispy. I personally prefer softer edges, but some people like them crispier. These brownies were really great overall and would go great with vanilla ice cream. I would rate them a 9/10 overall.

Recipe

  • 1 cup (120g) all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup (43g) unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 teaspoon espresso powder optional (don’t use if you don’t like coffee)
  • 3/4 cup (170g) unsalted butter
  • 2 Tablespoons (28ml) oil canola, vegetable, or coconut will work
  • 1 and 1/3 cups (265g) granulated sugar divided
  • 2 large large eggs
  • 1 large egg yolk
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract optional, but recommended
  • 3/4 cup (128 grams) chocolate chips

instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees (F) (175 degreed C). Line an 9×9-inch baking pan with parchment paper. Spray lightly with non-stick baking spray and set aside.
  2. In a large bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, salt, cocoa powder, and espresso powder. Set aside until needed.
  3. In a medium saucepan, combine the butter, oil, and 1/3 cup of the sugar. Heat over medium heat, stirring frequently, until butter is completely melted. Remove from heat.
  4. In a large mixing bowl, combine the eggs, egg yolk, vanilla (if using) and remaining sugar. Whisk until well combined, about 30 seconds.
  5. Slowly, pour the warm butter mixture into the egg mixture, adding it very gradually (a little bit at a time) and whisking constantly until completely combined.
  6. Add in the dry ingredients and chocolate chips and, using a rubber spatula, slowly stir until just combined.
    • *Do not over mix! Stop stirring when you see the last trace of dry ingredients. Over mixing will give you cakey brownies.
  7. Scrape the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top.
  8. Bake for 28 (to 30 minutes) or until the edges are firm and the top is shiny and slightly cracked.
  9. Place pan on a cooling rack and cool completely before slicing.
Travel/Food

Top 5 Christmas desserts

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By: Isabel Strack

Image created with Pixabay:https://pixabay.com/illustrations/ai-generated-christmas-8400419/

There are many dessert options for Christmas, but these are the most popular ones and here’s why.

Peppermint bark

Peppermint bark is a very popular Christmas dessert, and here is why. Many people like peppermint bark because it is very easy to make and tastes delicious.

You can bring it to family gatherings or even just to have in your house when you’re wanting something sweet.

To make it, all you need to do is melt a white chocolate bar, cut up some candy canes, and then you just chill it and it’s ready to eat. Peppermint bark is a big crowd pleaser and you will get many compliments on your baking skills.

Here is a link to a recipe for Peppermint bark: https://www.thepioneerwoman.com/food-cooking/recipes/a41534277/peppermint-bark-recipe/

Gingerbread cookies

Gingerbread cookies are also another big Christmas treat, and here is why. Many people enjoy these types of cookies because they just look and taste like Christmas.

These gingerbread cookies have been a popular dessert for awhile now, so many people will assume someone will bring it to a gathering.

These cookies started when Russian bakers would make these cookies as a replica for the people attending the party that day or evening.

These cookies will be very easy to bake as long as you have a cookie cutter.

Here is a link to a recipe for Gingerbread cookies: https://sallysbakingaddiction.com/best-gingerbread-cookies/

Frosted sugar cookies

These cookies are very fun and easy to make. You can make these cookies into fun shapes, and cool designs that you can frost on.

Many people already have their own recipe for these cookies, and enjoy baking them with their family for the holidays.

These cookies are pretty easy to make and are a fan favorite.

Here is a link to a recipe for Frosted sugar cookies: https://sugarspunrun.com/easy-sugar-cookie-recipe/#recipe

Mint brownies

These brownies aren’t as popular as the desserts I talked about before, but still taste delicious and everyone will enjoy them. They are a little bit more hard to make than the others but are still pretty easy to make, and will be worth it in the end.

Many people don’t know about this dessert, but once you bring it to a gathering people will be telling you how delicious they are and asking what the recipe is.

Here is a link to a recipe for Mint brownies: https://sallysbakingaddiction.com/classic-mint-chocolate-brownies/#tasty-recipes-74358

Caramelized pecans

This also isn’t as popular as the other desserts, but it is one of the easiest and best tasting desserts you can make.

If you aren’t a very good baker or just don’t enjoy baking that much these pecans are the way to go.

Although it is very easy to make, it is still very good and will make your whole house smell like Christmas.

Here is a link to a recipe for Caramelized pecans: https://stripedspatula.com/stovetop-caramelized-pecans/#wprm-recipe-container-11234