Eggnog Bread

Eggnog Bread

• Mix in bowl #1-

2 ¼ cups flour
2 tsp. Baking powder
½ tsp. Salt
¼ tsp. Nutmeg

• Mix in bowl #2 (large bowl) - 

2 eggs
1 cup sugar
1 cup eggnog
½ cup melted butter
1 tsp. Vanilla
½ tsp. Almond extract

• Add to dry ingredients in bowl. Mix well.
• Bake in greased loaf pan at 350 for 45-60 minutes.
• When cool, frost with a mixture of ½ cup powdered sugar, ½ tsp. Vanilla, ¼ tsp. Nutmeg, add enough eggnog to reach consistency of a glaze.

Pumpkin Gingerbread

Pumpkin Gingerbread

2 ½ cups brown sugar

2/3 cup vegetable oil

4 eggs

1/3 cup milk

1/3 cup molasses

16 oz. Can pumpkin

2 tsp. Ginger

1 tsp. Cinnamon

1 tsp. Cloves

1 tsp. Nutmeg

3 ½ cups flour

2 tsp. Baking soda

1 ½ tsp. Salt

½ tsp. Baking powder

1 tsp. Vanilla

• Preheat oven to 350. 
• Grease 2 loaf pans or 6 mini loaf pans.
•  Beat sugar, oil and eggs until smooth.
• Add milk, molasses, a nd vanilla and beat until well blended. 
• Beat in pumpkin and spices.
•  In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. 
• Add to pumpkin mixture and blend just to mixed. 
• Bake one hour. 

 I made some of this for my husband and son's birthday party this weekend. The clan gave it two thumbs up! I thought it was pretty good but it is REALLY hard to beat the Eggnog Bread!

BEST and Easiest Pizza Dough EVER! :)

Remember this post about finding ways to have some family fun? This pizza has made it all come together!!

This crust keeps my family from having pizza delivered! It is just that yummy and easy. All you need to do is plan ahead BECAUSE you put everything in the bread maker and allow it to do the work! Easy-Peasy! :) 

Put in machine in this order:

• 1 cup and 2 Tablespoons water
• 2 Tablespoons olive oil
• 3 cups flour 
• 2 Tablespoons Parmesan cheese
• 1 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning or pizza seasoning
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 2 1/2 teaspoon yeast 

Select the dough setting and walk away! After the bread maker's dough setting is complete, punch down dough and spread onto pizza pan. Add choice of sauce and toppings. Bake at 400 for 18-20 minutes.

Go ahead! Give it try this weekend. The only think you'll regret is not doing it sooner! :) 

Chicken!

We are now home from vacation and we're ready to embark on a new journey! Without too much being said, we are entering a time of life in which we need to start minding our financial "Ps and Qs" even more.

I am quickly finding just how much growing boys can eat. With a husband, three growing boys and God-willing more in the future, I really need to learn how to stretch our food budget all the while trying to obtain good nourishment!

This week I am going to issue a challenge for myself. I have a family pack of split chicken breasts that has been in the freezer for a while. I am going to challenge myself to make as many nutritious meals out of that chicken as possible.

Photo Credit

Now I know that some would say, "Cook it and refreeze it so you won't get burnt out on chicken." but I'm not one of those types. If it goes in the deep freeze, it stays until we clean it out. As hard as I try, I just cannot keep up with what I have in that big ol' thing.

Enter...

Operation 5 1/4 lbs. Chicken Breast Challenge

I used to just bake the chicken with some seasonings and call it dinner, however I need to learn how to stretch it further and bring more vegetables onto our plates.

I will begin the challenge Sunday night. I will be putting chicken into a slow cooker with vegetables and allow the chicken to slow cook - I will be saving the vegetables to make bone broth.

Monday: 2 cups chopped chicken - no broth
Chicken Enchiladas  - with re fried beans and salsa

Tuesday: 4 cups chopped chicken - 4 cups of broth or broth from cooking chicken
White Chicken Chili - with salad and bread (This while make enough for several lunches and LOs)

Wednesday: 1/2 cup chopped chicken - no broth
Chicken Alfredo - with salad

*I will be making the chicken stock out of the bones and vegetables for other meals*

Thursday: 2 cups chopped chicken - 4 cups of chicken stock
Chicken Gnocchi sou- with garlic bread and salad

Friday: 1 cup of chopped chicken - no stock
BBQ Chicken Pizza - fruit and veggie tray

Saturday: 1 cup of chopped chicken - no stock
Chicken Quesadillas - with Spanish rice and chips and salsa

Sunday: 2 quarts chicken stock
CP Baked Potato Soup - with sandwiches

Monday: 1 cup shredded chicken and remaining chicken stock
Chicken and Noodles  - with green beans and mashed potatoes

Tuesday: 1 cup of shredded chicken
Buffalo Chicken Dip - with tortillas, chips and salsa

As I look through these meals, it's really going to be a stretch to get all these meals out of 5.36 lbs of chicken but we're going to give it a whirl! :) If I get all of these meals out of that chicken, I will be stretching one chicken into NINE meals!

