Kabocha squash recipes

The other day I went to a farm to buy squash and they ended up giving me a bunch of free squash because they were getting a little old and soft.  So I took them home and cut off the soft spots and baked them all.  Now I have a ton of cooked kabocha squash and not enough time to eat it.  (Who am I kidding I could eat that stuff day and night).  Anyway I saved this pumpkin muffin recipe so I decided to sub the kabocha squash for pumpkin to use some of this stuff up.

Kabocha Squash Spice Muffins
Adapted from Dainty Chef

Ingredients:

• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 4 large eggs or 8 egg yolks
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 2 cups mashed kabocha squash
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 2 tablespoons molasses
• splash of milk or soymilk 
• 1 cup raisins
• 1 cup nuts of your choosing or pumpkin seeds

Method:

Preheat oven to 430.  Line 12-cup muffin tin with papers.  In small bowl mix flours, spices, salt, b soda, and b powder, set aside.  In larger bowl mix eggs, sugar, squash, oil, molasses, nuts and raisins.  Add the dry into the wet and combine without over-mixing.  At this point if your mixture is a little dry add the splash of milk, leave it out if the batter is wet enough.  Portion evenly into muffin tins and pop in the oven for 10 minutes.  When the timer goes off lower the temp to 400 and rotate the muffin tin.  Bake for another 10 minutes or until the muffins bounce back to the touch.  Take them out still a little underdone, they will continue to bake in the pan.  Pop them out when they are completely cooled.

Muffin Thursday: Pear Almond Chocolate Spice Muffins

Christmas has come early!! Muffin Thursday has arrived a whole day early this week. Instead of studying for a huge test that I have tomorrow- I can't look at my notes anymore I'm going insane- I decided to make cookies and these delish muffins. From Pastry Affair, these muffins have the perfect balance of spice and cocoa powder.

Unfortunately I was halfway done the recipe when I realized my mom didn't have any cardamom, so I changed the recipe to ginger and nutmeg. And I threw in some allspice and extra cinnamon. I'll try to remember all of the changes I made. I also halved the sugar. Remember- muffin not cupcake. I think this same basic recipe would be really good with cranberries and walnuts or chocolate chips and hazelnuts instead of the pear and nuts. The basic batter recipe is really easy and lends itself to a lot of different flavor possibilities. It's easy to take cake recipes and make them into muffins by backing off on the sugar and changing the bake temp from 350 to 400 and the bake time from an hour to around 25 mins.

Ingredients:

1 cup boiling water
1/2 cup cocoa powder
2 cups all purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoon ginger
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon allspice
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
2 large eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
2-3 pears, diced (I used Red Pears)
1/2 cup chopped almonds

Method:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Put muffin papers in a 12 cup muffin pan.

In a small bowl, whisk together boiling water and cocoa powder until cocoa is dissolved.

In another small bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, spices, and salt. Set aside.

In a large mixing bowl, mix brown sugar, granulated sugar, and oil together. Add the eggs one at a time and continue mixing until smooth. Mix in vanilla extract. Alternatively add the flour and cocoa mixtures, mixing gently between additions. Don't mix too much. Using a spatula, fold in the diced pears and chopped almonds.

Pour batter into prepared pan and bake for 20-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow muffins to cool in pan for 10 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack to cool completely.

And now back to pretending to study.

Muffin Thursday: Chai Spice

Starting something new today: Muffin Thursdays. Every week a new muffin recipe. This week we're doing Chai Muffins. I got the idea from a combination of a chamomile cupcake recipe and chai shortbread cookies. I still want to try the chamomile in a muffin at some point. So I changed some of the proportions and added a few things to make these muffins more hearty and rustic.

