| How to Make Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies Posted: 23 Dec 2021 12:00 AM PST Chocolate chip cookies are considered by some to be one of the best types of cookies around. If you're looking for a chewy cookie rather than a crunchy one, you will love the cookies made following this recipe. The secret to their chewiness is the brown sugar, which miraculously increases the moisture content of the cookie. [1] This recipe makes approximately 2 dozen medium sized cookies. [Edit]Ingredients - 1 cup white sugar (201 grams / 7.1 ounces)
- ⅓ cup brown sugar (73 grams / 2.5 ounces)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 ½ eggs (decreasing egg yolk amounts creates optimized lightness and fluffy texture to the dough)
- 1 cup of butter (between refrigerator and room temperature) (227g/8oz)
- 2 ¼ cups of flour (adapt this for elevation and humidity as needed, make sure the cups are level) (288 grams / 10 ounces)
- 1 teaspoon of baking soda
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons milk
- 2 cups of chocolate chips (if small, less if large)
- Preheat the oven to 350ºF/180ºC.
- Add the vanilla, sugar, brown sugar, eggs, and butter to a bowl.
- Use coarser sugar for thicker, chewier cookies. When sugar dissolves, it acts as a tenderizer that interferes with dough structure. This increases spreading because finer sugar dissolves more easily than coarser sugar. So if you want your cookies to remain thick and chewy, use coarse sugar (or use fine sugar for the opposite effect). If you decide to use powdered sugar for extra crispiness, make sure it doesn't have corn starch in it, or you'll get unexpected results.[2]
- Mix these ingredients together until creamy.
- Whisk flour, salt, and baking soda into another bowl.
- Mix dry and wet ingredients until fully blended, without over-mixing. Add the milk to achieve a smoothly blended dough. There shouldn't be any clumps of flour or lumps of butter. Make sure all the ingredients are evenly distributed through your dough. After blending the mixture, add the chocolate chips. Mix them in.[3]
- Apply cooking spray to a pan so that the cookies won't stick to the baking pan. Alternatively, line the pan with wax paper.
- Take a small quantity of your cookie dough and roll it in you hands into a ball shape. The ball will flatten when cooked so try to visualise the size of your finished cookie when you form the balls of dough. Make 24 balls of dough.
- Place the cookie balls on the baking pan.
- Flatten each cookie dough ball with a fork. This will leave distinct ridges and flatten the cookie neatly.
- Put cookies in the oven for about 8-10 minutes. Don't overdo the cooking, as they'll continue to cook for a short while after you remove them from the oven.[4]
- Take the cookies out of the oven and let them sit on a wire cooling rack for about 15 minutes to cool. Be careful not to burn yourself on the melted chips when transferring the cookies to the rack - use a spatula. The cookies are ready to eat when the chocolate chips solidify again.[5]
- Store in an airtight container or eat the cookies once they're cooled.[6]
- You can add extra chocolate chips if you desire, and even mix up different kinds of chocolate chips to make your cookie better.
- You can use milk or dark chocolate chips, as preferred.
- When combining ingredients (see Step 2), mix until the butter is light and fluffy.
- If you do not like chocolate chips, use raisins or dried cherries, almonds, or blackberries. Be creative, and have fun![7]
[Edit]Warnings - Be careful when using the oven, especially when you are around little kids. Always supervise children who are helping with cooking.
