Simple French Bread
We really loved french bread, but as we began our journey into healthier eating it definitely was not on the list of things to eat often! Bread is a very useless carb., and with the bread in stores being full of unknown ingredients we just don't really eat it much anymore. Well, the kids have been asking for french bread, so I decided to make some.
Ingerdients:
1 1/4 Cups Warm Water
1 Package Rapid Rise Yeast
1 TBSP Organic Unrefined Sugar
1 TBSP White Vinegar
Place all of these ingredients into the bowl of your electic mixer, and allow to sit for about 5 mins.
Then, add:
1/2 to 1 tsp Salt (we go for a low sodium diet, but 1 tsp is "normal" amount)
2 TBSP Safflower Oil
Approx. 4 Cups Unbleached ALL Purpose Flour (I used a little more, but it will all depend)
I used my dough attachment, and kneaded the bread for 3-4 minutes, then turn out onto a floured surface. Grease a cookie sheet with a small amount of safflower oil, and sprinkle with cornmeal. Then, roll your dough out into 2 "loaf" shape rolls, and place onto your cookie sheet. Now, slash the tops, and use an egg wash to brush over the top. Next, place in a warm area, and allow to rise for atleast 1 hour. Then, place into a preheated 375 degree oven, and bake for about 35 minutes until golden brown. Allow to cool fully before you slice!
Banana-Apple Bread Ingredients:
For the apples
2 TBSP Unsalted Butter
2 TBSP Dark Brown Sugar
1 Granny Smith apple cored, peeled, and diced small
1 Other Apple cored, peeled, and diced small (I used Gala)
1/2 tsp Vanilla
1/2 tsp Cinnamon
For the dough
1 Stick butter room temperature
1 Cup Granulated Sugar
2 Eggs
2 Very Ripe Bananas (mashed or smushed)
1/4 cup Apple Juice ( you could use orange also)
1 tsp Vanilla extract
2 Cups Flour
1 tsp Baking Soda
1/4 tsp Ground Cloves
1/2 tsp Cinnamon
Directions:
In a small pan over medium heat place butter, apples, and brown sugar. Cook until the apples become soft. In an electric mixer combine butter, and sugar and blend until fluffy. Now, add the eggs one at a time. Add, the bananas, apple juice, and vanilla mix until well combined. Next, ad the dry ingredients and mix again until well combined. Then, fold in the cooked apples. Pour into a well greased bread pan, and bake in a preheated oven at 350 degrees for around one hour, it may take a little longer depending on your oven! Then enjoy this deliciously moist bread, I know my kids do!
Garlic & Herb Pull Apart BreadIngredients -
Dough: 2 teaspoons active dry yeast
1 1/3 cups warm water
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 teaspoons salt
3 1/2 cups all purpose flour
Seasoning Spread:
1/2 cup butter, melted
1 tsp dried parsley flakes
4 cloves garlic, minced
1/8 tsp Salt
1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Dough Directions:
In a mixing bowl combine water and yeast, allow to sit for about 5 minutes. then add the remainder of the ingredients and using the dough attachment knead/mix the dough for 5-7 minutes until it forms into an elasticy ball. (if you do not have a mixer, knead by hand for 6-8 minutes) Now place in a cleaned greased bowl and allow to rise for 1 -2 hours or until it is atleast doubled in size. Punch down the middle and roll out onto a floured surface. Using a rolling pin roll the dough out into a large square, and then cover and allow to rise for about 5 minutes. Now, top with the seasoning spread (directions below). Spread & Assembling Directions:
In a microwave safe dish place 1/2 cup of butter melt for about 10 seconds or just until softened enough to spread, not melted! Now, add smashed minced garlic, parsley, and salt to the butter and mix well to combine. I allowed my spread to sit and marinate while the dough rises. Once you have your dough rolled out cover the entire top of the dough with a thin coat of spread, and then top with a sprinkling of fresh grated parmesan cheese. Now, slice your dough into three even parts (picture below) and stack ontop of one another. Then, chop into approx. 7 smaller sections (picture below) Next, place all the stacks into a greased bread pan, and allow to rise for about 20 minutes or until the dough has risen up above the sides. Cook for approx. 30 minutes in a preheated 350 degree oven. If the top becomes browner then you'd like lay a piece of aluminum foil over it while it finishes baking. 3 long pieces on top of one another, and then sliced into 7 equal parts. All baked and yummy!
Cheese Fondue - for the Melting Pot Experience at home Ingredients:
4 Cups Mexican blend shredded cheese
1 Heaping TBSP Salsa
1 Jalepeno chopped fine - remove seeds if you dont want it spicy.
About 1 Cup Beer - add tbsp more at a time if needed.
1/4 tsp Fresh Cracked Black Pepper
Directions: Place all ingredients into a fondue pot, bring heat up to medium and stir until desired consistancy.
*you can replace the beer with water.
