Ooey Gooey Cinnamon Rolls

This is a slight adaptation of PW's cinnamon rolls. They turned out absoluely fantastic which is a good thing considering that I'll be serving them at my sister's bridal shower brunch this Saturday!

 2 cups Whole Milk
1/2 cup Vegetable Oil

1/2 cup Sugar

1 package Active Dry Yeast

4 cups (Plus 1 Cup Extra, Separated) All-purpose Flour

1 teaspoon Baking Powder

1 teaspoon Baking Soda

2 teaspoon Salt

1/2 cup Melted Butter

2 cups  Brown Sugar

Generous Sprinkling Of Cinnamon

Cream Cheese Frosting

1/2 cup butter

8 oz cream cheese, softened

1 lb powdered sugar

2 Tbsp milk

Preparation Instructions

Mix the milk, vegetable oil and sugar in a pan. Scald the mixture (heat until just before the boiling point). Turn off heat and leave to cool 45 minutes to 1 hour. When the mixture is lukewarm to warm, but NOT hot, sprinkle in package of Active Dry Yeast. Let this sit for a minute. Then add 4 cups of all-purpose flour. Stir mixture together. Cover and let rise for at least an hour.

After rising for at least an hour, add 1 more cup of flour, the baking powder, baking soda and salt. Stir mixture together. (At this point, you could cover the dough and put it in the fridge until you need it – overnight or even a day or two, if necessary. Just keep your eye on it and if it starts to overflow out of the pan, just punch it down).

When ready to prepare rolls: Sprinkle rolling surface generously with flour. Take half the dough and form a rough rectangle. Then roll the dough thin, maintaining a general rectangular shape. Drizzle 1/4 cup melted butter over the dough. Now sprinkle 3/4 - 1 cup of brown sugar over the butter followed by a generous sprinkling of cinnamon.

Now, starting at the opposite end, begin rolling the dough in a neat line toward you. Keep the roll relatively tight as you go. Next, pinch the seam of the roll to seal it.

Spread 1 tablespoon of melted butter in a seven inch round foil cake or pie pan. Then begin cutting the rolls approximately ¾ to 1 inch thick and laying them in the buttered pans.

Repeat this process with the other half of the dough. Let the rolls rise for 20 to 30 minutes, then bake at 375 degrees until light golden brown, about 15 to 18 minutes.

For the frosting, mix together all ingredients listed and stir well until smooth. It should be thick but pourable. Taste and adjust as needed. Generously drizzle over the warm rolls. Go crazy and don’t skimp on the frosting.

Perfect Pizza Crust

No, it's not just good pizza crust or even great pizza crust - this truly is the perfect pizza crust recipe. Given to me by one of my besties (she came over to make me pizza AND then cleaned my kitchen after I had the baby!) Amazing? Yes I think so :) I don't have a picture yet, it gets eaten too fast! But I am sure I will get one up soon because we are now pronouncing a weekly pizza day in our house. 

What are your favorite topping combinations? We love Canadian bacon with sweet onions and pineapple on one side and mushrooms with bell pepper and pepperoni on the other side and we are all happy campers! Ive also put motz. cheese folded under the crust... it is so great. I'd imagine this recipe would be great for bread sticks too.

 

Perfect Pizza Crust

Yeilds: 2 pizza crusts
 

2 cups warm water

4 1/2 tsp. active yeast

5 cups plus 3 Tbsp flour

1 Tbsp kosher salt

Olive Oil

 

Preset your oven to 425 degrees. In a small bowl mix the water, yeast and 2 Tbsp flour for a couple seconds. Sprinkle 1 Tbsp flour on top. Place aside for 2-3 minutes.

In a large mixing bowl wisk together the rest of the flour and salt. Pour in the yeast mixture and stir together until fully incorporated. Kneed the dough for a full five minutes on a floured surface adding a bit more flour if dough is too sticky. Split dough in half and put in a bowl covered with plastic wrap for 20 minutes.

Roll rested dough out to desired size. Poke the entire surface with a fork and then brush the entire surface lightly with olive oil. Place on pizza stone or a greased pizza pan. Add your favorite sauce, cheese and toppings. Bake for 20 minutes.

