Baking again and again... {Koek}

My Oma always made
Koek.

Last Thursday when I was going through
one of my two recipe boxes,
I came across my Koek recipe.
And immediately thought,
that is what I need to make!
Perfect for traveling...
So I got out my pour-able honey.

Mixed up the flour, baking soda and powder, sugar
and spices.

I wrote my recipe out years ago
when I was an undergrad and using
fountain pens.
So about 1999 or so.

Love seeing them bake in the oven.

 

Easy to make three as to making one.
Important to remember to grease the glass pan
before using it!
Then they come out very easily.
Froze one, gave one away and eating one at home.
Naturally Lenten
and good on non-fasting days with butter!

Prayer and Sugar Cookies

I finally was able to get
this sun catcher
put on my kitchen window.
It had not come with a suction cup
so I had to wait and
finally I have one!

Been lighting candles for various people in
need who are on my heart...

Yesterday I finally was able to make
sugar cookies!
I had promised them to a friend
about 1.5-2 months ago
but kept getting sick
with colds.
*
I am not fully better yet
but was strong enough yesterday to make
the cookies.

Such a simple recipe!
I did this variation:
1/2 cup butter
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1 tsp milk
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp baking powder
1 1/2 cup flour

I got the above cookbook
at the Mother of All Garage Sales
as Mr. Husband calls them
back in October.
*
When I saw the name
F.M. Farmer
I realized that this was most possibly
an older edition of the
Fannie Farmer Cookbook
and I was right!
*
It was published in 1945
and was my most expensive purchase
at the Garage Sale
at 18.00 for the book.
Which Mr. Husband later noted
is about the going rate for this 
vintage book.
(The garage sale we went to is also a charity
so we did not feel a loss of a good deal
because of this, for those of
thrift-garage sale minds! :))
*
I like many others
love the older cookbooks
for their more durable recipes
the simplicity
and practicality.

It was so nice to use my baking
tools again.

When I saw that this recipe says it makes
50-60 cookies
I was surprised
but realized that this meant very little cookie
dough was used per cookie.
So I carefully spooned out the dough
and it did make about that much!

The cookies are small and light.

The last batch baked quicker
due to the oven being on for a while
so I will have to remember to watch that
cooking time of 8 minutes
and perhaps do 7 minutes for the last
batch. 

Mr. Husband and I have been enjoying these
cookies during our Christmas Feast week!

And I finally have them to give to
our friend!
*
Now I am hoping to bake
the lemon yogurt cake that
Anna blogged about
a while back...
*
Meanwhile,
I am late for making what I thought would be for
lunch today
as Mr. Husband is working from home
today
(these are some of my happiest days when
he is here for breakfast
and we can visit before he retreats to the office
for work)...
I was going to make a roast chicken last night
like I made for our first
Canadian Thanksgiving as a married couple
but I realized I did not have the herbs to do so.
*
Thankfully when I went to the store last night
it was not as busy as sometimes
(about 5 pm at the store can be a mad-house,
with long lines and crowded aisles)
and I also got the needed
ingredients for the cake...
*
I am still recovering from the cold
but am hopeful that by next week
it will be much better/gone.
*
God willing I will be in Ottawa
by this time next week.
Without Mr. Husband who sadly
can't come because of his work.
I will miss him.
But it will be good to see everyone that I spent 7
years of my life with
and a city that I love so much.
*
Meanwhile,
I best get going on that chicken...

Koek ~ Tuesday Baking ~ Sunny day

I used my mixer for the first time today!
It was a beautiful sunny morning
and a great one to bake
Koek.
*
I grew up with my Mom making Koek
a recipe she got from her Mom
my Oma.
Years later I called my Mom up
and asked her
what is koek?
for I realized that I really did not know what
a word for it is in English!
She explained,
it is a spice bread.
*
I made some today
and shared a piece with a new found friend
who said it reminds her of
ginger bread.

My two biggest Pyrex measuring bowls
came in handy!

As did my new measuring cups,

and measuring spoons...

Here's the ingredient list ~ for 3 loaves
6 cups flour
3 cups sugar
1.5 tsp baking soda
6 tsp baking powder
1.5 tsp salt
1.5 tsp cinnamon
1.5 tsp cloves
1.5 tsp all spice
1.5 tsp ginger
1/4 cup honey
3 cups water

Flour and sugar

spices

I mixed the water in first
and then added the honey.

Bake at 350 degrees F for 50 minutes
and then check with a toothpick.
I baked mine for an hour
and could of done less...
the crust will get thicker and harden
with prolonged baking.
Unlike some breads,
it is normal for this one to have the middle
sink in a bit.
*
Was easy to get everything washed up
while it baked!

Koek is a great bread!
Smells wonderful as it bakes
and freezes well
and travels wonderfully
for road trips
and is an easy snack for lunches.

 

I enjoy mine with a bit of butter
on an individual slice
and have a nice cup of hot decaf black tea
with a bit of sugar and milk.
*
The bread itself is vegan so it is
great for fasting days and
seasons!