Buns/Bagels without boiling

Buns or bagels? With this recipe you can make both. And the best part is you don’t have to boil the bagels. Yes I cheated, but I can’t really tell the difference, and if you are not picky you’ll enjoy the bagels just as much as I did. My favorite way to eat bagels is breakfast sandwiches with egg and cheese, and also avocado.
Here’s the recipe.

All purpose flour- 4 cups
Salt – 2 tsp
Yeast – 2 tsp
Egg – 1 large
Olive oil – 2tbsp
Water – 1 1/3 cup,warm

1 egg + milk, for egg wash

Put all ingredients in the bowl of a stand mixer, make the dough using the dough hook. When the dough comes together knead for about 5 min, then add a little oil to the bowl, and coat the dough and bowl. Let the dough rest for an hour or until it has doubled in size, this will depend how warm it is in your kitchen. When the dough has doubled in size take it out and roll into a log on a flat surface, if it sticks to the surface use a little oil. Cut the log into 8 or 10 pieces, roll them into little balls. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and transfer the balls there about 2 inches apart, cover with plastic wrap and let them rise for about an hour. Again the rising time will depend on how warm it is in your kitchen. While the buns rise mix 1 egg and a tablespoon of milk. When the buns have doubled in size preheat oven to 400°F. When oven is ready spread egg and milk mixture over the buns. At this point you can sprinkle any seeds or herbs on top. Bake buns for about 25-28 min. Bake time will depend on your oven, you’ll just have to keep an eye on them.

Note:
If you want to turn these into bagels just make a hole in the middle and try to stretch the dough as much as possible, then let them rise. You can skip the boiling, they’ll taste just as good, you won’t tell they weren’t boiled.
Enjoy

Hot Chocolate Cookies

These Hot Chocolate Cookies are my favorite Holiday cookies. No fuss and so easy to make. There are a lot of ways to make them using the same recipe, but I’m showing 3 ways here. I’m using marshmallows, white chocolate chips and melted white chocolate chips with oil. They are crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. These cookies are so good they will definitely bring joy around. 🍪🎄 ☃️ 🎁

Recipe:
1. All-purpose flour – 1 1/2 cups
2. Baking soda – 1 tsp
3. Cocoa – 30gr
4. Hot cocoa mix – 40gr
5. Salt – pinch
6. Unsalted butter – 1 stick,(113gr), room temperature
7. Dark Brown Sugar – 100gr
8. Egg – 1
9. Vanilla extract – 1tsp
10. Milk – 1 tbsp(15ml)

White Chocolate Chips – 200gr
Big marshmallows cut in half

In a bowl mix dry ingredients except brown sugar and set aside. In a bowl of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment beat butter and brown sugar for a few minutes. Scrape the sides down and beat a bit more ( in the video I made a mistake and added the sugar to the dry ingredients, but it worked out fine). Add the egg and vanilla and beat until well combined. Add the dry ingredients in three additions mixing well after each addition. And last add the milk and mix well again, if using chocolate chips add them here. You can refrigerate the dough for 30 min in plastic wrap. Here I used it right away. Make balls a little bigger than a tablespoon size. Place the cookies 2 inches apart on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
Preheat the oven to 350°F.
*If using the marshmallows bake for 10 min and take them out, gently press the marshmallow in the center and bake for 2-3 min more.
*If using the melted chocolate chips bake for 10 min, take them out and press in the center using a spoon. Bake for 2-3 min more. When done let them cool a little. In the meantime melt chocolate chips in the microwave stirring every 30 seconds until well melted, add a little oil and stir well. Spoon chocolate in the center of the cookie.
* You can also just drizzle the melted chocolate over the cookies.

Sourdough buns

I’ve been making these sourdough buns for a while now. And I have to say we all love them. They are soft and easy to prepare. I made them for Thanksgiving and just now for Christmas Eve and in between. Make the dough in the late evening and the next morning shape the buns, let them rise for about 2 hours in a warm spot and bake. The rising time is long especially if it’s cold outside, that’s why I prefer to make the dough between 6:30pm and 7:30pm. and the next morning I just shape the buns and let them rise for a couple of hours.

