Whole Wheat/White Bread

This bread is delish! This is one of my favorite recipes. My family & friends devour it! 

I like to grind my own wheat in my dry Vitamix blender. It makes it more nutritious. But, you can certainly just use whole wheat flour and be good to go.

I tripled this recipe, and as you can see in this picture...it made 3 LARGE loaves. So, this recipe tripled would make 4 good sized loaves as well.

Recipe:

1/2 C. milk (I use evaporated in a can for my baking)

3 Tbsp. sugar or honey

2 tsp. salt

3 Tbsp. butter

2 Tbsp. yeast

1 1/2 C. warm water

5-6 C. flour (I use half wheat/ half white, I also like to add some whole grain cereal mix into the flour)

In a glass bowl in the microwave add milk & butter. Take it out when butter is soft.

Add sugar & salt. 

Stir.

Dissolve yeast in warm water.(Let sit for 5-10 minutes).

In a large bowl pour milk mixture and start adding flour. Stir & stir like crazy!

Keep adding flour until warm. 

Add yeast/water mixture.

Add the rest of the flour. 

Stir well.

Knead for 10 minutes. 

Place dough into a greased bowl, cover with a towel. Let rise for about 45-60 minutes.

Punch down and pour out onto greased/floured surface. Cut into 4 equal parts. 

Knead and shape into loaves. (I like to roll mine out into a rectangle shape, then roll it up like a jelly roll, pinch the sides closed and place into greased bread pans).

Let rise for 45-60 minutes.

Preheat oven to 350*.

Bake bread for 25-30 minutes, or until golden brown on top and bottom.

Take out of oven and butter tops.

Run knife around the edges of each pan and pop out onto a dish towel. 

Enjoy!

Recipe inspired by Kitchen Aid Mixer recipe book. 

Becky

Cinnamon Rolls

Cinnamon Rolls are my weakness, so I rarely make them. Today I made some warm, gooey, tasty cinnamon rolls for my neighbor who just had surgery. So, we shared in the bounty. :)

Ingredients:

2 C. scalded milk

1/2 C. butter

1/2 C. warm water

2 1/2 Tbsp. yeast

1 C. sugar

1 tsp. salt

1 C. mashed potatoes

2 eggs, beaten

7 C. flour (I add at least 1 C. wheat), about

1/2 C. pecans, chopped

1/2 raisins

Filling:

1/2 C. butter, softened

1 1/2 C. brown sugar

2 tsp. cinnamon

In a measuring cup add water and yeast. Let sit. 

 Heat milk in the microwave for 2 minutes. Add butter. Stir until melted. 

Add sugar and salt. 

Make 1 cup of potatoes by using instant or cooking a potato in the microwave for 8 minutes, peeling, and mashing. 

Add potatoes to milk mixture. Add 3 C. of the flour. Mix well. Add yeast mixture and eggs. Mix well with a wooden spoon or mixer.

 Add the rest of the flour, pecans, and raisins (This is the step I love. I usually just add the nuts and raisins to the filling, but when you add it to the dough, it making the flavors all throughout the roll). 

Knead for 3 minutes. Let rise in the bowl for about 10-15 minutes. 

Cut in half.

 Roll out into a long rectangle on a well greased counter top. 

Top with butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon.

Pinch all opening closed (so filling doesn't fall out) into a long roll. 

 Cut into rolls and place into greased 9X13 pans. Make sure rolls are touching, then they will stay more moist as they expand in the oven. 

Bake at 325 for 20-25 minutes, or until golden brown. Take out of oven. Let cool for 5 minutes. 

Frost. 

Serve warm.

Frosting:

2 C. powdered sugar

1/4 C. butter, softened

1 tsp. water

1 tsp. vanilla

Whisk together.

I was a bit lazy today, so I just decided to use store bought vanilla frosting I had on hand. :)

Enjoy! Recipe idea from: Cookin' at Home with the Lunch Bunch

Recipe by: Becky

Irish Soda Bread

The other day at church I got this recipe. It is quite good. It reminds me almost of my banana bread, minus the bananas, if that makes sense.

