Homemade Basil Pizza Dough

It seems like every pizza dough I try is good, but it doesn't quite have that chewy texture that you get at the pizza chains. I seriously think this is the best pizza dough and I really like the flecks of basil and flavor it adds. I also make this on the grill a lot and its delicious.

Ingredients:
1 tbsp yeast
1/3 cup really warm water
1/2 tbsp sugar
mix together and wait until foamy and doubled in size
then add:
1/4 cup olive oil
1 cup milk
1 tsp salt
3 cups flour plus more if needed
1 tsp basil

Add all in a mixer with a dough attachment add the salt very last so it doesn't kill the yeast. knead and add flour until it pulls away from the bowl. If mixing by hand knead for about 5 minutes. Poke the dough with your finger if it bounces back with no dent, it's ready.

When I make pizza I cook it on 500 degrees for about 10-12 minutes.

Sopapillas

These little fried pastries are just....divine! They almost remind me of the flavor of my favorite treat in Disneyland the ultimate "churro" which could be the most missed luxury from living in So. California. No, but seriously, if you want something light and airy these sopas are the recipe to try. I love them with a little cinnamon and sugar and....a little butter, or even honey drizzled over the top. Either way, I can't just stop at one believe me, I've tried!

Ingredients:
4 cups flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
4 tbsp. shortening
1 tsp. salt
1 1/2 cups warm water

Directions:

Heat up about an inch of canola oil on med-med high heat about 375 degrees. Then in a large bowl or stand mixer add the flour, baking powder, salt, and shortening. Mix in water until smooth. Cover and let stand for 30 minutes. Roll out to 1/4 in. thick (if too thick will not puff up like a pillow in cooking). Cut into 3-inch squares. Fry until golden brown. (approx. 20 sec on each side) Serve hot with toppings of choice.

Rosemary Focaccia Bread

I love this bread! I have made it so many times now, I can't get enough of it. It makes for the best sandwiches.

Ingredients:

1 cup warm water
1 pkg. instant dry yeast
1 tbsp. sugar
6 tbsp. melted butter
4-5 cups flour
2 tsp. salt
1 tbsp. chopped rosemary
1 cup milk
1 tsp. kosher salt

Directions:

In a bowl mix water, yeast, and sugar. Let bubble about 5 minutes. Then add the butter and milk. Continue with the rosemary and  2 cups of the flour. Add the salt last so it doesnt kill the yeast. Mix well and add remaining flour to make a soft dough. Knead well on a floured surface for 5 minutes. Butter a pan and spread out the dough but, not to the edges. It needs to be thick. Dimple the dough with fingers and spread melted butter on top, and then the kosher salt. Let rise for 20 minutes. Bake at 450 degrees for 20 min. Let cool and then cut to make sandwiches.

Quick Rising Whole Wheat Bread

This bread recipe was so much faster than others I have tried and it was just as fluffy and delicious. I will definitely be using this recipe over and over again.

Ingredients:

2 cups warm water
3 tbsp. oil
3 tbsp. honey
1 tbsp. yeast
1 cup flour
3 cups whole wheat flour/ can substitute 1 cup white flour for lighter bread
1/2 tbsp. salt

In a small bowl mix water, honey and yeast. Let bubble and sit for 5 minutes. In a stand up mixer or large bowl add the flour, salt and oil. Add in the yeast water and knead the dough for 5 minutes. Remove dough and knead on a floured surface for 5 more minutes. Shape the dough into loaves and put in bread tins. Let rise for 30min-1hr. Bake at 400 degrees for 20-25 minutes.

Homemade Soda Crackers

pic by kathryn

These were really easy and super delicious. These pair perfectly with the Homemade Minestrone soup.

Ingredients:

1 1/4 cup flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. sugar
1 egg
2 tbsp. butter, melted
1/3 cup of water needed

Directions:

Mix the flour, salt and sugar in a bowl or food processor (food processor is best). In a small bowl mix together the egg and melted butter then add it to the flour until it comes together in the food processor. Add water if needed. It should be sticky but not too wet. Remove dough onto a floured surface and knead for 5 minutes. Let the dough rest for 30 minutes in a covered bowl. Turn a sheet pan over and lighly butter the bottom of the pan. Roll and stretch out the dough over the pan. Score the the dough into little squares and brush with melted butter over the entire dough. Sprinkle with salt and bake at 375 degrees for 10 minutes. Let cool slightly and break into little squares.

