Homemade Sandwich Bread

Hello one & all...one of my greatest challenges as a "from-scratch" cook has been trying to find a bread recipe that will slice well for sandwiches. My husband loves homemade bread but does not want slabs on either side of his filling...he wants nice, normal sized slices. Well, I am happy to report that I have finally found one! Perfect texture and, if you wait till fully cooled, slices perfectly.

Sandwich Bread

2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast
4 tsp vital wheat gluten (you can find this in most baking departments, I'm sure. Found mine at Molasses Hill Bulk Foods in Alexander)
2 TBSP dry milk
1 1/2 tsp salt
3 cups flour (white, wheat or blend...I have tried 1/2 and 1/2 and all WW. Both really nice...)
3 TBSP sugar
2 TBSP olive oil
1 1/4 cups warm water

Mix dry ingredients, add water and oil. Mix well and knead till elastic; adding a bit of flour as needed so it does not stick to you! (Meaning you can poke it and the hole will pretty much fill back in! Around 4-6 minutes.) Cover and let rise for about 1 hour. Form dough into a loaf and place in a buttered loaf pan. Cover and let rise until it looks pretty. Bake at 375 for 20-25 minutes or till it is as brown as you like it. Remove from the pan to cool and do not slice till fully cooled. (Better even to bag when cool and slice the next day...)

Make and enjoy! Blessings, Eve

Seasoned Salt

Hello one & all...another one of those simple items you can make yourself for just a fraction of the cost.

Seasoned Salt

8 TBSP salt
2 TBSP pepper
2 TBSP paprika
1/2 TBSP onion powder
1/2 TBSP garlic powder

Mix all ingredients with a whisk. Store in an airtigth container. (Old pickle jars are great for this type of thing!)

Make & Enjoy! Blessings, Eve

Easter Popcorn

Hello one & all...been totally "stealing" other blogger ideas for fun and easy treats this week. This recipe is for a white chocolate, Easter popcorn. We will be making and taking to an egg hunt/lunch tomorrow.

Candied Popcorn for Easter

8-10 cups popped popcorn
1 cup peanuts

1 cup butter
2 cups brown sugar
1/2 cup corn syrup
1 tsp salt
2 tsp vanilla
1 tsp baking soda

1 cup Easter M&M's
1 cup white chocolate chips
sprinkles

Preheat the oven to 250 degrees. Spread the popcorn and the peanuts out on a sheet pan lined with parchment. In a large pot add butter, sugar and corn syrup. Heat over medium till melted and bubbly. Meanwhile, combine the vanilla and baking soda in a small bowl. Remove the pot from the heat; add vanilla and baking soda mixture until well combined. Immediately pour caramel onto the popcorn. Stir well with a heatproof utensil. Bake in oven for 30-40 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes. When you remove from the oven, immediately sprinkle with the M&M's over popcorn. Melt the white chocolate in the microwave and drizzle over popcorn mixture. While the chocolate is soft, sprinkle everything with spring sprinkles. Let the popcorn and chocolate set up and cool. Break popcorn into chunks and serve.

Make & enjoy! Blessings, Eve

Healthier Macaroni Salad

Hello one & all...been living life and have thought often about posting. This, obviously, is the first time I have made the jump from thought to action in a very long time! Joined Weight Watchers a couple months back and have dropped 11 pounds to date. Also, amped up a workout routine and, in total, have dropped a whole jeans size. Feeling and looking better than I have in a long time. All this focus on health and activity has changed to way we view food around here. I just try to tweak things in a healthier way...presenting "healthed up" macaroni salad. Passed the kids and husband test quite nicely... Classic Macaroni Salad 8 oz. uncooked macaroni (I used Barilla Plus but white or whole grain could be substituted) 1/8 tsp salt (for cooking water) 1/2 cup reduced-calorie mayonnaise (I use Aldi's) 1 Tbsp cider vinegar 1 tsp mustard (I used plain ole yellow) 1/2 tsp garlic powder 1 cup celery chopped 1/4 cup onion, finely diced 1 Tbsp dry parsley or 2 TBSP fresh 1/8 tsp black pepper 1/4 tsp salt or to taste Cook macaroni in salted water till tender firm and rinse with cold water. Drain and transfer to a large bowl. Meanwhile. in a medium bowl, whisk together mayo, vinegar, mustard, and garlic powder. Stir mixture into macaroni. Fold in celery, onion and parsley. Season with salt and pepper. ***I mixed cold ingredients about 1/2 hour before serving. Might be a bit dry if mixed too soon. This was very flavorful and guests were surprised to learn that the salad was made with lite mayo...a success! Make and enjoy... Blessings, Eve

