Best Bread Recipe

 I did not create this bread recipe. I found in on youtube, and it is absolutely delicious!

Video for Making Bread 

Ingredients:

• 2 cups water

• 2 tsp. dry yeast

• 5 ½ cups bread flour

• 1 ½ tsp. salt

• 3 TBSP. soft butter

Directions:

1. Pour water in a glass bowl.

2. Add yeast and whisk until yeast is completely dissolved.

3. Pour all of the bread flour in with the water mixture at one time.

4. Pour salt on top of bread flour.

5. Mix all ingredients with rubber spatula.

6. Once ingredients are mixed, add soft butter and mix the dough until the butter disappears into the dough. (Mixing a buttery dough is much easier than kneading.)

7. If baking it right away, cover the dough (with a loose lid and then a towel on top), and rest it at room temperature for 2 hours.

8. If baking later, rest the dough in the refrigerator for 12-18 hours.

9. The dough should be soft, moist, and slightly sticky. 

10. Dust the dough with flour.

11. Gently scrape the dough with a spatula without pressing (pulling from the wall of the bowl).

12. Sprinkle a little flour on a large cutting board and gently dump dough onto the flour.

13. Put flour on finger tips and open the dough gently with your hands.

14. Tri-fold the dough and then roll it. 

15. If you don’t want cracks, seal the seams well.

16. Put parchment paper in an oval bowl/tray to bake. Place dough (seam side down) on the parchment paper.

17. Gently press the top of the bread.

18. Cover and rest for 30 minutes. (Over rested dough won’t rise and may collapse.)

19. For steam, place a bowl of boiling water on the bottom of the oven.

20. Bake at 410° for about 30 minutes. Bread will be crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.

Bakery Style Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Cup Cookies

 These soft, chewy, thick bakery-style cookies are absolutely delicious!

Ingredients:

• 1 cup unsalted butter (cold, cut into cubes)

• 1 cup brown sugar

• 1/2 cup sugar

• 2 large eggs (I sometimes use extra large)

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 3 cups flour

• 1 teaspoon cornstarch

• 3/4 teaspoon baking soda

• 1 teaspoon salt

• 1/2 - 2/3 cup milk chocolate chips

• 1/2 - 2/3 cup semi-sweet chocolate chunks

• 1 heaping cup Mini Unwrapped Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400°.

2. In a medium size bowl, gently stir together flour, cornstarch, baking soda and salt. Set aside.

3. In a large mixing bowl, cream together cold cubes of butter, brown sugar and sugar for 4 minutes until light and fluffy. Scrape the sides of the bowl.

4. Add in eggs and vanilla. Mix for 1 minute longer.

5. Fold in flour mixture.

6. Add chocolate chips and peanut butter cups.

7. Depending on the size of cookie you want, you may use a regular size ice cream scoop (makes 24 cookies), measure dough into 4 oz. balls (makes 12-13 cookies) or 6 oz. balls (makes 8-9 cookies). (You may choose to shape them more like a cone if you choose.)

8. Place on a parchment paper lined, light-colored baking sheet.

9. Bake 8-9 minutes for ice cream scoop size cookies. Bake 9-12 minutes for 4 oz. or 6 oz. cookies. ***DO NOT OVERBAKE!!!*** These cookies should be slightly soft in the center.

10. AS SOON AS YOU REMOVE COOKIES FROM THE OVEN, carefully place more chocolate chips, chocolate chunks and/or mini Reeses cups on top of the cookies.

These cookies will last in an air tight container for several days or frozen in freezer bags for up to 2 months. You may choose to freeze the cookie dough and bake cookies as needed/wanted.

Mama's Chili

Ingredients:

• 1 lb. ground beef or chuck
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 1 tub or package Bloemer's Chili Meat
• 2 cans petite diced tomatoes
• 1 can Brook's Mild Chili Beans
• 1 can light red kidney beans
• 1 small can tomato paste
• Optional: chili powder
• Optional: spaghetti

Directions:

1. Cook ground beef/chuck and diced onions until browned.
2. In pot, mix Bloemer's Chili meat (broken into pieces), tomatoes, chili beans and tomato paste.
3. Once the meat and onions are brown, mix in with the chili.
4. Cook on low to medium for about 30 minutes

*If adding spaghetti, cook the spaghetti while preparing everything else, and then add the spaghetti at the very end.