Cinnamon Rolls

These cinnamon rolls were delicious!

Ingredients: (for dough) Use a stand up mixer with dough attachment
1 cup warm milk
1/4 cup warm water
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 cup butter, room temp.
2 eggs, beaten
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 cup sugar
5 cups flour
1 pkg. instant dry yeast

Knead for 10 minutes then cover and let rise for 1 hr. Roll out dough to a large rectangle. Then spread the following.....

Filling
1/2 cup softened butter (spread over dough evenly)
1 cup brown sugar (sprinkle over the top of dough and butter)
4 tsp. cinnamon (sprinkle on top)
1 cup walnuts, chopped (opt)

Roll the dough into a large log. Cut into 1 inch thick sections and place on cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes.

Frosting
2 oz. cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup butter
2 cup powdered sugar
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1/8 tsp. milk

mix together until thick. When rolls are fresh out of oven spread frosting on top. It will melt and cover the cinnamon rolls.

Oh My Monkey Bread

Ingredients:

4 cans of biscuits

1 cup sugar
1 bowl with 1 cup sugar, 2 tbsp. cinnamon mixed
1 cube butter
1/2 cup chopped pecans (optional)

Directions:

Cut each biscuit into quarters. Then roll each quarter in the Cinnamon-Sugar mix. Drop into a well greased Bunt pan. (Layer in the pecans if you choose to use the pecans) In a saucepan, combine the butter and 1 cup of sugar until it's simmers. Pour over the biscuits in the bunt pan. Bake at 300° for 30 minutes or till golden brown.

Giada's Delish Pizza Crust

This pizza was so good! It tasted as good as it looks. I saw this pizza dough recipe on the food network and just added some olive oil to it. This is my absolute favorite pizza dough now!

Ingredients:

1 pkg dry yeast
1 cup warm water
combine and add to:
1 1/2 tsp. salt
4 cups flour
1/3 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Directions:

In a mixer with the kneading attachment combine all ingredients and knead for about 5 minutes until it doesn't stick or crumbles. (can also do by hand) After that form your dough in a ball and place in an oiled bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Let rise for 3 hours. Then form the dough into a log and cut into 3 pieces. (I used one to make a pizza with that day and put the other 2 back in the fridge for 2 more days to age a little bit.) Once you have your dough, spread work area with flour and roll out until about 13 inches in diameter and 1/4 in. thick. Top your pizza and cook at 475 degrees for 12-15 minutes.

* For pizza sauce I love "Classico's" Tomato and Basil Sauce.

Crescent Rolls

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups scalded milk

1 cube butter

2 pkg dry yeast

1/2 cup warm water

1 tsp. sugar

1/2 cup sugar

2 tsp. salt

4-6 cups flour

Directions:

In small saucepan, scald milk. You know it is scalded when it starts to get frothy around the edges but is not yet boiling. Remove from heat and add butter, set aside. In mixer add yeast, warm water and 1 tsp sugar, set aside. Once milk mixture is lukewarm, add remaining sugar and salt. Pour milk mixture into the yeast mixture. Add flour gradually while mixing. Once dough is pulling away from the sides of the mixer, cover with towel and set aside to rise. Once dough has doubled in size, punch it down. Divide it into halves. Roll each section into a circle, cut into triangles using a pizza cutter. Roll and place on greased cookie sheet. Cover and let rise again for 1/2-1hr. Bake at 375 until lightly browned on top. Approx 15 minutes

Homemade Doughnuts

I don't know what came over me, but i wanted a doughnut so i searched online and found this recipe. I really loved the maple glaze that goes on top. Troy had the chocolate ones and he really liked them. I thought they were really fun to make and I'm sure kids would love it.

Below are the directions...

Transfer to a well-oiled bowl, cover, and let rise for 1 hour or until doubled in size.
On a well-floured surface, roll out dough to 3/8-inch thick. Cut out dough using a 2 1/2-inch doughnut cutter or pastry ring and using a 7/8-inch ring for the center whole.

