Homemade Sandwich Rolls!

Hi everyone! I am trying to fix my blog....looks like some pictures were deleted, I don't know from who? Anyway, these delicious homemade Sandwich Rolls are simply delicious, and easy. Give it a try on this very cold day!  Enjoy!

I planned on making Sloppy Joes for dinner, but didn't have any hamburger/sandwich rolls to go along with the meal.  I didn't want to run to the store, so I made up a batch, and they came out GREAT!  It was so easy, they mixed up within minutes, and everyone loved them.

If you have never made homemade bread before, I encourage you to start, especially if you have a Kitchen Aid Mixer, its so easy!

Homemade Sandwich Rolls

1 1/4 cups warm water 80 degrees
1 TBS Sugar
2 tsp. Active Dry Yeast

Add the water to a small bowl, add the yeast, and sugar and mix well with a fork.  Let it sit for about 5 minutes, it will proof, and get bubbly.

Yeast all proofed and ready!

Meanwhile measure out the rest of the ingredients into your Kitchen Aid Bowl.

3 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp. salt

  When the yeast is all foamy this means it's "proofed", now add the yeast mixture to the flour mixture and turn on the mixer on low, using the dough hook, knead the bread.  This will take a couple of minutes.  Now look into the bowl, what is happening, you may have to scrape the sides of the bowl down with a rubber scraper, turn the mixer back on low, what does the dough look like....if it looks like a cake batter, you need to add a bit more flour, like 1/4 cup, or if the dough looks dry, you may have to add a little more water, 1 tsp at a time... turn the mixer back on and the dough should be forming a ball around the dough hook, and won't be too sticky, but sticky, at this point I like to flour my hands. These are the steps to making bread in your Kitchen Aid Mixer, the dough hook does all the kneading for you, so easy!  

Dough wrapped around the dough hook, it's ready!

Now if you don't have a Kitchen Aid mixer, you may do this all by hand, the same way!

When it is all kneaded spray a large bowl with cooking spray, add the dough to the bowl, and turn over coating both sides. Cover with foil, let rise in a warm place for 2 hours.  I usually turn the oven on to 350 for like 2 minutes and shut it off, and then put the bowl of dough in the oven to rise. 

Remember to shut the oven off, you don't want to bake your dough yet.......it's not READY, and don't let the oven get TOO HOT, you don't want to kill the yeast, that's why I say 2 minutes!!!!

Dough doubled in size all risen

When the dough is all risen, and doubled in size, punch down the dough getting rid of all the air bubbles, divide the dough into 9 portions, and form into a round ball, tucking the ends underneath.  Put them on a foiled greased cookie sheet.  Cover lightly with a piece of greased wax paper, or foil, I mean just lay the foil over, do not wrap....and let rise again for the second rise on the counter, or put in the oven, again turn on the oven on to 350 for 2 minutes, shut off, and put the loaf pan in the oven and let rise for 20 minutes or so until the rolls  have risen nice and doubled in size.  Again, do not let the oven get too hot, it's not ready to be baked yet.....2 minutes!!!!

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.  Right before they go into the oven, get a spray bottle and fill it with water, spray the rolls lightly with the water.  This will give the rolls a slightly hard crust.   and bake the rolls for about 20 minutes


Hot out of the oven!  YUMMO!



Homemade Sloppy Joes!  Find the Recipe here! 

Enjoy!

Easter Bread.....An Easter Tradition!

Easter Bread!

It's Good Friday, and I've been busy preparing for our Easter feast!  This year I'm cooking Lasagna, with a big pot of sauce, meatballs, a baked ham, and a most delicious salad. And for dessert my Ricotta Rice Pie, along with some other delicious goodies.

I love traditions, and baking Easter Bread is one of them.  I started baking this bread the first year my baby girl, Becca was born. We always had traditions while growing up, and I want my children to learn to love them as well.  This bread is so easy, and if you have a Kitchen Aid Mixer, it's even easier!  Make this Easter Bread, have a piece toasted with butter for your Easter "Resurrection Day" breakfast, you and your family will love it!

Have a most blessed and wonderful Easter!

