Sunday Bread

Found this on Pinterest an thought I'd give it a shot. SUPER EASY! We baked it in our 12in Dutch oven and it was perfect! I added 3 cloves crushed garlic and some Italian seasoning. Can't wait to make this. Family tradition. Hence Sunday Bread.

3 cups unbleached all purpose flour
1 3/4 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon yeast
1 1/2 cups water (either warm or cool)
Optional: any spices/ seasonings you'd like.

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together flour, salt and yeast. Add water and mix until a shaggy mixture forms. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and set aside for 12 - 18 hours. Overnight works great. Heat oven to 450 degrees. When the oven has reached 450 degrees place a cast iron pot with a lid in the oven and heat the pot for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, pour dough onto a heavily floured surface and shape into a ball. Cover with plastic wrap and let set while the pot is heating. Remove hot pot from the oven and drop in the dough. Cover and return to oven for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes remove the lid and bake an additional 15 minutes. Remove bread from oven and place on a cooling rack to cool.

Minestrone Soup

This recipe comes from my mother-in-law. It's very quick, easy and delicious and healthy! 5/5

Chop 1 onion and saute in 1 tablespoon of oil
Add 2 cans of chicken broth or water and chicken bullion
add 2 chopped carrots
2 chopped small zucchini
1 cup of frozen green beans
1 cup of any noodles (I like the macaroni salad kind that are tiny cylinders)

Season to taste:

Crushed pepper
garlic powder or garlic
1 teaspoon Italian seasonings

1/2 tsp oregano

1/2 tsp basil

3 bay leaves
1-2 cans of stewed tomatoes or just canned tomatoes
You may need to add 1-2 cups of water and enough bullion if it gets too dry
boil for about 20 mins.
add
1 can kidney beans I also like white beans. Rinse beans and gently stir into soup until heated.

Whole Wheat Pancakes

Wanted a more dinnery pancake that isnt so desserty. Found this on Our Best Bites. LOVE THEM!!! These are great! They're pretty healthy and fluffy but have a nice texture and are filling. 10/10

Whole Wheat Buttermilk Pancakes
adapted from Cooking Light

3/4 C whole wheat flour
3/4 C all-purpose flour
3 Tbs sugar
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 C low-fat buttermilk *
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 Tbs canola oil
1 large egg
1 large egg white
Cooking Spray or butter for pan

*As a substitute for 1 C buttermilk, place 1 Tbs lemon juice (or vinegar but I prefer lemon juice) in a 1 C measuring cup and then fill the remainder with milk. This recipe calls for 1 1/2 C buttermilk, so do the same thing with 1/2 Tbs lemon juice and remaining 1/2 C milk.

Combine flours, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a mixing bowl and whisk together. In a separate bowl combine buttermilk, eggs, oil, and vanilla and whisk well. Add the wet ingredients into the dry and mix just until moistened and combined.

Heat a nonstick griddle or skillet to medium heat. Coat pan with non-stick spray or a little butter and then pour on pancake batter. Use about 1/4 C batter for large pancakes (5-6″) and 2 T for kid-sized ones (2 /2-3″). Wait until bubbles form and edges are set and then flip.

Makes 12 large or 24 small pancakes.


Freezer Instructions: These pancakes freeze wonderfully. Just lay out pancakes in a single layer on a baking sheet or other pan. Freeze until solid and then place in a zip-lock bag. To serve, just warm up in the microwave or toaster.

Cream of Something

So tonight I realized I was out of cream of chicken. Perfect excuse cuz I've been wanting to try a recipe like this anyway. I used it I make creamy enchiladas and am currently waiting for them to come out of the oven. They smell delicious and the sauce tasted amazing! So simple and I know exactly what went into it.

Cream of Something Soup
Author/Source:
Kristi @ Onceamonthmom.com
Ingredients:
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 small onion, diced
1/2 cup main ingredient, diced
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup flour
1 cup milk
3/4 cup broth

Directions:
Saute garlic, onion and main ingredient (mushrooms, chicken, celery, etc.) and set aside. Melt butter over medium heat. Whisk in flour. Cook for about 2 minutes. Add “milk” and broth. Add sauteed garlic, onion and main ingredient. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer, stirring regularly, until it reaches desired consistency (about 10-15 minutes). Season to taste with salt and pepper and use as you would a can of condensed Cream of Something Soup in any recipe. If I make it ahead of time, I pour the soup into a pint canning jar and refrigerate it for up to four days.

Made about 2 & 1/4 cups.

Monster Bars

Monster Magic Cookie Bars

Very easy/ delicious! I use any combo of candy I have on hand like Reese's pieces etc. I also do less oats. 5/5

Ingredients

9 full graham crackers
4 tbsp. butter
1 can sweetened condensed milk
approximately 3/4 c. oats
approximately 3/4 c. M&Ms
approximately 3/4 c. chocolate chips
- See more at: http://www.somethingswanky.com/monster-magic-cookie-bars/#sthash.OsHP6ceJ.dpuf
Instructions

In a zip top bag, crush the graham crackers using a rolling pin.
Once crushed, add the 4 tbsp. butter to the bag.
Place in the microwave and heat up for about 30 seconds.
Remove from microwave, let out the air and make sure the bag is sealed (maybe let it cool for a second or two!), and “mush” the butter and graham crackers together until fully incorporated.
Press the graham cracker crumbs into a well-greased and parchment lined 9×13 baking dish.
Evenly pour the sweetened condensed milk over the graham cracker layer.
Sprinkle the oats, M&Ms, and chocolate chips evenly over the sweetened condensed milk and gently press in a little.
Bake at 350º for 30 minutes or until browned and pulling away from the edges.
Let cool and serve.
- See more at: http://www.somethingswanky.com/monster-magic-cookie-bars/#sthash.OsHP6ceJ.dpuf

Lemon Poppyseed Pancakes

2 cups unbleached ap (all-purpose) flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/3 cup sugar
pinch of salt
1/3 cup poppy seeds
zest of 4 lemons
2 cups buttermilk
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
2 tablespoons butter, melted

butter, to serve (and for pan)

To make the pancakes combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt in a large bowl. In another bowl the buttermilk, eggs, butter, lemon zest and poppy seeds. Add the wet to the dry. Stir all the ingredients until they are just combined. Don't worry if the batter is a bit lumpy, you don't want to over mix.

Heat your skillet, pan, or griddle to medium-hot and brush it with a bit of butter. Test for the right temperature. If a drop of water dropped onto the pan starts to dance, you are in the ballpark. Pour about 1/3 of a cup of batter into the skillet. Wait until the pancake bottom is deep golden in color, then flip with a spatula and cook the other side until golden and cooked through. Repeat with the remaining batter.

Sooooo good! Make sure you use at least the amount of lemon. 6/5

Pizza Crust

Found this on Pinterest. Nice and soft. Liked it. 4/5

Ingredients

1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast

1 cup warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)

2 cups bread flour

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons white sugar

Directions

In a small bowl, dissolve yeast/ sugar in warm water. Let stand until creamy, about 10 minutes.
In a large bowl, combine 2 cups bread flour, olive oil, salt, and the yeast mixture; stir well to combine. Beat well until a stiff dough has formed. Cover and rise until doubled in volume, about 30 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
Turn dough out onto a well floured surface. Form dough into a round and roll out into a pizza crust shape. Cover with your favorite sauce and toppings and bake in preheated oven until golden brown, about 20 minutes.