Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Bread Recipes

Kim, I'm putting these up for you since you were saying you needed to get my bread recipes.  I actually got both of these online, although the first one I modified a bit since I don't have a bread machine like the recipe called for (thank goodness because I'd make bread every day!).  The second one is the one I did yesterday and it was pretty dang good - it'd be great with pasta or to shape into a pizza crust.


Sandwich Buns 
(I cut the recipe in half to get about 6 good sized buns)

  • 1 1/4 cups warm milk
  • 1 egg, beaten
  • 2 tablespoons butter or margarine, softened
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt
  • 3 3/4 cups bread flour
  • 1 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast



  • Warm the milk so it's just hot enough that you can still touch it, then mix with sugar & yeast.  Let sit for 5+ minutes until there is a nice foam going (activates the yeast).  Add the rest of the ingredients, slowly adding the flour last.  This works best in a food processor or large mixer with a dough hook, but you could do it by hand also.  Keep kneading the dough until smooth/rubbery, then place in a lightly oiled bowl and cover with damp dish/paper towel to rise until doubled (a warm place is best).  Then cut pieces of dough & form into balls, lay out on a cookie sheet & cover again with a towel for 30 minutes.  Brush the tops with the melted butter & cook at 350 degrees for approx 15 minutes (when they start turning golden, they're done).  


  • Italian Herb Bread
    • 2 (.25 ounce) packages active dry yeast
    • 2 cups warm water (110 degrees F)
    • 2 tablespoons white sugar
    • 1/4 cup olive oil
    • 1 tablespoon salt
    • 1 tablespoon dried basil
    • 1 tablespoon dried oregano
    • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
    • 1 teaspoon onion powder
    • 1/2 cup grated Romano cheese
    • 6 cups bread flour

  • Mix yeast, warm water, and white sugar together in a large bowl. Set aside for five minutes, or until mixture becomes foamy.  Stir olive oil, salt, herbs, garlic powder, onion powder, cheese, and 3 cups flour into the yeast mixture. Gradually mix in the next three cups of flour. Dough will be stiff.  Knead dough for 5 to 10 minutes, or until it is smooth and rubbery. Place in an oiled bowl, and turn to cover the surface of the dough with oil. Cover with a damp linen dish towel. Allow to rise for one hour, or until the dough has doubled in size.  Punch dough down to release all the air. Shape into two loaves. Place loaves on a greased cookie sheet, or into two greased 9 x 5 inch loaf pans. Allow to rise until doubled in size, about a 30 minutes. Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 35 minutes. Remove loaves from pan(s), and let cool on wire racks for at least 15 minutes before slicing.

Monday, September 26, 2011

Baby Back Ribs

Ribs from Devin's Birthday

Rack of BabyBack Ribs (use as many racks as you need)
Tabasco
Garlic Powder
Pepper


Slather the ribs with tabasco, be generous it cooks off and they won't be hot. Rub the tabasco into the ribs. Sprinkle both sides of ribs with garlic powder and pepper. Again be generous. These ingredients give the ribs all the flavor. Allow to marinate for 30 minutes.
Grill the ribs until there is a little char on them. They do not need to be cooked all the way through
Preheat oven to 250 degrees.
Cover deep pan (a cake pan works) with foil. Cook ribs for 4 1/2 hours for a "little tug" or 5 hours for fall of the bone ribs.
Use your favorite BBQ sauce or eat plain.

Baby Back Ribs

Ribs from Devin's Birthday

Rack of BabyBack Ribs (use as many racks as you need)
Tabasco
Garlic Powder
Pepper


Slather the ribs with tabasco, be generous it cooks off and they won't be hot. Rub the tabasco into the ribs. Sprinkle both sides of ribs with garlic powder and pepper. Again be generous. These ingredients give the ribs all the flavor. Allow to marinate for 30 minutes.
Grill the ribs until there is a little char on them. They do not need to be cooked all the way through
Preheat oven to 250 degrees.
Cover deep pan (a cake pan works) with foil. Cook ribs for 4 1/2 hours for a "little tug" or 5 hours for fall of the bone ribs.
Use your favorite BBQ sauce or eat plain.

Friday, June 3, 2011

Pork Burritos

2-3 lb. Pork Tenderloin Roast
1 cup Brown Sugar
2 cups FRESH Salsa (very important to use fresh salsa)
20 oz Vanilla Coke (I usually only use about half of this)

***Adjust any of these ingredients to your liking.

Combine all ingredients together in a crockpot and cook on low for 6-8 hours. Once the pork has cooked through (usually for me this is somewhere between 4-5 hours) remove the roast and shred it. Return shredded pork to the crockpot and continue cooking.

Serve in warm tortilla shells (we like the ones you cook yourself from Costco) with your favorite fixings. Our favorites are cheese, sour cream and guacamole.

Tortellini Soup


1 T butter
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 (14 oz) cans chicken broth
1 (9 oz) pkg. cheese tortellini
¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Salt and pepper to taste
1 (14 oz) can diced tomatoes, undrained
½ bunch fresh spinach
3t fresh basil or 1t dried basil

Melt butter in a large saucepan and sauté garlic over med heat for 2 min.
Stir in broth and tortellini. Bring to a boil and season with salt and pepper. Simmer 5 min. Add tomatoes, spinach, and basil into soup.
Simmer 10 minutes more. Garnish with parmesan cheese and serve.

Fruit Dip

Fruit Dip

8 oz cream cheese (room temp)
1 jar (7 oz) marshmallow creme

Mix together, and enjoy with any kind of fruit.
You can add walnuts if you like. I don't like nuts so I don't
Enjoy!

Thursday, June 2, 2011

Creamy Tomato Pasta with Blackened Chicken

1 T. olive oil
8 oz. gemelli or penne pasta
1 (14 oz.) can diced tomatoes
1 tsp. dry basil (or 3 T. fresh)
1 tsp. sugar
2/3 cup cream
Handful of spinach (optional)
Parmesan cheese

  • Cook pasta according to directions; drain and keep warm.
  • Pour tomatoes into a small sauce pan and add dry basil and sugar. (If using fresh basil stir in at the end.) Reduce the tomatoes over medium-high heat until thickened, about 10 minutes.
  • Once the tomatoes have thickened, reduce heat and stir in cream. Heat through but do not boil. Toss with pasta (and spinach if you are using it.)
  • Garnish with parmesan cheese and serve with grilled chicken.
***This recipe reminds me of the penne rosa from noodles & co.