Ingredients:
4 C. all purpose flour (I added 1 C. wheat, 3 C. white)
4 Tbsp. White sugar
1 tsp. baking soda
1 Tbsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 C. butter
1/4 C. oil
1 C. buttermilk
1 egg
1/4 C. butter
1/4 C. butter milk

In a bowl add dry ingredients.
Stir in softened butter & oil.
Stir in 1 C. buttermilk & egg.
Knead slightly on a floured surface.
Form into a round ball and place on a greased cookie sheet.
Cut a giant X in the top with a sharp knife. 
Brush Bread with 1/4 C. butter & 1/4 C. buttermilk before you put in oven and throughout cooking.Bake at 350 for 50-60 minutes, or until knife comes out clean.

Great with honey or strawberry jam on top. 

Original recipe from a women at my church.
Tweaked by: Becky

Grandma Gilbert's Banana Bread-Healthified

I used to attend a Healthy Living Class at my friend Katherine's house. This was a recipe she shared with us. I just can't get enough of it!

What you will need is:
1/4 C. butter
1/2 C. Canned Great White Northern Beans
3/4 C. sugar
4 egg whites, (or 2 whole eggs)
2 bananas
1/2 C. milk (isn't in original recipe)
1 tsp. baking soda (I use baking powder)
1/4 tsp. salt (I don't add it)
1 C. white flour
1 C. wheat flour
1 tsp. vanilla

Drain and Rinse beans.

Pour into blender or food processor, pulse beans & softened butter together until pureed.
Add to mixing bowl.

Add sugar, eggs, and bananas (after mashing them with a fork in a separate bowl) and milk.
Cream mixture.
Add dry ingredients & vanilla.
Stir until well incorporated.
Spoon into 1 loaf pan, greased well with non-stick cooking spray.
Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour or until knife comes out clean.
Can put into 12 muffin cups or 4 mini loaf pans and bake for 25 minutes. 
I doubled the recipe and gave 1 loaf to a neighbor who got to enjoy it. :)

This isn't word per word and I added a few little things that made it best for me. (Like the butter with the beans).

Recipe by: Katherine
Thanks!

P.S. Sorry I forgot to take a picture of what it looked like in the mixing bowl. Oops!

Whole Grain Wheat Bread

This bread was really good with our meal on Sunday!
In a cereal bowl add:
1 Tbsp. Brown Sugar
2 Tbsp. active dry yeast
2 C. warm water
Let sit for 5-10 minutes, or until yeast is activated.

In a mixing bowl add:
2 C. whole wheat flour
3 C. white flour (& a bit more later if the dough is too wet).
1/4 6 grain hot cereal mix, or oats, or any whole grain you have
1/3 C. brown sugar
1/2 C. powdered sugar
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. dough enhancer, optional
Whisk together well.
Then add:
1/3 C. oil
& yeast mixture

Stir together, until it is well incorporated.
Knead for 10 minutes on a floured or greased surface.

Place in a greased bowl and cover with plastic.
Let rise until double in bulk.
Punch down and cut in half.

Roll out the dough in a rectangle shape.
Roll up and pinch to close together.
Place in well greased loaf pans.

Let rise until double in bulk.
(With Wheat Bread you need to let it rise a bit longer before putting it in the oven. I let it rise the whole time we were at church and it turned out great). Bake at 400 degrees for 10 minutes.
Then at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes, or until golden brown.

Makes 2 loaves.

Recipe by:
Becky

Kentucky Biscuits

I made these last night to go with our soup. I doubled the recipe and added about 1 C. wheat flour. I also added a mixture of butter and canola oil, instead of shortening. I don't think you double the baking powder. I think you could add 1 1/2 Tbsp. and be fine. These are yummy!

