Super Easy White Bread

I'm not sure if I am crazy or what, but this last time I went grocery shopping, I decided that I wasn't going to buy bread (I know, crazy right?). So I did some searching on the good ol' internet and found this recipe. This was the first time I had made it and I am happy to say that it turned out and also tasted good. So here is the recipe so that you can try it. I am also happy to say that I didn't have to go to the store to buy anything, I all ready had the ingredients on hand, so it didn't really cost anything to make!

White Bread

(For sandwiches)

2 cups warm water

2/3 cup sugar

1 ½ TBSP. yeast

1 ½ tsp. salt

¼ cup vegetable oil

6 cups bread flour

In bowl of stand mixer, add water and sugar. Let dissolve, then sprinkle with yeast and stir with fork. Let yeast mixture sit for 5 minutes or until the yeast starts to foam.

Add salt and oil to yeast mixture.  Attach dough hook and slowly add in flour 1cup at a time.  Knead with dough hook for 2 minutes or until the dough looks smooth.  Place in a well oiled bowl and cover with a wet cloth or a piece of plastic wrap sprayed with cooking spray. Let raise for 1 hour, or until doubled.

Punch down dough, and knead for 2 minutes and divided dough in half. Place in well oiled 5x9 bread pans. Rise until dough rises 1” above the pan. (I had to wait about another hour)

Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Cool in the pans for 10 minutes, and then remove. Let cool 20 -30 minutes before slicing (If you can wait!!).

A Birthday Dinner or Breakfast

 Yesterday was my baby's birthday, only he isn't a baby anymore, he turned 5! On my kids' birthday, they get to choose their favorite meal for me to fix. And Sammy chose breakfast. At first he wanted waffles, but then decided that he liked German Pancakes better. Well, this also happens to be my 7 year old's favorite meal as well, so I thought that maybe I should share since the 2 pickiest eaters in my house love these. I was thinking it was just the syrup, but who knows.

German Pancakes

¼ c. butter                                                        1/3 c. sugar

1 1/2 c. milk                                                         3 eggs

¾ c. flour (unsifted)                                          ¼ tsp. salt

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Put butter in 9 inch pie plate (or 8x8 square pan), and put in preheated oven until butter melts and is bubbling and golden (about 5 min).  Add the rest of the ingredients in a blender or food processor. Mix on medium speed until smooth. Remove pan from oven and immediately pour in mixture all at once. Return to oven and bake for 20 min at 450. After 20 min, lower heat to 350, and bake for 8-10 minutes more until edges are puffed and browned. A well will form in the middle.

Enjoy with maple syrup and powdered sugar!

What's For Dinner Tonight?

So, the hub-ster is out of town and I wasn't in the mood to make a fancy dinner. But I wanted some good comfort food. So I think...I got plenty of pasta and plenty of cheese. Well, you guessed it...Homemade Mac & Cheese. SO YUMMY!

 Homemade Mac and Cheese

¼ cup butter

¼ cup flour

1 cup chicken broth

3 cups milk (about, you may need more or less depending on

 how thick you like your sauce)

2-3 cups grated, sharp cheddar cheese

1 cup grated, Swiss or Gruyere cheese

½ tsp. ground mustard powder

¼ tsp. nutmeg

1 tsp. salt

½ tsp. white pepper

1 tsp. chives

½ tsp. tarragon

½ tsp. thyme

1 box elbow macaroni, cooked al dente in chicken broth

In a medium saucepan, melt butter and add flour. Add mustard and nutmeg and let cook for 3 minutes. Whisk in chicken broth and milk; whisk until smooth and thickened. Then add salt, pepper, mustard powder, chives, tarragon, and thyme, let cook for another 1-2 minutes. Then add cheeses, slowly. Make sure the sauce is NOT boiling when you add the cheese or it will lump up and not be good. (Make sure you taste everything together to be sure it has enough seasoning) Add in the cooked macaroni noodles and stir to coat. Then pour mixture into a buttered casserole dish or 9x13 pan. Cook at 350 degrees for 20-30 minutes.

