Recipe: Fudgy Hazelnut Rye Brownies

Got a sweet tooth you need to satisfy? We've got you covered. Check out this "Recipe: Fudgy Hazelnut Rye Brownies" and enjoy the delicious treats you see below!

Fudgy Hazelnut Rye Brownies

Makes 12 squares

1/2 pound (2 sticks) unsalted butter, plus more for the pan
1/2 pound dark chocolate, chopped (mix of bittersweet and semi-sweet)
1 cup (130 grams) rye flour
1/4 cup (25 grams) unsweetened Dutch processed cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon kosher salt
4 large eggs
1 cup (215 grams) natural cane sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/4 cup strong brewed coffee (or espresso)
1 cup (125 grams) toasted and skinned hazelnuts, coarsely chopped

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Butter a 8- to 10-inch square pan and set aside.

Melt the butter and chocolate together in a medium saucepan over low heat. In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt.

In the bowl of a standing mixer (or using a large bowl and a hand mixer), beat the eggs with the sugar until pale in color and thicker in texture, about 4 minutes. Beat in the vanilla extract and coffee. Slowly add the flour mixture and mix just until combined. Then fold in the melted chocolate and hazelnuts.

Scrape the brownie batter out into the prepared baking dish. Transfer to the oven and bake for about 45 minutes, or until the top becomes a bit cracked and — with any luck — slightly shiny. The center of the pan of brownies should still be a touch jiggly — they firm up a good bit as they cool. Let cool completely before slicing.

If covered and stored at room temperature, these brownies should keep for 3 to 4 days.

Recipe Notes

• If you don't have rye flour at home, feel free to use spelt flour or all-purpose flour instead.

(Image credits: Megan Gordon)

Original Article Here: http://www.thekitchn.com/recipe-fudgey-hazelnut-rye-brownies-recipes-from-the-kitchn-199521

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Recipe: Sunshine Smoothie with Coconut, Clementine and Turmeric

Leave your blues behind with this tasty smoothie, check out "Recipe: Sunshine Smoothie with Coconut, Clementine and Turmeric" and get a summer vibe going on!

Sunshine Smoothie with Coconut, Clementine and Turmeric

Serves 1

1/4 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
1 cup chilled unsweetened coconut water
2 tablespoons unsweetened coconut milk
Fresh or frozen segments from 2 clementines (about 1 1/2 cups)
1/2-inch fresh turmeric, peeled and roughly chopped (or 1/2 teaspoon ground), more if desired
1/2-inch fresh ginger, peeled and roughly chopped
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon honey or agave nectar (optional)
1 tablespoon maca powder (optional)

Place the oatmeal in a blender and process until finely ground. Add the remaining ingredients to the blender and process until smooth. For a thicker smoothie, let it stand for about 5 minutes before serving.

(Image credits: Emily Ho)

Original Article Here: http://www.thekitchn.com/recipe-sunshine-smoothie-with-coconut-clementine-and-turmeric-recipes-from-the-kitchn-199347

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Recipe: Spinach Lasagna Roll-Ups

Look good to you? Grab a baking dish and get ready for some tasty food. Check out "Recipe: Spinach Lasagna Roll-Ups"!

Spinach Lasagna Roll Ups

Makes 4 2-roll servings

8 lasagna noodles
2 cups finely chopped baby spinach, from about 3 ounces
1 cup low-fat cottage cheese
2/3 cup shredded cheese, such as mozzarella, Romano, or a blend, divided
1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 garlic cloves, finely minced
1/2 teaspoon salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1 cup spaghetti sauce

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly grease a 9x9-inch baking dish.

Cook the lasagna noodles in plenty of salted boiling water according to package directions. Remove when they are al dente and lay out on a clean towel to dry and cool.

Mix the spinach, cottage cheese, 1/3 cup shredded cheese, Parmesan cheese, garlic, salt, and a generous quantity of black pepper.

Divide the spinach and cheese mixture evenly between the noodles, spreading the mixture over the entire length of each noodle. Roll up the noodles from bottom to top, and place in pan, side by side, touching. Pour the tomato sauce over the rolls, and sprinkle the remaining 1/3 cup shredded cheese over top.

Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until heated through and the sauce is bubbling.

(Image credits: Faith Durand)



Original Article Here: http://www.thekitchn.com/spinach-lasagna-roll-ups-recipes-from-the-kitchn-96780

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A Simple Way to Clean Your Blender

If you're a big fan of smoothies, juices, or soups then you probably use your blender a lot. This probably leads to the occasionally gross and stained blender. Check out this easy way to get it sparkling again in "A Simple Way to Clean Your Blender"!

I diligently wash my blender after every smoothie, juice, and soup, yet recently I noticed it was still looking scummy. I mentioned this to my friend Angela, who recommended a super simple way to get my blender looking clean and clear. (Yes, these are the sorts of riveting conversations that occur between Vitamix cult members. The tip is totally applicable to all blenders, though!)

Angela pointed out that the stains on my blender container were probably the result of hard water build-up. The solution? A lemon!

I filled the blender halfway with warm water, a drop of dishwashing liquid, and a coarsely chopped lemon and ran the machine for about a minute. Voilà — my blender was sparkling again. One could also use white vinegar to cut through the scum, but I think a lemon smells better.

Do you have any tips for cleaning a Vitamix or other blenders?

(Image credits: Dzinnik Darius/Shutterstock)

Original Article Here: http://www.thekitchn.com/clean-your-blender-tips-from-the-kitchn-199583

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18 Daily Habits That Make Life in the Kitchen Better

If you spend hours a week preparing your tasty meals in the kitchen, these habits could help you. Check out "18 Daily Habits That Make Life in the Kitchen Better"!

18 Daily Habits That Make Life in the Kitchen Better

SARA KATE

• I wash as I go which means less clean-up and a more relaxing space to work in.
• I incorporate leftovers into new meals. For example if there's a leftover piece of chicken from last night, I put it into a salad the next day for lunch, or one slice of pie gets chopped up as an ice cream topping.
• I have someone over for dinner at least once a week; it keeps my cooking fresh and my house clean!

FAITH

• I clean out the sink after the dishes are done; this is a refreshing reset for an often-gunky part of the kitchen.
• I fill a big bowl with hot, soapy water and slip silverware and cooking utensils into it throughout the day.
• I keep a running list on a whiteboard in the kitchen of ingredients and leftovers in the fridge. This is so helpful for me and my husband to see what’s still there, and it helps keep the fridge cleaner too.

EMMA

• I clean my knife immediately after using it. It's so much easier to get it clean before sticky stuff dries to it, plus I use it constantly, so it's nice to have it always ready to go again.
• I freeze bread. It's just me and my husband in my house, but I always make at least 2 loaves of bread with every batch. I cut each loaf in half, use one immediately, and freeze the rest.
• I make a meal plan. I used to waste a lot of food — particularly produce — because I just bought food spontaneously and it would go bad before I found a way to use it. I finally made a rule for myself that I HAD to have a specific recipe in mind before I could buy anything! It was a complete drag at first (not gonna lie), but now it feels second nature.

CAMBRIA

• I use a garbage bowl, usually just one of my mixing bowls, which helps keeps my cutting board clean and saves me from frequent trips to the trash.
• I try to always keep a clean towel over my shoulder or within easy reach when I cook. Bar mop towels are great for this. I'll use it as a potholder, or to quickly pat dry vegetables or wipe up a small spill.
• I set up a clean area for myself before I start cooking. Even if the rest of the kitchen is messy, I try to clear off the island completely, or the countertop space next to the stove, so I can have some breathing room for chopping and prepping.

ANJALI

• I capture all the online recipes I want to try in one place — and actually look at them. Like Emma, I make a meal plan every week and I use Paprika to keep track of the recipes I want to try for dinner.
• I transfer bagged food into mason jars. I was already storing beans, grains and other bulk goods in inexpensive canning jars, but this year I started doing the same with trail mix, dried fruit and other food that comes packaged in bags. It keeps my small pantry cupboard neater and more organized.
• I keep a big stockpile of rags near the kitchen. I've been weaning my household off of paper towels for awhile, but I had the biggest breakthrough when I finally sat down one afternoon and sliced up a big pile of old towels and cotton t-shirts into kitchen rags that I now use to clean up even the scummiest messes. Now I never run out between laundry days.

