Wednesday, October 10, 2012

no kitchen...

... which relates to not quite as much cooking and baking.... but, when I post so seldom, it kind of looks like I'm not doing baking anyway doesn't it?

We have been renovating for a few months already... and I did manage to bake a few little batches of muffins and scones in a teensy toaster oven.   You can see why it needed to be on for a long time.... it could only bake a few at a time.












My neighbour gave it to me several years ago to bake my polymer clay dolls and heads... but, hey...it has come in handy all of a sudden to actually bake food things!  Cuz I reeeellly miss baking.

But, then... I burned it out.  Yep.  It struggled through two batches of muffins...at a full 400F .... and then... smelled very strange and .. well, it just quit.  Awww.... poor little guy!  I felt guilty for forcing him to perform beyond his capacity.  After all he was old and very tiny...and well, I felt guilty.

However, I missed him right away and had to replace him.  Had to go shopping.  I looked at several places and settled on a Black & Decker... the same brand.  They do say they are the top in toaster ovens.  I looked at various brands and prices and this one fits the bill perfectly.  Only $49 on sale too...down from $79... such a deal.























The elements are covered with protectors too.  I like that.  Only one other had that ...and it was a $200 toaster oven... forget it.  I will most likely only use it 'til we move back into the newly renovated house with my new kitchen and oven.... and then... it won't be in use much.  Although, I do have to say...these little ovens do the best job I've ever seen on cookies.  The bottoms are so uniform and just perfectly baked.












The other day I did strawberry lemony muffins.... and the next day....a blueberry lemon batch.... YUM>....  I'm giving it a good test run.











... and....it can fit 9 small/medium muffins.  I found some foil reusable pans for a bargain too.   It was a good shopping day.   They only really hold 6..but, cut one in half to get in 3 more.  Fits perfectly.












The centre row gets slightly browner than the rest even if I turn them...but, that's fine.  "Somebunny" loves the browner ones!


Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Another one bites the dust...

I've been testing granola bar type recipes.... does anybody have one that is very tasty and that actually stays in bars when sliced?

Look at this mess.  By the time I finished it was just a pile of crumbs... and tasteless crumbs at that.  I didn't even bother licking my fingers to pick them up.....












This was supposed to be a tasty recipe ...with chocolate covered coffee beans and cranberries. Touted by a well known magazine.  Who the heck baked it, tasted it and thought so?  Not me.  My first response was "ick".....

After trying to lay some semi respectable squares on a plate I just got ticked and tossed it all in my food processor and pressed pulse several times...

This is it now... or would that be 'these are they'? .. hahhaha....  not anymore.....  these were they, and this is it....













I'll use it in some cookies... for which I found a perfectly great sounding recipe on the back of the rolled oat bag.  Looks like the perfect granola bar shall remain elusive....for now.

I destroyed the evidence.












REQUEST::
If you have a wonderful tasty granola bar recipe.... that stays together .....please email me .....