[Edit]Things You'll Need - Mixing bowl
- Mixing spoon
- Anti-stick cooking spray or parchment paper (baking paper)
- Baking pan (baking tray)
- Fork
- Wire cooling rack
- Spatula
- Airtight container for storage
[Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
| How to Give Someone a Food Gift Posted: 22 Dec 2021 04:00 PM PST Instead of buying predictable knick-knacks and the usual fare the next time the holiday season or a loved one's birthday rolls around, why not get them something you know they'll use? If you're thinking about giving someone the gift of food to celebrate a special occasion, there are a few things you should keep in mind. Start by considering your recipient's personal tastes, then decide whether you want to buy your edible offering or make it yourself and have a way of presenting it that will keep it fresh and attractive. [Edit]Buying Readymade Food Gifts - Send your regards with a sampler tray. Head down to your local deli or supermarket and review their selection of specialty snacks. Aged meat and cheese platters are usually a hit, but you can also find a treasure trove of finger sandwiches, olives, breads, crackers and dips. All will make convenient, delicious displays the next time new neighbors move in down the street.[1]
- Charcuterie trays are a safe choice, as they include a little bit of everything.[2]
- Order these in advance and pick them up shortly before you exchange gifts to ensure that they're fresh.
- Order a gift basket. Edible gift baskets are a fun, festive way to show someone that you're thinking about them. Most of these are made up of fresh fruits and chocolates, but they can also include selections of specialty meats, cheeses, crackers and sweets. Like a bouquet, they feature an array of bright colors and beautiful designs, but unlike a bouquet you can snack on them with your friends, family or coworkers throughout the day.[3]
- Check out companies like Harry & David, Swiss Colony, iGourmet and the original Edible Arrangements.[4]
- Pick up an edible gift basket to give as a housewarming gift, or have it delivered straight to the recipient's home or workplace.
- Food baskets typically average around $50-60, but can get as pricey as a few hundred for more elaborate pairings.
- Keep it simple with candy. The old heart-shaped box of truffles is a timeless gift that no goes out of style. If you want, you can update the motif by choosing uncommon or sophisticated candies like caramels, chocolate turtles, toffee, or Turkish delight. Just tie a bow around the package and your work is done.[5]
- Look for candy shops in your area that offer high-quality artisan sweets.
- Include a variety of candies as an extra with a larger gift.
- Delight with a drink. Not all food gifts have to be eaten. There are also specialty beverages and drink accessories like mulling spices, foreign sodas or alcohol that can be enjoyed hot, cold or with other tasty fare. Place an assortment of coffees, teas or liquors in a basket with a few simple finger foods, or select a bottle of vintage wine and propose a toast to health, friendship and good cheer.[6]
- Hot cocoa and cider make great potable presents for the chilly months around the holidays.
- Think before giving alcohol. If your intended recipient is underage, pregnant or has a history of alcoholism, it may not be the best gift idea.[7]
[Edit]Making Gift-Worthy Foods at Home - Bake some fresh bread. Nothing represents the warmth and comfort of home quite like a loaf of soft, fluffy bread. Throw a yeasty sourdough, rye or pumpernickel in the oven, using made-from-scratch dough and fresh ingredients. Bread can come in a ton of different varieties, so it makes a great edible gift year-round.[8]
- You can bake bread in large batches overnight, which is useful if you're preparing it for a lot of people.
- Don't forget about dessert varieties, such as cinnamon-raisin, banana nut or pull-apart monkey bread.[9]
- Make a cake or pie. Though cakes and similar confections are usually served up after the presents have been unwrapped, they also make great gifts in their right. Whether it's a simple yet delicious red velvet cake, a pound cake, strawberry cheesecake, or a key lime, pumpkin or peach and praline pie, it's amazing what a little flour, sugar and butter can create.[10]
- Pull from your family's traditional recipes, or try for something unique and daring to suit the person's preferences.
- Delicate or heavily-decorated cakes and pies will be difficult to present. These should be stored, packed and transported carefully.
- Cook your own canned goods. Show your love with artisan canned food items, just like grandma used to do. Things like homemade preserves, butters, pickles and cheese have really grown in popularity in recent years. These items are simple to make, tasty and infinitely customizable. Best of all, once they're sealed they'll stay fresh for months or even years, so you can prepare them well in advance without having to worry about them going bad.[11]
- Canning is fairly straightforward, but does require some special equipment. Before you add making old-fashioned canned goods to your to-do list, make sure you have all the necessities: mason jars, canning tools, cookware and natural ingredients.[12]
- These types of condiments are versatile, which means the recipient is free to use them however they like.