Creamy Chicken Rice Soup

Hello one & all...seems that this has become my new "go-to" soup for the season. Super easy and quick; thick and hearty so it "eats like a meal." Plus they all love it...doesn't get any better then that!

Creamy Chicken Rice Soup

1/2 cup chopped onion
1 medium carrot, chopped
1 celery rib, chopped (made the last batch with a few sprinkles of celery seed...tasted the same!)
1/2 tsp garlic, minced
1 TBSP Canola oil
2 cans (14.5 oz. each) chicken broth (or 4 cups broth/bouillon, prepared)
1/3 cup long-grain white rice
3/4 tsp dried basil (I used Italian seasoning...smelled and tasted so wonderful!)
1/4 tsp pepper
3 TBSP flour
1 can (5 oz.) evaporated milk
1 cup cooked, diced chicken

In a saucepan, saute the onion, carrot, and celery in oil until tender. Stir in garlic, broth, rice, and spices. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 15 minutes or till rice is tender.

In a small bowl, combine milk and flour till smooth.; stir into soup. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or till thickened. Stir in chicken, heat through.

1 cup = 185 calories and 4 gm. fat (when prepared with fat free evaporated milk)

Add bread and butter and/or a salad and it fills and warms. Make and Enjoy!

Blessings, Eve

Beefy Tomato Pasta Soup

Hello one & all...spent the most wonderful Autumn weekend. Saturday I joined my sister and niece for a day at the Buffalo Zoo. We hadn't been in a year and I was amazed at the changes and additions. I spent many a childhood day running around that kiddie hot spot...it always brings back the fondest memories for me. Sunday brought a day of Autumn splendor at the Genesee County Park. Joined by my sister-in-law and her family, we lazed the day away in the surprisingly strong fall sun while the kiddos rode their bicycles and worked hard at conquering the heights of the playground. We had such a great time that I took the children back again yesterday, with bikes on board, for yet another afternoon. It is absolutely beautiful there this time of year and very quiet.

My sister-in-law brought a crock pot of soup on Sunday that warmed us both body and soul and sent me in search of soup recipes both old and new. Came upon this one that I will share and thought it was to be a winner for sure...so glad I was right as the brood was super hungry after yet another day in the fresh air.

Beefy Tomato Pasta Soup

1# ground beef (or venison)
2 medium green peppers, chunked
1 medium onion, chunked
2 cloves garlic, minced
5-6 cups water
2 cans (14 oz.) Italian chunked tomatoes, undrained
1 can (6 oz.) tomato paste
1 TBSP brown sugar
2-3 tsp Italian seasoning
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
2 cups uncooked spiral pasta

In a dutch oven or soup kettle, cook meat, green pepper and onion till no longer pink. Drain. Add the rest. Bring to a boil. Add pasta and cook for slightly longer than recommended time, stirring occasionally. Pasta should be tender but not mushy. Top with Parmesan cheese and croutons if desired. ***This is a wonderful, hearty soup that I served with bread and butter and a side salad.

***Made this with ground beef (my venison is running low!) and home canned herbed tomatoes. If using home canned I recommend that you go a little heavier on the salt. Also, feel free to use regular diced tomatoes and simply up the Italian seasoning.

Make and enjoy! Blessings, Eve

Easy Bake Oven Recipes

Hello one & all...after a wonderful weekend that included celebrating my husband's birthday, we are back to the daily grind. And that includes entertaining our children. This one is by special request...Easy Bake Oven Recipes. (That you can actually afford and that taste somewhat decent!!! Really!)

