February, 2017

In response to the many people who either do not have a Dutch oven or find it difficult to lift such a heavy pot, I decided to try making my no knead bread on a baking pan. Well guess what? It works. It makes a great loaf that’s soft inside with a beautiful golden crust. It’s not quite as crispy of a crust as the Dutch oven method but it’s close. It’s important to find a way to create steam in the oven because steam is what makes a crispy crust. But even without steam, it still bakes up nicely but with a softer crust.

For my ciabatta bread, which needs steam, I used a disposable foil 6-cup muffin pan, which you can place beside or just below the bread.

But I also found a small 9 by 5-inch baking pan for $3.50 and a restaurant supply store and it works well too. It’s what I used for this loaf.

It’s important to add the hot water right when you put in the bread and close the oven door right away. The steam is most effective right at the beginning. I use a metal measuring cup with a handle to pour the hot water. I hope my photos are helpful and that now, anyone without a Dutch oven can make this super easy, delicious, artisan bread. Click here for the recipe. – Jenny Jones

This easy casserole just might become your new family favorite. I’ve been making it for years and everyone loves it. And I love it for two reasons. One: it’s delicious. Two: it’s easy to make. It takes just a few simple ingredients and less than an hour for some good homemade comfort food. By using lean ground beef and reduced fat cheese, I never feel stuffed after my second and third helping.

Much of the flavor comes from the sauce and you can use a homemade marinara but I use store-bought sauce. Two that I like, but can’t always find, are Silver Palate Low Sodium Marinara but this time I couldn’t find it so I used Terlato Kitchen Pomodoro, also lower in sodium and it was fantastic. Not all jarred sauces are the same so I encourage everyone to read the label for the least number of ingredients as well as sodium. Even with a low sodium sauce, this recipe doesn’t even need salt or pepper.

And don’t be tempted to use more pasta. It will seem like it’s not enough when you put it together but it’s just the right amount for this easy family casserole. Click here for the recipe. – Jenny Jones

Look what I made! It was just an experiment but it turned out to be amazing! Anyone can make no knead bread without a Dutch oven. It helps to create steam inside the oven just like it’s created inside a Dutch oven. Steam is what makes a crispy crust and it’s really easy. What you do is put a small pan in the oven before you preheat it and then when the oven is hot and you put in the bread to bake, you also pour some hot water into the small pan and it creates steam. Then you quickly close the oven door to keep the steam inside and after 30 minutes, you will have an fantastic loaf of ciabatta bread with a soft interior and a beautiful golden crispy crust.

You can use a variety of pans to create the steam (do a google search for ideas if you like) but that process is not easy on the pan. I have used a small flat pan as pictures as well as a small 6-cup  disposable foil pan. But if it does not fit on the same rack as your baking pan, just place it on a rack below. You may have to remove a rack to make room but whether beside the bread or on a rack below, keep it off to the side and don’t put it directly under the bread. And be sure to keep it close to the front for easy access. Here is how I place mine and how you can place it below if your oven is smaller.

I pour about 3/4 cup of hot or boiling water into 3 or 4 of the muffin cups or into the small pan. It’s good to use an oven glove when you pour the hot water because it creates steam right away and be sure to close the oven door immediately so the steam can’t escape. You can re-use the muffin pan, although it will turn dark. So there it is. I hope my photos help and now everyone who does not have a Dutch oven will be able to make this fabulous no knead, easy, homemade ciabatta bread. Click here for the recipe. – Jenny Jones

My thanks to everyone for sending in your photos. It’s not only fun for me but it helps other cooks see how easy it is to make good things to eat at home. Feel free to say where you are from and send your photo to: YourPhotos@JennyCanCook.com

SARAH MADE MY PĄCZKI
“I tried out your recipe for baked paczki’s and they were a huge hit! So delicious–thank you. I filled mine with vanilla cream. – Sarah Layman, Brampton, Ontario.”

~ Vanilla cream… yum. I love that pink gift box. Happy Fat Tuesday! ~ jenny

DALILA MADE MY PĄCZKI
“Hi Jenny, It’s time for PACZKI’S!! I made your recipe for these scrumptious treats and they came out AWESOME!! Your easy to follow step-by-step recipe you posted is great. I followed it to the letter and I had no problems making them.   I filled my Paczki’s with cherry jam, apricot jam and bavarian cream…..so tasty!! Thank you for making super yummy and “healthier” baking fun!!  Have a wonderful day Jenny!!”

~ They look fantastic and I love your choice of fillings. ~ jenny

MARIE MADE MY NO KNEAD BREAD
“Hi jenny, just wanted to say that this bread is the best. I will make this our go to rustic country bread. Thank you, for all your easy recipes.  Marie booze from Windsor Ontario Canada.”

