Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Blog Site

My cousin sent me this link to another blog that is really good! I checked it out! Some really good and easy ones on here! She also sent me some recipes to put up here and will get them up here soon, sorry it's taking so long Jen! ;o)

Here's the link, check it out!

www.mennonitegirlscancook.blogspot.com

Wheat/White Bread

Don't ya just LOVE the smell of homemade bread? Especially in the fall! I don't know what it is, but I LOVE the smell of ANYTHING baking in my oven in the fall!

I have a couple different recipes for bread, no, not the kind you put in your bread maker!!! But tried this one first! It is actually a white bread recipe, but didn't have enough white, so I did half white and half wheat. It turned out really yummy!

The next time I made it, I did all white and it was SUPER good too! So very good toasted with homemade apple butter on it! YUMMY!!!

I was going to try another one this afternoon, but my kids woke up to soon. Which means, the bread won't rise when they are awake! ;o) So after I put them to bed, will mix some up!





This is the wheat and white combo.





This is the all white flour one! Both really good!


Homemade Bread

1 (1/4 oz) package active dry yeast
1/2 cup plus 2 cups warm water or milk
1 heaping tablespoon lard or shortening
2 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon salt
7-8 cups flour

In a small bowl, dissolve the yeast in the 1/2 cup warm water. In large mixing bowl, combine the lard, sugar, salt and remaining 2 cups water. Into the mixing bowl stir the yeast and enough flour to make a soft, elastic dough that doesn't stick to the sides of the bowl. Cover the dough with a loose piece of plastic wrap and let rise til double in size, (about 1 1/4 hours) in a draft free warm place. Punch the dough down, and divide it into 2 balls. Form into 2 loaves and place in greased loaf pan. Cover with a damp cloth and let it rise again until double (about 45-60 minutes). Bake in a 325d oven for about 45 minutes. The bread will sound hollow when it's done.


*I used water instead of the milk. Also, you can brush the top of the bread with melted butter or margarine to have a softer crust. This bread doesn't last very long in our house! ENJOY!!!!

Friday, October 16, 2009

Chunky Tomato and Vegetable Sauce


Frying up the veggies, oh the smell was sooooo delish! Again, wish it was a scratch and sniff picture!!!! ;o)


The recipe calls for fresh or canned tomatoes, and I cheated and used canned! ;o)



Look at those chucks of veggies, YUMMY!!!!!


Pour over your cooked pasta and ENJOY!!!


Chunky Tomato and Vegetable Sauce

2 tablespoons olive oil
2 cups fresh chopped onion
2 cups chopped carrot
2-4 cloves of garlic, minced or pressed
1 cup diced zucchini
3-4 cups sliced mushrooms
1 teaspoon basil
1/2 teaspoon thyme
1/2 teaspoon marjoram
1/2 teaspoon salt
pepper to taste
1 28 oz can peeled, chopped tomatoes, or 4 cups fresh peeled, chopped tomato
1 teaspoon sugar
2 tablespoons tomato paste

Heat oil in medium saucepan over medium heat. Add veggies, herbs and salt and pepper. Stir to coat with oil. Cover the pan and steam the veggies for about 20 minutes, stirring frequently to keep them from sticking too much. Add the tomatoes and sugar and paste, and simmer for about 30 minutes.


*I used coconut oil instead of olive oil. I didn't have any zucchini, so I used some green pepper. Next time I will add the zucchini with the pepper as well. You could add other colors of peppers too, like yellow, orange, red... You could prob add some jalapeno pepper too for extra spice. I also used one 14oz can of diced tomatoes. Also used a whole can of tomato paste. You can use whatever type of pasta you want, even wheat pasta. ENJOY!!!

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Caramel Apples on the Grill

It is still warm enough here where I can grill and not freeze to death! BUT I know some of you reading and wanting to hurt me for saying that! :O) But here's a recipe where all you have to do is, turn the grill on, put the apples on and let it go for about 20-30 minutes! I put both burners on half-way. Then let it go.
It is that time of year where our mouths are watering for caramel apples and anything that has to do with apples! Its Fall, no matter where you live!!! :O)



My "helper" wanted to eat the caramels and not put them in the foil! It sure was tempting! (ok so we split one!)



My helper who was happy after I gave her one! :O)



All done! Can't you just smell them? Look at all that caramel goodness?!?!


Grilled Caramel Apples

5 medium apples (any kind, I used Gala, but Honeycrisp or Granny Smith would be super good!)
1 bag caramels, un-wrapped

Get 2 pieces of foil and put them in the shape of an X. Clean, cut, core, and slice your apples in the middle of that X. Dump all the caramels over the top of the apples. (go ahead, eat one for yourself!!!) Put just a little bit of water in the bottom of the foil before closes, just so it won't stick. Fold it all up so it's completely closed, no steam to escape! Throw it on the grill for 20-30 min, just depends on how "crispy" you want your apples!

*This would be GREAT served with ice cream or whipped topping!
Also, add more apples if you need, this served us all (5) with none leftover! Just be sure to add more caramels!!!

Spanish Style Quinoa

What in the world is quinoa and how do you pronounce it? It is pronounced "KEEN-wah". It is an excellent source of protein. It is soooo good for you all the way around!
I got some reading info from this website, but I am sure you can find more!
http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=142
Check it out for yourself!