*you can also add a breadcrumb topping to add a little extra flavor and crunch. I use about

 ¾ cup seasoned breadcrumbs, 3 TBSP. grated parmesan cheese and 3TBSP. olive oil. Stir together and sprinkle on top of Mac and cheese.

{I will totally admit that I didn’t have chicken broth and used water and chicken bouillon cubes. I also was totally out of breadcrumbs and I used a little extra cheese to top off the dish and baked it until the cheese has melted and the sides were bubbly.}

CHICKEN TAQUITOS

I made these last night for dinner, and they were a winner with my family!! I was totally shocked, because I have 2 really picky eaters. One of my boys can make himself throw up sick if he even thinks he is eating something weird (by his standards). The other morning, I teasingly told him I put raisins in his chocolate chip pancakes, and he wouldn't eat them and was gagging. GEEZ!! So, needless to say even Mr. Uber picky ate these. :)

Chicken Taquitos

1 ½-2 cups shredded chicken

1 8oz. package 1/3 less fat cream cheese, softened

2/3 c. salsa Verde

½ tsp. garlic powder

½ tsp. onion powder

1 c. grated cheese, any

16 count package fajita sized tortillas

Olive oil spray or regular old Olive oil

Kosher salt

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.  In a medium bowl, mix together the first 6 ingredients.  Take a tortilla and place 2 or 3 heaping tablespoonful of mixture                 and place off set on tortilla and roll tightly. Place on a foil lined baking sheet. Spray with Olive oil spray or brush lightly with Olive oil, then sprinkle with kosher salt.  Bake for 15-25 minutes or until the edges are a golden brown.

*We used a ranch dipping sauce for these, but they are good by themselves or would even be good dipped in more Salsa Verde or just regular salsa.

Multi-Grain Bread

Ok, I know it is late, but as promised, here is the bread recipe. 

Multigrain Bread

Ingredients:

1 ¼ cup 5-10 grain hot cereal mix

2 ½ cups boiling water

3 cups all-purpose flour (not bread flour)

1 ½ cups whole wheat flour

¼ cup honey

4 tbsp. butter, melted and cooled

2 ½ tsp. rapid rise yeast

1 tbsp. salt

Directions:

Place cereal mix in bowl of stand mixer fitted with dough hook and pour boiling water over it; let stand, stirring occasionally, until mixture cools and resembles porridge, about 1 hour. Whisk flours together in a separate bowl.

Once grain mixture has cooled, add honey, butter, and yeast and mix on low speed until combined. Add salt and flour mixture ½ cup at a time until all is incorporated and dough comes away from the sides.  Knead dough for 5 minutes. Transfer to a lightly greased bowl and let raise for 45-60 minutes, or until nearly doubled.

Grease two 9x5 loaf pans. Transfer dough to lightly floured surface and cut dough into 2 equal parts. Roll in to oblong loafs. Lightly sprinkle oats on surface and roll dough over them to cover.  Place loaves in pans and let raise again for 30-40 minutes.

While dough is raising, preheat oven to 375 degrees and place oven rack in the middle of the oven. Bake loaves for 35-40 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool in pans for 5 minutes and then remove to let cool to room temp. {if you can wait that long!}

Extras:

*you can also add ¼ cup unsalted pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds to mixture, but add just before you knead the dough for 5 minutes.

Storage:

**You can store this bread for 3 days at room temp or for 1 month In the freezer. Just make sure you wrap in plastic wrap and then foil for the freezer; just plastic for room temp.

Are you impressed that I even got a picture up too?!? Me and S had some serious coloring to do today, so sorry this is posted way later than I had planned.

Super Yummy Desserts

I have to share these yummy desserts with you! I made these for Super Bowl and they were the first things to go!

Light and Fluffy Chocolate Cookies

1 (8oz.) package cream cheese, softened

1 stick of butter, softened

1 egg

1 tsp. vanilla

1 (18 oz.) package moist chocolate cake mix

Powdered sugar, for dusting

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, cream together butter and cream cheese. Add egg and vanilla, mix well. Then add the cake mix, and mix thoroughly. Cover and refrigerate 2 hours. Then roll into tablespoon sized balls and roll in powdered sugar. Place on cookie sheet and bake for 12 minutes. Cool completely before eating…If you can!!