(Makes 6 muffins)

Ingredients:

1/2 C Whole Wheat Flour
1/2 C AP Flour
1/3 C Bran Flakes
1/2 C Oats
1 Tsp Baking Powder
1/2 Tsp Baking Soda
1/4 Tsp Salt
1 1/2 Tsp Cinnamon
1 Tsp Allspice
2 Bags Chai Tea- put tea leaves right into dry ingredients bowl

1/2 C Sugar
2 Tbsp Molasses
1/2 C Milk
1 Egg
1 Tsp Vanilla
1/2 C Apple sauce or more if mix looks dry once wet and dry combined

Method:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Combine all dry ingredients (first paragraph of ingredients list) and set and set aside.
Combine all wet ingredients (2nd paragraph) and set aside
Pour dry into wet bowl and mix just until flour is absorbed. If mix is dry add a little milk or applesauce, if too wet throw in some more oats and mix just until combined.
Drop batter into muffin tins and fill just to the top or a little over,
Bake for 10-12 mins and then check them, they should bounce back to the touch and a knife should come out clean when stuck in the middle.

Enjoy!!

Chewy Vegan Ginger Cookies

So I made these a few times over Xmas for all my vegan peeps to enjoy. I like recipes with spices in them and this one does not disappoint in the spice category. They are a bit chewy, so don't be fooled and over-bake them, take them out of the oven when they're still a little soft- but set. You can find the original recipe on Lunch Box Bunch's blog.

2 cups flour
1/2 cup sugar
1 1/2 Tbsp ginger powder
1 Tbsp fresh grated ginger
1/4+ cup water (see notes)
1/4 - 1/3 cup molasses
1/3 cup melted vegan buttery spread
3/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp baking soda
2 tsp baking powder

Notes:
* I used white whole wheat flour from Trader Joe's. Any flour variety will work though.
* Adding more molasses will make the cookies darker and bolder. But don't add more than 1/2 cup - because the flavor will be too strong. Molasses is bold.
* If you sub the butter spread w/ veg oil like canola, add in an extra dash of salt.
* If your dough seems too dry - simply add water in 1 tsp intervals until the dough meshes perfectly - in a Playdough like consistency.

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.

2. Soften the vegan butter spread in the microwave. Set aside.

3. In a large mixing bowl, combine the dry ingredients: flour, sugar, ginger powder, cinnamon, salt, baking soda/powder. Mix well.

4. In a separate bowl, combine the softened buttery spread, molasses, vanilla extract, grated ginger and water.

5. Combine the wet and dry ingredients and stir by hand well until all the ingredients are blended into a moist ball of dough. The dough will seem dry at first, but keep stirring and folding and it will come together. If needed add in extra water one spoonful at a time until the dough consistency is reached.

6. If you want perfectly shaped ginger cookies, you can freeze the dough for 1/2 hour then roll out the dough to cookie cutter circle shapes for baking. Or you can simply roll the dough into moist balls, dip in a coating of sugar and bake. I tried both versions and was pleased with both. (If you want crunchier, thinner Gingersnaps - roll the dough out thin, cut into thin circle shapes and bake.)

7. Bake at 375 for 8-10 minutes. Fluffy, but not hard. Cookies will firm up when they cool. Note: do not over-bake - or you will get gingerSNAPS instead of cookie chews.

8. Allow the cookies to cool at least 15 minutes before serving. They will harden as they cool as well as overnight.

Photo Credit: Lunch Box Bunch

America's Test Kitchen: Scones and Spice Cake

So finally America's Test Kitchen stopped being totally cheap and stingy and let us have some content for free- I'm exaggerating but they do charge you to look at their recipes. STINGY!! Here is a link that they emailed me on Oatmeal Scones- a video no less on how to make them.

I love America's Test Kitchen- you pretty much know that the recipe is going to be perfect. However, they are rarely simple. THey usually have a million steps and call for weird ingredients that no one has or use expensive equipment- like $100 meat thermometers- that I'll never own. But they do have good tips and they tell you why things need to be done a certain way- the science behind it, which is cool for those of us who are always asking- WHY???

They have a bangin spice cake that I want to make which you can find here but if you click this link one time and can view the recipe- copy and paste it in a word doc or something because the bastards will block you from viewing it after a few clicks. Then they want you to pay to see more recipes- BASTARDS!! If you get locked out you can find it here too, some kind citizen reposted it for us for FREE. Yay. And I even copied and pasted it here for you, because I love you, and hate Christopher Kimball for not sharing his secrets with me.