 

*A GREAT sauce is much easier then you think. Just pour tomato sauce on the uncooked dough, sprinkle with garlic salt and italian seasoning (i like to extend the seasonings out to the crust) Top with mozzarella cheese and toppings, and enjoy!

 

 

 

Fresh Pumpkin Spice Loaf

Love LOvE LOOOOOVE this recipe :)

Of course the pumpkin puree can be substituted with canned pumpkin, but personally I love the flavor of fresh puree in baking over the canned stuff.

Fresh Pumpkin Spice Loaf

2 cups fresh pumpkin puree
4 eggs (whites can be used for lower cholesterol)
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup applesauce
2/3 cup water
2 cups sugar
1 cup brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla ext.
2 cups all purpose flour
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
2 tsp. baking soda
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. nutmeg
1/2 tsp. all spice
1/4 tsp pumpkin pie spice


Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour two 7x3 inch loaf pans. In a large bowl, mix together pumpkin puree, eggs, oil, applesauce, water and sugars and vanilla until well blended. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, all spice and pumpkin pie spice . Stir the dry ingredients into the pumpkin mixture until just blended. Pour into the prepared pans.Bake for about 60 minutes in the preheated oven. Loaves are done when toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

Breadsticks with Parmesan Herbed Butter

I am a out of control carb-aholic... there I said it! How I feel so much better to have that out there. One of my absolute favorite things to eat is bread. Give me any bread, roll, pastry, bread stick, crust, etc. to munch on and I'm pretty much a happy camper.

These are great and airy and fluffy with just enough salty herb pop to make your mouth happy.
Still on my journey to make Olive Garden style breadsticks, these are as near as I've got to them so far!

Breadsticks with Parmesan Herbed Butter

1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast
1/4 cup sugar, divided
1 cup warm water (110 degrees to 115 degrees)
1 tablespoon and 1-1/2 teaspoons vegetable oil
1/2 egg
1/2 teaspoon salt
2-1/4 cups all-purpose flour, plus more

1/2 cup butter, melted
1 1/2 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese
1/8-1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
Couple good shakes of italian seasoning (5 or 6?)
1/8 tsp salt


In a large mixing bowl, dissolve yeast and 1 tablespoon sugar in warm water. Let sit for 5-10 minutes or until it becomes frothy. Add the oil, egg, salt, flour, and remaining sugar. Beat until smooth. Now add more flour 1/4 cup at a time until you form a soft dough. Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 40 minutes.
Punch the dough down. Turn onto a floured surface; divide into 18 pieces. Shape each piece into a 6-in. rope. Place 2 in. apart on greased baking sheets. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 25 minutes. Meanwhile mix melted butter, parm cheese, garlic salt, italian seasonings and salt in a small bowl. When sticks are done rising, brush amply with butter mixture.
Bake at 400 degrees F for 10-11 minutes or until golden brown.

Pumpkin Spice Muffins with Cream Cheese Frosting

Moist Pumpkin Spice Muffins (With Cream Cheese Frosting)
adapted from The Pioneer Woman

Muffins:

1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 tablespoons butter, cut into pieces
1 heaping cup pumpkin puree
1/2 cup evaporated milk
1 egg
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla

2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Generously grease 12 muffin tins.

Sift flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and salt. Cut in butter with two knives or a pastry blender until all incorporated. In a separate bowl, mix together pumpkin, evaporated milk, egg, and vanilla. Pour pumpkin mixture into the flour mixture. Add raisins. Fold gently until mixture is just combined. Pour into greased muffin pan—batter hardly ever fills all twelve unless you keep it down to 1/2 full. Sprinkle generous amounts of cinnamon-sugar over the top of each unbaked muffin.
Bake for 25 minutes. Allow to cool in pan for 15 minutes, then remove and allow to cool. Ice with cream cheese frosting.

Cream Cheese Frosting

1/4 cup softened butter
4 ounces cream cheese
1/2 pound powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Mix all ingredients on high until soft and whipped. Spread onto completely cooled muffins, or place into a large pastry bag with a large star tip and go crazy!

Store in fridge, as icing will soften at room temperature.

I can't believe it's lowfat butterscotch banana bread

I'm always looking to one-up my recipes that I have on hand. I have about 3 or 4 go to banana bread recipes I use but this one just blows them out of the water. The butterscotch really sweetens up the bread - it's more dessert then bread I guess you could say...but that's what I like. This bread is dense but also light at the same time, which I would say is a perfect balance. I lightened the caloric and fat load which makes me feel just a tad better after I eat the entire loaf myself.



