Filed Under: Kitchen Humor
2 Comments Mar 7, 2017 Mar 1, 2017 Mar 1, 2017 Feb 23, 2017 Feb 18, 2017 Feb 6, 2017 Feb 1, 2017 Jan 27, 2017 Jan 18, 2017
No More Wine
Mar 3, 2017Make Whole Wheat Dutch Oven Bread FASTER!
It pays to experiment. Today I decided to try making whole wheat no knead bread faster to avoid the overnight wait. I increased the amount of yeast and it worked! Most no knead breads use 1/4 teaspoon of yeast so I tried 1 teaspoon and let the dough rest for just three hours instead of overnight. I was so happy with the result. It’s a nice hearty loaf with a soft interior. This is not 100% whole wheat because that is a heavier, dense loaf. This is 2/3 whole wheat to 1/3 bread flour but it’s still a good source of fiber.
So now I have NINE different variations of no knead bread from Fruit & Nut Bread to Multi-Grain to No Dutch Oven at all. And I’m working on number ten! Keep in mind that any whole wheat bread will never be as soft and crispy as the white version but this is still a delicious, hearty, healthier whole wheat bread and it takes almost no work at all. Click here for the recipe. – Jenny Jones
Potato Pancakes and Eggs
My mother used to slice up leftover potato pancakes and scramble them with eggs for breakfast. It’s still one of my favorite things to eat so I made it today. I had made the potato pancakes (placki in Polish) on Monday and had plenty left over so I treated myself to this delicious breakfast. I have actually made the pancakes just to use for this breakfast – that’s how much I love this dish.
So here’s my recipe:
1. Make potato pancakes.
2. Slice them into strips and place in a non-stick pan.
3. Start heating up the pan and while it heats up, beat the eggs with a little milk, salt & pepper.
4. When the pancake strips are not hot, add the egg mixture and cook until set.
Have a happy day. 🙂 – Jenny Jones
Check Out Your Photos (March)
Thank you for sending in your photos. I love seeing what my recipes look like in someone else’s kitchen. Feel free to say where you are from and send your photo to:Â YourPhotos@JennyCanCook.com
DALILA MADE MY TURKEY CHILI & BRAN MUFFINS
“Hi Jenny! I made you Easy Turkey Chili, key word….EASY…., this recipe was put together in no time at all. I did make a small addition, I added some black beans to my pot of chili. The added bonus of black beans, besides the fact that they are tasty, they are full of protein, fiber and antioxidants. This chili was a fabulous dinner one night and makes a nice lunch for another day. Thank you for another wonderful, healthy and tasty recipe! Happy cooking!?”
~Â Thanks for more great photos. Fiber is so important to good health. ~ jenny“I made your Bran Muffins, boy, are they good!! For a healthy breakfast these really hit the spot. And you are right, it’s hard to eat just one. I added some golden raisins to my mix before I baked them. Also, some blackberries to nibble on with the bran muffins was a nice combination for me. Happy baking!”
EVELYN MADE MY NO KNEAD BREAD
“Hi Jenny, I have made this easy/wonderful recipe three times. Thank you, for making it so easy. Before, your video I had not tried to make bread on my own from scratch. But, this one I can do in my sleep. It is so delicious! Yummmmmy! Thanks, Jenny.”
~Â It’s good to hear how easy it is. It will put more people at ease to try baking bread. Thank you. ~ jenny
SU MADE MY NO KNEAD BREAD & BUNS
“Buns done. Bread just before going back in without parchment and lid. Perfect, as usual. Thank-you Jenny, for the terrific recipes and tutorials.”
~ What beautiful bread and buns! This photo will surely inspire people to try sesame seeds on their breads. ~ jenny
SUSAN MADE MY NO KNEAD BREAD
“I made your recipe for faster no-knead bread. I am a good cook & always believed some people were bakers & some were cooks but not both. Your recipe proved I could do both, on the first try! I made bread and used it in a grilled cheese sandwich on a snowy day. ~ Susan Hartigan from Long Island NY.”
~Â This bread does make the best grilled cheese ever. Thanks for sharing your photos. ~ jenny
ALDINA MADE MY HASH BROWNS & DEVILED EGGS
“Hey Jenny, thanks for your recipes,I made Hash Browns, it was really tasty. And I made your devil eggs, they are so cool . Two without mayonnaise , because my bf dont like it, the other once with. Your recipes are the best.Thanks a lot. ~ Aldina Atic, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.​”
~Â Oh, they look so golden and crispy – making me hungry! ~ jenny
SOFIA MADE MY LEMON BROWNIES
“Hello Jenny, Today I made your Lemon brownies once again. This is my go to recipe and everyone in my family has complimented me for it. Here’s a picture from before I cut them into pieces. I named them “Lemon Delights” because, well… they are delicious!! This has now become my father’s favourite treat and will often request me to make it. I hope you like how it turned out… With love from your biggest fan in Argentina, SofÃa (18 years old).”
~Â It turned out beautifully – what a presentation! I’m so glad your dad likes them. ~ jenny
DALILA MADE MY SALMON PATTIES
“Hi Jenny! It’s Lent season so I decided to make your Salmon Patty recipe for dinner. They were quick and easy to make, just like you showed on your video. They were very tasty and moist, I added red and yellow peppers to mine. Happy Cooking! ?”