Easter Bread

1 cup warm milk (105 - 115)
1 pkg active dry yeast
2 TBS Sugar

Heat the milk to 105 - 110 degrees,  Let the milk cool or if it's too hot it will kill the yeast. In a large bowl add the yeast, milk and 2 TBS sugar, mix with a fork, and let the yeast get all bubbly.

In your Kitchen Aid mixer, or a big bowl, add the following ingredients:

5 cups flour
1 cup butter melted COOLED butter
4 eggs
1/2 cup sugar
2 tsp grated Lemon Zest
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp. almond extract

Using the dough hook, or your hands, give it a whirl, then add the milk- yeast mixture.  Turn on the mixer and let the dough hook knead the dough, then add another cup of flour, continue kneading, what does the dough look like?  If it looks like a cake batter, you need to add another cup of flour, until all the dough is wrap around the dough hook.  If it's too dry, just add about 2 TBS water.

Dough wrapped around the dough hook

Take the dough off the hook, knead it a little with your hands, and put it in a well oiled big bowl.  Cover and let it rise in a warm place for 2 hours, until doubled in size.  I like to heat up the oven for about 3 minutes, then turn it off, and put the bowl of dough in the oven, it's a nice warm place for it.

All risen, ready to shape into braids!

While the bread is rising.....Dye 6 - 8 RAW EGGS (3 or 4 for each bread sometimes I do 3, sometimes I do 4!) in whatever Easter colors you want, I like to do this when the kids are dying all the hard boiled eggs, then at the very end they carefully dye the raw eggs for the Easter Bread.

When it's done rising, punch it down turn it out onto a floured board.  You can make 2 loaves of bread with this recipe.  Divide the dough in half, then divide each into thirds, roll out each piece into a long rope, you are going to start braiding.  Bread the dough, and then pinch the ends together making a circle. Place the dyed eggs into the bread, right before it goes for it's 2nd rise.

All braided and shaped into a circle!

With the raw eggs waiting for the 2nd rise!

Put on a greased baking sheet, or what I do is put them in greased spring form pans, I like the shape when it's all baked.  Let them rise again for the 2nd rising,  Carefully brush with an egg wash of 1 egg yolk and 1 TBS water.  Bake in a 350 oven for 20 minutes.  Let cool, and ENJOY!

My traditional Easter Bread!  YUMMO!

Most Delicious Biscuits EVER!

I'm linking this recipe up with Walking On Sunshine, and Foodie Friends Friday. Go take a look-see!

I've been away from my blog the last several days.  My Mom had open heart surgery this past Wednesday, so things have been crazy!

 Mom is doing so well, and I am so relieved!  I am here with her in the hospital, she is walking, and looking GREAT!  She'll go home on Monday, whew...it was some week!

Us girls on Thanksgiving!

What would a post be without food?  I made this delicious and easy biscuits the other day for dinner.  They are so good, just a few ingredients, and you don't have to cut the butter in with the flour, the butter is melted.  This recipe calls for bacon, but I omitted the bacon, and they came out great! These will be my "go to" biscuit recipe from now on.  The best part, my family LOVED them, and that's worth repeating!  Try this recipe, you will love them.


Quick Bacon-Cheese Biscuits

Ingredients

• 2 cups flour
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• Kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 cup milk
• 1/2 cup butter, melted
• 8 strips bacon, cooked until crispy and crumbled (optional -  I didn't add the bacon this time around, perhaps next time I will)
• 1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese

Directions

Heat the oven to 375 degrees F.

In a large bowl add the flour, baking powder, 1 teaspoon of salt, and onion powder. Mix to blend then make a well in the center of the bowl and add the milk, butter, bacon and cheese. Mix gently with a wooden spoon. The dough will be wet and sticky. Using a 1/4 cup measure or ice cream scoop, portion the batter onto a baking sheet, leaving an inch or so around each biscuit.
Bake in the oven until the biscuits are golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center of one comes out clean, 20 to 22 minutes. YUMMO!

Easter Bread.....An Easter Tradition!