1/4 c. butter (softened not melted)
1/4 c. low fat sour cream
1/2 c. sugar
1/2 c. brown sugar
2 egg whites
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
2 tsp lemon juice (didn't have so I squeezed fresh lime)
1 c. browned bananas, mashed (about 2 1/2 lrg ones or so)
1 3/4 c. flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 c. butterscotch chips

Preheat oven to 350 Grease 1 or 2 bread pans (I made 2 half loaves)
Combine the softened butter, sour cream and sugars. (Do not use mixer it will take away from natural denseness of bread) Add the egg whites and stir well after each addition. Add vanilla and lemon juice. Add mashed bananas, stir well until combined. Add all the dry ingredients to the mixture and stir until just blended (do not over stir, it's the dang gluten I tell ya!) Lastly add the chips and fold in gently. Pour the mixture into pan(s). Bake for 35-40 minutes ...check inside w/ toothpick or dry spaghetti noodle. If not clean stick in for 5 more minutes.
Now praise the brown banana gods and try to share with others.

Homeade Buttermilk Bread

Here is the bread recipe I used when i went on this weird "I want to be self-sufficient" trip. It is so unlike me to want to make bread, how domestic is that anywho!? But I did but I am glad because it was soooo super good. It reminded me of when my mom used to make it for us when we were growing up. The smell is absolutely incredible as it's baking.

Now I made these 2 loafs with no mixer and no bread maker...talk about skill! Haha no really that's how unprepared I was...I was lucky I had packets of yeast in my cupboard (what the crap were they doing there anyways!?) Also, I didn't proof the yeast but not having a bread maker I probably should of (didn't rise as much as it should have) and I only ended up using 4 cups of flour - all purpose...I know that's a no-no in bread making (bread flour has more protein in it to aid in rising) ...again probably why my dwarf loaves didn't rise completely...

Meh

That just goes to show anyone can really cook and not have a clue about what they should be doing.

Well this domestic episode has me coveting for a bread maker. I want it right this moment! So I guess we'll see. I should have it by the end of this week :)


Buttermilk Bread

• 1 1/2 cups buttermilk
• 1/2 cup warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
• 1/2 cup margarine
• 1/4 cup white sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 (.25 ounce) packages active dry yeast
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 5 1/2 cups bread flour

DIRECTIONS

1. Proof yeast in warm water.
2. Place the butter or margarine and buttermilk in a small saucepan. Heat slowly until butter or margarine has melted. Cool to lukewarm.
3. Place sugar, salt, baking soda, buttermilk mixture, and yeast in large mixing bowl. Add 3 cups flour one cup at a time, and mix with the dough hook attachment of an electric mixer. Gradually add the remaining flour while continuing to mix. When dough is not sticky, turn out on a lightly floured surface. Knead for several minutes, until the dough is soft and smooth. Place in a greased bowl, and turn once. Allow to rise until doubled in size.
4. Punch down the dough. Divide, and shape into 2 loaves. Place in two well greased 8 x 4 inch bread pans. Allow to rise until dough has risen one inch above pans.
5. Bake in a preheated 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) oven for 30 to 35 minutes. Loaves are done when nicely brown and hollow sounding when thumped.

Bread and Pasta a la Pioneer Woman

Pioneer Woman Garlic Cheese Bread

1 loaf crust French bread

1 stick butter

3/4 cup cheddar cheese, grated

3/4 cup Monterey Jack cheese, grated

1/2 grated Parmesan cheese

1/2 cup real mayonnaise

4 green onions, white and light green parts minced
Dash of salt

4 cloves garlic, finely minced.

Mix cheeses with the mayonnaise and the green onions. Add dash of salt to taste and set aside or keep in fridge until you need it.Cut loaf of bread in half, then each half into half again.Working 1/4 loaf at a time, melt 2 tablespoons butter in a skillet and add 1/4 of the minced garlic.Place 1 of the 1/4 loaves face down in the skillet, swirling it to soak up the butter and garlic. Allow bread to toast in the skillet, removing garlic if it starts to get too brown.Repeat with remaining butter, garlic, and bread.Spread cheese mixture on warm loaves and bake in a 425 degree oven until cheese is hot and bubbly, about 10 minutes.Slice and serve.

