Rowena Recommends

As we are half way through week #7 of quarantine, how are you holding up physically, emotionally & mentally? Many would say baking helps relieve stress. I’ve never been a huge baker but I wanted to add something different to the mix since my days currently could be a bit tedious (it’s the same routine on repeat).

When baby E turned 8 weeks, I felt ready to take on more as any time before then, I still wasn’t sure how much time in between nap and play time I had. As a new parent, I’m looking for recipes which have relatively few ingredients so that they are simple and fast to make. Here is what I have made so far over the past 2 weeks. Don’t worry, I’ve shared some of my creations. =)

Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies (12-14 cookies)

Inspired by Taste Toronto’s post about The Rolling Pin’s Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Oatmeal cookie, here is how I made modifications to the recipe. It’s easy and the cookie is chewy!!! I love how this recipe doesn’t use any flour as I’m very limited with my flour supply currently. 😉

1 1/3 c rolled oats

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/3 c chocolate chips (I use 70% dark chocolate chips)

2 large eggs

1/3 c honey (I didn’t have any brown or white sugar at the time)

1 c nut butter (I used the Nuts for Nature Nut & Seed Butter. It’s absolutely delicious!!!)

1 tsp vanilla

1. Preheat oven to 350oF.
2. Combine dry ingredients together (oats, baking soda and chocolate chips).
3. Combine wet ingredients together (honey, eggs, vanilla & nut butter).
4. Combine wet and dry ingredients together.
5. Scoop out 1 Tbsp of batter for each cookie. Bake in oven at 350oF for 10-12 minutes until the cookies are golden brown and puffed up.

Carrot Muffins

1/2 c honey (I usually do have brown and/or white sugar but during these times, I seem too have run out of both options)

1/2 c unsalted butter (somehow butter makes everything taste better but oil would be fine to use as well)

1 c shredded carrots (~2 medium carrots –> I ended up shredding two large carrots so that I had leftover carrots to use in a stirfry)

2 eggs

1/2 c 2% milk

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp salt

Instructions:

• Pre-heat oven to 400°F (200° C). Line your muffin tin with silicone cups OR grease & flour your muffin tin.
• In a medium bowl whisk together the butter, beaten eggs, carrots, honey and milk.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt.
• Add the dry ingredients to wet ingredients, stir with a spatula or wooden spoon just until combined (15 or 16 stirs no more). Bake for approximately 20 minutes.

5 Ingredient Bagel

I don’t know anyone who is not a fan of bagels but given that it is a pandemic right now, I thought why not try making bagels myself? I thought bagels were very complicated to make but not with this recipe that I found. I’m still going to need to perfect on shaping these bagels more evenly but it sure was fun to make them. 🙂 These homemade bagels definitely aren’t as carbohydrate rich as the ones available on the market.

Click here to make the easiest 5 ingredient bagels.

Banana Bread

What is your favourite go to banana bread recipe? My go to banana bread recipe is from the Joy of Cooking cookbook. Naturally, I always use half the amount of sugar recommended and I also do reduce the fat content by half as well.

Irish Soda Bread

I have a small bag of spelt flour sitting in my pantry for some time now. I wanted to find a simple recipe that could incorporate some spelt so this is the answer. Instead of wholemeal flour, I used spelt. I also didn’t have buttermilk at home but did you know that if you add 1 Tbsp of white vinegar to 250 mL of milk, you can make buttermilk? This is what I ended up doing.

Click here to make simple & delicious soda bread

Food For Thought: What have you been baking during Covid-19? What are some of your simple go to recipes? I’d love to know because I can see the appeal of baking more often now as it always makes the house smell so good.

During these times of uncertainty, there’s a certain level of comfort in baking but it also incorporates some degree of normal in your life. Haven’t baked yet during Covid-19? I highly recommend you try as it can help calm and relieve some stress if you are feeling anxious during these uncertain times.