Old Favorites & New Creations: Baking to Use Up Ingredients & Cut Waste!

Welcome to my kitchen! In today's video, I'm tackling the challenge of turning ingredients I already have on hand into delicious, no-waste meals and treats. It's a fun and creative way to minimize food waste while making the most of what's already in your pantry and fridge. Here's what I've made: Homemade Gnocchi – I start by transforming leftover mashed potatoes into soft, pillowy gnocchi. This simple recipe is a perfect way to repurpose mashed potatoes into a whole new dish that's both comforting and satisfying. Granola Bars – I decided to try making homemade granola bars for the first time, and let me tell you, they were a hit! These bars are now a staple in our house—so easy to make, packed with flavor, and the perfect snack. We’ve already finished this batch and made another! Trust me, you’ll want to try these. Vanilla Tea Cake – For a light and indulgent dessert, I baked a vanilla tea cake. It's perfectly moist and bursting with flavor, making it a great option for any occasion or just a cozy treat with your afternoon tea. Hot Chocolate Cookies – Last but certainly not least, I whipped up some rich and chewy hot chocolate cookies. These cookies are the ultimate indulgence, with that extra gooeyness that makes them irresistibly delicious. They’re the perfect way to satisfy your sweet tooth! Join me as I walk you through each of these recipes, showing you how easy it is to reduce food waste and make tasty dishes everyone will love. Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more easy cooking ideas and delicious recipes! Fresh Gnocchi: 1 lb. russet potatoes 1 egg, beaten lightly ½-¾ cup flour (plus more for dusting) 1 tsp kosher salt Bake potatoes at 375°F for 50 minutes or until tender when pierced with a knife. Remove from the oven and cool just enough to handle but the potatoes should still be warm. Peel potatoes and put them through a potato ricer. Sprinkle in half of the flour and make a well in the center of the bowl. Add the egg and salt. Fold mixture, adding more flour if needed. Texture should be like Play-Doh. Gently knead the mixture by hand a few times and form into a ball. On a floured surface, roll dough into long logs about ½”- ¾” in diameter. Cut the logs into 1” pieces. Cook the gnocchi in a large pot of salted, boiling water. This may need to be done in batches to not crowd the pot. The gnocchi will float to the top when they are cooked – approximately 2-3 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and place them into an ice bath. Continue until all the gnocchi have been cooked. Drain the gnocchi from the water and lightly toss in oil. Set aside until ready to serve. Chocolate Chip Granola Bars: https://www.instagram.com/reel/C_CH6TqPA7O/?igsh=YmIwNHozNmdzNnZ4 2 cups rolled oats 1 cup rice cereal 1-2 tbsp ground flaxseed ¾ cup peanut butter ½ cup honey 1 tsp vanilla 1 cup mini chocolate chips Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. The size will determine how thick your granola bars will be. In a small saucepan, melt peanut butter and honey together. Stir continuously until it is creamy and smooth. Remove from the heat and add in vanilla. Set aside. In a large bowl, mix together rice cereal, oats and ground flaxseed. Pour the peanut butter mixture over the cereal and gently fold to coat everything. Add in ⅔ of the chocolate chips. Once the peanut butter mixture is fully incorporated, pour onto a lined baking sheet and press firmly down. Sprinkle the remaining chocolate chips and place the baking sheet in the fridge to set for 2-3 hours. Cut into bars and store in an airtight container. They can be left at room temperature. Vanilla Tea Cake: 4 chamomile tea bags 1 cup hot water 6 eggs 2½ cups sugar 1 tsp baking powder ¾ tsp baking soda 1 (3.25 oz) pkg instant vanilla pudding 1 tbsp lemon juice ¾ cup oil 1 tbsp vanilla extract 3 cups flour Pour hot water over the tea bags and allow to steep. Set aside until the tea is lukewarm. Preheat oven to 350°F. Using a mixer, beat the eggs with the sugar until the color is very pale yellow, almost white. While mixing, slowly add the rest of the ingredients, one at a time, including the lukewarm tea. Mix until combined; do not over-mix. Generously grease a Bundt pan. Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Bake for about 1 hour, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow to cool, and sprinkle with confectioners sugar. Hot Chocolate Cookies: https://www.lovefromtheoven.com/hot-chocolate-cookies/#wprm-recipe-container-35870 Dehydrated Marshmallows: https://www.cravethegood.com/how-to-dehydrate-marshmallows/#mv-creation-255-jtr