Cooking Lessons for Dad

Cooking Lessons for Beginners

Apple Barley Bake

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Learn to make this delicious Apple Barley Bake! In this video Karen Breyer and her dad will show you step-by-step how to make this delicious Apple Barley Bake recipe. This easy dessert recipe is so healthy you could even eat it for breakfast! If you have been cooking healthy and looking for a new easy, tasty sweet dessert recipes you just found a great one!

If you are looking for new vegetarian, vegan or just really healthy recipes you will want to add this sweet dessert dish to your collection! It is so easy to make and has only 5 ingredients! 4 ingredients if you don’t count the water!

Are you trying to add more healthy whole grains to your diet? Barley is a delicious grain that can be used in many recipes including this tasty, healthy dessert recipe. It is such a simple recipe that I think you and your family will love! Watch this video and try this Apple Barley Bake today!

 

Yield: 6 servings

Apple Barley Bake

Ingredients

  • 1 cup barley, whole (soaked 24 hours)
  • 3 cups water
  • 1/2 cup raisins
  • 1 cup apples, dried (chopped)
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

Instructions

  1. Cover barley with 3 cups of water and soak at least 24 hours.
  2. When the barley is soaked and ready, preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  3. Add the soaked barley, raisins, apples and salt to a baking dish and stir together.
  4. Spread mixture evenly in the baking dish and cover with foil.
  5. Bake for 1 hour or until the juice is thickened and the barley is chewy.

Notes

You may use other dried fruits in place of the dried apples if desired.

See a cooking demonstration of this Apple Barley Bake recipe on the Cooking Lessons for Dad YouTube channel.

© Karen Breyer

 

Healthy Orange Cake

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Make a delicious Healthy Orange Cake! In this video Karen Breyer will show you step-by-step how to make this Healthy Orange Cake recipe for a delicious dessert! This is an amazing healthy cake recipe that both kids and adults will love! Looking for a yummy healthy cake recipe for kids? You found it!

This is an easy, healthy sweet recipe perfect for dessert or a party! I think it is so healthy you could even eat it for breakfast (and I have!). If you love sweets and deserts but feel you can’t eat them with out guilt try this easy Healthy Orange Cake recipe and be happy!

After you try this Healthy Orange Cake I think it will be your favorite healthy dessert recipe ever! Watch this cooking video and try this easy, Healthy Orange Cake today and be happy!

Yield: 2 - 8 inch cakes

Healthy Orange Cake

Ingredients

  • 1 1/4 cups whole wheat flour
  • 1/4 cup white flour, unbleached
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup coconut milk, unsweetened
  • 1/4 cup orange juice concentrate, thawed
  • 1/2 orange, large
  • 1/4 peel from large orange
  • 1/2 cup water, approximately

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Line 2 - 8 inch pans with parchment paper (cut paper to fit the pans).
  2. In a bowl, mix together the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
  3. Blend together the coconut milk, orange juice concentrate, orange, and orange peel.
  4. Blend in enough water to make the liquid mixture 2 1/2 cups total.
  5. Add the liquid into the dry ingredients and mix well. You can mix the batter by hand quickly or use an electric hand mixer and beat for it 20 to 25 seconds.
  6. Immediately pour the cake mixture into two 8 - inch round or square baking pans.
  7. Bake at 400 degrees for 25 - 30 minutes. The cakes are done when they begin to brown and pull away from the sides of the pan. As well, a knife inserted into the center of the cakes should come out clean.
  8. When the cakes are done, let them cool about 10 minutes in the pan. Next remove the cakes from the pans. Store the cakes in plastic bags or plastic wrap to keep them moist. Decorate the cooled cakes as desired.

Notes

You can use all whole wheat flour (no white flour) and the cake will be denser.

For a lighter cake, use 1/2 cup unbleached white flour and 1 cup whole wheat flour.

You can also use white whole wheat flour for a lighter color cake.

Wash the orange well since you are going to use part of the peel.

You can freeze these cakes in plastic bags. When you are ready to decorate the cake, remove them from the freezer and decorate.

For an amazing dessert, try the Healthy Pineapple Orange Sauce recipe with this cake. Spread the filling between the layers. Top of the cake with whipped topping or more orange filling (or both!).

© Karen Breyer

 

Chocolate Covered Apricots

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Learn how to make this easy, healthy 2 ingredient Chocolate Covered Apricot recipe! In this cooking video Karen Breyer and her dad will show you step-by-step how to make Chocolate Covered Apricots! This is a super easy, delicious, healthy chocolate and dried fruit dessert or snack recipe. All you need is chocolate and dried apricots to make this chocolaty delicious recipe that everyone will love.