Set on floured baking sheet, cover lightly with a light towel, and let rise for 30 minutes. Then fry on each side for a 3 minutes. Let cool for 5 minutes then glaze.


Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups milk
1/3 cup shortening
2 packages instant yeast
1/3 cup warm water (95 to 105 degrees F)
2 eggs, beaten
1/4 cup sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
1 lb. all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting surface
Canola Oil for frying

Directions:

Place the milk in a medium saucepan and heat over medium heat just until warm enough to melt the shortening when combined. Place the shortening in a bowl and pour warmed milk over. Set aside.In a small bowl, sprinkle the yeast over the warm water and let dissolve for 5 minutes. After 5 minutes, pour the yeast mixture into the large bowl of a stand mixer and add the milk and shortening mixture, first making sure the milk and shortening mixture has cooled to lukewarm. Add the eggs, sugar, salt, nutmeg, and half of the flour. Using the paddle attachment, combine the ingredients on low speed until flour is incorporated and then turn the speed up to medium and beat until well combined. Add the remaining flour, combining on low speed at first, and then increase the speed to medium and beat well. Change to the dough hook attachment of the mixer and beat on medium speed until the dough pulls away from the bowl and becomes smooth, approximately 3 to 4 minutes.

Refer to the top pictures for the rest of the directions.....

Chocolate Glaze:
1/2 cup unsalted butter
1/4 cup whole milk, warmed
1 tbsp. light corn syrup
2 tsp. vanilla extract
4 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped
2 cups confectioners' sugar

Combine butter, milk, corn syrup, and vanilla in medium saucepan and heat over medium heat until butter is melted. Decrease the heat to low, add the chocolate, and whisk until melted. Turn off heat, add the powdered sugar, and whisk until smooth.

Maple Glaze:
1/2 cup unsalted butter
1/4 cup whole milk, warmed
1 tbsp. light corn syrup
2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 tbsp. Maple extract
4 cups confectioners' sugar

Regular Glaze :
1 cup butter, melted
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
5 cups confectioners' sugar
4 tbsp. water

* If you don't want to take the time to make the dough, i heard you can also use biscuit dough that you buy. Just roll it out a little bit and punch a hole in the center. Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar or glaze it.

Homemade Scones

Ingredients:

1 qt. buttermilk

2 tbsp. yeast dissolved in 1/2 cup of warm water

2 tbsp. sugar

2 beaten eggs

6 tbsp. canola oil

1 1/2 tsp. salt

3 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. baking soda

8 cups flour

Directions:

Mix all ingredients in a large bowl. No need to let rise. Form scones and fry in a pan. Will keep up to 6 weeks. Serve with butter and honey, or top with Navajo taco meat.

Sweet Rolls

Ingredients:

warm in a pan:

1 cup milk

1/3 cup sugar

1/3 cup marg

1 tsp. salt

remove from heat an add:

1 pkg. dry yeast, let sit for a few minutes

After mixture has cooled, combine the two following ingredients in a large bowl and add the wet ingredients to it slowly.

2 eggs

4-41/2 cups flour

Directions:

Let rise for 1 hr. and then roll into desired size and rise for an additional 30 minutes. Bake 375 degrees for 20-25 minutes

* This recipe also goes hand-in-hand with Cinna-middles. Before you let the rolls rise the last 30 minutes add the filling in the middle of the rolls and seal it so it doesn't ooze out. Then let rise and bake as directed.

Quick Pizza Crust

Ingredients:

1 tbsp. dry active yeast

1 tbsp. sugar

1 cup warm water

Stir in:

2 1/2 cup flour

1 tsp. salt

2 tbsp. oil

1 tbsp. sugar

Directions:

Mix together and let rest 5 minutes. Roll out and place on a baking sheet. Cook 4-5 minutes at 425 degrees. Take out and top with your favorite pizza toppings then bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes. This is so easy kids would love it.

Homemade Tortillas

Ingredients:

2 cups flour

1 tsp salt

1/4 cup shortening

1/2 cup warm water

Directions:

Sift together flour and salt. With a fork, cut in shortening. add water and mix with fork to make a stiff dough. Form a ball and knead on lightly floured surface. Divide dough into 8-10 pieces and shape into balls. Roll out to paper thin. Bake on very hot nonstick ungreased pan until freckled, about 20 seconds on each side. (If your crunched on time they have fresh refrigerated tortillas in the cool section by the cheese)

Amish Friendship Bread

I have made and shared Omish bread so many times and it always turns out so delicious and it's a fun way to share a new recipe.