Wanna take the challenge with me? Go ahead, try it! :)

AppleNut Oatmeal Panckaes

I am finally getting to the point where I can try and come up with my own recipes by tweaking and adding. I'm still not very comfortable with it but I am finally finding my way around the kitchen better!

Here is a recipe I came up with this morning:

AppleNut Oatmeal Pancakes

• 1 cup oatmeal
• 2-3 cups of whole wheat flour (I think pancake making is all about the individual. Some like the batter runny, some like it thick. I personally like my batter runny. I think it is easier to work with - therefore, I used 2 cups of whole wheat flour.)
• 1/3 cup of crushed walnuts or pecans
• 1/2 cup sucanant 
• 4 teaspoons of aluminum free baking powder
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup of applesauce
• 2 1/2 cup of milk

You can either grind your oatmeal or you can leave it whole. I choose to leave the oatmeal whole. It cooked up well on the griddle.

In one bowl combine oats, whole wheat, walnuts, sucanant, and baking powder. After sifted, add eggs, applesauce and milk.

Pour batter onto griddle, cook and flip. These pancakes are so sweet and full of flavor that you do not need any syrup. You can drizzle melted butter or a small amount of honey.

Trying this recipe, I did not soak any of the grains. Next time I will try soaking. For more information on soaking your grains you can visit Lindsey at Passionate Homemaking.

MPM: #2

We have had a week and weekend of getting things done around here. I cannot wait to share with you later in the week. Stop by and take a gander!

Sunday, August 22, 2010

Donuts

Yogurt, fruit

Monday, August 23, 2010

Yogurt, fruit, granola

Macaroni and cheese, carrot sticks, dip

Chicken salad sandwiches, oven baked cheese fries

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Creamy orange coolers, fruit, toast

RR chicken salad sandwiches, green beans, grapes

Tex mex dip, salsa, refried beans

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Applesauce bread, yogurt, fruit

Grilled cheese, carrot sticks, fruit

Crock-Pot Brown Sugar "candy" Chicken, broccoli, steamed rice

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Kefir smoothies, toast
RRs
Spaghetti, salad, garlic bread

Friday, August 27, 2010
Boy's choice (where boys can pick from any of the breakfasts from the week)
Quesadillas, salsa, chips
Sloppy cornbread, peas, salad and carrot sticks

Saturday, August 28, 2010
(I am actually, honestly going to make this this week!!) Egg burrito casserole and fried cinnamon apples
Baked potatoes, cheese and broccoli sauce
Steaks on the grill, potatoes and green beans, salad

MPM: #1

I kind of feel like this is a brand new start to my blog. I feel as if I've been gone so long, we should re-introduce! Goodness...

This pregnancy is really got me exhausted. My heart goes to those who have multiple young children during pregnancies. This time around, I have not been able to cook or eat. Any time I see raw meat, I start barfing. It's ugly, yucky, horrible... So here is my menu plan in hopes that it helps me husband know what he's coming home to make! :) Love you, hunny!!

Sunday:
toast, eggs
Italian sausage in marinara sauce, pasta

Monday:
baked oatmeal
grilled shrimp, baked potatoes, corn on the cob

Tuesday:
cinnamon toast
roast, potatoes, carrots and gravy

Wednesday:
oatmeal
white chicken chili, cornbread

Thursday:

toast, eggs

Tex Mex dip (I will be adding pictures as I make this! It is delicious!!!)

Friday:

applesauce bread, fruit

chicken noodles, mashed potatoes, green beans

Saturday:

egg burrito casserole, simple apples

sandwiches

For more great menu ideas click here!

Sourdough: Day 7

Once again it is just add 1 c. flour and this time I only put in about 1/4 c. of water. Tomorrow we begin baking! Woot! Stay tuned and what my yucky smelling sourdough looked like (It looked yucky too!)

A "Butter" Adventure

Butter really is better. And it is a lot of fun to make!

