Tuesday, July 13, 2010

How to Make Breadcrumbs

How to Make Breadcrumbs

Don't throw out all those bread scraps!

A lot of individuals do not realize that breadcrumbs serve a variety of functions. You can use these for cooking and adding texture and flavor to different foods like pizza, fried chicken and many more. It is actually cheap and easy to start, considering that you have the right remains with you. Here are some tried and proven tips from the experts to help you.

About Breadcrumbs

Breadcrumbs are used in several food recipes like casseroles and fried foods. You can buy breadcrumbs, but you will find that making your own leads to less waste and more savings. You also get the advantage of added flavor, since you get to pick the contents to work with. You get rid of unwanted chemicals and preservatives the store-bought types offer.

Homemade fresh breadcrumbs are on the top of every baker's preferences and one of my husbands favorites.

Starting Steps

Gather all your ingredients and tools to start making breadcrumbs. You can make breadcrumbs from virtually any type of bread. You can also mix different kinds of bread. It is an excellent way to use up leftovers, stale bread and the ends of a bread loaf. Remember that you can still taste the flavor and seasonings of the original bread if you consume the crumbs. You need 4 regular slices of bread for a cup of crumbs. Other tools you need include a food processor to turn the bread into crumbs, a knife or a blender. Blenders will save you time and energy to make uniform crumbs, but you can also do well with a basic knife.

Making the Crumbs

Using slices of bread and trimming the crusts off it will result to uniform breadcrumbs. If you have soft bread, you can leave it out on the counter to dry it out and make it easier to cut. This is useful if you have a food processor or a blender, since soft bread can get gummy inside the machine. You can also place the bread inside a warm oven, until it becomes mildly toasted. Do not overdo the process, however. There is a fine line between the perfect toast and badly burnt bread. Always observe the heating process.

Cutting and Preparation

Cut the bread into small crumbs. Make the smallest pieces possible, especially if you are working with a knife. When using a food processor or blender, tear the bread into small pieces then feed these to the machine one piece at a time. Do not over fill the blender or processor to keep the blades from getting stuck. Pulse the machine until you get the ideal size of breadcrumbs. Add the needed seasonings for flavor such as cheese, herbs and spices. The seasonings should complement the recipe you are trying to follow.

Also, if you just want to make real easy, you can do what my husband does and just break them up by hand and add them as croutons to your salad.

Final Tips

Making a large batch of breadcrumbs will help you save time and energy. Store the extra in a zip-top bag then store inside the freezer. You can easily thaw these in the future if you need to use them. Compare the different flavors and experiment to make your own personalized recipe.

So save those scraps of bread...

Happy baking,
Renee

Monday, July 5, 2010

How to Make Cinnamon Bread Rolls

How to Make Cinnamon Bread Rolls

Cinnamon bread rolls are delectable treats that you can eat during coffee breaks, at parties and on other special occasions. You can enjoy these with family and friends. There are different flavors to enjoy. The good thing about making a cinnamon bread roll recipe is that the dough can be filled, shaped, mixed and frozen. You can make more and just thaw these before serving. These can be prepared in just a few minutes, perfect for breakfast.

The Ingredients

To make the cinnamon bread rolls, you will need 1 cup of milk, heated about 1 minute inside the microwave oven, 1 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract, 1/4 cup of warm water about 110 degrees F, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, 1/2 cup of butter, 2 beaten eggs, 1/2 cup of granulated sugar, 1 tablespoon of vital wheat gluten, 5 cups of bread flour, cinnamon filling, butter frosting and 3 teaspoons of active dry yeast.

Using a Bread Machine

Add all needed ingredients, except for the butter frosting and cinnamon filling, inside the bread pan of the bread machine. Process everything based on the instructions given by the manufacturer for a dough setting. When the dough cycle has been completed by the bread machine, take out the dough from the pan and place on a lightly oiled surface. Use a non-stick cooking spray. Form the dough into an oval shape, then cover using a plastic wrap. Allow everything to rest for 10 minutes.

Check the dough. Make sure that it forms a solid but elastic ball. If the dough is too moist, you may add more flour, one tablespoon at a time. If the dough is gnarly and dry, you may add warm water, one tablespoon at a time. If looking is not enough, you can stick your finger into the dough. Ideally, it should be tacky.

The Standup Mixer

If you are using a standup mixer. Mix all the ingredients according to the instructions given, except for the butter frosting and cinnamon filling. Use a dough hook, then mix all the ingredients together until you form a soft dough. Turn the dough onto a lightly oiled surface. Use non-stick cooking spray. Knead the dough until it becomes elastic for about 10 minutes. Cover the bowl using plastic wrap then allow to rest for 10 minutes.

Using a Food Processor

Place the dry mixture inside the processing bowl. While the motor is running, you may add eggs, butter and liquid ingredients. Process everything until well-mixed. Continue processing the ingredients, then add more flour until you form a soft ball. Turn the dough onto a lightly oiled surface. Use non-stick cooking spray, then knead until the dough becomes elastic. Cover the bowl using plastic wrap and allow to rest for 10 minutes.

Next Tips

Beginning with the long edge, roll the dough up, pinching the seams to seal. Rolling the log very tightly will lead to cinnamon rolls with the centers popped up over the rest as these bake. You can add the flavors according to your personal preference.

