Soft Pretzels by Alton Brown

Literally the best soft pretzel ever.  It may seem like a lot of work for pretzels but well worth it.  Seth will actually eat this.

                                                                                  Prep time: A lot
                                                                                  Bake time: 12-14 minutes
                                                                                                          

Ingredients
1 1/2 cups warm water
1 tablespoon sugar
2 teaspoons kosher salt (I use my normal salt)
1 package active dry yeast
22 ounces all-purpose flour, approximately 4 1/2 cups
2 ounces unsalted butter, melted (is 4 TBSP)
Vegetable oil, for pan
10 cups water
2/3 cup baking soda
1 large egg yolk beaten with 1 tablespoon water
Pretzel salt (I don't use this when I make it)

Directions
1.  Combine the water, sugar and kosher salt in the bowl of a stand mixer and sprinkle the yeast on top. Allow to sit for 5 minutes or until the mixture begins to foam. 
2.  Add the flour and butter and, using the dough hook attachment, mix on low speed until well combined. Change to medium speed and knead until the dough is smooth and pulls away from the side of the bowl, approximately 4 to 5 minutes.
3.  Remove the dough from the bowl, clean the bowl and then oil it well with vegetable oil. Return the dough to the bowl, cover with plastic wrap and sit in a warm place for approximately 50 to 55 minutes or until the dough has doubled in size.

4.  Line 2 half-sheet pans with parchment paper and lightly brush with the vegetable oil. Set aside.
5.  Bring the 10 cups of water and the baking soda to a rolling boil in an 8-quart saucepan or roasting pan.
6.  In the meantime, turn the dough out onto a slightly oiled work surface and divide into 8 equal pieces.
7.  Roll out each piece of dough into a 24-inch rope.
8.  Make a U-shape with the rope, holding the ends of the rope, cross them over each other and press onto the bottom of the U in order to form the shape of a pretzel. 
9.  Place onto the parchment-lined half sheet pan.
10. Place the pretzels into the boiling water, 1 by 1, for 30 seconds.
11. Remove them from the water using a large flat spatula and return to the half sheet pan.  
12. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
13. Brush the top of each pretzel with the beaten egg yolk and water mixture and sprinkle with the pretzel salt. 14.  Bake until dark golden brown in color, approximately 12 to 14 minutes. 
15.  Transfer to a cooling rack for at least 5 minutes before serving.

I have turned these into preztel bites, just bake for 9-11 minutes instead
You can also but a mixture of sugar and cinnamon on top, or brush with melted butter 

Makes 8 pretzels

Banana Brownies

I found these while still wanting dessert and be good all at the same time
                                                                               Prep time: 5 minutes
                                                                               Bake time: 15-20
3 ripe Bananas
1/3 C Applesauce
2 C Oats
1/4 C Almond Milk
1/2 C Chocolate Chips
1 tsp Vanilla
1 tsp Cinnamon

extra chocolate chips for later

Directions
1. Preheat Oven to 350 degrees
2. Add all ingredients into a mixing bowl and mix with the flat beater (I call it the pretzel)
3. Scoop into an 8x8 or 9x9 glass dish and spread evenly
4. Sprinkle extra chocolate chips on the top
5. Bake for 15-20 minutes

For variations, you can also use raisens, chopped nuts, or half chocolate chips and half white chocolate chips

Makes 6-8 servings

Easy peasy popcorn

This is some of the yummiest caramel popcorn ever and it's easy! Woo hoo!

1/2 cup popcorn or 1-2 bags
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 stick butter (1/2 cup)
1 cup mini marshmallows

Pop popcorn. Set aside. Put butter and sugar in microwave safe bowl. Microwave 1 minute or until butter is melted. Stir. Add in marshmallows. Microwave until marshmallows bubble up and are completely melted. Check every 30 seconds and stir. Marshmallows will start to look light brown and fluffy. It's done when you stir the mixture and it all goes together and looks..dun, dun, dun...like caramel! Poor over popcorn, mix, and enjoy!

W devoured this, Michael included, while watching Star Wars last night :)

One-One-One Peanut Butter Cookies (Super Easy)

This is a recipe from one of Christian's roommates at BYU.Makes about 16 cookies.

1 C of Peanut Butter
1 C of White Sugar
1 Large Egg

Prep Time: 5 min.
Bake Time: 12 min.
Sit Time: 5 min.

Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees
2. Mix all ingredients in a bowl
3. Scoop out with cookie scooper (I use a 1 1/2 inch diameter) and put on    
    non-stick cookie sheet
4. Bake for 9 min. 
5. Take them out and put fork imprints on them
6. Put them back in the oven for about 2-3 min.
7. Let them sit for about 5 min. 
8. Eat those gooey cookies!   

