When you go on vacation and stay at a nice hotel, you cannot imagine your breakfast without having croissants. In fact, in the hotel, you will find a variety of croissants. So, does it mean that you have to go to hotels or stops to eat croissants? not! You can bake croissants at home.

Ingredients

● Large croissants – 6-8, a day old
● Almonds – 1 cup, dried
● Icing sugar – powdered, for dusting

For the syrup

● Granulated sugar – 2 tablespoons
● Water – 1 cup
● Almond extract – 1 teaspoon

For the almond cream

● Granulated sugar – ½ cup
● Almond flour – 1 cup
● Salt – ¼ teaspoon
● Unsalted butter – ½ cup, room temperature
● Eggs – 2, room temperature
● Vanilla extract – 1 teaspoon
● Almond extract – ¼ teaspoon

Cooking method

1. For the syrup and water and 2 tablespoons of sugar into a saucepan. Let it boil. Then remove from heat. Add almond extract.
2. To make the almond cream combine almond flour, salt, and sugar using a mixer. Add butter and continue beating till it becomes creamy.
3. Add eggs, one at a time, and blend. Add vanilla and almond extracts.
4. Take the croissants and cut them horizontally in the middle.
5. Use a pastry brush to brush the cut sides of the croissant with sugar syrup.
6. Add 2 tablespoons of almond cream to the bottom part of the croissant. Spread it evenly.
Place the top part of the croissant on top.
7. Place the croissants on a baking tray and bake for 15 minutes in a preheated oven at 350 degrees F.
8. Place croissants on a lined baking tray and put it in a preheated oven at 180°C or 350°F.
9. When it's done, take out the croissants and dust with icing.

How to store

● You can make the simple syrup and almond cream beforehand and store it in the refrigerator. Make sure you put them in airtight containers.
● You can store the almond-filled croissants for eating later. First, keep the almond-filled croissants at room temperature for 3 hours. Then wrap the croissants individually in aluminum foil and store them in an airtight container. Put it in the refrigerator.
● When you want to eat the stored croissants, take them out and heat them in the oven for 5 minutes at 350 degrees F. Don't heat the croissants in the microwave. They will become chewy and non-crispy.

Making croissants from scratch

Instead of filling the store-purchased croissants with almond cream, you can make croissants from scratch. To do so make a dough from flour, butter, sugar, yeast, milk, and water. Roll the dough in a large shape. Put butter over it. Now enclose this layer inside the dough. Roll out the dough to another shape and fold it back. Repeat it two more times to get your desired shape for the croissant. Then bake the croissants. Keep these croissants in the refrigerator for a day to make them old. Put on almond cream the next day.

Croissants contain lots of nutrients that are good for your health. They contain vitamins and minerals that support the function of the heart, brain, lungs, and kidneys. They contain carbohydrates, proteins, and fibers as well. However, as they are high in calories, you should eat them in limited quantities. Once you have these soft croissants you will understand what comfortable food is all about.

Isn't it lovely to look at the colors popping out from your favorite brownies? Cosmic brownies are a delight to the kids. They look attractive and taste great. The fudginess of the brownie is unparalleled which you get due to the use of chocolate along with cocoa powder. If you use this recipe for baking cosmic brownies then your kids will be demanding more. So, let's start!

Ingredients

● This is for making 24 brownies.

For the brownies:

● Unsalted butter – 1 cup
● Granulated sugar – 1.75 cups
● Brown sugar – ½ cup
● Eggs – large, at room temperature
● Egg yolk – 1, at room temperature
● Vanilla essence – 1 teaspoon
● Unsweetened cocoa powder – 1 cup
● All-purpose flour – 1 cup
● Salt – ½ teaspoon

For the Ganache:

● Semisweet chocolate – 8 ounces, finely chopped
● Corn syrup – 1 tablespoon
● Heavy cream – ½ cup

For the topping:

● Rainbow candy-coated chocolate chips, sprinkles, or mini M&Ms – a handful

Baking instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Line baking pan (9X13 inch) with parchment paper or aluminum foil. You should leave the paper overhung so that you can easily remove it after baking.
3. Whisk together granulated sugar, melted butter, and brown sugar.
4. Whisk egg yolk, eggs, and vanilla extract.
5. Add cocoa powder, salt, and flour till well combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl. Scoop the batter into the baking pan and spread it evenly throughout the pan using a spatula or flat surface of the knife.
6. Put the baking tray in the oven and bake till a toothpick comes out clean when inserted in the middle of the batter.
7. Once the brownie is done remove it from the oven and cool it down.
8. Now make the ganache by chopping chocolate and corn syrup in a heatproof bowl. Set it aside.
9. Take a pot and heat the heavy cream for a minute.
10. Pour the cream over the chocolate and start mixing everything. If you notice lumps you can put it in the microwave for 30 seconds for the lumps to melt.
11. Use the spoon to spread the ganache over the brownies that are left to cool.
12. Sprinkle rainbow candy over the top.
13. Cut into squares and serve!

Tips

● Refrigerate the ganache for a few hours before putting it on the brownie.
● You can store the baked brownies in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
● Measure the dry ingredients properly to get fudgy, chewy, and moist brownies. If you add too much of them then your brownies will become dry.
● Making sprinkles at home
● Use butter and not oil. Butter makes brownies softer and fudgier.
● Don't skip corn syrup in the recipe as it helps brownies to become chewy.
● Don't miss putting in the extra yolk which makes the brownies more rich, fudgy, and chewy.
● You should dissolve the sugar into the brownie batter properly. If not, your brownies won't look shiny.

You can imagine your kid's face when he opens the tiffin box to see those colorful and chocolatey brownies. You can experiment with the frosting and toppings. You can add extra flavor too to the brownies for a different taste. With more practice, you will know the constancy needed to create perfect brownies. Not only kids, but even adults will enjoy this top-class brownie. Make sure you include all the ingredients mentioned here and follow instructions step-by-step to make the best brownies in the world!

Wondering what snickerdoodles? It's a German word meaning 'snail noodles'. However, in reality, it's neither snail nor noodles. German cinnamon rolls are called snickerdoodles. It's soft, tangy, and chewy. It's crackly on the outer side. It is usually coated with cinnamon sugar. It's a fun dish for all in the family. So, let's bake it!

Ingredients

● Unsalted butter- ½ cup, melted and cooled
● Sugar – ½ cup
● Brown sugar – 1/3 cup
● Pumpkin puree – ¼ cup
● Egg yolk – 1
● Vanilla extract – 1 teaspoon
● All-purpose flour – 1.5 cups
● Pumpkin pie spice – 1.5 teaspoons
● Salt – ½ teaspoon
● Baking soda – ½ teaspoon
● Cream of tartar – ½ teaspoon

Topping

● Sugar – ¼ cup
● Ground cinnamon – 2 teaspoons

Cooking method

1. Mix melted butter, brown sugar, and sugar till they are well combined. Put pumpkin and mix.
2. Add egg yolk and vanilla extract. Mix.
3. In another bowl, whisk flour, baking soda, cream of tartar, and pumpkin spice.
4. Add the dry ingredients to the butter and egg mixture.
5. Cover the dough and keep in the refrigerator for at least an hour.
6. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
7. Prepare a cookie sheet by lining parchment paper.
8. Whisk sugar and ground cinnamon for the topping.
9. Take out the dough from the refrigerator. Scoop out 1.5 tablespoon-sized balls. Roll between the palms to smoothen and then roll with the cinnamon sugar mixture that you prepared.
10. Transfer the balls to the cookie sheet. Keep the balls 2'' apart so that they don't stick to each other when they rise during baking.
11. Bake the cookies for 10 to 12 minutes at 350 degrees F.
12. Keep the rest of the dough in the refrigerator. For the next batch, cool down the baking sheet before placing the dough there.
13. Take out baked cookies from the oven and allow them to cool. Then serve and enjoy!