Happy baking,
Renee

Thursday, July 1, 2010

The Cinnamon Pita Bread

The Cinnamon Pita Bread

To make cinnamon pita bread, add some cinnamon and sugar on top of the rounds of pita dough before you bake. You can readily eat this or stuff a few raisins inside the rolled form together with some butter for more flavor. It is not recommended, however, to cook the pita bread together with the raisins, since 500 degrees F will scorch the raisins, making your pita bread very bitter.

Feel free to add any condiments after you have cooked the cinnamon pita bread. You can add honey and butter while baking to give it a unique and savory smell. You can make more servings by sticking with the pita bread recipe. Store any excess inside an airtight container or inside the refrigerator. You can just reheat it anytime for a few minutes before serving. This can last several days or weeks.

Happy baking,
Renee

Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Cinnamon Swirl Bread

Cinnamon Swirl Bread

Cinnamon swirl bread is also very easy to make. Make the regular dough, but instead of shaping it instantly into a loaf, roll it out on the counter. Sprinkle the dough with a combination of sugar and cinnamon. You will need about 2 teaspoons of cinnamon together with 1/4 cup of sucanat. Roll the dough up. Poke the ends underneath to create the loaf shape, then put inside a butter bread pan. Allow the loaf to rise about 30 to 45 minutes and bake. You will find that the bread is better if lightly toasted and buttered. Eat with a glass of milk or coffee.

Happy baking,
Renee

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Quick Cinnamon Bread

Quick Cinnamon Bread

Cinnamon bread is a great and delicious snack or breakfast that you can easily prepare by simply following a few instructions. You will find that you can customize the appearance and flavor later on as you master the basics. It is important that you understand the nature of the bread as well, so you avoid minor accidents like burning the bread too much.

Initial Steps

First, take the bread, then toast it at around 4 to 5 degrees to attain the crispy nature. Ideally, you should use whole wheat bread. Make sure that you do not burn the bread. Kids should properly be trained, to avoid any injury. Put honey on the two slices of bread. Just put enough so that you get a bitter taste once you reach the next step. Bee's honey is recommended, especially those that are made only from all-natural ingredients. Processed honey may make the bread too bitter.

Sprinkle cinnamon on both slices of bread as you prefer. There are small packets of cinnamon available at your local grocery store. Stack the slices, then warm these inside the microwave for 20 seconds, so that the honey and cinnamon can melt at the same time, providing you with quality flavor.

To finish off the recipe, you can top the cinnamon with small banana slices or place these at the side. This can be stored easily inside your refrigerator, so you only have to microwave in the morning for a quick and easy breakfast.
Happy baking,
Renee

Monday, June 21, 2010

Making Chocolate Banana Bread

Making Chocolate Banana Bread

Follow the direction in the post How to Make Banana Bread and then...

To make chocolate banana bread, you can add 1 cup of dark chocolate chips, icing sugar (to dust) and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract. When sifting the baking powder and flour inside the bowl, add the caster sugar. Melt the chocolate chips and butter in a double boiler. Dust the final loaf with caster sugar. You will need about 1 hour to bake the chocolate banana bread. Allow the bread to cool for 40 to 50 minutes.


Happy baking,
Renee

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

How to Make Banana Bread

How to Make Banana Bread

Banana bread has become a very popular type among families and kids, since it is delicious, nutritious and very easy to prepare. You can serve this for breakfasts, as a dessert for guests or for your child's snacks at school. You can also save more dollars by using bananas that have ripened more than enough to be eaten independently. Here's how to begin.

Gather the Ingredients

To start, gather all the materials and ingredients you need. Take 1 3/4 cups of flour, 2 teaspoons of baking powder, 2/3 cup of sugar, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, 1/3 cup of shortening or softened butter, some extra flour, cooking spray or butter to grease the pan and a cup of mashed bananas. Try to aim for 2 bananas mashed completely.

The Process

Pre-heat your oven to 350 degrees F. Grease all the surfaces of the inside of the pan. Sprinkle some flour into the pan, then shake the flour around until all the sides are already covered with flour. You can ensure that the bread will come out very smoothly this way. Mash the bananas, then mix them in with the other ingredients. Mix the sugar, baking powder, flour, salt and baking soda inside a medium-sized bowl.

Add the softened butter to the flour mixture, plus the shortening, then mix everything until the mixture appears like crumbs. Add two of the eggs then continue stirring. Pour the batter into the floured and greased pan. Put the pan inside the oven, then bake at 350 degrees F for 30 to 40 minutes. Try to insert a toothpick into the middle of the banana bread. It should come out clean to confirm that the bread is baked well.

Final Tips

You will find that work can be easier if you use a bread pan measuring about 4 x 8 inches deep. Try to reduce the total number of times that you open the oven to check on the condition of the banana bread, since heat can escape every time you open the oven door, thereby making baking periods longer.

Use bananas that are overripe or past, characterized by a lot of brown spots on the peel. These are generally sweeter compared to ripe bananas. If the bread is browning quickly, but the center is still raw, you can cover the bread using aluminum foil. The bread will continue baking, although the browning process is slowed down. If you have extra bananas and want to make 2 or more loaves in a single session, freeze the extra loaves to prevent these from spoiling. Always use oven mitts when taking the banana bread out of the oven to keep your hand from getting burning.


Happy baking,
Renee