Easy Homemade Yogurt

Simple Carrot Cake on a Whim

I am calling this cake "Carrot Cake on a Whim" because I made it yesterday evening on a whim. I was really, really craving carrot cake so I decided to make it with whatever ingredients I had on hand. It's a simplified recipe that turned or oh so delicious. From this "re-fashioned" recipe are missing the walnuts and the cinnamon, but I realized I much rather prefer it without the cinnamon. For more flavor, I used the juice of one lemon into the frosting.

Ingredients:

CAKE

3 cups finely grated carrots

1 cup sugar

2/3 cup canola oil

4 eggs

1 cup flour 

1 teaspoon baking powder

FROSTING

1 lemon

4 oz butter

2 packs 12 oz cream cheese

1 cup icing sugar

1/4 cup milk

I mixed the eggs with the sugar, the oil, and the carrots. When everything was quite well blended, I added the flour in which I had previously mixed the baking powder. The batter is on the runny side but it will bake to be moist and fluffy. 

It bakes in a well buttered cake pan or baking sheet at 350F for about 30 minutes. For baking cakes, I always use a large baking sheet. I don't like round cakes, they are difficult to portion and the cake pieces don't always look good on the plate.

After 30 minutes, when a toothpick inserted in the cake came out clean, I removed the cake from the pan onto a cooling rack. When it was cool enough, I measured it and cut it into three.

In the meantime, I made the FROSTING.
I combined into a big mixing bowl the softened butter and cream cheese, the icing sugar, the juice from a lemon, and the milk (the milk makes the frosting more frothy). I beat well with a whisk until creamy. I do not like to use food processors, beaters or any type of kitchen aids in the kitchen. I fell more connected with what I am cooking or baking when doing it the old fashion way.

I spread the icing in between each layer.

I don't know if it was because I was craving carrot cake, but this was one of the best deserts I had in a while. I enjoyed it so much! It is light, not very sweet, it has a very nice consistency. The lemon gives it such a original taste.

Cheese Puffs Are so French

This is one of the testiest things I have ever eaten! They always looked scary to make. What if they did not puff up, what if the dough would be too lumpy to even bake! In the end, it all turned out great!

The dough literally takes 5 minutes to prepare and they bake for about 15 minutes; you know, until "golden brown". 

Ingredients:

- 1 cup all purpose unbleached flour

- four eggs

- 1 stick butter

- 1 cup Gruyere cheese

- 1/2 cup milk

- 1/2 cup water

First things first, I set the oven to preheat at 425F. The temperature is the utmost importance in this recipe. If the oven is not hot enough, the puffs do not puff and "the sun is not shiny". 

After I dealt with the oven, I combined the water, the milk, and the butter into a sauce pan. The butter melted and the liquid heated ever so slightly in about 3 minutes at medium heat on the stove.

When the liquid was hot but not quite boiling, I took the saucepan off the heat and I added the flour stirring really fast until it formed into dough.

I added the four eggs to the dough.

I switched to a potato masher and I stirred vigorously until all the eggs incorporated into the dough. I do not like using mixers and food processors in my kitchen. So I experiment with all sorts of kitchen utensils until I find the right one. Hence, the potato masher.

Last, I added the grated cheese and I mixed it well into the dough.

I would describe the consistency of the dough a little thicker than cupcake batter. I does not pour but, at the same time, it's not a dough you can roll.

I used a coffee spoon to form the puffs. I did not brush them with egg and they still crisped and browned nicely anyway.

After 5 minutes, I lowered the oven temperature to 400F. I made sure the puffs were already puffed up by then.

Here they are!

All cheesy, puffed up ...

and hollow on the inside as they should be.

Oatmeal Breakfast Cookies

Cream of Mushroom Soup

 

Cheese Sticks Family Recipe

The Most Delicious Chili

The most delicious chili on a cold winter day!

This is a recipe I love to make. You just put everything in the pot and wait for dinner to be ready. No fuss, no muss. I serve it at casual dinners (i.e. close family) especially in the winter.

INGREDIENTS (the quantities do not have to be exact):

1 1/2 lb lean ground beef
1 big onion
5 very small red and yellow bell peppers (red and/or green pepper work great for this recipe)
4 cloves of garlic (more can be used for the more adventurous)
3 big carrots
5-6 scallions
1 can of black beans (any color beans work)
1 medium size can of tomato sauce
salt, pepper, crushed red pepper for everyone's taste

1. First, I browned the ground beef for about 10 minutes. I removed the browned ground beef and in the same pan I added 3 tablespoons of olive oil in which I sauteed the onion with a little salt and one teaspoon of sugar.

2. I added the rest of the chopped vegetables. Some frozen corn could also go in the pot but I am all out today myself.

3. I let everything cook for about 10 minutes at medium-high heat.

4. I added the browned ground beef to the vegetables. This cooked for five minutes at medium-high heat.

5. I added about 4 cups of chicken broth, just enough to cover everything in the pot. The chicken broth can always be replaced by any other type of broths or use just plain water.

6. I reduced the heat to medium-low for about 20 minutes or until the meat is tender.

7. At this point I added the tomato sauce and the beans (washed and strained).

8. I let everything on the stove for 20 more minutes at medium-low heat.

The chili is done!

9. I like to serve it with grated cheese or sour cream, topped with shallots.
Yummy! It doesn't feel like it's 2F outside anymore !

10 Minute Whole Wheat Bread

This is a recipe I invented and perfected myself. The recipe is simple, quick, and inexpensive. The bread is healthy and tasty. No kneading required. I don't get my hands all covered in flour and the kitchen stays clean. It only takes 10 minutes to turn the ingredients into bread dought and get it ready to bake.

Ingredients:
              3 cups whole wheat flour
              2 cups warm water
              2 tablespoons sugar
              1 tablespoon butter (for the pan)
              2 teaspoons dry yeast
              1 teaspoon salt
         

1. In a large bowl, add two cups warm water, 2 tbsp sugar and 2 tsp dry yeast. Let the yeast dissolve in the water for 2-3 minutes.

2. Add 3 cups flour and 1 tsp salt.

3. Stir in the flour with a sturdy wooden spoon until all the flour is incorporated. The dough will look sticky. No using hands for kneading!

4. Put the dough in a buttered loaf pan.

5. Let the dough rise for 20-30 minutes in a relatively warm place.

6. Bake for 45 minutes in a pre-heated 375F oven.

7. Take out of the pan and enjoy. Best used as sandwich bread.