Garlic Croutons

4 Tbsp butter
1 clove garlic, minced
3 3/4-inch thick slices French bread, cut into cubes

*can also add 1 tsp oregano, 1 tsp Italian seasoning and 4 tsp fresh grated parmesan cheese.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large sauce pan melt butter over medium heat. Stir in garlic and optional spices/cheese; cook and stir for 1 minute. Add bread cubes and toss to coat. Spread on baking sheet and bake 15 minutes, or until crispy and dry. Do not burn. Cool and store in airtight container for up to two weeks.

(Erica and Jenny Supper Club)

Syd's Bread

This is Syd's white bread recipe. It is SO good! :)

Mix all dry ingredients:
3 lbs flour (~7 cups+) (can do half white flour/half wheat flour)
3/4 c sugar
4 Tbs instant yeast (she likes Saf)
3/4 c powdered milk (or use some wet milk in place of some of the water)
2 Tbs salt
2 Tbs dough enhancer
2 Tbs vital wheat gluten


Add wet ingredients:
1/4 c shortening
1/4 c honey (or up sugar to +1/4 c. sugar)
~1 qt. water

Mix it until it's not stiff, but very soft (not gooey but still sticky).
You know when you're done kneading when:

• take a wad and pull/stretch it. You should be able to pull it until it is almost like tissue paper before it tears.
• It should also have the look of pulled salt water taffy - a glossy and opalescent sheen with a nice stretch.

Rise once until doubles in size
Divide into 1 1/2 lbs (4 loaves)
Bake 15 min @ 350 degrees, turn all loaves in oven and bake another 15 min.
Done when the middle reads 185-190 degrees.


If adding wheat flour, maybe add more sweet, it also won't have as nice a stretch.

Best flour is King Aurthur bread flour (found at Walmart or Macey's).

Honey Butter

2 sticks butter, softened
1/2 cup honey
1/2 cup marshmallow fluff

Whip all together with an electric mixer and serve at room temperature (can be refrigerated and softened).

(from www.melskitchencafe.com)

Cinnamon Honey Butter

1 C honey
1 C butter, softened
1 C powdered sugar
2 tsp cinnamon

Comine all ingredients in bowl. Using whisk attachment on mixer blend until smooth and creamy, scraping down sides of bowl as needed.

YUM!

The BEST Cornbread

1/2 C cornmeal
1 1/2 C flour
1/2 C sugar
1 T baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/3 C oil
3 T butter, melted
2 eggs, beaten
1 1/4 C milk

Mix dry ingredients. Make a well and add oil, butter, eggs, and milk into the center. Stir until just mixed (batter will be runny). Bake in an 8" square pan at 350 for 35 minutes. This doubles perfectly for a 9x13 pan.

(from www.melskitchencafe.com)

Pumpkin Waffles

This whole post is copied straight from Kristi Approved (http://www.kristiapproved.blogspot.com/), they just look so yummy I couldn't resist. :) Maybe we'll have these for diner tonight. (though I probably won't make it quite as healthy.) ;)




Thanksgiving morning often gets overshadowed by the "big feast" later in the day. But you still need the breakfast fuel, so try these delicious pumpkin waffles! A favorite for all ages.

Ingredients:

1/3 cup oats (raw measurement)
1 TB protein powder
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
2 TB plain canned pumpkin
1 TB low fat or fat free cottage cheese
3 egg whites
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
zero cal/carb sweetner of choice
1 TB sugar free syrup

Blend all dry ingredients to a smooth flour texture. Will look like this:


Combine the dry and wet ingredients and blend to a smooth batter texture. Spray a waffle maker with cooking spray and pour batter in. 



Remove cooked waffle from waffle maker. Top waffle with sugar free syrup and cinnamon and 1 TB of fat free cool whip and dig in!

Calories: 213

Carbohydrates: 25

Fat: 3

Protein: 22

Banana Bread

I got this recipe from Cassie, which she got from Albertsons

8 Tbs (1 stick) butter at room temperature
3/4 c sugar
2 eggs
1 c all purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 c whole wheat flour
3 large ripe bananas, smashed
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 c shelled walnuts, coarsely chopped (opt)

1- Preheat over 350 degrees, grease 9x5x3" bread pan.
2- Cream butter, sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
3- Sift flour, baking soda, salt together, stir in whole wheat flour and add to creamed mixture, mixing well.
4- Fold in bananas, vanilla, and walnuts.
5- Pour mixture into pan, bake 50-60 min. or untill cake tester comes out clean. Cool in pan 10 min, then on rack.

Homemade White Bread

I haven't tried this yet - but my MIL says it works great for scones, too.

3 Tbs. active dry yeast
1 C. warm water
1/2 C. plus 3 Tbs. sugar
4 tsp. salt
1/3 C. vegetable oil
4 1/2 C. hot water
15 C. flour
1/8 tsp. vitamin C powder

Sprinkle yeast and 3 Tbs. sugar in 1 C. lukewarm water; let sit. Combine remaining sugar, salt, oil and water. Add flour until it makes a stiff dough that leaves the side of the bowl. Knead for 8 min. Place dough in oiled bowl. Turn to bring greased side up. Cover and let rise until double in size. Place in greased pans and let raise to about double (approx 30 min.). Bake at 400* for 30 min. Makes 4 - 5 fairly large loaves.