~ I’m with you. I made another one for myself this morning. ~ jenny

PARINK6P MADE MY NO KNEAD BREAD
“Quick loaf  was easy and beautiful to see come out this great. Still waiting for it to cool…!!  So glad I happened upon your site. Nothing could have been simpler.  Thank you Jenny!”

~ Wow, that crust is beautiful – great photo! ~ jenny

DULCE MARIA MADE MY HOMEMADE TORTILLAS
“Hi Jenny, hello from Venezuela. I made the tortillas. Easy, fast and delicious. I used 1 1/2 cups a.p.f and 1/4 whole wheat. I just added 1 extra Tbs of water. Thanks for sharing.”

~ My tortillas are in Venezuela! Thank you for sharing your photo. ~ jenny

DALILA MADE MY DEVILED EGGS
“Hi Jenny! I made your Deviled Egg recipe, how easy & tasty! It’s a nice fast lunch/snack on a busy day.  Luckily I always have mayonnaise, mustard and eggs in my refrigerator. I did add paprika on mine, I like that little extra kick. Happy Cooking!”

~ I love deviled eggs and have some in the fridge right now. ~ jenny

MARIJA MADE MY POLISH DOUGHNUTS (PĄCZKI)
“Dear Jenny, it’s time for doughnuts. Thank You for your recipes. Marija from Zagreb, Croatia.”

~ How exciting that my recipe made it all the way to Croatia. They look good! ~ jenny

TROY MADE MY RED VELVET CUPCAKES
“Dear Jenny, I’ve cooked so many of your recipes and they always seem to just work. I’m no kitchen wiz but can now easily make breads, healthy biscuits and now…cupcakes 🙂 I recently signed-up to make and sell cupcakes for a wonderfully worthy cause – Cupcake the infant orangutan! https://www.orangutan.org.au/cupcake/ Rather than have red velvet cupcakes I decided to have orange velvet cupcakes and also put a drop of colour in the icing. These cupcakes were so delicious everyone loved tthem! Hugs and thanks! Troy.”

~ It’s an honor to have one of my recipes benefiting a good cause. ~ jenny

KRIS MADE MY NO KNEAD BREAD
“Made your bread recipe today, FANTASTIC!!! This is the first one I made and I actually used a whole package of yeast (not completely reading the recipe right) and it still came out perfect and absolutely the best thing I’ve ever had!!! Thank you.”

~ Yours looks great – Mine is in the oven right now. ~ jenny

ZULLY MADE MY EGG BREAD
“Dear Jenny, Last night I came across your kitchen and baked your delicious “cinnamon túneles raisin” bread. It was so good and easy to make, I woke up today thinking about trying another of recipes.  Here’s the picture of the egg bread I baked this morning.  Perfecto!!!!! Thank you.  You made me very happy this weekend!! ?”

~ My kitchen always smells wonderful when I bake this bread. Thanks for sharing. ~ jenny

DALILA MADE MY BLUEBERRY COFFE CAKE
“Hi Jenny! I made your Blueberry Coffee Cake and it was FANTASTIC!!! I added the streusel topping and glaze to really make it standout. I baked it in my 8″ spring-form pan for easy removal, it worked like a charm. Thank you for another A++ recipe! Happy cooking!”

~ That glaze makes a beautiful presentation. ~ jenny

PHYLLIS MADE MY EASY DINNER ROLLS
“Sweet Dinner Rolls! Wow,so easy and taste wonderful!  Ordered 4 of your cookbooks, 3 to give away. Gonna have to order more, your recipes are too good to keep. Thank you so much for all you do to help others. – Phyllis Wagoner, Blue Ridge Mountains.”

~ Thank you but there’s no need to buy my books since most of the recipes are posted here, and they have been simplified and updated. ~ jenny

HELEN (& HER MOM) MADE MY NO KNEAD BREAD
“My mother found it and made it and raved so much I had to as well.  Thank you so much!  I can’t wait to go through the other recipes!  Keep up the great work!”

~ This is our first mother/daughter photos. Have fun with my other recipes! ~ jenny

Aj (my mother’s photo)

my bread

DALILA MADE MY BUTTERMILK BISCUITS
“Jenny, I made your Buttermilk Biscuits using one of my cookie cutters. I opted for a smaller version, more biscuits for everyone. They were deeelish!” 🙂

~ They look beautifully flaky. Thank you for sharing. ~ jenny

PHYLLIS MADE MY NO KNEAD BREAD
“The very First try and was I amazed? I intend to make Every one of your recipes! Thank you so very much for all you do to help others. – Phyllis Wagoner, Blue Ridge Mountains.”

~ Congratulations on your first bread and have fun trying out more recipes. ~ jenny