French Bread

Sorry I have been MIA lately. Summer vacation got the best of me, but the kids are back in school and I am back in the kitchen. Today I came across this recipe for French Bread. Despite the confusing way it is written, the bread turned out fabulous! So I'm giving you the recipe the way I put it together and hopefully it is easier to follow than the original recipe.

What you'll need:

• 1 T dry active yeast
• 1 1/4 cup warm water
• 2 T sugar
• 3 3/4 cup flour
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 egg white 

In a large bowl (I used my kitchenaid stand mixer), combine water, sugar and yeast. Add salt. Stir in flour one cup at a time until you have a nice dough that isn't too soft or too sticky. Knead for 5 minutes. Let dough rest in bowl for 20 minutes. Preheat oven to 300*. In the mean time start a small pan of water boiling. Roll dough out on counter into a rectangle. Roll up jelly roll style and tuck ends under. Place on greased cookie sheet. Make slits in the top of the loaf. Brush loaf with beaten egg white. Turn off oven. Place boiling water into a shallow baking dish on the bottom rack in the oven. Place the cookie sheet on the rack above the water. Let dough rise until double. Turn oven on to 425* and bake for 10 minutes. Turn oven down to 375* and bake for an additional 8-10 minutes. Remove from oven and serve.

Kaiser Rolls

I found this recipe at Taste of Home and my family loves it when I make homemade buns for our pulled pork sandwiches. Tonight I made Balsamic Honey Pulled Pork Sliders from Six Sisters' Stuff so I figured I should make these again and get them posted this time.

2 T yeast
2 cups warm water
4 T Sugar
1 T salt
1/3 c butter or margarine, melted
6 - 6 1/2 cups flour
1 egg white
2 T cold water
Dehydrated onions, poppy seeds or sesame seeds

In the bowl of your stand mixer, or in a large bowl, mix yeast with 1/2 c warm water and 1 T of the sugar. Let stand until bubbly (3-5 minutes). Add the butter, salt, the other 1 1/2 cups water and the other 3 T sugar. Mix well. Start adding flour one cup at a time on speed 2 (or by hand). When dough is well combined let the mixer (or your hands) knead the dough 2-3 minutes longer. Place in a greased bowl and cover with towel. Let dough raise for 1 hour.

Punch dough down. Turn onto a lightly floured surface; divide into 16 pieces. Shape each into a ball. Place 2 in. apart on greased baking sheets. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 30 minutes.

Beat egg white and cold water; brush over rolls. Sprinkle with topping of your choice. Cut a slit into the top of each roll. Bake at 400* for 17-20 minutes

Bake at 400° for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown.

Orange Rolls

I made this entire dough recipe and used half for caramel rolls and half for orange rolls. It made a lot of each. I made minis so if you are making full size rolls it's going to make less. I shared with 5 other families. It made that many mini rolls.

Dough- (this is the fairy roll recipe from earlier on the blog)
2 cups boiling water
2 cubes margarine (DON'T USE BUTTER - you may never hear me say that again, but in this recipe it changes everything. Trust me - I found out the hard way)
3/4 cup sugar
2 T. yeast
3 eggs, slightly beaten
6-7 cups flour
1 t. baking powder
1 t. salt

Filling- (You will have to double this if you are making the entire recipe into orange rolls)
Zest from 1 orange (save the orange)
1/2 c butter, melted

Icing- (You will have to double this if you are making the entire recipe into orange rolls)
Juice from 1 orange
1 1/2 c powdered sugar
3-4 T. heavy whipping cream

Pour boiling water over margarine (You used margarine, right? If not, you'll be sorry.) Stir the sugar into this mixture and then let it cool until just warm. Then add the yeast and beaten eggs. Mix together the dry ingredients. Add these to the wet mixture and stir, stir, stir. Then get your husband to stir when your arm feels like falling off. (Or put it all in your kitchenaid mixer!) Cut the dough into two balls. Throw a towel over the dough and let the dough rise until double. Roll dough out into two large rectangles. Cut each rectangle in half lengthwise (for minis. If you want full size rolls do not do this.) Brush melted butter mixed with orange zest over rolled out dough. Roll up rectangles into spirals and seal edge to roll with a little bit of water. Cut into spirals. and place on a greased 10x13 cookie sheet. Bake at 350* for 16-20 minutes. When rolls have cooled enough to handle mix together powdered sugar and orange juice. Add cream to make desired consistency. Pick up each roll and dip the top into the icing and set on a platter to serve.

