Are you in need of a fun and easy project to do with your little ones for these last lousy days of winter (unless you live in some terrible place that snows until May; if you are, I am sorry)? Then you have come to the right place today!!! Right after Fox was born we went to the library and I checked out Make the Bread, Buy the Butter: a terrifically fun read by Jennifer Reese. It is an interesting, insightful and remarkably comprehensive read about things you should make at home vs. things you should buy at the store, based on taste, hassle and cost. Certain things are just worth buying, while others require only a small amount of hassle for a far superior product.
I kept bookmarking recipes as I went along, interested to try some of her variations (I did try out the yogurt recipe, and had moderate success; it was super runny, but it tasted pretty good), and one of the recipes that struck my fancy was for homemade graham crackers. I don't typically eat graham crackers much, but I do think they taste pretty good (especially the chocolate kind dipped in milk), and I was curious what they would taste like out of my oven. They were delicious. So delicious, in fact, that I have made them 3 or 4 times since. And for the most recent batch, I decided to cut them out into fun shapes! Such a fun, inside activity, and oh-so terribly delicious! They are a great treat for the cold, wet days that we have been experiencing lately. Perfect with kids, and great for adults. It's a nice cookie that isn't too sweet.
Honey Graham Crackers:
from Make the Bread, Buy the Butter
(a few of the measurements are a little weird because I halved it. This recipe makes about 25 cookies)
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
3/8 cup whole-wheat flour (I have also used all-purpose here with good results)
1/8 cup wheat germ
3/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp cinnamon
8 Tbs butter (or 1 stick), softened
1/8 cup brown sugar
1/8 cup white sugar
1/8 cup honey
In medium mixing bowl add flours, wheat germ, salt baking soda and cinnamon and whisk to combine. In a stand mixer or another medium sized bowl, add butter, sugars and honey and combine until fluffy. Slowly add 1/2 of the flour mixture into the sugar/butter mixture and combine. Once they are decently mixed, add the second 1/2 of the flour mixture and mix until a soft lump of dough is formed. Refrigerate dough in plastic wrap for 30 minutes. Preheat the oven to 350°. Divide dough into two sections. Roll out the first section of dough on a lightly floured surface until it is about 1/8" thick. Cut dough into rectangles, circles or other objects with cookie cutters or a knife and place on a silicone mat or parchment paper lined cookie sheet. If you would like you can sprinkle cinnamon and sugar on the cookies for an extra festive touch! Cook in a preheated oven for 10-12 minutes or until the edges begin to brown. Do not over bake! Enjoy and try not to eat the whole pan...! Happy Baking!
I kept bookmarking recipes as I went along, interested to try some of her variations (I did try out the yogurt recipe, and had moderate success; it was super runny, but it tasted pretty good), and one of the recipes that struck my fancy was for homemade graham crackers. I don't typically eat graham crackers much, but I do think they taste pretty good (especially the chocolate kind dipped in milk), and I was curious what they would taste like out of my oven. They were delicious. So delicious, in fact, that I have made them 3 or 4 times since. And for the most recent batch, I decided to cut them out into fun shapes! Such a fun, inside activity, and oh-so terribly delicious! They are a great treat for the cold, wet days that we have been experiencing lately. Perfect with kids, and great for adults. It's a nice cookie that isn't too sweet.
Honey Graham Crackers:
from Make the Bread, Buy the Butter
(a few of the measurements are a little weird because I halved it. This recipe makes about 25 cookies)
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
3/8 cup whole-wheat flour (I have also used all-purpose here with good results)
1/8 cup wheat germ
3/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp cinnamon
8 Tbs butter (or 1 stick), softened
1/8 cup brown sugar
1/8 cup white sugar
1/8 cup honey
In medium mixing bowl add flours, wheat germ, salt baking soda and cinnamon and whisk to combine. In a stand mixer or another medium sized bowl, add butter, sugars and honey and combine until fluffy. Slowly add 1/2 of the flour mixture into the sugar/butter mixture and combine. Once they are decently mixed, add the second 1/2 of the flour mixture and mix until a soft lump of dough is formed. Refrigerate dough in plastic wrap for 30 minutes. Preheat the oven to 350°. Divide dough into two sections. Roll out the first section of dough on a lightly floured surface until it is about 1/8" thick. Cut dough into rectangles, circles or other objects with cookie cutters or a knife and place on a silicone mat or parchment paper lined cookie sheet. If you would like you can sprinkle cinnamon and sugar on the cookies for an extra festive touch! Cook in a preheated oven for 10-12 minutes or until the edges begin to brown. Do not over bake! Enjoy and try not to eat the whole pan...! Happy Baking!
