Monday, April 28, 2014

Basic No Knead Bread



This bread is the most amazing crusty bread ever! Its great with soup and we love it toasted too!!!

6 Cups Bread Flour or All Purpose Flour
1/2 Tsp. Instant Yeast or Active Dry Yeast
2 1/2 Tsp. Salt
2 2/3 Cups Cool Water

Directions:
In a large bowl, combine flour, yeast, and salt. Add water and stir until all the ingredients are well incorporated. The dough should be wet and sticky. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap. Let dough rest 12-18 hours on the counter at room temp. When the surface of the dough has darkened and smells yeasty and dotted with bubbles, it is ready. Lightly flour your hands and work surface. Place dough on work surface and sprinkle with more flour. Fold dough over on itself once or twice and using floured fingers, tuck the dough underneath to roughly form a ball. 
Generously dust a cotton towel with enough flour to prevent the dough from sticking to the towel as it rises. Place dough seam side down on the towel and dust with more flour. Cover with the edges or a second towel and let rise for about 2 hours or until doubled in size.
After about 1 1/2 hours pre heat oven to 425 degrees. Place a 6-8 quart heavy covered pot, (such as cast iron dutch oven,) in the oven as it heats. When dough has fully risen carefully remove pot from oven . Remove top towel from dough and slide your hand under bottom towel, flip dough over into pot seam side up. Shake pan once or twice if dough looks uneven. Cover and bake for 40 mins. Uncover and bake another 10 mins until crust id brown. Internal temp should be 200 degrees ....Remove from pot. Let cool completely.
* I usually only leave my pot in the oven enough to get it hot then put the dough in......

Monday, April 21, 2014

Scalloped Pineapple


This recipe is from my mother. She has been making it for years. We all love it and it goes great with ham! Try it out and let me know what you think!

1 Large Can Crushed Pineapple
4 Cups Fresh Bread, cubed
3 Eggs, beaten
1 1/4 Cups Sugar
1 1/2 Sticks Butter

Melt butter. Mix eggs and sugar, add pineapple. Mix bread cubes and butter. Mix ingredients together in 1 1/2 Qt casserole. Cover and bake @ 350 for 30 mins. Uncover bake another 10 mins to brown. 

Homemade No Knead Dinner Rolls

       
These Dinner Rolls are so easy! They are so fluffy in the middle! Give them a try!


        2 cups warm water (105 to 11 degrees)

  • 2 packages (1/4 ounce each) active dry yeast
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 4 tablespoons butter, melted, plus more for pan and brushing
  • 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
  • 6 cups all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled), plus more for shaping dough

DIRECTIONS

  1. STEP 1

    Pour warm water into a large bowl; sprinkle with yeast, and let stand until foamy, about 5 minutes.
  2. STEP 2

    Add sugar, butter, eggs, and salt; whisk to combine. Add flour; mix until incorporated and a sticky dough forms. Brush top of dough with butter; cover bowl with plastic wrap, and set aside in a warm place until dough has doubled in bulk, about 1 hour.
  3. STEP 3

    Turn dough out onto a well-floured work surface. With floured hands, roll dough into a thick log. Cut into 18 equal pieces (halve log, cut each half in thirds, then cut each piece into thirds again).
  4. STEP 4

    Brush a 9-by-13-inch baking pan with butter. One at a time, flatten each piece of dough, then fold edges toward the center, pressing to secure, until a smooth ball forms. Place dough balls in prepared baking pan, smooth side up (you should have 3 rows of 6). Cover loosely with plastic wrap, and let rise in a warm place until doubled in bulk, 30 to 40 minutes. (Alternatively, refrigerate, at least 4 hours and up to 1 day.)
  5. STEP 5

    Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Remove plastic wrap; brush rolls with butter. Bake until golden and rolls sound hollow when tapped on bottom, 35 to 40 minutes (tent with aluminum foil if browning too quickly). Pull rolls apart, and serve warm. (Recipe Courtesy Martha Stewart)


Shannon's Favorite Peanut Butter Pie



This is the best recipe for peanut butter pie! The first time I made this was Easter of 2003 and everyone loved it! It very easy. The pie is creamy not crazy sweet or dense. Its light and fluffy! Give it a try!

1 9" Graham Cracker Crust
1 Pkg 8 oz Cream Cheese
1/2 Cup Milk
1 Cup Powdered Sugar
1/2 Cup Peanut Butter
1 8 oz. Container Cool Whip
Chopped Peanuts (Optional)
Directions:
Whip cream cheese in mixer until light. Blend in peanut butter and powdered sugar. Add milk gradually, beating constantly. Fold in topping. Spoon into pie shell. Garnish with peanuts if desired. Refrigerate for several hours. Or freeze and remove 1/2 hour before serving
* I have never frozen this pie.....I only refrigerate it and we love it this way.......
Recipe taken from "Recipe Source"

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Red Skinned Potato Salad

I have been making this recipe for my hubby and he loves it! This is my creation and I wanted to share it with all of you! 

