BIZZY BAKES

Friday is a total cooking day for me.  Well, there is some cleaning in there, too, but it is the cooking, I love to do.  Each Friday, I have the fun of selecting different dishes to make and to scan the cookbooks, magazines of the blogs, looking for something a bit different.  This is a part of the week, I especially enjoy and of course, it is all for our Sabbath (Shabbos). My husband kept asking for rice, potatoes or pasta for dinner but I didn't feel like any of them. So simple when that happens - one of us get his/her way. This time, it is me. I don't think hubby is going to be disappointed with what I ended up making.  Since he was looking for starch, I decided bread would be the right way to go.  I haven't had extra gluten-free bread in the house for months.  Usually, we make a loaf a week and that is fine for hubby.  When I was shopping, I decided to pick up some gluten-free rolls and I had a few packages in the freezer.  Poof, ...

 I love to bake but I don't usually have time to make complicated recipes.  Muffins are easy to make and take a minimum of time and I am happy, I made this commitment to weekly muffins, although I did skip Passover.   I bake these for my husband who likes rather plain baked good and loves nuts.  This fits the bill for muffins.  I do have to stay away from chocolate muffins or ones with chocolate chip because he is not a chocolate fan.  Horrors!  No gushy toppings but that works for muffins.  If these were cupcakes, I would be in trouble. Anyone else want to join in with a weekly muffin, let us know so we can check your blog for recipes. These are not pretty muffins but they are delicious muffins.  I did not even want to pretty them up with confectioner's sugar.  These stand for who they are without pretense.  Probably, they should be given the descriptor, rustic.  They are filled with dried fruit and nuts an...

  How would you like the first challenge of a new group to be baking or cooking with apples and caramel?  Yep, sounds pretty good.  In fact, it is absolutely delicious.  I made a cookie that truly surprised me.  I thought it would be rather bland and plain but it turned out to be chewy and delicious.   Caramel Apple Cookies   Adapted from Granny's Mountain Ingredients: 1/3 cup granulated sugar 1/3 cup brown sugar 1/2 cup margarine, at room temperature 1 egg 1-1/4 cups all purpose flour 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/2 cup dried apple pieces, chopped 1/2 cup caramel chips  Method: Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In medium bowl mix flour, baking soda and salt. In separate bowl, mix sugars and butter. Add egg, mixing just until blended. Add flour mixture and combine well. Mix in caramel chips and apple. Using a teaspoon size cookie scoop, drop batter about 2 inches apart on a cookie sheet, lined with parchment paper. ...

I use dried fruit in many of my recipes.  They always add something new in terms of either texture or taste.  If the dried fruit is soaked before hand, we end up with a plump juicy piece of fruit rather than the harder dried fruit.  My hubby always asks me, why I don't use fresh fruit.  The answer is simple.  I don't always have it, in the house, or it is out of season.  Dried fruit steps in like a real trooper.   Fruity Bars                                         adapted from Taste of Home Ingredients 1 cup water 1/2 cup chopped dates 1/2 cup chopped pitted dried plums, cherries, cranberries, blueberries 1/2 cup raisins 1/2 cup oil (Canola) 1/2 cup egg substitute 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 cup gluten-free flour mixture 1 teaspoon baking soda 1/...