It's Good Friday, and I've been busy preparing for our Easter feast!  This year I'm cooking Lasagna, with a big pot of sauce, meatballs, sausage, and a most delicious salad for our dinner, and of course my Ricotta Rice Pie for dessert.  I usually serve a baked ham, but this year I need our dinner to be easy, since I'll be singing in our church choir.  We have to be in church early, and stay for both services.  Everyone in my family loves Lasagna anyway!

I love traditions, and baking Easter Bread is one of them.  I started baking this bread the first year my baby girl, Becca was born. We always had traditions while growing up, and I want my children to learn to love them as well.  This bread is so easy, and if you have a Kitchen Aid Mixer, it's even easier!  Make this Easter Bread, have a piece toasted with butter for your Easter "Resurrection Day" breakfast, you and your family will love it! 

Have a most blessed and wonderful Easter!

Easter Bread

1 cup warm milk (105 - 115)
1 pkg active dry yeast
2 TBS Sugar

Heat the milk to 105 - 110 degrees,  Let the milk cool or if it's too hot it will kill the yeast. In a large bowl add the yeast, milk and 2 TBS sugar, mix with a fork, and let the yeast get all bubbly.

In your Kitchen Aid mixer, or a big bowl, add the following ingredients:

5 cups flour
1 cup butter melted COOLED butter
4 eggs
1/2 cup sugar
2 tsp grated Lemon Zest
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp. almond extract

Using the dough hook, or your hands, give it a whirl, then add the milk- yeast mixture.  Turn on the mixer and let the dough hook knead the dough, then add another cup of flour, continue kneading, what does the dough look like?  If it looks like a cake batter, you need to add another cup of flour, until all the dough is wrap around the dough hook.  If it's too dry, just add about 2 TBS water. 

Dough wrapped around the dough hook

Take the dough off the hook, knead it a little with your hands, and put it in a well oiled big bowl.  Cover and let it rise in a warm place for 2 hours, until doubled in size.  I like to heat up the oven for about 3 minutes, then turn it off, and put the bowl of dough in the oven, it's a nice warm place for it.

All risen, ready to shape into braids!

While the bread is rising.....Dye 6 - 8 RAW EGGS (3 or 4 for each bread sometimes I do 3, sometimes I do 4!) in whatever Easter colors you want, I like to do this when the kids are dying all the hard boiled eggs, then at the very end they carefully dye the raw eggs for the Easter Bread. 

When it's done rising, punch it down turn it out onto a floured board.  You can make 2 loaves of bread with this recipe.  Divide the dough in half, then divide each into thirds, roll out each piece into a long rope, you are going to start braiding.  Bread the dough, and then pinch the ends together making a circle. Place the dyed eggs into the bread, right before it goes for it's 2nd rise. 

All braided and shaped into a circle!

With the raw eggs waiting for the 2nd rise!

Put on a greased baking sheet, or what I do is put them in greased spring form pans, I like the shape when it's all baked.  Let them rise again for the 2nd rising,  Carefully brush with an egg wash of 1 egg yolk and 1 TBS water.  Bake in a 350 oven for 20 minutes.  Let cool, and ENJOY!

My traditional Easter Bread!  YUMMO!

One Week Before the BIG DAY.....Christmas Bread!

Well, it's one week before the big day!  What are you all doing today?  This will be the first Saturday that I am able to be home, and get some things done.  I plan on baking two more batches of cookies, while my hubby and kids go out Christmas shopping for their Mama!  I SURE HOPE THEY TOOK MY HINTS!   Anyway, tonight is our Christmas Cantata at church!  I am so very excited, we have been rehearsing since September, and really can't believe how fast the time has gone!  It will be a very special evening, and we are praying that hearts are touched, and many come to know our Lord Jesus Christ through this Cantata.  My son is in the Children's Choir, it's gonna be GREAT!

Every year for Christmas, I make this most delicious Christmas Bread, it's kind of like a "Panetone" Italian Bread.  It has golden raisins, walnuts, and that candied fruit that so many people don't care for, but I enjoy it so!  This bread is yeast based, now don't let that scare you, baking with yeast is so EASY, take it from me.  Over the years I have learned to make the most delicious breads, and cakes with yeast, just takes some learning, and practicing, don't worry I will give you step by step! The bread is delicious right out of the oven, and if you don't eat it all then, you can toast it for breakfast the next day, and put lots of butter on it!  YUMMO!