Tips

● You can keep your cookie dough in the fridge for up to 3 days. Just make sure to cover them.
● You can also freeze them to store them for a longer period.
● Don't keep the dough in a warm place before putting them in the oven. When the dough is chilled it is easy to coat them with sugar and cinnamon. Also, cookies won't spread in the oven if they are chilled.
● If you want your cookie to be extra chewy, then dry the pumpkin puree with a paper towel. As moisture will be removed, the cookie will be chewy.
● Don't overmix the dough.
● If you don't get the pumpkin pie spice in your nearby store, you can mix cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and nutmeg powder to make it at home.
● To get a toasty flavor in your cookie you need to brown the butter. For this, you need to melt the butter in the saucepan and whisk continuously. You will notice that the butter starts to crackle and foam. Continue to whisk. When the butter starts to turn brown and give off a nutty aroma, take the saucepan out of the flame and transfer the butter to a different bowl.
● Use egg at room temperature.
● Use fresh baking soda for the cookies to bake perfectly.
● Don't skip using cream of tartar. It helps prevent sugar from crystallizing. That is, it makes the cookies soft and chewy. Cream of tartar is acidic so this is where you get the tangy flavor from.

You can put on your favorite frosting over these cookies. You can also decorate them with colorful toppings. Pumpkin snickerdoodles are sweet and tangy giving you a different feeling. You will feel the punch and get refreshed after having a couple of them.

If you are looking for a 10-minute dessert, then you should give pumpkin mousse a try. This creamy and nutritious dessert will impress any food lover. Even someone who has an aversion to pumpkin will love it. The best part of making this super easy and quick dessert is that you need only two ingredients.

This dessert has everything you can ask for. It's creamy and feels very fancy. You don't need cooking and can make it using only two ingredients.

Ingredients

● Pumpkin pie filling – 1 can or 3 cups/ Pumpkin puree
● Whipping cream – 1.5 cups, cold

For garnishes:

● Prepared whipped cream – ¼ cup
● Pumpkin seeds – 1 tablespoon
● Ground cinnamon – for dusting

Method

1. Place the pumpkin pie filling in a fine-mesh strainer. Put a bowl underneath so that the excess water can drain off.
2. Transfer the pumpkin pie filling to a clean bowl.
3. Whip the whipping cream in a bowl with a stand mixer or hand-held electric mixer. Put the beater attachment and beat till stiff peaks develop.
4. Add a few spoons of whipped cream to the pumpkin pie filling. Gently mix it. The pumpkin mixture will loosen up.
5. Add the pumpkin pie filling to the whipped cream and use a spatula to gently mix the mixture.
6. Put the mouse in individual bowls or one large dish. Tap the dish to remove any bubbles so that the top of your mousse looks smooth.
7. Keep in the fridge for at least an hour. You can also store it overnight.
8. Roast the pumpkin seeds.
9. Sprinkle dust of cinnamon put pumpkin seeds on top and serve.

Homemade pumpkin puree

Many people don't like using the canned pumpkin. In such a case, you can make the pumpkin puree from scratch. For this, you need to preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Wash the pumpkins properly and dry them off with a kitchen towel. Cut the pumpkin in half and remove the seeds from a stingy pulp. Place the pumpkins in a roasting pan by brushing their skin with vegetable oil. Bake the pumpkin until it becomes soft. Cool it down and put the pulp in the food processor. Don't include the skin. Blend it to make the best puree.

Variations

● Add rum or brandy to the mixture.
● Pour maple syrup on top to make the mousse sweeter.
● Add some vanilla extract to get the vanilla flavor.
● Sprinkle a pinch of sea salt and crushed biscuits on top.
● You can mix Greek yogurt, cream cheese, or evaporated milk to the pumpkin pie filling or pumpkin puree to make the mousse creamier.

Serving techniques

Though pumpkin mousse is a simple dish, the way you present it can make it look like a very fancy one. Pumpkin is a very nice color. So, stacking it with white whipped cream and crunchy toppings can make it look extraordinary. You can sprinkle pumpkin seed, cinnamon, nutmeg, crushed almonds or marshmallows. You can either serve it in a large serving dish or small individual bowls. In both cases, choose one that is made of glass and transparent. As you are layering up the mousse, the layers will be evident from the sides of the transparent serving dish or bowl.

Tips

● Don't overwhip the whipping cream.
● Use pumpkin puree if you can't find pumpkin pie filling.

