Yogurt Bread

Ok so I was off to an adventure with making Yogurt Bread...it seems to look and taste like Sourdough Bread...recipe courtesy of Cooks.com

Ingredients:

2 c. very warm water (120 to 130 degrees)
1 1/2 tbsp. dry yeast
2 tbsp. honey
1 tbsp. salt
1 c. plain yogurt
7 1/2 (or more) c. flour

Directions:

Combine first 3 ingredients and stir to dissolve. Let rest for 5 minutes, then add salt and yogurt. Mix well. Stir in flour and knead on floured surface for 5 to 10 minutes, adding more flour as needed. Divide dough in half. Shape each into a loaf and place in greased loaf pans. Cover and let rise in warm place 30 minutes (until dough rises to pan top). Bake in 350 degree oven 40 minutes. Remove from pan immediately.

Fudgy Brownies

A perfect light dessert from Perfect Light Desserts Cookbook.

These brownies are super fudgy and delicious :]

Ingredients:

1/2 cup cocoa powder
1 cup all purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
3 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup dark brown sugar ( I used light brown)
2 lg egg whites
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
2 tsp vanilla extract

1 9 inch square pan, sprayed with vegetable cooking spray and the bottom lined with parchment or wax paper

Directions:

-preheat oven to 350 degrees
-mix cocoa, flour, baking powder and salt into a bowl
-in a separate bowl beat the sugar and butter together with a large rubber spatula
-beat in the brown sugar, egg whites, applesauce and vanilla, one at a time, beating until smooth after each addition
-stir in the dry ingredients with a large rubber spatula
-scrape the batter into the prepared pan and bake the brownies for 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center emerges with moist crumbs clinging to it

Raisin Ginger Scones

Borrowed from Laura @ The Cooking Photographer

These scones are not too sweet, are super simple to make, are a quick go to breakfast and are versatile!

Ingredients
4 cups unbleached flour
¼ cup plus two tablespoons granulated sugar
2 Tablespoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup cold unsalted butter, cut into 16 pieces
4 eggs
1 cup heavy cream
½ cup raisins
2 tsp vanilla
fresh grated ginger, to your liking

Egg wash
1 large egg beaten with 2 tablespoons heavy cream

Instructions
1. Place oven racks in the top lower and upper third of the oven and preheat to 425 degrees. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.



2. In a food processor pulse together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
Then add the butter 1/3 amount at a time and pulse just until combined each time. You want pea sized butter chunks.



3. In a stand mixer or a large bowl. Beat together the eggs and
heavy cream. Add the flour mixture and beat until just combined. Then mix in the raisins. Dump out the dough onto a clean surface and knead for a few turns adding a little flour if needed until dough is only slightly sticky.




4. Flour a clean surface and roll or pat down the dough until it’s about
1 inch thick. Cut out shapes with fluted a 3 inch biscuit cutter (or any shape you prefer) and place two inches apart on the parchment. Brush tops with egg wash.





5. Bake for about 15 minutes or until golden brown rotating
cookie sheets halfway through baking time.

Arriba Arriba Healthy Burritos

Healthy is the word of the year :] These burritos are super simple and so tasty!








Ingredients:

1 sm onion, chopped
1/2 yellow and 1/2 green zucchini, chopped
1/2 pepper, chopped
2 tsp minced garlic
2 lbs ground chicken
1 c black beans, rinsed
2 c salsa
3 tbsp diced green chilies
2 c white cheddar cheese, grated
1-2 lg tomatoes, diced
1-2 c lettuce, chopped
12 flour tortillas

Directions:

Add EVOO to a med/high heat pan
Cook onions til translucent, then add the zucchinis, pepper and garlic cook til softened
Add ground chicken and once cooked thoroughly drain excess fat
Add black beans, salsa and diced green chillies to pan and cook on low heat for 5 minutes

Place tortilla shells into the oven @ 325 to soften for 5 minutes

Place meat, veggies, tomatoes and salsa onto a warm tortilla shell and add the cheese and some more salsa, if desired

