Slow Cooker Pumpkin-Blueberry Bread





Ingredients


  • Nonstick cooking spray
  • 2 eggs, lightly beaten
  • 1 1/2 cups sugar
  • 3/4 cup canned pumpkin
  • 1/2 cup half-and-half
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 3/4 cup fresh blueberries
  • 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup chopped pecans
  • Maple syrup (optional)



Directions

  1. Coat a 4-qt. oval slow cooker with cooking spray; line base and sides with parchment paper. In a medium bowl combine the next five ingredients (through oil).
  2. In a large bowl blend together the next four ingredients (through salt). Add pumpkin mixture all at the same time to flour mixture; mix just until combined. Toss blueberries with 1 Tbsp. flour; fold into batter. Spoon into cooker.
  3. Cover and cook on high 1 hour. If possible, give crockery liner a half-turn. Sprinkle bread with pecans. (Carefully lift lid so condensation from lid does not drip onto bread.) Cover and cook on high 1 to 1 1/2 hours more or until the point that a toothpick comes out clean.
  4. Turn off cooker. Remove lid. Cover opening of the cooker completely with a paper towels and replace the lid. Cool it for 30 to 45 minutes.  Whenever wanted, serve with maple syrup.





How to Slow-Cook Baby Back Ribs


Learn how to make saucy, delicate barbecued baby back ribs in 5 easy steps.








Baby back ribs are cut from the lower back rib segment of a pig's midsection.  They are meatier and leaner than extra ribs, which come from the belly area. Each rack typically contains 10 to 13 ribs and gauges 1.75 to 2 pounds. Experience the fall-off-the-bone integrity of baby back ribs from a slow cooker with the tips below.


Step 1: Cut ribs into serving-size portions





Using a large chef's knife and cut the ribs into two- to three-rib portions.


Tip: For appetizer-size portions, request your butcher to cut the ribs in half lengthwise.


Step 2: Add a rub








  • Many recipes require a rub or seasoning mixture to be added to the ribs before cooking. This step is optional.
  • Sprinkle each rib segment evenly with a spice or herb mixture.
  • Rub the mixture into the ribs by using your fingers. Tip: If time permits, apply the seasoning rub to the ribs a couple of hours before cooking to allow the flavors to soak into the meat.


Step 3: Broil the ribs

  • While it's not essential, caramelizing the ribs before slow cooking caramelizes the outside of the meat, adding flavor.
  • Place the ribs on the unheated rack of a grill container.
  • Preheat grill.
  • Cook ribs 6 inches from the heat for about 10 minutes or until browned, turning once.

Step 4: Slow cook the ribs

  • Transfer the rib portions to your slow cooker.
  • Pour the prepared sauce or purchased sauce over the ribs.
  • Cover and cook on low-warm setting for 6 to 7 hours or on high-warm setting for 3 to 3-1/2 hours.



Step 5: Transfer ribs to a platter







Using tongs, exchange each rib portion to a serving platter.


If necessary, thicken the sauce: If using low-warm setting, turn to high-warm setting. In a small bowl combine 2 tablespoons cornstarch and 2 tablespoons cold water; blend into sauce. Cover and cook for 15 minutes more or until the sauce is thickened. (Cover the ribs with foil to keep them warm as the sauce thickens.)






5 Minutes GRILLED MANGO WITH FROZEN VANILLA YOGHURT







Here's a tropical dish for summer using mangoes and making your own FROZEN YOGHURT at home.

Here is the simple 5 Minutes GRILLED MANGO WITH FROZEN VANILLA YOGHURT Recipe. Have a quick look at this recipe and try making it at your home to serve for your family. 



INGREDIENTS

  • 2 CUPS (560G) NATURAL GREEK-STYLE (THICK) YOGHURT
  • ½ CUP (125ML) RICE MALT SYRUP
  • 1 TEASPOON VANILLA BEAN PASTE
  • 2 MANGOES, CUT INTO CHEEKS
  • MELTED COCONUT OIL, FOR BRUSHING
  • MICRO (BABY) MINT LEAVES, TO SERVE


METHOD
  1. Place the yoghurt, syrup and vanilla in a bowl and mix to combine. Pour the yoghurt mixture into a large zip-lock bag and squeeze out as much air as possible. Seal the bag and lay flat in the freezer for 2–3 hours or until solid.
  2. Remove the bag from the freezer and bend to break up the yoghurt mixture. Now place the mixture in a food processor and process it until smooth. Pour into a 1.5-litre-capacity metal tin and freeze for 2 hours or until firm.
  3. Preheat a char-grill pan over high heat. Brush the mango cheeks with oil and cook, flesh-side down, for 1–2 minutes or until charred. Top the mango cheeks with frozen yoghurt and mint to serve.  Serves 4



10 Kitchen Hacks to Save Time and Get Organized






1. Keep potatoes white
Cover diced potatoes with cold water before cooking to keep the spuds from turning that gross grayish/ dark colored caused by the release of a starch that makes them oxidize.


2. Slow down rotting
Store tomatoes stem end down to shield them from spoiling as quickly. This keeps air from entering and moisture from exiting the scar where the tomato once attached to the vine. Storing them at room temperature rather than in the refrigerator additionally makes them last longer.



3. Give bananas a longer life
Keep the bananas fresher, longer by wrapping the end of the bunch with plastic wrap. Better yet, separate every banana. The plastic wrap blocks ethylene gases from discharging out of the stem, consequently ripening the fruit too quick.