- Whip up something sweet. If you really want to spoil someone, give them their own private stash of sugary treats. This could take the form of peppermint bark, yogurt pretzels, candy apples or a sweet and savory nut brittle. These foods tend to keep better than others, but chances are they won't last long anyway.[13]
- Candies and sweets are real crowd pleasers, especially around the holidays.
- Hand out small bags of white-chocolate frosted Chex mix or caramel corn, or send them straight through the mail.
- Prepare a special meal. One more intimate option is to invite someone to your home and cook their favorite dishes for them. Not only will they get to indulge in the foods they love, they'll also relish the opportunity to spend time together talking, laughing and eating. Strengthening a personal connection is one of the most meaningful gifts you can give someone.[14]
- Throw a dinner party to celebrate a special occasion or as a token of appreciation.
[Edit]Putting Some Thought Into Your Gift - Know your recipient. Before you start shopping for tantalizing goodies, think about the person you're planning on giving the gift to. What sort of foods do they like? What don't they like? Is there anything they can't eat? Surprising someone with foodstuffs isn't as simple as putting a bow on a fruit basket. Try to pick out something you know they'll be able to enjoy.[15]
- Find out about any unique allergies or dietary restrictions beforehand. It could be embarrassing to present a tray of cured meats to a vegan, and an innocent sugar cookie could make someone with a gluten sensitivity very sick.
- Talk to mutual friends or do a little digging yourself to discover what might make a good gift.
- Keep it fresh. There's nothing worse than getting an oversized tin of stale popcorn or some freezer burned tamales for Christmas. Whatever you decide to give, be sure that you have a way of guaranteeing its freshness so that it doesn't go bad or underwhelm once it's eaten. It's usually best to have an idea in mind, then buy or make it right before you offer it to the recipient.[16]
- Wait until as close to the gift-giving time as you safely can to get things ready.
- Refrigerate the perishable items you buy or make so that they don't spoil.
- You won't have to worry about delivery goods going bad, since they'll be shipped out express from the maker.
- Complete the presentation. Remember, you're giving someone a gift. Don't skimp on the visual details. Put your item in a box, bag or covered container and wrap it, if possible. You can even incorporate touches like bows, tags and other decorations to complete the look.[17]
- Even a covered tupperware container with a few simple embellishments can heighten the anticipation of opening the item.
- Personalize your gift. Tell the person you're giving the gift to what made you think of them and why you chose the food you did. Include a handwritten card with some well-wishes, or a list of serving suggestions for enjoying the gift. It might also be a good idea to include instructions for putting the food together or cooking it if it's not ready-to-eat.[18]
- Come up with a touching or playful message, like "here are some sweets for a sweet girl" with a box of truffles, or "we just go together" with a wine and cheese pairing.
- Briefly describe what they'll find inside, especially if a food is uncommon or not immediately recognizable.
- Edible gifts are perfect for the foodies in your life.
- Prepare your favorite specialties in bulk and give them out during the Christmas season.
- If your dish is going to a household, be sure to make enough for everybody.
- Be considerate and choose food items accordingly if the recipient is on a special diet.
- Utilize creative containers—jars, tins, Chinese takeout boxes or bundles of decorative linen—for more visual appeal.
- To get inspired, check out cooking and home decorating publications.
[Edit]Warnings - Be careful not to offend your recipient by giving them something prohibited by their lifestyle or religious beliefs, or by choosing items that might have insulting connotations, such as low-fat foods.
[Edit]References |
| How to Make a Snow Globe Posted: 22 Dec 2021 08:00 AM PST Are you looking for a fun, holiday-themed project to make with your kids (or parents)? One solution is to create a snow globe! A snow globe is a cute, traditional decoration which is easy to make using everyday items from around your home. Alternatively, you can buy a ready-made kit online or in craft stores to create a more professional-looking snow globe you can enjoy year after year. Whichever option you choose, see Step 1 below to get started. [Edit]Making a Snow Globe From Household Items - Find a glass jar with a tight-fitting lid. Any size will do, as long as you have figurines that will fit inside them.
