Five Simple Recipes to Use All the Flour You Have

These recipes are from more experienced bakers and chefs than I. They were chosen for their simplicity, minimal ingredients, and overall time.

Make banana bread

We are all at home and likely have some overripe bananas lying around. It’s time for us to use them instead of throwing them away.

It has been rated over a thousand times, so you can be sure it has made some happy. This recipe will make 10 servings and takes approximately 1 hour 15 minutes to prepare.

You’ll need:

• 3 ripe bananas, mashed
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 egg
• 1/4 cup melted butter
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 165° Celsius Grease a loaf pan 9×5 inches.
2. Combine butter, sugar, eggs, and egg in a large bowl. In a separate bowl, combine flour and baking soda. Stir into the banana mixture until just combined. Add salt to the batter. Place the batter in the prepared loaf pan.
3. Bake the bread in the oven for 1 hour or until a toothpick is inserted into the middle and comes out clean.

Pancakes to get you up in the morning

Banana bread can be too complicated if you make it often. Pancake mixes can be the easiest thing to do with flour. Here’s a simple recipe to get you started.

It will provide you with a thinner crepe type that’s more common in Europe than in the United States.

You’ll need:

• 100g plain flour
• 2 large eggs
• 300ml milk
• One tablespoon sunflower oil or vegetable oil plus a little bit for frying. (Oil can be substituted with butter).
• Lemon wedges to be served (optional).
• To serve, caster sugar (optional).
• Maple syrup, to be served (optional).

How to do it:

1. Mix 100g plain flour with 2 large eggs, 300ml milk, 1 tablespoon sunflower or vegetable oil, and a pinch of salt in a large bowl or large jug. Whisk to form a smooth batter.
2. Take 30 minutes to relax or get started immediately if you have the time.
3. Place a medium-sized crepe or frying pan on medium heat. Wipe it with some oily kitchen paper.
4. Once the pancakes are hot, heat them for about 1 minute per side until they turn golden brown. Keep them warm in an oven at a low temperature.
5. After the pancakes are cool, place them on baking parchment. Serve with lemon wedges, caster sugar, or any filling you prefer. Wrap in cling wrap and freeze for up 2 months.

Make your pasta

While making your pasta may seem like a romantic idea, it is not something you should do. This recipe takes just 20 minutes to make and less than 1.5 hours to cook. This isn’t too difficult for fresh pasta.

You’ll need:

• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup (125g), plain flour
• 1 to 2 tablespoons of water

The method:

1. Combine flour and salt in a medium bowl. Mix the flour and salt in a bowl. Add the slightly beaten eggs to the flour and stir. The mixture should be stiff. Add 1 to 2 tablespoons of water if necessary. Cover the dough with cling wrap, and allow it to rest for one hour.
2. Knead the dough on a lightly floured surface for 3-4 minutes until it is smooth and elastic. Use a pasta machine to make the dough, or you can roll it out by hand. You can use the machine or a knife to cut strips of the desired width.
3. Make fresh pasta at home in plenty of boiling, lightly salted water. Use a wooden spoon to stir the pasta gently and bring it back to a boil. When the pasta is cooked, it will rise to its surface. It is easier to drain the pasta in a colander than cook dry pasta.

It’s time to eat cookies.

Comfort eating is a great way to cope with distressing times. Cookies are a common choice for many people. This Bigger Bolder Baker recipe will make shortbread cookies in less than 30 minutes. That sounds amazing!

Ingredients:

• 1 cup (240g), butter, room temperature
• 1/2 cup (60g) icing sugar, sifted
• 2 cups (300g), all-purpose flour

Method:

• Pre-heat the oven to 180C. Line a baking tray using parchment paper.
• Mix the sugar and soft butter in a large bowl until light and fluffy.
• Mix in the flour until the dough comes together.
• Place the dough on a work surface and dust it with icing sugar. Roll the dough into a log about two inches by two inches.
• Wrap the cookie dough log in plastic wrap, and let it set in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
• After the dough has firmed, cut the cookies into rounds of 3/4 inch thickness, bake each round for 16-18 minutes, or until they are golden.
• Let cool down before moving to a cooling rack.
• After cooling, cookies can be kept in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

Make some empanadas

Although flour is great for sweet snacks, it should also make savory treats. An empanada is South America’s answer for the calzone or meat pie. It is a tasty pocket of flavor that can be filled with everything from cheese and minced beef to dulce de leche (caramel) to fill it.

There are many regional variations, but this recipe by Laylita’s recipes is simple and quick. It meets all our needs.

Ingredients required:

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon to 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 170 unsalted butter
• 1 egg
• 1/4 to 1/2 cup water or milk. Adjust as necessary to make a soft, smooth dough.

The method:

1. In a food processor, combine flour and salt.
2. Add the butter to the pulse.
3. Continue to pulse until you get a clumpy dough.
4. Make the empanada dough at home by following the same steps but using your hands to combine the ingredients.
5. Divide the dough into two large balls and flatten them into disks. You can either use the dough immediately or refrigerate it until you are ready to use it (usually 1-2 days).
6. For empanadas, roll out the dough and cut it into thin sheets. You can also make individual balls from the dough and then roll them out to form round shapes.
7. Use immediately or keep in the fridge/freezer for later use.