For beer, I used Waterloo Dark, made by our local Brick Brewery. I have found that the Brick Brewery beers work well for me and as I mentioned before, I use products that are grown or made locally as much as possible.

So – you can get creative – just bake the cake and enjoy!

Ingredients:

• 2 cups of flour
• 3/4 cup of unsweetened cocoa
• 1 teaspoon of baking soda
• 3/4 cups of unsalted butter
• 1 cup of brown sugar
• 1/2 cup of granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla
• 3 eggs
• 1 cup of beer (preferably dark)

Directions:

1. As always – I recommend getting all ingredients ready – it really does make the preparation easier and you will not miss anything!

2. Preheat over to 350F and prepare your baking pan. I used 10 x 10 pan but 9×13 will work just as well. Spray with a non-stick baking spray or grease and flour to make sure cake doesn’t stick. I used the spray – chocolate cakes have a tendency to pick up some of the flour used for dusting the pan and then they don’t look so nice)

3. Combine flour, cocoa and baking soda in a medium size bowl. The one thing to watch here for is that the cocoa is completely powdered – little pieces can stick together so take care and mix this well.

4. Beat butter, brown sugar and granulated sugar with electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy. Then beat in the vanilla. Add eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition.

5.Pour batter into prepared pan and bake at 350F for 35 – 40 minutes or until toothpick inserted in the centre comes out clean.

6. cool for a few minutes and then remove from baking pan by turning it upside down onto a board or a tray.

7. I sliced my cake in a half and filled it with thinly sliced bananas

8. Icing with was easy for me, since I had some cream cheese icing left over in a fridge. You can use white icing, whipping cream or any other icing you like to use for a chocolate cake. If you need a recipe for great icing, try this one:

Rich Butter  Icing Recipe

I usually decorate my cake more elaborately – this time, I just used a fork to create a bit of a lattice effect.

Hope you try this recipe – and please send me your comments and pictures if you at all can – your input is very welcomed and much appreciated!

]]> http://www.mama-knows.com/recipes/chocolate-beer-cake-recipe.html/feed 0 http://www.mama-knows.com/featured-articles/great-valentines-day-recipes.html http://www.mama-knows.com/featured-articles/great-valentines-day-recipes.html#comments Wed, 25 Jan 2012 20:30:08 +0000 Hanna Trafford http://www.mama-knows.com/?p=6798 Making that special meal on Valentines Day is sometimes the best gift you can give. Whether you choose breakfast, lunch or dinner, planning what you will serve is important.

I have put together a list of recipes suitable for what you choose to do – just click on the link or the picture to get the complete ingredients and instructions. Enjoy!

Special Valentines Day Breakfast

Romantic Valentines Day Dinner

Valentines Day Sweets

If you like these recipes, make sure you download my FREE Mama Knows Valentines Day ebook! You will find more recipes, plus crafts and other great ideas for this year’s day of love

]]> http://www.mama-knows.com/featured-articles/great-valentines-day-recipes.html/feed 0 http://www.mama-knows.com/featured-articles/easy-way-to-make-great-butter-tarts.html http://www.mama-knows.com/featured-articles/easy-way-to-make-great-butter-tarts.html#comments Fri, 13 Jan 2012 19:07:49 +0000 Hanna Trafford http://www.mama-knows.com/?p=6750

You can easily make butter tarts like these! Click on the picture and check out my pre-packaged products. So easy, you won't believe it!

I have a story to tell you:  Some of you are already familiar with the Mama Knows product line. Good old fashioned recipes that I have personally transformed into a ready to mix and make goodies.

One of the products are The Best Ever Butter Tarts. And much to my delight, my adopted grandson ventured into his mom’s kitchen and started baking. Using my pre-measured butter tart ingredients package, he got to work. Now – it is important for you to know that he is 12 years old and I will not even mention the fact that boys are not always the ones who would be most inclined to roll up their sleeves and get into the kitchen. I am delighted that he did it – big hugs and special rewards are sure to be coming his way from grandma Hanna!

Here are pictures of his kitchen adventure :

My 12-year old adopted grandson getting ready to use my Best Ever Butter Tarts in a jar

Was he going to have fun baking? You bet!

Little bit of mixing..... - nice to see the concentration of doing it right!