Christmas Bread

4 cups flour (I like to use bread flour because I have a 20lb bag of it in my garage!)
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. ground cloves
2 eggs
2 egg yolks
2 tsp orange zest
1/2 cup orange juice
1 pkg (2 1/2 tsp) RAPID RISE YEAST - NOT ACTIVE DRY YEAST there's a difference.....in this recipe it calls for Rapid Rise.

Add all of this into a large bowl, and if you have a Kitchen Aid mixer like I do, put the dough hook on, if you don't have a Kitchen Aid mixer, you can do this all by hand, just will take you a little longer, but no worries....but it's Christmas, make your life easier, and ASK SANTA for a KITCHEN AID MIXER!!!!

1 stick butter
1/2 cup milk

Heat the butter and milk on the stove until 120 - 130 degrees warm, make sure it's NOT HOTTER than that, it will KILL The YEAST, now don't worry, you will be fine, if it's hotter, just let it cool a little.  I remember whenever I read this in a recipe I would never make it, but I got over my fears and bought a candy thermometer, and it worked out perfect every time :)   Add the butter mixture to flour mixer and mix on low, then increase the speed to 2. - Yes and this is the time when all the flour goes EVERYWHERE! 

1 cup golden raisins
1 cup candied fruit (supermarkets have this stuff in the baking isle around this time)
1 cup chopped very fine walnuts

Add the raisins, walnuts and candied fruit.Scrap down the sides of the bowl.  Now what is the dough doing?  Is it forming into a ball around the dough hook? Does the dough look like a thick dough or does it look like a cake batter?  If it looks like a CAKE BATTER, then you need to add a little more flour, about 1/4 cup, when the dough comes away from the sides of the bowl and is wrapped around the dough hook like a ball,  it's all kneaded, and ready.  The dough still may be a  little sticky, just flour your hands, and take the dough hook off and in the bowl knead the bread a little, making sure it all comes together.  Grease with 1 TBS oil a large bowl, and put the bread dough in and turn over so its coated with oil.  Cover with foil and let rise in a warm space.  I usually heat up the oven for 3 minutes, then shut it off, and put the dough in there to rise, it's a great TIP!!!!

All kneaded and ready for the first rise!

When it's all nicely risen, you will be able to tell, it will double in size and look all puffy. Punch it down and deflate it, I know you are saying why? It's all pretty and risen, yes but now you must shape it and let it rise AGAIN in a cake pan!

Dough rising in bowl, see how big it gets!!!!

Take it out of the bowl, and either divide it in half for 2 breads, or whole for one big bread.  Flatten it with your hands, and kind of make it into a football size, and put them in 2 GREASED loaf pans, or just shape it into a snake-like rope, and put the whole thing in one big GREASED cake pan, like a bundt pan.  Cover lightly (just lay the piece over, don't wrap) with a piece of GREASED wax paper or foil, it has to be greased so the risen dough doesn't stick to the foil or wax paper....another great TIP!  Let it rise until it's high and about 1 inch over the rim of the baking pan........about 1 hour or so.

Eggwash - 1 egg yolk with 1 tsp milk or half & half - right before baking, brush carefully over the top of the bread When I say carefully, I mean brush it lightly, cause you could deflate the risen bread...take it from me, I have done this!

Cheddar Drop Biscuits

Biscuits, we just love them.  I have some really good recipes for Biscuits, some are time consuming, and well worth the time.  But these Cheddar Drop Biscuits are so easy! 

I got the recipe from Lucinda Scala Quinn, she's the host of the Mad Hungry Cooking show on the Hallmark Channel.  I just love her show, she's easy, and so down to earth, and I don't have to leave the country just to find an ingredient!  Anyway, back to the biscuits, they have chives and cheddar cheese in them, and they are so easy, just drop them on the cookie sheet, no rolling out!  I made them for my family tonight, and they were YUMMO! 