Taylor's Dressing

• Equal parts olive oil and vinegar (red wine, apple cider or white) 
• Salt
• Pepper
• Onion Powder
• Garlic Powder
• Italian herbs seasoning (any dried herb will be fine)
• 2 tablespoons of honey
• teaspoon or two of Dijon mustard (or any mustard)

Use this dressing to make a salad using cucumber, tomato, sweet Vidalia onion (and avocado, if you like it).

Triple Size Cinnamon Rolls

 Ingredients for Rolls:

• 1 can 8 regular size Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls
• heavy cream (enough to cover bottom of small casserole dish)
• 6 TBSP butter
• 2/3 cup brown sugar
• 2 tsp ground cinnamon

Ingredients for Icing:

• icing that comes with cinnamon rolls
• 1 TBSP softened butter
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• splash of vanilla extract
• splash of milk

Directions for Rolls:

1. Set oven to 350°.
2. Melt 6 TBSP butter. Add the brown sugar and ground cinnamon. Set aside.
3. Spray small casserole dish with Pam and lay cinnamon rolls in casserole dish (giving each roll a little space).
4. Pour heavy cream in casserole dish to cover entire bottom. (It's okay if you get a little cream on top of the rolls.)
5. Evenly pour brown sugar mixture on top of rolls.
6. Cover casserole with foil and bake in 350° oven for 35 minutes.

Directions for Icing:

1. With 10 minutes remaining for cinnamon rolls, begin making the icing.
2. Dump icing that comes with cinnamon rolls in small mixing bowl.
3. Add softened butter, powdered sugar, vanilla & milk.
4. Mix until smooth and ready to put on cinnamon rolls right out of the oven.

WW Frosty

 This Banana Frosty is only 1 point.

Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup almond milk
• 15 ice cubes
• 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1-2 TBSP. unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/3 banana

Directions:

1. Blend all ingredients.
2. ENJOY!

Meltaways

 These cookies are absolutely delicious, and they really do "melt away" when you put them in your mouth. This recipe is from "Aunt" Betty Taylor. She was Beth and Aaron's babysitter, and she is a great cook and baker!!!

Ingredients:

• 1 cup butter or margarine
• 1 1/2 cups sifted powdered sugar
• 1 1/2 cups sifted all purpose flour
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 3/4 cup chopped pecans
• 1 can creamy-type frosting
• food coloring of your choice

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 °.
2. Beat butter (or margarine) with 1/2 cup sugar in a large bowl until light.
3. Stir in flour, vanilla & nuts ~ blending well to make a stiff dough.
4. Use a small cookie scoop and roll dough into a ball.
5. Place 1 - inch apart on lightly greased cookie sheet.
6. Bake for 15 minutes or until firm.
7. Remove carefully while still hot and roll in sugar.
8. Cool on wire racks; roll again in sugar to make a generous white coating.
9. Color the frosting.
10. Spread colored frosting on cookie halves and press 2 cookies together.

Aaron's Nachos

 Our son makes the best oven baked nachos, and I'm always calling to ask him for the recipe. I decided it's time for me to just put this delicious recipe on my blog.

First, season the ground beef ~ use 93% ground beef; brown with olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper (to taste) and crushed red pepper (to taste)

Layer on cookie sheet:

1. tortilla chips
2. seasoned ground beef
3. shredded Mexican cheese

Bake at 400° until cheese is melted.

Top with:

• salsa
• sour cream
• black olives
• diced tomatoes
• diced onions
• sliced jalapenos 
• shredded lettuce

Mama Sherri's Keto Brownies

This recipe has been revised to be ketogenic. I like it A LOT!!!