Enjoy

Valentine's Day Dinner

I love cooking and I love my Tim so I figured I'd make a great dinner :]

Leg of Lamb with rice and vegetables

Ingredients:

2 lbs butterflied boneless leg of lamb
1/3 c ginger minced
1/2 c honey
1/3 c soy sauce
2 tbsp minced garlic
1/4 - 1/3 c white cooking wine

Long grain rice
1/2 yellow and green zucchini
1 red pepper
1 tbsp minced garlic

Directions:

Mix ginger, honey, soy sauce, garlic and white wine together in a large bowl. Add leg of lamb and marinate in fridge for 20 minutes.

Set oven to 450 degrees.

Place lamb in roasting pan and spread remaining juices over top. Bake at 450 degrees for 15 minutes then reduce temperature to 350° F and continue to roast 8 minutes per pound for rare, 10 minutes per pound for medium, or 18 minutes per pound for well-done. Baste with pan juices or additional wine or water.

Cook rice according to box directions.

Add oil to frying pan and cook vegetables til softened.

Once lamb is desired temperature (desired doneness - rare 140°, medium 150°, well-done 160°) take out of oven and let rest for 5 minutes then cut.

Goes perfect with a nice glass of red wine!

Basic White Bread

Recipe Courtesy of DianasDesserts.com

Here is another bread recipe that is really easy and makes 2 loaves.

Ingredients:
2 packages (4 1/2 tsp./1/2 oz./14g) active dry yeast
2 1/2 cups warm water
3 tablespoons butter, melted
3 tablespoons granulated sugar
2 teaspoons salt
6-7 cups all-purpose flour ( I used bread flour)

Instructions:
1. In a large mixing bowl, combine yeast and 1/2 cup warm water. Stir until dissolved. Add remaining warm water, butter, sugar and salt. Stir until mixed.

2. Add 6-7 cups of flour and mix until blended. Add enough of the remaining flour until dough forms a smooth ball that is slightly sticky to the touch.

3. Place dough in a large, greased bowl. Cover and let rise until double in size, about 1 hour.

4. Punch dough down, divide in half, and shape into loaves. Place loaves into two 9 x 5-inch greased loaf pans and let rise until double in size, about an hour.

5. Bake in 350°F (180°C) oven for 40 minutes (before baking I like to give the top of the bread an egg white wash to make the top crunchy).

Makes 2 (9 x 5-inch) loaves or you can make 2 long loaves of bread

Easy Bread

Thanks to Trent @ The Simple Dollar

Ingredients:

1/4 cup milk
5 teaspoons sugar
1 teaspoons salt
5 teaspoons butter
1 package active dry yeast
1 cup warm water
2 1/2 to 3 1/2 cups flour (I used bread flour)
Corn starch or nonstick cooking spray

Directions:

-1st start w/ a warm bowl...put some hot water in it and then take it out
-Add the warm water to the yeast and mix it in the bowl (it'll start to bubble on top)
-Melt the butter in the microwave and then add the milk, sugar and salt with the butter to the yeast mixture
-Once mixed together add 2 cups of flour and then mix
-Add the remaining flour by 1/4 cups every minute that you are mixing (you basically want the dough to not stick to your hands)
-Place dough onto a floured surface and flour your hands
-Knead the dough for 10 minutes (punch the dough, beat it a bit ;])
-After 10 minutes shape it into a ball, then place into a clean bowl that is lightly oiled
-Cover the bowl and place in a warm area for 1 hour for it to rise
-Once that is done punch dough down a few times and then place on a floured surface
-Form it into a rectangular shape with one side being roughly the length of the bread pan and the other side being about a bread pan and a half long
-Now you will roll the dough and then tuck the end under
-Place the dough in a lightly oiled bread pan and cover with towel again and place in warm area for another hour
-Finally set the oven to 400 degrees F and bake for 30 minutes
-Once done take out of pan and let cool ( I like to coat the warm bread top with butter)

Enjoy!