Super Easy Whole Wheat Bread by Steph

really good but Super easy. Whole Wheat bread

I've been baking bread for quite some time.  But my friend Karyn F had a few friends over this week and taught us an even better way.  Save time, dishes and mess.

Whole Wheat Bread – makes 2 loaves

In bowl mix with dough hook:
 3 c flour
1/3 c gluten (I used 2 Tbs)
1 T instant yeast (I use Saf-instant. Amazon has 1 lb for decent price and great price for 4 1lb pkgs.)
Add 2 ½ c steaming hot tap water.

Mix one minute.Cover and let rest 10 minutes.

Add:

½ Tbs salt

1/3 c oil (I used 2 TB butter or olive oil)

1/3 c honey or ½ c brown sugar (I use a little less.)

If you measure honey and oil in the same container, the honey slides right out.

Mix a minute then add 3 cups one at a time, mixing between each cup. You may use more or less flour depending on flour, humidity, etc... Beat till dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl 6 – 10 min.

A soft, little bit sticky dough will make moister bread.

Preheat oven 1 minute to lukewarm and turn off. *Form dough into 2 loaves and place into oiled loaf pans. Let rise in warm oven 10-15 minutes till dough reaches top of pan. Do not remove from oven. Turn oven to 350. Bake 30 min.

*If you want, you can roll it out into a rectangle as wide as the bread pan, then:

Cover with butter (optional), raisins and cinnamon.

Spread butter over dough, sprinkle lots of brown sugar and cinnamon

Try grated cheese and onion/garlic powder

Whatever you want

Then roll it up and place seam-side down in oiled pan. Bake as above.

Posted by Steph

Pumpkin Muffins by Steph

3-1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1Tbsp baking powder
2tsp pumpkin pie spice
1tsp baking soda
1tsp salt
1tsp ground cinnamon
3 eggs
1 can(16 oz) pumpkin
3/4 cup olive oil
2/3 cup real maple syrup
2/3 cup honey
2/3 milk or soy milk
chocolate chips(optional)
preheat oven to 400
spray muffin tins with cooking spray
mix wet ingredients in a large bowl.
Mix dry ingredients in a medium bowl.
add wet and dry and mix well
fill muffin tins two-thirds full.
bake for 20 to 25 minutes. cool 5 minutes in the tins.
add wet and dry and mix well

Posted by Steph

Christmas Cooking by Stace

Food is the reason for this blog -- making memories with family and friends around a shared, joyful experience. I am excited that holiday baking time is finally here. I love this time of year the most because of the warm, settled, happy feeling I get when cooking and baking with family. There is nothing like steaming up the kitchen with loved ones when it is cold and gray outside. Our family tends to slow things down a lot this time of year-- we have more patience for little fingers in ingredients, and we just enjoy each others company without the stress of deadlines, homework, sports etc.

I was going to scale way back this year (due to new baby and no sleep), but I would miss out on the fun of cooking with family -- so we have scaled back a little. We have settled on the following menu for Christmas Eve and Christmas:

Tonight -- Potato soup with homemade bread (my family cannot get enough of this simple bread recipe -- we eat it fresh from the oven with some fancy salted butter, and it is gone in minutes!). We usually have a seafood gumbo for Christmas Eve dinner, but we had that for Thanksgiving this year (thanks to Pa Pa Skipper), so we wanted something different.

Christmas Eve goodies: - we are making this orange chocolate chunk cake (I am so excited about this-- I love orange and chocolate combinations). We are making Christmas cookies (our tradition Boddhi loves to make these -- we have made them the past 3 years-- usually deliver some to meals on wheels recipients but not this year). We are also making peanut butter balls (not our traditional family recipe because I don't want to use paraffin wax -- but this one is very similar -- just a different chocolate coating).

Christmas brunch - We are having a simple breakfast of chocolate chip scones (recipe from The Art of Simple Food), bacon and eggs (I might do a frittata if I am up to it -- saw one with apple, bacon and cheddar that looks delicious).

Christmas dinner - We are making pan fried pork chops (similar to our fried chicken recipe), mashed potatoes, yeast rolls, and cabbage.

That is it I think. What are you guys making? Mom, Steph and Bob -- feel free to edit this post and add what you are making for the Holiday.

Will be thinking about you all (family on both sides) since we cannot be together this holiday. We love you and miss you.

Enjoy your Christmas in the kitchen with loved ones.

Posted by Stace

Baked French Toast Casserole w/Maple Syrup - by Mama Katie

This is a recipe that a friend gave to me from work. It was one of the dishes that was shared at our birthday breakfast. I think it was one of Paula Dean's recipes but with a few minor changes.

Ingredients:

1 loaf French Bread (13 to 16 ounces)
8 large eggs
2 cups half-and-half
1 cup milk
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
Dash salt
Praline Topping, recipe follows
Maple Syrup

Directions:

Slice French bread into 20 slices, 1-inch each. Arrange slices in a generously buttered 9x13 inch baking dish in 2 rows, overlapping the slices. In a large bowl, combine eggs, half-and-half, milk, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt and beat with a rotary beater or whisk until blended but not too bubbly. Pour mixture over the bread slices, making sure all are covered evenly with the milk-egg mixture. Spoon some of the mixture in between the slices. Cover with foil and refrigerate overnight. (I do not leave overnight because it makes it soggy to me. I just prepare it 30-40 minutes ahead).

When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Spread Praline Topping (recipe below) evenly over the bread and bake for 40 minutes, until puffed and lightly golden. Serve with Maple syrup.

Praline Topping:

1/2 pound (2 sticks) butter
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1 cup chopped pecans
2 tablespoons light corn syrup
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl and blend well. Makes enough for Baked French Toast Casserole.

Posted by Mama Katie