"Fuel your body...Delight your senses"
Stephanie Brina-Herres, MS, RD, CDN
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Dec
17
2012
In Part 1 of 2 of our series on baking with yeast, we mentioned a bit about the history of baker’s yeast and some details concerning fresh yeast and active dry yeast.
In this Part 2 of 2 of our baking with yeast series, we’ll discuss how to “proof” or “bloom” active dry yeast prior to incorporating it into recipes, as well as the various offerings under the category of instant dry yeast and some pointers when it comes to using it. Also feel free to check out our accompanying picture-based recipe blog post on how to make G’s Heavenly Cinnamon Rolls.
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Dec
17
2012
Are you a seasoned home baker who doesn’t hesitate to work with yeast dough, or does the thought of working with baker’s yeast make you nervous?
Have you ever wished you knew more about yeast baking so that you would always be successful in working with any form of baker’s yeast sold to consumers? Have you ever wished you could get some yeast risings to go a bit faster to save some time making a recipe from start to finish? Have you ever wondered about the differences between fresh yeast, active dry yeast, and instant dry yeast?
We’d love to share some background & pointers when it comes to baking with yeast to reinforce your confidence in working with it.
There’s really nothing quite like the aromas that emanate from freshly baked, yeast risen breads, rolls, and pastries, etc.
In this Part 1 of 2 of our series on baking with yeast we’ll mention some background about baker’s yeast and some details about fresh yeast and active dry yeast.
Then in Part 2 of 2 of our baking with yeast series, we’ll discuss how to “proof” or “bloom” active dry yeast prior to incorporating it into recipes, as well as some of the various offerings under the category of instant dry yeast.
Read the rest of this entry >
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Dec
17
2012
G’s Heavenly Cinnamon Rolls recipe was adapted from other cinnamon rolls recipes by our webmaster to have a more heathful profile overall for baking a yeast-based cinnamon roll.
Each 3+” diameter cinnamon roll from the adapted recipe features an overall lower fat and lower saturated fat content than other typical cinnamon rolls, features applesauce as a replacement for fat in the actual dough, is higher in whole grain content through the use of some* white whole wheat flour to replace some of the all-purpose unbleached flour, is lower in overall sugars, yet when iced still offers the appeal of those typical mall or rest stop type cinnamon roll bakery offerings.
*Next we’re going to try increasing the proportion of white whole wheat flour in the recipe to see if we can’t get closer to having half whole grains in the rolls.
The following approximate nutrient content was quickly calculated using the free Lose It! app version 3.9.3 since we know that is a favorite of many and was a 2012 First Place winner in the Surgeon General’s Healthy App Challenge in the category of Fitness/Physical Activity.
G’s Heavenly Cinnamon Rolls UNiced recipe (roll shown above, which is low-fat) will come in at ~ 200 calories/roll w/ ~>110 mg sodium. Using whole eggs, the total fat will come in ~<2 g w/ ~0.3 g saturated fat, ~36 mg cholesterol. Each roll also has ~6 g protein, ~40 g CHO, which includes ~<3 g fiber and ~<10 g sugars. We’d like to decrease the sugar profile.
G’s Heavenly Cinnamon Rolls recipe ICED (roll shown at bottom of blog post below) will come in at ~<250 calories/roll w/ ~>139 mg sodium. Using whole eggs & the icing, the total fat will come in ~<5.5 g w/ ~1.6 g saturated fat, ~>40 mg cholesterol. Each roll also has ~6 g protein, ~43 g CHO, which includes ~<3 g fiber and ~>12 g sugars. We still need to work on tweaking the icing to decrease that fat and sugar profile.
All photographs used in this blog post, including the one above of an UNiced cinnamon roll are ©2012 courtesy of the staff at sensorynutrition.com
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Nov
28
2012
Preparing a holiday (Thanksgiving) meal using an electric stove provided a new twist for us this year.
It turned out to be an eye-opening event.
The stove’s performance was enhanced in an unexpected way!
(Roof solar cell powered house photo ©2012 courtesy of DCH in conjunction with Sensory Nutrition.com)
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Dec
24
2011
Sometimes a gift basket can be the just right gift to give to others at holiday time.
Santa Face with “Fuzzy Fleece” beard is the “Applique Santa” design (Single 3) from www.adesignbylyn.com used with permission. (Fuzzy Fleece is also sometimes known as Silky Fleece).
You can pick a basket size from small to extra large and include in it whatever suits your fancy and seems appropriate for the sentiments you wish to convey to the recipient at holiday time, no matter what the holiday may be.
Contents of a gift basket can be whimsical to practical to inspirational.
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Dec
22
2011 -
Dec
22
2011
Many holiday recipes, especially for baked goods, feature tree nuts in them.
Nuts can contribute wonderful sensory qualities as well as terrific nutritional value when used in moderation as part of a healthier diet.
That said, what’s up with nut prices this holiday baking season?
Are dramatically higher prices a one time fluke or are they here to stay for awhile?
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Dec
16
2011
This particular cake recipe dates back to my childhood in terms of my own recollection, but the Yule Log aka BÛCHE De NÖEL has been a holiday favorite for centuries.Before moving out to the suburbs, my mother worked in the city–New York City to be exact.
There was a famous and unusual eatery there called the Horn & Hardart “Automat” where sometimes, for a splurge, on a vacation day she would go and get a rare lunch out, or sometimes just a dessert.
Other images of the Automat from that time can be found here. The last New York City based Horn & Hardart “automat” concept restaurant reportedly closed in 1991.
My mother had fond memories of a wonderful Yule Log treat she had enjoyed at the Automat and years later, after becoming a homemaker, she decided to re-create the treat, but with a twist of her own.
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Dec
15
2011
If you are making any type of drop sugar cookie recipes up this holiday season, here are some easy to remember tips to keep in mind…
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Dec
14
2011(November 8, 2013 NOTE: This blog post has been significantly updated since originally posted.You might want to also see these related blog posts:
Holiday Baking- Does Your Choice of Flour Really Matter?
Gluten-Free Update January 2012 Including Apps
November 2012 Potpourri: Gluten; Diabetes; 2013 Women’s Heart Health )
The holidays are exciting and everyone looks forward to them, although if you need to follow a special diet, it may be a bit disconcerting to think about how to handle a wide range of holiday situations.
How do you deal with invitations to holiday get togethers at friend’s homes, office parties, dining out at restaurants and buffets and even catered affairs, or just grabbing a quick bite to eat when tired from holiday shopping and trying to find something fast while still on the run?
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