Challah

On February 7, 2018 By CandiceIn Baked goods, Bread, Jewish Food, Uncategorized1 Comment

BF3F2A01-7312-4F6E-86C5-1E87882A3C1B-21960-00000ACD39F945A2_tmp I like to mix everything by hand in a large mixing bowl with a whisk. These challahs come out beautifully.

INGREDIENTS

7 Cups All Purpose Flour
1 Package Instant Yeast
1 Egg, Lightly Beaten
½ Cup Canola Oil
1 Tbsp Salt
½ cup plus 1 Tbsp Sugar
2 Cups Warm Water

Egg Wash
1 Egg, Lightly Beaten

METHOD

1. In a large mixing bowl whisk together 1 Tbsp of sugar with the yeast and warm water. Leave it to rest for 10 mins, it should become foamy.
2. Add the remaining sugar and salt, whisk until dissolved.
3. Now add 3 cups of flour and whisk until incorporated.
4. Add the lightly beaten egg and oil, mix well.
5. At this stage you can slowly start adding the remaining 4 cups of flour. When the dough starts to become too thick, remove the whisk and start using your hands.
6. Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and start kneading until the dough is no longer sticky.
7. Once no longer sticky, knead the dough for at least 10 minutes. You know it’s ready when you push your finger into the dough and it springs back on it’s own.
8. Place the dough into a large oiled bowl and cover with cling wrap.
9. Wrap with a blanket around the bowl and place in a warm spot for 1-2 hours, punch down the dough every so often and let it finally rise until it’s doubled in size.
10. Once doubled in size, punch down the dough and braid into challahs.
11. Place the challah on the baking sheet and lightly cover with cling wrap.
12. Let the braided challah rise for about 30 minutes.
13. At this point, preheat your oven to 180°C/375°F
13. Carefully brush with egg wash, you can leave them plain, sprinkle with sesame seeds or cinnamon sugar. Whichever you prefer.
14. Bake for 20-25 minutes, turn off the oven and leave the challah in for another 10 minutes.
15. Remove from the oven and serve warm.
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Pavlova

On November 1, 2017November 1, 2017 By CandiceIn Baked goods, Dairy Free, Dessert, Gluten Free, South African Food, UncategorizedLeave a comment

2017-10-25-PHOTO-00003046

If you’re looking for a scrumptious dessert that is dairy and gluten free, then Pavlova is what you’re looking for. This recipe produces a pavlova that is crispy and crunchy on the outside and resembles marshmallow fluff on the inside. Pair it with any seasonal fresh fruit that you like.

INGREDIENTS
8 Egg Whites (1 cup)
Pinch of Salt
2 Cups White Sugar
1 Tsp White Vinegar
1 Level Tbsp Cornstarch
2 Tsp Vanilla Extract (or 1/2 Vanilla Pod, scraping out the beans)

Filling
Non Dairy Whipped Topping (Orly Whip, in South Africa or Rich’s Whip, in the states). If you can tolerate dairy, you can use regular whipping cream.
Sliced Fresh Fruit

METHOD
1. Preheat the oven to 200°C/400°F
2. Using a Kitchenaid or electric hand beaters, beat egg whites with a pinch of salt until frothy.
3. Gradually add the sugar while continuously beating.
4. Add the vanilla and beat until stiff.
5. Add the vinegar and beat again for a few minutes.
6. Quickly beat in the sifted cornstarch.
7. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and pile mixture into the center, spread it into a circle and raise the side to support the filling.
8. Lower the oven temperature to 125°C/250°F and place pavlova into the oven.
9. Bake for 40 minutes, turn the oven off and leave for an additional 40 minutes or until firm and crispy on the outside.
10. Allow to cool completely, preferably overnight, and fill with whipped topping.
11.Top with sliced fresh fruit. 2017-10-25-PHOTO-00003044

Malva Pudding

On September 8, 2017 By CandiceIn Baked goods, Cakes, Dairy Free, Dessert, Gluten Free, South African Food, Uncategorized2 Comments

