Focaccia Bread

Ingredients:
*1 cup warm water
*1 tsp. sugar
*1 Tbsp. yeast
*2 3/4 cups flour
*1 tsp. salt
*1 tsp. garlic powder
*1 tsp. oregano
*1 tsp. thyme
*1/2 tsp. basil
*pinch of pepper
*1 Tbsp. vegetable oil

Topping:
*olive oil or butter spray
*salt
*Mozzarella or Parmesan cheese, shredded

Directions:
1.  In mixing bowl, combine water and sugar.

2.  Add yeast.  Let sit until foamy, 10-15 minutes.

3.  Add all other ingredients.  Mix well.  Dough should not stick to your fingers.  Add a little more flour if needed.

4.  Place dough in greased bowl.  Cover with a damp cloth.

5.  Raise 20 minutes in a warm spot.

6.  Place on greased baking sheet and with fingers, pat and push to edges.  Dough should be about 1/2 inch thick.

7.  With a pizza cutter, cut to desired size.

7.  Bake at 450-degrees for 12-15 minutes.

Notes:
-Use a small baking sheet or double this recipe to fill an 11x17 pan.

Recipe Source:  Adapted from Allrecipes.com

Sandwich Rolls

I looked and looked for a good recipe for a sand which roll or bun. I wanted something light and fluffy, not hard and dense like one often finds at the store or bakery. I also wanted something in which I could incorporate a little bit of whole wheat flour, just to make it tad bit healthier. I finally found that recipe.

Ingredients:
*2 1/2 cups warm milk
*2 Tbsp. yeast
*1/4 cup sugar
*4 tsp. salt
*2 eggs
*1/4 cup margarine, softened
*2 cups whole wheat flour
*6 cups all-purpose flour

Directions:
1. Dissolve yeast in milk until foamy (10-15 minutes).

2. Mix in sugar, salt, eggs, margarine, whole wheat flour and 4 cups all-purpose flour.

 3. Gradually mix in last two cups of flour, adding more if needed until dough is really soft but not sticky.

4. Place in warm, greased bowl. Cover and raise for one hour.

5. Roll dough out to 3/4-inch thick.

6. Cut rolls. (I use a ring from a wide-mouth mason jar.)

7. Place on greased baking sheet. Raise about an hour.

8. Bake 12-15 minutes at 350-degrees.

 Makes 30-36 rolls, depending on size.

Serving Suggestions:
*Use with BBQ chicken to make sandwiches.
*Use for individual servings of garlic bread.

 Notes: These rolls freeze and thaw really well.

Recipe Source:  Adapted from Allrecipes.com

Dinner Rolls (Lionhouse Recipe)

Ingredients:
*2 Tbsp. yeast
*2 cups warm water
*1/4 cup sugar
*5 Tbsp. margarine, melted
*1 egg
*1 Tbsp. salt
*2/3 cup dry milk
*7 cups flour

Directions:
1.  Combine yeast and water in mixer.  Let sit until foamy.

2.  Add sugar, margarine, egg, salt, milk powder, and 2 cups of flour.  Mix until smooth.

3.  Gradually add remaining flour until dough is soft but not sticky.  (May need more or less flour than recipes suggests.)

4.  Knead 5 minutes.

5.  Place in greased bowl.  Cover with damp cloth.  Raise until doubled, about an hour.

6.  Divide into 3 sections.  Roll each section into a rectangle.

7.  Cut each rectangle into 8 smaller rectangles.

8.  Roll rectangles into "snails".

9.  Place on greased baking sheet, seam side down.

10.  Cover with greased plastic wrap.  Raise.

11.  Brush tops with salted butter or margarine.

12.  Bake 12 minutes at 375-degrees.

Recipe Source:  This recipe is all over the internet, take your pick of websites.  However, I have taken some liberties of my own.

Bread Sticks

Ingredients:
*1 Tbsp. yeast
*1 ½ cups warm water
*2 Tbsp. sugar
*1 tsp. salt
* 3 cups flour*
* butter spray
* salt
* garlic powder
* Parmesan cheese

*parsley flakes, dried (optional)

Directions:
1.  Dissolve yeast in water.

2.  Add remaining ingredients and mix well.

3.   Add more flour if dough is sticky.

4.  Grease 11 X 17 inch cookie sheet. Roll out dough on cookie sheet.

5.   Spray with butter spray and sprinkle with salt, garlic powder, Parmesan cheese, and parsley.

6.  Cut into strips with pizza cutter. Let raise.

7.   Bake 20 minutes at 350 degrees.

Notes:
-*I often use 2 1/2 - 3 cups whole wheat flour then all purpose flour until dough is firm.
-Dough freezes well.
-Bread sticks are best when eaten the day they're made.  They go stale pretty quick.