Ingredients for Brownies:

• 2 sticks Kerrygold Pure Irish Butter
• 8 TBSP cocoa powder
• 2 cups Truvia Sweet Complete (granulated all purpose sweetener)
• 1 cup superfine almond flour
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 4 well-beaten eggs

Directions for Brownies:

1. Preheat oven to 300°.
2. Spray 9"x13" pan with Pam.
3. Melt 2 sticks of butter with 8 tablespoons of cocoa in a saucepan.
4. Add the following to the melted butter/cocoa mixture: 2 cups Truvia Sweet Complete, 1 cup superfine almond flour, 1 teaspoon vanilla & 4 well-beaten eggs.
5. Pour mix into 9"x13" pan.
6. Bake for 35-45 minutes.

Ingredients for Peanut Butter Frosting (optional):

1 stick Kerrygold Pure Irish Butter

1/2 cup Jif No Sugar Peanut Butter

2 cups Swerve Confectioner Sugar Replacement

heavy cream to make frosting smooth (1-2 TBSP; adjust as needed 

 Directions for Frosting:

1. Mix butters together until well blended.
2. Add confectioner sugar replacement until well blended.
3. Add heavy cream until frosting is smooth.

Frost cooled brownies and sprinkle Lily's milk chocolate chips on top if desired. 

Cauli Faux-tato Salad

Bridget, my new friend in our village, shared this absolutely delicious recipe with me. I didn't want to lose it, AND I wanted to share it with my friends, so here it is! I hope you enjoy it as much as we do!

Ingredients:

• 1 large head cauliflower (sometimes I cheat and use frozen)
• 6 large eggs ~ hard boiled, peeled, and separated into yolks and whites
• 2 TBSP roughly chopped fresh parsley
• 2 TBSP roughly chopped fresh dill
• 1 TBSP finely chopped shallot
• 1/3 cup dill pickle relish (or finely chopped dill pickle)
• 3 whole green onions, chopped (white, light and dark green parts ~ may save some dark green for garnish

Dressing:

• hard boiled egg yolks (from above)
• 1/4 cup good mayo
• 1/4 cup full fat sour cream (or be like me and use all mayo)
• 1/4 TBSP dill pickle juice
• 1 TBSP yellow mustard
• 1 TBSP dijon mustard (or be like and use all yellow)
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp fresh ground pepper (black or blend)

Directions:

1. Cut cauli head into bit-sized piece (florets and soft stems only), and steam until tender but not mushy.
2. Drain, dry and cool.
3. Chop the hard-boiled egg whites and add them to a bowl with cooled cauli, parsley, dilll, pickle relish, onions and shallot.
4. Using an immersion blender or regular blender, separately blend ingredients for dressing.  
5. Toss cauli/onion mix with blended dressing and mix well.
6. Adjust for salt, pepper & pickle juice.
7. May garnish with extra herbs, chopped dark green tops of onions, and/or a shake of paprika.

White Cheddar Stuffed Mushrooms (Keto Style)

 Ingredients:

• 24 white button (or baby portobello)
• 1 1/2 cups President brand Garlic & Herbs Pub Cheese
• 1/2 cup finely grated parmesan cheese
• 3 slices provolone cheese, roughly chopped
• 2 tablespoons Half & Half
• 1/2 cup crushed pork rinds

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 °.
2. Wipe the mushrooms with a damp paper towel to remove any dirt.
3. Use a paring knife to trace around the stem; then gently pull it out.
4. Stuff each mushroom with the herb pub cheese until it is almost to the top.
5. Combine the grated parmesan, roughly chopped provolone and Half & Half. Microwave for 25 seconds. Let it cool.
6. The cheese mixture will harden, but this makes it easier to top the mushrooms with it. Use your hands to evenly top each mushroom with the mixture. Be careful NOT to over stuff them. The filling can bubble up slightly as it bakes, and you don't want the filling to overflow onto the cookie sheet.
7. Place the mushrooms on a foil or parchment lined cookie sheet.
8. Bake for 15 minutes or so until the tops are golden and the bottoms are still firm enough to hold their shape. Halfway through, the mushrooms in the middle may need to be rotated for even browning.
9. Let the mushrooms sit for 5 minutes before serving. This allows them to firm up and also to cool slightly, as they get very hot on the inside.