~Â Your lemon slices are a really nice way to serve these. ~ jenny
ALDINA MADE MY FRENCH TOAST & POLISH KLUSKI
“hy Jenny, czesc, once again, I made one of your recipes. The French toast and the Polish Kluski, were easy to make and it was fun for me. Lots of love, Aldina (from Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegeovina).​”
~Â Thank you for sending more photos. Cooking is fun for me too. ~ jenny
DALILA MADE MY CHICKEN MEATBALLS
“Hi Jenny, I made your Chicken Meatballs with your Red Sauce recipes. I serve it over some cheesy, creamy polenta for dinner, talk about wickedly delicious!! I found both recipes easy to follow, no hassles or mess-ups at all. I cooked the chicken meatballs in the sauce on a low simmer and they came out tasty, moist and tender. The seasonings were spot-on, no too heavy, not too light, just right. The savory aroma coming from our kitchen as dinner was cooking was wonderful! We couldn’t wait to dig in….LOL!! Thank you for another delightful meal Jenny! Happy cooking!”
~Â This is one of my favorite meals too. Thank you for the photo. ~ jenny
ALDINA MADE MY CHRUSCIKI
“Hy Jenny and czeszc,i tried out youre recipe for Chrusciki and they are so delicious. I cant get enough !! 😀 Love them and you, for showing us how to make them. ~ Aldina Atic from Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegeovina.​”
~Â It’s so nice to see my recipe made so far away. Thank you for taking time to share. ~ jenny
PAUL MADE MY NO KNEAD ROLLS
“Hi Jenny. Love your no knead bread and make it a lot. I throw in all different flower mixes, even rice flour – I make it with the dutch oven, without and now as rolls -It always works! Busy working my way through your other recipes too – the meatloaf was awesome, Doughnuts next… Unfortunately your website does not like me as if I try to leave a comment it says “Sorry, your request cannot be accepted.” I have tried to sign up for a newsletter, done the captcha and clicked the link in the email, still never had a newsletter or confirmation email (yes I checked my spam box!) So just to say a huge thanks for the work you do bringing these fantastic recipes to my family. Best, Paul – in the UK.”
~Â It looks like you can always make a comment using this link and I can post it for you. Meantime, I will add your name to the subscriber list and you will get notified whenever I post a new recipe. Great photo! Mine are in the oven right now. ~ jenny
MAYA MADE MY SIMPLE WHOLE WHEAT BREAD
“Whole wheat bread. Yaayyyy”
~Â Looks yummy – thank you for sharing. ~ jenny
RUBYANNE MADE MY NO KNEAD BREAD
“Thanks.”
~Â Thank you for the photo. That crust looks really good. ~ jenny
DALILA MADE MY LEMON BLUEBERRY MUFFINS
“Hi Jenny, I made your Lemon-Blueberry Muffins and they are wonderful!! The lemon zest really sets them off, they’re so tasty. I topped my muffins with a bit of turbinado cane sugar before baking them. They’re great with my hot coffee in the morning or for an afternoon ‘grab & go’ snack. Happy baking!”
~Â Muffin tops are the best when you sprinkle sugar on top before baking – they look great. ~ jenny
No Dutch Oven? This No Knead Bread is for You.
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
Easy Angel Hair Casserole
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
Easy Homemade Ciabatta Bread
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
Your Photos Here (February)
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:Â YourPhotos@JennyCanCook.com
SARAH MADE MY PÄ„CZKI
“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 PÄ„CZKI
“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 (PÄ„CZKI)
“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
Veggie Fried Rice
There are three reasons why I love this recipe:
- It’s vegetarian.
- It has lots of superfood veggies.
- It takes less than 20 minutes to make.
This is a light, easy supper that I love to make, depending what I have on hand. My favorite combo is this one with broccoli, baby spinach, bell peppers, and peas. But I have also made it with other vegetables, sometimes broccollini instead of broccoli, Swiss chard instead of spinach, or other subs like asparagus, shredded carrots, bok choy, or Chinese snow peas, so you see it’s just a great way to get a variety of cooked vegetables in one meal. But I always use at least four different veggies.
Cold cooked rice works best so I usually cook the rice the day before, and refrigerate it overnight. Mostly I use Uncle Ben’s converted rice but I have also made it with brown rice. Either way, if your rice is cooked in advance, this is a super-quick meal. Be sure to have everything ready before you start because a stir-fry means you don’t leave the pan once you start and it cooks in less than 10 minutes! So chop everything first and have everything in place before starting. Click here for the recipe. – Jenny Jones
Five Foods Known to Cause Cancer
I saw this in USA Today and thought it was worth sharing. Here are five foods they say are known to cause cancer:
1. Processed meats like hot dogs, bacon, ham, and sausages. Limit your intake.
2. Highly salted foods like pickles. A high intake is linked to stomach cancer. Less is better than more.
3. Alcohol. It can raise your risk of mouth, colorectal & breast cancer. Limit intake to one drink a day for women, two for men.
4. Charred meat. High heat + meat = DNA-damaging compounds. Cook at lower temperatures and flip meat frequently to avoid charring.
5. Scalding hot beverages. Routinely drinking very hot tea, coffee, or soup is linked to a greater risk of esophageal cancer.