 Lunch Lady Peanut Butter Bars

1 ½ c. peanut butter

1 ½ cup butter, softened

1 c. sugar

1 ¾ c. brown sugar

3 eggs

1 tsp vanilla

1 ½ tsp. baking soda

¼ tsp. salt

2 ¼  c.  flour

3 ½ c. rolled oats

In a stand mixer, cream together butter, sugar and brown sugar.  Add peanut butter, eggs and vanilla, mix well. Add all dry ingredients until well combined. Lightly grease 2 jelly roll pans and spread dough evenly between both pans. (It’s ok if it looks a little thin, they will cook up and be fluffy). Bake at 375 degrees for 15 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool for 5 minutes and spread with a layer of peanut butter. Let cool completely, then frost with your favorite chocolate frosting.

Quick and Easy Dinner

Asparagus and Tomato Frittata

1 bunch Asparagus cut in 1” pieces

3 Roma tomatoes, diced

½ of a medium white onion

2 cloves garlic, minced or grated

8-10 eggs

4 oz. Fontina cheese, cubed (could sub with Swiss cheese)

3 TBSP. milk

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. fresh ground pepper

In a large skillet pan, Saute onion, garlic, and asparagus in olive oil {enough to coat the bottom of the pan} about 5 minutes. Then add the diced tomatoes and only cook 3 minutes. 

Then add the eggs that have been whisked together with the milk, salt, and pepper. Stir eggs around and try not to scramble. 

Then sprinkle with the cubed cheese and put the whole pan under the broiler on high for about 5-7 minutes or until the top is browned and bubbly. Cut into wedges like a pie or a cake.

**this is also very good the next day warmed for breakfast.

***you could also substitute the tomato and asparagus with your favorite veggies.

BBQ Chicken Pizza

Remember a while back I posted the BEST pizza crust recipe?? Well, here is what I made with that delicious concoction!

BBQ Chicken Pizza

Basic Pizza Dough Recipe
1/2 ripe, cored, and peeled pineapple
1 chicken breast, grilled
1/4 of a medium onion, cut in thin strips
1/2 cup of your favorite BBQ sauce
2 cups Mozzarella cheese

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Roll out the dough as suggested in recipe.
Then spread on BBQ sauce.
Next add chicken, pineapple, and onion.
Sprinkle with cheese and bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes or until golden and bubbly.

BROWNIES!

Blonde Brownies

2 2/3 c. flour

2 ½ tsp. baking powder

½ tsp. salt

2/3 c. butter

2 ½ c. brown sugar

3 eggs

1tsp. vanilla

1 package chocolate chips

In a medium saucepan, melt butter and stir in brown sugar. Let cool for 10 minutes, and then add eggs and vanilla. Stir well. Then add the dry ingredients. Add chocolate chips. Pour into a greased 9x13 pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes. Let cool for several hours before cutting.

**Grab a glass of milk because these babies are RICH!

I made these with just everyday items that I had on hand...what can you make?

CINNAMON ROLLS

 OK, I can't take total credit for this recipe. It was given to me by my neighbor after she brought some AMAZING orange rolls to a BBQ that we had. I have slightly adapted the recipe and used 3 cups of bread  flour with the all purpose flour. I think personally, that they stayed softer with the bread flour, but they taste just as good with the all purpose flour too. Yesterday when I made these, I split the dough in half and made half cinnamon rolls and half orange rolls. I asked for opinions, but nobody could say that one was better than the other. But, then again, what is better that bread and frosting?!

Orange/Cinnamon Rolls

4 eggs                                                

½ c. butter or margarine

½ c. sugar

2 tsp. salt

2 c. milk, scalded

3 TBSP. yeast. Dissolved in ½ c. warm water

6-7 cups flour

In a stand mixer, beat together eggs, butter, sugar and salt. Add scalded milk and continue to mix until butter is melted. Cool for about 5 minutes, then add yeast. Change attachment to a dough hook, and add flour a cup at a time.  The dough will be very sticky, but cover with a damp cloth and put in warm place and let rise 1 hour.