French Onion Dip & Chips

 Ingredients:

• 1 cup cottage cheese, blend to smooth
• 2 TBSP Lipton Onion Soup & Dip mix
• Ranch pork rinds

Directions:

1. mix blended cottage cheese with soup & dip mix.
2. Enjoy with pork rinds.

Cottage Cheese Taco Dip

 I found this taco dip on TikTok. This dip can be eaten cold or topped with cheese & warmed up and eaten with veggies or pretzel crisps.  It can also be put in a tortilla as a quesadilla or burrito.

Ingredients:

• 2 - 12 oz. cans chicken
• 1/4 cup shredded taco cheese
• 1 cup cottage cheese
• 1/4 cup salsa
• 1/4 cup green chilies
• 2 TBSP taco seasoning

Directions:

1. Blend cottage cheese, salsa, chilies & taco seasoning in blender until smooth & creamy.
2. Rinse chicken and squeeze out liquid.
3. Mix taco cheese with chicken.
4. Mix blended cottage cheese mixture with chicken/cheese mixture.

High Protein Cottage Cheese Buffalo Chicken

This is a great recipe to use as a filling for chicken quesadillas or wraps. I found this recipe on TikTok.

Ingredients:

• 22 oz. cooked chicken breasts, cubed
• 1 cup cottage cheese (already blended to look like sour cream)
• 1/4 cup buffalo wing sauce
• 1 TBSP minced garlic
• 1 TBSP Hidden Valley Ranch seasoning powder
• 1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Directions:

1. Put cottage cheese, buffalo wing sauce, minced garlic and ranch seasoning powder in Ninja blender and blend a few seconds until it is well blended.
2. Mix cheddar cheese with chicken.
3. Pour cottage cheese mixture and chicken mixture together. Stir well.

Sopapilla Cheesecake Bars

 Source: Pillsbury ~ https://www.pillsbury.com/recipes/sopapilla-cheesecake-bars/65ec128f-2acc-417b-8745-06c182d3134a 

Ingredients:

• 2 - 8 oz. cans crescent rolls
• 2 - 8 oz. pkgs. cream cheese, softened
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 1/2 cup butter, melted
• 1 TBSP. ground cinnamon

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°.
2. Unroll one can of crescent rolls and place in bottom of glass 9" x 13" baking dish. Be sure to press any perforations to seal.
3. In medium bowl, beat cream cheese and one cup of sugar until smooth. Beat in vanilla. Spread over dough in baking dish.
4. Unroll second can of crescent rolls and firmly press perforations to seal. Carefully place on cream cheese layer. Pinch seams together.
5. Pour melted butter evenly over top. Mix remaining 1/2 cup sugar with the cinnamon & sprinkle evenly over butter.
6. Bake 30-35 minutes or until bars appear set when gently shaken.
7. Cool slightly, about 30 minutes.
8. Refrigerate for easy cutting.
9. Best served warm.

Mexican Rice

 I found this Mexican rice recipe at https://www.bigbearswife.com/homemade-mexican-rice/ and did NOT want to lose it, so I'm sharing it on my blog. If you like this recipe, be sure to check out more good recipes at https://www.bigbearswife.com.

Makes about 7 cups of rice

Prep time = 10 minutes

Cook time = 35 minutes

Ingredients:

• 2 cups long grain white rice
• 2 TBSP butter
• 1 TBSP minced garlic
• 4 cups water
• 2 TBSP tomato paste
• 1 TBSP Knorr Chicken Bouillon Powder

Directions:

1. Rinse rice until water runs clear.
2. In a large skillet, melt butter and add garlic.
3. Cook garlic in melted butter for 3 minutes.
4. Add rice to skillet.
5. Stir and cook rice until toasty and lightly golden, about 10 minutes.
6. While rice is toasting, whisk water, tomato paste and seasonings together in a bowl.
7. When rice is toasted, add water mixture.
8. Bring to a boil and stir well.
9. Reduce to a simmer and cook 25-30 minutes*, covered, until water is absorbed.
10. Fluff with a fork and serve.

*Cooking time may depend on skillet size and stove top temperature.

