American Sandwich Bread

I found this recipe on pinterest (where else) and it looked so good I had to try it! I've been really into making my own bread lately. This all began on Monday when it was snowing like crazy. We were completely out of bread (which is a major staple in our home) and there was no way I was going out in that weather. So I emailed my Aunt Andie and got her bread recipe and well here we are now with a second recipe to try! I can cook a lot of different things and they turn out but breads are a bit tricky. So when I get it right, it is quite a triumph! I feel very accomplished when I can successfully make bread. It is so satisfying to make and have it turn out so perfect.This bread rises so beautifully and easily it makes you feel like a master baker. So if you feel a bit intimidated at baking your own bread and don't feel like you can do it, fear no longer! Try it anyways and you will be surprised. Give it a go!

Ingredients:
3 3/4 c. flour
2 tsp. salt
1 c. warm whole milk
1/3 c. warm water
2 Tbsp. butter, melted
3 Tbsp. honey
1 packet (2 1/4 tsp.) instant yeast

Directions:

1. Adjust an oven rack to the lowest position and heat the oven to 200 degrees. Once the oven reaches 200 degrees, maintain heat for 10 minutes then turn off the oven.
2. Mix 3 1/4 c. flour and the salt in a mixer bowl fitted with the dough attachment.
   
3. Mix the milk, water, butter, honey and yeast in a bowl. Turn the mixer to low and slowly add the liquid.
   
4. When the dough comes together, increase the speed to medium and mix until the dough is smooth and satiny. Stop the mixer 2 or 3 times to scrape the dough from the sides and the hood, about 10 minutes. (After 5 minutes of kneading, if the dough is still sticking to the sides, add 1 Tbsp. flour at a time up to 1/4 c. total until the dough no longer sticks.)
5. Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface; knead to form a smooth round ball about 15 seconds.
   
6. Place dough in a lightly oiled bowl. Rub dough around bowl to coat lightly. Cover with plastic wrap and place in the warmed oven until the dough doubles in size, 20-30 minutes.
7. On a floured surface, gently press dough into a rectangle 1 inch thick and no longer than 9 inches. With a long side facing you, roll the dough firmly into a cylinder, pressing with your fingers to make sure the dough sticks to itself. Turn the dough seam-side up and pinch it closed.
8. Place the dough seam-side down in a greased loaf pan and gently press it so it touches all four sides of the pan. Cover with plastic wrap and place in a warm spot until the dough doubles, 20-30 minutes.
   
9. Keep one rack at the lowest position and place the other rack in the middle position in the oven. Heat to 350 degrees. Place an empty baking pan on the bottom rack. Bring 2 c. water to boil a tea-pot or small pan. Pour the boiling water into the empty pan on the bottom rack. Set the loaf pan on the middle rack.
10. Bake for 40-50 minutes. Remove bread from pan, place on wire rack, cool to room temperature. Slice and serve.

http://annies-eats.com/2008/07/24/american-sandwich-bread/

Table Runners!

I love sewing. I greatly dislike homework. So, when I need a break from studying I like to have something quick that I enjoy. Here are two more table runners I made from the same pattern for the Christmas one. The style is just a little bit different but I love it! And it takes maybe 15 minutes total for one table runner. I got a little carried away one day and made a Valentine's Day one and a St. Patrick's Day one. I thought they turned out pretty cute! Again, if you want the pattern I have it and it is extremely easy to do.

Andie's Bread

My Aunt Andie makes the most incredible bread. Anyone who tries it gets hooked. Greg and I became addicted after we lived with them while working at camp. She never buys bread anymore, she just makes this and it saves so much money! She figured it all out and I can't remember how much money it saves per year but it is a lot. Anyways, I halved the recipe because my little blender can only hold about half. She makes 6 loaves at a time so I made 3. Here you go!

Whole Wheat/White/Oatmeal Bread

1/4 c. plus 2 Tbsp. warm water
1 Tbsp. plus 1/2 tsp. yeast
1/4 c. white flour
1/2 Tbsp. plus 1 tsp. white sugar

• Stir the above ingredients together, let bubble for 5 minutes in a 170 degree oven that was heated and turned off.

3 c. warm water
2 c. old fashioned oats
3 c. whole wheat flour
1 Tbsp. plus 1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 c. plus 2 Tbsp. brown sugar
1/4 c. plus 2 Tbsp. canola oil

• Mix above ingredients into yeast mixture
• Add 4 c. white flour to begin. Add flour until mixture still sticks to hands but can be pulled away from hands. KNEAD WELL!!!
• Place dough in oiled bowl, oil top of dough, cover with damp towel. Let rise in 170 degree oven that has been heated and then turned off. Let rise until doubled in size, about 30 min.
• Knead well, divide into loaves, and knead again. Put into loaf pans and let rise in 170 degree oven that was heated and then turned off. Let rise for 24 minutes.
• Bake in 350 degree oven for 26 minutes. Remove immediately from pans and let cool on rack.

So there you have it. It is a bit of work but absolutely worth it. This bread is sooooo good! I'm excited to try it again and to perfect it a little bit.

Chicken Enchilada Pasta

This is a great dinner! I found it on sixsistersstuff.com. This is a great blog if you haven't seen it yet. They have all kinds of great recipes and ideas. I have so much pasta so I'm always looking for different ways to prepare it; spaghetti is good but only for so long. This recipe is great because I love enchiladas and pasta and this is the perfect mix. Also, like I always look for, it takes a relatively short time to make.