This recipe is so impressive and delicious that it would make a perfect food gift for you to share. You can get even more creative with this chocolate fruit recipe and add different toppings like chopped nuts, coconut, sprinkles and other tasty toppings. Kids and adults will both love this easy, healthy chocolate fruit recipe. Looking for a new easy healthy chocolate dessert recipe? You found it! I think this will be your new favorite healthy chocolate dessert or snack recipe. Watch this cooking video and try these Chocolate Covered Apricots today!

Yield: Varies

Chocolate Covered Apricots

Ingredients

  • 1 cup dried apricots (or amount as desired)
  • 1 cup chocolate pieces, chunks or chips (dark, milk, semi-sweet, or white) (or amount as needed)
  • Decorations like chopped nuts, coconut, candy sprinkles, if desired for decorating

Instructions

  1. Line a baking sheet or tray with parchment or wax paper.
  2. Microwave chocolate in glass cup or dish on high until melted. Start with 1 minute and stir. If needed, microwave a little longer (about 30 seconds) and stir again. Repeat until melted and smooth.
  3. Dip about 3/4 of the apricot into the melted chocolate. Pull out the apricot and allow excess chocolate to drip back in the bowl. Set on prepared tray to dry.
  4. If decorating with chopped nuts, sprinkles, coconut or other decorations do this now. Dip the wet chocolate dipped apricots in the decorations or sprinkle/drizzle them on.
  5. Dry the chocolate covered apricots at room temperature until the chocolate is hard.
  6. Optional: If you are going to double dip or drizzle the apricots with another layer of chocolate (like white on dark), wait until the first layer of chocolate has cooled completely and hardened. You can also dip the second layer of chocolate in additional decorations while the chocolate is still wet.
  7. Store the dried Chocolate Covered Apricots in an airtight container.

Notes

Make sure there are no water drops on the dish or spoon that is coming in contact with the chocolate. Any water can make the chocolate hard and lumpy.

I have used both chocolate chips and bars. You may also mix chocolate types if you want. If you use chocolate chunks or bars, break them into small pieces before melting. You can also use chocolate specially made for dipping and drizzling (like chocolate melts).

You can save the leftover chocolate and re-melt it later. Cover it and store it at room temperature until you are ready to melt and re-use it.

See a cooking demonstration of this Chocolate Covered Apricots recipe on the Cooking Lessons for Dad YouTube channel.

© Karen Breyer

 

Coconut Banana Bars

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In this cooking video Karen Breyer will show you step-by-step how to make easy, healthy Coconut Banana Bars in a crockpot or slow cooker! These bars are so easy to make and have only a few healthy ingredients. I think this is a perfect recipe to use up your ripe bananas. These Coconut Banana Bars bars are so delicious I think they taste like dessert but they are actually good for you!

If you are looking for a new healthy recipe for tasty energy or snack bars, look no more! I think you will a be amazed how easy these Coconut Banana Bars are. No need to heat up the kitchen with a hot oven when you can bake these healthy dessert bars right in the crockpot or slow cooker! These bars will make it to your best, easy, healthy, snack list! These Coconut Banana Bars are a good alternative to cookies and your kids will love them! You can also enjoy this healthy bar recipe for breakfast or dessert! Watch this video and try these Crockpot Coconut Banana Bars today!

Yield: 8 - 10 servings

Coconut Banana Bars

Ingredients

  • 1 cup banana, ripe, mashed
  • 2 cups dates, chopped (soaked and drained)
  • 3/4 - 1 cup nuts, chopped
  • 1/3 cup coconut, shredded
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup quick oats
  • Cooking spray

Instructions

  1. Soak the dates 5 - 10 minutes in water, then drain. Soak drier dates longer and softer dates for less time.
  2. Spray a crockpot or slow cooker with cooking spray.
  3. In a bowl mix together the mashed banana, drained dates, nuts, and salt.
  4. Stir in the oats.
  5. Spread the mixture in the bottom of the crockpot.
  6. Using a fork or knife, pull the mixture about 1/4 inch away from the sides of the crockpot.
  7. Cover the crockpot with 2 layers of paper towels and cover with the lid.
  8. Bake on low for about 2 - 2 1/2 hours or until the edges start to brown. Cool 5 - 10 minutes.
  9. Cut into bars. Serve warm or cooled.

Notes

Instead of paper towels, you can cover the crockpot with a dish towel that has not been cleaned with a fabric softener.

Make sure to use Quick Oats and not Old Fashioned Oats.


See a cooking demonstration of this Coconut Banana Bars recipe on the Cooking Lessons for Dad YouTube channel.

© Karen Breyer

 

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