Prima Italian Steakhouse Short Rib Tortellini

I was SO EXCITED when I found this recipe online because it is my FAVORITE dish at Prima Italian Steakhouse at Brownwood Square here in The Villages. 

Ingredients:

• 2 TBSP olive oil
• 1 TBSP chopped shallot
• 1 TBSP chopped garlic
• 1/2 cup prepared brown gravy (mix is fine)
• 8 oz. pulled short rib
• 2 cups cheese tortellini
• 1/2 cup sliced mushrooms
• 1/4 cup white wine
• 1 cup heavy cream

Directions:

1. Boil water with salt to taste and cook tortellini according to package. Set aside.
2. Heat olive oil over medium heat.
3. Add chopped shallot and garlic. Saute until fragrant.
4. Add pulled short rib and mushrooms. Saute for about 1 minute.
5. Deglaze pan with white wine.
6. Saute over medium heat for 2 minutes to cook alcohol out of wine.
7. Add heavy cream and brown gravy.
8. Toss tortellini in mushroom sauce mixture and thicken with parmesan cheese.

Easy Creamsicle Fudge

 Ingredients:

• 2 bags 12 oz. white chocolate chips
• 14 oz. can Eagle Brand Milk
• 1/4 cup butter (use 3/4 stick if using off-brand chips)
• 1 1/2 - 2 teaspoons orange extract
• orange gel food coloring

Directions:

1. Butter 8"x 8" or 9" x 9" casserole dish and set aside.
2. Put chips in microwaveable bowl.
3. Pour mild over chips.
4. Lay butter on top.
5. Microwave on medium temperature for 5 minutes.
6. Remove bowl from microwave and mix well with wooden spoon.
7. IF NEEDED, return bowl on medium temperature for 5 more minutes.
8. Remove bowl from microwave and mix well with wooden spoon.
9. Remove 1 cup of the mixture to a medium bowl. This will remain white.
10. Mix in orange extract in the bowl with the most mixture.
11. Add the food coloring to the desired orange color in the bowl with the most mixture.
12. Pour orange fudge mixture in buttered casserole and level it out.
13. Drop the white fudge by spoonfuls in a random pattern onto the orange fudge.
14. Use a knife or wooden skewer to make swirl patterns.
15. Cut into square pieces after completely cooled in refrigerator.

Romney's Foolproof Fudge

We went to church with Romney and his sweet family when we lived in Kentucky. In my opinion, Romney's fudge is second to none...AND...it's so easy to make!

Ingredients:

• 2 - 12 oz. bags milk chocolate chips
• 14 oz. can Eagle Brand mild
• 1/4 cup butter (use 3/4 stick when using off-brand chips)
• 6 oz. pecans or walnuts (optional)

Directions:

1. Butter 8"x8" or 9"x9" casserole dish and set aside.
2. Put chips in microwaveable bowl.
3. Pour milk over chips.
4. Lay butter on top.
5. Microwave on medium temperature for 5 minutes.
6. Remove bowl from microwave and mix well with wooden spoon.
7. Return bowl to microwave on medium temperature for 5 more minutes.
8. Remove bowl from microwave and mix well with wooden spoon.
9. Stir in pecans or walnuts. (optional)
10. Pour fudge mixture in buttered casserole and put in refrigerator.
11. Cut into square pieces after completely cooled in refrigerator.

Cheddar Biscuits (Twisted Biscuit Home Version)

 Ingredients:

• 12 count bag frozen Pillsbury Grands Buttermilk Biscuits
• 2 sticks melted butter
• 8 oz. mild or sharp shredded cheddar cheese
• 1 packet powder Ranch seasoning
• 1 bag real bacon bits
• green onion, chopped (you choose the amount)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375°.
2. Lay biscuits in a single layer in 9"x13" dish.
3. Evenly pour melted butter on top of biscuits.
4. Evenly sprinkle shredded cheese on top.
5. Evenly sprinkle Ranch seasoning on top.
6. Evenly sprinkle real bacon bits on top.
7. Evenly sprinkle chopped green onion on top.
8. Bake for 30 minutes in 375° oven.