Oh, the smell of garlic and onions, YUMMY!!! I SO wish this was a scratch and sniff picture!!! I added about twice as much garlic!




Added the water and tomato paste and other spices...



Finished! SOOOOOO good!!!!!!!



Spanish Style Quinoa

2 tablespoons vegetable oil (I used coconut oil, a bit healthier for you!)
1 cup uncooked quinoa
1 medium onion, finely chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 small green bell pepper, chopped
1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
2 1/2 cups water
1 teaspoon chili powder
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin

Heat the vegetable oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Stir in the quinoa, onion, garlic, and green pepper. Cook and stir 5 to 10 minutes until the onion is tender, and the quinoa has lightly toasted. Stir in the tomato sauce and water, then season with the chili powder, garlic powder, and cumin. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until the quinoa is tender, and the liquid is absorbed, about 30 minutes. Stir the quinoa occasionally as it cooks.


I use my cast iron skillet for EVERYTHING, and since it didn't have a lid, I just used a piece of foil instead! Worked just fine! Also, like I said at the top, I used WAY more garlic than it calls for! But we all LOVE garlic!
I cooked some chicken on the grill to go with this, then after talking to my mom, remembered that it was a PROTEIN food and not fiber like I was thinking, opps! So we got tons of protein that nite!!! :O)
Here's what I did with the leftovers...



Put it on a tortilla and added a bit of cheese! Today I added a little bit of sour cream as well! So good!!! You can use wheat tortillas to make it even more healthy! Enjoy!!!

Sloppy Joe Bake

YUMMY!!!!!!!! And oh sooo easy!!!! The kids gobbled it all up and asked for more!




Layer your sloppy joes in the bottom of a pan...



Pour the biscuit mix on top and bake!



I forgot to take a pic after taking it out of the oven! We only had a small little "piece" left!



Sloppy joe bake, corn and applesauce, YUMMY!!!!! Again, did I say how EASY it was?



Sloppy Joe Bake

1 pound ground beef or turkey
1/2 cup onion, chopped
15 oz can tomato sauce
1/2 cup ketchup
1/3 cup brown sugar
2 teaspoons mustard
1 1/2 cups bisquick baking mix
1 cup milk
2 eggs

Heat oven to 400d. Cook ground beef or turkey and onion in skillet until beef is browned, drain. Put back in pan and stir in tomato sauce, ketchup, brown sugar, and mustard. Heat to boiling and then spoon into ungreased baking pan. (13x9) Stir baking mix, milk, and eggs with fork until well blended. Carefully pour over beef mixture. Bake 20-25 min or until light and golden brown.


*I also add garlic, either cloves or garlic salt. Also, I don't always measure, I just kinda dump! :) ENJOY and let me know what you think!

Friday, October 9, 2009

Granola

Since I just posted some pics of Skylar helping me make granola, I thought, what a perfect one to start out with! ;o)

This is a SUPER easy recipe and LOVE letting my kids help me make this! They LOVE to help me bake and cook! You can do a couple different things with this one. You can add it to vanilla ice cream, baked apples/pears/peaches, yogurt, the possibilities are endless! ;o) I also use this granola to make granola bars too! Yummy!!! They are so much more healthy for you than store bought and really are super easy to make!



She thought the food chopper was the COOLEST thing EVER!!!!



Digging out the raisins! I know, the bag is bigger than her! LOVE big bags of raisins!!! :O)



Dumping in the raisins



Helping stir it all together after I put the water/honey mixture in!



LOVE the look of seriousness on her face!



Dumping it on the pan to cook!



All done and SUPER delish!!!! :oP


Homemade Granola

3 cups rolled oats
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup sunflower seeds
1/2 cup chopped nuts
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup honey
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup HOT water
1 tsp vanilla

Preheat oven to 250d. Combine the oats, flour, sunflower seeds, nuts and raisins in big bowl. In a separate bowl, combine the honey, oil, hot water and vanilla. Stir until its all mixed up thoroughly. Pour the wet ingredients over the dry mixture and stir until well combined. Spread the mixture evenly over a cookie sheet. Place pan in pre-heated over for 1 hour and 15 minutes. Remove from oven, stir it while on pan and let cool. Store in a baggie or Tupperware.



I use a HUGE bowl that my parents got me many years ago. I LOVE using it and it's great for when the kids stir!!! :O) Also, you can add other things to this recipe. Like coconut, dried apricots, dried apples, dried cranberries, dried strawberries. Like I said, the possibilities are endless for this recipe!! I am going to dry some apples and do apples and raisins and then make granola bars with that combo. This is great in the morning with cold milk over it! Man, making me hungry, gonna have to go and eat some now!
ENJOY!!!!!!

Monday, October 5, 2009

Check it out!

Well, here it is! I got it up and now need to add recipes! As you know I am a little busy, but will do my best to get a couple recipes up here per week!
If anyone wants to send me a recipe to put up here, just e-mail and if you don't have my e-mail, post a comment and will get it to you!
I LOVE getting new recipes and trying new things, so if you don't mind sharing, please do!!! :O) Also, if you try one of the recipes I post, please leave a comment, even if you didn't like it! Or if you did something different to it, let me/us know!!!
HAPPY COOKING!!!!!