Last week, when I went to the farm, I bought raw milk and I have been using it. I love all the things you can make from it! I just l.o.v.e it!

There are a lot of tutorials out there on how to make butter and believe me, Andy and I have looked at them all!

And here is my conclusion... I am a person that needs a ton of steps and pictures. I need to know EXACTLY what is going to happen and EXACTLY how it going to look.

I thought some of you might be a lot like that also so I decided to show y'all step by step (and picture by picture) just how I made butter.

Here is a couple little housekeeping things about making butter. First, you really should let the cream get to room temperature (I keep forgetting but it works quicker if you let it warm up a bit.). Second, you can use just about anything that will aggitate the cream. I used a Kitchen Aide mixer. Others have used food processors, blenders and in the good ol' days they a churn! :)

Here is my milk. Do you see the line of where the cream has seperated? Just use the top part. The less milk and more cream, the butter better!

Put the seperated cream in the container of whatever appliance you are using. If you are using a food processor, Laura says not to fill more than 3/4 full or it doesn't work.

After about 3 minutes, your cream begins to look like whipped cream (what a thought! :)). A tip from my experience, if you are using a mixture, put on the baking shield or your bowl will turn out looking like mine (a mess!). When you are using a mixer, you really  have to turn up the speed so it slops everywhere if you don't have the shield on. If you are using a food processor or blender, it needs to go on medium speed.

What I am trying to show here (and it didn't turn out) is that after the "whipped cream" phase, it goes back to looking more liquidy. I was really worried that I did it wrong and after doing the butter more than once, I have seen that for some reason it just does that. (Sounds intelligent, huh?)

After it's back to liquidy phase (after the "whipped cream" phase) it will go back to the whipped cream but it will be a more cream to golden color. Keep whipping!

The butter is starting to seperate from the cream (buttermilk-some say you can use it the same, some say you can't. The jury is still out on that one.)

The butter after it is whipped. The second time I attempted this, there was a lot more butter. I put way too much milky cream in the first time (which is this picture).

The next step is rinsing the butter. Run it under COLD water. Continue to squeeze and rinse until water is completely clear. It is a l.o.n.g process but keep at it. It is so worth it!

and.... Here's my butter. It is soft when you first finish rinsing it but within a couple hours, it will be back to the normal hardness of butter.

I know it sounds like a lot of steps but making butter is really really easy and like I said.. So worth it!

So what do you say? You willing to give making your own butter a try?

*This is linked to Frugal Friday.

Sourdough: Day 6

I just wanted to pop on and let y'all know how my sourdough looked today on Day #6. You are still adding 1 cup of flour to approximately 1/2 c. water. I started cutting down on water to keep the "sourness" down.

Sourdough: Day 5

Welcome to Day 5! Now there is nothing more to really report except for it is really starting to smell "sour". Okay... "sour" doesn't begin to describe it!

I acutally had to move my starter to a bowl today! According to Laura's steps (and I am a rule follower!) we should only add 1/4 cup of water and 1 cup of flour to start making the starter thicker.

This is what my starter looked like when I pulled it out of its warm hiding place.

This is what my starter looked like when I dumped it into the bowl before adding to it.

and this is what it looked like after adding 1/4 cup water and 1 cup of flour.

Come on back for day 6!

Sourdough: Day 4

Welcome to Sourdough: Day 4!

If you are visiting for the first time, I am attempting a sourdough starter using Laura from HeavenlyHomemakers sourdough steps. Take a gander!

Day 4!

This is what my sourdough looked like on day number four. I didn't take any more pictures because I thought y'all might be getting tired of my pictures of a cup of flour and a cup of water.

Therefore if you're wondering, today you add another cup of water and another cup of flour.

Come back tomorrow for day 5!

Menu Plan: Jan. 24

I know that my menu plan posts are pretty boring but they are important. Menu plans are important to me because they not only hold me accountable but they also keep my husband informed. He loves being able to just jump on my website during the day, while he's at work, and check to see what we are going to be eating for dinner.

So now I ask you... Why are menu plans online important to you and your family? Do they hold you accountable?

I am only going to be putting breakfasts and dinners, lunches are pretty up in the air due to left overs and being on the run a lot.

Sunday, Jan. 24
Daddy's dirty eggs, sausage, biscuits
leftovers

Monday, Jan. 25
banana bread
corn dog muffins, oven fries, corn, pears

Tuesday, Jan. 26
baked oatmeal
coconut chicken, mashed potatoes, broccoli

Wednesday, Jan. 27
hot cereal
homemade pizza

Thursday, Jan. 28
banana bread
chicken enchiladas, chips and salsa

Friday, Jan. 29
breakfast cake
salmon patties, macaroni and cheese

Saturday, Jan. 30
hotcakes and sausage
apple chicken stir-fry
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* This is linked to Menu Plan Monday.

