In an ongoing experiment, I am slowly graduating to the next level of baking. Leveling up in cooking is hard to do when you use just box mixes. I have tried my hand at a few and, by golly, if you follow the directions, it is not too bad. I am struggling with a cake mold, trying to get the cake to come out in one piece, not several. That is a problem with technique and how you grease the pan and when you take it out. Practice might help that. The cake tasted just fine, all gajillion pieces.
So to further my understanding of the baking process, and to work on using recipes and following directions, I took on a muffin recipe. It is a pretty simple recipe, straight forward and makes some pretty tasty muffins. The picture is not up to specs, kinda hard to take a pic of a hot baked good, but you know how it is, strike when the iron.. er muffin is hot.
Oh and fresh out of the oven, very tasty. So here is a crappy pic and a pretty easy recipe for tasty muffins. Please note, the instructions are for newbies, like me, who are trying their hand at baking. Naturally, experienced bakers and cooks the world over do not need to be reminded of measuring cups and bowls, but I find that it is much easier to have everything in hand, before I start, otherwise I am running around our tiny kitchen, looking for a tablespoon. Preparation is the key to success in everything.
Cooking utensils you will need:
Large Bowl, Small Bowl, Measuring Cups, Measuring Spoons, Mixing Spoon, Muffin or Cupcake Pan, Paper Muffin Cups
Sour Cream Chocolate Chip Muffins
2 Cups All Purpose Flour
1 Tablespoon Baking Soda
1/2 teaspoon Salt
1/2 Cup Sour Cream
1/2 Cup Butter, Melted
1/2 Cup Sugar
1 Cup Chocolate Chips
1/2 Cup Milk
1 Egg, Beaten
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In the large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt. I used a spoon and mixed thoroughly. In a smaller, glass bowl, I put the 1/2 cup of butter and put in the microwave for about 20 seconds, to melt it. Then added the milk, egg, and sour cream and mixed thoroughly. Then pour the wet ingredients into the big bowl, mix with the dry ingredients and add the chocolate chips. My in-house baker/chef recommended to fold and mix just enough, don't over due it. Then take the batter and gently spoon into the paper cups. The recipe makes 12 muffins so get it all in there. Then you can lightly sprinkle sugar on the top and put them in the oven. Baking time is 20-25 minutes.
Now I had an advantage, I had Steph backing me up. She can whip out muffins, cookies and the like in no time flat. She knows all the tricks and time saving techniques, plus she is confident in the kitchen, which like everything else in life, makes a huge difference. I take a bit longer, carefully measuring each ingredient and learning my way around the simplest of techniques.
A good example is using a knife to level the flour in the measuring cup. Sure I have seen plenty of baking and well, they just cruise along and they just know how much everything is, kinda like a mechanic knows that he needs a 9/16 wrench for that bolt. I was amazed and had no idea, but the stick of butter had a measuring guide on the wrapper. I was wondering how I was going to measure a hard stick of butter, problem solved!
I think I will do some more baking, it is a good place to start. Eventually, I will graduate up to pasta I think, maybe do some yummy Italian dishes. For now, the baking has been going okay dokay and the results have been good for the tummy.
I have to start practicing chopping vegetables and the proper way to shave garlic. We have some big, scary knives in that drawer, good thing we have a plentiful supply of band aids. Until next time my fellow wanderers, enjoy the fruit, or muffin of your labors.
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