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Jennifer Garner has been making headlines lately for her fake and relatable cooking show she does on Instagram called the “#PretendCookingShow”.

In her most recent video, she took some instructions from her cooking inspiration (and mine), Ina Gardner. The holiday episode, titled “Cook Like a Pro,” shows off her latest hack to softening butter and it’s absolutely genius.

Garner uploaded a video to Instagram of herself making Rose Beranbaum’s chocolate bread recipe from The Bread Bible. Garner had set out all the ingredients and tools the night before to ensure a sharp 5:30 a.m. baking session…but she forgot to soften the butter!

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This time of year it is extra cozy to send kids to school with something warm in their bellies. My kids feel extra cozy about @realbakingwithrose’s chocolate bread. This recipe isn’t crazy sweet and, with a good swish of peanut butter, is just the thing for my early rising middle schooler. You can find the full episode on IGTV. #PretendCookingShow #bangwentthecabinet #😡😩🤦🏻‍♀️wentmybrain #hurryupchristmas🤶🏻 . #TheBreadBible Chocolate Chocolate Chip Bread Ingredients: 3 Tbs plus 1/2 Tbs unsweetened cocoa powder 3 Tbs boiling water 1/2 Tbs pure vanilla extract 3 large eggs 1 1/2 cups sifted cake flour 3/4 cup plus 2 Tbs sugar 3/4 tsp baking powder 1/4 tsp salt 13 Tbs unsalted butter, softened 3 Tbs chocolate mini chips or bittersweet chocolate (chopped) . Directions: 1. Preheat oven to 350F. 2. Whisk cocoa and boiling water until smooth. Allow to cool to room temperature, then gently whisk in vanilla and eggs. 3. In a mixer bowl, combine cake flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Mix on low speed for 30 seconds to blend. Add half the chocolate paste and the butter and mix until dry ingredients are moistened. Increase speed to medium-high and beat for 1 minute to aerate and develop structure. Scrape down the sides of the bowl. Gradually add remaining chocolate paste in two batches, beating for 20 seconds after each addition to incorporate the ingredients and strengthen the structure. Scrape down the bowl. Fold in chocolate mini chips/chopped chocolate. 4. Scrape batter into prepared loaf pan and smooth the surface with a spatula. 5. Bake for 50-60 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center will read about 200F. (The bread shouldn’t start to shrink from the sides of the pan until after removal from the oven.) 6. Set the bread on a wire rack to cool for 10 minutes. Loosen the sides of the bread and invert onto an oiled wire rack. Reinvert so it is top side up and cool completely.

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Garner then did something I had never seen any chef do before…She grabbed the cheese grater and grated the remaining stick of butter like a block of cheese. She then tossed the butter chips into the mixing bowl. GENIUS.

With the holidays and Christmas cookie season in full swing, hacks like this will save you when you are stressed for time. Hopefully, we can get more episodes of Garner’s #PretendcookingShow soon.

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