Teaching Cooking

I have taught basic cooking to my seven children and to classes of elementary children. When my youngest daughter wanted to learn, I found that taking the recipes and making them into a step-by-step format made it easier for her, so here is a blog to hopefully make cooking easier for the beginner.

Saturday, October 10, 2015

Grandma Cox's Sugar Cookies

Grandma  Cox's Sugar Cookies

11/2 cups butter
2 eggs
2 cups sugar
1 tsp vanilla or almond
Beat them together.

Stir together:
6 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp salt
2 tsp baking soda

Alternate mixing this flour mixture into the butter/egg/sugar mixture with 1 cup milk.

Roll dough on a floured board and cut with cookie cutters.  Bake on a greased cookie sheet at 350 for 8-10 minutes, until very light brown.  DON'T OVER COOK!  Frost as desired.

Monday, September 14, 2015

Mom's Meatloaf

1 lb ground beef
1-2 eggs
1/4 cup ketchup
1/2 cup oatmeal
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
small chopped onion (if you want)

1.  Put all ingredients into a bowl.
2.  Mix well.  I use my hands on this one.  I know it seems gross to some, but it is the best way to get it mixed well.
3.  Pat it into an 8 x 8 pan and bake at 350 degrees F. for 30 minutes.

Pear Honey

Pear Honey

9 cups of sliced pears (this can be an approximate amount so if you have more, it still works)
1 can pineapple chunks
1/4 cup lemon juice
3-5 cups sugar

1.  Peel and core the pears.
2.  Slice before measuring.
3.  Put in a blender or food processor with the lemon juice and pineapple.
4.  Blend until partly smooth, but also partly chunky.  I like the chunks in it, but not too big - pea size or smaller is great.
5.  In a large 6 quart pan, pour the blended mixture in and add the sugar.  I start adding the smaller amount and then only add more if I want it  sweeter.
6.  Cook on low heat for 20 minutes.  Be sure to keep stirring the mixture at regular intervals to avoid scorching, it can scorch pretty easy.
7.  Pour the mixture in the jars and process for 10 minutes.

Goes great on pancakes and waffles!

Fruit Pizza



SUGAR COOKIE CRUST

  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg, at room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 and 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 and 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch

Frosting

  • 8 oz cream cheese, softened to room temperature
  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
  • 2 cups confectioners' sugar
  • 1-2 Tablespoons cream or milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • assorted sliced fresh fruit
With a mixer, blend the butter for one minute until smooth.  Add the sugar and cream the butter and sugar.  Add the egg and the vanilla and mix until smooth.  Add the flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda and cornstarch and mix until smooth.  

The original recipe says to chill it for at least one hour at this point or it may rise too much and spill over the pan when you bake it.  I didn't have time and I didn't have a problem with it.  Spread the dough in a 12 inch pizza pan.  (I doubled the recipe and put it on the large sheet cake pan.  Spread it as evenly as possible.  If the dough is sticking to your hands, sprinkle a little flour over the dough and it will help with that.

Bake for 18-20 minutes in a 375 degree oven.  Remove and let it cool.

Frosting
Mix the butter, and cream cheese together.  Add the confectioner's sugar along with 1-2 tablespoons of milk.  I started with one tablespoon and it was enough, so start with the smaller amount and add more if you need it.  Spread over the cooled cookie dough crust evenly.  Top with fruit.

Fruit ideas:
bananas
pineapple (fresh or canned, just make sure that you drain the canned pineapple well)
kiwi fruit
mandarin oranges (if it is canned, drain it will)
berries:  strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, etc.
grapes, cut in half

Monday, July 13, 2015

Zucchini Bread

3 eggs
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
1 Tbsp vanilla
1 1/2 cups flour
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
3/4 tsp salt
1 Tbsp cinnamon

  1. Beat eggs, sugar, canola oil, vanilla extract, and zucchini together in a large bowl until well combined.
  2. In a separate bowl, sift together unbleached flour, white whole-wheat flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon.
  3. Mix the dry ingredients into the zucchini mixture, a little at a time, stirring until just combined.
  4. Pour the batter into two 4 x 8 loaf pans that have been greased and floured.
  5. Bake at 350 degrees for 40-50 minutes.  Check with a toothpick in the middle to make sure it is done.

Chocolate Zucchini Cake

Mix together:

1 cup oil  (to make a low fat version, use 1/2 cup oil and 1/2 cup applesauce)
2 cups sugar
3 eggs

Mix well and add:
1/2 cup of cocoa
2 1/2 cups flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 Tbsp vanilla

Stir in 2 cups of shredded zucchini.

Pour in a greased 9 x 13 pan.  Sprinkle chocolate chips on top if you want.

Bake at 325 degrees for 40-45 minutes.  Check that the top springs back with you touch it in the middle to make sure it is done.

Wednesday, July 1, 2015

Caramel Popcorn Balls (No Bake)

 Caramel Popcorn Balls
·         
Ingredients:
8-10 cups
Popped Popcorn
½ cup
Sugar
1½ cups
Brown Sugar
1 cup
Light Corn Syrup
1 cup
Water
2 tsp
White Vinegar
½ tsp
Salt
½ cup
Butter

Directions:
Combine sugar, syrup, water, vinegar and salt in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Stir frequently. 
Once mixture begins to boil reduce to low heat and stir in butter until melted. 
Combine syrup and popcorn in a large bowl until popcorn is coated. 
Let cool and shape mixture into balls. Make about 12 balls.