 

Chicken Rice Casserole

Made this up when we were first married with many variations.  I will put our (version now) and the original version I had 5 years ago...almost 5 years ;)
                                                                                          Prep time: 45 minutes
                                                                                          Cook time: 45 minutes
1-2 lb of fully cooked shredded or cubed chicken breast
1 1/4 C cooked brown rice
1 can Cream of Chicken (or low sodium can)
3/4 C Mayonnaise (or Plain Greek Yogurt)
1 1/2 C Frozen Broccoli chopped Florets
6 oz Shredded Cheddar Cheese (or Pepper-Jack for a little more kick)
1 Tbs minced Garlic (or 1 1/2 Tbs depending on your Italian side)
2 tsp Onion Powder
1 tsp Parsley

Crushed Corn Chex (optional)

Directions:
1. Cook the chicken and the rice then set aside
2. Shred cheese if not prepackaged that way
3. Preheat Oven to 350
4. Mix all ingredients (except the Chex) into a large bowl
5. Place mix into a 13x9 glass casserole dish and spread evenly
     note - may have some mix left depending on your exactness to the recipe. I put
     leftovers into an 8x8 pan and freeze for later
6. Bake with foil for 45 minutes
7. Set to cool
8. Crush Corn Chex and spread evenly on top of the casserole

makes 6-10 servings depending on portions
     note - we found this tastes even better the second day

Pasta e Fagioli (plan ahead)

I got this from the garlic and herb sauce can but I modified it...a lot

                                                                                              Prep time: 20 minutes
                                                                                              Cook time: 3-4 hours
1lb Ground Beef
1 14.5 oz Can Diced Tomatoes
1 can Garlic & Herb Sauce
2 C water
1 can Red Kidney Beans
1/2 Box Elbow Macaroni
Celery (as desired)
Shredded Carrots (as desired)

Grated Parmesan (optional)

Directions:
1. Cook ground beef in a skillet just enough to make the beef in little chunks
2. Place in slow cooker on low and add
     - Beans
     - Water
     - Shredded Carrots
     - if you want any other vegetables add at this time
3. Cut celery into slices and add to cooker
4. Simmer for 3-4 hours
5. Add macaroni the last 15-20 minutes.  This is important or it will cook for too long.
6. Serve and add a dash of parmesan cheese to individual servings

Makes 6-8 servings

I'm here...

Sorry for not doing this earlier.  Now that Mark will be in choir I hope to spend a little more time on this.  So no, I have nor forgotten about this.

Easy Stuffing Meatloaf

I'm all about easy, can you guys tell?

 

This meatloaf is one of our "go to" meals. I scored HUGE bags of stuffing (double the stove top box) for $.50 a bag around Thanksgiving so we're still using it up ;)

 

Easy Stuffing Meatloaf

1 lb lean ground meat (turkey, beef, chicken, whatever you have is fine. We usually do turkey)

1 box stuffing (or 6 oz of another stuffing mix)

1 egg

1 cup water

I added 1 T Worcestershire sauce and Ketchup on top 

 

Mix all ingredients together, shape in a loaf pan and bake a 350 degrees F for about 45 minutes. Done. Its delicious :)

 



Super Fast Pizza Dough and Breadsticks

This dough has NO rise time.  It was so quick, easy, thick and delicious.  We made it for Sunday dinner this week and had the boys over.  I made 3 batches and we had at least one whole batch left over after making bread sticks with some left over dough!

 

 

Super Fast Pizza Dough (slighlty adapted from allrecipes)

3 cups Flour

2 1/2 tsp Active dry yeast (or 1 pkg)

2 T Vegetable or olive oil

1 tsp Salt

1/2 tsp Italian seasoning

1 tsp Garlic powder

1 T Sugar

1 cup warm water (110 degrees F)

 

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Combine Flour, yeast, salt, sugar, italian seasoning, and garlic powder in kitchenaid mixer with dough hook.  Mix in oil and warm water until dough is formed.  Spread out on pizza pan or cookie sheet.  Top as desired.  Bake for 20-25 minutes. (It was always at least 25 minutes for us).

 

Garlic Parmesan breadsticks

Leftover pizza dough (half a batch made 6 large breadsticks)

olive oil

1 tsp grated parmesan cheese

1/4 tsp italian seasoning

garlic salt

 

Roll dough into 12 thin strips (like playdough snakes!) Twist the strips in pairs. Place on foil lined cookie sheet. Mix olive oil, parm, and italian seasoning.  Spread onto bread sticks.  Sprinkle with Garlic salt. Bake while pizzas are baking, at 375 degrees F, about 10-15 minutes.

Easy Applesauce Pancakes

I made these this morning and they were pretty good and filling!

I doubled the recipe and it made about 30 3-4 inch pancakes that I froze for quick and easy breakfasts for Michael.

 

Easy Applesauce Pancakes (slighlty adapted from FarmGirlGourmet)

1 1/4 c all-purpose flour

1 c whole wheat flour

1 tbsp wheat germ (I didn't have any so I left it out)

1 1/2 tablespoons baking powder

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1 1/8 c applesauce (unsweetened)

3 egg whites, lightly beaten until frothy

1 1/2 c unsweetened vanilla almond milk

bananas, chocolate chips, peanut butter etc

 

Mix dry ingredients in kitchenaid bowl. Add wet ingredients and mix well. I used a 1/2 cup measure about half full for each pancake. Add bananas or chocolate chips as mix ins.  We like them with a mix in or with peanut butter, syrup, or applesauce.

Welcome!

I wanted to create this blog so we have a place to share the recipes we love! I am always looking for good recipes to try and have a few tried and true of my own that I'd like to have in an organized space! Feel free to post any kind of recipes, breakfast to dessert, and anything in between.  In order to try and keep them together we can put "labels" on them while creating the post "Dinner" "Lunch" "Breakfast" "snacks" and "dessert." You can also do other words that pertain to your recipe: Chicken, beef, savory, healthy etc. We'll be able to search on the sidebar through our labels so having as many descriptor words as possible will be helpful! I'm excited to get this started, maybe I'll even post a recipe tonight! Can't wait to see what you guys share!