Welcome to America, Its National Doughnut Day

Today is June 7, 2013, tropical storm Andrea is drowning the east coast, my diet has officially failed, and oh yeah, its national doughnut day. Dear America, THIS IS WHY YOU’RE FAT.

I had no plans in taking part of this apparent national holiday. I avoided Dunkin Donuts, drove past Wawa, and I even planed to make anything other than donuts. But it happened, my father called me. “Hey Lauren it’s your Dad!” His message went on, “Hope everything is well with you, and well, I wish you were here to make some doughnuts for the girls at work, they really miss your baking…” I was guilt tripped into making doughnut by a man who works 100 miles from me. Thanks Dad.

I do have a few recipes for some good baked doughnut, like apple cinnamon, or coconut, but I am still 100% against this holiday, so I rebelled without rebelling. Chocolate Chip Cookie Doughnut, that’s what I’m calling them and I’m sticking to it. Cookies that are made in a doughnut pan, so is it a cookie or doughnut? I’ll leave that up to you to decide.

These little circles of confusion would be perfect with a scoop of ice cream in the middle, or broken apart to dip in milk. They are simple as well, just take a chocolate chip cookie recipe (my favorite and the one I used can be found here), and a baked doughnut pan. Spray the pan generously with non stick cooking spray so you can get these conundrums out. Roll the dough between your hands to create a snake like figure and then lay it in the doughnut pan. Plop it in the oven at 375 degrees for 12 minutes and you have a chocolate chip cookie doughnut.

Also For those of us who were wondering here is a list of US national food days:

January

January 2 National Buffet week

January 3 National Chocolate Covered Cherry day

January 2 National Creampuff Day

January 20 Cheese Day

January 23 National Pie Day

February

February 9 National Pizza Day

February 15 National I Want Butterscotch Day

March

March 7 National Crown Roast of Pork Day

March 8 National Crabmeat Day

March 9 National Blueberry Popover Day

March 10 Oatmeal Nut Waffles Day

March 12 National Baked Scallops Day

March 13 National Coconut Torte Day

March 14 National Potato Chip Day

March 17 National Corndog Day

March 23 National Chip and Dip Day

March 31 National Clams on the Half Shell Day

April

April 2 National Peanut Butter and Jelly Day

April 12 National Grilled Cheese Sandwich Day

April 17 National Cheeseball Day

April 24 National Pigs in a Blanket Day

April 25 National Zucchini Bread Day

April 26 National Pretzel Day

April 29 National Shrimp Scampi Day

May

May 4 National Candied Orange Peel Day

May 11 National Eat What You Want Day

May 17 National walnut day

May 24 National Escargot Day

May 28 International Hamburger Day

June

1st Friday National Doughnut Day

June 16 National Vinegar Day

June 17 Eat Your Vegetables Day

June 25 National Catfish Day

July

3rd Sunday National Ice Cream Day

July 3 Eat Beans Day

July 6 Take Your Webmaster to Lunch Day

July 7 Macaroni Day

July 15 National Tapioca Day

July 15 Gummi Worm Day

July[when?] Fresh Spinach Day

July 18 National Caviar Day

July[when?] National Daiquiri Day

July[when?] National Junk Food Day

July 28 Hamburger Day

August

August 3 National Mustard Day

August 3 Watermelon Day

August 8 National Sneak Some Zucchini Onto Your Neighbor’s Porch Day

August 23 National Sponge Cake Day

August 26 National Cherry Popsicle Day

August 28 Crackers Over The Keyboard Day

August 29 More Herbs, Less Salt Day

August 30 National Toasted Marshmallow Day

August 31 Trail Mix Day

September

September 4 National Macademia Nut Day

September 5 National Cheese Pizza Day

September 7 National Acorn Squash Day

September 13 National Peanut Day

September 14 National Eat a Hoagie Day

September 15 National Linguine Day

September 16 National Guacamole Day

September 18 National Cheeseburger Day

September 19 National Butterscotch Pudding Day

September 26 National Better Breakfast Day

September 28 Family Day – A Day to Eat Dinner with Your Children

September 30 National Hot Mulled Cider Day

October

October 4 National Vodka Day

October 20 National Brandied Fruit Day

October 24 Bologna Day

October 24 National Food Day

October 25 National Greasy Food Day

October 28 National Chocolate Day

October 29 National Oatmeal Day

October 30 Haunted Refrigerator Night

October 30 National Candy Corn Day

November

1st Thursday National Men Make Dinner Day 1998, Sandy Sharkey

4th Thursday Turkey Day (informal name for Thanksgiving Day)

