French Bread

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Well those of you who follow along with us at Our Old Homestead knows how much we love homemade bread.  I have had many posts with different bread recipes and will continue to do so.  I hope you don't get sick of them!

 

This time ..... French bread ..... and wow is this stuff good!

 

 

 

I found this recipe on Pinterest again.  I actually must have another 15 or so different bread recipes in queue to try.

 

Naomi over at Sugar and Spice is where this fabulous recipe originated.  It is delicious and EASY.

 

Easy French Bread

 

Makes two large loaves

Prep time: 3 hours, start to finish, including rising times

 

1/2 c. lukewarm water

1/2 tsp. sugar

1 Tbsp. or one packet of dry active yeast

2 c. lukewarm water

2 Tbsp. sugar

2 tsp. salt

2 Tbsp. oil

Approx. 5+ cups of all purpose flour

1 egg mixed with 1 tsp. cold water to glaze

 

 

 

In a small bowl, combine the 1/2 c. lukewarm water, 1/2 tsp. sugar and 1 Tbsp. dry active yeast.  Stir to combine and let this rest about 10 minutes, until risen and bubbly.

 

Warning: do NOT use hot water ..... it will kill the yeast.

 

While the yeast is rising, combine the rest of the water, sugar, salt, and oil in a large bowl or in the bowl of an electric mixer.  Add the risen yeast mixture and about 2 cups of flour.  Stir to combine.  If you are mixing the bread by hand (as I did), continue adding flour in small amounts until the mixture is difficult to combine by stirring.

 

Turn the dough out of the bowl onto a work surface generously dusted with flour and knead, adding flour, until the mixture forms a smooth soft dough.  If using an electric mixer, add flour in small amounts, and scrape the dough off the sides of the bowl often.  When the dough begins to leave the sides of the bowl on its own, it should be ready.  The consistency should be stiff, spongy, and slightly sticky. 

 

Turn the dough into a greased mixing bowl and cover with plastic.  Let this rise in a warm place for one hour or until doubled in bulk.

 

Note:  you can test the dough by sticking your finger into it.  If the indentation bounces back, it needs to rise some more -- if it remains, it is done.

 

 

Grease your hands with a little oil, punch the dough down and divide into two sections.  Roll the dough into long loaves, folding the dough and pinching it underneath to make it smooth. 

 

 

Using a sharp knife ( I used a serrated knife ), score three slits in the dough about 1/4 inch deep.  Cover with a tea towel and let rise for another 35 minutes.

 

 

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.  Beat one egg with 1 tsp cold water and brush on top of the loaves. You can sprinkle black pepper, poppy seeds or sesame seeds on the top at this point if you wish ( I made one plain and one with sesame seeds ).  Let the loaves rise uncovered this time for another 10 minutes.

 

 

Bake for 25 - 30 minutes or until golden bread and the loaves sound hollow when tapped.  Cool on wire racks.

 

 

This bread is amazing.  Spread some butter and homemade jam and oh la la, you are in for a treat!  Happy baking and remember to give your loved ones a hug!



Lemon Wacky Cake

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I needed a lemon fix and we were out of eggs.  What do I do?  Head over to Pinterest where I found the recipe for Lemon Wacky Cake.   Now the idea behind this cake is that the chocolate version was popular during the depression.  Since eggs, milk and butter were in short supply and when a housewife could find some, they were usually too expensive to even think of using for a dessert.

 

 

Mary over at Sweet Little Bluebird not only mastered the original chocolate version but she also includes the lemon and spice version on her blog!  Imagine that?!  If only the housewives during the depression had Mary and the internet.

 

 

 

One pan, no bowl, no eggs, no butter, no milk and it is oh so perfect and moist.

 

Ingredients

 

1 1/2 cups of flour + 3 tablespoons

1 cup white sugar

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon lemon zest

 

 

1 teaspoon white vinegar

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1 teaspoon pure lemon extract

5 tablespoons vegetable oil

1 cup of water

 

Preheat oven to 350F.

 

Directions

 

Mix the first 5 dry ingredients in an 8" square pan starting with the flour.  Mix well.  Make 3 depressions...2 small and one larger. 