Granny's Gingerbread

1/2 C. sugar
1/2 C. butter
1 egg
1 C. molasses (mild)
1/4 C. applesauce
2 1/2 C. flour
1 tsp. cinnamon
2 tsp. ground ginger
1 tsp. cloves
1/2 tsp. salt
2/3 C. hot water
Whipped Cream (optional)
Powdered Sugar (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cream sugar and butter, add egg and mix well. Add molasses and applesauce--mix well. Add dry ingredients and spices--mix well. Add hot water--mix well. Pour into greased and floured bunt pan (don't cheat with cooking spray!). Bake 45 minutes cool in pan before turning out onto a plate. Serve with whipped cream, applesauce or sprinkle with powdered sugar.
Tastes better on the second or third day as flavors mingle.
(Smells just like Christmas!)

Recipe from the Book Lemon Tart.

Isn't word per word.
This was pretty dense. It could have used a leavening agent. Such as 1 Tbsp. baking powder in with the flour. It was really good though.

Cinnamon sticks

I just made these as a dessert after we had pizza for dinner. I had some extra dough.

Dough:
In a large bowl add:
2 C. warm water
1 1/2 Tbsp. Yeast
1 Tbsp. sugar
Let sit for a few minutes.
Then add:
Dash of salt
1 tsp. dough enhancer 
Enough flour to make a great dough. (About 3 C.)
Knead for 5 minutes.
Let rest for 10 minutes.

Roll out dough and sprinkle with Cinnamon and sugar. 

Fold in half and slice with a pizza slice in 2 inch wide pieces. 

Twist twice and place on greased cookie sheet.

Bake in a 350 oven for 20 minutes. 

Top with a mixture of 3 parts powdered sugar to 1 part water. 

Recipes by:

Becky

Cheesy Bread Sticks

My friend Brandy used to work at this really cool pizza place and she filled me in on how they make their cheesy breadsticks.

Dough:
In a large bowl add:
2 C. warm water
1 1/2 Tbsp. Yeast
1 Tbsp. sugar
Let sit for a few minutes.
Then add:
Dash of salt
1 tsp. dough enhancer 
Enough flour to make a great dough. (About 3 C.)
Knead for 5 minutes.
Let rest for 10 minutes.

Roll out in a large rectangle.

Brush with Garlic butter. (I used Canola oil to save on the fat.)

Garlic butter:

Melt 1/4 C. butter in the microwave.

Add 1 tsp. Garlic powder. (I used garlic salt and it was too salty)

1/2 tsp. Italian Seasoning

 

Spread with Mozzarella cheese. I just used the cheese I had. I guess Mozzarella doesn't melt into the dough like other cheese does.

 

Fold in half.

Cut with pizza cutter in 2 inch strips.

Twist twice and place on greased cookie sheet.

Top with more garlic butter and cheese.

Bake in a 350 degree oven for 20 minutes, or until lightly browned.

Recipes by: Becky
Ideas by Brandy and online research.

Crescent Rolls

I got the Lion House Christmas Recipe book a lot time ago from my Aunt. This is one of my favorite recipes and is so easy.
This recipe isn't their recipe word per word, but the ingredients are the same.

In a small bowl add:
2 Tbsp. yeast to 2 C. warm water. Let sit for 5 minutes.

In a large mixing bowl add:
1/3 C. softened butter (I like to soften mine in the microwave for probably about 40 sec to 1 minute)
1/3 C. sugar
2 tsp. salt
2/3 C. nonfat dry milk
1 egg
Stir well.
Then add:
Yeast mixture
5-6 C. flour
Knead about 25-30 times on a well greased surface.
Let rise until double in bulk in a well greased bowl.
Punch down and cut into three sections.
Roll out.
Slice with a pizza cutter into 12 pieces. (Cut in half, then in half again, and again until you have desired sized pieces)
Start from the thickest side and roll up.
Place spaced out about 2 inches on a well greased cookie sheet.
Brush tops with melted butter. 
Let rise until double in bulk.
Bake in a 400 degree oven for 12 minutes.
Makes 3 dozen rolls.
Oh ya, I added about 1/2 C. 6 grain cereal mix for added nutrition. You can also add oats. 

Enjoy! I do. :)