I think maybe mom was doing a bit of teasing from behind....

Check the oven.... time to put the creations in

And ready to go in! He is having so much fun baking - it's awesome!

Total success! They turned out perfect and I am not sure how many he consumed by himself - but knowing him, I am sure he shared...

You will find all my carefully selected and personally developed products in

Mama Knows Online Store

Hope you will visit and check out these special products – use them yourself or remember that  they will make a great gift as well anytime!

Definitely on the top of the "Comfort Foods" list - try the recipe today!

It is now almost two years ago that I first posted the Homemade Beef Stew Recipe. Comments have been pretty unanimous – “Just like grandma used to make!” And that makes me very proud – my own grandma taught me to cook and bake and I will always be grateful for that.

This recipe is perfect for this time of year – I would most definitely place it at the top of the “Comfort foods” list. Add homemade biscuits or freshly baked bread – and you have a winner!

Here are the recipes – enjoy and please continue sending me your comments and experiences!

Great Homemade Beef Stew

Click on the picture to get the recipe and step by step directions, complete with photos

Prize Winning Tea Biscuits

These tea biscuits will go great with your Homemade Beef Stew! Easy to make and they always turn out

 Homemade White Bread

Making your very own,m delicious homemade bread is not as difficult as you may think - try this recipe and directions - it will go great with the Beef Stew!

]]> http://www.mama-knows.com/recipes/great-homemade-beef-stew-recipe.html/feed 0 http://www.mama-knows.com/featured-articles/all-about-special-christmas-gifts.html http://www.mama-knows.com/featured-articles/all-about-special-christmas-gifts.html#comments Wed, 07 Dec 2011 15:51:22 +0000 Hanna Trafford http://www.mama-knows.com/?p=6635 As you can imagine, I have always been the one to make as many special Christmas gifts as time and energy would allow. My boys had shelves full of sweaters, hats, scarfs, handmade blankets in every room…. and eventually the rest of my family did as well. It really was time to start coming up with new and different things to create. So for the last couple of years, I have been making special gift baskets and gift boxes, creating unique sweaters for puppies (some with matching scarfs for mommies) and this year, I added my good old-fashioned recipes,pre-packaged nicely in jars or gift bags. And then – with some help from my son – the Mama-Knows online store was born.

Let me tell you a little bit about some of the products.

First - The Recipes in a Jar – it is a group of products that I am very proud of. Mainly because I am so very comfortable that everyone will love them. I have been told many, many times that I make wicked Chili, the best ever Butter tarts, very popular and frequently sought after Chocolate Chip Cookies, great Soups and even my two and half year old grandson checks with me every single time if I am bringing him Muffins.

Each one of these products is now packaged either in a glass jar or a nice gift bag, with a folder that includes the recipe and step-by-step directions. And you can check out all the products in the Mama Knows Online Store

Mama Knows Good Old Fashioned Chili - this jar contains 5 different kinds of beans and my very own premised spices and seasonings. It will make over 20 servings and is great to freeze.

Good Old Fashioned Chili in a Bag - same content as in the jar and of course - every product comes with a special folder with recipe and step by step directions

I have also created Gift Baskets – from the ones filled with cookies and chocolates, to one for the person that likes to bake (that one has a gift bag with my very own Chocolate Chip Cookies mix included) to a special one for the dog lover and another one for the Pasta Lover

Hope this give you a few ideas as to how you can make your very own special Christmas Gifts – and if you want to make it easy on yourself – you can just visit my online store and buy them from me!

For the baker on your list - festive cookie container filled with Betty Crocker utensils and my very own Chocolate Chip Cookie mix

For the Dog Lover - Ceramic food dish, filled with doggie goodies, including a frisbee and treats.

Perfect for you to share with others - whether they are your co-workers or employees or friends. Pretty festive red bowl filled with selections of cookies. chocolates. herbal teas, hot chocolate and candies

Great selection of items that will delight pasta lover on your list - all packaged in a white colander and of course - beautifully wrapped

There is a whole lot more items in the Mama-Knows online store – check them out today!

