Thursday, January 27, 2011

Dinner Rolls

I have been SEARCHING for a fantastic yeast roll or dinner roll recipe that I don't screw up! Finally, I found a great dinner roll that turned out perfectly and delicious! Not like Golden Corral yeast rolls, but... baby steps!

Ingredients:
1 cup warm water
1 package dry yeast
1/4 cup sugar
1 tsp salt
1/4 cup unsalted butter
1 egg
3-4 cups white flour

In a large bowl, add sugar, water and yeast. Let sit about 5 minutes or until frothy.

Slowly add in butter. Mix well, add egg and salt.

Add in flour one cup at a time, mixing the whole time. Cover with saran wrap. Set aside in a warm place. Let rise until double. Punch down and form into 12 balls. Preheat oven to 350. Place 12 dough balls in your greased pan. When balls have risen to double, bake for about 30-40 minutes or until golden.



What I did differently from the recipe:
Obviously, I just made 8 dough balls instead of 12. Not that it matters.

What I'll do differently next time:
Nothing.

Verdict:
Thumbs up! These were very easy to make! I'm so glad I finally found a recipe that works for me. I did have to add more flour to my dough as I punched it down, so if your dough is too sticky be sure to do that. Also, mine only took about 15-20 minutes to bake, so just keep an eye on them.

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Golden Lemon Pound Cake

From: Food & Wine magazine

Ingredients:
Cake:
2 cups sugar
1 cup butter, softened
4 eggs
3 cups flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 cup buttermilk
1 tbsp freshly grated lemon peel
1 tbsp lemon juice

Glaze:
1 1/4 cups powdered sugar
2 tsp lemon juice
1 to 2 tbsp milk



Heat oven to 325. Combine sugar and butter in large bowl. Beat at medium speed until creamy. Continue beating, adding eggs one at a time, until well mixed. Reduce speed to low; gradually add flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt alternately with buttermilk until well mixed. Stir in lemon peel and 1 tbsp lemon juice.

Spread batter into greased and floured Bundt pan. Bake for 55-65 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pan. Cool completely.

Stir together powdered sugar, 2 tsp lemon juice and enough milk for desired glazing consistency in small bowl. Drizzle over cooled cake.


What I did differently from the recipe:
Of course I didn't have any buttermilk so I substituted lemon juice and milk. I left out the lemon peel.

What I'll do differently next time:
Nothing.

Verdict:
Thumbs up! This was a very thick, moist cake. The lemon flavor isn't overpowering, and the glaze isn't too sweet. It was a delicious dessert and so easy to make! I will definitely make this again in the future.

Printable version:

Ingredients:

Cake:
2 cups sugar
1 cup butter, softened
4 eggs
3 cups flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 cup buttermilk
1 tbsp freshly grated lemon peel
1 tbsp lemon juice

Glaze:
1 1/4 cups powdered sugar
2 tsp lemon juice
1 to 2 tbsp milk

Heat oven to 325. Combine sugar and butter in large bowl. Beat at medium speed until creamy. Continue beating, adding eggs one at a time, until well mixed. Reduce speed to low; gradually add flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt alternately with buttermilk until well mixed. Stir in lemon peel and 1 tbsp lemon juice.

Spread batter into greased and floured Bundt pan. Bake for 55-65 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pan. Cool completely.

Stir together powdered sugar, 2 tsp lemon juice and enough milk for desired glazing consistency in small bowl. Drizzle over cooled cake.

Saturday, January 8, 2011

White Chip Chocolate Cookies

From: Nestle Toll House bag

Ingredients:
2 1/4 cups flour
2/3 cup baking cocoa
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
3/4 cup sugar
2/3 cup brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 eggs
2 cups (12 oz) white morsels



Preheat oven to 350. Combine flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt in small bowl. Beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla in large mixer bowl until creamy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in morsels. Drop by teaspoons onto ungreased baking sheet. Bake for 9-11 minutes or until centers are set.



What I did differently from the recipe:
I halved it because it supposedly makes 5 dozen cookies!!

What I'll do differently next time:
Nothing.

Verdict:
Thumbs up! These were SO delicious. Very sweet but so easy and so good! Definitely will make these again!