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Tag: Baking

Fields of Learning – Educational Resources about Wheat

Posted on by Karen Blakeslee
Bread
Loaves of bread Photo: USDA/ARS

Looking for resources to bring the story of wheat to classrooms? The Home Baking Association and their partner, Texas Wheat, have some free educational resources for K-12 students.

These lessons are not just worksheets. They are interactive lessons to engage students about agriculture, science, and nutrition. The goal is to help students of all ages to appreciate agriculture, understand healthy eating, and even discover the joy of baking!

The Home Baking Association has been inspiring consumers of all ages to bake at home for over 100 years. They want consumers to learn about the farm-to-table journey of wheat.

Feeding Your Future Summer Camp 2024

Posted on by Karen Blakeslee

High school students, grades 10-12, can come gain experience in growing, harvesting and milling grains into ingredients used to produce baked goods as well as animal and pet food. Industry partners will share job opportunities, career paths and income potential alongside K-State faculty and students. You’ll tour K-State’s feed and flour mills, bake labs and agronomy research farms, network with peers, and gain an appreciation for food and feed production.

The camp lasts 4 nights and cost includes lodging in K-State residence halls, meals and a Saturday brunch for up to two guests or family members, $15 for each additional guest.

  • Cost: $75 deposit per participant.
  • Camp Dates: July 16 – 20, 2024 at the K-State Manhattan Campus
  • Number of spots: 30

Register for this camp now!

New Leadership at the Home Baking Association

Posted on by Karen Blakeslee
yeast dough
Photo: Canva.com

As wheat harvest rolls across Kansas and surrounding states, it is a reminder that home baking is the result of the hard work of so many farmers each year.

The Home Baking Association (HBA) has been promoting baking at home for over 100 years. Congratulations to newly retired leaders, Sharon Davis and Charlene Patton, for their passion and leadership to this organization to educate and foster the practice of home baking.

The HBA is now under new leadership of Chris Kirby as Executive Director and Nicholas Beatty, Digital Marketing Manager. The HBA will be based in Oklahoma City, OK. Contact information can be found at https://www.homebaking.org/contact/.

February is Bake for Family Fun Month

Posted on by Karen Blakeslee

The Home Baking Association is once again promoting baking during the month of February.

Each week they have developed baking activities, recipes and opportunties to get the family together to bake. This can be a multi-generational activity with tasty treats to share.

This is the list of ideas for each week in February.

  • Week 1 – Let’s Get Started Baking
  • Week 2 – Bake for My Valentine
  • Week 3 – Baking History and Traditions
  • Week 4 – Baking for Others

 

Home Baking Association Baking Awards

Posted on by Karen Blakeslee

The Home Baking Association strives to promote baking at home for all ages. With that, they offer two awards each year for educators and youth to promote the educational activities related to baking.

For the Educator Award, submit a baking lesson or community service program or skills traing program. This award is open to professionals or adult and youth leaders and volunteers in the classroom and outside the classroom. See the details and how to enter at https://www.homebaking.org/educator-award/.

For the Bake to Give Maddie Kruse Youth Award, submit a one page description of how you shared baking in your community and made a difference. Provide pictures, videos, recipes and other materials that show an impact in your community. This award is for youth grades 7 through 12. See the details and how to enter at https://www.homebaking.org/youthaward/.

Deadline to enter is March 31, 2024.

Still Time to Bake to Give!

Posted on by Karen Blakeslee
holiday cookies
Happy Holidays!
Photo: Canva.com

The Home Baking Association encourages bakers of all all ages to share what you bake during the holidays!

A gift of home baked goodies is a thoughtful way to show someone you care at any occasion. It brings a smile and warms their hearts. So here are some reasons to bake to give:

  • Baked goods are cost effective. You can make a large batch of cookies and they can be divided into several gifts.
  • Customize the goodies to suit the recipient’s taste and preferences. Use their favorite colors, flavors and toppings!
  • Does there need to be a holiday? Not at all, just give to spread joy and bring people together.
  • The holidays are stressful enough, so it might not be the time to try new recipes. Stick to what you know for less stress and more success!
  • Add personal touches to the box or wrapping to add some sparkle!

Keep in mind these extra tips when baking to give:

  • Always practice safe food handling steps. Wash your hands before, during and after baking. Clean as you go to make final clean-up easier.
  • Consider dietary restrictions such as food allergens.
  • Don’t taste before you bake! Raw eggs and raw flour have been linked to foodborne illness outbreaks. Remember to wash your hands after handling raw dough and batter.
  • Consider transportation. Decortive tin boxes are sturdy to prevent damage. Maybe give the gift a baking pan with the baked good. Serving trays are great food cookies and can be wrapped in plastic wrap.

Learn more from the Home Baking Association.

Still Time to Bake Holiday Cookies!

Posted on by Karen Blakeslee
cookie
Photo: USDA ARS

There are thousands of cookie recipes in a variety of shapes, sizes, textures, and flavors.  During the holidays, cookies are a special treat and everyone has a favorite.  Let’s see how a traditional chocolate chip cookie can be altered for a different look.

Chocolate chip manufacturers have made special holiday shapes.  Simply replace the regular chips with these fancy chips.  Try adding some frosting and colored sprinkles for extra sparkle.

To change the texture and color, try these tips, one at a time, from the book CookWise by Shirley O. Corriher:

For More Spread

  • Use butter
  • Increase liquid 1-2 tablespoons
  • Increase sugar 1-2 tablespoons
  • Warm cold ingredients to room temperature, don’t refrigerate dough

For More Puff

  • Use shortening
  • Use cake flour
  • Reduce sugar a couple tablespoons
  • Use all baking powder
  • Use cold ingredients or refrigerate dough

For More Tenderness

  • Use cake flour

 

Baking Pie in Disposable Pans

Posted on by Karen Blakeslee

With county fairs gearing up soon, so are bakers to bake a prize-winning pie.  But getting the pie to bake properly in a disposable aluminum pan can be a challenge. Aluminum does not hold heat and bakes slowly.

Here are some tips to prevent soggy bottom crusts:

  • For blind baking, increase baking time up to 10 minutes or until golden brown.
  • For double-crust pies, place pie pan on a preheated baking sheet or baking stone.
  • For double-crust pies, set the pie inside a glass or stoneware pie pan for more heat transfer.

Another option is to shop garage sales for glass pie pans that you don’t want returned!

Source:  Cook’s Illustrated, July 2012

 

Home Baking Association Educator Award

Posted on by Karen Blakeslee

The Home Baking Association strives to promote baking at home. Baking can include the whole family and teach many fundamental skills.

Each year, an award is given to an educator who teaches baking skills to individuals, families and communities. The winner receives a $1,000 cash award and an all-expense paid trip for two to the Home Baking Association annual meeting to present an overview of their project.

Enter now! Entry deadlines in March 31, 2022. Learn more on the Home Baking Association website.

This award is open to any educator in the classroom, community or other organization as well as adult and youth leaders and volunteers.

 

Reference to any specific commercial products, process, service, manufacturer, or company does not constitute its endorsement or recommendation. Paid for by Kansas State University