Peasant Bread

These loaves are not shaped in the traditional way but are allowed to rise free form on the baking sheet.

• 2 cups warm water
• 3 teaspoons yeast
• 5 cups of flour
• 2 teaspoons of sea salt
• 1 tablespoon of olive oil

In a mixing bowl, stir together the yeast and the water.  let this stand for about 5 minutes or until the yeast is dissolved.  

In a larger bowl, combine the 2 cups of flour, salt, yeast mixture, and olive oil.  Stir vigorously for 2 minutes.

Gradually add the remaining flour until you have a kneadable mass of dough.  You may knead the dough until it is smooth and elastic, or hardly knead it at all.  Kneading is not essential to this rustic loaf.  Let the dough ball rise, covered, until it reaches double in bulk.  

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F, punch down the dough and divide it into 2 equal loaves.  Press each portion into a round disk and loosely shape into a flat loaves.  Place each loaf on a greased pan and let rise, covered, until doubled in size again.  Bake for 30-40 minutes.  Let cool on a rack until ready to serve.

Sweet Crescent Rolls

1/2 cup warm water

1/2 cup warm milk

1 egg

1/3 cup butter, softened

1/3 cup sugar

1 tsp salt

3 and 3/4 cup flour

1 package active dry yeast

1/4 cup butter, softened

Preheat oven to 375.

1. Dissolve yeast and 1 tablespoon of sugar in warm water.  Let sit for 10 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, heat the milk.
3. Stir sugar and butter into milk until melted.  Allow this mixture to cool.
4. In a large bowl, combine yeast-mixture with milk mixture and add egg.
5. Stir in the flour a little at a time and knead lightly for 8 minutes.
6. Cover and let rise for 1 hour or until doubled in size.
7. Punch down the dough and roll out flat.  Cut the dough into triangular wedges.  Roll each wedge into a crescent.
8. Brush the tops of the rolls with butter

Bake for 13-14 minutes at 375.

Coconut Flour Buttermilk Pancakes & Turkey Bacon

I was specifically searching for a coconut flour buttermilk pancake recipe, and I decided to try this one from The Coconut Mama because it has such few and simple ingredients, unlike others that I saw.

The first step is to mix 1/4 a cup of buttermilk, 3 pastured eggs, and 2 tablespoons of raw honey in either a blender or a bowl.

Just look at those dark orange yolks!!!  These organic, pastured eggs came from a local farm.

After beating the buttermilk, eggs, and honey together, you add 1/4 cup of coconut flour, 1 tsp cinnamon, and 1/4 tsp baking soda.

After letting the batter rest for a few minutes, pour mini-sized pancakes onto a heated griddle (I greased with grass-fed butter) and flip them after they're solid on the bottom.

Meanwhile, I had already cooked some turkey bacon.  We love Applegate!

The pancakes were great!  All the kids ate every bite and asked for more.
I'll have to make a double batch next time. :)

Pasta with Alfredo Sauce and Broccoli with Almonds

Alfredo sauce is a favorite around here, and I have a super simple recipe (only 4 ingredients!) that I have finally mastered so that it consistently turns out well (it took me a few tries to get it right!)

I melt half a cup of butter in two cups of cream and sprinkle generously with garlic powder.  I use a whisk to beat it frequently until it comes to a boil.  Then I turn the heat down until its simmering and toss in grated Parmesan cheese -- anywhere from half a cup to one cup, depending on my mood (in a pinch, I've even used mozzarella cheese -- still tasty!)  I let it simmer and whisk it frequently until it's thick and creamy.

Meanwhile, I get the pasta cooking.  

This time I used TruRoots Organic Ancient Grain Gluten-Free Penne Pasta.

Simply toss the pasta with the sauce.

I typically serve this pasta with broccoli.  This time, I tried broccoli with slivered almonds.

Steam the broccoli slightly, only for about 5 minutes to soften it.  Then transfer to a deep skillet.  Pour in a 1/4 cup of dry white wine, then sprinkle with garlic powder, parsley, salt, pepper, and drizzle a little olive oil.  

Cook until the liquid is evaporated and the broccoli is hot.  Remove from heat, then add the almonds and toss.