Sourdough: Day 3

I have to been honest, day number three is extremely uneventful but I feel like I need to show you step by step anyway because that's what I would need.

There have been a few wonderful ladies acquire about where to go jars at this time of year. I, really and truthfully, go around and let people (especially little cute old women) that I am looking for jars, I look on ebay and Craiglist and I also find them at Meijers (Meijer is a grocery chain in Ohio). Beyond those, I have no idea. Laura also says that you can use a glass bowl. You could try that instead of using recycle spaghetti jars.

Now until day three!

This is what my sourdough start looks like on day 3. Laura said that she did not have a lot of brown liquid at the top but as you can see, I had quite a bit.

The next step once again is pour brown liquid off.

Once again, just like yesterday, you pour your sourdough mixture into a clean jar or bowl.

You then add another cup of water and another cup of your flour mixture.

I took a picture of my mixing because this was the first day when I felt like it was harder to mix. You really have to make sure that you are stirring it all together and until completely blended.

Tie the rubber band and cloth back around top and put back in its warm little hiding spot!

I welcome you to come back for Day 4!

Sourdough: Day 2

Welcome to Sourdough: Day 2! If you missed it, here is Day 1.

Here is what the sourdough looked like after 24 hours. You need to pour off the brown liquid and transfer sourdough mixture to a clean glass jar or bowl.

Add 1 cup of your flour choice and 1 cup of water to the mixture in the new jar.

 Mix

Re-secure cloth and rubber band

Find a nice warm home for your sourdough starter. We barely heat our house so I put mine on the furnace that runs about twice a day but is semi-warm all the time.

Come on back for Day 3 tomorrow!

Mason Jars and Sourdough

I love jars. I know you remember just how much I love jars.  I love that you can use them for almost anything.

One new way we have been using jars around our house is by putting leftovers in them. They secure and keep your food fresh while being clear so you can see what is in them.. Isn't that just too cool?!

It never ceases to amaze me that good products, such as Mason jars, have been around for so long.

Generations and generations of my family have used Mason jars. I have made it my personal conquest to find the oldest jars possible. Look at the ones above-aren't those just so beautiful? Yeah, they need cleaned up again but do you know how many uses there are for these babies?

Well the reason for my talking yet again about how much I love jars is that I began to make my own sourdough this week. I used Laura's recipe and instructions. These instructions are GREAT but I have to tell you, they should make a book called "Sourdough for Dummies". I was so worried about beginning this adventure. Therefore, I decided to document my days of sourdough making for you!

Now I have to warn you, this was one of the few days that I have been in a good mood of late... Be warned... I am a goober... :)

The Birth of My Sourdough: Day 1 

(If you are interested in step one of making

sourdough here is Laura's Day 1)

Most people feel like this when starting sourdough. I know I did. My friends told me how hard it was and I totally went for it. Now y'all I have proclaimed honesty and openness on this blog and this might turn out to be a total flop but we will see together, won't we?

But "Put a Smile on Your Face and Make the World a better place..." Okay, back to semi-seriousness. This is me after I decided to take the the dough dive! (I told you I was a goober. I even think my own jokes are funny!) Isn't Dylan just a great photographer?!?

Here are the ingredients you will need: 1 cup whole wheat or rye flour, jar or bowl, one cup water, stirring spoon, rubber band or tie, and Laura says cheese cloth, I didn't have cheese cloth so I used a cloth napkin.

Pour in flour and by pour in flour, I mean actually IN the jar....

 

Okay that's better..... :) Now while you're on roll add the water to the flour and stir.

Last step put on the cloth on over rim of jar and tightly secure with the rubber band. Now I had the thought of doing sourdough with cheese cloth nativities for Christmas next year? Think that thoughts a winner? Just kidding...

Come back tomorrow for The Birth of My Sourdough: Day 2!

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*This post is linked to Things I Love Thursday!

Chicken Stroganoff

Do y'all like slow cooker recipes? I love slow cooker recipes! I wanted to share one with y'all that I have planned for dinner on Friday. It is totally yummy! Now I have to say it is not the healthiest but it is extremely tasty!

