Julia Myall - Christmas: Cook It in a Cup!

For my family, who taught me that memories start in a holiday kitchen. Heres to making fudge together.
J. M.

Text copyright 2014 by Julia Myall.
Photographs copyright 2014 by Chronicle Books LLC.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher.

Marshmallow Fluff is a registered trademark of Durkee-Mower Inc.

ISBN 978-1-4521-1891-8 (unbnd edition)
ISBN 978-1-4521-3034-7 (epub, mobi)

Book design by Kayla Ferriera.
Typeset in Stereopticon and Mr Eaves.

For ages 6 and up.

Chronicle Books LLC
680 Second Street
San Francisco, California 94107
www.chroniclekids.com

Welcome to Christmas Cook It in a Cup! Silicone cups are fun, theyre flexible, and theyre colorful. The best part? When it comes to baking, the options are endless: you can make gratins, whip up desserts, scramble an egg, and so much more. The recipes in Christmas Cook It in a Cup! are just the beginning of the many baking adventures you will have with your cups!

Silicone cups may look like cupcake holders, but they are a lot more versatile than that. You can bake, roast, microwave, and freeze with them. Plus, silicone is nonstick, so you dont have to grease them, and your recipes will still slide out easily. That means that you wont have to spend lots of time scrubbing them at the sink! Instead, cleanup goes quickly.

You can even turn your cups inside out (try it right now)! After baking, peel back their sides to remove the food, and then turn them inside out to wash them. The cups are easy to handle after cooking, too, because theyre cool to the touch within a few minutes of leaving the oven.

The recipes in Christmas Cook It in a Cup! are for breakfasts, main courses, side dishes, and desserts. Each recipe has a short list of ingredients, so prep time is quick. When its time to get everything ready for a holiday meal or party, you can make the breakfast, main course, or dessert for everybody at the table by using just your cups. And if you like giving holiday cookies to your friends, youll find some tasty options for those here, too!

In this cookbook, youll learn about traditional foods and Christmas celebrations around the world, such as shortbread, a holiday favorite in Scotland, and flan, a popular special-occasion custard in Mexico. As you make the treats in these pages, you will create new traditions for your own familys holiday celebrations.

So, tis the season for cooking with silicone cups. Start now by choosing a recipe that will get you into the holiday spirit, grab your six cups and your ingredients, and lets get cooking!

You are the proud owner of colorful, bendable, wonderful silicone cups. Here are a few tips to keep in mind when you use them.

WASH EM FIRST.

Wash and dry your cups before using them the first time.

BEWARE OF HOT STUFF.

Always use a hot pad or an oven mitt when handling cups that are just out of the oven. The edges of the cups may be cool, but the part with the food in it will still be hot. Be very careful! And dont forget about steam. All just-cooked food releases steam, so watch out for hot steam when youre turning food out of your cups. Finally, never remove hot food from the oven, microwave, or stove top without a parent or other adult on hand to help you.

STUCK IN THE CUP?

If something doesnt slide right out of the cup, give it more time to cool. Then, squeeze the base gently a few times in different spots, using an oven mitt if the cup is still hot to the touch. Now, try to release the food again. If squeezing doesnt help, slide a spoon or a butter knife between the edge of the cup and the food to help ease it out. Always ask a parent or other adult to assist you when you use a sharp knife or any sharp instrument.

CLEAN UP IN A FLASH!

Your cups are so easy to clean! You can give them a quick wash with a soapy sponge in the sink, or you can put them in the top rack of the dishwasher. Either way, they will be spotless in a snap!

Kitchen Safety

Youll see this symbol whenever a recipe step involves cutting with a sharp knife, using a kitchen appliance, or handling something hot. Thats when you must be especially careful. Ask for adult help whenever the step requires it, or whenever youre doing something thats new to you.

Also, when the ingredients list calls for something to be chopped, ask an adult for help, especially if the item is hard to cut or if you do not have much practice chopping. No matter what, always make sure an adult is around when youre cooking, so you can get help when you need it.

Pancups are the Christmas Cook It in a Cup! spin on pancakes, with an added twist: instead of being flat, theyre stuffed with sweetness! Youll savor every last crumb of these breakfast gifts!

INGREDIENTS FOR 6 PANCUPS:

• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup whole-wheat flour
• 1 tablespoon light brown sugar, plus more for sprinkling
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, plus more for sprinkling
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1/2 cup water
• 1 egg
• 3 tablespoons salted butter, melted, plus 3 tablespoons chilled, cut into 6 equal pieces, for topping
• 6 tablespoons jelly of choice

Preheat the oven to 350F.

In a medium bowl, sift together the all-purpose flour, whole-wheat flour, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt. Add the oats and stir to mix well.

. Add the sour cream, water, and egg to the flour mixture. Using a whisk or a fork, mix until all of the ingredients are well combined.

. Add the melted butter to the batter and mix until the mixture is smooth and lump-free.

. Place the cups on a baking sheet. Spoon the batter into the cups, filling each cup three-fourths full.

. Add 1 tablespoon of the jelly to the center of each cup. Using a small spatula or spoon, carefully fold the batter over the jelly to cover it completely.

. Bake the pancups for about 15 minutes, or until the tops are light brown.