STARTER:

3 cups. sugar

3 cups. flour

3 cups. milk

On Day 1:

In glass or plastic bowl, combine 1 cup sugar, 1 cup flour and 1 cup milk. Stir mixture with wooden or plastic spoon (don't use metal spoon or electric mixer). Cover bowl loosely with paper towel, cloth, wax paper or plastic wrap. Keep at room temperature (don't refrigerate).

On Days 2, 3 and 4:

Using wooden or plastic spoon, stir mixture once each day.

On Day 5:

Add 1 cup sugar, 1 cup flour and 1 cup milk; stir.

On Days 6, 7, 8 and 9:

Using wooden or plastic spoon, stir mixture once each day.

On Day 10: Add 1 cup sugar, 1 cup flour and 1 cup milk. Remove 3 cups of mixture and give 1 cup each to three friends. Save remaining starter for yourself.

BREAD:

Day 1: Do nothing.

Day 2-Day 5: Squeeze the bag 2 times daily

Day 6: Add 1 cup milk, 1 cup flour, and 1 cup sugar. Squeeze together thoroughly.

Day 7-Day 10: Let air out of bag and squeeze twice daily.

Day 11: Let air out of bag. Add 1 cup milk, 1 cup four, and 1 cup sugar. Squeeze together thoroughly.

Measure four 1 cup portions into 4 gallon sized Zip-lock bags. Give the starter to 3 friends with a copy of this recipe. Save the other for your starter and call it day 1.

Pour the rest of your starter into a bowl and add;

1 cup vegetable oil

½ cup milk

3 eggs

2 tsp vanilla

Mix well, then add;

2 cups flour

1 cup sugar

½ tsp salt

½ tsp baking soda

2 tsp cinnamon

1 ½ tsp baking powder

1 small box instant vanilla pudding

In a small bowl mix enough cinnamon and sugar together to coat the bottom of 2 loaf pans and the tops of 2 loaves. Spray pans with cooking spay before coating with cinnamon/sugar mixture. Pour batter into pans and top with cinnamon/sugar.Bake at 325° for 40-45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

Grandma's Homemade Bread

This is a recipe my Grandma has been using for years. She got it out of her Betty Crocker cookbook. There are lots of bread recipes out there, but this is the best. Try it!

Ingredients:

2 1/4 cups milk (or water)

3 Tbsp. Sugar

1 Tbsp. Salt

2 Tbsp. Shortening or 1/4 cup oil (the shortening is better)

2 cakes (which equals 2 Tbsp.) yeast

1/2 cup warm water

6-7 1/4 cups flour

Directions:

In pot on the stove dissolve the sugar, salt and shortening in the milk. Warm it slowly so that you don't scorch the milk. While that's warming, mix together the 1/2 cup warm water and the yeast. I like to use a fork because it kind of breaks up the yeast a bit. Set that aside and let it double in size. When it has doubled, pour the yeast and the milk mixture (make sure the shortening is melted) into your mixer. Turn your mixer on slow-med speed and start adding the flour to the liquid one cup at a time. You may need to slow down the blades as you add the flour so you don't flour the kitchen. :) When you've added about 6 cups of flour, turn the mixer on high and let it knead the dough for a few minutes. This is the tricky part, but you may need a little more flour or that might be just about enough. The dough should not be sticky to the touch and should pull away from the sides of the bowl without sticking. When I made it with my Grandma she only used 6 cups. If it needs more flour add it in 1/2 cup increments so that you don't add too much. It will probably need about 10 minutes or so of kneading. Cover with a towel and set in a warm place until it is double in size. When it has, punch it down into the bowl, then knead in the mixer for about 5 or 10 minutes or by hand. Form into 2 loaves and place in greased bread pans. Let it rise again until double in size which should be about 1 inch above the top of the pan. Bake at 400 for about 20-25 minutes. My Grandma always said that you know when it's done because it should sound hollow when you tap on it. Enjoy!