once upon a norza

We love doughnuts and any recipe with chocolates is a sure factor to get us excited. But the lazy me balked at the thought of making fried doughnuts and would rather buy them if I have a sudden crave.

However I immediately took out my butter from the fridge when I saw the 'Baked Chocolate Doughnuts' recipe by Lara Ferroni. I had some petitmiam strawberry yogurt expiring soon so this recipe is good to finish up the yogurt. The girls had been down with cough and yogurt is a no-no during that period of time.

Based on previous doughnut-baking attempts, this recipe also sounds more delicious and boy, was I right! The doughnuts were a hit! We didn't put any glaze but covered the top with sugar. Even the little-miss-cerewet, Sarah, had 2 of the doughnuts at one go. That's a good sign considering this girl basically survives on breastmilk mostly. hurhur.

Baked Chocolate Cake Doughnuts
By Lara Ferroni

130 grams (~1 cup) all purpose flour
2 tablespoons natural cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
75 grams sugar
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon fine grain salt
2 tablespoons unsalted butter or coconut oil
1/4 cup buttermilk (I used my batch of sourcream because it was near expiry :D)
1/4 cup yogurt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 large egg

Lightly grease a doughnut (or muffin) tin and preheat the oven to 350F.

Sift the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and baking soda, and then whisk in the sugar, nutmeg and salt.

Add the butter, and using your fingers, rub it into the dry ingredients until it becomes coarse crumbs.

In a separate bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, yogurt, vanilla and egg. Add to the flour mixture and stir until just combined. Do not overmix, or your doughnuts may be a bit rubbery.

Fill each cup 1/2 to 3/4 full. You can do this with a spoon, but I prefer using a piping bag to fill each cup more evenly and cleanly. It’s important not to overfill, or as the doughnuts rise, you’ll lose the hole.

Bake for 6 to 10 minutes (depending on the size of your doughnut pan), until the doughnuts spring back when touched. Let cool slightly on a wire rack before glazing. If coating in powdered sugar, let them cool even a bit more.

Makes about 15 mini doughnuts.

Labels: baking treats

I had to post this hilarious picture of the girls. My girls quarrel everyday over almost every single thing. We usually buy two of the same things like stationery sets and small toys to avoid conflicts between them. We also encourage them to share and play together. But sometimes things happen and the fights get intense and both will start to scream at each other. Sarah is the one who always "bullies" the kakak by pushing and pinching her. Fortunately Aisyah is "kakak" enough not to hit back. Both usually cry together because the kakak will be in pain while the adek will be reprimanded by me. I had to calm both sides too. And when all things fail, I will also scream with them (which is not a pretty sight!). Ok, so this is wrong. I tell myself to be more patient with them after the episodes and give a hug each and all is well again.

Ending sibling fights

•Try to let them resolve the issue on their own so they learn to negotiate. But step in if there's a real possibility of harm.
•If you do need to intervene, try not to get in the middle. Let each child express his complaints without whining, then help them figure out a way to come to a resolution they'll both be happy with. For example, when it comes time to split something (say, a cookie), suggest that one child do the splitting and the other child gets to choose.
•Don't respond to tattling. It'll only encourage the tattler to tell on his sibling more.
•If all else fails, use bright yellow-and-black caution tape to divide their play space, and tell them they can't cross to the other one's side of the room. Make believe you're arriving at the scene of a crime and the giggles should help them forget what they were fighting about!

Summary

Besides love and support, siblings provide constant practice for relating to others. Paying attention to each child's needs, and giving them each some one-on-one time, goes a long way toward helping your kids build the confidence they need to succeed in life. And by teaching kids to resolve squabbles on their own, you help them learn important problem-solving and relationship skills, as well as bring them closer as siblings.