Cranberry Upside Down Cake:

Ingredients:

• 8 tablespoons of unsalted butter at room temperature
• 1 cup of sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon of allspice
• 1-3/4 – 2 cups of cranberries
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
• 1-1/4 cups of flour
• 1-1/2 teaspoons of baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon of salt
• 1/2 cup of milk

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350F with rack in the centre
2. Rub the bottom and sides of an 8-inch round cake pan with about 2 tablespoons of butter
3. In a small bowl, whisk together 1/2 cup of sugar with cinnamon and allspice
4. Sprinkle the mixture evenly over bottom of pan
5. Arrange cranberries in a single layer on top
6. With an electric mixer, cream remaining 6 tablespoons of butter and 1/2 cup of sugar until light and fluffy
7. Add egg and vanilla, beat until well combined
8. In another bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and salt
9. With mixer on low speed, add flour mixture to butter mixture in three batches, alternating with milk, until well combined
10. Spoon batter over cranberries in pan and smooth top
11. Place pan on a baking sheet and bake cake until toothpick inserted into the centre comes out clean – 30-35 minutes
12. Cool on a wire rack for about 20 minutes
13. Run a knife around the edge and invert the cake onto a rimmed platter

Hope you will enjoy this recipe – please send me your comments anytime – your input is very welcomed and much appreciated!

Apple Raisin Bread Pudding:

Ingredients:

• 6 tablespoons of unsalted butter (4 melted, 2 cold, plus a bit more, softened for baking dish
• 5 cups of milk
• 6 large eggs
• 1-12/ cups of sugar
• 1 tablespoon of vanilla extract
• 6 tablespoons of grated orange zest
• 2 teaspoons of ground cinnamon
• About 1 lb. of bread, day old buns of baguette, torn into small pieces
• 2-3 apples, peeled, cored and thinly sliced
• 1/2 cup of raisins

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350F
2. Butter a 9 x 13 baking dish
3. In a large bowl, whisk together milk,. eggs, sugar, vanilla, orange zest, cinnamon and add bread
4. Cover with plastic wrap and weigh down with another bowl
5. Let stand until bread is soaked through – about 20 minutes
6. Fold in apples, raisins and 4 tablespoons of melted butter
7. Pour into prepared baking dish
8. Dot top of the bread pudding with the remaining 2 tablespoons of cold butter
9. Bake until pudding is set and lightly brown on top – about 50 minutes to 1 hour.
10. Serve warm and it is great when you add vanilla ice cream or fresh whipping cream

Hope you will enjoy this recipe – please send me your comments, suggestions and experiences, your input is always welcomed and very much appreciated!

Here is the recipe:

Old Fashioned Butter Cookies:

Ingredients:

• 3 cups of flour
• 1 cup of confectioner’s sugar
• 1 cup of col unsalted butter, cut into cubes
• ½ teaspoon of salt
• 4 large egg yolks
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
• Optional:
• Egg wash: 1 large egg white beaten with 2 teaspoons of water
• Decorating sugar and sprinkles

Directions:

1. Place flour, sugar, butter and salt in a bowl of a food processor and process until mixture is the texture of course oatmeal. If you don’t have a food processor, you can do this with a fork
2. In a small bowl, lightly beat egg yolks and vanilla and with motor running, add to food processor. If you are not using food processor, using electric mixer on a low speed will do the job as well.
3. Process until dough forms
4. Making cut out Sugar Cookies
5. Divide dough in a half and form into two ½ inch thick discs
6. Wrap in plastic wrap and chill until firm – about 1 hour
7. Preheat oven to 350F
8. On a piece of floured waxed paper, roll out one disc to a 3/16 inch thickness and chill again
9. Repeat with the remaining dough
10. Flouring cutters ads you are working along, cut dough into desired shapes and carefully transfer to baking sheets
11. Re-chill rolled out dough it if gets difficult to work with
12. If you plan to decorate your cookies, brush them with the egg wash and sprinkle with sugar or decorative sprinkles
13. Bake cookies until edges are firm – not brown – 15-20 minutes
14. Cool for couple of minutes on the baking sheets and cool completely on a rack

Incredibly delicious Cinnamon Loaf - fresh and warm, straight from the oven - talk about comfort food!