- Pimiento jars, olive jars, artichoke heart jars, and baby food jars are all good choices, but anything with a tight-fitting lid will do the trick - just take a look in your fridge.
- Wash the jars inside and out. If you're having trouble removing the label, try rubbing it with hot soapy water and using a plastic card or knife to scrape it off. Dry thoroughly.
- Decide what you want to put inside. You can put anything you like inside your snow globe. Small children's toys are a good option, as are winter-themed figurines or cake-toppers (think snowmen, Santa Clauses and Christmas trees) from thrift and craft stores.
- Just make sure the figurines are plastic or ceramic, as other materials (like metal) may start to rust or turn funny after being submerged in water.
- If you want to get a little more creative, try making your own figurines from clay. You can buy clay from a craft store, shape it into any form you want (snowmen are really easy) and bake them in the oven. Paint them with water-proof paint and they're ready to use.
- Another idea is to take pictures of yourself, your family or your pets and laminate them. You can then cut around the outline of each person and place their photo in the snow globe, for a really personalized touch!
- Even though it's called a snow globe you don't need to limit yourself to creating a winter scene. You could create a beach scene using seashells and sand, or something playful and fun like a dinosaur or a ballerina.
- Create the scene on the underside of the jar lid. Take the lid of your jar and cover the underside with a layer of hot glue, super glue or epoxy. If you like, you can sand the lid with some sandpaper first - this will create a rougher surface which helps the glue to stick better.
- While the glue is still wet, build your scene on the underside of the jar. Stick in your figurines, your laminated photos, your clay sculptures, or anything else you want to put in there.
- If the item you're sticking has a narrow base (such as the laminated photos, or a snipping from a garland or plastic Christmas tree) it might be helpful to stick a few colored pebbles to the underside of the lid. Then you can just wedge the item between the pebbles.
- Keep in mind that the scene you create will need to fit inside the jar opening, so don't make it too wide. Keep your figurines in the center of the lid.
- Once you have created your scene, set the jar lid aside for a while to dry. The glue needs to be completely set before you can submerge it in water.
- Fill the jar with water, glycerin, and glitter. Fill your jar almost to the brim with water and add 2 to 3 teaspoons of glycerin (which can be found in the baking section at the supermarket). The glycerin "thickens" the water, allowing the glitter to fall more slowly. You can achieve a similar effect with baby oil.
- Next, add the glitter. How much will depend on the size of the jar and personal preference. You want to add enough to make up for the fact that some will get stuck to the bottom of the jar, but not so much that it obscures the scene you've created.
- Silver and gold glitter are good options for winter or Christmas scenes, but really you can choose any color you like. You can also buy special snow globe "snow" online and in craft stores.
- If you have no glitter on hand, you can make pretty convincing snow from crushed up eggshell. Just use a rolling pin to crush up the shell nice and fine.
- Carefully put the lid on. Take the lid and carefully screw it onto the jar. Close it as tightly as you can, and wipe up any displaced water with some paper towel.
- If you're worried about the lid coming loose, you can place a ring of glue around the rim of the jar before you close it. Alternatively, you can wrap some colored tape around the lid.
- However, sometimes you will need to reopen the jar to fix something that's come loose or to add fresh water or more glitter, so think about that before you seal it up.
- Decorate the lid (optional). If you want, you can finish off your snow globe by decorating the lid.
- You can paint it a bright color, wrap a decorative ribbon around it, cover it in felt, or stick festive berries, holly or jingle bells to it.
- Once that's done, all that's left is to give your snow globe a good shake and watch the glitter fall gently around the beautiful scene you've created!
[Edit]Making a Snow Globe From a Store-Bought Kit - Purchase a snow globe kit online or from a craft store. There are many different kits available, some which allow you to simply slot in a photograph, some which require you to sculpt your own clay figurines, and others which provide you with a water globe, base and other materials for making a professional-looking snow globe.