Ingredients:
2-3 chicken breasts, cooked & shredded (or shredded rotisserie chicken, use the breasts)
2 Tbsp. olive oil
Garlic powder
1 medium onion, diced
1 red bell pepper, diced
1 (4 oz.) can diced green chiles
1/2 tsp. salt
2 tsp. chili powder
2 (10 oz) cans green chili enchilada sauce
2/3 c. red enchilada sauce
2 c. shredded cheese
Penne pasta

Optional Toppings:
Avocado
Green Onions
Black Olives
Tomatoes
Sour Cream

Directions:

1. Cook chicken, drain, & shred (or shred rotisserie which was what I did). Meanwhile boil pasta according to package and chop vegetables.
2. Heat the olive oil in a deep skillet and cook onions for about 3-5 minutes. Add garlic and red pepper and cook another 3-5 minutes.
3. Add cooked chicken, green chiles, chili powder, salt, and enchilada sauces. Let simmer for 8-10 minutes.
4. Add cheese and stir until the cheese is melted and heated through.
   
5. Drain pasta and return to pot. Pour sauce over pasta and mix well. Serve and garnish with toppings.
   

Mashed Potatoes!!!

I love potatoes, pretty much in any form. But one of my favorites mashed. There is something about mashed potatoes. They are perfect for any time: holidays, when you're sick, any day really. I never make them because I always thought it was hard to make them. Whenever my family made mashed potatoes it was for Thanksgiving. We have a big extended family so we would do 15-20 potatoes at a time. I was always in charge and it took forever! I just discovered that mashed potatoes really aren't that hard to make. I was so excited to discover this! I am going to make them all the time now. I found this great recipe online (http://allrecipes.com/recipe/traditional-mashed-potatoes/):

Ingredients:

6 medium russet potatoes, peeled and cubed
1/2 cup warm milk
1/4 cup butter or margarine
3/4 tsp. salt
Dash pepper

Directions:

1. Place potatoes in a saucepan and cover with water. Cover with lid and bring to a boil; cook for 20-25 minutes or until very tender. Drain well. Add milk, butter, salt and pepper. Mash until light and fluffy.
   

I like to mix it in my KitchenAid with the whisk attachment. This makes them extra fluffy, light and creamy. That's it and then top with your favorite gravy.

Chip-Crusted Fish Fillets

This recipe is amazingly and surprisingly delicious! You use salt & vinegar chips which no one likes on their own except my dad and brother Benjamin. Greg and I eat a lot of fish so I am always looking for new ways of making it. When you're done making this, the fish tastes like the fish from fish & chips. I'm still amazed by it. It takes maybe 15 minutes to prepare AND cook it at the most which is great. Give it a shot!

Ingredients:

4 (6 oz.) cod fillets (I used tilapia and it was great)
2 tsp canola mayonnaise (I used Miracle Whip because I hate mayo, and again it was great)
1/8 tsp salt
1 (2 oz.) package salt & vinegar kettle-style potato chips, crushed
1/2 c. light ranch dressing (it's good with the dressing but does not need it)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
2. Place fillets on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Brush 1/2 tsp. mayo over top of each fillet; sprinkle evenly with salt. Gently press 2 Tbsp. crushed chips evenly on top of each fillet.
3. Bake for about 10 minutes or until fish flakes easily with tested with fork. Serve with ranch dressing.

(http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/chip-crusted-fish-fillets-50400000117838/)

Pizza!!!

I love pizza. I have been craving this for some time. I think I was watching Psych (I'm addicted) or something and they ate or talked about pizza and ever since then I have needed some. It was also Monday night so what a great Family Home Evening activity to make pizzas together! I must say that it turned out exceptionally well. It wasn't all greasy and didn't make me feel gross after eating it like not-homemade pizza does. I like to think that it was healthy...maybe it's really not but it IS healthier than any I could have bought. I found the recipe for the dough online and it was incredibly delicious and easy too. Here is the website (http://allrecipes.com/recipe/pizza-dough-iii/) and here is the recipe:

Ingredients:

1 (.25 oz.) package active dry yeast (or 2 1/4 tsp.)
1 c. warm water
2 1/4 c. bread flour (and some extra to roll the dough out on)
2 Tbsp. olive oil
1 tsp. salt
2 tsp. white sugar

Directions:

1. In a small bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Let stand until creamy, about 10 minutes.
2. In a large bowl, combine flour, olive oil, salt, sugar, and yeast mixture; stir well to combine. Beat well until a stiff dough has formed (mine was sticky but that's okay because you add some flour when you roll it out). Cover in a greased bowl and let rise until doubled in size, about 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
3. Turn dough out onto a well floured surface. Form dough into a round and roll out into whatever shape you want. Cover with toppings and bake until golden brown, about 20 minutes. (Yields one pizza crust).

For ours we used a pizza stone. To use one, put it in the oven while it's preheating. This way it won't shatter when you put it in the hot oven. When you're ready to put the dough on it, sprinkle the stone with some cornmeal. This helps the pizza to not stick to it. Then you put the dough and everything else on it. To wash it, just use hot water and a dish rag, DO NOT use soap or oil.

(For our pizza we put on tomato sauce, seasoned it with garlic powder and basil, and put on the best toppings ever: pepperoni, mozzarella cheese, bell peppers, and olives. Yum!)

We had a blast doing this. I even tried tossing it in the air like you see in the movies (I ended up covered in flour) but it was a blast. Kids would love doing this and making their own little pizzas exactly how they want. I know I did growing up. Good luck and don't be afraid to give pizza tossing a try!