 

 

Pour the vinegar in one small depression, the vanilla and lemon extracts in the other small depression and the vegetable oil in the larger depression.

 

 

Pour the water over the whole thing.  Mix until smooth.

 

 

Bake for 35 minutes. 

 

 

That's it!!!  I added a Key Lime icing on the top.  Easy peasy and yummy! 

 

 

 

Happy baking and remember to give your loved ones a hug! 

Cinnamon Sugar Bread

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My love for bread continues ...... but if you add cinnamon to the mix ..... well, my heart goes pitter pat.

 

 

 

I found the recipe on Pinterest and it comes from Liz over at A Whisk and a Prayer and it sounds as if she loves cinnamon bread about as much as I do!

 

Ingredients

 

1/3 cup white sugar

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

2 cups all purpose flour

1 tablespoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup white sugar

1 egg, beaten

1 cup milk

1/3 cup vegetable oil

 

Method

 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Lightly grease a 9 by 5 inch loaf pan.  In a large bowl combine the flour, baking powder, salt and 1 cup white sugar.  Add egg, milk and vegetable oil to the mixture.  Stir just until moistened.  Pour 1/2 batter into the greased loaf pan.  Sprinkle with cinnamon and 1/3 cup of white sugar (I didn't measure out my cinnamon, I just sprinkled away and probably added quite a bit more since I love the taste of cinnamon so much!)

 

 

Now cover the cinnamon layer the with remaining batter.  Top with more cinnamon and sugar if you desire.

 

 

Bake in the preheated oven for 45 to 50 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean when inserted into the center of the loaf.  Let it cool for 10 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely. 

 

 

Wrap in foil and let it sit overnight before slicing.....okay confession time. I didn't see this part and I just sliced away and enjoyed it warm.  It was DELICIOUS but I don't know how it would taste if you actually DID wrap it until the next morning.

 

 

Happy baking and remember to give your loved ones a hug!

 

Stuffed Peppers

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The other day, the local grocery store had large, organic, beautiful peppers on sale.  They were the perfect size to be stuffed!  Since we will have to wait quite a while for our own peppers to be planted, grow and be picked, I wanted to have that 'garden grown' flavor now.

 

Our method of stuffed peppers is pretty basic and the recipe is never the same.

 

Ingredients  - give or take

 

1 pound of hamburger

3 gloves of garlic, minced

1 onion, diced

1 (15.5 ounce) can Rotel diced tomatoes with green chilies

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

smidge of brown sugar

splash of Worcestershire sauce

small can of tomato paste

1 1/2 cups of chicken broth

4 green bell peppers

 

 

 

Directions

 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F

 

Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium heat.  Add ground beef, stirring constantly, cook until brown and crumbly.  Pour off the grease, , then stir in the garlic, onions, tomatoes, tomato paste, brown sugar and Worcestershire sauce.  Cook and stir until the onions are soft, about 4 minutes.  Stir about 1/2 of the cheese into the mixture, set aside.

 

Cut the top of the peppers and remove the veins and seeds.  Rinse well.  Fill each pepper with the ground beef mixture and then carefully pour some of the chicken broth over the hamburger mixture.  Place in muffin tins or a bread pan so they stand upright while baking and replace the tops.

 

Bake for approximately 30 to 45 minutes or until peppers are soft. 

 

they were steaming hot out of the oven

 

Remove peppers from the pan.  I then take off the top and sprinkle the remaining cheese.

 

 

Enjoy!

 

 

Just a note:

 

The Rotel tomatoes it adds quite a bit of 'heat'.  If you prefer a 'cooler' pepper just use regular diced tomatoes.

 

 

I hope you have a great day and remember to give your loved ones a hug!

 



Mozza Bombs

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Cheese.  I LOVE cheese.  Any cheese but Blue and Limburger ..... too smelly for me.  Gouda is my all time favorite, sliced thin and served with hot, homemade bread. 

 

 

Browsing recipes the other day I came across a recipe from Pinterest .... unfortunately the link now does not work so I can't link back but I decided to give it a try.  I mixed mine up a little though.