Pioneer Women Pasta

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 pounds ground beef

1/2 large onion, diced

2 cloves garlic, minced

Salt to taste

Freshly ground black pepper to taste

1 generous teaspoon ground thyme

2 14-ounce cans whole tomatoes

1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for sprinkling

1 1/2 to 2 pounds rigatoni

Heat olive oil in large skillet or pot over medium-low heat. Add onion and cook a couple of minutes, until starting to turn translucent. Add garlic and stir, cooking 1 minute, making sure not to brown the garlic.Add ground beef and cook until brown. Drain most of excess fat.Add salt, pepper, and ground thyme. Stir to combine.Dump in canned tomatoes with their juice. Stir, reduce heat to low, and cover pot. Cook for 30 minutes, stirring a couple of times.Uncover the pot and cook an additional 30 minutes.Cook rigatoni according to package directions—don’t overcook! Drain and place individual portions into bowls.Stir in 1/4 to 1/2 cup grated Parmesan into the sauce. Check and adjust seasonings. Ladle sauce over cooked pasta, sprinkle with more Parmesan, and serve.

Best Ever Chocolate Zucchini Bread

I got this recipe from my grandma - who I think secretly adds a poof of grandma magic to everything she cooks. I swear I don't know what she does but everything that comes out of her kitchen is so super good. This really tastes more like a cake than bread, it makes a fabulous dessert.
You would also never guess that it is a low fat recipe either. The applesause and sour cream really make it moist but not too dense as some breads are known to be.

2 oz unsweetened chocolate

3 eggs

11/2 cups sugar

1/2 oil

1/2 cup applesauce

1/2 cup low fat sour cream

2 cups grated zucchini

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon cinnamon

2 tablespoons cocoa powder

1 cup chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Spray your pans with Pam. 2 loaf pans or a cake pan.

Melt unsweetened chocolate on stovetop or microwave.

In large bowl combine eggs, sugar, oil, zucchini, vanilla and melted chocolate. Add sour cream, applesauce. Beat well. Add flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and cocoa powder. Add chocolate chips and mix until coated. Do not over mix. Pour into pans and bake 60 to 70 minutes for loaf pans, or until toothpick inserted comes out clean.

Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

Wow so this is probably the best recipe for banana bread I have yet found. It is a very moist bread and perfectly nutty and sweet. It is very smooth textured and not grainy at all. It is also not as dense as other recipes Ive tried were you find yourself choking down each piece hardly being able to breath as you hurry and try to find something to wash it down with.

The walnuts are entirely optional - and if I made this for my husband he would request I leave them out... but I LoVE them straight down to their nutty little cores.
It is the yogurt in this bread that makes it so moist, but if you find yourself without you can sub it with sour cream. The same goes for the buttermilk - I actually had none so I used heavy whipping cream instead. I doubt it makes much of a difference which one you choose really.

Depending on your taste and like of bananas will determine how ripe your bananas should be. If you are a banana eating monkey than you want them overly ripe - black really.
But if your like me I use regular ripe ones with just a little brown on them and it makes the banana flavor flavor very light, because this is already a sweeter bread I dont want the taste to be completely overpowered by the bananas.

And lastly remember the more you beat the mixture the more drier and airy itll get. Personally, I just mix it by hand to ensure the nice rich and dense texture of the bread.


Allison's Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

1/2 cup butter, softened
1 1/2 cups white sugar
2 eggs
1 1/2 tablespoon vanilla extract
3 large very ripe bananas, mashed
1/3 cup plain or vanilla yogurt
1/3 cup heavy whipping cream (or buttermilk)
2 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup crushed walnuts (more or less depending on how much of a crunch you want)

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease your bread pan.
2. In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Stir in the eggs one at a time, beating well with each addition, then stir in the vanilla. Mix in mashed bananas, yogurt and whipping cream. Combine the flour, salt, baking soda and baking powder. Stir flour mixture into sugar/banana mixture. Fold in the chocolate chips and walnuts. Pour batter into prepared pan.
3. Bake in preheated oven for 35 to 45 minutes, or until golden brown and top springs back when touched. Remove from oven and let cool for 15 minutes before removing from pan. Cool completely before slicing.