Christmas Baking - it begins!
8 years ago
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Christmas baking..........
Comments (20)The starter recipe I used is very simple: 1 cup flour 1 cup sugar 1 cup milk 2 1/4 t. dry instant yeast or 1 package of regular active yeast In a glass or crockery container (never use a metal bowl!) stir all together with a wooden or plastic spoon. Beat well until smooth and to incorporate air into the starter. Cover with a clean cloth or kitchen tea towel and let sit out on the kitchen counter. This is Day 1. Day 2-5 Stir the starter once a day and recover with cloth. Day 6 Feed the starter with equal parts of flour, sugar, and milk. If you want to share the starter, use 1 1/2 cups of each, flour, sugar, and milk. If you want to keep less starter on hand and do not plan to share it, feed the starter with 1/4 to 1/2 cup each flour, sugar and milk. (I used the lesser amount.) Day 7-9 Stir the starter once each day. Day 10 Make a recipe using the starter; then give a cup full in a glass jar to some friends along with the instructions and a recipe for bread or cake. If you plan not to give away any of the starter, you can take out a cup to make the bread or cake, then feed the starter with equal amounts of the flour, sugar, and milk. Just be sure to feed the starter every 5 days and stir it each day between feedings, that's basically what you do to maintain the starter. I have read that you can freeze the starter in 1 cup amounts if you wish. Don't refrigerate the starter though. Remember, there is sweetness in the starter, that is why I use less sugar in the bread recipe. As with any sourdough starter, I do not overwhelm a small amount of starter with large amounts of the feed. Here is the recipe for the Apple Cranberry Pecan/Walnut bread: oven set to 325 degrees F one large 9x5 loaf pan or 4-5 mini loaf pans sprayed with cooking spray and sprinkled with cinnamon sugar Apple Cranberry Pecan Friendship Bread 1 cup of the Friendship Bread starter 1/2 cup applesauce 1/2 cup vegetable oil 3 eggs, beaten 1/2 t salt 1 t vanilla 1 t cinnamon (use 1 1/2 t for a stronger cinnamon flavor) 2/3 to 3/4 cup sugar (recipe calls for 1 cup sugar) 2 cup regular all-purpose flour 1 1/4 t baking powder 1/2 t baking soda 1/2 cup chopped or halved fresh cranberries 1/2 to 3/4 cup finely diced fresh apple 1/2 to 3/4 cup finely chopped pecans (or walnuts) I mixed all in order in my mixer, stirring in the cranberries, apples, and pecans lastly just briefly to mix in well. Put in the pan(s) you are using. I used 4 non-stick mini loaf pans to make a nice size for gift giving. Bake the large loaf at 325 for 1 hour. Bake the mini loaves at 325 for about 35 minutes, checking them at 30 minutes. When the loaves look dry-ish on the top and a toothpick inserted comes out with no wet batter on it, the loaves are done. Cool in pan about 5-10 minutes, then turn out on a rack to cool completely. I really like the tartness of the fresh cranberries mixed into the sweet (but not too sweet) bread batter. When completely cooled and wrapped in plastic wrap, I will put a label on each mini loaf, freeze them, then put several loaves in a heavy zip bag. The mini loaf is a good size for just about anyone, or you could give a trio of mini loaves of different breads to a larger family. These breads would be great to have in the morning with breakfast, as a snack with a cup of tea or coffee, or put out on a holiday open house or brunch buffet. There are lots of recipes on the web using this type of Friendship Starter. I will include a link with lots of variations. I plan to try a variation using the instant pudding that is part of so many recipes, but IMO it is just added expense and sweetness which may not be necessary. I think the use of less oil and added applesauce makes the bread nicely moist - with less fat. Here is a link that might be useful: Friendship Bread Kitchen...See MoreMerry Christmas--demo beginning! AHHHHH!
Comments (4)Fun fun fun! Enjoy the ride. LOVE the sledgehammer comment. That was BY FAR the best part of my demo. Taking a sledgehammer to my vile countertop. I highly recommend it. Good catharsis as the frustrations of renovating start piling up ... I'm mid-reno too, got my cabs in just in time for Christmas. Now that's a great present!...See MoreThe Baking begins 3
Comments (10)rhizo they are called Honey Crisp. Use Rice Krispies, honey, butterscotch chips and coconut. If you'd like the recipe I'll be glad to post it....See MoreAre you baking Christmas cookies? What kind?
Comments (104)I found the Eggnog Snickerdoodles on the cooking forum years ago. I made them last night and they were very good! I couldn't find Brandy extract so I just used cognac instead. I also added a little bit of cinnamon. Eggnog Snickerdoodles 2 3/4c flour 1 1/2c sugar 1 c butter, softened 2 eggs 2 tsp cream of tartar 1 tsp baking soda 1/4 tsp salt 1/2 tsp brandy extract 1/2 tsp rum extract 1/8 tsp nutmeg Sugar mix: 1/4c sugar 1tsp nutmeg Mix butter and sugar. Add eggs and beat. Add flour, cream of tartar brandy and rum extract, salt, soda and nutmeg. Mix well. Chill. Shape into 1 tsp sized balls. Roll in sugar mix. Bake 8-10 minutes at 350° or until cookies are lightly browned. Yields 2 dozen. Recipe easily doubles with no problem....See More- 8 years ago
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annie1992Original Author