Brownies (makes one serving)

2 1/2 TBSP sugar
1/8 tsp. vanilla
4 tsp chocalate syrup
2 TBSP + 1 tsp flour
1 tsp oil

Stir all together until the batter is smooth and chocolate covered. Pour batter into greased and floured pan. Bake 15 min.

Quick Cake

3 TBSP boxed cake mix (or snitch a bit when you make from scratch!)
1 1/4 TBSP water

Start with 1 T water and add as needed to make a traditional cake batter consistency. Grease and flour pan. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes.

Chocolate Cake

1 cup sugar
3 TBSP unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 cup flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/3 cup shortening

In a medium bowl, combine dry ingredients. Stir with wire whisk until blended. Cut in shorteneing until resmbles coarse meal. Spoom about 1/3 cup mixture into 11 ziploc bags. Use within 12 weeks.

To use:
1 packet cake mix
4 tsp. water

Grease and flour pan. Easy bake for 12 to 13 minutes.

Make and enjoy! Blessings, Eve

Canned Apple Pie Filling

Hello one & all...been canning up a storm and this little goodie is on the schedule for this week so I thought that I would share! This recipe is wonderful for pies, crisp and other recipes. I make a pork, stuffing apple casserole that is all the better for a jar of these apples from the basement. My hubby likes it with smoked polish sausage as a breakfast side through the fall and winter. (Plus the added benefit of no corn syrup like the store canned version...another one of my "things!")

Canned Apple Pie Filling

4 cups sugar
2 tsp cinnamon
10 cups water
3 TBSP lemon juice
1 cup cornstarch
1/4 tsp nutmeg

Cook first 5 ingredients until thick and bubbly. Place cold apples in clean, hot jars.

Pour hot syrup over apples, leaving 1/4 inch head space. Seal and process 20 minutes in a hot water canner. This syrup makes enough for about 9 quarts of apples.

Make and Enjoy! Blessings, Eve

Old-Fashioned Corn Pudding

Hello one & all...don't let the name throw you. This is absolutely delicious! Sweet, savory side that I served with a turkey breast dinner last night.

Old-Fashioned Corn Pudding

3 TBSP flour
1 cup sugar (will use 2/3 cup next time...a bit too sweet for me!)
2 eggs
15-1/4 oz. can corn
5-oz. can evaporated milk (I used skim milk with perfect results)

Whisk together flour and sugar. Whisk the 2 eggs, milk and sugar. Combine and add corn. Stir well. 2 quart casserole, uncovered. 1 hour at 350. This will easily double...next time I will probably double and decrease the sugar by about 1/3.) So good and very "fallish" (is that a word??)

Make and Enjoy! Blessings, Eve

Freezer Treats!

Hello one & all...spent the afternoon at a friends house. Had a nice lunch and a chat while the children played. They were so quiet and content that I admit (shamefacedly!) that I was mildly surprised to see my 7 yo boy washing hands for lunch...seems I actually forgot he was there! (I know, I know...not something one generally admits but it is kind of funny and quite the compliment to his fine, fine behavior!) Came home and, after refereeing the two older ones (seemed they used up all their goodness at the friend's house), I made freezer treats. Use whatever you like...my littles seem to like yogurt combinations the best. Large tubs of yogurt from Aldi or Walmart (a couple generous spoonfuls), frozen fruit of your choice and enough juice to make the blender blades spin. Viola! Figured ours out to 16 cents each. Full serving of fruit, calcium and NO preservatives.

Make & enjoy! Blessings, Eve

Cheerios Breakfast Cookies

Hello one & all...made these last night after it cooled down a bit. the kiddos had them for breakfast and all gave them two thumbs up!

Cheerios Breakfast Cookies

3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup canola oil
3/4 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup water
1 tsp. vanilla
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups white whole wheat flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 cups oats (old-fashioned or quick)
3 cups cheerios cereal
1/4 - 1/3 cups add-ins...mini chips, diced dried fruit, etc.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Beat sugar, canola oil, peanut butter, water, vanilla and egg till well blended. (I used a whisk & it worked fine.) Stir in flour, baking soda, salt, oats and add-ins. Very gently fold in Cheerios. Drop the sticky dough onto ungreased cookie sheets by the rounded 1/4 cupful. Flatten and shape dough with fingers to roundish shape.