ARIEL

• I keep a roll of tape and a sharpie on top of my fridge. Makes it easy to quickly label things I made or purchased.
• I lay out mise en place. This one is super important to me. I like prepping and measuring everything I need before I start cooking so I don't panic when I can't find something.
• I wash dishes and countertops as I go. Makes cleaning after eating so much less of a pain.

...and 6 Kitchen Habits We Want to Adopt

SARA KATE: I'd like to get better at planning a whole week of meals ahead; as nice as it is to have the skills to cook spontaneously, with children, it helps come dinnertime to actually have a plan.

FAITH: Prep vegetables at the beginning of the week so I snack on healthier foods.

EMMA: Unload the dishwasher as soon as it's clean and start loading dirty dishes into it right away. All too often, I end up with a dishwasher and dish drainer full of clean dishes and a counter so packed with dirty dishes that I don't have room to cook! It's ridiculous! I just need to get in the habit of putting those clean dishes away.

CAMBRIA: Clean the kitchen every single night before I go to bed. I'll admit it — I do not often end the day with a clean kitchen, and it's always super stressful for me the next day. This year I really want to get into the habit of cleaning up entirely before I go to sleep. I know I'll be so much more motivated to cook the next day if I wake up to a neat, sparkling kitchen.

ANJALI: Make big batches of roasted vegetables and hearty salads to snack on throughout the week. I'm trying to get my husband to eat more vegetables for lunch, which he is happy to do, but only if they are as easy to grab as a handful of chips.

ARIEL: I want to entertain more — because cooking + friends is always a good idea. Always.

(Image credits: Rachel Joy Photos; Chris Perez; Gabriela Herman)



Original Article Here: http://www.thekitchn.com/18-daily-habits-that-make-life-in-the-kitchen-better-199173

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Cleaning Your Electronics

Did you know that dust can hurt or damage all of your electronics?  The blog below has some great tips on how to keep your electronics dust free and running smoothly.  You can learn more about technology tricks by visiting apartment therapy.

Desktop Computer: Many towers have fans on the back and vents on the sides. At least once per year, perhaps more in dust ridden regions, use compressed air, then wipe down with an anti-static microfiber cloth. Start with the fan, then move to the vents to release any dust build up. You may be surprised what resides inside your computer's internal regions.

TVs: Wiping down the screen is pretty standard, but like computers, many large TVs also have a fan in the back helping to prevent the television from overheating. A little compressed air will help here too. 

Keyboards: Keyboards won't overheat, but low profile keyboards will get "soft keys" (sticky) if there's too much built up gunk under a key. Unplug the keyboard and blow on it gently every once in a while, using that handy can of compressed air for bigger jobs, and a dollop of hand disinfectant on a paper towel to remove grime on top. 



Mouse with Rolling Balls on Top or Bottom: My old Mac had a mouse with a small rolling ball on the top. It was great for web browsing, but on a nearly monthly basis the ball would get stuck and would roll sporadically. Even small amounts of dust will cause a mouse with delicate parts to operate poorly. A little compressed air on a regular basis will go a long way, with an alcohol based cleaner to wipe the top and bottom from smoother scrolling.

Add an Air Purifier: protect your home electronics further by installing an air filtration system nearby to keep dust, pet fur, and other debris out of digital devices and appliances in the first place. 

Check out our How to Shop for an Air Purifier shopping guide, alongside Consumer Reports, Good Housekeeping, and Consumer Search for recommendations.

(Photo Credits: Edward Goodwin via Flickr's Creative Commons, Tech Nibble and Apple)

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5 Mom-Tested, Kid-Approved Snacks: 5 Good Choices that Actually Taste Good

How do you maintain a balance between good tasting food for your kids and healthy food for them. These recipes can help you have it all! Check out "5 Mom-Tested, Kid-Approved Snacks: 5 Good Choices that Actually Taste Good"!