Caramel Rolls

I made this entire dough recipe and used half for caramel rolls and half for orange rolls. It made a lot of each. I made minis so if you are making full size rolls it's going to make less. I shared with 5 other families. It made that many mini rolls.

Dough- (this is the fairy roll recipe from earlier on the blog)
2 cups boiling water
2 cubes (1 cup) margarine (DON'T USE BUTTER - you may never hear me say that again, but in this recipe it changes everything. Trust me - I found out the hard way)
3/4 cup sugar
2 T. yeast
3 eggs, slightly beaten
6-7 cups flour
1 t. baking powder
1 t. salt

Filling- (You'll have to double this if you make the entire dough recipe into caramel rolls)
1 1/2 cups brown sugar
1 1/2 cups butter
1/3 c karo syrup
12-14 oz sweetened condensed milk
1 cup brown sugar (to sprinkle over dough before rolling)

Pour boiling water over margarine (You used margarine, right? If not, you'll be sorry.) Stir the sugar into this mixture and then let it cool until just warm. Then add the yeast and beaten eggs. Mix together the dry ingredients. Add these to the wet mixture and stir, stir, stir. Then get your husband to stir when your arm feels like falling off. (Or put it all in your kitchenaid mixer!) Cut the dough into two balls. Throw a towel over the dough and let the dough rise until double. In the meantime place brown sugar (1 1/2 cups), butter and karo in a medium sauce pan. Stir until all is melted well combined. Stir in sweetened condensed milk and pour mixture into two greased 9x13 pans. Roll dough out into two large rectangles. Cut each rectangle in half lengthwise (for minis. If you want full size rolls do not do this.) Sprinkle with brown sugar. Roll up and cut into spirals. Place spirals on top the the caramel mixture and bake at 375* 20-22 minutes. Let cool 5 minutes and then flip pan over onto serving platter.





Don't forget to check out my fabulous makeup from Younique and don't forget to frost your lashes with 3d fiber lash mascara!

One Hour Bread

Seriously people! This bread is so yummy and very quick to make. I wanted bread tonight, but it was too late in the day to get it done in time for dinner using the two rise method. So I thought I'd try something new. Let's just say it worked!

Yield 2 loaves

Ingredients:
5- 5 1/2 cups flour
1 t salt
1/3 c brown sugar
2 T instant yeast
1/3 c butter, melted
2 c very warm water
1/3 c instant dry milk

Combine all dry ingredients, including yeast, in kitchenaid stand mixer bowl with hook attachment. Mix thoroughly. Add melted butter and start mixing on speed 1. Add water and instant dry milk and change to speed 2. Mix until all is combined and continue kneading for around 5 minutes. Split into to loaves. Grease bread pans and shape dough into two loaves. Place loaves in pans and cover. Let dough rise for 25-30 minutes. It should look like this when it is ready to go into the oven.

Bake at 350* for 30-32 minutes. Try not to eat an entire loaf by yourself. Give one to a friend so you don't eat both loaves.

Balsamic Pulled Pork Sandwiches on Rye

I made balsamic pulled pork a few days back. I had leftovers. I didn't want to eat them just plain so I decided I'd try and turn it into a sandwich. BEST IDEA EVER! I threw it on some toasted dark rye bread with white cheddar. Amazing!

Onion Bagels

This is just the few changes made to make the cinnamon bagels into onion bagels.

