Holiday Prep!

There are so many reasons to love this time of year: crisp, clean weather, vibrant fall leaves, roaring fireplaces and BAKING!  Now is our favorite time here at Peas HQ to reinvent classic holiday desserts by making them healthier and more cost effective. This week we are sharing some simple recipes to make homemade baking essentials. Making your own vanilla extract, baking powder, brown sugar and vanilla sugar are fun projects you can do with the kids and also a good way to ensure that all your baking products are natural and free of any additives.

Vanilla Extract

(In order to have your vanilla extract ready for holiday baking we recommend you start this project ASAP.)

Ingredients:

• 1 bottle small bottle of vodka (750 ml)
• 15 vanilla beans (cost effective hint: the best place to get inexpensive vanilla beans is at an Indian Grocery store)  

Method: Cut the vanilla beans length wise and gently open the pod. Fill vodka bottle with all of the beans. Shake and store in a cool, dry place until your holiday baking party.  For best results shake once a week.

Baking powder

Ingredients:

• 1 tsp baking soda
• 2 tsp cream of tarter

Method: Mix cream of tarter and baking soda together thoroughly and use immediately in place of baking powder.

Brown Sugar

Ingredients:

• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 tbsp Molasses

Method:

Measure one cup of granulated sugar and one tablespoon of molasses into a mixing bowl.

Vanilla Sugar

Method:

Simply place to vanilla beans (cut length wise and opened) in the container you store your granulated sugar in (sugar bowl, the bag the sugar came in or a sugar canister).  Let beans sit for as long as you have sugar.  This makes for delicious baked goods as well as for your morning cup of joe!

Stress Free Dessert... Literally!

Chamomile is often referred to as the most soothing herb because of it's relaxation properties. It's used to help insomnia, anxiety and stress. We thought it would be a great addition to an after-dinner sweet treat to help the family unwind at the end of the day!

Chamomile-Lemon Bread:
• 1 2/3 cups of flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 2 TBL of chamomile (break open tea bags)
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/2 stick or 1/4 cup butter, room temperature
• 1/4 cup applesauce
• 2 eggs
• 2 TBL grated lemon rind
• 1/2 cup of fat free milk

Glaze:
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup of lemon juice

Preheat the oven to 350 F

Spray 1 glass loaf pan with pan spray. In a medium bowl mix together the flour, baking powder, salt and chamomile.

Cream the butter and 1 cup of sugar with an electric mixer until fluffy. Add the applesauce and mix. Beat in the eggs one at a time and mix just until combined. Add the lemon rid and mix.

Pour half of the flour mixture into the batter and mix just until combined. Mix in the milk. Mix in the second half of the flour mixture. Pour into the baking pan and bake for 50-60 minutes. The loaf should be golden and a toothpick will come out clean when inserted into the middle of the bread.

To make glaze: combine the sugar and lemon juice in a small saucepan. Stir over low heat until sugar dissolves and liquid thickens, approximately 5 minutes.
Pour glaze over the hot bread.