Recipe:

1. Starter – 120gr, active

2. Sugar -1 tbsp

3. Unsalted butter- 1/4 cup, melted and warm,not hot

4. Salt – 1tsp

5. All-purpose flour – 350gr.(2 1/2 cups)

6. Water – 170ml ( 3/4 cup), warm

7. Oil for coating

Egg wash: whisk 1 egg and 1 tbsp milk well

Start by adding the sugar and water into a bowl, stir until sugar is dissolved. Add the starter and stir again, add salt, flour and butter and knead until you make a dough. Drizzle a little oil, enough to coat the dough cover with plastic wrap and let it rise overnight in a warm spot( about 12 hours). After rising make the buns and put them in a oiled pan with some space between them, cover with plastic wrap and let them rise again for about 2 hours. Preheat oven to 375°F. Spread the egg wash over the buns just before you put them in the oven. Bake for about 25-30min

Feta Stuffed Dough

These savoury feta stuffed buns are so soft and good. You will want to eat them for breakfast, lunch and dinner. In our house they disappear pretty quick. And the good thing is that you can add other ingredients too and they will taste just as delicious. Add anything from meat and cheese or herbs, and you will be amazed how different and tasty they are.

Ingredients:

All purpose flour- 500gr., if you need more add a little at a time
Salt -1tsp
Sugar -1tsp.
Active dry yeast – 2tsp.
Milk – 200ml.
Olive oil- 60ml.
Eggs -2
Feta cheese -200gr.
For the top:
1 egg + tbsp of milk

Add all ingredients and make a soft dough, coat with oil and let it rest until it has doubled. On a surface roll into a thick circle, cut into 8 pizza slices. Roll the slices in a ball,then flat and stretch each ball a little with your fingers. Next, using a rolling pin roll them out thin, cover a good area with feta and roll into a log, then roll the log itself. Put them in a pan and cover with plastic wrap to rise again for 30min. In the meantime beat 1 egg +tbsp of milk , set aside. After 30min preheat the oven to 375° and after the oven has preheated spread the egg and milk mixture over them. Bake for about 28min.
You can spread butter over the buns, let them rest for about 10min.before you do that.

Easy Feta Snack Recipe for Kids and Adults

These feta snacks are going to be your favorite. Cut them a little bit bigger and thicker and they’ll be good for breakfast too. They are the perfect snack to bring with you anywhere also. Young and old will definitely enjoy them.

Ingredients:

1. All purpose flour – about 3 1/2 cups

2. Salt – 1 tsp

3. Yeast – 2 tsp

4. Baking powder – 1/2 tsp

5. Eggs – 1 egg

6. Plain yogurt – 160 gr

7. Butter – 1 stick( 113 gr), melted

8. Feta – 150 gr

9. 1egg+tbsp milk, for spreading on top

Mix all ingredients and make a soft dough, oil the bowl and the dough lightly and cover, let it rise for about an hour. Then on a floured surface roll the dough to 1/4″, cut any shapes you want. Let the snacks rise again for about an hour. Preheat oven to 400°F and in the meantime mix egg with a table spoon of milk. When oven is ready spread the egg mixture and top with anything you may like, Parmesan cheese, everything bagel or even seasoning. Bake for 20-25 min.

• There is no liquid added to this recipe, so don’t be surprised.

• Baking and rising time depends on how warm is in your kitchen.

Cranberry Muffins

These cranberry muffins are simple and easy to make. They are a perfect fall snack or breakfast. Don’t waste time and make them really quick, then enjoy with milk, hot cocoa, or coffee.

