Cranberry Oat Bread

Cranberry Oat Bread

from the Bread Machine

I'm ready to try something new and venture into the unknown.  I've created a short video of this recipe on YouTube.  Lets see how it goes!

Ingredients:

1 cup water (lukewarm)

1 tablespoon butter/margarine

2 tablespoons honey

3/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/3 cup old-fashion oats

2 1/2 cups flour

1 3/4 teaspoons active dry yeast

1/3 cup dried cranberries

Directions:

In bread machine pan, place the first eight ingredients in order suggested by manufacturer.  Select basic bread setting.  Choose crust color and loaf size if available.  Bake according to bread machine directions (check dough after 5 minutes of mixing; add 1 to 2 tablespoons of water or flour if needed).  Just before final kneading (your machine may audibly signal this), add cranberries.

Strawberry Chocolate Chip Muffins

 

We had a snow day this week.  I don't know what it is about cold wintry days, but they just make me want to bake.  Strawberry Chocolate Chip Muffins hit the spot. 

 

 

Ingredients

2 cups Baking Mix (such as Bisquick)

2/3 cup Milk

1 teaspoon Vanilla

1/4 cup Mini Chocolate Chips

1/2 cup Chopped Strawberries

1/3 cup Sugar

1/3 cup Vegetable Oil

1 large Egg

 

Directions

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

Lightly grease your muffin pan.

Stir together ingredients except fruit, until smooth.  Gently fold in strawberries.

Evenly spoon batter into greased muffin tin.

Bake 18-22 minutes until golden brown.

Bread Machine Pretzels

 

These Pretzel Bites are so easy and delish,  you'll want to make them every day!

They are also great stuffed with velveeta or wrapped around a hot dog.

 

Bread Machine Pretzels

 

Layer ingredients into your bread machine as directed in your manual.

 

1 1/8 cup water

3 cups all purpose flour

3 tablespoons brown sugar

1 1/2 teaspoons yeast

 

Set machine to dough cycle and let it do all the work.  Once complete, grease your work surface and turn out dough.  Let rest while you get 2 quarts of water to boil with 1/2 cup of baking soda.  Also preheat oven to 425 degrees. 

 

Cut and shape pretzels into your desired shapes.  Place each piece into the boiling water for 10-15 seconds.  Arrange them on a baking sheet and top with salt crystals.

 

Bake in preheated oven for 8-10 minutes.  The longer they are in the oven, the more that dark brown color will develop.

 

Pretzel bites are great as is, but dipped in cheese sauce or ranch is super yummy too!

 

 

 

Homemade Pitas

 

Pita Bread is definately not a recipe I thought I could make at home.  I was surprised at how easy and yummy they were.  It was a fun project!  We filled ours with sloppy joes and wow, were they good.

 

 

Wimbush Family Pita Bread

1 tablespoon yeast
1 ¼ cup warm water
1 teaspoon salt
3- 3 ½ cups flour

Dissolve yeast in water for about 5 minutes in the bowl of an electric mixer. Add salt and 1 ½ cups flour and with the dough hook, beat to make a batter. Add additional flour until a rough, shaggy mass is formed. Knead 8 minutes until dough is smooth and elastic. Add more flour if it is too sticky.

Turn dough onto a lightly floured surface and divide into six pieces for large pitas or ten for smaller. I make all sorts of sizes to suit different snacks and meals. Form dough into balls, then flatten with a rolling pin into ¼ inch thick discs. Try and keep an even thickness as this is what helps them ‘puff’.

Let rest on the floured surface 30-40 minutes until slightly puffed.

Preheat oven to 425F.
With a large spatula, flip the rounds of dough upside down on to a baking sheet. Bake 10-15 minutes until light golden. Stick around for the first five minutes of baking when the pitas perform their magic and puff up from flat pancakes to proud, four inch high pitas.

These store for up to two days well wrapped or frozen for three weeks.

 

 

Mine weren't nearly as pretty as those of the original poster.  Check out her post here.

A Tale of 2 Pizzas

 

I've been playing with my bread machine a lot lately.  I found this recipe for a beer pizza crust and had to try it.  My hubby has always been a fan of the Chef Boyardee pizza kits.  So I tried both of these recipes one night.  I am a huge fan of the beer pizza crust, it will definitely be made again!

 

 

I made the Beer Bread Dough into a BBQ Chicken Pizza.

 

Beer Bread Machine Pizza Dough

• 1 cup flat beer
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 1/4 teaspoons yeast

Directions

1. Put beer, butter, sugar, salt, flour, and yeast in a bread machine in the order recommended by the manufacturer. Select Dough setting, and press Start.
2. Remove dough from bread machine when cycle is complete. Roll or press dough to cover a prepared pizza pan. Brush lightly with olive oil. Cover and let stand 15 minutes.
3. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
4. Spread sauce and toppings on top of dough. Bake until crust is lightly brown and crispy on the outside, about 24 minutes.

 

 

This pizza was topped with prosciutto and black olives.

 

Chef Boyardee Pizza Dough

 

2 1/2 c. flour
2 3/4 tsp. baking powder (if using baking soda use half and omit salt)
1 tsp. salt
1 tbsp. oil
3/4 to 1 c. water

Mix dry ingredients. add 3/4 cup water and oil. Stir until it forms a ball. If dough is stiff, add more water.The dough will be soft, not sticky. Knead on a floured surface for 3-4 minutes.Bake at 400°F for 15-25 minutes.

Crusty Rustic Bread

This was my entry into yeast breads.  I have been very fearful of trying to bake with those little critters.  Since trying this recipe, I have ventured into  many more yeasty recipes.

Crusty Rustic Bread

Ingredients:

3 cups flour

1 3/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon yeast

1 1/2 cup water

In a large bowl, whisk dry ingredients. Stir in water until combined.  Cover with plastic wrap and allow to rise for 12 to 18 hours.  Heat oven to 450 degrees.  Warm your cast iron pot for 30 minutes in the oven.  Lightly grease your pot, place dough inside, cover an bake for 30 minutes.  Uncover and cook an additional 15 minutes.  Place on a Rack to cool.

Feel free to experiment with this recipe.  Add Cheese and or herbs to personalize it to your tastes.