MALVA PUDDING
Serves 8

INGREDIENTS (Cake)
1 Cup Castor Sugar
2 Eggs, Room Temperature
1 Tbls Smooth Apricot Jam
1 ¼ Cups Cake Flour
1 Tsp Bicarb of Soda
Pinch of Salt
2 Tbls Butter
1 Tsp Vinegar
½ Cup Milk

INGREDIENTS (Sauce)
1 Cup Cream
½ Cup Butter
½ Cup Sugar
½ Cup Water, Orange Juice or Brandy

METHOD

Preheat the oven to 180°C/350°F
Add the sugar and eggs to a medium sized mixing bowl. Using an electric or hand beater, beat castor sugar and eggs until light and fluffy.
Add apricot jam and beat well.
Sift dry ingredients 3 times in a separate bowl.
Melt butter and add to vinegar and milk in a third bowl.
Fold dry ingredients and milk mixture alternatively into egg mixtures.
Once fully combined, pour mixture into a greased oven proof casserole/pyrex dish.
Bake for 45 minutes.
During the last 15 minutes of baking, melt all the sauce ingredients in a small pot over medium heat. Do not boil.
Pour this sauce over the cake as soon as it’s removed from the oven, use a fork to aid absorption.
Serve hot with ice cream or custard.

TIPS FOR MAKING GLUTEN FREE/DAIRY FREE

GLUTEN FREE:

Substitute regular flour for gluten free flour.

DAIRY FREE:

Substitute butter with Vegan Butter/Parev Margarine
Substitute milk with non dairy milk alternative – I used Cashew Milk
Substitute cream with Rich’s Non Dairy Whip Topping/Orly Whip

Custard Biscuits/Cookies

On July 26, 2017July 26, 2017 By CandiceIn Baked goods, Sweet Treats, UncategorizedLeave a comment

Makes about 30

INGREDIENTS
175g (6.2oz) Butter
½ cup Powdered Sugar
1 cup Flour
¾ cup Custard Powder (you can buy it on amazon here or at World Market here)

For Dipping
About ½ to ¾ cup of Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips or cooking chocolate
Hundreds and Thousands/Nonpareils

METHOD

Preheat the oven to 180°C/350°F
Make sure the butter is soft before using it, this trick works well. When butter is soft, cream together with icing sugar.
Add sifted flour and custard powder and beat well. The mixture will seem very dry while beating in the flour and custard powder, keep beating and it will come together to form a solid ball. If it’s very cold and the butter isn’t very soft, you can add a teaspoon of boiling water to bring the mixture together.
Roll into small balls, about the size of a large marble, and place on greased and floured cookie sheet.
Press down with a fork dipped in powdered sugar.
Bake for about 14-16 minutes or till slightly browned.
When cool, dip half the biscuit/cookie into melted semi-sweet dark chocolate. Then dip the chocolate side into hundreds and thousands/ nonpareils.

Date and Pecan Passover Cookies

On March 14, 2017 By CandiceIn Baked goods, Dairy Free, Dessert, Gluten Free, Jewish Food, Passover, Sweet Treats, UncategorizedLeave a comment

INGREDIENTS

1 Cup Chopped Dates
1 Cup Roughly Chopped Pecans
1 Cup Powdered (Icing) Sugar
1 Egg White

METHOD

1. Preheat oven to 350ºF/180ºC
2. In a medium sized mixing bowl add the chopped dates, chopped pecans and powdered sugar.

3. Mix well until all combined.

4. Add the egg white and mix well.

5. Place tablespoon sized scoops on a baking sheet spread an inch apart.
6. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until cookies are lightly golden.