I am very happy to share this recipe with all of you – as my new friend Selina Joyce from Alberta, Canada shared it with me. Joyce enjoys visiting my website and was kind enough to take some time to send me a personal note,letting me know how much she enjoys what I do and telling me her story. I very quickly discovered that we have a lot in common – especially when it comes to creating special family moments and future heirlooms. Very much like Joyce, I have also created personal cookbooks – full of handwritten recipes and stories attached to them and gave them to my sons. Some of the recipes had to be literally re-created, since both my grandma and my mom cooked as you would say “from their heads” and I have learned to do the same. Joyce sent me this Cinnamon Loaf Recipe – it comes from her grandmother, who used to make it for her when she was a little girl. Grandma passed away at a beautiful age of 105-1/2 and I totally understand why this recipe became so special – the Cinnamon Loaf is not only delicious beyond belief – it also fills the house with incredibly comforting aroma of cinnamon and vanilla.

Thanks you Joyce – and we are all looking forward to more recipes from you!

Old Fashioned Cinnamon Loaf:

Ingredients:

• ¼ Cup of Shortening or Butter (I used butter)
• 1 Cup of Sugar
• 2 Cups of Flour
• 2 Eggs
• 1 Teaspoon of Baking Powder
• ½ Teaspoon of Baking Soda
• 1 Teaspoon of Vanilla
• 1 Teaspoon of  Salt
• 1 Cup Sour Milk (To sour fresh milk, just add a  tablespoon of vinegar or lemon juice)
• 3.4 cups of raisins (optional)
• Vanilla Sugar (optional)

As I always say - it is a great idea to prepare all your needed ingredients first - it really makes cooking or baking much easier - and you won't forget to add a thing!

Cream sugar and butter first, then add eggs and beat until fluffy - it only takes a few minutes

Mix your dry ingredients together in a separate bowl, then add them alternately with milk to creamed butter and sugar.

Mix until thoroughly blended.

Adding mixed dry ingredients alternatively with milk - I used wooden spoon, since I didn't want my raisins to get chopped up by electric mixer

Put half of the mixture into loaf pan that you have greased with butter and lightly floured to prevent sticking.

Sprinkle about 1/2 the topping over the batter.

I chose to use half of the cinnamon/brown sugar mix after putting the batter into baking pan and the other half on the top - you can do it either way

Add rest of the mixture on top and swirl through with a spoon or a butter knife.

Sprinkle with vanilla sugar if desired

I used glass loaf pan to be able to take picture showing the cinnamon mixture half way in the batter

Alternatively, you can put all the cinnamon.brown sugar in after the first half of batter, top with remaining batter and swirl with a spoon of butter knife. I chose to create a bit of a cinnamon.vanilla crust, that is why I topped the loaf with remaining topping.

Putting some of the cinnamon.brown sugar mix on top and adding vanilla sugar will create a delicious crust - but you can put all the mixture after first layer of batter and then just swirl with a spoon or a butter knife.

Bake at 350 F for about 1 hour or until a toothpick inserted into the centre comes out clean.

In the oven - let the baking begin and let that wonderful aroma fill the house!

Cool for about 10-15 minutes in the pan, then invert onto a rack and cool

This is now definitely one of my favourite recipes!

This Cinnamon Loaf tastes incredible – especially when you serve it still warm !

Hope you enjoy this recipe and thank you again Joyce! I will be happy to post your recipe, please send me your favourites – your input is very welcomed and much appreciated!

Cranberry Walnut Bread

• 2 tablespoons of butter – room temperature
• 2 cups of flour
• 1-1/2 teaspoon of baking powder
• ½ teaspoon of baking soda
• ½ teaspoon of salt
• 1 cup of sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon of orange zest
• 1 cup of fresh orange juice
• 1 cup of fresh cranberries
• 1 cup of chopped walnuts

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 325F
2. Butter and flour 8-1/2 x 4-1/2 inch loaf pan
3. In a medium bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt and set aside
4. With an electric mixer, cream butter and sugar on medium speed until creamed
5. Add egg and beat well
6. Gradually add flour mixture, mixing until combined – dough will appear dry
7. Reduce speed to low, add orange zest and orange juice
8. Fold in cranberries and walnuts
9. Spread batter in prepared pan and smooth top evenly
10. Bake until toothpick inserted into the centre comes out clean – 50 minutes to 1 hour – tent with foil if the top is browning too quickly
11. Cool in pan for 10 minutes then invert onto a wire rack
12. Cool completely before slicing