Sam's Cooking Corner Easter addition

This week on Sam's Cooking Corner, Easter ideas from a kid! 

My Mom took me to Banbury Cross the other day and they had hot cross buns. So we came home and made some. They are really good. We found the recipe on recipesdotcom. 

These are all the things I like. I also like ham, but get me on a good day.

 

Hot Cross Buns, Hot Cross Buns

3/4 cup warm  whole milk

4 1/2 teaspoons (2 packages) active dry yeast

1 large egg plus 2 tbsp. beaten egg 

1/4 cup granulated sugar

1/4 cup butter, melted and cooled

3/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg, preferably freshly grated

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Finely shredded zest of 1 large orange

About 3 cups flour (substitute Pillsbury gluten free blend, equal amount but do not add yeast)

1/2 cup chopped candied orange peel *store bought

1/4 cup dried currants

2 teaspoons fresh orange juice 

2 teaspoons fresh Meyer lemon juice/or regular lemon juice with 1/2 tsp honey

1 cup powdered sugar 

In a bowl of a stand mixer, combine milk and yeast; let stand until yeast softens, 5 to 10 minutes. Add whole egg, granulated sugar, butter, salt, nutmeg, cinnamon, and orange zest. Beat on medium speed with dough hook until blended.
Blend in 2 3/4 cups flour. Beat on medium speed until dough is smooth and stretchy, 10 to 12 minutes. Add just enough flour (about 1/4 cup) so dough is only slightly tacky. Add orange peel and currants, pick up dough, and mix with your hands to distribute fruit. Return dough to bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 1/4 hours.
Punch down dough. With floured hands, shape into 16 smooth rounds. Evenly space rounds in 2 buttered 8- or 9-in. square pans.
 Cover loosely and let rise in a warm place until doubled and puffy, about 40 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 400°. Brush buns with beaten egg. Bake until deep golden, 13 to 15 minutes. Let cool in pans at least 30 minutes.
In a small bowl, stir together juices and powdered sugar until smooth. Spoon into a small, heavy-gauge plastic bag, snip a hole in a corner, and squeeze icing onto buns to form large Xs.



I think if you are having a family dinner it should be fun for the kids. I usually am the only kid at my family dinners so everyone usually makes it pretty special. I like nibbles and plastic eggs are fun to put cool treats in. I think you should do this activity for your kids this Easter. 

I like grapes and mini peanut butter sandwiches shaped like bunnies. My Mom gave me gummy bears and goldfish and cubes of cheese. You could add just about anything. I suggested mac and cheese, but that got messy. Add the things your kids love. 

Costco quiche is the best. I will eat them and sometimes my Mom has to make me stop. 

We baked some wonton wrappers shaped like bunny ears, added a bunny face and it's a perfect kid appetizer.






 
Little Chicks
Scrambled eggs, toast, cheddar cheese noses and craisins for eyes.




                                                                          
Todaydotcom had this fun idea

Munchy Mix
Annie's cheddar bunny crackers
M&M's 
Raisins
Pretzels
Annies bunny grahams 






My Mom's Maple Glazed Carrots
12 large carrots, peeled
5 tbsp. butter
1/4 cup maple syrup
Fresh lemon juice
chopped parsley
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Peel carrots and slice. Steam the carrots over a pot of hot water, or in the microwave with some water and salt in the bottom of he container. 
When they are halfway cooked, add them to a saute pan. Add 1 tbsp water and your butter. Let them saute adding salt and pepper and lemon juice. 
Once they become the tenderness you like, add maple syrup and parsley and they are ready to serve. 


Thanks for stopping by
-Sam