Bake cookies in preheated oven for 11-14 minutes or till slightly browned on the edges. Cool completely before serving or storing. Store in an airtight container or Ziploc. Can be frozen for up to 2 months.

Makes 20 breakfast sized cookies.

***Nest time I am going to try replacing 1/2 the oil and a bit of the sugar with applesauce. Would make for an even moister texture and less fat. Try a mix of dried fruits and raisins for an extra nutritional punch!

Make and enjoy! Blessings, Eve

Best Chicken EVER!!!

Hello one & all...made the best chicken EVER for supper tonight and wanted to share ASAP! (This recipe is adapted from the original on CannyWomen.com)

Crunchy Oven-Fried Chicken

3-4 pounds frying chicken...I used 1/4's and disjointed for drummies and thighs
1/3 cup butter
1/2 cup milk
2-3 cups crushed corn flakes
2 medium cooking onions, chopped
1/3 cup fresh, chopped parsley - or 2 TBSP dried
1 TBSP dried thyme
2 TBSP dry mustard
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper

Preheat oven to 400. Melt butter in a 9x13 pan in oven. Meanwhile prepare chicken by dipping in the milk and rolling in the cornflakes. Place in pan skin side down. Combine chopped onions and herbs and top over the chicken with the mixture. Bake for 20 minutes. Carefully flip chicken pieces and bake for an additional 20-30 minutes till tender and juices run clear. Topping will fall off but it's OK...you'll see. Serve chicken with rice or noodles and put some onion mixture on top...This is so, so, so very yummy and will be served again and again in our house! Warning: This is NOT low-fat chicken...tee-hee!

Make and enjoy! Blessings, Eve

Buffalo Wing Turkey Burgers

Hello one & all...have a new recipe for you. Different and kind of fun! We served these to new friends and they were a hit with children and adults. Don't let the ground turkey scare you off if you are new to this frugal, versatile, healthy alternative to ground red meat. Very flavorful, very moist recipe...buy better ground turkey. The stuff from the discount stores has a "different" texture and taste. Jenny-O is my preferred brand and costs, pound for pound, very close to decent ground beef.

Buffalo Wing Turkey Burgers

For each 4 burgers:

1 pound ground turkey
4 TBSP Parmesan cheese
1 stalk celery, finely chopped
1 large carrot, shredded or finely chopped
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp. onion powder (or 1/2 small onion, finely chopped)

Sauce:
1/2 stick butter
hot pepper sauce
ketchup

Put chopped veggies in a microwave safe bowl and nuke for 2 minutes to slightly soften. Once cooled, mix all ingredients and form 4 patties. Grill 10-15 minutes (till 160 degrees) or till cooked through. Do not overcook.
Cover and set aside. Melt butter in a skillet, add hot sauce and ketchup to taste and desired thickness. Once mixed add burgers. Simmer and coat burgers till most/ all the sauce has been absorbed. (You are trying to infuse the flavor into the burgers.) The original recipe for these called for toasted English muffins, a thick slice of cheddar and some crumbly bleu cheese. I found that these were wonderful simply on the plate with onion, tomato, cheddar and creamy bleu. Delicious! Play around with this to suit your taste...the kids enjoyed them with BBQ sauce. How about sweet and sour to resemble a country sweet wing? LMK if you find any new combos that you liked!

Make and enjoy! Blessings, Eve

Au gratin Potatoes

Hello one & all...spent a glorious afternoon at the county park with a number of friends and their families. Decided yesterday that the day was going to be too beautiful to pass on and made a slew of phone calls. 7 adults and more than 15 children aged 7 months to 13 years descended on the local playground. What a wonderful time! Fellowship, healthy play and sunshine. Everyone brought their own lunch and sunscreen and came and went as suited them. I couldn't have asked for a nicer way to spend the afternoon. Mu children asked, on the way home, if we could get everyone together like that every week come summer. Got me to thinking that it might just work to pick a specific weekday...say Wednesdays...and simply pick a new spot each week. Come if you can, skip if you must. Hmmm...looks like I just took on another project!