Day after Thanksgiving Sinkie Day

November 1 National French Fried Clam Day

November 1 National Cook For Your Pets Day

November 2 National Deviled Egg Day

November 3 National Sandwich Day

November 4 National Candy Day

November 5 National Doughnut Day

November 6 National Nachos Day

November 7 National Bittersweet Chocolate with Almonds Day

November 7 National Eating Healthy Day

November 8 National Harvey Wallbanger Day

November 8 Cook Something Bold and Pungent Day

November 9 National Scrapple Day

November 10 National Vanilla Cupcake Day

November 11 National Sundae Day

November 12 National Pizza with the Works Except Anchovies Day

November 12 Chicken Soup for the Soul Day

November 13 National Indian Pudding Day

November 14 National Spicy Guacamole Day

November 15 National Spicy Hermit Cookie Day

November 15 National Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day

November 16 National Fast Food Day

November 17 National Baklava Day

November 17 Homemade Bread Day

November 18 National Vichyssoise Day

November 19 Carbonated Beverage with Caffeine Day

November 20 National Peanut Butter Fudge Day

November 21 National Stuffing Day

November 22 National Cranberry Relish Day

November 23 National Cashew Day

November 23 National Eat A Cranberry Day

November 24 National Espresso Day

November 25 National Parfait Day

November 26 National Cake Day

November 27 National Bavarian Cream Pie Day

November 28 National French Toast Day

November 29 Throw Out Your Leftovers Day

November 29 National Chocolates Day

November 30 National Mousse Day

December

December 1 Eat a Red Apple Day

December 1 National Pie Day

December 4 National Cookie Day

December 8 National Brownie Day

December 13 National Ice Cream Day

December 19 National Oatmeal Muffin Day

December 21 National Hamburger Day

December 25 National Pumpkin Pie Day

December 27 National Fruitcake Day

December 30 National Bicarbonate of Soda Day

December 31 National Champagne Day

Granola Bars 101: A Lesson in Summer Weather Snacks

 

Personally I love summer weather. I love going for long runs in the heat of the day, to be drenched in sweat upon my return. I love lying on the grass with friends all around me, playing guitar and singing nonsense songs. I love summer nights with camp fires and s’mores, and the wandering smell of wood burning. The weather we are currently having (mid-80’s in April) is a little early for the season, but watching lobsters crawl to class never gets old.

As spring temperatures creep from freezing to mid-80’s, everything on a college campus changes: classes move outside, clothes are shed, and our meals become a little more health conscious in preparation for summer. 

Never in my life have I made any type of granola bars. I have made breakfast granola to put in yogurt and in fruit parfaits, but never in the form of bars, so today with desire to learn (and with hungry friends on the go asking for snacks), I’ve decided to try.

Dry ingredients ready to be mixed!

Granola Bar Lovin’:

Depending on how big you cut the bars, makes around 12 bars.

Ingredients:

2 Cups rolled oats

3/4 Cup packed brown sugar

1/2 Cup wheat germ*

3/4 Teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 cup whole wheat flour

3/4 Cups mini chocolate chips (or raisins for those who are super healthy)

3/4 Teaspoon salt

1/2 Cup honey

1 Egg, beaten

1/2 Cup vegetable oil

2 Teaspoons vanilla extract

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F, and generously grease a 9×13 baking pan
2. In a large bowl, mix together the oats, brown sugar, wheat germ, cinnamon, flour, chocolate chips, and salt. Make a well in the middle of the dry ingredients and add honey, egg, oil and vanilla. Mixture will be still, mixing using your hands is easiest.
3. Pat mixture evenly into the prepared pan.
4. Bake for 30-35 minutes until the bars begin to golden. Cool for 5 minut4es, then cut when still warm or else they will be hard to cut.

*Wheat germ, I could not find it anywhere for the longest time, If your food store has specialty four or a gluten free section you may find it there.

 

Kim’s Kookies (Gluten Free, Lactose Free Peanut Butter Cookies)

College can change everything in someone’s life. When I went into college I was a young naive student who just wanted to play field hockey and learn about psychology. Four years later and today all I want to do is travel the world, learn about food and cultures, and play field hockey (and party, but hey that’s the college way of life).

When I first started college one of my first friends was Kim. Kim and I are exactly alike. We are publicly crazy (some would call us a nuisance), we are loud, have a passion for sports, and we both have a wicked sweet tooth.  During college Kim was diagnosed with a glucose intolerance as well as lactose intolerant as well as soy intolerance. The only thing she can eat when she doesn’t feel like cooking is lettuce.   

To combat Kim’s wicked sweet tooth I developed a recipe that is gluten free as well as lactose free. If soy is an allergen problem in your case as well I have found a website that sells soy free chocolate chips.

Kim absolutely loves her treats, as do I and all of our friends. There is no taste difference in these gluten free cookies, just a whole lot of peanut butter.

 

Peanut butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients:

1 cup Creamy Peanut Butter

½ cup Brown Sugar

½ cup Sugar                

1 Egg

1 teaspoon Baking Soda

1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract

¾ cup Chocolate Chips

Directions:

–          Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

–          Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper

1. Beat together peanut butter, brown sugar, sugar, egg and vanilla
2. Stir in the chocolate chips
3. Roll the cookie dough into one inch balls and place on cookie sheet leaving about 1.5inches between each cookie dough ball
4. Bake for 7 minutes and check on them
5. If they are not flattening on there own take a fork and flatten slightly (I have not had a problem with this but I have heard of it occurring)
6. Continue to bake the cookies for 2-4 minutes or until they are golden
7. Let cool then enjoy!
   