4. Speed up ripening
Be a total magician and transform a banana from green to yellow or a peach from crunchy to juicy all with the help of a paper bag. When fruit is kept inside the bag, concentrated ethylene gas helps it ripen faster. 



5. Save cut fruit from browning
You've likely heard that a little squeeze of lemon juice can keep apple slices from looking unappetizing. A blend of one part honey to two parts water works much the same to keep fruit from browning. The citric extract and vitamin C in lemon juice as well as a peptide in honey slows down the oxidation process that causes discoloring.


6. Prevent brown sugar from hardening
Help brown sugar remain soft and scoop able by tossing an orange peel or a slice of apple along with the sugar into an airtight container. For a convenient fix, microwave brown sugar next to a small glass of water. The moisture inside the microwave will help break up the block of sweetener.


7. Avoid plastic wrap disasters
Had enough of wrangling plastic wrap? Store the roll in the fridge to store remains with less of a hassle. Cooling the wrap makes it simpler to transport it from the roll to your bowl.


8. Get creative with covering food
They’re known for hair hackery, however shower caps are not limited to the bathroom. Cover leftovers with a fresh cap (right in their dishes) to shield bugs and unidentifiable particles from corrupting sustenance. They’re reusable and a helluva parcel less demanding than repeatedly removing and replacing plastic wrap or tin foil. 



9. Check if eggs are still (incredibly) edible
Gently place raw eggs in a bowl of cold water to check whether they’ve gone bad. If the egg sinks to the base, it’s a-OK. If it floats, it has seen better days. After some time, the fluid inside eggs evaporates through the porous shell, leaving a gas bubble inside. The floatier it is, the older it is.


10. Make eggshell removal even easier
Add baking soda or vinegar to the water when boiling eggs for easier shell removal. The two substances saturate the eggshells and help the egg whites (that’s fancy speak for egg whites) separate from the shell Click here

Chocolate Marble Cake



I must say this Chocolate Marble Cake is one of the best that I had ever baked... Unlike some, this cake is not too oily and most importantly, this cake texture is very soft and fluffy. This cake remains soft even on the next day.



If you are a butter cake lover, this one will suits you well..


Here is the recipe 
Ingredients:
  • 225g butter, softened
  • 225g caster sugar
  • 4 eggs
  • 225g self raising flour
  • 3 tbsp milk
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 tbsp cocoa powder

Method:
  1. Heat oven to 180C. Grease a 20-cm cake tin and line the bottom with a baking paper.
  2. Beat butter & sugar, followed by the eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Fold through the flour, milk & vanilla extract until the mixture is smooth.
  3. Divide mixture between 2 bowls. Stir the cocoa powder into one of the mixture and mix well. Take 2 spoons and use them to dollop the chocolate & vanilla mixes into the tin alternately. Take a skewer or knife & swirl it around the mixture to create a marbled effect.
  4. Bake the cake for 45-55mins. Turn out on a cooling rack and leave it to cool. Will keep in 3 days in an air-tight container.

Hope you will like this Chocolate Marble Cake recipe

How to Cook Perfectly Fluffy Rice Every Time






Say goodbye to sticky rice, under cooked rice, or dry, overcooked rice: Here we will tell you how to cook rice perfectly every time.



What You Need
  • Measuring cup
  • Water
  • Saucepan with lid
  • Salt
  • Rice
  • Wooden spoon
  • Fork


Follow These Steps
  • Boil water and add salt - Pour water (for every cup of rice, use 1¾ cups of water) into a  saucepan with a tight-fitting lid. Bring to a boil. Mix 1 teaspoon of salt into the water.
  • Pour in rice - Add the rice to the boiling water.
  • Stir once, or just enough to separate the rice - Use a wooden spoon to isolate any clumps. Don’t over-stir: That can make the rice to become sticky.
  • Cover the pot and simmer - Be certain that the lid fits tightly on the pot. Slow down the heat to its lowest setting. Let rice simmer for around 18 minutes, then remove from heat and enable  the rice to steam in the pot for another 5 minutes.
  • Fluff rice with a fork - Just before serving, gently fluff the rice with a fork to isolate the grains. Furthermore, after you've cooked up your perfect rice, might we suggest some chili to go with it.



Tips: Don’t uncover the saucepan or mix the rice during cooking. If it’s done before you’re prepared  to serve it, place a folded towel over the saucepan, replace the lid, and put aside. The towel will absorb excess moisture and condensation, helping prevent overcooked and soft rice.

Sunset At The Beach








Yesterday, I spend a  hell lot of time down the beach. I actually only live about a 5 minute walk from the seafront and I can see the sea from my kitchen window which is a lovely added bonus. When my school days friends came to visit me few weeks ago we decided to go down to catch the sunset and prime gold hour photo shoot time. I spent most of my time running away from the tide and trying not to get my shoes filled with sea water but it was super fun and so beautiful.





Today, It's my Dad's birthday | Happy Birthday Dad!









Happy Birthday, to the most wonderful dad! I can't believe that I am so honored to have you in my life. So much of my happiness and accomplishment in life I can attribute to you. Thank you for always, always loving me, never giving up on me, and making me feel like one of every a million. If I had to pick the most unselfish man in the world, I'd pick you instantly. I love you more than I realize how to express and hope you have a happy birthday!

Dad! You are amazing, and  somebody I look up to so much. I love you so much and hope you have a wonderful birthday this year!!

I want you all to use this space to wish him a happy birthday in the comments below!!! 






Low-Carb Smoothies for Diabetics

Smoothies are one of my most loved things to make. They can be made for breakfast, lunch or dinner and they’re incredible for a pre-workou...