I am hosting my family for Easter and plan to make Au gratin potatoes. It is my son's favorite dish and so easy...so much better than Betty can ever hope to make!

Au gratin Potatoes

6 TBSP flour
1/2 cup dry milk (optional)
1 tsp onion powder (optional)
salt and pepper to taste
3 cups cold milk
4 cups potatoes, thinly sliced
1 onion, sliced
1 1/2 cups shredded cheese
3 TBSP butter

In a quart jar place the flour, dry milk, onion powder (if using instead of onion) and salt and pepper. Close and shake thoroughly. Add cold milk and shake again until all the flour is dissolved. In a greased 3 quart casserole dish layer the potatoes, onions, and cheese dotting each layer with butter. Add the milk- flour mixture. Bake in 325 degree oven for 1 1/2 hours. Serves 4. **I usually double this recipe and make it with the real onion and the addition of dry milk. Adding leftover ham, bacon, even burger is wonderful. Use a 9 x 13 and plan on around 2 hours cooking time.

Make and enjoy! Blessings, Eve

Scrumptious Chicken

Hello one & all...I was asked for this recipe by my daughter's best friend's mother. Seems she had gone home from dinner at our house and asked Mom to make it. I cannot believe that I have not shared this recipe with you all as it is a staple in our home and oh-so easy!

Scrumptious Chicken

4 boneless chicken breast halves, chunked
1 can cream of chicken soup (I use fat-free with success)
8 oz. (1/2 tub) sour cream
1 packet french onion soup mix (or a couple tablespoons powdered beef broth and either real diced onion or dried!)

Mix all the ingredients in a crock pot. Cook on low for 4-6 hours. (Larger chunks can take longer cooking times...) Serve over egg noodles or rice. ***Green beans and applesauce are a wonderful addition to this.

Make and enjoy! Blessings, Eve

Rita's Sausage and Potato Skillet

Hello one & all...last Halloween my MIL made a simple and wonderful dish. Thought of it many times since then but this was my first solo attempt. Made it tonight and it was fantastic...and so, so simple.

Rita's Sausage and Potato Skillet

1 pound smoked or polish sausage (I used lite polish)
6 large potatoes, peeled and sliced
2 large sweet peppers, sliced (I used a 1# bag of peppers and onions, frozen)
1 large onion, sliced
2 TBSP butter

In a large fry pan melt butter and add 1/2 cup water. Add potatoes, peppers and onions. Cover and cook till potatoes are HALF tender. (Add more water if needed.) Add the sausage, sliced, and cook till fully tender and hot throughout. Salt and pepper to taste.

I told you...simple. But so very good. I served this with corn and baked beans. Two thumbs up all the way around...

Make and Enjoy! Blessings, Eve

Seasoned Oven Potatoe Wedges

Hello one & all...long time no see. Not sure what all happened there. Busy with the house, kids, activities, etc. and suddenly it has been almost two weeks since updating the blog.. Time flies...here is the potato recipe I promised all that time ago! These taste very much like a certain chicken chains signature recipe potatoes...crispy on the outside, moist on the inside. (Low in fat to boot.) So very good...we are sure to have these again and again!

Seasoned Oven Potato Wedges

2# potatoes (4 large)
3 TBSP flour
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
2 TBSP vegetable oil

Heat oven till 450 degrees. Cut potatoes into 8-10 wedges each. (Peel if you like.) Add all seasonings to a plastic bag (a discarded bread bag worked perfectly!) and add potatoes. Toss well to coat potatoes. Place potatoes in a single layer on oiled cookie sheet. Bake for 35-40 minutes or till browned. Turn potatoes once while cooking. Makes 6 servings.

