Category Archives: Baking

How to Make Homemade Butter

Appetizers, Baking, Cookies, Delicious, Kids

Homemade butter? Yes, and trust me on this that it might change your take on butter. My oldest kid uses butter on a regular basis to sear up ham and buns, yep, he is into that and I don’t mind as he is exploring in the kitchen and cooking on his own. After watching a recent Vimeo video of this guy’s passion of making bread and butter, I decided that I was going to make my own butter. If you have never made butter before, try it. It was super simple, and you know what you are getting when you are making it yourself, and that is the beauty of it all.

Homemade Butter Recipe

Let’s get started.

Ingredients:

  • 2 pints of Organic Heavy Cream
  • KitchenAid with Whisk attachment or a large mason jar with lid
  • 2 cups of ice cold water
  • Salt, optional
  • Cheese Cloth, optional

Yep, that’s how butter is made. Way to simple.

I used a KitchenAid, however rumor has it that you can shake the crap out of the cream in a large mason jar. I support KitchenAid, so I went that route.

Start by adding the heavy cream to the KitchenAid bowl. Place in the mixer, and spin on medium to medium-high spin for about 10 minutes, keeping an eye on it along the way.

After about 10 minutes, possibly sooner, the cream begins to curdle and separate. It’s cool, it’s really cool. Once it separates, turn off the mixer. Strain the liquid from the solid. You can reserve the liquid should you desire. Once the liquid has been strained, return the solids back to the mixer. Add in the ice cold water, and continue to mix until you have a tight, solid mixture. Drain the excess water.

how-to-make-homemade-butter-ingredients

Once you think the liquid has been strained, it has not. Use a large wooden spoon and press the butter against the bowl. Lots of liquid will come out, trust me. Continue until you know that all of the liquid has been removed. I ensured this by placing the butter into some cheese cloth and tightening it until all of the liquid was removed.

Now you can add salt if you desire. I added about half of a tablespoon of course Kosher salt. You could add Sriracha salt as well. Give a gentle stir, and save in a sealed tight container, in the refrigerator.

The end result is a great, really great butter. I haven’t seen my wife spread butter on a bagel in some time, and she was all over that. We spread it on corn, as well as seared up some ham sandwiches. Give this a shot if you want some really good product, and remember, use organic, I think that makes a huge difference.

Blueberry and Ginger Pie

Baking, Dessert, Fruit, Kids

So I entered a pie contest this past Fourth of July. If you have known me long enough, you have probably figured out that I am not a baking kind of guy, nor am I one that is big into desserts. However, my kids are all about the desserts, and my daughter in particular is one who is really into fruit, and fruit pies for that matter. So it was last year that we were up at our local festival and that is when I found out there was a pie contest. A friend of ours actually came in first place, and that is what drove me this year to submit one. I’ve really been into blueberries lately and use them quiet extensively when I juice, so I figured that would be my pie, or the base of the pie that I would submit.

As a side note, my pie did not win and I’m fine with that, but what I did notice is that I had a line in front of my pie, full of people just dying to try it. My pie was gone in a matter of seconds. I felt like a winner after all.

This blueberry and ginger pie was so good my daughter asked me to make another one a few days later, and so I did, but taught her how to make it. I was winning again.

Blueberry and Ginger Pie

Let’s get started.

Ingredients:

  • 3 pints of fresh blueberries, rinsed
  • 1 cup of sugar
  • 1 lemon, zest and juice
  • 1 tbsp fresh ginger, grated
  • 1/4 cup cornstarch
  • 1 generous pinch of cinnamon
  • 1 tbsp additional sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tbsp water
  • 2 pie crusts, store bought or homemade
  • 1 tsp course salt

The great thing about this pie is that it is so simple to prepare. I will also admit that I included a couple of other items in my pie submission and I will keep those a secret until I win next year.

Start by preheating your oven to 385 degrees.

Next, add your cleaned  berries to a large bowl and add in the ginger, lemon zest, lemon juice, sugar, cinnamon, and cornstarch. Gently mix to get everything incorporated.

I used frozen pie crusts with my daughter, just thought I would let you know.

How to make blueberry and ginger pie

Take one frozen pie crust, in its pan, and add in the blueberry mixture. Carefully place the other pie crust on top of the blueberry mixture, then using a fork, crimp the edges to seal the pie.

Mix the egg and water in a small bowl. Lightly brush the egg wash mixture onto the pie crust. Cut a few slots with a sharp knife on the middle of the pie dough to allow steam to escape.

Sprinkle the course salt and additional sugar on the top of the pie. Place on a baking sheet (as the blueberry mixture will escape), and cook for about 50-60 minutes. Once nice and golden, remove from the baking sheet and place the pie tin onto a plate to let cool.

I like to place my pie into the refrigerator to let cool overnight. Obviously my daughter (and wife) could wait no longer.

When you are ready, slice and serve. The pie just hits the spot. Maybe it is that bit of salt that cuts the sweetness along with the zip from the lemon. Whatever it is, this pie is special, and super delicious, especially on a hot summer day. Enjoy!

