BEST Hamburger and Hot Dog Buns

These bun are so very good. Every time I make them I wonder why I don't make them more often. Probably because my waistline would expand. We use these buns for pulled pork, hamburgers, French Dip, breakfast sandwiches, etc. You can shape them for sub sandwiches, chili dogs/hot dogs and sausages also.
The recipe can be found here. The dough for these can be made in a bread machine, in a mixer, or by hand.

Pumpkin Spiced Caramel Rolls

I can't tell you how many times I've made these, tweaked this, baked these, tweaked some more. I mean really. It's one of those things where I would bake them, and we would like them, but I wasn't jumping up and down. I wanted some Pumpkin Spice flavor, pumpkin flavor, I wanted tender rolls, gooey caramel, then I wanted cream cheese glaze, crunchy seeds, no seeds. I finally tonight made some that I just think are PERFECT for us. I may at times leave off the Pumpkin Spice Glazed seeds, I may use a Maple Cream Cheese glaze. But the Pumpkin Spice caramel roll is so good as pictured above. The tender pumpkin spiced dough, the gooey caramel, the crunchy candied pumpkin seeds. SO perfect. I also have thrown the flour, yeast and heated pumpkin mixture into my bread machine to let the machine mix, knead, and proof for the first rise and it's worked beautifully. 

Here are some pictures of  my journey...

Manic Monday- Bunny Rolls

I made these rolls in 2011, these pictures are off my phone. I can't find the ones I took on my camera at home at all. So sad. Sigh. Anyway, basic rolls, snipped with scissors after the second rise. Easy peasy.

Simple  snips for the ears.

This one looks like a gerbil or one that's sticking out his tongue! They look like bulls. Or bunnies with perky ears :P  .So next time I'm going to make unicorns and narwhals.But if you do this, after you snip the ears you can shape them with wet fingers and push them down a little so they lay flat also.Here are some more ideas for celebrating Resurrection Sunday

Resurrection Cookies

Empty Tomb Rolls

Tea Dyed Eggs (You can use food coloring or beet juice also)

Free Easter Printables

Glow in the Dark Egg Hunt

Don't forget the Bunny Rolls
Find more "ManIc MoNdaY" posts here.

BEST Bread Machine Buns

 I have this... habit of always looking for new recipes. If I have a favorite Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe, I am always tempted to try a new one. I'm not sure what it is. Maybe I feel like I'll miss out on something fabulous if I don't. I do use the same foccacia recipe, maybe variations but it's the same recipe. This may be one of those recipes. I just really like these buns. Perfect for pulled pork, burgers, sandwiches. They are easy to make. Soft, but the whole wheat gives them substance. Slightly sweet from the maple syrup, you can use honey but I never seem to have that on hand when I want it.


Looking for Cole Slaw?
Spicy Broccoli Slaw
Asian Style Slaw
Simple Cabbage Salad

MYO Vanilla Extract

MMM, vanilla. 

I love using vanilla beans, vanilla paste, vanilla powder, vanilla extract, ground vanilla. I never measure, I just pour or scoop it in. You can't get enough good vanilla.

Recently I ran out of vanilla extract, and I've seen this make your own extract all over Pinterest. So I thought I'd give it a shot. Even if I still have to go buy a bottle of extract until this is ready to use.

I didn't have a dark glass jar or vodka. So I found this little bottle of vodka at the store and decided to use it. Even if it's clear, light glass. I store my vanillas in a cool dark place, so I wasn't too concerned. 

Just about all of the posts I read said any cheap vodka will do. Some said bourbon and some said rum were good also. I picked vodka because I liked this bottle, I know right? I also needed some to make pasta sauce. So that's why some of this is missing out of the bottle.

I think I'll modge podge something on the bottle, a label. But I'm not sure yet.

Other than the waiting 4-6 weeks to use this stuff, it's really easy to make. 

Coffin Bread- No Knead

I belong to a small recipe swap on Facebook and the ladies have been baking this bread and I thought, I think I could do that! I'm not the best baker so, this looked good to me. No knead, like the Irish Soda bread I make. This Coffin bread is crunchy on the outside and chewy on the inside. It's really good. It does require more work than throw everything in the bread machine, hit dough cycle, remove dough and bake in an oven. Which is my favorite way of making bread, but this is still a great recipe! I did try this dough in the bread maker and it rose beautifully. You can see the pictures at the bottom of the post. I think it rose better. I'm going to continue using the bread machine for the dough. I'm also going do the second rise in the dutch oven. *see update below
It only has 4 ingredients- bread flour, yeast, salt and water. Since I have issues following directions I changed a few things. I didn't have bread flour on hand, I am out and don't want to buy more because I want to start using my vitamix to grind more flours. So I used all purpose flour and added Vital Wheat Gluten, from Bob's Red Mill. I also added a little sugar to see if it would help the bread rise more, since some of the girls said that the bread didn't rise as much. I don't know if it will help, they said the bread was awesome anyway. But I added maybe 3/4 teaspoon of sugar. The water- I used almost two cups, I don't have a 1 5/8 measurement on my pyrex. I started with a little over 1 3/4, stirred the dough. It looked a little dry so I added more.

