Cinnamon Raisin Babka

We made this for Easter, and WOW was it good. You actually can put anything you want inside such as the raisins, chocolate, jam, etc. So perfect to make for a daytime snack. =]


Ingredients:

-1/2 cup milk

-1 1/2 teaspoons instant yeast

-1/3 + 1/4 cup sugar

-1 large egg divided (33.3 grams - 2/3 egg, 16.67 grams - 1/3 egg)

-12 grams egg yolk

-2 cups unbleached white flour

-1 teaspoon salt

-8 tablespoons + 2 teaspoons unsalted butter

-2 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

-1 teaspoon cream

 

Procedure:

1. Butter a 9" x 5" loaf pan.
2. Heat milk to 100-110 degrees. Pour into a small bowl, and add yeast. Let stand for 5 minutes.

3. in another small bowl, combine 1/4 cup of the sugar, 33.3 grams of egg (that's 2/3 of an egg) and the egg yolk. Add egg mixture to yeast mixture, and whisk to combine.

4. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, stir together flour and salt. Add wet ingredients and mix on low until the flour is almost incorporated. Change to dough hook. Add 5 tablespoons + 1 teaspoon butter to mixer. Beat on medium until dough is smooth and soft, and slightly sticky. If your dough is too sticky, add more flour 1 tablespoon at a time until it is the right consistency.

5.Butter a large bowl, form dough into a ball and roll around the bowl to coat it with butter. Cover bowl with plastic and set in a warm place until doubled in size, about and hour.

6. Beat remaining egg (remember, this is 1/3 of an egg) with cream.

7. Turn dough out on a well-floured board. Roll to a square about 16" x 16". Brush edges with the egg-wash, and sprinkle the raisins over the dough, leaving a 1/4 inch border. Roll dough tightly into a log. Pinch seam closed, pinch ends together. Twist 5 or 6 times, and lay twisted log out straight on your board. Brush the left half of log with egg-wash.. Fold the right side over the left, making sure your chocolate stays in place. Fold ends under, and pinch closed. Twist your doubled log two times, and place in prepared pan. Brush the top of log with egg-wash, and sprinkle with streusel (recipe below). Cover loosely with plastic wrap, and let it sit in a warm place for 20-30 minutes while you preheat the oven to 350.

-Struesel Topping-

1/3 cup + 1/4 cup confectioner's sugar

1/3 cup + 2 tablespoons unbleached white flour

4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened

Combine all ingredients. Using your fingers, mix until completely incorporated. Crumble, so that there are chunks ranging greatly in size.

Happy Eating!

Rainbow Cookies

These cookies seriously were 100x better than store bought. Even though they take two days to make, they are totally worth it. You get several dozen depending on how bog or small you cut them. They can be kept in a freezer or just eaten right away.

Recipe coming soon!

Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookies!!!

I have made a ton of chocolate chip cookies recipes, and this is the one that has been placed in the family cookbook. I have made this recipe many times and it turns out great every time. I usually cut the recipe in half when making for my family.



Ingredients

1 ¼ c. sugar
1 ¼ c. brown sugar
2 eggs
1 Tbs. baking soda
4 cups flour
1 tsp salt
3 sticks butter
1 Tbs. vanilla
2 12 ounce package of chocolate chips
Raisins or nuts if your heart desires (about 1 cup)


Procedure

· This recipe makes about 3 to 4 dozen cookies.

1. Prior to making the cookies, leave the butter out to soften a bit
2. Preheat the oven to 350 and place the sugar, brown sugar, softened butter, eggs,and vanilla in a large bowl and mix with a hand mixer on medium speed until combined and smooth.
3. Add the flour, salt, and baking soda to the mixture and combine.
4. Use a spoon or your hands and form a thick dough. Make sure it in not sticky, if it is, add more flour.
5. Add the chocolate chips, as many as you want. Add raisins, nuts, or any other toppings as you wish.
6. Buttering the cookie sheet is not necessary. Take some dough into your hands and roll into small balls. Don’t make them to big because you will end up with giant cookies. Place the balls on the cookie sheet. If you want the cookies a bit flatter, flatten them by pressing your hand down on the top.
7. Place the cookies into the oven for about 15 minutes, take them out and transfer them to a cookie sheet to cool.
~Made By Mika~

Painting Pots is Fun

Yes, it really is fun... I think this is a hibiscus flower but it was never really suppose to be...just sorta happened that way. That's the fun part! You sit down not knowing what to paint and magic happens!! The best part about this craft is that it is really cheap and can be done anytime!

By the way, this is Emily... I'm the creative art person in the family, Anna on the other hand enjoys to crochet...and I am not making fun of her, I like her crochet's...especially if they are something fashionable for me to wear! Did anyone notice the twilight books in the background =]

Things I needed to paint this pot!
1. a pot (what a surprise)...I got this pot for $1.20 at Michael's....if you didn't know, Michael's is my all time favorite store in the world =]
2. acrylic paints...most people will tell you that you need special pottery paints, you don't (see #3)
3. clear pottery paint, yes all you need is this one tube, it is pointless to buy pottery colors of paints you already have at home, I just put two coats of this clear paint over my dry paint, works just as well. FWI, if you don't put this on and go to water whatever is planted inside, the paint will get wet an may come off, so I recommend it.

Yes it is a Painted Pineapple

I (Mika) believe that everything has more than one purpose in life. For example, pineapple. It has a greater calling in this world than just pina coladas and fruit baskets. It has the ability to be crafted into a fabulous work of art suitable for a centerpiece for any occasion.
Things You Need:
1. A pineapple (obviously)...i recommend one that is nicely shaped with healthy leaves that aren't broken or bend out of shape.
2. various acrylic paints in metallic colors and paintbrushes
3. gold or sparkly spray paint
4. some old newspapers you can use to paint on and spray
Procedure
1. simply grab the paints and go, use any colors or designs you want on your pineapple
2. after it drys, take it into a well ventilated area and spray paint the leaves. I also spray a bit of paint on the surface, but don't overload or it will completely cover the paint!


Here's a close up!












Just some of the paints I use. $1-$2 dollars at Michael's, totally recommended!











And here is a centerpiece!