1. Noosa Yoghurt

First Greek yogurt now Aussie style! We love Greek yogurt but we found a snazzy new addition to our repertoire from down under. Noosa is just as rich and creamy as Greek yogurt but with a bit more tang and comes in awesome new flavors including our faves — honey, passion fruit and tart cherry. Kids love these as a mid- morning snack with granola or with fruit for dipping and as an after-dinner treat.

Mom: It works for breakfast, lunch or after school on the go because of the resealable packaging. It's almost identical to Greek yogurt in nutrition content but now you can mix it up and give the kids some new flavors.

Kids: Love it because it's as rich and creamy as ice cream and comes in fun flavors.

2. Chips from Way Better Snacks

Everyone loves to snack on chips but finding a baked chip that doesn't taste like cardboard was almost impossible- until now. Way Better Snacks' line up of flavors like Simply Sunny Multigrain, Simply Sweet Potato, Simply Unbeatable Blues and our favorite Sweet Chili Tortilla have all been a hit in our house.

Mom: Loves that it takes the guessing out of grains — they're all baked in — from quinoa to flax seeds. Downside: It's been hard keeping these for the kids since my husband found them!

Kids: Hands down, the kids picked these over any other baked chips and they love them on their own or smashed into a sandwich for some crunch.

3. Stix in the Mud Candy

The entire Funley brand is based on no preservatives, no trans fats, no high fructose corn syrup. From granola clusters to crackers they have tons of good choices in the snack department. This was the only candy that got Mom's thumbs up.

Mom: These taste as good as any mainstream candy bar but I could actually understand the list of ingredients. The kids loved these so much that they were bragging in school and other moms have been emailing me, "What are these Stix in the Mud?"Another plus — these candies are individually wrapped, making packing snacks easier.

Kids: Satisfies their sweet tooth. They taste delicious — no weird aftertaste or texture, and the taste-testers loved all three flavors — original, peanut butter and caramel.

4. Superhero Juice

Juicing is not just for health nuts anymore. For us it's for breakfast or on the go snacks we can drink! NEVER did I think I would say this; I mean really I didn't need one more appliance in my kitchen and yet, we are now fully converted to the world of juice.

Number one reason Mom loves it: the kids can do it.

Number one reason the kids love it: Because they get to do it.

It's a proven fact that kids are more likely to eat what they choose and what they make. Not to mention a juicer is one of the safest items for a tween or teen to use on their own in the kitchen, and for my 8-year-olds I need just be standing by to watch them whip up yummy, frothy juices and smoothies. Our juicer, the HUROM (see our full review here), does both!

The kids think it's cool and watching them sip what they call superhero juice (because it looks like the Hulk and I told them their muscles will grow if they drink it) from green veggies like kale and spinach, I too can't imagine what would be cooler. A green apple, a carrot, handful of kale and a 1/4-inch piece of ginger, a squeeze of lemon juice and you've got a refreshing nutritious snack perfect for filling your water bottles. Just add ice, shake and voila.

5. Lucy's Gluten-Free Cookies

I know parents complain about complying with all the allergy regulations schools have in place now, but if you think it's a pain for you imagine those little guys who — because of their allergies — have to sit at a separate lunch table or in a separate room altogether. Allergies including gluten intolerance stink for everyone. There's just no way around it — a gluten-free chocolate chip cookie will not taste as good as a chocolate chip cookie.

But how about a pumpkin cookie or a maple crunch cookie? Well, Lucy's gluten-free cookies are also tree nut free, peanut free, milk and eggs free too. They taste delicious and are the perfect treat for kids to bring to school to celebrate a birthday and every kid gets in on the snacking.

All right, those are my picks for fast and easy snacks! What are yours? What goes into your kids' lunch boxes?

(Image credits: Maureen Petrosky)

Original Article Here: http://www.thekitchn.com/mom-tested-kid-approved-back-to-school-snacks-good-choices-that-actually-taste-good-194367

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