Seeking your help in coming up with my next cooking class for the 'Girls Group' that I volunteer w/

D

deb-in-mi

Well-known member
So it looks like my next class is in Nov. and it is going to be about "Holiday Baking" - trying to stress inexpensive gifts for friends and families.

I'm looking for recipes that can basically be made in one bowl and mixed by hand; I doubt any of these girls come from well-equipped homes. Also - I was hoping that the recipes could be baked in muffin tins; I thought that I would give each girl a muffin tin to take home, a roll of cellophane wrap and matching ribbon as well to tie up their homemade gifts.

I have a banana bread w/ chocolate chip recipe that can be mixed by hand (as long as the bananas are left a few days in the freezer - then when they come out they are practically liquid) that I'm sure will also work as muffins.

Your recipes/input/suggestions etc. are ever so welcome and wished for!

Thanks,

Deb

 
Actually - this coming Wed. is our first time together....

I am taking N to a cooking class (well, actually cake decorating class) at Zingerman's in Ann Arbor.

I was supposed to meet w/ the founder/staff of the organization in early Sept. to discuss my one-on-one mentoring desire but then I had to travel quite a bit on business and had to reschedule the meeting. But it has now taken place and I can't wait to go forward.

N lives with her grandmother - I hope to introduce myself to her this Wed. when I pick her up. I'll keep you posted. And thanks for asking!

Deb

 
Depending on safety issues, peanut brittle is a great gift.

One stop, one pot cooking (plus a cookie sheet to dump it out on.)

Just have to make sure the girls understand that sugar gets REALLY HOT!

 
I was thinking peanut brittle too, but was concerned about possible sugar burns.

But here's a link to Julia's recipe. It only contains four ingredients and can be halved easily.

I used to make peanut butter cookies without a mixer. Also thumbprint cookies with raspberry jam. Shortbread might work also.

 
Hey deb...here's some thoughts...

How about a baking sheet instead? Much more useful than muffin tins. With a baking sheet you can do a sheet of brownies, cookies, etc. Then when you move on to cooking dinner, you could show them how to roast a chicken on their baking sheet.

Brownies is always a good choice...easy to make for Christmas or any other time of year. Bar cookies too.

My most requested recipe at Christmas is granola. That's a good recipe for not needing a ton of equipment. Just mix & bake. You can add as much or as little embelishments as your inclination/budget allows. In fact, you know how they do the pizza parties with all the ingredients laid out? You could do a granola making session with a ton of different options. Nuts, coconut, dried fruit, spices, etc.

The granola I make has dried cranberries and the little green pumpkin seeds. In a celophane bag with a lovely ribbon...it makes a great gift at the holidays.

I also used to make up bags of home made oatmeal. That's a fun one too. Same idea...lots of mix in toppings.

 
Notes on homemade oatmeal packets

Plain Instant Oatmeal
Yields: 8 servings


3 cups quick-cooking oats: Blend 1 c of the oats in a food processor
until powdery (if using a blender, blend 1/2 c @ a time). Leave the =
other 2 c as is.

You will need 8 plastic sandwich bags.

Optional flavor ingredients (below)

Into each sandwich bag:
1/4 c unpowdered oats
2 TBSP powdered oats
scant 1/4 tsp salt

Store in a box or airtight container.

To serve: Empty packet into a bowl/cup. Add 3/4 c boiling water; stir and let stand for 2 minutes. For thicker oatmeal, use less water; for
thinner, use more water.

Note: For a creamier oatmeal: Mix the bag with 3/4 c cold water; let
stand 1 - 2 min; then cook to heat thru (or eat as is).

VARIATIONS:

Sweetened Oatmeal
To each packet, add 1-2 tsp sugar.

Creamy Oatmeal (I like this version a lot)
To each packet, add 1 TBSP powdered dry milk.

Creamy & Sweetened Oatmeal
To each packet, add 1-2 tsp sugar & 1 TBSP powdered dry milk.

