Basic Bread/Cinnamon Bread/Whole Wheat Bread

This is my friend Laura's bread recipe.  I'm going to just copy and paste it here exactly the way she gave it to me because it's perfect.

It is a large recipe as it makes 3 loaves.  I don't have a KitchenAid mixer (yet) so to make it work in my 11 cup food processor I made the following changes:
I cut the recipe in half and processed them separately then combined the dough to rise and still got 3 loaves, or just did half and either had 2 small loaves or 1 large one.
In the food processor I added nearly all the flour (3 cups if doing a half batch) right away.  Otherwise the food processor gets gummed up.  Then add wet ingredients slowly while processing until it forms a ball.  Usually I'll need to add about another 1/2 a cup of flour here to make it the right consistency.  Your mileage may vary.

I do the glaze differently too. I do a 1/4 c. melted butter and 1 tsp vanilla to 2 c. powdered sugar.  If it needs to be thinned I add a T of milk or 2.

Otherwise I follow the recipe.

Basic Bread recipe

2 cups warm water
2 tbs yeast
1/3 cup sugar or honey
Let proof 5-10 minutes

Add to yeast mixture
1/2 cup oil
2 eggs- beaten
1 tbs salt
4 cups flour
*to make cinnamon rolls, add 2/3 cup Greek yogurt or sour cream and 1 extra egg
Mix till smooth

Add 2-3 cups of flour till the dough forms a ball and pulls clean from the side of the bowl.
Leave in the mixer bowl and cover with plastic wrap or towel. Let rise till double-1-2 hours depending on the room temp.

When doubled, turn mixer on and kneed dough for 5-10 seconds.

For basic sandwich bread:
Turn out dough onto floured surface and divide into 3 equal parts. Form into loafs. Let rise till double in greased bread pans. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes. Butter the top while hot for extra flavor and calories.

*Flour grains can be adjusted for unique results as long as they total a minimum of 6 cups. For example: 3 cups white flour, 2 cups whole wheat flour, 1 cup ground flax seed.

Cinnamon loafs:
Turn out dough onto a floured surface and divide into 3 parts. Using one part at a time, roll out dough till it measures about 12"x18". Sprinkle evenly with 1 cup of brown sugar and dust evenly with 3tbs cinnamon.  Starting with the long edge roll dough to form a long tube. Twist each end of the tube till the middle twists onto its self and doubles over. Place in greased bread pan and let rise till double. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes. Remove from pans promptly to cool.  Butter the top while hot.  Frost when cool.

Cinnamon rolls:
Divide dough into 2 equal balls. Using one at a time, roll out till it measures about 8"x12".  Sprinkle surface with 1 cup brown sugar and 2-3 tbs cinnamon. Starting at the long edge, roll into a tube. Cut the tube into 2" rounds. Place in a greased 9"x13" pan and let rise till double. Bake at 350 for 17-20 minutes. Butter when hot. Frost when cool.

Frosting:
2 cups powered sugar
1 tbs vanilla

Mix till smooth and adjust to desired consistency.

Pizza crust or focaccia:

Eliminate the egg from the dough mixture and use olive oil in place if vegetable oil. Let rise once and divide in half. Roll out and add desired  toppings. Skip the second rise and bake at 375 for 30 minutes. This is defiantly a soft crust pizza, but that's the way my kids like it.

This is my go to whole wheat recipe. I cut it in half because a full recipe is too much for my mixer. Halfing the recipe make 2 nice sized sandwich loafs. 

Whole Wheat Bread

Grind 9 cups of wheat (hard red, hard white, or combination) This will grind into about 14 cups of flour 

3 T. yeast

5 cups warm water

¼ cup sugar

Combine; let sit for about 10 minutes. 

Add:

8 cups wheat flour

2/3 cup oil

2/3 cup honey

2 T. salt

½ cup vital wheat gluten*

2 T. dough enhancer** (optional; will increase shelf life) 

Mix for a minute or two. (I use my Kitchen Aide mixer, but you can use electric beaters)

Then add about 5 ½ cups more wheat flour, or until it leaves sides of mixing bowl.  If mixing by hand, add enough so it’s not too sticky.  Knead for about 7-10 minutes

Shape into 4 - 5 loaves.  Put in greased pans.

Place in cold oven to rise for about 45- 60 minutes.  Leaving pans in the oven, turn oven on to 350. 

Start timing and bake for 30 minutes. For easiest slicing, cool completely.

Source:  Laura S.

Pizza Grilled Cheese

This shouldn't even get a recipe because it is so simple, but otherwise how would people know about it?  I never thought about it until I saw it on pinterest and thought, genius!  Needless to say, the kids and husband both LOVED this one.  The recipe is for 4 sandwiches, but we have to double that amount, so do the math and figure out what you need to make these for your crowd.

Pizza Grilled Cheese
8 slices bread
8 slices mozzarella cheese (or shreds)
4 slices of sandwich sized pepperoni, or about 16-20 of the pizza sized pepperoni
butter or margarine
pizza sauce (I use this one)

1. Butter one side of each slice of bread.
2. Place on hot griddle or pan, butter side down.  Top with one slice mozzarella, pepperoni, another slice of mozzarella, and another slice of bread, butter side up.
3.  When bread is golden on the bottom, carefully flip sandwich.  Cook until golden on the bottom, then remove.  Repeat with remaining ingredients to create 4 sandwiches.  Slice in half (corner to corner) and serve with pizza sauce for dipping.

source:  Forkful of Comfort via Pinterest

Pizza Sauce

I've already posted about a very quick, basic pizza dough, but it occurred to me that I never posted about sauce.  It took me a while to find a pizza sauce recipe that I like.  Most of them use tomato paste which I don't usually have in my pantry.  This one, however, uses only ingredients that I have around all the time.  Oh yeah, and it's GOOD!