Ingredients:

2 cups all purpose flour
1 cup light brown sugar (200g)
1/2 cup butter, 1 stick unsalted and melted
3/4 cup milk
2 eggs, large
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 cup dried cranberries

Mix flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Add milk, butter and eggs and mix until well incorporated. Add the cranberries and fold them in with a spatula. Preheat oven to 350°F. Use a pan for 12 cupcakes, fill them and bake for about 25 min.

Fruit Bars

These really tasty treats were supposed to be fig newtons, but since I didn’t have figs, I simply used apricot jam mixed with cinnamon and they came out really good. This simple and easy recipe made perfect fall treats. Recipe is with apricot and cinnamon, but you can use any jam or fruit filling.

Ingredients:

1.All purpose flour – about 1 1/2 cups

2.Light Brown Sugar – 1/2 cup(110g)

3.Baking Powder – 1/2 tsp

4.Salt- 1/4 tsp

5.Cinnamon – 1/2 tsp

6.Butter, softened – 6 tbsp

7.Egg -1, large

8.Vanilla extract – 2 tsp

9.Apricot – 1/2 cup mixed with 1/2tsp cinnamon

In a bowl mix flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and set aside. In a bowl beat butter, add sugar and beat again. Next add the egg, vanilla and beat. Add the dry ingredients slowly and blend well to make dough. Make a rectangle about an inch think and put in the fridge for 30min. Take dough out of fridge and cut in half. Roll to about 0.3 mm thick , cut in half, spread the apricot jam in the middle leaving some space on both sides, then fold the sides, flip over and set on a baking sheet. Preheat oven to 350° and bake for about 25 min.

• Every oven is different, so check on them and when you see the bottom is light brown take them out of the oven.

Lemon Poppy Seed Pancakes

Today’s breakfast was a muffin recipe turned into pancakes! All I had to do was add 1/4 cup of milk and stir well. You can make it in the afternoon or evening for the next morning and just leave it in the fridge. Make sure the next morning you leave it at room temperature for about an hour and stir well before starting. I’ve shared the muffin recipe here not long ago. Follow the link below for the recipe. Don’t forget to add 1/4 cup of milk.

Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins

Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins

If you want something different for breakfast, these lemon poppy seed muffins will bring some interesting and fresh flavor to your morning. Whenever my kids are tired from pancakes, french toast or egg sandwiches, or just toast, they really enjoy these muffins.

Ingredients:
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 3/4 cup sour cream
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled
• 1 tbsp poppy seeds
• 2 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 tsp lemon extract

Start by mixing the sugar with the lemon extract and lemon juice,mix good. Add eggs one at a time, and mix well after each addition. Add the melted and cooled butter and mix well again, then add sour cream and mix. Next add the baking powder and baking soda and mix well. Add the flour slowly and mix well, then add Poppy seeds and mix. Preheat oven to 400°, in the meantime scoop the batter in a pan for 12 muffins and cook for 20-25 min.

Fresh lemon flavored muffins with poppy seed for your morning

Easy Parmesan Rolls

These parmesan rolls are easy to make. Basically I use the same recipe for my bread, except the water is a bit more.

Ingredients:
1. All Purpose Flour(King Arthur)-3 cups
2. Yeast – 1 tsp
3. Salt – 1 tsp
4. Water – 1 1/4 cup, lukewarm
5. Olive oil – 1tbs, and some extra for oiling the bowl and dough.
6. Butter and parmesan for the top

Put all the ingredients in a bowl and mix with the dough hook. When dough is all done, oil the bowl and the dough, cover and let it rise for an hour. After an hour make little rolls, about an inch big and set them in a pan close to each other. When you are done, melt butter and spread on top of the rolls, and let them rise again for about an hour. After an hour preheat oven to 400° and bake for 25-30min. When done let them rest for a few minutes and in the meantime prepare the butter and parmesan.
Simply melt 1tbsp butter in the microwave, add 1tbsp parmesan and mix. Spread the mix over the rolls and you are done.
• Depending on how warm is in your kitchen rising time may vary.
• Depending on your oven baking time may vary also.
• If the dough gets too sticky just oil your hands a little.