Friday, January 21, 2011

Naan

While on vacation, we made pizzas using Naan bread.  They were so yummy.  Tonight I made them again :)  This bread is so good just plain, too.

1 pkg yeast
1 cup warm water
4 TBL granulated sugar

1 egg, beaten
3 TBL milk
2 tsp salt
4 ½ cup flour
¼ cup butter, melted
In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Let set until frothy. Stir in sugar, milk, egg, salt, and enough flour to make a soft dough. Knead for 6-8 minutes on a lightly floured surface until smooth. Place dough in a well oiled bowl, cover with a damp cloth, and set aside to rise. Let rise until double. Punch down dough. Pinch off small amounts of dough to make 12-14 pieces. Roll into balls and allow to rise again until double. Preheat the grill.

At grill side, roll one ball of dough into a thin circle. ** Lightly oil the grill. Place dough on grill and cook for 2-3 minutes, or until puffy and lightly browned. Brush uncooked side with butter, and turn over. Brush cooked side with butter and cook until done, another 2-4 minutes. Remove from grill and continue cooking until all naan has been prepared.

Top with toppings and then add to grill again to heat.

**After watching my SIL make these, I do them like her.  I actually roll the balls out at the counter and then spread butter on both sides before I put them on the grill.

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Baking Powder Biscuits

These were the biscuits we had on our vacation.  We had them as biscuits and gravy for breakfast but I could have just eaten them with jam or jelly.  They were DELICIOUS!

1 1/3 cups flour
2 TBL sugar
3 tsp baking powder
1/8 tsp salt
5 TBL cold butter, cut in pieces (my SIL swears this makes all the difference!!)
1/2 cup milk

Heat oven to 425 degrees.  Grease a baking sheet.  Sift flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt into a bowl.  Cut in the butter with a pastry blender until the mixutre resembles coarse crumbs.  Pour in the milk and stir with a fork to form a soft dough.  Roll out the dough about 1/4 inch thick.  Cut out circles with a 2 1/2" cookie cutter.  Place on the prepared sheet and bake until golden (about 12 minutes).  Serve hot or warm.

There's a variation for this recipe on the page it came from....for berry shortcake, split the biscuites in half while still warm.  Butter on half, top with lightly sugared fresh berries, sucah as strawberries, raspberries or blueberries, and sandwich with the other half.  Serve with dollops of whipped cream.  Sounds GREAT to me!

One Hour Rolls

I got this recipe from my friend who got it from another friend.  I was eager to try a quick roll recipe.  Here's the recipe:

4-5 cups of flour
1 1/2 Tbls rapid rise yeast
Mix together in a large bowl and set aside

In a microwavable bowl melt 1/4 butter (about 30 seconds)
Add the following to the melted butter:
1 1/2 cups milk
1/2 cup water
3 Tbls sugar
1 tsp salt
Microwave for 2-2 1/2 minutes until warm not too hot.
Add to flour mixture with a wooden spoon.  Stir the dough as much as you can, then pour onto a floured counter and begin kneading, adding in more flour until it doesn't stick to your hands. Kneed between 6-8 minutes. Put back in bowl and cover with a towel, in a warm place let the dough rise 15 minutes. Form into balls and place on a greased cookie sheet. Cover them with a towel again and let them rise in a warm place for another 15 min. Bake at 400 for 15-16 minutes. As soon as they come out rub them with butter. (This recipe can also be used to make Cinnamon rolls or you can roll it out and fill with meat and cheese and then roll it up to make a Stromboli)

I was very happy with the way these rolls looked after they raised.  They REALLY did raise in fifteen minutes in the bowl and fifteen minutes on the pan.  I used a 9x13...next time I will for sure use a cookie sheet.  :)  I always brush all of my rolls with butter before I put them in the oven to guarantee a nice golden brown on top, and I mixed this whole recipe with my Kitchen Aid.  This were definitely quicker than my usual roll recipe...a bit more of a yeasty taste than what we usually have (enough that Dave noticed I used a different recipe)...maybe I undercooked them a bit.  I would make these again, though, if I'm short on time :)

Saturday, January 8, 2011

French Bread

Last year we had a church activity where the kids made bread.  It was delicious and simple!  Here's the recipe (thanks, Debbie)...

