December 28: Quiche

From the kitchen of my friend, Liz comes this wonderful recipe.

1 unbaked 9” pastry shell

8 slices bacon, fried, crumbled, spread in bottom of pastry shell

Onion and parsley, opt. spread over bacon

2 c. grated Swiss cheese

4 beaten eggs, mixed with 1 can evaporated milk, salt and pepper to taste

Pour over cheese.

Bake at 350 for 40-45 minutes or until done. Let stand 15 minutes before serving.

Variation:

Use Cheddar cheese instead of Swiss cheese and add a layer or two of fresh spinach. Or omit the bacon for a vegetarian dish. 

December 27: Quick and Easy Breadsticks

From my favorite food blog "Jamie Cooks it Up"

1 1/2 c warm water
2 TB sugar
1 TB yeast 
1/2 tsp salt
3 1/2-4 c flour
1/4 c butter 
3/4 c grated Parmesan cheese
Johnny's Garlic Seasoning


Mix the water, sugar and yeast together in a measuring cup or in the bottom of your mixer. Let it set for 5 minutes. Add the salt and the flour, one cup at a time, until it is well incorporated. Mix on high for 5 minutes. Let the dough rest for 5 minutes. Melt the butter and pour half of it into a jelly roll pan. Place the dough in the center of the pan. Let it sit for 2 or 3 minutes. Letting the dough rest makes it much easier to shape.Spread the dough out flat onto the pan until it reaches all of the edges. Pour the other half of the butter onto the dough. Spread it around with your hands. Sprinkle Johnny's Garlic Seasoning over the dough and then the Parmesan cheese. With a pizza cutter cut the dough into three rows lengthwise, and then into about 12 rows the other way. Put the pan into a 170 degree oven for about 7-10 minutes. The bread sticks should rise about 1 inch. Turn the oven up to 350 and bake for about 12 minutes, or until golden brown. When they come out of the oven let them sit and rest again for about 5 minutes. Then redefine the cutting lines with a pizza cutter. 

December 26: Cranberry Jello

Another recipe from Brenda, my friend in Boise.

8 oz crushed pineapple
6 oz raspberry jello
8 oz cream cheese
1/2 c chopped nuts
16 oz whole cranberry sauce
1 c whipping cream, whipped
Drain pineapple. Save liquid. Add water to make 2 cups. Bring liquid to boil and use to dissolve gelatin. Beat cream cheese until fluffy. Add to cooled jello. Fold in whipped cream. Add cranberry sauce, pineapple and nuts. Let set.
Topping:
1 c pineapple
2 TB flour
1/2 c sugar
1 egg
8 oz Cool Whip
nuts, to taste

Boil all but Cool Whip until thick, stirring constantly. Cool, then fold in Cool Whip. Spread on top of salad, sprinkle with nuts.

December 25: Easy Monkey Bread

This is my version of monkey bread. This is so fast and easy and I like to serve it with Christmas morning casserole. 

1 can refrigerator grand biscuit dough
1 cube butter
1 cup cinnamon sugar mixture

Spray a large bread pan with cooking spray. Melt butter. Cut each biscuit into fourths. Dip each biscuit piece into butter, cinnamon sugar mixture and pile in bread pan. Pour any remaining butter on top and sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar. Bake in a 350 oven for 35-40 minutes or until cooked through.

December 24: Christmas Morning Casserole

I am sharing our families favorite Christmas morning meal. I hope you enjoy it.  It needs to be prepared Christmas eve.

2 lbs sausage links
3 slices white bread
2 1/4 c milk
1 1/2 tsp dry mustard, opt
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 c shredded cheddar cheese
10 eggs

On Christmas Eve,  brown sausage, drain;  then cut into bite-size pieces. Cut bread into cubes and place in bottom of 9 x 13 baking pan. Layer sausage on bread. In a large bowl, combine milk, eggs, mustard and salt. Beat for 1 minutes. Stir in cheese. Pour over the bread and sausage layers. Cover with aluminum foil and place in refrigerator overnight. 

On Christmas morning, take casserole out of refrigerator and let stand for 30 minutes. Bake in 350 oven for 30-40 minutes.  

December 23: Sour Dough Pancakes

I love love love sour dough pancakes. You will need a sour dough start for this recipe.  I was at a cooking class at church and Inez shared this recipe with us. 

At night, mix with 1 cup sourdough start:
2 c flour
2 c milk
1 tsp salt
Leave out on kitchen counter.

In the morning:  Take out 1 cup start and put it in the fridge in air tight container.

Mix the rest with:
2 tsp baking soda, or
1 tsp baking soda and 1 tsp baking powder
2 eggs
2 TB sugar
3 TB oil

Cook on hot griddle.

December 22: Whole Wheat Bread

Cooking with whole wheat has been a passion of mine. I have taken many classes on using whole wheat and have taught many classes also.

I have owned a Bosch mixer since I was 18 years old and have been making whole wheat bread since then. I like many different whole wheat bread recipes but one of my favorites is the Bosch recipe. Here it is. Hope you enjoy!

6 c very warm water

2 TB salt

2/3 c oil

2/3 c honey

2 TB instant yeast

2 TB Dough Enhancer

10-16 c ground wheat

In mixing bowl combine water, salt, oil, and honey. Then add the yeast. (Make sure the water is not too hot.) Add dough enhancer. Slowly add wheat and mix until dough pulls slightly away from the sides of the bowl. Knead until gluten is properly developed. (You will be able to stretch it without holes easily forming.)

8-12 minute in Bosch Standard or Universal. 12-18 min. in Bosch compact. 5 minutes before the dough is ready, add the Dough Enhancer. Shape into loaves on hard greased surface. Rise in 150 oven 15-20 minutes. Turn heat up to 350 degrees. Bake for 30 minutes or until golden brown.

+++Make a batch at dinner time and use some of the dough in your meal, such as pizza, sopapillas, scones, dinner rolls, cinnamon rolls, or braided bread.