 

Cheddar Drop Biscuits
2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
Pinch cayenne pepper
6 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into small cubes
8 ounces sharp cheddar, shredded
1 1/3 cups buttermilk, well shaken
3 tablespoons chopped chives

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees with racks in upper and lower third positions. Line two baking sheets with parchment or foil.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, sugar, salt, and cayenne pepper. Work butter into flour mixture with a pastry cutter or your fingers until butter is incorporated and pea-size lumps remain. Stir in cheddar, then buttermilk and chives, just until dough comes together.
3. Using two spoons, drop 1/4 cup quantities of dough onto prepared baking sheets, spaced 2 inches apart.
4. Bake in oven until golden brown, 12-14 minutes, rotating baking sheets onceTry them and ENJOY!

Homemade Dinner Rolls

There's nothing like fresh homemade bread baking in the oven, on a chilly Autumn day.  I bake bread often, it's really easy, especially if you have a Kitchen Aid Mixer, with the special dough hook.  All you really do is put all the ingredients in the bowl, turn the mixer on low, and the dough comes together, and forms a ball, that's when you know the dough is kneaded and ready for it's first rise. 

 After you learn how to make dough with the mixer, you will want to try new recipes, and all kinds of bread, sticky buns, I have a GREAT recipe for STICKY BUNS.....whole wheat and raisin cinnamon loaves, pizza dough, and one of our favorites.... Dinner Rolls. 

Here's the recipe, it's so easy, and nothing so satisfying than making your own bread!

Homemade Dinner Rolls

1 1/4 cup warm water from the tap (WARM, NOT HOT, COOL TO YOUR WRIST)

3 1/2 tsp Active Dry Yeast

1 TBS sugar

In a bowl, add the water, then the yeast, and the sugar.  Stir with a fork, set aside for about 5 mins  until bubbles and foamy, if it doesn't get foamy, the yeast must be dead, buy new yeast and start over!

TIP:  Yeast can be expensive, I buy a huge package at COSTCO for only $4.00.  If you buy it in the grocery store, it's a small bottle and like $6.00, or the envelopes are like $2.99 each.  Yeast is something I would always buy in bulk. 

In a Kitchen Aid Mixer bowl, add the following:

4 1/2 cup Bread Flour (you can use All-Purpose, but Bread Flour really is BEST for baking bread)

1/4 cup oil (I use Canola)

1 tsp. salt

1 egg

1/4 cup sugar

If you don't have a Kitchen Aid Mixer, by all means make your bread by hand....using the same method here, but instead of the mixer kneading your dough, you will have to by hand, for about 10 minutes or so....add some flour if it gets sticky, pushing the dough to and away from you on a floured work surface.  You will know it's done when it's not VERY STICKY and you form a ball, and is smooth to the touch like a baby's bottom..... :)

Back to the Kitchen Aid Mixer Method

1. When the yeast is all foamy, (if the yeast doesn't turn foamy after about 5-10 minutes, your yeast must not be "alive" look at the expiration date, throw out and go buy new yeast, I usually store yeast in the frig) add it to the mixer bowl with the flour and other ingredients.  Using the dough hook attachment, mix on low.  Now is the dough coming together, forming a ball, or does it look like a batter?  If it looks like a batter you need more flour, add about 1/4 cup, now it should be coming together starting to form a ball around the dough hook, make sure you scrape the sides down, it may still be sticky, take the remaining dough off the hook and with floured hands combine all the dough forming it into a nice smooth ball. 

2. Grease a large bowl with about 2 TBS of oil, put the dough in the bowl, turning it to make sure both sides are oiled.  Cover with a kitchen towel or foil.  Let sit on a warm surface, I usually put the bowl on the stove, for one hour until doubled in size. 

3. When the dough is done rising and doubled, punch the dough down getting all the air bubbles out, it will feel elastic, cut the dough into 18 even pieces and form into little balls, about the size of a golf ball.  Or with floured hands, roll each piece into a thick rope and tie into a knot, then form into a ball.

4. Grease a cookie sheet or 9x13 casserole dish, and put the balls in.  Now you have to let it rise again forming the dinner rolls, cover with a kitchen towel, or I use a piece of GREASED wax paper, and let them rise for 1/2 hour until doubled.  Bake in a 350 degree oven for 20 minutes until lightly brown.  YUMMO!