Pizza Sauce

1 (15oz) can tomato sauce
1/4 c. water
1 tsp sugar
1/4 tsp. dried oregano
1/4 tsp. dried basil
1/4 tsp. dried thyme
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. black pepper
1 whole bay leaf
1/2 tsp. lemon juice

1.  Combine all ingredients in a small saucepan.
2.  Cook over med heat until sauce starts to boil.
3.  Lower heat and simmer for 30 minutes or until it cooks down to desired thickness.
Makes enough sauce for 2 pizzas.

Breakfast Pizza

When I  taught an early morning new-testament class, the students took turns bringing food in on Fridays.  One student got assigned breakfast more often than the others because this is what is mom brought.
These days it is a favorite around here with the kids, and is a fun option for a family breakfast, brunch or even dinner.

Breakfast Pizza

2 cans crescent rolls
8-12 eggs (based on how eggy you like it)
1 c. crumbled bacon, sausage, or diced ham, (cooked)
1 c. shredded cheddar cheese.
(you could also add sauteed onions, mushrooms, etc, if you like)

1.  Unroll crescent rolls on baking sheet or stone, press together and roll out lightly to form one large crust.  Bake at 375 for about 10 minutes.
2. Scramble eggs until just soft set, so they will finish cooking in the oven.
3. Spread eggs onto crust.  Add bacon, sausage, or ham.  Sprinkle all over with cheese.  Return to oven for about 3 minutes or until cheese is melted and eggs are set.
Serve immediately

source:  L.Hardy

Quick Pizza Dough

Last night was pizza night and movie night in our house.  My kids love helping to make the crust, shred the cheese, and put on the toppings.

This is a good, quick, basic crust.  I prefer to make it in the food processor, but you can also make it by hand if you wish.


Quick Pizza Dough

2-2 1/4 c. all-purpose flour
1 package (2 1/4) tsp. fast acting yeast
2/3 c. hot water
1/2 tsp. sugar
 2 Tbsp olive oil
1/2 tsp. salt.

For the food processor:
1.  Combine 3/4 c. flour, yeast and sugar in processor.  With motor running, add hot water then turn the motor off.
2.  Add oil, 1 1/4 c. flour and salt.  Process until it forms a ball. If it is too wet, add a tsp. more water at a time, or if it is too dry do the same with the flour.
3.  Process for 15 seconds more.

By hand:
1.  Whisk together 3/4 c. flour, yeast, sugar, and hot water.
2.  Stir in oil, 1 1/4 c. flour, and salt and blend until it forms dough.
3.  Knead on floured surface, incorporating the last 1/4 c. flour as necessary to prevent sticking.  Continue to knead for 5-10 minutes until elastic and smooth.


5.  Put dough in an oiled bowl and turn to coat.  Cover and let rise in a warm place for 30 minutes.*
6.  Punch down and roll out onto pizza pan.
7.  Prepare and bake as you would any pizza. **

*You may use the dough without letting it rise first if you are really in a hurry, but the rising improves the flavor.
**I like to pre-bake mine at 400 degrees for a few minutes before adding the toppings.

source: foodnetwork.com

Hot Rolls (pizza, cinnamon, or otherwise)

My mother-in-law made this recipe for us on Christmas Eve and gave us a jar of the Hot Roll Mix as a gift. Most of the instructions I was given for these were verbal, so some of the instructions might require some previous knowledge of bread/roll making or at least a good imagination.

I made the pizza rolls last night and they were good!

To start, you first need to make a Hot Roll Mix.

Hot Roll Mix
5 lbs. flour 
1 1/4 c. sugar
4 Tbsp. salt
1 c. dry milk

Combine.

Once you have your Hot Roll Mix, you can make individual mixes by using mason jars or even large ziploc bags.  Ours came in a decorated large 2qt. mason jar.

The next part of the recipe will allow you to make bread or rolls:

Good For You Bread/Rolls
2 Tbsp. yeast
1 c. warm water
2 eggs
1 c. water
4 Tbsp. oil
6/12-7 c. Hot Roll Mix

1.  Bloom yeast in the first cup of warm water for a few minutes.
2.  Add all ingredients and knead until well combined.
3.  Cover bowl and place in a warm place to rise until doubled.
4.  Punch down and let rise again. 



For Dinner Rolls:
5.  Divide into walnut size balls of dough.
6.  Drop 3 each into a muffin pan.
7.  Bake at 350 for 20-30 minutes or until golden brown on top. Brush with melted butter.

For Bread:
5:  Divide into 2 loaves.
6.  Place each into a loaf pan
7.  Bake at 350 for 30-45 min until golden brown.

For Pizza Rolls:
5.  Divide dough into 2 halves.
6.  Roll out each half onto a greased baking sheet.
7.  Top with pizza sauce and shredded cheese.

8.  Taking the longest side in hand, roll up into a log.

9.  Cut into individual rolls. (I found kitchen shears worked best.)
(It's okay if they look loose or messy.  The dough will expand in the oven and fill in the spaces.  If you like you can try to shape them so that they are more round.  Mine are a little off center.)

10.  Bake in the oven for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown on top.
(Mine were in about 3 minutes too long, so are a bit browner than normal.)

Makes around 2 dozen large pizza rolls.  My mother-in-law recommends making them ahead and packing them for lunch as they keep well in the fridge.

For Cinnamon Rolls:
Same as for pizza rolls, but use a thick mixture of cinnamon & sugar instead of sauce and cheese.  Top hot rolls with icing.