Cooking Lessons for Dad

Cooking Lessons for Beginners

Date Paste

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Looking for healthy, natural sweeteners that taste amazing? Try this tasty, sweet Date Paste recipe! It is so easy to make and only 3 ingredients! Use date paste as a substitute for unhealthy sweeteners in your recipes, smoothies, oatmeal and more!

In this cooking video Karen Breyer will show you step-by-step how to make Date Paste. You can make a batch (or 2 or 3) and keep leftovers in the fridge to use anytime. Watch this cooking video and make some healthy, tasty, sweet date paste today!

Yield: About 1 1/4 cups

Date Paste

Ingredients

  • 1 cup dates, pitted
  • 2 cups water
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract (or to taste)

Instructions

  1. Place the dates in a bowl and cover with water. Soak overnight (or until soft) in the refrigerator.
  2. Drain soaking liquid and reserve.
  3. Add the dates and vanilla to a strong blender or food processor. Blend until smooth. Add the soaking liquid as needed to make a smooth paste.
  4. Store in the refrigerator.

Notes

Date paste can often be used in place of sugar or other sweeteners in cooking and baking. Try date paste to sweeten your smoothies, oatmeal and homemade salad dressings.

Date paste can be frozen for several months. It stays a bit soft in the freezer so you can scoop out just the amount you need.

You can add other seasoning such as nutmeg, cinnamon or a bit of Kosher or sea salt.

© Karen Breyer

 

Cranberry Walnut Truffles

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Make creamy, chocolatey Cranberry Walnut Truffles! These yummy chocolate truffles are filled with healthy walnuts and cranberries! I even used dark chocolate to make these a little healthier. You can also prepare them with semi-sweet or bittersweet chocolate.

In this cooking video Karen Breyer will show you step-by-step how to make Cranberry Walnut Truffles. These creamy, chocolatey truffles have only four ingredients and are very easy to make. This is a perfect candy recipe for beginners to try.

I think these Cranberry Walnut Truffles are an excellent choice if you are trying to eat healthier and love chocolate. The cranberries and walnuts in this recipe are super good for you and dark chocolate has its health benefits too!

These Cranberry Walnut Truffles are perfect for a chocolatey snack or dessert. I also like to give these truffles as a gift. I pack them in a nice candy box with a see-through lid. They look and taste impressive! If fact I think these Cranberry Walnut Truffles are better than any you can buy in a candy store! Watch this cooking video and make these delicious Cranberry Walnut Truffles today!

 

Yield: About 30 truffles

Cranberry Walnut Truffles

Ingredients

  • 3/4 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 10 ounces chocolate chips, semi-sweet or bittersweet
  • 2/3 cup cranberries, dried
  • 2 cups walnut, toasted and finely chopped

Instructions

  1. Pour the cream in a small pan. Heat the cream until it starts to boil around the edges.
  2. Add the chocolate and whisk until the chocolate is melted and smooth.
  3. Turn off the heat and stir in the cranberries.
  4. Pour the mixture into a 9 inch pie pan or square pan.
  5. Refrigerate the chocolate 1 - 2 hours or until firm.
  6. Scoop the chocolate with a teaspoon in about 1 inch-size pieces and place them on a baking sheet or tray. Refrigerate until firm, about 30 minutes.
  7. Pour the walnuts into a dish or pie pan. Roll the chocolate in the nuts. Then roll the chocolate into a ball between your palms.
  8. Next, gently roll them again in the nuts.
  9. Store the truffles in the refrigerator until ready to serve.

Notes

You can use chocolate chips or chop chunks of chocolate into small pieces.

To toast walnuts:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Spread walnuts in a single layer on a baking sheet.
3. Bake 10 - 15 minutes, until they just start to brown. Larger nuts will take longer to cook than smaller nuts. Check them frequently so they do not burn.

Let the walnuts cool before chopping them.

See a cooking demonstration of this Cranberry Walnut Truffles recipe on the Cooking Lessons for Dad YouTube channel.

© Karen Breyer

 

Orange-Apricot Balls

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Try these super delicous Orange Apricot Balls topped with chocolate! The flavor combination is amazing and it has mostly healthy ingredients! In this cooking video Karen Breyer will show you step-by-step how to make these yummy Orange Apricot Balls!

These Orange Apricot Balls are perfect for a impressive dessert, treat or gift! You could even pack a few of these fancy candies in your lunch or take them camping! Everyone will love these, especially your kids. Orange, apricot and chocolate tastes amazing together. Watch this cooking video and make this easy, yummy Orange Apricot Ball recipe today!

Orange-Apricot Balls

Ingredients

  • 10 oz. dried apricots
  • 2/3 cup whole almonds, toasted
  • 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
  • 2 tablespoons orange zest (from 2 oranges)
  • 2 tablespoons orange juice
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/3 to 1/2 cup chocolate chips or chunks (semi-sweet, or dark)

Instructions

  1. Wash and dry oranges. Zest oranges, set aside.
  2. Separately chop apricots and almonds in a food processor or strong blender.
  3. In a large bowl, mix together the chopped apricots and almonds.
  4. Stir in sugar, orange zest, salt, and orange juice.
  5. Roll mixture into 1 inch balls and place on a cookie sheet.
  6. Microwave chocolate in a glass container on high until melted. Start with one minute and stir. If needed, microwave a little longer (30 second increments) and stir again. Repeat until chocolate is melted.
  7. Spread the chocolate on top of the apricot-orange balls. Set them aside until the chocolate hardens.
  8. After the chocolate is dry serve!

Notes

Place leftover candies in an airtight container.

Store them in the refrigerator for up to a week.

See a cooking demonstration of this Orange Apricot Balls recipe on the Cooking Lessons for Dad YouTube channel.

© Karen Breyer

 

Cherry Almond Energy Bars

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Try these amazing 5 ingredient Cherry Almond Energy Bars! These energy bars are super tasty and easy to make. In this video Karen Breyer will show you step-by-step how to make these Cherry Almond Energy Bars. They are so easy to make you don’t even need to bake them.

I think once you try these no-bake Cherry Almond Energy Bars you will be hooked and want them every day! No problem though. They are filled with healthy ingredients and will give you lots of energy!

These Cherry Almond Energy Bars are perfect for snacks, desserts and even breakfast! You will want to take them with you to the gym, school, work and especially hiking, cycling or camping. If you are running late in the morning grab a couple Cherry Almond Energy Bars to take with you. These healthy energy bars will fill you up and give you lots of energy to get you through your day!

Store these super-nutritious, tasty Cherry Almond Energy Bars in your refrigerator or freezer so you will always have them on hand! Watch this cooking video and make these delicious, healthy Cherry Almond Energy Bars today!

Yield: 16 bars

Cherry Almond Energy Bars

Ingredients

  • 1 cup dates, pitted
  • 1 cup almonds
  • 1 cup cherries, dried
  • 1 cup old fashioned oats
  • 1/2 - 1 teaspoon salt, Kosher

Instructions

  1. Add all ingredients in a food processor.
  2. Pulse/mix to combine ingredients until they stick together and form a ball.
  3. Press mixture into an 8 or 9 inch square pan.
  4. Cut into bars. Serve.

Notes

When mixing these ingredients stop and break apart the dates if they clump together.

Store these bars in an airtight container for up to a week in the refrigerator and up to 3 months in the freezer.

See a cooking demonstration of this Cherry Almond Energy Bars recipe on the Cooking Lessons for Dad YouTube channel

© Karen Breyer

 

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