Health benefits of pumpkin

● It contains vitamin K, beta-carotene, vitamin C, vitamin E, and iron.
● Improves vision.
● Reduces risk of cancer.
● Gives an immunity boost.
● You will feel fuller for a long time.

Topping ideas

● Chopped pecans
● Mini chocolate chips
● Shredded coconuts
● Dried cranberries

If you are craving for a nice sweet dish then you can make this yummy 2-ingredient pumpkin pie. Vary the sweetness of the mousse according to your taste preference. Include interesting toppings to make it more attractive.

Do you know that salmon is a superfood full of omega-3 fatty acids? So any meal you prepare with salmon is bound to be healthy. Salmon is a delicious fish as well and very easy to cook. Even if you just fry salmon with some basic seasonings, it will taste amazing. So, imagine how it will taste when you cook with the yummy teriyaki sauce. Here we are going to look at the recipe for sheet pan salmon teriyaki.

Ingredients

For Vegetables

● Broccoli florets – 2 cups, small pieces
● Mini sweet rainbow peppers – 10, seeded and halved
● Sesame oil – 1 tablespoon
● Salt and ground black pepper – to taste

For salmon

● Wild salmon filets – 2
● Sesame oil – 1 teaspoon
● Garlic clove -1, grated
● Ginger – ½ teaspoon, grated
● Soy sauce – 2 tablespoons
● Rice vinegar – 1 teaspoon
● Brown sugar – 1 teaspoon

For garnish

● Toasted sesame seeds – ½ teaspoon
● Scallion – 1, chopped

Cooking method

1. Take out a sheet pan and cover it with parchment paper or aluminum foil. Spray some olive oil.
2. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
3. You will marinate the salmon with teriyaki sauce. To make the sauce, mix garlic, ginger, sesame oil, soy sauce, brown sugar, and vinegar in a bowl.
4. Wash the salmon properly. Take a large ziplock bag and put the salmon in it. Add half of the marinade and shake it by sealing it so that the salmon is well-covered with the marinade.
5. Keep it aside for 10 minutes. If you have the time, marinate for half an hour.
6. Wash and cut the broccoli florets. Put it in a bowl and add salt, pepper, and sesame oil. Place it on the sheet pan you have prepared and roast for 10 minutes in the oven.
7. Take out the veggies from the oven and push them to one side of the pan. Place salmon in the empty area of the sheet pan.
8. Bake for about 10 minutes more so that the salmon is cooked thoroughly.
9. Put a skillet over your stove and pour the leftover marinade. Simmer it till a thick solution forms. Do this in low heat. You will have the teriyaki sauce ready. One way to test whether your teriyaki sauce has the right consistency is to check if it covers the back of a spoon. The teriyaki sauce will give a glossy appearance to your salmon.
10. Take out the salmon and brush over the thick sauce you made over it. Sprinkle sesame seeds and scallions.
11. Serve hot with the vegetables.

Tips

● Don't overcook salmon as it will become dry and it won't taste good. You can use a cooking thermometer and insert it at the center of the fish. If the temperature is between 130 to 135 degrees F then your salmon is ready. Alternatively, you can insert a knife into the thick part of the fish. If the inside looks translucent and pale pink then the salmon is cooked right.
● After taking out the salmon from the oven, let it rest for some time as it will be still cooking internally due to the heat preserved. So, if the center of the fish is undercooked, it will be properly cooked within that time. The texture of the fish will look silky too.
● Buy center-cut salmon

Variations

● You can use bell peppers instead of mini peppers
● You can use a combination of cauliflower and broccoli.
● You can add extra veggies like beans and asparagus.
● To make it spicier add sriracha to the marinade.

Health benefits of salmon

● Promotes heart health
● Supports bone health
● Good for hair and skin
● Improved brain function
● Lowers chance of certain cancers and Alzheimer's disease

It is a perfect dish for any celebration. Your guests will love this new recipe for salmon. The combination of the sweetness of teriyaki sauce and the saltiness of salmon gives a unique flavor and taste to this amazing dish.

One-Pan Baked Penne Alla Vodka

Category : Dinner

Are you wondering how pasta and vodka go together? Here, you will learn how these two different ingredients can create magic. Pasta is a common dish in Italy, and now people all over the world are learning about it. The old saying is that it was first created by the vodka distillers in the 1960s to get more Italian vodka with cooking. It is not known whether this business trick worked for the distillers, but the general people did fall in love with this dish.

