Wednesday 10 December 2014

Wonky Cupcake Liners

For me, nothing bursts my happy baking bubble like wrappers that turn your potentially pristine cuppies into little ugly disasters. I found a hack that actually works! It's not my own... and I can't remember where I read it to credit the person :/ Sorry! So, consider this a reblog. I really wanted to share this with you since I know you all are going to be baking up loads of yummy cupcakes for the season.,... might as well make them pretty too!

before

STEP 1:
Pre-heat oven for your cupcakes.

Step 2:
Place liners in your cupcake tins and place it in the oven while it's pre-heating.

Step 3:
Take them out at the end of the pre-heat and let them cool down in the tins before placing your batter in.
N.B- If not using your liners right away, let them cool completely in the tins before removing them.

after


Phew! Isn't it a relief knowing that something actually works and you don't have to put in a lot of effort or throw them out? After this process the liners sit flat in the tins and they pleat right back up for ya.




I'm not lying when I say that I've been brought near tears with some liners... never again ;)
before
after

Monday 13 October 2014

Bean Dumplings

Simply a healthy version to our flour dumplings. It can be used in place of the regular in soups or as a side dish to curries and stews.

It is healthier but it doesn't taste healthier. My method makes it ridiculously simple if you own a processor.


This is by no means an exact recipe. You can switch up proportions to suit you and your family's wants and needs. The possibilities are endless with dumplings. Add seasonings or replace these beans with another or maybe even a vegetable puree. The point is to make a stiff dough. These beans however, I found have the blandest taste so work well for this purpose.



You will need:
  • 1 can butter/white beans
  • 1 cup all purpose flour
  • 1 cup cornmeal
  • 2 tbsp margarine
  • Salt to taste
  • Approx 1/4 cup water for dough
  • 6 quarts of water or stock for cooking.


Method:
Pulse all dry ingredients together.
Add beans and margarine and pulse until like coarse breadcrumbs.

Add just enough water slowly, until it forms a ball of dough. Because of the moisture in the beans and that from the margarine, it will not need a lot of water. At this point it should not be sticky.






 Half this recipe serves 6-8 so I pack 1/2 for the next time in my freezer. (Don't forget to label and date it)

You can shape this any way you want but I like to do it this way.... because it's cute :p
All you do is roll ropes with it and then use a dull blade like a butter knife, to cut 2cm thick pieces. This is in order to squeeze the stiff dough to make the shape... A sharp knife will cut it without squeezing the edges if the dumplings. Roll the rope 90 degrees after every cut (away from you and then back to you) to create a unique shape.

TO COOK DUMPLINGS, bring liquid of choice to a rolling boil.  Drop the dumplings in one at a time and leave in until they rise to the top (approx 5mins depending on the size). Remove with a slotted spoon or in the case of soup, just leave in.

Enjoy!

Don't be intimidated in your kitchen... you're the boss!