Punch down dough and separate into 2-3 parts. Roll to about ¼ of an inch thick rectangle

                                         And spread with filling, and roll the length of the dough. Cut and place                              

                                          On a greased pan. Let raise about 45 minutes. Then bake at 400

                                          Degrees for 7-10minutes, or until golden brown.

Orange Spread:

½ c. butter, softened

1 1/2c. sugar

Grated rind of 1 large orange

Cinnamon Spread:

Melt ¼ c. butter, and brush all over dough. Then sprinkle the entire dough with cinnamon, and then sprinkle with brown sugar. (I just eyeball this, I don’t ever measure)

Cream Cheese Frosting:

1/2 c. butter, softened

1 8oz. package cream cheese, softened

4-6 cups powdered sugar

1 tsp. vanilla

¼ tsp. salt

In a large bowl, mix together all ingredients until smooth.  Spread over rolls.

The Best Pizza Dough I Have Ever Tasted

The other night I was looking on Pinterest for some yummy recipes, and I happen to run into this beauty! It was labeled "the best pizza dough", but I am usually skeptical about that (because not to long ago I made some bread sticks, and they weren't that great). I didn't have any bread flour and had never used it before, so I decided to buy some to try and see if it really would make a difference. Well, it really did!

Bread flour, I guess, has a higher gluten protein. The protein binds to the flour to entrap carbon dioxide released by the yeast fermentation process, and results in a stronger rise. 

So here is the awesome recipe. Try it out and send us pictures of the yummy things you make with it. I will post my BBQ Chicken Pizza here soon.

Basic Pizza Dough

Ingredients:

½ cup warm water (about 110°)

1 envelope (2 ¼ tsp.) instant yeast

1 ¼ cups water, at room temperature

2 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil

4 cups (22 oz.) bread flour, plus more for dusting

1 ½ tsp. salt

olive oil or non-stick cooking spray for greasing the bowl

Directions:

Measure the warm water into a 2-cup liquid measuring cup.  Sprinkle in the yeast and let stand until the yeast dissolves and swells, about 5 minutes.  Add the room temperature water and oil and stir to combine.  

Place the flour and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Briefly combine the dry ingredients at low speed.  Slowly add the liquid ingredients and continue to mix at low speed until a cohesive mass forms.  Stop the mixer and replace the paddle with the dough hook.  Knead until the dough is smooth and elastic, about 5 minutes. Form the dough into a ball, put it in a deep oiled bowl, and cover with plastic wrap.  Let rise until doubled in size, about 1 ½ to 2 hours.  Press the dough to deflate it.

To bake, place a pizza stone in the lower third of the oven.  Heat the oven to 500° for at least 30 minutes.  Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface.  Divide the dough into two equal pieces.  Form both pieces of dough into smooth, round balls and cover with a damp cloth.  Let the dough relax for at least 10 minutes but no more than 30 minutes.

Working with one piece of dough and keeping the other covered, shape the dough and transfer to a pizza peel or round of parchment dusted with semolina or cornmeal.  Top as desired.  Slide the dough onto the pizza stone.  Bake until the crust edges brown and cheese is golden brown in spots, about 8 to 12 minutes.  Repeat with remaining ball of dough or freeze for later use.

A Yummy Treat For Under 40 Cents Each

I don't know about all of you out there, but living on a budget now days is the name of MY game. 

I was grocery shopping the other day and saw this cute kit to make banana pops for only $1.89 and bought bananas for $0.59/lb. The kit makes 8 banana pops (you use 4 bananas cut in half), and the price came out to be less than 40 cents per treat! I thought it was great and healthy snack to have waiting for the kiddos when they get home from school. 

*****CHALLENGE*****

We are challenging you to make/buy snacks or treats for you kids on a budget. Let us know what you make and the cost.