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bookmark_borderThe Best Keto Bread Recipe

Posted on by wafflepuff
The Best Homemade Keto Bread

I have tried my hand at many keto / low carb bread recipes – cloud bread, chaffles, protein powder based ones, coconut flour, almond flour, a combo of coconut and almond flours…the list goes on and on. But none have been enjoyable to eat because they’re all missing that fluffiness chew from…bread.

However, this keto bread recipe has it all.

The original recipe I discovered is from Mad Creations Easy Low Carb Bread recipe. I baked it pretty often when I was on keto.

More recently, I found a similar recipe featured by one of my favorite Hong Kong actresses, Teresa Mo.

The difference between the two is the knead time. Teresa goes at it for 10 minutes while Mad Creations suggests 5. The extra 5 minutes makes a huge difference especially if you want that soft, pillowy texture and rise.

Even tho I am no longer on keto (cuz life happens and Jeni’s ice cream), I have incorporated aspects of it into my daily life.

But, if making this proves to be challenging since ingredients may be hard to come by and the cost may be too high, then I highly recommend my fave store bought keto bread that’s actually good and doesn’t cost an arm and a leg – Aldi’s. One to avoid is Arnold’s because that loaf is a straight up crime…unless you enjoy cardboard.

This is the recipe I follow:

STEP 1
get the yeast going. set this aside.

  • 1 cup (250ml) water at 110 degrees
  • 1 tsp honey
  • 1 tbsp yeast

STEP 2
in a bowl, sift and mix the dry ingredients

  • 1/2 cup (41g) oat fiber
  • 2/3 cup (70g) flaxseed meal
  • 1 1/4 cup (170g) vital wheat gluten
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 3 tbsp (40g) allulose or sugar
  • 1/2 tsp xanthan gum

STEP 3
add the following to the bowl of sifted + mixed dry ingredients

  • 2 eggs
  • 2 tbsp (40g) softened butter

STEP 4
add the yeast mixture from Step 1 to everything and mix with the mixer attachment

STEP 5
once the dough comes together, switch to the dough hook and mix for 10 minutes!

STEP 6
proof for an hour

STEP 7
form into log and bake at 350 for 45 minutes.

bookmark_borderMy Favorite Banana Bread Recipe by Bon Appetit

Posted on by wafflepuff
BA’s Best Banana Bread

I love this recipe. Look at that beautiful crust!

To make it dairy-free, I replace the yogurt/mascarpone with coconut milk and use a plant-based butter. I also added vanilla.

And, yes, I do set a timer for 4 minutes to make sure the brown sugar/butter/coconut cream mixture gets to that light and fluffy stage.

this recipe is worth busting out the mixer

My Dairy-Free Version

Ingredients:
1½ cups all-purpose flour
1¼ teaspoons baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
1 cup (packed) dark brown sugar
⅓ cup coconut cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
¼ cup (½ stick) unsalted plant-based butter, room temperature
2 large eggs
4 large very ripe bananas, mashed (about 1½ cups)
granulated sugar for dusting on top

Directions:

Step 1
Preheat oven to 350°. Lightly coat 8½x4½” loaf pan with nonstick spray and line with parchment paper, leaving a generous overhang on long sides. Whisk flour, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl.

Step 2
Using an electric mixer on medium-high speed, beat brown sugar, coconut cream, and butter in a large bowl until light and fluffy, about 4 minutes. Add eggs one at a time, beating to blend after each addition and scraping down sides and bottom of bowl as needed.

Step 3
Reduce speed to low, add flour mixture, and mix until just combined. Add vanilla and bananas and mix just until combined. Scrape batter into prepared pan; smooth top and sprinkle sugar.

Step 4
Bake bread until a tester inserted into the center comes out clean, 60–65 minutes. Transfer pan to a wire rack and let bread cool in pan 1 hour. Turn out bread and let cool completely (if you can resist) before slicing.

Here is the original recipe.

bookmark_borderCantonese Beef Rice Bowls

Posted on by wafflepuff
Cantonese Beef by The Woks of Life

Hey hey hey, I used a cornstarch slurry for the first time 🎉

We had some ground beef that needed to be cooked up and found this recipe at The Woks of Life. It was so easy to make and so delicious – my mother even gave me a thumb’s up. Thank you The Woks of Life for being there to help me connect with my culture through food. I’d ask my mom to teach me but she neither offers any patience nor any measurements to anything.

I’m really happy with the way this dish turned out and this will definitely be added to the rotation of things I can make well.

bookmark_border“All About Cookies: A Milk Bar Baking Book” by Christina Tosi

Posted on by wafflepuff
“All About Cookies: A Milk Bar Baking Book” by Christina Tosi

Love hearing all of Christina Tosi’s tips – especially the part about adding a tablespoon or two of milk powder to cookie recipes. I’m looking forward to reading this book.

Give this WNYC “All of it” a listen:

bookmark_borderCoffee & Tea School Social

Posted on by wafflepuff

After dropping off the kiddo this morning, we hung out for a little bit with the school leads and other parents for a small social event. I felt so out of place. I’m still trying to wrap my mind around the fact that I am someone’s actual mother. They never tell you how hard and awkward it is to try and make parent friends (…without any cocktails?!).

There were donuts and coffee. Sweet treats fix everything I suppose.

We chatted with a couple people and then left soon after.

bookmark_borderWowbutter…How About NOT Wowbutter?

Posted on by wafflepuff

I regret buying this and not looking more closely at the ingredients. Maybe the packaging messed with me because it looked so much like Skippy’s.

It had a chemical taste.

But, I used it to make some PB&J waffles which turned out not bad only because I added a LOT of jam.

In the words of the great Lee Min Ho, “Disgusting!“

@emptybamboogirl

wowbutter is gross and i regret buying it. do avoid. #disgusting #wowbutter

♬ DISGUSTING SHET – marielle

bookmark_borderThe Real Deal in Jamaica Plain, MA

Posted on by wafflepuff
The Real Deal in Jamaica Plain, MA

We usually order pizzas and steak & cheese subs because they are delicious – pizzas are thin crust and they season the meat.

Today, I ordered us a chopped cheese sandwich – beef with American cheese, grilled onions, tomatoes, and pink sauce on a pillowy soft sub roll. It’s a new, seasonal item on their menu. We give it a 10/10!

Grab some subs and pizzas from The Real Deal.

bookmark_borderOn Driving…

Posted on by wafflepuff

While on my way to drop off ballots at the ballot box and picking up lunch, I came to the realization that I excel at driving under four specific conditions:

  1. parking is readily and easily available
  2. no direct sunlight
  3. no night time driving
  4. no merging onto highways

So, I experienced two out of the four – the parking lot was full. I ended up driving all the way back down the street to swing back up and parked three blocks away. I missed so many open spots on the street because I could barely see with the sunlight directly in my eyes.

At least I got my steps in, but that wasn’t fun. Oh yeah, I suffer from high anxiety over dumb things.

bookmark_borderHello!

Posted on by wafflepuff

Food rules my life. It informs my memories, my artwork and what brings me joy.

The irony to all this is the fact that our 4 year old is a picky eater with some serious allergies to dairy – butter included! – and nuts. It can be a challenge to feed him, but one thing we do know is that he loves waffles. And so, I’ve been on a mission to create interesting waffle recipes as a vehicle to get him to try new foods.

I’ll be posting the waffle recipes here. Feel free to use them if you’d like – definitely tweak them to your preferences. I make no promises other than the fact that the kiddo eats them and gives us a thumbs up when I ask him what he thinks.