Why penne pasta?

Penne has a large diameter, which allows it to retain sauces on its whole surface. Its ridges can also easily capture the sauce. Veggies and meat mix well with it, too.

What is vodka sauce?

It is a unique sauce made with vodka, tomato sauce, cream, and cheese. This combination of tomatoes and vodka brings out the sweetness. Vodka also acts as an emulsifying agent to keep tomatoes and cream together, which would otherwise separate. The amount of vodka used in this dish is small, so it's safe for the entire family. You make and store this vodka sauce in the freezer and use it in the future for other dishes like pizza or lasagna.

Ingredients

● Garlic cloves – 2, minced
● Salted butter – 4 tablespoons
● Tomatoes – 1.28 oz can
● Sun-dried tomatoes – ½ cup
● Red pepper flakes – ½ teaspoons, crushed
● Vodka – ½ cup
● Cracked black pepper – to taste
● Penne pasta - 1 pound
● Heavy cream – ½ cup
● Parmesan – 1 cup
● Mozzarella – 8 oz
● Whole milk ricotta – 16 oz
● Fresh basil – for serving

Instructions

● Take a saucepan and add garlic, butter, and red pepper flakes. Cook on medium-low heat. Stir occasionally till the butter melts and you start getting the garlic fragrant.
● Add vodka and let it simmer for a few minutes until it reduces to one-third.
● Add crushed tomatoes and sun-dried tomatoes along with salt and pepper. Simmer for 15 minutes.
● In another saucepan pour water and boil. Add some salt. Put the penne pasta and cook for 6 minutes or as suggested in the packet. Set aside a cup of pasta cooking water. Alternatively, you cook the dry pasta in the oven as well by submerging it in water.
● Transfer the cooked pasta to a blender and make a smooth puree by adding the pasta cooking water that you had kept.
● Put the pasta in a bowl. Add the sauce and parmesan cheese and mix well.
● In another bowl mix heavy cream and ricotta ( a type of cheese).
● Take a baking dish (9X13 inch) and transfer half of the pasta. Add ricotta mixture on top. Then add the rest of the pasta on top of it.
● Sprinkle shredded mozzarella over the pasta.
● Put the baking tray inside the pre-heated oven and bake for 30 to 40 minutes and 425 degrees C. You will notice that the color has changed to light brown.
● Take out and serve hot.

Tips and tricks

● Use top-quality tomatoes to prepare the sauce. If you don't want to make it at home you can buy a bottle of tomato sauce.
● Keep the pasta submerged in water when putting it in the oven to ensure it cooks evenly throughout.
● If you like cheese then you can make the pasta extra cheesy by adding more mozzarella or parmesan.
● You can add other veggies like green peas, mushrooms, and other greens.
● Add the sausage of your choice.

Every member of your family will love this extremely fulfilling dish. It has everything from vegetables and herbs to cream and cheese. It's packed with carbs, protein, healthy fat, vitamins, and minerals. If you have kids and worry about the vodka, then simply substitute it with lemon juice. The taste won't vary much. Enjoy this big fat meal on weekends with your loved ones. You can easily store the leftovers in the freezer in an airtight container.

Weeknights can be very exhausting. Everyone in the family is busy with work. After coming home no one is in the mood to cook dinner. But what to do? You can go to bed hungry, can you? So, for those who are finding it difficult to juggle between work and weeknight dinner, here are some quick food recipes for you.

1. Chicken pasta bake

It's an easy-to-cook food that all your family members will enjoy. Cook the chicken with seasonings, garlic, and ginger. Boil the pasta while your chicken gets cooked. Then place pasta on a baking tray and chicken slices on top of it. Sprinkle cheese, herbs, and your choice of sauce on top. Bake in the oven for 30 minutes and you are done.

2. Honey chicken

It is also a 30-minute dish in which you have to cook the chicken with some spices like ginger, garlic, lemon, and soy sauce. You can saute some veggies as well. Cook white or brown rice and serve everything in a bowl.