1/2 c. warm water
2 T. yeast
2 c. hot water
3 T. sugar
1 T. salt
1/3 c. melted shortening
5-6 c. flour
Beaten egg white

Dissolve yeast in warm water. Combine remaining ingredients, using only 3 cups flour. Beat well and add yeast. Add remaining flour and beat well. Stir down every 10 minutes for 1 hour (sometimes I am unable to do this and it still turns out). Roll out on board, then roll up into long, narrow loaves. Place on greased cookie sheets. Spread top with beaten egg white. Make 3 diagonal slashes. Let rise until double. Bake at 400 for 25-35 minutes.

Friday, January 7, 2011

Jason's Easy Cheesecake

While on vacation, my SIL Kenzie made this delicious cheesecake for my BIL's birthday.  It was very yummy...my mouth it watering just thinking about it.

Crust:
1 1/2 pkgs graham crackers
1/2 cup butter
Crush graham crackers, mix in melted butter, pack & level in bottom of 13x9 pan and chill.

Cheesecake:
2 8oz pkgs cream cheese
4 TBSP milk
2 cups powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla
4 cups pre-mixed Dream Whip (2 envelopes made to box instructions. hint: in most stores it's found next to the jello/gelatin)

Mix first four ingredients together well. Then fold in the dream whip. Spread over crust and chill. When ready to serve, top it with your fav fruit  (She topped it with a can of canned blueberries...definitely helps that I LOVE blueberries)! Enjoy!

Thanks for sharing, Kenzie!

60 Minute Bread or Rolls

Yesterday I was in need of a quick bread recipe.  We were having pasta, and I was really craving french bread.  I did a quick search on the internet for a 60 minute bread and here's what I found:


1 cup milk
1 cup water
¼ cup butter
4 - 5 cups flour
3 tb sugar
1 tsp salt
2 pkg. Yeast (About 2 TBLs of yeast)
Combine the milk butter and water in a small saucepan. Heat over low heat until warm to touch about 120 degrees. The butter does not need to melt completely. If you make this too hot the yeast will activate too quickly.  In the bowl of your mixer add 3 cups flour and the remaining ingrediants.  Gradually add the milk mixture with your mixer on low until well blended. Remember to scrape the sides of bowl.  Gradually add the remaining flour ½ cup at time until the dough clings to the hook and cleans the sides of the bowl. You will easily be able to gather the dough into a ball and remove from bowl. Have a glass bowl that has been lightly greased ready for the dough. Place your ball of dough in the bowl and knead it for about a minute. Cover with a dish towel place in a warm draft free place to 20 minutes.  The dough should be double in size at this time. Punch down the dough. Place on a floured surface and knead for about a minute. Divide the dough into rolls and place on a greased cookie sheet or stone. Grease your loaf pan and fill ½ with dough.  Again cover with a towel and allow to rise for 20 minutes.Before baking brush the dough with melted butter. Bake 425 degrees 10 -12 minutes.  I made two loaves of bread and let them cook for about 20 minutes...perfect addition to our meal.

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Stuffed Mushrooms

During December, I was at a friend's house just before she was on her way out the door to a holiday party.  She still needed to do some things to get ready so I told her I would make the stuffed mushrooms for her to take.  They looked so yummy when they were done (even before they were cooked) that I told her I needed a picture of them if she made them again so I could post them on here :)

Rinse and wash a package of mushrooms.  De-stem the mushrooms and save the stems.  Fry bacon (I think I used about 8 or 10 slices.  Crumble the bacon and chop about 1/2 of the mushroom stems.  Mix bacon, stems, and package of cream cheese.  Stuff mushrooms with mix.  Put in a sprayed 9 x 13 baking pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.