Spice Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

To save time, let the eggs, buttermilk, and butter come up to temperature while the browned butter and spice mixture cools. To prevent unsightly air holes in the finished cake, be sure to follow the instructions for removing air bubbles in the batter (see illustrations below). Leftover cake can be stored, covered with plastic wrap, in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. The cake should be brought to room temperature before serving.
Serves 12 to 14

Cake
2 1/4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour (11 1/4 ounces), plus extra for dusting pans
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
3/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
16 tablespoons unsalted butter (2 sticks), softened
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon table salt
2 large eggs at room temperature
3 large egg yolks at room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 3/4 cups granulated sugar (12 1/4 ounces)
2 tablespoons light molasses or mild molasses
1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
1 cup buttermilk , at room temperature

Frosting
5 tablespoons unsalted butter , cut into 5 pieces, softened
1 1/4 cups confectioners' sugar (4 1/2 ounces)
8 ounces cream cheese , cut into 4 pieces , softened
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup coarsely chopped walnuts, toasted (optional)

1. For the cake: Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour 13- by 9-inch baking pan. Combine spices in small bowl; reserve 1/2 teaspoon for frosting.

2. Heat 4 tablespoons butter in 8-inch skillet over medium heat until melted, 1 to 2 minutes. Continue to cook, swirling pan constantly, until butter is light brown and has faint nutty aroma, 2 to 4 minutes. Add spices and continue to cook, stirring constantly, 15 seconds. Remove from heat and cool to room temperature, about 30 minutes.

3. Whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in medium bowl. In small bowl, gently whisk eggs, yolks, and vanilla to combine. In standing mixer fitted with paddle attachment, cream remaining 12 tablespoons butter with sugar and molasses at medium-high speed until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes, scraping down sides and bottom of bowl twice with rubber spatula. Reduce to medium speed and add cooled butter and spice mixture, ginger, and half of egg mixture; mix until incorporated, about 15 seconds. Repeat with remaining egg mixture; scrape down bowl again. Reduce to low speed; add about one-third flour mixture, followed by half of buttermilk, mixing until just incorporated after each addition, about 5 seconds. Repeat using half of remaining flour mixture and all of remaining buttermilk. Scrape bowl and add remaining flour mixture; mix at medium speed until batter is thoroughly combined, about 15 seconds. Remove bowl from mixer and fold batter once or twice with rubber spatula to incorporate any remaining flour.

4. Transfer batter to prepared pan; following illustrations at left, zigzag tip of metal spatula through batter, pulling it to pan edges. Lightly tap pan against counter 3 or 4 times to dislodge any large air bubbles; smooth surface with spatula.

5. Bake until toothpick inserted in center of cake comes out clean, 32 to 37 minutes. Cool cake to room temperature in pan on wire rack, about 2 hours.

6. For the frosting: In bowl of standing mixer fitted with paddle attachment, beat butter, sugar, and reserved 1/2 teaspoon spice mixture at medium-high speed until light and fluffy, 1 to 2 minutes. Add cream cheese one piece at a time, beating thoroughly after each addition. Add vanilla and beat until no lumps remain, about 30 seconds.

7. Run paring knife around edge of cake to loosen from pan. Using spatula, spread frosting evenly over surface of cake. Sprinkle cake with walnuts, if using. Cut into squares and serve.

Photo Credit: America's Test Kitchen

Mini Jewish Honey Cakes

I have made this recipe three times in the last two weeks- it is getting rave reviews. Originally from Brown Eyed Baker, this cake is moist and spicy. I've made it exactly as the recipe says, on time with molasses and one time with orange zest and chocolate chips. Next time I'm going to add pumpkin somehow. It's also good with all kinds of nuts- I'm thinking pecans would be nice. This time I actually made some in giant muffin pans and some in my new mini-donut pan. So the giant muffins came out like individual cakes which was kind of fun.

This recipe can be made in three standard loaf pans, two 9-inch square or round cake pans, one 9- or 10-inch tube or bundt cake pan, or one 9×13-inch sheet cake. I made mine in a 9-cup bundt pan (a bit smaller than standard) and baked the leftover in an 8-inch loaf pan.