3. One-pot garlic chicken

You will love this creamy chicken dish. It's a very comforting food. You can have potato, rice, or pasta as a side dish.

4. Sausage ragu

It is a quick dinner item that is very nutritious. Just make a simple tomato sauce and mix it with sausage. Sprinkle some cheese over it.

5. Baked chicken breasts

This is a favorite dish of many for a quick dinner. Use seasoning and sauces of your choice to bake chicken breasts. Boil broccoli and carrot. Also, fry some wedges.

6. Prawn tikka masala

Enough of healthy food. If you are craving something spicy then you can try cooking this meal. Prawn takes a very short time to cook. You can cook prawn using ready-made tikka masala spices and serve with rice.

7. One-pot sausage casserole

Make this casserole with chicken sausage. Add mushrooms if you want to. You can serve itwith mashed potato and white rice.

8. Tuna pasta with broccoli

You can use the canned tuna to cook this pasta. Sprinkle cheese on top. Then boil broccoli and serve with the pasta.

9. Sheet Pan Gnocchi

It has tender gnocchi and cherry tomatoes. They are roasted together and then put on a baking pan. You can enjoy your meal with this delicious gnocchi.

10. Slow cooker chicken taco

Put the chicken in the morning before leaving for the office and by the time you get home your chicken will be ready. Just bake some tacos and veggies to go along.

11. Garlic broccoli shrimp fry

All you need to do is clean the shrimp and saute with sauce and spices. Boil broccoli and enjoy this simple dinner on your weeknights.

12. Teriyaki chicken

With only a few ingredients you can cook this dish. You only need chicken, soy sauce, and brown sugar. Steam beans and broccoli and serve.

13. Grilled salmon with veggies

Salmon cooks very quickly and all you need is olive oil, salt, and pepper to fry. Boil some veggies and have this super healthy dinner.

14. Garlic-butter salmon

Roast salmon and broccoli in a baking tray with butter and garlic. It will be done in 20 minutes. Enjoy it with some white rice.

15. Chicken and veggie stir fry

Cut chicken and veggies into small pieces. Add olive oil, garlic, onion, pepper, and soy sauce. Stir fry and serve with hot rice.

16. Slow cooker potato soup

It's a heavy meal as potato is a very energetic food. As you will cook in on slow cooker, you won't have to do much after coming home. You can top up your soup with other veggies.

17. Baked spaghetti

Get some minced beef and saute for a few seconds. Cook spaghetti in hot water. Place spaghetti and minced beef on a baking tray and bake after sprinkling cheese and sauce.

18. Slow cooker macaroni and cheese

Put macaroni and cheese in the slow cooker and come home to see your dish ready to eat. You can saute some sausage and eat it.

19. Shrimp fried rice

Cook shrimp and rice. Then fry them in a pan with veggies. Use butter and soy sauce to improve the test. You can scramble an egg as well and mix it.

20. Broccoli-cheddar soup

This soup will be ready in 30 minutes. You need to boil broccoli and blend it. Then cook it with chicken stock. Sprinkle cheddar cheese over it.

21. Chicken dumplings

If you have dumpling sheets at home then you can quickly make this meal. Add minced chicken, garlic, ginger, and cilantro inside the dumpling sheet and wrap it. Steam cook the dumplings and serve with sauce.

22. Grilled cheese sandwich

Butter both sides of the sandwich bread. Put some butter on the hot pan. Place the bread and sprinkle shredded cheese on top. Add some herbs. Toast another bread and make a sandwich by putting the bread over the one in the pan.

23. Hotdog

Cook sausage, and warm the hot dog bread. Put the sausage inside the bread and add mustard and tomato sauce. You can sprinkle some pepper as well.

24. Fish and chips

This English dish is easy to cook. You can fry cod fish with some seasoning. Fry potatoes and boil peas. Have them with boiled rice.

25. Fish in lemon sauce

Take cod fish or salmon. Make sauce with butter and lemon. Sprinkle some flour, salt, and pepper over the fish fillets. Fry them and pour the sauce over. You can have some boiled veggies with it.

With so many unique recipes you won't have to cook any dish multiple times during weeknights and make your dinner boring. With these exciting dishes, you can have a great family time enjoying your dinner.