- Construct the snow globe. Once you have your kit, follow the instructions on the packaging to put it together. Some will require you to paint the parts and glue the figurines to the base. Once the scene is set, you will usually need to glue the glass (or plastic) dome to the base and then fill the dome with water (and snow or glitter) from a hole in the base. You will then use the stopper provided to seal the snow globe.
- Add glitter, beads, or other small items to the water. Anything will work so long as the objects don't interfere with your main object!
- Some fun things to have as your main object are small plastic dolls, plastic animals, and/or pieces from board games such as Monopoly or from model train sets.
- For a fun twist to the snow globe, try adding a few drops of food coloring to the water before adding glitter, beads, etc.
- Instead of using a jar, you can also use a small glass or plastic vial/container to make a snow globe necklace!
- One way to make the object inside of the snow globe more fun is to add glitter or fake snow to the object. This can be done by first painting the object with clear varnish or glue and then sprinkling the glitter/fake snow on top of the wet glue. Note: This must be done before the object is placed inside of the water and the glue must be dry before the object is placed in the water. Otherwise, this effect won't work!
[Edit]Warnings - It's possible that your homemade snow globe may start to leak, so make sure to place it on a surface you don't mind getting wet!
- If you choose to dye the water with food coloring, make sure you use light colors, not blue, green or black/navy blue or you won't be able to see into your snow globe. Also, make sure that the object will not be stained by the food coloring!
[Edit]Things You'll Need - Clear jar with cap (mason jars work well!)
- Water
- Glue or epoxy
- Glycerin
- Glitter/small beads
- Small plastic object(s)
- Food coloring (optional)
[Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References
[Edit]Quick Summary |
| How to Make Cinnamon Spice Cupcakes Posted: 22 Dec 2021 12:00 AM PST If you love the taste of cinnamons and the taste and sweetness of spices, you will crave these cinnamon spice cupcakes. [Edit]Ingredients [Edit]Cupcakes - 5 egg whites (room temperature)
- 3/4 cup buttermilk (divided)
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter (softened)
- 1+3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 2+1/2 cups cake flour
- 1 Tbsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- 1+1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp nutmeg
- 1 tsp ground ginger
Yield: 24-30 cupcakes
Preparation time: 30 minutes [Edit]Frosting - 1 cup unsalted butter (softened)
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1/2 cup cinnamon chips (optional, for garnishing)
[Edit]Making the Cupcakes - Prepare your preparation space.
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Line a cupcake tin with paper cupcake foils.
- Mix together the butter and sugar until it's creamy.
- Add in the granulated sugar, cake flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and ground ginger to the bowl with the butter and sugar.
- Mix in the egg whites and buttermilk(1/4 cup).
- Beat this mixture somewhat and continue adding the remainder (1/2 cup) of buttermilk. Mix the entire time.
- Scrape down the sides of the bowl to ensure all unbeaten cupcake pieces don't stick to the bowl.
- Spoon out enough batter to fill each cupcake foil about 2/3 full.
- Spoon out the remainder of each cupcake into their apportioned foils.
- Place these cupcakes in the oven for 16-18 minutes.
- Take the cupcakes out once they are ready. Make sure that you test them to check for doneness by taking a toothpick and sticking it in, and when this toothpick comes out clean, it is ready!
- Place all cupcakes on a wire rack to cool.
[Edit]Making the Frosting - Prepare the butter. Mix the butter until it turns to a pale yellow color.
- Mix together all dry ingredients including the cinnamon and sugar.
- Add in the butter and milk.
- Blend in the mixture until it's light and fluffy.
- Use a decorative tip on a decorating piping bag and pipe onto each cupcake.
- Add other garnishes if you'd like. Chocolate chips are recommended, but you can add any toppings you like.
[Edit]References
[Edit]Quick Summary |
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