Cinnamon Rolls

Ingredients:
*3 Tbsp. yeast
*1 cup water
*2 cups plain yogurt (homemade yogurt works great)
*1 cup oil
*7 cups flour
*2 tsp. salt
*2 tsp. cinnamon (optional)

*1/4 cup butter, melted
*1 cup brown sugar
*1 Tbsp. cinnamon

Glaze
*1 Tbsp. butter, softened
*1/2 tsp. vanilla
*powdered sugar (probably 2-3 cups
*water

Directions:
1. Combine yeast and water. Let sit until foamy.

2. Mix in yogurt and oil.

3. Gradually stir in flour, salt and cinnamon. Add more flour until dough is soft but not sticky.

4. Turn onto floured surface. Knead 20 times.

5. Cover. Rest 15 minutes.

6. Roll dough out to about 1/4-inch thick.

7. Brush with melted butter.

8. Combine brown sugar and cinnamon. Mix it well.

9. Sprinkle sugar and cinnamon mixture on dough. Be very generous.

10. Cut into 1-inch strips and roll into rolls.

11. Place rolls on greased baking sheet, allowing them to just barely touch.

12. Cover and raise 30 minutes.

13. Bake 25 minutes at 325-degrees.

14. Combine butter, vanilla, and powdered sugar. Add a little water at a time until desired consistency is reached.

15. Drizzle glaze over cooled rolls.

Note: These freeze really well.
Recipe Source: Adapted from Allrecipes.com.

Wheat Bread

Ingredients:
*1 cup very warm water
*3 Tbsp. yeast
*1/3 cup oil
*3/4 cup sugar
*1 1/2 Tbsp. salt
*1/3 cup gluten
*2 Tbsp. dough enhancer
*8 cups whole wheat flour
*3 1/4 cups war water
*2-3 cups white flour

Directions:
1.  Dissolve yeast in 3/4 cup water. (Make sure to let it get really foamy.)

2.  Mix in all ingredients except white flour. Mix well.

3.  Let sit for 20 minutes.

4.  Add white flour, one cup at a time. Add just until dough is firm but still stretchy. (It shouldn't be sticky.)

5.  Place dough into greased bowl. Turn one to coat. Cover and raise in warm place until doubled. (Probably about an hour.)

6.  Shape into 4 loaves. Place in greased bread pans.

7.  Raise.

8.  Bake at 325-degrees for 33 minutes.

Recipe Source:  Adapted from my mom, Lynette Hutchison???

French Bread

I'd wanted to try making french bread and finally found a recipe that looked promising. I tried it and the flavor was great but the bread itself was heavy, really dense. I tried it a couple of times and was about to toss it and look for something else, when one day out of the blue, Brent said, "That french bread you made the other day was the best bread you've ever made." He also said that sometimes the stuff you get at the store or the bakery is too light and too fluffy. So, this recipe is staying in my recipe box. The kids love it, I can't make it fast enough.

Ingredients:
*2 cups warm water
*1 tsp. sugar
*2 Tbsp. yeast
*1 Tbsp. salt
*5 cups flour

*1 egg white
*1 Tbsp. water

Dirctions:
1.  Proof yeast in water and sugar.

2.  Mix in salt and flour, 1 cup at a time until dough is stiff and smooth.

3.  Place dough in greased bowl, turn once to coat. Cover, rise in warm place for 1 hour or until doubled.

4.  Punch down. Divide in half.

5.  Turn onto floured surface. Cover and let rest 10 minutes.

6.  Roll each half into a rectangle. Roll into loaves and seal edges with water. Taper ends. Place on greased baking sheet.

7.  Combine egg white and water. Brush over loaves.

8.  With a sharp knife, cut 3-4 diagonal slits in each loaf.

9.  Cover with damp cloth. Raise 40 minutes.

10.  Brush with egg white. Bake at 375-degrees for 15 minutes.

11.  Brush with egg white again. Bake 15 minutes more.

Notes:  I always double this recipe.

Recipe Source:  Adapted from Allrecipes.com.

Bagels

Brooky wanted bagels yesterday so we decided to make some. The kids and I were pleased with the outcome. However, if you have bagel-making tips for me, please share. I'm a novice in this department.