   The dough sort of tasted like a butterfingers.

Just Sugar (Cookie) me up for Valentine’s Day!

When things say they are the best, I have to try them. Like Genos and Pats cheese steaks, they both say they are the best so I have to try both. And you know what my outcome was? They are both the same. But today was different. I was not looking for cheese steaks, I was looking for the best cake-like sugar cookie there is.

You know the sugar cookies that come prepackaged in the store with the pretty frosting? That was exactly what I was looking for. I found one recipe online that claims to be an exact replica, but I don’t have two days to let the dough chill in my fridge, I have about thirty minutes.

Finally I found one: “THE BEST SUGAR COOKIES”. Well, the best? Hmph, I don’t think so. I had to tweak the recipe, but don’t worry three batches later, I got it.

Not the best, THE PERFECT SUGAR COOKIE (and frosting)!!!

Cookie Ingredients:                                                                                                         

2/3 Cup butter, room temp

¾ cup sugar

1 teaspoon baking powder

¼ teaspoon salt

1 egg

1 tablespoon milk

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 cups all purpose flour

Frosting ingredients:

½ cup butter (one stick)

½ teaspoon vanilla extract

2 cups powder sugar

3 tablespoons heavy cream

several drops of food coloring of your choice

sprinkles (if you feel obligated)

Directions:

1. With an electric mixer in a large bowl mix butter on a medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add the sugar, baking powder, and salt and mix till combined. Beat in the egg, milk and vanilla. Add the flour one up at a time beating it as you add the two cups. Divide the dough in half, and cover (I put in a gallon size zip block in two balls). Chill in the fridge for thirty minutes or until its easier to work with.
2. Preheat the oven to 375. On wax paper place one ball of dough, place another sheet of wax paper on top of the ball of dough and flatten with  roller (I used tinfoil due to lack of wax paper). Flatten to about 1/4inch thickness. Use a cookie cutter to cut the desired shape. Place the cutouts 1 inch apart on a parchment lined pan (if you don’t have parchment paper you can just use an ungreased cookie sheet).
3. Bake for about 8 minutes, just when the edges start to turn a light brown take out of the oven. Place on a wire rack to cool. Wait until cool to frost.

(ONLY MAKES 18 COOKIES)

Frosting directions:

1. With the electronic mixer cream together the butter and the butter and the vanilla
2. Slowly add the powder sugar and beat until smooth.
3. Add in the heavy cream 1 tablespoon at a time until you get the desired spreading consistency.
4. Add in food color, mix, and take finger and test it out… I mean, Spread on cookies with knife.

This came out fabulously but some things I learned on this adventure are: don’t put a pan that just came out of the oven on a zip block, it will melt it and don’t put the mixer on super-duper fast right after putting powder sugar in, it will go everywhere.

ENJOY.

Cup O’ Cake with a Side O’ Science

Chemical compounds (or actually chemistry in general) were never my strong point. I never understood why certain things could not go together, what made elements positive or negative or why it was frowned upon to spell things from the periodic table of elements. Science and I are not cut out for each other.

Baking and I however, we go hand in hand. In a way baking is like science: specific measurements, following directions to a T, and adding things in a specific order so you don’t cause an explosion because apparently that (while amusing) is frowned upon also.

Science at work

My first revelation that science and baking are similar was when I was in third grade, the stereotypical volcano experiment. Red food coloring + vinegar + Baking soda = one pretty sweet volcano. Even at the cute little age of nine I realized that baking soda and vinegar were two ingredients that we cook with on a pretty regular basis, and I was convinced that I would blow up if I ever ate the two together.  When I was teaching this experiment to my younger cousin a few years ago I was trying to explain what ingredients we had to use, but he had a different idea.  Instead of the standard vinegar and baking soda we used Mentos and Coke; it had the same (yet stickier) result.

Today I am going to teach you a miracle of science: Chocolate Peanut Butter Mug Cake. It is the perfect treat for when you are banging your head against the table trying to remember those annoying chemical formulas and you wish you could just make up your own.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Mug Cake

MMMMMMM.

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons flour

½ teaspoon of sugar

2 teaspoon unsweetened cocoa powder

¼ teaspoon baking powder

Pinch of salt

2 tablespoons milk

1 tablespoon oil

Some chocolate chips

1 tablespoon of peanut butter

Directions:

Mix together the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt until mixed and all the clumps are out. Stir in the milk and oil until smooth. Throw in the chocolate chips and mix them around a bit. Finally put the peanut butter in but make sure you get it under some of the wet mixture.  Put it in the microwave for about a minute, let cool for a few seconds and eat as fast as possible.

Science is pretty cool isn’t it? You can turn a list of several ingredients into a masterpiece of edible art. Now if only my professors would accept my homework in the form of mug cakes.

Look at that melted peanut butter.