Passover Ginger Cake

On February 24, 2017February 28, 2017 By momshcooksIn Baked goods, Cakes, Jewish Food, Passover, Uncategorized1 Comment

INGREDIENTS

6 Eggs
1 ½ Cups Sugar
1 Cup Water
1 ½ Cups Oil
1 Cup Syrup
1 ½ cups Passover Cake meal
1 ½ Cups Potato Flour
1 Tsp Bicarbonate of Soda
1 Tsp Cinnamon
2 Tsp Ginger

METHOD

Oven 160 º C (320º F)
1. Mix all ingredients together in a large mixing bowl for 5 minutes.
2. Spray a large foil container with spray & cook or grease with oil.
3. Pour mixture in and leave to rest for ½ hour.
4. Bake for 1 hour.
5. Remove from oven and allow to cool.
6. Makes a very large cake.

Chocolate Mousse Eclairs

On February 16, 2017February 28, 2017 By momshcooksIn Baked goods, Dessert, Sweet TreatsLeave a comment

INGREDIENTS
Eclairs
120 g (4.23 oz) Butter or Margarine
1 1/3 cups Flour –All purpose
1 cup Boiling water
Pinch Salt
3 Eggs

Chocolate Mousse
200 g (7oz) Dark Chocolate
4 Eggs
250 ml ((9oz) Cream or Orley Whip (Parev Cream)
½ cup Sugar

Chocolate Topping
100 mls (3.52oz) /cream or non dairy cream
100 mls (3.52oz) Dark Chocolate

METHOD

Oven 200º C (400º F) then 180 º C (350º F)
1. Using a medium saucepan bring the butter/marge and water to the boil.
2. Remove from heat and add the flour and salt.
3. Stirring continuously until the mixture clings together and leaves the sides of the pan.
4. Allow mixture to cool and then place in a mixing bowl.
5. Using an electric beater add the eggs one at a time beating after each addition.
6. Place a tablespoonful of the mixture onto a greased baking sheet, repeat and bake for 10 minutes at 200 and then reduce heat and bake for 10-15 minutes at 180 until dry and light brown.
7. Remove from the oven and pierce each éclair with a knife. If still wet inside return to oven for a few extra minutes.
8. Remove and let cool.
9. Slit and fill with the chocolate mousse.
10. To make the chocolate mousse, heat the chocolate over a double boiler untill smooth.
11. Separate the eggs and add the yolks to the warm chocolate beating them in. Set aside
12. Beat the egg whites with a ¼ cup sugar until soft peaks.
13. Beat the cream with the other ¼ cup of sugar until soft peaks.
14. Fold the chocolate into the cream and then fold in the egg whites..
15. Place in the fridge to set.
16. Once set fill eclairs with the chocolate mousse.
17. For the Chocolate Topping, Heat the cream, remove from the heat and add the chocolate. Stir until smooth.
18. Drizzle over the filled eclairs.

Crunchies

On January 23, 2017January 23, 2017 By momshcooksIn Baked goods, Dairy Free, Gluten Free, UncategorizedLeave a comment

Ingredients
125G ( ½ cup) Butter or Block Margarine
1 ½ tbls Golden Syrup or Honey
1 Cup Sugar
1 Cup Cake or All Purpose Flour or Gluten Free Flour Mix
2 Cups Rolled Oats
1 Cup Desiccated Coconut
Pinch Salt
1 tsp Bicarbonate of Soda

Method
Oven 180ºC (350ºF)
1 Combine Flour, Oats, Coconut & salt in a bowl.
2 Using a medium saucepan melt the butter/marge, sugar & syrup/honey.
3 Add the Bi carb and stir until it froths.
4 Pour over the dry ingredients and stir to combine.
5 Spread evenly in a baking tray and bake for approx. 20 minutes until golden.
6 Remove from the oven and cut into squares while still hot
7 Leave in pan to cool.

Challah

On January 16, 2017January 16, 2017 By momshcooksIn Baked goods, Bread, Dairy Free, Jewish Food, UncategorizedLeave a comment

I have been making challah for years in my stand up large mixer. I went to a challah bake and we all made challah by hand and there is no comparison. A much lighter delicious challah. Try it, you will not be sorry.

