Baking with less saturated fat...

Fats give baked goods the texture and flavor that we crave.  Melt-in your mouth pie crusts, tender, crispy, chewy cookies etc…  At the same time fats have high caloric impacts and fats that are typically used in baked goods are generally either hydrogenated and contain trans fat or have high levels of saturated fat, which can be harmful to our health. Saturated fats are found in animal products such as butter, lard...

Spiced Banana Pumpkin Muffins...

Do you have some spotty brown bananas and some leftover pumpkin puree?  I did this weekend and came up with the perfect solution–Spiced Banana Pumpkin muffins!  These muffins are a tasty treat on a cool fall afternoon and not too shabby in the health department either 3 ½ cups whole wheat all-purpose flour 2/3 cups rolled oats ½ cup oat bran 4 tsp. baking powder 2 tsp. baking soda ½ tsp. salt 4 tsp. cinnamon 2...

Pumpkin Walnut Loaf...

It’s that time of year again…..the leaves are bright with yellow, orange and red, there’s a chill in the air and pumpkins are in season!!  Thanksgiving is around the corner (in Canada literally 2 days away) and this Pumpkin Walnut Loaf is a great addition to a turkey feast or a perfect hostess gift.  The cake is moist, light, crunchy with walnuts and deeeeelicious!!  I got a great new pumpkin loaf...

Homemade Graham Crackers...

Well…..it seems as though the weather is suggesting that summer is coming to an end.  These next few weekends may be the last to enjoy some s’mores over a campfire….why not enjoy these s’mores with some homemade graham crackers and marshmallows?!  The marshmallow recipe can be found @ http://www.bonappetit.com/recipes/2008/07/homemade_marshmallows The homemade graham crackers were inspired...

Chocolate Brownie Cookie...

Mmmmm….some people love brownies, while others prefer cookies.  Why not combine them for an ultimate treat with a decadent chocolate brownie cookie?  Leaving these cookies at room temperature prior to baking gives them a tender meringue like crust that melts in your mouth.  A delicious blend of chocolate, crunch, and chewy brownie! Recipe inspired by: http://www.applepiepatispate.com/american/chocolate-brownie-cookies/ 3...

Fruit & Veggie Trail Mix Muffins...

Have a garden?  Love getting fresh produce from the farmer’s market?  Always looking for new ways to use up some veggies (or get them into your kid’s diet)?  Giant zucchini’s seems to be plentiful this year, and when they start growing it’s like they multiply overnight.  Here’s a great recipe that incorporates some garden fresh vegetables, fiber, and healthy fat – canola oil utilized in Coasun’s shortening...

Rocky Road, S’more Brownies...

Going to a bbq, picnic, family reunion?  These are the perfect summertime, campfire reminiscing brownies to take with you.  In fact I am doing all of the above (bbq, picnic, family reunion) this weekend and am happy to be taking this mix of a healthier (if that’s possible with these brownies….they are at the least lower in fat then their butter counterpart) version of Rocky Road/S’mores brownies.  Yes, I did...

“Skinny” Protein Oatmeal Raisin Bars...

These “skinny” oatmeal raisin bars were inspired by a health blogger www.carrotsncake.com.  I took the recipe and modified it to be further skinnyfied using Coasun’s shortening alternative, and added some extra protein so the bars would classify as a well balanced snack all by themselves.  Overall they were delicious and I devoured them over the course of the day- sharing of course! They aren’t too sweet and...

Defining Cakes and Fat Functionality...

CAKES There are 100’s and 100’s of variations of cakes.  They can be divided; sub-divided and further sub-divided by ingredients (fat, no fat, high-ratio, low-ratio), shapes (bunt, layer, sheet, cupcakes), purpose etc… a lot of time could be wasted trying to categorize these sweet treats that often are the center of attention at big events such as birthdays, weddings and anniversaries.  Bakery geeks like me even...

Rhubarb Coffee Cake...

Nothing screams the beginning of summer like fresh, tart rhubarb!  With the plentiful green leaves and long stalks taking over half of my grandparents garden, I decided to let some of the other garden goodies get some sun, cut down the rhubarb and put it to good use.  Starting with a rhubarb coffee cake, quick, easy and delicious….also a little healthier with Coasun’s shortening alternative! Here are the...

Fall/Oktoberfest inspired healthy German style app...

September is rolling by and apples are filling the trees.  With Oktoberfest right around the corner why not combine the two by making a healthy German style apple cake with Coasun SA! 1 cup Coasun SA 3/4 cup brown sugar 2 eggs 2 tsp. cinnamon 1/2 tsp. salt 1 tsp. vanilla extract 2 cups all purpose flour 1 tsp. baking soda 5 cups diced apples 1. Peel core and dice the apples 2. Measure all the ingredients except for...

Use Fresh Ontario Strawberries & Rhubarb in Co...

For those at home bakers that don’t have a scale….here’s a recipe for you!  Utilize Ontario’s fresh strawberries and rhubarb for this delicious cake to enjoy with vanilla frozen yogurt or coffee or tea 2 cups all purpose flour 1 cup rhubarb 1 cup strawberries 1 cup CoasunSA 2 cups white sugar 1 tsp. baking soda 2 tsp. cinnamon 1 egg 1 tsp. vanilla extract Add all ingredients except for the...

Effect of monoglyceride-stabilized oil in water em...

Brittany Huschka*a, Carolyn Challacombea, Jens Dreisoerner b, Koushik Seetharamana aDepartment of Food Science, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada bBrabender GmbH & Co. Duisburg, Germany Abstract The development of a monoacylglycerol-stabilized oil in water emulsion (MAG gel) is a recent advance in the development of alternate shortening that is free of trans fats.  However, the behaviour of MAG gels...

Butter, margarine, nutrition, and baking...

As a baking fat used as a shortening we believe butter has much to offer from nutritional and functional perspective. Baker’s margarine contain either high melting partially hydrogenated fats or palm oil, more correctly referred to as palm fat, to solidify margarine at room temperature. Unfortunately partially hydrogenated fats are loaded with artery clogging trans fats and palm oil is loaded with high levels...