Mmmmm!  Very simple but so delicious. :)

Peanut Butter and Banana Oatmeal Squares

Got overripe bananas?

Tired of the same old banana bread you resort to every time you have overripe bananas?

I was.  So I decided to try something new for breakfast.

Peanut Butter and Banana Oatmeal Squares

• 1 1/2 cups quick cooking oats
• 1/2 cup peanut butter (I used crunchy!)
• 1/4 cup maple syrup
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1/4 cup melted butter
• 3/4 cup whole milk
• 1 egg
• 2 ripe bananas, mashed
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 3/4 tsp salt
• 2 tablespoons of ground milled flaxseed (optional)

Mix all the ingredients together in a bowl, then spread evenly into baking dish.

Bake 20-25 minutes, or until edges are golden brown.

Let cool, then cut into squares.

This is delicious all by itself, but I recommend enjoying it topped with vanilla yogurt and fresh sliced bananas.  And bacon.  Always bacon.

Shepherd's Pie and Whoopie Pies

There are a lot of different ways to make shepherd's pie.  The first time I came across a recipe for it in a cookbook I have, it said to "throw in whatever leftovers you have."  This particular lady would just toss together whatever odds and ends she had in her fridge.  Looking up recipes online, you'll find several small differences. Some use cream, others use chicken or beef broth.  Some add cheese, others include Worcestershire sauce.  Some use ketchup, and others include oil.  Rachel Ray's recipe has 17 ingredients, while Alton Brown's has 21, and Martha Stewart's has only 9.  What they all have in common is that they are a meat pie with a mashed potato crust.

After a little experimentation, I landed on a simple, tasty shepherd's pie that my family loves.

I brown a pound of either ground beef, turkey, or pork (I prefer the pork), and then season it by sprinkling with onion powder, cumin, thyme, pepper, salt, oregano, nutmeg, ginger, basil, and sage.  Then I mix cooked peas, corn, and green beans in with the meat and pour it into a casserole dish.

Then I cover it all with mashed potatoes:

And I bake at 350 for an hour.

I forgot to take a picture of it when it came out of oven, but here's what it looked like fifteen minutes later:

Almost.  Gone.  It wasn't long before the kids cleared the whole pan.  It's not the fanciest shepherd's pie recipe out there, but it is so simple and it's something my kids always devour!  There are never leftovers.

For dessert, I made whoopie pies.

Whoopie Pie Cakes:

2 cups flour

1 cup granulated sugar

1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa

1 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

3/4 cup whole milk

1/3 cup coconut oil

1 egg lightly beate

1 tsp vanilla extract

Warning: if your coconut oil is unrefined (like mine), these will have a detectable coconut taste.

Preheat oven to 350.  Line 2 large cookie sheets with parchment paper, or spray with non-stick spray.

In a large bowl, whisk flour, sugar, egg, and vanilla until smooth.  Drop 1 tablespoonful batter onto prepared sheet.  Repeat with remaining batter, spacing 1 inches apart (cakes will spread).  Bake 8 to 10 minutes, or until cakes spring back when lightly pressed.  Cool completely on cookie sheets on wire racks.

Whoopie Pie Filling 

1/2 cup butter at room temp
1 cup confectioners' sugar
1/2 cup marshmallow creme
1 tsp vanilla extract

Tip: You can make the marshmallow creme at home if you want to!  This is the recipe I used: DIY Marshmallow Creme.
 

Homemade marshmallow creme.

With mixer on high speed, beat butter, confectioners' sugar,marshmallow creme, and vanilla until fluffy.  Spread filling on flat side of half the cakes and sandwich together with remaining cakes.

Store whoopie pies in airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.

Kale and Sweet Potato

I made meatloaf tonight and chose to serve a kale and sweet potato side dish with it.

It was so easy and really delicious!

I poured 1.5 cups of homemade vegetable broth into a deep skillet, then laid a big bed of kale leaves down and piled the chopped sweet potato on top.  I sprinkled salt and onion powder on top, then put a lid on it, brought it to a boil, reduced to a simmer, and let it go for about 20 minutes.

Really.  Really.  Yummy.