Baguettes

I found this recipe today and just made them this afternoon. So good! Matt said they were my best bread yet. Definitely post-worthy. And super easy. Try em out.

1 1/2 cups warm water

1 1/2 Tbs. (2 packages) dry yeast
2 tsp. sugar
3 1/4 cups flour
2 tsp. salt

In a small bowl mix the warm water with the yeast and sugar. Let it sit for about 5 minutes - foam should form on the top.

In a large mixing bowl combine the flour and salt. Gradually add the yeast mixture. Mix until the dough becomes a smooth ball and knead for 5 minutes. (I use my Kitchen Aid with the dough hook)

Cut in half and then shape into 2 baguettes. To make them smooth and pretty, roll each half of dough into rectangle and roll up lengthwise. Pinch the edges to seal and place on lightly greased cookie sheet (or silpat) with seam down. Cover and let it rise for 30 minutes.

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. With a very sharp knife (I like to use a serrated blade) gently make a slash down the length of each baguette. This will give it that authentic look. Pour water in a cookie sheet and place it on the bottom rack of the oven. Bake the bread for 15 minutes. Half way through, brush the bread with melted butter. **I tried it with olive oil too... it was less crispy and salty. We liked the butter a lot more!

**Original recipe found here.**

Favorite Recipes!

Alright everyone! Here are some of my all-time favorite recipes, as requested by Alicia. :) Happy eating!

Summer Pasta Salad

1/3 cup olive oil

3/4 cup balsamic vinegar

1 tsp salt

1 tbs oregano

1 tbs basil

2 packages 12 oz. rotelli pasta (spiral)

2 cups tomatoes, sliced

8 oz. mozarella cheese, cubed

1 pkg. salami, low fat, sliced into strips

olives (optional)

In a large bowl, mix vinegar, oil, salt, oregano, and basil. Add cheese cubes, tomatoes, and salami. Mix. Add noodles and toss. Cover and chill overnight or for several hours (MUCH better cold). Toss before serving and add more balsamic vinegar as desired.

Serves 8

Cranberry Apple Turkey Crockpot

2 tsp melted butter

1/2 cup chicken broth

1 or 2 large apples, cored and chopped

1/2 cup onion, chopped

1 stalk celery, chopped

1 cup whole berry cranberry sauce

1/4 tsp poultry seasoning

2 cups seasoned crumbs

2-3 lbs. turkey breast cutlets

Combine all ingredients and mix. Add to crockpot. Cook on low for 6 hours.

Ashley's Healthy Salsa

1 can black beans, drained and rinsed

1 can corn, drained

2 avocados, chopped

1 bunch green onions, sliced

2 T cilantros, chopped

2-3 tomatoes, seeded and chopped

1 pkg dry zesty Italian dressing mix

vinegar

tortilla chips

Combine beans, corn, avocado, onion, cilantro, and tomatoes in a bowl. Prepare italian dressing according to directions on package. Pour dressing over salsa ingredients. Serve with chips, quesadillas, or nachos.

Mom's French Bread

Makes 2 loaves

Mix and let proof:
1 1/2 Tbs yeast
1/2 c. warm water
2 tsp. sugar

Then add 2 Tbs. crisco
2 tsp. salt
2 Tbs. sugar
2 cups HOT water (tap hot)
6-8 cups flour

Mix together and knead for 10 minutes or so, then let rise to double in size; 1-2 hours. Divide dough into 2 portions. Roll each into a thick rectangle, then roll up jelly roll style, pinch it closed and then pinch and tuck the ends in. Make slits across the loaf and let raise again for 1-2 hours or until it is double in size. Bake at 400 degrees in a preheated oven for 20 minutes. Put melted butter or crisco on the top of the warm loaf.

Barbequed Meatballs

Rachel won't let it go, so here's a recipe. I tried her cream sauce meatballs and unfortunately I had these to compare to so... I guess you could say "I've had better!"

1 egg, lightly beaten
1 can evaporated milk (5 ounces)
1 cup quick-cooking oats
1/2 cup finely chopped onion
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. chili powder
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. pepper
1-1/2 lbs grounds beef

Sauce:
1 cup ketchup
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup chopped onion
1/2 tsp. liquid smoke, optional
1/4 tsp. garlic powder

In a bowl, combine the first eight ingredients. Crumble beef over mixture and mix well. Shape into 1-inch balls; place in a greased baking dish. Bake, uncovered, at 350 for 18-20 minutes or until meat is no longer pink. Meanwhile, combine the sauce ingredients in a saucepan. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 2 minutes, stirring frequently. Pour over meatballs. Bake 10-12 minutes longer.

I serve it on egg noodles.

Crock-Pot Lasagna

4 cups mozz cheese
1 Tbl. Italian seasonings
28 ounce jar spaghetti sauce
2 cloves fresh garlic
1 onion, chopped (I leave this out of course!)
1 lb. ground beef
9 lasagna noodles
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
15 oz. ricotta cheese

Spray inside of crock pot with PAM
Brown ground beef, add garlic, saute slightly
Stir in sauce and Italian seasonings, simmer
Combine Mozz chesse and Parmesan
Layer in crockpot as follows:
1/4 c. meat sauce on bottom
1/4 c. mozz/parm mixture
3 uncooked noodles
1/3 c. ricotta cheese
Repeat until you have three layers
Cook on low for 2-3 hours (I put this in before church and it's just right when we get home)

Meatballs with Cream Sauce

Yep, it's me again. These were great! And relatively easy.

MEATBALLS:

1 egg, lightly beaten
1/4 cup milk
2 T. ketchup
1 t. Worcestershire sauce
3/4 cup quick oats
1/4 cup finely chopped onion
1/4 cup minced fresh parsley
1 t. salt
1/4 t. pepper
1 1/2 lb. lean ground beef
3 T. flour

CREAM SAUCE:
2 T. butter
3 1/2 T. flour
1/4 t. dried thyme
1/4 t. salt
1/8 t. pepper
14 oz. can chicken broth (If you want your sauce thicker, cut down the chicken broth to 1 cup)
2/3 cup milk
2 T. minced fresh parsley

In a bowl, combine all of the meatball ingredients EXCEPT the beef and flour. Add beef and mix well. Shape into balls. Roll in flour, shaking off excess. Place 1 inch apart on cookie sheet and bake, uncovered, at 400 for 10 minutes. Turn meatballs, bake 8-10 minutes longer or until no longer pink. Meanwhile, for the sauce, melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir in flour, thyme, salt and pepper until smooth. Gradually add broth and milk; bring to a boil. Cook and stir for 2 minutes, until slightly thickened. If using the full can of chicken broth, the sauce doesn't thicken overly much, but it is delicious that way. If you want it slightly thicker, cut down the chicken broth to 1 cup. Drain meatballs on paper towels; transfer to a serving dish. Top with sauce and parsley. Serve over rice or egg noodles (I used egg noodles and loved the result!).

Pizza Rolls and a fun website

My friend Holly sent this link to me for Pizza Rolls, so much fun and yummy. It was a little tedious making them because I did a double batch and next time I would use string cheese cut into chunks, that would be way easier than shredded cheese. I also made the garlic bread seasoning, yummy as well as the dipping sauce. That is a good recipe, I would use only half of the seasonings for it next time, it was a little too garlicky, or just double the tomato paste and water. It tasted very much like the pizza sauce you buy, Loved it.

Then with this link, check out some of the other fun recipes, I really like her section on sandwiches, gonna have to try a few of those.

http://www.ourbestbites.com/2009/06/stuffed-pizza-rolls.html

So there Rachel, I have posted :)