Challah- Bread Machine

I adapted this recipe from HERE. I use my bread maker/bread machine for the dough. I tweaked the recipe a little bit. I add vanilla if I am going to make french toast. I know it's not traditional, neither is the wheat gluten. Spices can be added to the dough. Cinnamon sugar can be swirled into the braid.

This bread is perfect for grilled cheese, french toast, toasted, not toasted, with Sunbutter and jelly... it's just good.

Banana bread (bread machine)

 It is so hot here. Or house is so not energy efficient I wish I could fix that but I can't right now. So using the oven/stove less is just how it is in the summers. Of course our grill died so, we're going to have to figure something out. Anyway, today I looked at DH and said, "this is going to sound like a 'duh' statement, but I can bake bread in the bread machine and it won't heat up the house." He was like, yes, that's what those are for. But honestly, I don't bake in that thing, I use it for doughs, jams, granola... everything BUT baking bread. Tonight I decided to try it out. I made this loaf of banana bread in the bread machine and the two posted at the bottom in the oven with my favorite recipe HERE. Well, mostly that recipe, I didn't have everything so I improvised. I also have a Strawberry Banana bread HERE. There is also a simpler Banana bread recipe HERE.

The loaf I made in the bread maker/bread machine was "easier" but it doesn't look so appetizing. I did set the crust on "light". Still, it's not as pretty. It tasted good and the machine didn't heat up the house though. It's a great little loaf. I'm going to try my favorite recipe next time and see if that bakes up.

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 cup white sugar
3 tablespoons coconut oil or vegetable oil
2 eggs
2-3 bananas, peeled and mashed (use three if they are small, 2 if they are med-large)
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 teaspoon cinnamon


Place everything the bread machine.  Select quick bread/batter bread cycle. Once the cycle is running for a couple of minutes and the batter is being mixed open the lid and use a spatula to incorporate any flour or ingredients on the sides of the bowl. If you have a fruit and nut cycle you can add nuts to that compartment and follow instructions for that. Or put the nuts in at the end of the mixing cycle. I wouldn't put it in at the start because the nuts get chopped up from the paddle.

Soft white sandwich bread

1 loaf (9x5 inch pan) light greased
1 1/4 cups lukewarm water
3 cups (15 ounces) bread flour
3 tablespoons (1.5 ounces) unsalted butter, melted
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
3 tablespoons (1.5 ounces) granulated sugar
1/4 cup (0.7 ounces) nonfat dry milk
1/4 cup (7 ounces) potato flakes
2 teaspoons instant yeast
 Place ingredients in the pan of a breadmaker and select dough cycle. When finished, punch the dough down. Pat into a rectangle that is nine inches across. The other side will be shorter. That measurement isn't so important though as long as you have the dough about 1 1/2 inches thick. Roll up the dough so that it's nine inches long to fit into the loaf pan. Pinch at the seams, tuck the ends under and put into the prepared loaf pan. Let dough rise with a kitchen towel draped over it. Once the dough is risen over the top of the pan. Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 40-50 minutes. Remove the bread from the oven and let it cool out of the pan on it's side on a cooling rack.
I have a pullman pan now so this bread is perfect for it.

Olive and Prociutto bread sticks

These are so easy to make. The only thing is they aren't good out of the fridge, so they need to be warmed in the oven if made before hand.

I used this DOUGH. When I took it out of the bread maker I kneaded in sliced olives that I dried with a paper towel- about 1/2 a cup.
After I formed the bread sticks I wrapped prociutto around each one and baked as the recipe said, for a little less time. I just kept and eye on them.

Just olive with Nicoise Salt.

Vanilla Bean Bread with Tang Zhong Starter

This is why I'm not a baker. Thank God this recipe was so very forgiving. I just found where I put my notes for this. One of my flaws is that I cook and write at the same time. I don't write a title, I write ingredients and measurements. It gets confusing all my scrap papers.  I did blog the Tang Zhong starter.  I used a recipe much like this recipe as a base, but I was tired and it all went down hill from there. Put everything... and I mean everything *groan* in the bread machine on the dough cycle then I shaped the dough after. The reason I groan is because I remember it was so late at night and I was tired. I put everything in the bread machine then read that the butter was supposed to be brushed on top. I also over poured into my bowl on the scale a few times. I was crazy tired.