 

I call them Mozza Bombs.

 

Ingredients

 

2 containers of Pillsbury Flaky dinner rolls

2 - 3 mozza string cheese

little olive oil for brushing the tops

Italian seasoning

parmesan cheese

 

 

                

 

Directions

 

Take apart the flaky dinner rolls and carefully separate each one.  Cut or tear the mozza string cheese into small pieces and lay in between dinner rolls.  Pinch the edges so each roll is sealed. 

 

 

Lightly brush to top of each dinner roll.  Sprinkle the Italian seasoning and parmesan cheese over the olive oil.

 

 

Place them on an ungreased cookie sheet.  Cook according to the direction on the container of dinner rolls.  I watched them carefully and they only had to bake a little bit longer. 

 

                

 

These turned out DELICIOUS!!  So easy and quick.  Perfect for when I need something whipped up at the last minute for unexpected company .... or just when I need a cheese fix.

 

                    

 

Happy baking and remember to give your loved ones a hug!



Spring Fabric Basket

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I love candy.....especially chocolate. Hershey's kisses are one of my favorite.  They hold a big bang of chocolate in a little tiny package.

 

I don't normally have candy just laying around otherwise I just eat the whole thing but I have been trying to restrain myself more but I decided it would be nice to put out some candy over the Easter holiday.

 

I wanted a cute bowl to put the candy in and looking around, I really didn't have anything suitable so what did I do?  I made one.

 

Looking on Pinterest for inspiration, I found quite a few ideas and then I found this one and thought it couldn't hurt giving it a try.

 

Gathering my scrap fabric, a pair of pinking shears, I started by cutting a range of different patterned scraps into small squares using my pinking shears. 

 

 

Blowing up a balloon to a small size, I then mixed up my homemade modge podge and started applying a thick coat to the balloon and then over the squares once I had placed them in random order over the balloon.

 

 

It didn't take me long but it was sort of messy.  I did tape the balloon to the counter as it kept rolling away from me.

 

  

Once I felt I had enough squares, I hung the balloon to dry overnight.

 

            

 

The next morning, I popped the balloon and once again taking my pinking shears, I carefully trimmed all around the top of the bowl so it was uniform and the size I wanted.

 

 

 

The bowl isn't as sturdy as I would like it.  I think next time I will add more layers of fabric but I love the look of the  bowl and many more could be made to suit each holiday....just to have a few treats laying around for company or when I need a pick me up.....as long as I don't need too many pick me ups or I will need to pick my butt up off the couch and go for more walks to whittle away the pounds that I will be gaining! 

 

 

 

Have a wonderful day and remember to give your loved ones a hug!

Spring Cookies

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It's time for cookies!  Spring cookies at that.  Actually my Mom made these cookies quite a bit when I was growing up except she omitted the peanut butter.  Once they are made (either recipe) they are addicting and I have a difficult time passing by them without grabbing one or two. 

 

To make them look a little more like a 'spring' cookie, I added colored chocolate eggs to make them appear like a little bird's nest. 

 

 

Oh so easy and oh so tasty!

 

Now I could not find my original recipe so I turned to Pinterest and there it was .... first one that popped up after I hit the search button.  I do want to give credit to the website where I copied the recipe from and Morgan from One More Moore had the recipe I wanted.

 

Chocolate Oatmeal No Bake Spring Nest Cookies

 

Ingredients

 

1/2 cup butter

2 cups white sugar

1/2 cup milk

4 tablespoons cocoa

1/2 cup peanut butter

3 - 3 1/2 cups quick cooking oats

2 teaspoons vanilla

 

Add the first four ingredients in a saucepan. 

 

 

Bring to a rolling boil and boil for one minute.  Stir in the next three ingredients and drop onto wax paper.  Let cool until set.....now I dropped a tablespoon into little candy paper cups and added 2 candy coated chocolate eggs. 

 

 

They only take about 15 minutes to set enough to eat and eat we did! 

 

 

Happy baking and remember to give your loved ones a hug!