3 Lbs of Red Skinned Potatoes
6 Slices of Bacon  (chopped and cooked till crisp)
6 Eggs
3 Green Onions Chopped (I use regular)
3 Stalks Of Celery Chopped
2 Cups Mayo
1-2 Tbs. Mustard 
1 Tbs. Cider Vinegar
1 Tbs. Celery Seed
2 Tbs. Pickle Relish
Salt and Pepper to taste

Bring a large pot of water to boil. Add potatoes and cook till fork tender but sill firm, about 10 mins. Drain, set in frig to cool. Cook eggs. In a separate bowl mix mayo, mustard, celery seed, relish, salt and pepper.   Chop the cooled potatoes, leaving skin on, add to large bowl, along with eggs, onion, celery and bacon. Fold dressing carefully into potato mixture. Chill for 2 hours before serving.
* I don't use all of the dressing in mine...I just add to our liking. You may find this is too much...
I hope you enjoy! Come back and comment if you try this recipe!!

Saturday, April 12, 2014

Sugar Cookies

Easter is just around the corner. We are busy menu planning for our family get together. There are some things that certain people always make. For example my mom always makes her sweet potato casserole and my sister in law always makes asparagus casserole. So one thing that I always make for almost every holiday is a dessert. Its these sugar cookies. My niece Shea always requests these so I dedicate this recipe to her as she is studying abroad and cannot be with us this Easter....
This recipe is taken from a very old cookbook

Sugar Cookies
1 Cup Butter
2 Cups Sugar
2 Eggs
1/2 Tsp. Salt
1 Tsp. Baking Soda
2 Tsp. Baking Powder
4 3/4 Cups Flour
1 Cup Sour Milk
1 Tbs. Vanilla
Colored sugars 

Cream butter and sugar, add eggs and beat. Add salt, soda, and baking powder and mix well. Add flour and milk a little at a time till all is added. Add vanilla. Drop on greased cookie sheet with tablespoon. Sprinkle with sugar. Bake at 425- 450 for 10 Mins. 

* For the sour milk mix one cup of milk and 1 Tbs of vinegar and let sit for 10 mins then add to recipe

* I usually add more vanilla to this recipe

These cookies are thick and puffy and they are wonderful with coffee! Let me know if you try them and come back and tell me what you think!!

Tuesday, April 8, 2014

Tonights Dinner

This was tonight's dinner.... Muffin Tin Eggs, Angel Biscuits, Homemade Pancakes without Milk, and Bacon. My family loves the pancakes with homemade apple butter and sometimes we put cream cheese and homemade strawberry jam on. Scott loves the biscuits with the jam too. So here are the recipes...

Muffin Tin Eggs
1 Egg Per Muffin Tin
1 Tbs. Mayo per 3 Eggs
Any kind of veggies (mushrooms, onions, green pepper etc)
Meat (optional)
Cheese (any flavor)
Salt and Pepper to taste
Spray muffin tins and preheat oven to 350. Sauté veggies or any meat you choose. Whisk eggs in bowl , add mayo(this helps eggs not to fall). Add veggies, cheese, and cooked meats to whisked eggs. Stir. Pour into muffin tins (about 1/3 cup full per tin) Bake 20-25 mins

Angel Biscuits
2 Envelopes Active Dry Yeast
1 Cup Warm Water
2 Cups Buttermilk
3/4 Cups Oil
1/4 Cup Sugar
6 Cups All Purpose Flour
4Tsp. Baking Powder
1/4 Tsp. Baking Soda
1-1/2  Tsp. Salt
In a very large bowl, dissolve yeast in very warm water, 110to 115 degrees. Let stand for several minutes, Stir in buttermilk, oil, and sugar. In a large bowl, combine remaining ingredients; stir into buttermilk mixture. Cover bowl and place in refrig overnight. Remove dough as needed. Roll out on a floured board to 1/2 inch thickness. Cut out biscuits with a round cutter or a glass tumbler, place on a ungreased baking sheet. Bake @ 400 for 12 to 15 mins till golden
* If you do not have Buttermilk you can use 1 Cup regular milk and add 1 Tbs. Vinegar and let sit till thick....this works just as well...
*1 pkg yeast = 2 1/4 Tsp. yeast...if you buy in bulk like I do....
Original Recipe taken from Gooseberry Patch

Pancakes Without Milk
1 Cup Flour
1 Tbs. Sugar
2 Tsp. Baking Powder
1/4 Tsp. Salt
1 Egg Beaten
1 Cup Water
1 Tbs. Oil
2 Tsp. Vanilla
In a mixing bowl, stir together flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. In another mixing bowl, combine egg, water and cooking oil and vanilla. Add to flour mixture all at once. Stir mixture just until blended but still slightly lumpy. Pour about 1/4 cup batter onto hot, lightly greased griddle or heavy skillet.
* I always double this recipe. I also add more vanilla.
Original Recipe taken from Group recipes.com
Let me know if you try any of these! Come back and comment!

Shannon's Favorites

So I decided once a week to post one of my favorite recipes. Today is one that came from my Grandmothers recipe box. She would cut out newspaper clippings of recipes that she liked or thought she would try some day. This particular one I found is really old.......being the adventurous one I am I decided to give it a go.....I have been making this for years now! It actually tastes like my grandmothers original recipe where she added some of this and some that......one I which I would have on paper now....