Vanilla Bean Bread with Tang Zhong Starter

2 eggs 95 grams

59 gm whipping cream ¼ cup

59 gm whole milk ¼ cup

80 gm Tang Zhong Starter

540 gr AP flour 4 ¼ cup ish

4 gm salt 1 tsp

13 gm milk powder 13 tsp

11gm yeast 4 tsp
 51 gm soft butter 2 1/2ish tbs

Throw it all in the bread maker. Select dough cycle.

See, it rose beautifully!

Shape.

Let rise for 30 minutes. Brush with butter.

Baked at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes. Tap the top to see if it sounds done. I don't know how I know, it just is. (Hallow sounding.) Which is shocking since it's baking and I'm not a great baker.

Vanilla Bean Bread with Tang Zhong Starter

2 eggs 95 grams

59 gm whipping cream ¼ cup

59 gm whole milk ¼ cup

80 gm Tang Zhong Starter

540 gr AP flour 4 ¼ cup ish

4 gm salt 1 tsp

13 gm milk powder 13 tsp

11gm yeast 4 tsp
 51 gm soft butter 2 1/2ish tbs

Throw it all in the bread maker. Select dough cycle.

Shape.

Let rise for 30 minutes.
Brush with butter.

Baked at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes. Tap the top to see if it sounds done. I don't know how I know, it just is. (Hallow sounding.) Which is shocking since it's baking and I'm not a great baker.

Pepperoni and Cheese Bread (Bread Machine)

This not a yeast bread, it's got more of a quick bread texture. But it's a great snacking bread. So easy peasy because I make it in the bread maker too.

Pepperoni and Cheese Loaf Bread

3 large eggs, room temperature

1 cup luke warm milk

1/2 cup butter, softened

1  cup shredded cheddar cheese

3/4 cups roughly chopped pepperoni slices 

1/3 cup sugar

3/4 tsp salt

1 tsp garlic powder

2 cups all purpose flour

1 tablespoon double acting baking powder

Place ingredients in the bread machine and bake according to manufacturers instructions for a batter bread. I used the batter bread cycle, and scraped down any flour on the sides of the pan during the rest cycle.

Pizza Rolls

These are a fun alternative to traditional pizza. They are fun to pull apart for the kids and easy to make. Just use any pizza dough you like. I use the standard dough I put in my bread machine. I do add garlic salt and Italian seasoning to the dough for another layer of flavor. I also tried this with store bought dough- the cans of pizza dough in the refrigerated biscuits section. They turned out fine but you could tell were made with store bought dough. I made a batch of these for dinner and another batch to flash freeze (before cooking) for later.

Tropical Oat Breakfast (Baby)

Now that Pixie is getting a little older I don’t blend dry steel cut oats into a powder before I fix them for her. I do cook plain steel cut oats a little longer then blend them leaving a little texture. This breakfast has organic coconut MILK in it, unsweetened. NOT coconut water.
This is great for kids also, just don't blend it.

Soft Pretzels...

I don't have a recipe for you for these... I just used the same recipe that came out of the operation manual for my bread maker. Diva and I made these while the younger girls took a nap after school one day. I feel bad because I have been sleeping while the baby naps and in the after noon when Diva is home from school she sits and reads books or paints while the rest of us sleep. I think she needed some special mommy and me time. We had fun making these pretzels, we made cinnamon sugar, salt and sesame ones.

Stuffed Crust Pizza

Stuffed crust pizza... I would like to start off by saying my pizza stone broke in two AGAIN, my second one in the oven... GRR anyway... use your favorite pizza dough for this one, or purchase it at your favorite pizza place, I have a simple recipe here LINK. Then once you spread out or roll out the dough extend the sides and wrap string cheese sticks into the crust and pinch well to seal, top your pizza and cook as you normally would! EASY PEASY.

Garlic Knot Rolls

These are so easy and great to have in your freezer to pull out and bake what you need. I just use my standby whole wheat pizza dough, and I realize I don't have that posted but, it's pizza dough. Use what recipe you like. Or hound me to post the one I use, whatever floats your boat.

Garlic Knot Rolls
1 recipe pizza dough- link to regular pizza roll

butter
olive oil
2 cloves garlic minced
1 tablespoon fresh chopped parsley
coarse salt and pepper

On a lightly floured surface roll out the pizza dough.









Mine was too thin so I folded it up and rolled it out just a little bit more... I can't tell you what size sorry it was about... 15x10 inches.








With a pizza cutter cut it into strips.










Make little knots and place on a parchment lined baking sheet.


You can bake these right away also.





Place in the freezer for one hour then transfer to a zip top plastic bag.










