Mini Donuts

 For use in a mini donut maker. I’ve experimented a bit with increasing the sugar, to make them a little more dense. Nutmeg is optional, but I makes a more authentic donut taste  

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups flour (~200g)
• 1/2 cup sugar (~100g)
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 125g butter (softened)
• 1 egg
• 3/4 cup milk
• 1/4 tsp nutmeg

Method

• Mix dry ingredients. 
• Add butter, egg, and milk, and mix until creamy. 
• Brush oil on preheated donut maker, spoon in batter. Close lid and cook for 2 minutes or until golden brown. 

Empanadas

•  Ingredients:
• 1 large potato, diced into 1/4” cubes (or a handful of uncooked fries, chopped
• 400g ground beef
• 1/2 medium onion, grated
• 1 small carrot, grated
• 1 rib celery, finely minced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 tsp chili powder
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon 
• 3/4 cup beef broth
• 1/2 cup frozen peas
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp pepper

• 2 1/2 cups flour
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup (115g) chilled butter, cubed
• 1 large egg, room temp
• 1/3 cup ice water
• 1 egg, beaten (for egg wash)

Method:

1. Pulse the flour and salt in a food processor. Add the butter, 1 egg and ice water, pulsing until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Shape the dough into a ball. Tightly cover the dough in plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator for at least 30 min.
2. If using raw potato, place potato cubes into boiling water for about 3 min, until tender.
3. Cook ground beef, onion, celery, and carrots in a large skillet. Add potatoes and cook until beef is brown and vegetables are softened (about 8 min total).
4. Add garlic, chili powder, cumin, cinnamon, and beef broth. Cook 1 minute.
5. Add peas and simmer on medium heat until liquid is absorbed. Season with salt and pepper.
6. Preheat oven to 375° (190°C).
7. Remove dough from fridge and divide into 10 equal parts (60–65g each). Roll each ball on floured surface to make circles of about 7” diameter.
8. Add about 1/3 cup of filling on one side of each circle.
9. Use egg wash to dampen the edge of the dough (about 1/4”wide). Fold the dough in half over the filling. Use a fork to press the edges together. Arrange empanadas on parchment paper and brush with egg wash.
10. Bake 35 minutes or until golden brown.

Cristina’s Chocolate Chip Cookies

 This is the cookie recipe I’ve been looking for. Nice thick cookies that are still soft and chewy. 

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ cups flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• ½ tsp salt
• ½ cup unsalted butter (cold)
• ½ cup firmly packed light brown sugar
• 6 Tbsp granulated sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 ¼ cups semisweet chocolate chips

Procedure:

Preheat oven to 350F (175C). 

Mix flour, salt, and baking soda in medium bowl. 

Cream butter, white sugar and brown sugar in large bowl. Add egg and vanilla and mix on low. 

Gradually add flour mixture—do not over mix. 

Stir in chocolate chips. 

Chill dough one hour. 

Scoop dough in balls with large tablespoon onto parchment lined baking sheet. 

Bake one sheet at a time, 8-10 minutes, until edges are lightly brown. 

Remove from oven and let sit 5minutes on baking sheet. 

Ground Beef Casserole

 Great meal for the whole family. Can substitute noodles for chickpea noodles for lower-carb option.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb (= 450g) ground beef
• 1 tsp white sugar
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp garlic salt
• 2 (15 ounce) cans tomato sauce (= 890ml total)
• 1 (8 ounce) package egg noodles (= 230g)
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1 (3 ounce) package cream cheese (= 85g)
• 1 large white onion, diced
• ½ cup shredded sharp Cheddar cheese, or more to taste

Brown ground beef and drain grease. Mix in sugar, salt, garlic salt, and tomato sauce. Simmer 20 minutes, then remove from heat and allow to cool.

Cook noodles in boiling water until al dente (about 5 minutes). Drain and allow to cool slightly.

Preheat oven to 350ºF (= 175ºC).

Mix sour cream, cream cheese, and onion in a bowl. In a greased 9x13 pan, layer: half the noodles, half the sour cream mixture, half the ground beef mixture. Repeat layering. Cover with shredded cheese.

Bake until cheese has browned, about 25 minutes.

Chocolate Pie

 A simple, delicious chocolate pie. Reposted from here.

Ingredients:

• 1 pie crust (our go-to recipe here)
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 3 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
• 4 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted
• 2 large eggs, beaten
• 3/4 cup evaporated milk
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/4 tsp salt
• Whipped cream, for serving

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350° (175ºC). Put pie crust into a 9-inch pie plate and crimp the edges. Prick the crust lightly with a fork. Line the crust with foil or parchment paper and fill with pie weights. Bake for 15 minutes or until set. Remove the foil and weights and bake for about 5 minutes longer, just until the crust is dry but not browned.

Whisk the sugar with the cocoa powder, butter, eggs, evaporated milk, vanilla and salt in a large bowl until smooth.

Pour the filling into the pie shell and bake for about 45 minutes, until the filling is set around the edges but a little jiggly in the center. Cover the crust with strips of foil halfway through baking. Transfer the pie to a rack and let cool completely before cutting into wedges. Serve with whipped cream.

Homemade Ice Cream

 Not a bad homemade ice cream, with no ice cream maker needed. A little time consuming, but a fun Saturday project. 

Ingredients:

2 cups heavy whipping cream

2 cups half and half

1 cup sugar

2 tsp vanilla

Process:

Chill 9x13 pan (preferably Pyrex) in freezer  

Mix ingredients until sugar is dissolved. Pour into chilled pan and place in freezer for 30 minutes. Remove and beat with hand mixture. Repeat process every 30 minutes. Usually takes at least 5 cycles (3 hours total) before ice cream is a creamy, frozen consistency. 

Waffles

 A good basic waffle recipe. 

Ingredients:

2 cups flour

1 tsp salt

4 tsp baking powder

2 Tbsp sugar

2 eggs

1 1/2 cup milk, warm

1/3 cup melted butter

1 tsp vanilla

Process:

Mix dry ingredients in large bowl, preheat waffle iron. 

In a separate bowl, beat eggs, add milk, butter, and vanilla. Pour into flour mixture and mix until blended. 

Ladle into waffle iron.