• 1 cup warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 2 tablespoons white sugar
• 1-2 Tablespoons dehydrated onions
  
• 3 cups bread flour
• 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
• 3 quarts boiling water
• 3 tablespoons white sugar
• 1 tablespoon cornmeal
• 1 egg white

1. Place water, salt, sugar, cinnamon sugar, honey, flour and yeast in the bread machine pan in the order recommended by the manufacturer. Select Dough setting.
2. When cycle is complete, (or after all ingredients are kneaded together) let dough rest on a lightly floured surface (I let it sit about an hour because I didn't do a full cycle). Meanwhile, in a large pot bring 3 quarts of water to a boil. Stir in 3 tablespoons of sugar.
3. Cut dough into 7 equal pieces, and roll each piece into a small ball. Flatten balls. Poke a hole in the middle of each with your thumb. Twirl the dough on your finger or thumb to enlarge the hole, and to even out the dough around the hole. Cover bagels with a clean cloth, and let rest for 20 minutes.
4. Sprinkle an ungreased baking sheet with cornmeal. Carefully transfer bagels to boiling water. Boil for 1 minute, turning half way through. Drain briefly on clean towel. Arrange boiled bagels on baking sheet. Glaze tops with egg white, and sprinkle with more dehydrated onions.
5. Bake in a preheated 375 degree F (190 degrees C) oven for 20 to 25 minutes, until well browned.

Cinnamon Bagels

I have been wanting to try and make bagels for a few weeks and yesterday I was on a bread kick so I took the plunge. They really weren't nearly as intimidating as I had made them out to be in my head. I found a recipe on AllRecipes that I could throw into the bread machine for the dough process. I actually only put them into my bread machine for ten minutes. Just long enough to knead it all together. I wanted to make cinnamon bagels AND onion bagels so I needed the machine. You say I'm impatient? Okay, maybe I am. BUT.... It worked!

• 1 cup warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 2 tablespoons white sugar
• 2 tablespoons cranberry honey (You could use plain honey as well. This is just what I had)
• 1-2 tablespoons cinnamon sugar
  
• 3 cups bread flour
• 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
• 3 quarts boiling water
• 3 tablespoons white sugar
• 1 tablespoon cornmeal
• 1 egg white

1. Place water, salt, sugar, cinnamon sugar, honey, flour and yeast in the bread machine pan in the order recommended by the manufacturer. Select Dough setting.
2. When cycle is complete, (or after all ingredients are kneaded together) let dough rest on a lightly floured surface (I let it sit about an hour because I didn't do a full cycle). Meanwhile, in a large pot bring 3 quarts of water to a boil. Stir in 3 tablespoons of sugar.
3. Cut dough into 7 equal pieces, and roll each piece into a small ball. Flatten balls. Poke a hole in the middle of each with your thumb. Twirl the dough on your finger or thumb to enlarge the hole, and to even out the dough around the hole. Cover bagels with a clean cloth, and let rest for 20 minutes.
4. Sprinkle an ungreased baking sheet with cornmeal. Carefully transfer bagels to boiling water. Boil for 1 minute, turning half way through. Drain briefly on clean towel. Arrange boiled bagels on baking sheet. Glaze tops with egg white, and sprinkle with more cinnamon sugar.
5. Bake in a preheated 375 degree F (190 degrees C) oven for 20 to 25 minutes, until well browned.

Fairy Rolls

This is a family recipe that came from my husband's great-grandma, Vera Barrett. I actually prefer these to the Texas Roadhouse Rolls. Yep. They're that good.

2 cups boiling water
2 cubes/sticks margarine (This is equal to 1 cup) (DON'T USE BUTTER - you may never hear me say that again, but in this recipe it changes everything. Trust me - I found out the hard way)
3/4 cup sugar
2 T. yeast
2 eggs, slightly beaten
6-7 cups flour
1 t. baking powder
1 t. salt

Pour boiling water over margarine (You used margarine, right? If not, you'll be sorry.) Stir the sugar into this mixture and then let it cool until just warm. THIS IS IMPORTANT! If your water is too warm you will kill the yeast. Then add the yeast and beaten eggs. Mix together the dry ingredients. Add these to the wet mixture and stir, stir, stir. Then get your husband to stir when your arm feels like falling off. (Or put it all in your kitchen-aid mixer!) Throw a towel over the bowl and let the dough rise until double. Shape rolls however you wish. (This dough makes really good cinnamon rolls, caramel rolls & orange rolls, too!) Bake at 350* for about 18 minutes. For cinnamon rolls bake 22-25 minutes.