*1 1/2 Tbsp. yeast
*1 1/2 cups warm water
*2 cups whole wheat flour
*3 Tbsp. sugar
*1 Tbsp. salt
*white flour, approximately 2 cups
*1 Tbsp. sugar

*In mixer, combine water and yeast.

*Mix in whole wheat flour, 3 Tbsp. sugar, and salt. Mix well.

*Stir in white flour just until dough is slightly stiff and not sticky.

*Divide into 12 round portions and poke hole in middle.

*Cover and let raise 30 minutes.

*Bring 4 quarts of water to boil, add 1 Tbsp. sugar. When bagels are ready, place in boiling water for 3 minutes.

*Drain bagels and place bagels on greased baking sheet dusted with cornmeal.

*Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes. (Thirty-two minutes was perfect for me.)

Cream Cheese Biscuits

I made these for lunch today. Brent said to me, "These are really good, you should make them more often."

Ingredients:
*4 oz cream cheese (I used fat free.)
*2 cups flour
*2 1/2 tsp. baking powder
*1 tsp. salt
*3/4 cup milk
*1 tsp. Sage (optional)

Directions:
1.  Microwave the cream cheese for about 30 seconds, until it's really soft.

2.  Add all ingredients except the milk and mix until cream cheese is evenly distributed.**

3.  Stir in milk and knead in a little more flour if the dough is too sticky.

4.  Roll dough onto floured surface and shape as you like.

5.  Bake at 400-degrees for 9 minutes.

Notes:
-**Note: It won't have quite the texture as it would if you were using shortening.

Recipe Source:  Not sure.

Flour Tortillas

I love these. I think they're better than anything I buy in the store.

*4 cups flour (I use whole wheat.)
*1 Tbsp. baking powder
*1/4 cup shortening
*1 1/2 tsp. salt
*1 1/2 cups warm water

*In a mixing bowl, combine flour and baking powder.
*Cut in shortening until evenly distributed.
*Add salt to warm water and add to flour mixture. Mix.
*Knead with hands. (You could probably put the dough in a mixer, but its really not too bad to do it by hand.)

My recipe says to let it sit for at least 30 minutes but I skipped that part this last time and it still turned out great.

*Roll dough into 16-20 balls.
*Flatten and roll out with rolling pin until paper thin.
*In a frying pan or on a griddle, cook over medium heat for 30 seconds on each side. Do NOT over cook!

I make Stacey's Enchiladas and I use these tortillas. This is the best enchilada recipe I've ever come across. I love it. If you're looking for one, check it out.

Fruit and Yogurt Waffles

I was pleasantly surprised at how good these waffles were. Didn't miss the syrup at all.

*1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
*1/2 cup flour
*1/2 cup oats
*1/4 cup sugar
*2 tsp baking powder
*1 tsp baking soda
*2 1/2 cups milk
*1/2 cup egg substitute (or 2 eggs)
*2 Tbsp oil
*fruit
*yogurt

Combine all ingredients except fruit and yogurt. Mix well. Cook in waffle iron as per usual. Top with your favorite yogurt and fresh or frozen fruit.

From the Critics
Brittany: 7

Brooklyn: 10

Damon: 9

Corn Bread

A few years ago I was looking for a corn bread recipe and came upon one that I almost liked. I played with it, changed this and that, added and subtracted where I thought necessary. This is the end result and I'm quite pleased with it. This corn bread is a perfect texture and its good enough to eat plain; you don't even need to add butter or honey. Enjoy!

Ingredients:
*3/4 cup flour
*1/2 cup cornmeal
*3/4 tsp. salt
*1 tsp. baking powder
*1/2 sugar
*3/4 cup milk (I use skim.)
*1 egg
*2 Tbsp. oil

Directions:
1. Mix all ingredients just until blended.

2. Pour into greased 8X8 baking dish.

3. Bake 25 minutes at 350 degrees.

Zucchini Muffins

*2 cups zucchini, shredded
*3 cups flour
*2 cups sugar
*2 large eggs
*1/2 cup vegetable oil (I only use 1/4 cup.)
*1 Tbsp. ginger
*2 tsp. cinnamon
*1/2 tsp. baking soda
*1 tsp. baking powder
*1 tsp. salt
*1 tsp. orange extract
*chocolate chips (optional)
Mix all ingredients together. Fill muffin tins slightly more than half way. Bake 20-25 minutes at 350 degrees.

From the Critics
Brittany: 8 - "I like them but I think they were a little dry."

Brooklyn: 10 - "I love the chocolate chips so much. And I like the rest of it."

Damon: 6 - No comment.