Apple-Cinnamon Oatmeal
To each packet, add 1-2 tsp sugar, dash or 2 of cinnamon, and 2 TBSP
chopped dried apples.=20

Cinnamon-Spice Oatmeal
To each packet, add 1-2 tsp sugar, 2 dashes of cinnamon, and a dash of
nutmeg.

Oatmeal with Raisins & Brown Sugar
To each packet, add 1 tsp packed brown sugar and 1 TBSP raisins.

Wheat Germ Oatmeal
To each packet, add 2 tsp wheat germ.

Fruit & Cream
To each packet, add 1 TBSP powdered dry milk and 2 TBSP chopped dried
fruit.

(In addition to the above) To flavor, sweeten, & fortify bland oatmeal,
try:

Extracts: (1/8-1/4 tsp of 1 ext.) vanilla, almond, rum, etc; cloves,
allspice, mace (very strong spice; use as a 'dash of'); instant coffee, brown sugar, date sugar or dates, molasses, honey, syrups, dehydrated fruit compote or fruit medley, rehydrated; crushed candies, Red Hot candies (cinnamon); chocolate, butterscotch, or peanut butter chips; mini marshmallows, any dried fruits (or a combo of any), instant drink mixes/crystals/powders, instant cocoa (mixes), malted milk powder, jams/jellies, yogurt (plain/flavored), flavored gelatins, pudding mixes, seeds &/or nuts, fruit leathers, peanut butter (or other nut butter), margarine (or Butter Buds), BacoBits, (meat) jerky bits, tofu "bacon", tofu jerky, bits of mincemeat or pemmican, dried &/or candied orange/lemon peel, Nutella, or anything from your gorp bag, etc, etc.

Try combining other quick-cooking cereals (cream of wheat/rice/barley,
Malt-O-Meal, etc) or dry cereals (granolas, muesli, Bran Buds, All-Bran, etc) to the oatmeal packets.

*For an even creamier oatmeal, add 1-2 generous heaping tsp powdered
creamer

 
Thanks, Traca

All great ideas (and the label source - fantastic)that I'm to take take advantage of! I'm going to save the oatmeal and granola next year when I teach breakfast again. I realize that these would make wonderful holiday gifts but I've been told the girls wants to make sweets (cookies, muffins, etc) for holiday baking class.

 
gifts of bread/cake/cookie mixes are nice too. My boss gave us small whisks with Hershey kisses

tucked inside them and the note said "I whisk you a Merry Christmas". Very cute to tie to a bag or jar of mix with recipe included. And small whisks can be found at dollar stores for very little. Last year I gave my co-workers' kids coffe mugs filled with that microwave recipe "cake in a mug" mix and directions. Mugs were cheapies, and the mix is nice for individual servings. If you can find big cookie cutters on sale or clearance, they are great to pour fudge(I made easy fluff fudge--choc and pnut butter) into, then let them harden and wrap up for a 2 in 1 gift.

 
Cherry Almond Cluster-super easy, 3 ingreds in a micro from the Cherry Institute

Cherry Almond Clusters


Serving Size : 24
Categories : Candy Cherry Marketing Institute

1 8-ounce package semisweet baking chocolate
1 cup slivered almonds -- toasted
1 cup dried tart cherries

Put chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on HIGH (100%) power 2 minutes, stirring halfway through the heating time. Stir until chocolate is completely melted. Add almonds and dried cherries; mix until completely coated with chocolate. Drop by teaspoons onto waxed paper. Refrigerate until firm.

To toast almonds: Spread almonds on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake in a preheated 350º oven 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Description:
"A sweet treat for any holiday gathering."
Source:
"Cherry Marketing Institute"
S(Internet address):
"http://www.cherrymkt.org/index.html"
Yield:
"2 Dozen"
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Per Serving (excluding unknown items): 100 Calories; 6g Fat (49.5% calories from fat); 2g Protein; 12g Carbohydrate; 1g Dietary Fiber; 0mg Cholesterol; 2mg Sodium. Exchanges: 0 Grain(Starch); 0 Lean Meat; 1/2 Fruit; 1 Fat; 1/2 Other Carbohydrates.

doug/dougn'dinksdelights

 
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