Make & Enjoy! Blessings, Eve

Sloppy Garden Joes

Hello one & all...made a couple of new recipes last night and they were both well received. Trying to watch my calories more so these are both low-fat and quite healthy. Lots of veggies and lean meat. Here's is the one for the "Joe's." I will post the potato recipe in the next day or so as I just heard my kiddos rising WAY too early!!

Sloppy Garden Joe's

1 onion, chopped
1 carrot, chopped
1/2 green pepper, chopped
1 lb. ground turkey
1 8 oz. can tomato sauce
1 15 ox. can diced tomatoes
1 4 oz. can mushrooms
1/3 cup barbecue sauce
1/2 tsp garlic powder
pepper to taste
whole wheat bread or buns

Saute' onions, carrot and peppers along with the turkey for 5-10 minutes over medium heat. When meat is no longer pink add tomato sauce, tomatoes, mushrooms, barbecue sauce and seasonings. Bring to a boil, cover and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Uncover and cook for an additional 3 minutes or so till thickened. Serve on plain or toasted wheat bread. Serves 8

***This recipe truly is enough for the average eating family. I doubled it and some of us will be eating it again for dinner tonight. I used 1/2 turkey and 1/2 venison and I think that the mix of two meats held more flavor than straight turkey would have offered. Try very lean beef and turkey if venison is not on your menu. Toss in any veggies you like. I have a little bit of corn leftover and added that. Served it over home baked wheat bread. Very good and very healthy!

Make & Enjoy! Blessings, Eve

Fruited Cottage Pancakes

Hello one & all...been a busy couple of weeks around here. My two year old has not napped in weeks...since we threw her beloved "baby bink" in the trash. Finally, yesterday, 2 sweet hours! It's amazing what you can accomplish in two whole hours of ALONE!!! Finished decluttering the master bedroom. (I had left my hubby's clothing rack/ chair on his side of the room and took care of it...16 shirts there. Yup, 16!!! Washed, dried and hung. This is the man who says he doesn't have any shirts...could barely fit the clean ones in the closet. Time to sort that out too, I guess!)

Had some cottage cheese that needed using up so I did a recipe search for a new way to use it up. Found several recipes for cottage cheese pancakes and picked this one. I know. I know...sounds weird but they were very good. My picky guy even ate them up and asked for seconds...success!

Fruited Cottage Pancakes

4 eggs
1 cup cottage cheese (I used low fat)
1/2 cup milk (I used skim)
1 tsp vanilla
2 TBSP butter, melted
1 peach, shredded
1 cup flour (I used whole wheat)
2 TBSP sugar
pinch salt
3/4 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon

Mix the moist. Mix the dry separately. Combine, just till moistened. Cook on hot griddle till edges dry and bubbles start to form. Flip.

***I left out the peach as my son has a "fruit thing" but did manage to get him to eat two topped with warm cinnamon applesauce. The second two were served with lite syrup. All in all, much healthier than pancakes with white flour and syrup. Very moist and yummy...

Make & enjoy! Blessings, Eve

Apple Oatmeal Bars

Hello one & all...spent a little time yesterday afternoon making some blueberry jam. Used frozen berries that the children and I picked last summer. Followed the directions for frozen fruit included with the pectin and it seems to have set up nicely. I purchased a large jar of strawberry preserves and when I kept offering it to the littles for sandwiches they kept asking "Is that your jam or from the store?" Needless to say, we will not be buying more store jam! Sharing a recipe for a quick breakfast / snack that can use up those soft apples in the bottom of the drawer. (Finally used the last of our fall apples from my SIL's trees for this recipe...thanks Doreen!)

Apple Oatmeal Bars

1 cup oatmeal (I used regular oats but quick would work fine!)
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup butter (Yes, you need it all...used 1/4 applesauce and it made for a very messy bar...fine if you want a fork dessert)
1 cup flour
1/2 tsp cinnamon
2 1/2 cup chopped apples
1/2 cup sugar

Combine first 5 ingredients with a fork or pastry blender till tiny crumbles. Pat half of mixture into an 8x8 pan. Layer on apples and sugar. Crumble remainder of mi on top. Bake at 350 for 35 minutes or till lightly browned.

Make & enjoy! Blessings, Eve