Garlic Cheese Bread

My step-mom Judy showed me how she makes her garlic cheese bread, and it is DELICIOUS! :) We are such fans!

Before placing in oven

Directions:

Place however many slices you want on a cookie sheet.
Butter the top sides of each
Sprinkle with garlic salt, then parsley flakes, then Parmesan cheese*
Place cookie sheet on the top shelf in oven and broil until lightly golden brown**

*I use the dry kind that is in the bottle. You can also use the kind that is grated in the bag, or I've also tried it with grated Mozzarella and that was good too.
**Make sure to give it your full attention! It doesn't take long, and they go from perfect to black in a blink of an eye! ;)

And this is what you have! Yum!


Neil likes his more crunchy.

Enjoy! :)

Dried Cranberry and Raisin Muffins

I love making homemade muffins!

Dried Cranberry and Raisin Muffins

Dried cranberries combined with raisins add a sweet-sour bite and bright color to these muffins.

1 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 cup whole wheat flour (preferably graham)*
1 cup old-fashioned oats
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup dry Grape Nuts cereal
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/4 cup dark raisins
1/4 cup golden raisins
4 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup low-fat milk
3 tablespoons butter, melted
3 egg whites or 2 eggs, beaten

1. Heat oven to 400°F. Lightly grease bottoms of 12 muffin cups or spray with cooking spray or line with paper liners.

2. Combine all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour, oats, brown sugar, cereal, cranberries, dark and golden raisins, baking powder, cinnamon and salt in large bowl. Whisk milk, butter and egg whites in small bowl until blended. Add to dry ingredients; stir about 20 strokes or just until dry ingredients are moistened. Spoon batter into muffin cups.

3. Bake 17 to 20 minutes or until muffins are lightly browned and toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan on wire rack 10 minutes; remove from pan. Cool completely or serve warm.

TIP *Graham flour is a coarse-ground whole wheat flour.

12 muffins

PER MUFFIN: 220 calories, 3.5 g total fat (2 g saturated fat), 6 g protein, 43 g carbohydrate, 10 mg cholesterol, 335 mg sodium, 4.5 g fiber

Pizza Dough

½ C butter, melted
1 ½ tsp salt
1/3 C sugar
2 C warm water
1 T yeast
½ C milk
6 C flour + a little extra to make dough soft

Butter
Garlic salt
Pizza cheese, sauce and toppings

Mix butter, salt, sugar, warm water and yeast, then milk. Add 3 cups of flour and mix with a wire whisk. Add the rest of the flour and fill a 1 C measuring cup with flour and place to the side. Knead the dough in the bowl, adding flour as needed until dough is not sticky anymore, but sill soft (adding too much flour will make the dough tough to work with). Place a towel over the bowl and let rise until double. Preheat oven to 425. Spread onto greased pans (2 10-inch or 2 9x13 pans). Put a few pats of butter on top, sprinkle with a little bit of garlic salt, and bake for 5-7 minutes. Top with your choice of toppings and bake until cheese is thoroughly melted.

Variation: Ham and Cheese Wraps
Roll out a little bit of dough (about ½ C) and place ham, cheese, and a little bit of garlic salt on half of it. Fold dough over and press edges with a fork. Bake at 425 for 10-12 minutes or until light golden brown. Brush butter over the top and serve hot. Calzones can be made the same way using pizza ingredients.

Food Storage Ideas

Here is a link to a little cook book with ideas for your Food Storage.

http://www.hallsnet.com/cookbook/

German Pancakes or "Hootenanny Pancakes"

I got this from Ashley's blog, who got it from Becoming Betty. I've made it before, but it turns out flat. I want to see if this recipe is better! :)

It's cooking now...and it looks AWESOME!!! :D Wanna see???

(sorry for the glare. This is the best I could get)

My trick? I whipped the eggs w/my super beater for a LONG time before mixing anything else in. Then I whipped it some more. Whip it! Whip it good!

Doesn't it look CRAZY?!?!?! It tasted delicious!

1/4 cup butter

1 cup flour

6 eggs

1 cup milk

1 tsp. salt

*Heat oven to 400 degrees. Put butter in 9X13 pan an melt in oven. In a blender, combine flour, eggs, milk and salt. Blend just until mixed together. Pour into 9X13. Bake for 25 minutes. Serve with syrup and powdered sugar.

*Helpful hint: Watch the butter closely while melting it. It burns pretty fast.


Thanks Ashley! Thanks Betty! And thanks to whomever wrote on Ashley's blog saying to whip 'em good.

Cousins Cornbread

This is from the Essential Mormon Cookbook and is the best cornbread recipe I have found.

1/2 cup butter, room temperature
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 cup yellow cornmeal
1 1/2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups milk

Cream butter, sugar, and eggs. In a separate bowl, combine dry ingredients. Combine butter mixture, dry ingredients, and milk. Bake in a greased 8x8 pan at 375 for 35-40 minutes. (I find I usually have to bake it longer than this.)