Garlic Herb & Cheese Pull Apart Bread

I was trying to come up with a good after school snack for the kids today and I was wanting Texas Roadhouse Rolls. This is what happened. :)

I made one recipe Texas Roadhouse Roll Dough and divided it in half after the first rise session. I then shaped half of the dough into rolls and the other half became Garlic Herb & Cheese pull apart bread.

What You'll Need:
1/2 recipe Texas Roadhouse Roll Dough
1 t. oregano
1 t. basil
1/4 t. rosemary
1/4 t. sea salt, ground fine
1-2 T garlic, minced (I use the bottled kind)
1/4 lb. cheddar cheese, shredded

Cut dough into 12-13 pieces. Roll out into circles. In a small bowl combine oregano, basil, rosemary, sea salt and garlic. Spread a small amount of the mixture onto each dough circle. Sprinkle cheese over half of each circle. Fold dough in half and press around the edges to seal each circle. Grease a loaf pan. place each pocket, rounded side up in the loaf pan, squeezing together to form a loaf. Let rise about 30 minutes. Bake at 350* 25-30 minutes. Serve hot.

Texas Roadhouse Rolls - copycat recipe

Texas Roadhouse Rolls - Copycat Recipe

adapted from: Eat Cake For Dinner

4 tsp. active dry yeast

1/2 c. warm water

2 c. milk, scalded and cooled to lukewarm

3 Tbl. of melted butter/margarine blend, slightly cooled - I used smart balance

1/3 c. sugar

6 cups flour

2 whole eggs

1 tsp. salt

Dissolve yeast in warm water with a teaspoon of sugar.  Combine yeast mixture, milk, sugar, butter and 3 cups flour. Beat thoroughly. Add eggs and salt. Beat well.

Add enough flour to form a soft dough. Sprinkle a small amount of flour onto counter and let dough rest. Meanwhile, grease a large bowl. Knead dough until smooth and satiny and put in greased bowl; turn over to grease top. (I used the dough hook on my Kitchen-Aid to knead this for about 3-4 minutes). Cover and let rise in a warm place until double in size. Punch down. Turn out onto a floured board. Shape dough into desired forms.*** Place on greased baking sheets. Let rise until doubled.

Bake at 350 degrees for 10-15 minutes or until golden brown. Baste immediately with butter. (I got 25 rolls)

***I rolled the dough out with a rolling pin to 3/4"-1" thick and cut into 25 large rectangles. 







Don't forget to check out my fabulous makeup from Younique and don't forget to frost your lashes with 3d fiber lash mascara!

Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins (or Bread)

1 c. mashed bananas
1/2 c. applesauce
1/2 c. sour cream
3/4 c. sugar
2 c. flour
2 t. baking soda
1/2 t. salt
chocolate chips (as desired)

Cream applesauce, sour cream, and sugar. Add bananas. Mix dry ingredients and add to banana mixture. Stir in choc chips. Bake at 350* in muffin tins 20-25 minutes. (as 2 loaves of bread bake 45-60 minutes.

Zucchini Option:
Add 1/2 c. - 1 c. shredded zucchini to mixture. It is best to add this in just after the bananas.

You can also substitute the bananas for zucchini completely.

Bread Sticks

It seems like I get asked for this recipe all of the time so it seems right to start with this one.

Mix together:
2 1/2 c. warm water
1 T. sugar
1 T. yeast
2 T. margarine
Let sit until bubbly.

Next add 2 cups flour and 1 t. salt and mix well. Mix/knead in 3-4 more cups of flour until no longer sticky.

Shape into bread sticks or spread dough onto a greased jelly roll pan and cut with a pizza cutter to make bread sticks. Brush dough with butter (I like to use a butter spray) and sprinkle with garlic salt. (You can also sprinkle Parmesan cheese on the dough if you like.)

Let rise up to 30 minutes. (You do not have to let these rise at all if you are happy with the size. I usually put them straight into the oven at this point.)

Bake at 400* for 10 minutes. Remove from oven and brush or spray with butter again and then bake at 425* for 5 minutes longer or until tops are starting to brown.

Remove from pan immediately and serve. I like to serve this with Alfredo sauce for dipping. You can also serve with marinara or just by themselves.


This is not my recipe. I got it from a friend who got it somewhere else.