Cinnamon Sugar Pull-Apart Bread I’m sorry. I know it’s Monday morning and you probably came here for some pretty pictures of food that you could glance at, and then move on with your day… and here I go thrusting warm, soft cinnamon sugar bread in your face. It’s not fair. I know it’s not fair. I know that now you’re craving cinnamon rolls, and cream cheese frosting and chili fries and hot dogs. I am too… and I already ate half of this warm bread. You don’t deserve this sort of torture. This bread hits all the comfort spots in my soul. I’m sorry and you’re welcome and I love you. Let’s start at the beginning. I did this all without the use of a stand mixer and dough hook. This dough can be made and left to rise , then refrigerated overnight for use in the morning. This is the dough just before it’s left to rise. After the dough has rested and risen for an hour, I knead it in a few tablespoons of flour. This is the part in the bread process where you can wrap the dough and place it in the fridge to rest overnight.
Homemade Soft Pretzel Bites Homemade Soft Pretzel Bites On Fridays, I teach cooking classes to two kids in our neighborhood. They are pretty knowledgeable-so my job is easy:) I think it is fantastic that they want to learn how to cook at such a young age-they are in the 3rd and 4th grade. On Friday we made homemade soft pretzels,the traditional salty ones and cinnamon and sugar pretzels. For fun, we also made pretzel bites. everyone loved these. Is everyone ready for the big game? Buffalo Hot Wings-these are Josh’s all time favorite. My good friend Gaby, from What’s Gaby Cooking, made Pulled Pork Sliders for the big game. Homemade Soft Pretzel Bites Yield: A lot!
Scrumptious Baked Cinnamon Breakfast Bites I love a good donut, especially a homemade one. What I don’t love is the pain associated with deep frying them. It is messy, time consuming and certainly more fattening. These baked Cinnamon Breakfast Bites mimic what I love about donut holes but without all the added stress and calories. They are super scrumptious and I encourage you to try them out yourself and see how long they last in your house! Ingredients 1-1/3 cups all-purpose flour 1 cup crisp rice cereal, coarsely crushed 2 tablespoons plus 1/2 cup sugar, divided 3 teaspoons baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 cup butter-flavored shortening 1/2 cup milk 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/4 cup butter, melted Directions Mix flour, crushed cereal, 2 tablespoons sugar, baking powder and salt in large bowl. Cut in shortening with pastry blender or fork until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add milk and stir just until moistened. Roll dough into approximately 2 1/2 dozen 1 inch balls. Mix cinnamon and remaining sugar in a small bowl.
Garlic Knots Garlic Knots Being January, most people really don’t want to hear about or see sweets. As much as I’m protesting making and sharing healthier dishes, I will at least hold off on making and sharing any desserts for a while. In the meantime, I needed and wanted to come up with something else new to make this week. When I first tasted the rolls I was expecting a stronger garlic taste. Prep Time: 2 hours Cook Time: 15-20 minutes Ingredients: Dough Ingredients: 3 - 3 1/2C bread flour (I used 3 1/4C) 1 tbsp sugar 1 pkg instant yeast (rapid rise - not active) 1 1/4 tsp salt 2 tbsp olive oil 1/4C milk 1C 2tbsp warm water Topping Ingredients: 2 cloves garlic 3 tbsp butter 1/8 tsp salt 1/8 tsp dried parsley 1/8 tsp dried basil Directions: In the bowl of a stand mixer (or large bowl), combine dry ingredients for the dough. Spray a large bowl with olive oil or your favorite baking spray. Prep a baking sheet with a silpat or sheet or parchment paper, set aside. Transfer to your prepared baking sheet.
Havarti Mac n Cheese Havarti Mac n Cheese I’ve been in a baking and cooking funk lately for one reason or another. It happens to the best of us. I truly wanted to get into the kitchen and make something new and fun to share but couldn’t bring myself to do so. I’m trying. Maybe you can even help give me inspiration to get back in there and whip something fun up. I like having different versions of the same type of dish to mix it up on occasion. My mom has made this several times. Ingredients: 3C pasta, uncooked 2 tbsp butter 2 tbsp flour 1/4 tsp salt 1/4 tsp pepper 1 1/2C milk 6oz mild cheddar, shredded 4oz Havarti, shredded 1/2C plain breadcrumbs 2 tbsp butter, melted Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a double boiler over simmering water, melt 2 tbsp butter. Drain pasta and transfer to prepared baking dish. Melt remaining 2 tbsp butter and mix with 1/2 cup breadcrumbs.
Cinnamon apple chips Cinnamon Apple Chips A week ago we went to the apple farm and came back with nearly 20 pounds of apples. I’m not even remotely kidding. I’m in apple heaven. I love this time of year. Sure you can get apples year round but they’re not local and super fresh. Homemade baked cinnamon apple chips are a simple and delicious snack the entire family will love! Every year I get super excited to make my favorite apple pie. Ever since Cheri of Kitchen Simplicity shared her recipe for maple walnut apple chips, I’ve been dying to make some of my own. *I found using a sharp knife worked easier than a mandoline as the cheapo one I had was not wide enough to accommodate my massive apples. Thin slices of apples sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar, then baked until crisp. Servings: 4 1-2 large apples1/2 tsp cinnamon1 1/2 tsp granulated sugar Using a mandoline or a sharp knife, carefully cut apples into very thin slices. Cinnamon Apple Chips Every year I get super excited to make my favorite apple pie.
How to Microwave Gourmet Popcorn in a Brown Paper Bag Peeeeee-yew! I’m done with the stinky stench of microwave popcorn. Actually, I haven’t popped a single bag of that toxic smelling stuff in years since I hate the thought of being swindled by a stank bag of greasy kernels. That’s right people, I’m calling foul on microwave popcorn since it’s a reeking wallet rip off. Doing the mathy math, microwave popcorn costs around $22.65 for 12 boxes with 3 packets per box (source Amazon) — that’s an eye-popping $3.53 per pound! Sure, you may think you’re paying all that delicious cash for a magic metal-lined bag that pops better kernels and cooks your corn more evenly. Now let me pop the big question: have you ever recycled your leftover microwave popcorn bags? Speaking of waist, do you know how many calories are contained in those popcorn flavor packets? Act II Popcorn Ingredients: Popcorn, Partially Hydrogenated Soybean Oil, Salt, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Annatto Color. Fish? Step One: Get a brown paper bag Step Two: Bag your popcorn