Roasted Garlic and Parmesan Chicken Wings

Appetizers, Baking, Chicken, Events, Game Day, Sauce, Sides

My family and I have been visiting a local restaurant in town known as Buffalo Wild Wings. You have probably heard of it, and it is basically bar grub such as wings, burgers, flatbreads, and the like. When it first opened we were pretty stoked as the food was half way decent, the service was good, and it was a place where the kids could agree on. Over the course of the past year, if not more, service has gone down hill, and in my opinion so has their food. Their wings are becoming rubbery, even somewhat cold on one occasion, and their nachos, which both my wife and I love, are never consistent. Point of the story is two things; we stopped going, and I figure out how to make their garlic and parmesan sauce, which is finger licking delicious, and I’m not one to lick my fingers if you know what I’m saying.

Roasted Garlic and Parmesan Chicken Wings

I’m a sucker for really good wings, dry or wet, so why not take a chance and make them your own, right? I’m also into baked chicken wings, and a bit on the drier side, but you make them any way you desire. This sauce has that perfect tang, with awesome roasted garlic flavor. They were hard to stop eating, let’s just put it that way.

Let’s get started.

Ingredients:

  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 8 cloves garlic, skin on
  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise
  • 3 tbsp parmesan cheese, grated
  • 1 tsp fresh lemon juice
  • 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1/4 teaspoon dried marjoram
  • 1/4 teaspoon dried basil
  • Generous pinch of red pepper flakes
  • Generous pinch of parsley flakes
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 24-36 Baked or Fried Chicken wings

Start by getting a sheet of aluminum foil out, and place the garlic cloves on top. Drizzle with the olive oil, and place in a 350 degree oven for about 30 minutes. Remove, and let cool.

During this time, add the remaining ingredients to a small mixing bowl.  Once the garlic is cooled, remove from the skins, and mash into small bowl, then mix well into the sauce. Set this sauce, covered, in the refrigerator for at least one hour to let the flavors merry.

How to make garlic parmesan chicken wings

Deep fry or bake your wings until the are fully cooked and crispy. I like to bake mine. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.

Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Use two baking sheets if you have to. place the chicken onto the baking sheet, and place in the preheated oven for 1 hour and 30 minutes. Turn once around 60 minutes. After 1 1/2 hours, turn off the oven, and let them sit in there for another 15 minutes.

Once you are ready to eat and the wings are fully cooked, add them to a larger mixing bowl. Add in as much or as little sauce, and coat to your liking. Give them a nice toss and dig in.

The result is awesome. Perfectly crisp chicken wings with the roasted garlic and parmesan sauce just sold me that I no longer need to visit the longer Buffalo Wild Wings, plus I make better nachos to boot! Hope you enjoy!

Print
Roasted Garlic and Parmesan Chicken Wings
Author: 
Recipe type: Chicken Wings
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 2-4
 
Ingredients
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 8 cloves garlic, skin on
  • ½ cup mayonnaise
  • 3 tbsp parmesan cheese, grated
  • 1 tsp fresh lemon juice
  • 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • ¼ teaspoon dried thyme
  • ¼ teaspoon dried marjoram
  • ¼ teaspoon dried basil
  • Generous pinch of red pepper flakes
  • Generous pinch of parsley flakes
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • 24-36 Baked or Fried Chicken wings
Instructions
  1. Start by getting a sheet of aluminum foil out, and place the garlic cloves on top. Drizzle with the olive oil, and place in a 350 degree oven for about 30 minutes. Remove, and let cool.
  2. During this time, add the remaining ingredients to a small mixing bowl. Once the garlic is cooled, remove from the skins, and mash into small bowl, then mix well into the sauce. Set this sauce, covered, in the refrigerator for at least one hour to let the flavors merry.
  3. Once you are ready to eat, and the wings are fully cooked, add them to a larger mixing bowl, add in as much or as little sauce, and coat to your liking. Give them a nice toss and dig in.
  4. The result is awesome. Perfectly crisp chicken wings with the roasted garlic and parmesan sauce just sold me that I no longer need to visit the longer Buffalo Wild Wings, plus I make better nachos to boot! Hope you enjoy!

 

Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

Baking, Bread, Breakfast, Fruit, Kids

This past holiday break was well needed. I think that everyone in my house needed the break, and rest for that matter. With that said, I was off my normal morning routine for the most part in terms of breakfast. For the most part, I skipped breakfast which I normally never do. My normal routine typically consists of making a fruit filled smoothie consisting of a banana, lots of blueberries, a bit of yogurt, and some milk and juice. The bananas looked at me every morning, and began turning color and getting pretty darn ripe. When that occurs, I can only think of doing one thing, and that is making bread with it. It is one way I can get all of the kids eating bananas, yes, it’s that bad when it comes to the banana. My kids love banana bread, so I figured I would take a different approach, simplify my recipe, and add a bunch of chocolate chips. It could have been the best banana bread I’ve made thus far, and the kids would agree.

Chocolate Chip Banana Bread Recipe

Let’s get started.

Ingredients:

  • 4 very ripe bananas
  • 1 stick of unsalted butter, melted
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 whole egg
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1 tbsp unsalted butter
  • bread pan

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

To your mixer, add the bananas, sugar, butter, egg, and vanilla. Mix until everything is combined, then add in the baking soda, flour, salt, and chocolate chips.

How to make chocolate chip banana bread

Butter your bread or loaf pan, then pour in the mixture. Cook for roughly one hour, or until a butter knife runs clean when inserted in the middle.  Remove from the oven, and let cool, for about one more hour.

The end result is a super moist banana bread that is perfectly balanced with the chocolate, and who doesn’t love that?  I hope you enjoy.