Chicken Stroganoff
4 boneless, skinless chicken halves, cubed
1/8 c. butter
1 pack Italian Mix
8 oz. cream cheese
1 can cream of chicken soup

1. Put chicken, butter, and dressing mix in slow cooker; mix together and cook on low for 5-6 hours.
2. Add cream cheese and soup mix together and cook on high for another 1/2 hour.

That's all and then I serve it with some yummy green vegetables and it's a done deal! Try it- you'll like it!
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*This is linked to Tuesdays at the Table and Tempt my Tummy Tuesday.

Menu plan: January 17- 23

This weekend we got a lot of baking and cooking done and even a little cleaning! This past Friday, I decided to finally make the dive into whole foods and not look back. My good friend Courtney wrote two GREAT posts about first taking the plunge and not looking back and second about their progress.

Well Friday our family took the plunge. Now I would not be telling the truth if I told you it was totally easy. If fact quite the opposite was true. As I threw all my really bad HFCS (high fructose corn syrup) away, I was dreading the fact that I might never have chocolate milk again. But we perservered and we really ate some healthy and yummy  foods. I was pleasantly surprised at how many steps I had already taken not knowing about Traditional Foods. As I was making my menu plan for this week, I was starting to get excited - We are going to be eating healthy and YUMMY foods!

Sunday:

banana bread (recipe coming soon)

soup and sandwiches

spaghetti with garlic bread

Monday:

applesauce bread

tacos, rice, beans, and salsa

white chicken chili, cornbread

Tuesday:

Kefir Smoothies, fruit

jelly sandwiches, pretzels, mama's yummy trail mix

cheesey beef and rice

Wednesday:

banana bread, yogurt, bananas

soup, pretzels

BBQ chicken pizza

Thursday:

oatmeal

white chicken chili

corn dog muffins, oven fries, apple chips

Friday:

applesauce bread

reruns

chicken stroganoff, green beans

Saturday:

daddy's dirty eggs, sausage, toast

reruns

salmon patties, macaroni and cheese

Anything catch your eye? It is going to be a week of tastey food and a new eating lifestyle!

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*This post is linked to Menu Plan Monday.

Tex Mex Dip

MMMMMMMmmmmmmmmmmm... This is one of my favorite recipes! It is oh so good and yummy. Now since I have vowed to keep it real and honest over here, I must admit that this is a recipe that you do not want to *ahem* eat around people that you don't want to share *ahem* - smells?

Oh but it is so easy and so worth it if you don't mind! :) And the way I see it is I live in a house of males, so when I eat this, it is total pay back! ;) I know, I know... TMI!

Tex Mex Dip

1 c. water
2 packets taco seasoning
1 lb. lean ground beef
16 oz. crushed tomatoes
1 can chili beans
1/2 c. quick rice
1 1/2 tsp. chili powder
1/2 tsp. garlic salt
3/4 c. cheese
salsa
corn chips

Cook ground beef. Stir in all ingredients except cheese, salsa and chips. Cook 20 minutes, stirring occassionally. Top with cheese and serve with salsa, chips and sour cream!
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*This post is linked to Tempt My Tummy Tuesday, At the Table Tuesday, and the Ultimate Recipe Swap.

White Chicken Chili

I have, hands down, the best white chicken chili recipe ever! Eating it in the winter is like a small little slice of Paradise (okay... maybe that's pushing it a little... ) on a cold day!

Without further adoo (or thoughts of Paradise!)... I will reveal my favorite chili recipe ever and how my family acts when they eat it!

*Disclaimer looking at these pictures of Lincoln eating this chili is not for the light hearted... He is a messy eater, but really really cute!*

Dylan is really excited it's white chicken chili night!

Lincoln LOVES this dinner so much he doesn't have time to use a spoon!

Daddy, who is extremely cold, is wondering why dinner time is always so messy and crazy at our house!

White Chicken Chili

1 can Northern beans
1 can garbanzo beans
1 clove garlic, minced
1 medium onion, minced
1 can (4 oz) green chiles, minced
1 tsp. ground cumin
3/4 tsp. oregano
1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper
1/8 tsp. ground cloves
1/2 lb. chicken breast, cooked and cubed
Salt and Pepper to taste
ETA: Thank you Courtney! There is 3 cups of chicken broth.. I just drain the broth off the chicken after I cook it and use that. Sorry I totally spaced!

Throw it all in a pot and simmer for about an hour. This recipe makes about 8 servings but a lot of times I at least double it because it is one of those recipes that tastes better the following days as leftovers!

Enjoy! And if you are looking for more good recipes take a look at Tempt My Tummy Tuesday and Tuesdays at the Table and the Ultimate Recipe Swap.