Papa's Applesauce

My Papa makes the best applesauce in the whole world and this is how you do it!

First you get a lot of apples. You need to wash and peel them.

Then you need to slice them up and put them in a pan. Add just enough water to cover the apples.

Bring them to a boil, and then simmer until fork tender.

After that remove apples from the heat, and then mash them with like a potato masher.

                                                                                                                                                              Add    1 stick of butter while still warm.

Lastly, sprinkle with your apple pie spice to taste. 

Pumpkin Marshmallows

Last night I decided to make pumpkin marshmallows. You have to be patient to make these because they take a lot of work and energy and have to sit overnight.

Here's how I did it in the Kookie Kitchen: (My advice is get everything assembled and ready before you start, because this goes fast and marshmallow making can get sticky and ruined if you don't follow the exact directions)

First you take two packets of unflavored gelatin and mix it with 1/2 c water. It needs to sit for at least 5 minutes.

Next we mixed sugar (3/4 cups) with 1/4 corn syrup, 1/4 cup water and 1/4 teaspoon of salt in a pan. You bring this to a boil and you need a candy thermometer to reach 250 degrees f but not hotter and not colder!! 

While this is cooking, take the gelatin and water mix and microwave it for 30 seconds until it is a soft syrupy mix. Then put it in the mixer on low and keep it running.

In a bowl whisk pumpkin puree(1/3 cup) with 1/2 t of cinnamon, 1/4 t of ground nutmeg (this is my favorite thing, to grind nutmeg), and 1 t vanilla.

Once the syrup reaches 250 degress f SLOWLY pour it in the mixer bowl. Increase the speed to medium for 5 minutes, then medium high for 5 minutes then as fast as it goes for 1 minute!

Your finished marshmallow will be triple the size you start out with. Add the pumpkin to the and mix for one more minute and then fold in by hand to make sure it is stirred up!

Next pour in a pan and top with a mixture of cornstarch and powder sugar and cinnamon (you don't need to do that but I did).

After it sits for at least 6 hours you can dive in! 

Well that's how you can make pumpkin marshmallows at home, have fun making them.

Kookie out! 

Happy Birthday to ME

We found a cafe near Dr.Pepper's gymnastics place. We stopped and I got an awesome Italian Soda to celebrate my birthday TODAY!!!

Italian sodas are so delicious. They are like regular soda but lighter and fresher. Eli's has favorite, Strawberry/Vanilla hold the whip creme! I think they are just seltzer and syrup so maybe I will try to make then sometime and post the recipe!!

They make my mouth water!!!

Boston Creme Goodness

My mom LOVES Boston Creme cupcakes. Since I need her help, I thought I would bake these.

I love Paris. I used my favorite cupcake liners for this project...

I used a box for the cake. They are good and save time. It's important to read the instructions before you start and then follow them. Trust me, I learned this the hard way!

Measure and add your ingredients. Make sure you don't fill over the top. Once you reach the top, pour your liquids realllllly slow, so it doesn't spill out.

We have a helper! Isn't she cute - it's the American Girl doll McKenna. I just love her. Dr. Pepper does too, she takes gymnatics!

Add your batter to the pan. Make sure to "clean up" an overflows :)

This is what we call a "Chef's sample" in our house!

 All baked, sooo tempting to take another "chef sample"

 Next we made pudding to fill the cupcakes. I didn't take a picture of it, but I got pudding allll down my cheek! So LOL!!

I used this tool thing my mom got me from a real cooking store to dig cake out of the center of the cupcake. It is very fun to use.

There it is!

Before and After - well before with the hole and after I scooped the pudding into it!

Next my mom helped me and we dumped some chocolate chips, butter, powdered sugar and hot water into a pan til the chocolate melted. It was so runny and my mom said we could fix it by adding more chocolate chips to it. Yummm! I dipped the cupcakes in and viola!!!

Bon Appetite!!!

Salutations

Greetings and Salutations my baking friends. I am a 10 year old chef from the Midwest. I especially love to bake, but love being in the kitchen creating all sorts of great food. I hope you join me, my sous chef (my little sister) Dr. Pepper and my dog (an important assistant in any cooking experiment) Cookie on our adventures!