Bootlegger Beans

3 Strips of Bacon
Small Onion Chopped
1 Can Pork and Beans In Tomato Sauce
1 Tbs. Brown Sugar
2 Tbs. Vinegar
2 Tbs. Ketchup

Dice 3 strips of bacon and fry. When about done, add a onion. When the onion is slightly browned, pour off most of the grease and add 1 can of pork and beans, brown sugar, vinegar, and ketchup. Stir well. Cover let simmer for at least 30 mins....or longer if you have time....long and slow is key
*When I make these I bake the beans for 2 hours at 250 then bake at 350 for 30-40 mins.....the longer you can bake at a low setting the better these will turn out....
* I also add more brown sugar than called for.....it helps to caramelize the sauce and adds so much more flavor.....

I hope you enjoy! Let me know if you give this recipe a try...come back and comment your thoughts! Thanks for visiting!
Original recipe taken from old newspaper clipping.........

Monday, April 7, 2014

I am currently working on a new project. I am working on planning a one month menu. Also organizing the grocery list and working up the savings verses only 2 week planning. I have been doing 2 week planning for some time now and only shop twice a month. We save so much doing meals this way. This will be a work in progress and I will keep you updated. I plan to have more recipes posted tomorrow! Thanks for following my blog and visiting .....

Saturday, April 5, 2014

 I know this isn't recipe related but I really enjoy reading poetry. So I thought I would share this Blog with you! This girl has an amazing talent at a young age. So much wisdom too! I appreciate how she pours her heart into writing. Enjoy! Check her out here..sarahmagnolia.wordpress.com

Turkey Potato and Kale Soup

Okay so as I was looking for a recipe for kale and potato soup and there are tons but I couldn't find one I liked so this is my recipe. I hope you all enjoy! My family loved it!

4 Slices of Bacon
6-8 cups Chicken Broth
1 1/2 Lbs. Ground Turkey(mine was spicy)
1 Medium Onion Chopped
2 Garlic Cloves Minced
1 Large Bag of Kale
6-8 Russet Potatoes
1 1/2 Cups of Half N Half
Directions:
Cut bacon in small pieces and cook till done in a large stockpot. Remove bacon and drain most of drippings from pan. (Leave a small amount) Cook onion and minced garlic in drippings till tender and fragrant. Add ground turkey and cook till no longer pink. Drain. Wash kale and remove from stems. Tear into bite size pieces. Add kale to turkey and allow to wilt slightly. Meanwhile cut potatoes in half lengthwise. Slice to make a half moon shape. When kale is slightly wilted add chicken both, potatoes and bacon. Bring to a boil. Cook until potatoes are al dente. Remove from heat and add half and half. Season as desired.
*Side note You can put a pinch of red pepper flakes in this to spice it up. I did not because I used spicy turkey. Basically I just seasoned with salt and pepper

Let me know if you try this one! Come back and comment what you think!! 

Friday, April 4, 2014

40 Minute Hambuger Buns

Homemade Hambuger Buns
Several People Have Requested this recipe....here it is!!


2 Tbs. Yeast
1 Cup plus 2 Tbs. Warm Water
1/3 Cup Vegetable Oil
1/4 Cup Sugar
1 Egg
1 Tsp.Salt
3 to 3 1/2 Cups All Purpose Flour
In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water..Add oil and sugar; let stand for 5 mins . Add egg salt and enough flour to form a soft dough. Turn onto a floured board. Knead until smooth and elastic about 3-5 mins. Do not let rise. Divide into 12 pieces, shape each into a ball. Place 3 in. apart on greased baking sheets. Cover and let rest 10 mins.Bake at 425 for 8-12 mins. or until golden brown. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool.
Yield.1 Doz.
Side Note : I squish these down a little after forming into a ball
Original Recipe from: Taste of Home

Thursday, April 3, 2014

First Recipe!

Honey Whole Wheat Bread
This is by far the most amazing recipe for bread ever!!!
Here it is:
Put in mixer:
3 cups warm water
2Tbs yeast
1/3 cup Honey
5 cups all purpose flour
(Make to proof your yeast in warm water before mixing)
Mix together. Cover and let raise 30 mins in mixer. Dough should raise to almost top of bowl. Give it a quick pulse or two and start adding the following ingredients:
1/3 cup Honey
1Tbs salt
3 Tbs Canola or vegetable oil
3 1/2 cups Whole wheat flour
Knead about 8-10 mins (do in mixer with dough hook). Place dough in oiled bowl. Cover and let double in size. Punch down, place in greased bread pans. Let bread raise about 1 - 1 1/2 hours. After raising bake 350 for 25- 30 mins. Cool on rack, rub butter on top.
Recipe makes 2 large loaves or 3 small!
Let me know if you all try this bread and what you think!!
original link provided by babyjaynes.com

New Day...

April 3, 2014
I am still getting the hang of this blogging issue. So please bare with me until I get the kinks worked out and the designs up and running! Your feedback is welcome and appreciated! I will post some recipes soon! Thanks for all of your support as I begin an exciting new chapter!