Yield: 14 to 16 servings

Prep Time: 20 minutes | Bake Time: 40 to 75 minutes (depending on pan size)

3½ cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon kosher salt
4 teaspoons ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon ground cloves
½ teaspoon ground allspice
1 cup vegetable oil
1 cup honey
1½ cups granulated sugar
½ cup light brown sugar
3 eggs, at room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup brewed coffee, warm
½ cup orange juice
¼ cup whiskey
½ cup slivered or sliced almonds (optional)

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Generously grease pan(s) with non-stick cooking spray. Even if your pan is non-stick, still spray!

2. In a large bowl (or in the bowl of an electric mixer), whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, cloves and allspice. Make a well in the center and add the oil, honey, white sugar, brown sugar, eggs, vanilla, coffee, orange juice and whiskey, if using.

3. Using a strong wire whisk or with an electric mixer on slow speed, stir together until all ingredients are well-blended, scraping the sides and bottom of the bowl, making sure that no ingredients are stuck to the bottom.

4. Spoon batter into prepared pan(s). Sprinkle top of cake(s) evenly with almonds, if using. (If you are using a bundt pan, sprinkle the almonds into the bottom of the pan before pouring the batter in). Place cake pan(s) on two baking sheets, stacked together (this will ensure the cakes bake properly with the bottom baking faster than the cake interior and top).

5. Bake until the cake springs back when you gently touch the cake center and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with just a few moist crumbs, almost clean. For tube and bundt pans, this will take 60 to 75 minutes, loaf cakes, about 45 to 55 minutes. For sheet style cakes, baking time is 40 to 45 minutes.

6. Let cake stand fifteen minutes before removing from pan. Serve warm or at room temperature. Leftover cake can be stored at room temperature, covered tightly.

Photo Credit: Brown Eyed Baker

Gluten-Free Pumpkin Apple Sauce Doughnut Muffins

This recipe is a modified version of Two Peas & Their Pod's Cinnamon Streusel Muffin recipe.

So here is the original recipe and the changes that I made:

Instead of AP flour I used the gluten-free flour from the bulk bin at Weaver's Way Coop, I used half a can of pumpkin (that was ll I had) and supplemented the rest with applesauce. I think I skipped the water all together and they turned out nice and moist anyway, I halved the sugar, and I added craisins, walnuts, and oats. I also baked these in my new Wilton's mini-doughnut pan rather than a regular muffin pan. Because the pan was shallower I reduced the cook time to about 15 mins and added another 2 minutes until the doughnuts bounced back to the touch and a test knife came out clean. They were moist, fluffy, and actually not that bad for you- and my gluten free friend loved them! I also left out the cinnamon filling and the streusel topping since these were supposed to be doughnuts but I have made this recipe with the filling etc. and they come out very nice.

Pumpkin Cinnamon Streusel Muffins

Yield: 24 muffinsCook Time: 17-20 minutes

ingredients:

1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 tablespoon cinnamon
1 1/2 teaspoons nutmeg
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 cup canola oil
1/3 cup water
1 cup canned pumpkin
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Brown Sugar Cinnamon Filling:

1 cup brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Streusel Topping:

1 1/4 cup oats
1 tablespoon flour
1/3 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
Dash of nutmeg
6 tablespoons cold butter, cut into chunks

directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line two muffin tins with paper liners or spray with cooking spray. Set aside.

2. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Set aside.

3. In a large bowl, whisk together sugar, oil, water, pumpkin, eggs, and vanilla extract. Whisk until smooth and combined.

4. Slowly stir in the flour mixture. Mix until ingredients are combined.

5. For the brown sugar cinnamon filling: in a small bowl, mix the brown sugar and cinnamon together. Set aside.

6. For the streusel topping: in a small bowl mix together the oats, flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Mix in the butter with your hands until the mixture is crumbly.

7. Fill muffin cups half way full with the pumpkin batter. Sprinkle the brown sugar cinnamon filling over each half filled muffin cup. Fill the muffins cups with the remaining batter. Top each muffin with streusel topping.

8. Bake for 17-20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Remove pans from oven and cool on a wire rack. Remove muffins from tins and enjoy.

Photo Credit: Two Peas and Their Pod