INGREDIENTS
2 Sachets Instant Yeast
1 Cup Oil
1 Cup Sugar
4 Eggs
4 ½ Cups Water – Have made with both cold and luke warm water.
2 kg All Purpose (Cake) Flour
2 Tbls Salt

METHOD
Oven 190ºC (375 ºF)
1 Using a large plastic bowl add the water and the yeast and using a wire whisk, whisk for 5 minutes.
2 Add the sugar and continue to whisk for 2 minutes
3 Add the oil and continue to whisk for 3 minutes
4 Add the eggs and continue to whisk for 3 minutes
5 Start adding the flour cup by cup whisking each cup in. Add the salt with the 2nd cup.
6 When you feel you cannot whisk anymore because the mixture is too stiff, remove the whisk and mix in the rest of the flour by hand.
7 Once all the flour is incorporated and you have a soft but not sticky dough, coat with a little oil.
8 Cover with plastic wrap and a blanket and allow to rise till doubled in size.
9 I often make the dough late at night and let it rise till morning out of the fridge.
10 Punch down the dough, separate a small piece of dough the size of a golf ball and say the blessing. Wrap the piece of dough in foil and burn it in the oven
11 Divide the dough into 4 or 5 pieces and plait.
12 Place on a baking tray and cover with plastic and a blanket and allow to rise until double in size.
13 Beat an egg and paint over challah and sprinkle with seeds.
14 Bake for 25 minutes until golden.
15 I often halve the recipe and make 2 large or 3 medium challah but then I do not say the blessing.

Gluten Free, Dairy Free Soft Pretzels

On January 13, 2017February 14, 2017 By CandiceIn Appetizer/Starters, Baked goods, Bread, Dairy Free, Gluten FreeLeave a comment

PRETZELS
Makes 12 Pretzels

3 1/2 cups Gluten Free Flour
2 Tsp Instant Yeast
1 1/4 Tsp Salt
3 Tbsp Brown Sugar
1 Tsp Xanthan Gum
1/2 Tsp Baking Powder
1 1/4 cups Warm Water (plus extra if needed)
1 Large Egg (room temp)
2 Tbsp Butter or Vegan Butter (I prefer Fleischmanns)

BAKING SODA DIP
3 quarts (3 liters) water
1/4 cup Baking Soda
2 Tbsp Brown Sugar

EGG WASH
1 Egg Yolk
1 Tbsp Water

OPTIONAL TOPPINGS
Pretzel Salt
Butter/Vegan Butter
Cinnamon Sugar

Instructions

Dough
1. Combine the flour, sugar, yeast, salt, xanthin gum, and baking powder in a large mixing bowl or stand mixer.
2. Add the water, egg and butter. Mix until a firm dough forms, about 4 minutes in a stand mixer with the paddle attachment. If the dough appears to be dry, add 1 to 2 tablespoons water or enough for it to form a soft pliable dough.
3. Knead the dough until smooth, then transfer to a lightly greased bowl. Cover will cling wrap and a kitchen towel and let rise until almost doubled, 1 hour – 1.5 hours.

Shaping and Baking
1. Preheat the oven to 425°F/ 280°C.
2.Lightly grease two baking sheets, or line them with parchment.
3. Bring 3 quarts water to a boil in a large pot.
4. Remove dough from bowl and divide into 12 pieces. If dough is sticky, lightly flour kitchen surface.
5. Work with one pice at a time, keeping the other pieces covered. Roll the piece out and shape into a pretzel. Watch this video on how to shape pretzels.

4. Add the baking soda and sugar to the boiling water and wait for the foam to subside.
7.Gently place the pretzels one at a time into the water, they will initially drop to the bottom and then they will rise. If they don’t rise within 5-10 seconds, use a slotted spoon to nudge them from sticking on the bottom. They can removed when as soon as they float to the top.
8. Remove the pretzels form the water and place on baking sheet. Brush with egg yolk wash and sprinkle with salt (or leave plain if you’re making them sweet).
9. Bake the pretzels until golden brown about 10-15 mins.
10. If you choose to make cinnamon sugar pretzels, brush with melted butter as soon as you remove from the oven and dip into cinnamon sugar mix.