Applesauce

What do you do when your husband comes home with a HUGE bag of apples from a co-worker's tree?  Make applesauce, of course.  Growing up, I watched mom make applesauce every year, so applesauce brings back memories.  I didn't have any fancy equipment, but applesauce is simple.  Try it!

Applesauce

Ingredient:  lots of apples

Peel, core, and chop your apples.  Dump all those apples into a large pot.  You'll end up with something like this.

 

Cook them on medium heat for a couple of hours, stirring occasionally.  When the apples soften, mash with a potato masher.

Taco Soup

This should be titled "Dinner in 10".

Today was a busy one at our house.  This afternoon I looked at the clock and thought...

10 minutes until dinner.

Humm...

What in the world can I make?

Ten minutes later, my husband walks in an dinner is ready to go.

Do you have a favorite "Dinner in 10" recipe?

Taco Soup

1 can chicken breast

1 can tomato soup

1 can tomatoes

1 can black beans

1 can pinto beans

1 can green beans

1 can corn

1 pkg. taco seasoning

Open all those cans.  Dump everything into a pot.  Cook until thoroughly heated.  Serve!

Apple Friendship Bread

After several rounds of traditional Amish friendship bread, I was looking for something healthier.

I found a fantastic alternate recipe and adapted it.  Yum!

Guilt-free friendship bread.

Apple Amish Friendship Bread

1 c. flour

1 c. white wheat flour

1/3 c white sugar

2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

2 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp salt

1 C. AFB starter

3 eggs

1/3 c. vegetable oil

1/3 c. unsweetened applesauce

2 tsp vanilla

2-3 shredded apples (Granny Smith tastes best)

Mix all ingredients together.  Stir well.  Pour batter into two well-greased loaf pans. Bake 50 minutes at 350, or until toothpick inserted in middle comes out clean.  Place pans on rack to cool completely before removing.  Stores well in fridge or freezer wrapped well in plastic wrap.

Teriyaki Stir Fry

I love teriyaki.  Not all the sugar I found in some recipes.  Try this one for that sweet/sour taste.

And have you tried these great Pyrex containers.  I LOVE them!  Perfect for lunches.

Teriyaki Chicken Stir Fry

2 Tbsp. olive oil

1 diced onion

1 Tbsp minced garlic

1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, chopped

2 cups sliced bell peppers (I used a mix of red, yellow, & green)

2 cups sliced carrots

pineapple juice from one can of pineapple chunks

2 Tbsp. soy sauce

1 1/2 Tbsp corn starch

sprinkle of red pepper flakes

1/2 tsp. ground ginger

1/2 tsp. ground pepper

Cook the onions and garlic in oil until onions are tender.  Add chicken, peppers, and carrots.  Cook until chicken is no longer pink.  Whisk remaining ingredients in small bowl.  Add to chicken mixture.  Cook until thicker and bubbly.  Serve over rice.  

Blueberry Pancakes

Saturday morning at my house means blueberry pancakes.  Try them!

Blueberry Pancakes

1 egg
1 cup whole wheat or white wheat flour
1/3 cup powdered milk
3/4 to 1 cup water (do you want thick or thin pancakes)
2 Tbsp. oil
1 Tbsp. brown sugar
1 Tbsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
2 tsp vanilla
1 1/4 cups blueberries

Beat egg until fluffy.  Add remaining ingredients (except blueberries).  Stir until smooth.  Fold in blueberries.  Cook on griddle.

We like to top them with peanut butter, applesauce, sliced fruit, syrup, and whipped cream.

Swirly Bread

Sometimes my kids resist wheat bread.  I thought I'd try a compromise.  They loved the fun factor, and it's encourages more whole grains.  Cool all around!

I made two batches of the bread recipe below.  One using all whole wheat flour (I prefer white wheat flour), and one batch using white flour.  Then I took enough dough for 1/2 a loaf of white dough and rolled it into a rectange.  Next I took enough dough for 1/2 a loaf of wheat dough and rolled it into a rectangle.  I placed the wheat rectange on top of the white rectangle and pushed it together a bit with the rolling pin.  Next I rolled dough up starting with the short end, and tucked in the ends.  Then I just baked it as usual.

Renee's Bread

1 cup milk (warm)

1 1/2 tbsp. butter (softened)

1 tsp. salt

1 egg (lightly beaten)

3 cups flour

1 1/2 tbsp. sugar

1 3/4 tsp. yeast

Place all ingredients in a large bowl in the order listed.  Stir in bowl until all ingredients are well mixed.  Kneed by hand on a floured surface for 10 minutes.  Place dough in a greased bowl.  Cover.  Allow to rise in a warm place until double in size (approx. 1 hour).  Shape into a loaf.  Place in a greased bread pan.  Cover.  Allow dough to rise until double in size (approx. 30 minutes).  Bake at 375 for 25 minutes.  Remove from pan immediately and cool on a wire rack.

Mom's Breadsticks

Maybe they should be Brenda's Breadsticks. But they'll always be Mom's to me. We love to make a huge batch and freeze them for a quick side. Yum!Mom's Breadsticks

1 Tbsp. yeast
1 ½ cup warm water
2 Tbsp. sugar
½ tsp. salt
3 cups flour
½ cube butter
garlic salt
parmesan cheese
parsley

Dissolve yeast and sugar in warm water. Add salt & flour. Mix together 3 minutes. Raise 20 minutes. Melt butter & brush half onto cookie sheet. Sprinkle cookie sheet with garlic salt, parmesan, and parsley. Roll dough to size of cookie sheet. Cut in 1 inch strips. Place on cookie sheet. Brush with butter. Sprinkle with garlic salt, parsley & parmesan cheese. Raise 20 minutes. Bake at 375 for 20 minutes.