Great Dipping Choices: Carrots, Celery, French Bread, Rye Bread, Nacho Chips, Cauliflower
Homemade Flour Tortillas -  Ingredients:
2 Cups Flour
1 tsp Baking Powder
1 tsp Salt
1/4 Cups room temp. butter (I use Smart Balance, less fat)
1 TBSP Olive Oil
1/2 Cup Warm Water
Directions: In a mixing bowl combine 2 cups flour, baking powder, and salt, whisk together. With a fork cut in butter until you have a crumb consistency. Pour olive oil and water over the crumbs, and slowly stir together until a ball begins to form. Roll out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 5-6 minutes. The dough should become elasticy, and satiny looking. Place in a bowl, cover and let rest for 1 hour. Divide dough into 12 equal sized balls and re-cover. Begin heating a cast iron pan or griddle to medium high heat. Now, take 1 ball at a time, and a rolling pin, and roll out until you have about a 7" circle. The dough will be very thin, I do this on a silpat to prevent sticking. Now, take your tortilla and place into hot pan or griddle. Use a spatula to softly press down, and slowly turn if neccessary to help it cook evenly. Takes about 45 seconds on the first side, and 30 seconds on the second side "if you have your griddle hot enough". It should begin to bubble, and will make dark spots. You dont want to over cook, or they will be come tough.
*Makes approx. 12
* I began making these because; cheaper, less sodium, less fat, and I make them 1/2 whole wheat, 1/2 white flour.
Classic Whole Wheat Sandwich Bread -  Ingredients:
1 1/4 Cups Warm Water
2 tsp Active Dry Yeast
1/4 Cup Honey (if you have a honey allergy replace with maple syrup)
1/4 Cup Olive Oil
1 tsp Salt
3 Cups Whole Wheat Flour
1/2 Cup Whole Wheat Flour for Kneading and Dusting
Directions: In a large mixing bowl place warm water, and yeast. Allow to sit for 2 minutes. Next, add honey, oil, salt, and flour. Mix all the ingredients together until it begins to separate from the bowl. Lightly flour a clean surface, and roll dough out onto it. Lightly four your dough, and begin to knead it. Knead the dough for 5-8 minutes until it forms a satiny ball. "add small amounts of flour or water to adjust if neccessary." Place the ball into a lightly greased ball and allow to rise for about 1 hour, or until it has about doubled. Roll out onto a lightly greased surface and form into a loaf. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Now, place the loaf into a lightly greased loaf pan and allow to rise until it is about 1/2" to 1" over the rim of the loaf pan. Place into oven, and cook for 20 minutes. Cover with an aluminum foil tent anc cook for another 5-10 minutes. When you insert a thermometer it should read 190 degrees. Rub the crust with a little butter, and then roll out onto rack to cool. Slice when completley cooled.
 Coming away from the sides.  Ready to rise in pan  Just about ready to bake.
Bacon Cheddar Biscuits -  Ingredients:
1 1/2 Cups Unbleached Flour (is use a whole wheat)
1 TBSP Baking Powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1 1/2 tsp Sugar (truvia)
1/4 cup melted butter
1/3 cup milk
2 pre-cooked slice of bacon chopped into little bits
1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Directions: In a mixing bowl combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, sugar. Whisk together well. Pour in melted butter, and with a fork cut in until you have bread crumb consistency. Now,slowly add milk stir until you have formed a mass. Then add bacon and cheese stir just until combine, you dont want to over work the dough. Pour out onto a lightly floured surface and allow to rest for 5 minutes. Now, preheat oven to 400 degrees. Knead the dough into a ball, and then divide in half. Roll the dough out to be about 1/2" thick and use a round biscuit cutters to cut out biscuits. Keep rolling out the extra dough to make more biscuits. "This is why you divide it in half so, not to over work the dough."
Place on a cookie sheet covered in parchment paper, and cook for 8-10 minutes. Or until the edges and bottoms are lightly browned.
* Makes approx. 14 you can freeze the extras before cooking.
 mixing bacon in
Honey Wheat Oat Bread Ingredients:
2 Cups Boiling Water
1 Cup Rolled Oats
1/4 Cups Light Brown Sugar
1/4 Cups Real Maple Syrup
1 TBSP Honey
2 Tsp Salt
1/4 Cup Butter (room Temp.)
1 1/2 tsp Cinnamon
1 Package Instant Active Yeast
5 Cups Flour (I use all purpose ultragrain all natural flour) You can divide to use 2 cups wheat and 3 cups all purpose
Directions: In a large mixing bowl place oats, sugar, syrup, honey, salt, butter, and cinnamon. Stir those together and then pour the boiling water over the top and stir a few times. Allow to sit until the water is luke warm (touch with your finger and it feels warm, but not hot). When its warm then add the yeast and allow to sit four about 1 minute, and then begin adding the flour. Add all the flour until you have formed a mass, and then pour out onto a floured surface, I use about 1/2 cup more of flour during this time. I knead in the additional flour, knead the dough for about 10 minutes until it becomes smooth, and satiny. Grease a large bowl very well, and then place your dough ball in it, cover and allow to rise for 1 to 1 1/2 hours. Divide the dough ball in 1/2 and form into loafs. With your hands gently work down into a rectangle, and then beginning at one end fold over about 1/4 of the dough and press down, fold over 2-3 more times until you have rolled/folded into a loaf. Fold in the ends to make them rounded and pinch it all closed tight. Place your loafs into very well greased bread pans, and allow to rise until the dough is sticking up above the top edges, about 1 hour. And then cook in a preheated 350 degree oven for 30-35 minutes. Check your bread with a instant read thermometer it should read 190. *If your bread looks like its browning to much while cooking, make a aluminum foil tent over it. When it comes out of the oven brush with butter. I mix 2 TBSP of butter, 1/2tsp of light brown sugar, and 1/2 tsp of honey together.