To bake preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place rolls on a baking sheet and brush with a little oil. Bake for 15-20 minutes... until golden brown, a little longer for frozen, just watch them. Don't you hate my recipes?





While the rolls are in the oven in a small pan melt 2-3 tablespoons of butter, 1 tablespoon olive oil and add minced garlic. Let it start to foam but NOT fry the garlic, you don't even want the garlic to get color. Remove from heat and stir in the parsley.






After the rolls are done put them in a big bowl.









Pour the buttery goodness over them. Toss them around. Get them coated. Salt and pepper the rolls.

Amish White Bread

Amish White Bread loaves before being brushed with butter.

I'm a newbie baker, I'm not that great. I'm just learning really. So when I saw this recipe on Allrecipes. I thought I would give it a shot. It's a pretty easy recipe and yields delicious bread. It makes two loaves, too many for us to eat just as is so one loaf I can make croûtons with for Chicken Cesar salad. I served this batch with Roasted chicken and scalloped potatoes. 

It's a nice tender bread, it has some bite so it's not fluffy. I used less sugar than called for so it wasn't too sweet for us, about 1/2-1/3 cups. A great white bread, also great for toasting.

This bread, like I mentioned is easy to make. It can be made completely by hand, with a stand mixer to knead, or use a bread machine on the dough cycle. If using a bread machine, after the dough cycle is complete, finish the bread as directed.

For rolls shape the dough into the cups of a muffin tin. If you use the whole amount of sugar this dough can be used for cinnamon rolls.

Calzones

Calzones

These were so easy and fun. We used to make pizza every Friday night until we found out Diva had a mild wheat allergy, but her skin has cleared up and she's not had any food allergy issues as of late so I am slowly introducing gluten and wheat back into her diet. I made two batches of dough in the bread maker while I prepped vegetables, meats, shredded chicken for the enchiladas and made the sauce for the lasagna.
We had our friends over for dinner. Everyone assembled their own. I gave Diva some dough to roll out with her little rolling pin. Piglet got pretzels to eat because she was trying to eat the dough. I love having the girls in the kitchen with me!

Dough
2 LB Basic Pizza dough recipe (2 thick or 4 thin crusts)
1 2/3 cup Warm water
2 TBS Oil (I used Olive)
2 TBS Sugar (I use evaporated cane juice)
2 Tsp Salt
2 TBS Dry milk
4 1/2 cups Bread flour
2 Tsp Active dry yeast
Italian seasoning (I added this, it isn't part of the basic recipe)

Fillings
Anything you want.
Vegetables
Fruit
Meats
Cheeses
Spices
Herbs

Egg, beaten with 2 tablespoons of water to brush on top of calzones before baking.

For the pizza dough add all the ingredients as listed and select pizza dough cycle on your machine.

Here are Prepped ingredients for everyone to fill their own calzones. I did roll out disks of dough for everyone. There was a tiny bit of lasagna sauce left, so for dipping I just opened a jar of spaghetti sauce.

Other great fillings any vegetables- spinach, zucchini, ham, feta or goats cheese, just about anything.

Roll out the dough, fill with fillings....

Crimp the edges with a fork, don't over fill. I crimped some edges and rolled some edges.

Put a small slit on top to vent the calzone.

These are on my pizza stone, with egg wash on them.

Bake at 425 degrees for 13 minutes or until golden brown.

I ended up with leftover dough so this afternoon I made some tiny calzones to freeze for lunches later.

DH likes just cheese, Italian seasoning, sea salt and a little olive oil in his.

I put ricotta, all the veggies, sausage, pepperoni, mozzarella, and sea salt in mine.

The girls ate with me.

Chelle filled one for her and one for her DH. She also bought a yummy salad to round out dinner. DH made cherry vanilla ice cream , we also had a pumpkin roll and nutmeg whipped cream. We played scrabble and watched Transformers after dinner. It was a fun night.

Calzones

2 LB Basic Pizza dough recipe (2 thick or 4 thin crusts)
1 2/3 cup Warm water
2 TBS Olive oil
2 TBS Sugar (I use evaporated cane juice)
2 Tsp Salt
2 TBS Dry milk powder
4 1/2 cups Bread flour
2 Tsp Active dry yeast
2 teaspoons Italian seasoning

For the dough add all the ingredients as listed and select pizza dough cycle on your machine, or follow the instructions for your machine.
Roll out the dough into disks and fill with fillings.
Crimp the edges with a fork, don't over fill. I crimped some edges and rolled some edges.
Put a small slit on top to vent during baking.
These are on my pizza stone, with egg wash on them.
Bake at 425 degrees for 13 minutes or until golden brown.
I ended up with leftover dough so this afternoon I made some tiny calzones to freeze for lunches later.