*Next time I am not going to use the cinnamon, I can taste the flavor a little too much for some types of sandwiches. But, if you are using it for toast, pb&j, french toast, or many other types of s its great!
*Pictures Below
 Mixing in the Flour  Greased bowl ready to rise  Make a 8' x 4' Rectangle then fold it 3 to 4 times to make a small loaf. Pinch it all closed tight.  Rolled and rising in the loaf pan.  First 2 loafs of bread I have made
 Ingredients:
4 Cups bread flour
1 1/2 Cups Warm Water
2 tsp Instant Active Yeast
1 1/2 tsp Salt
Directions: In a mixing bowl attached to a electic mixer with a dough attachemnt on it place 3 3/4 cups flour, salt, and yeast. Then add the 1 and 1/2 cups warm water, and mix on slow speed until the dough is all mixed together and beginning to form a ball. Let rest for about 1 minute and then switch to medium speed. Knead on meadium speed for 3-4 minutes until the dough has come together and is not sticking to the sides anymore, "it can stick to the bottom". If the dough seems to stick add flour 1 TBSP at a time, to dry add water 1 TBSP at a time. Roll dough out onto the 1/4 cups of flour left over from earlier, knead the flour into it. Knead until the dough forms into a nice, tough, smooth ball. Lightly grease a large bowl, roll the ball around in the bowl so each side is of the ball is lightly covered in grease. Cover and allow to rise for 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
*Preheat the oven to 450 with a pizza stone in it, or with a cookie sheet turned upside down. I do this right before I start forming the loaves.
Punch the dough down once, and then pour out onto a lighly floured surface. DO NOT knead the dough. Cut the dough into 2 equal parts, set 1/2 back in the bowl and cover. Use your hands to gently pull the dough out into a rectangle, once in a rectangle fold the sides into the middle leaving the ends not folded. Use the side of your hand to push lightly down the center of the dough to form more of a crease in the middle, and then fold over the sides and ends and pinching them all closed. "Pictures below, of what it should look like."
Set the loaves on a floured surface, and cover let set for 30 minutes to rise again.
After 30 minutes remove your cooking surface from the oven and slide your loaves onto it. Rub the surface of your bread with water so it becomes a little sticky and then place in the oven. Then slice a few slights arcoss the top, to allow steam out of the bread. There are methods of making steam to keep the crust from getting to hard during cooking, but they run the risk of ruining your oven, so I haven't ventured into them yet. Feel free to look them up, and try them. Bake for about 15-20 minutes. Check the bread with a thermometer if the temp is at least 190 its done. Allow to fully cool before you slice.
 Yeast, Flour, Salt  What the bread looks like when ready to rise  Make sure your rising bowl is large enough  Folded the first time  Folded and pinched tight the second time, make sure its pinched tight!
Pizza Dough -  Ingredients:
4 1/2 Cups Bread Flour "plus some for dusting"
3/4 Cups warm water
1 package instant yeast
3/4 Cup Room temp. water
1/2 tsp Salt
2 TBSP Olive Oil
1/2 tsp Honey
*1/4 tsp Minced Garlic (optional)
Directions: In a large mixing bowl add 4 and 1/2 cups flour, and salt. In a separate bowl add 3/4 cup warm water and yeast. Allow the yeast to grow for about 5 minutes. After the yeast has grown add 1 cup of room temp. water, olive oil, and honey. Mix the wet ingredients together. In your mixing bowl slowly add the water, you can do this by stirring or in a stand mixer with a paddle attachment. Once all the ingredients are combine, either switch to a dough attachment or if not using a mixer pour out onto a floured surface and knead. Either way you should knead the dough for about 5 minutes. Once the dough has formed an elastic ball place in a greased bowl and allow to rise for 1-2 hours. Push the dough down in the middle, and then pour onto a lightly floured surface. Divide the dough into 2 equal parts and then roll out into the pizza crust. If you only need one pizza wrap the other ball of dough in plastic wrap and place in a freezer bag, it will freeze great!
I like to roll our dough out thin, and then when its about 3/4 of the way done cooking use a pastry brush to brush some garlic olive oil over the crust to make it brown and crunchy!
Preheat oven to 400 for atleast 30 minutes. Bake for 8-12 minutes, until crust is golden brown and cheese is melted.
Top with whatever your family enjoys! :)
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