Amish Friendship Bread

Amish Friendship Bread

Starter:

1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast
1/4 cup warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
3 cups all-purpose flour, divided
3 cups white sugar, divided
3 cups milk

In a small bowl, dissolve yeast in water. Let stand 10 minutes. In a 2 quart container glass, plastic or ceramic container, combine 1 cup flour and 1 cup sugar. Mix thoroughly or flour will lump when milk is added. Slowly stir in 1 cup milk and dissolved yeast mixture. Cover loosely and let stand until bubbly. Consider this day 1 of the 10 day cycle. Leave loosely covered at room temperature.

On days 2 thru 4; stir starter with a spoon. Day 5; stir in 1 cup flour, 1 cup sugar and 1 cup milk. Days 6 thru 9; stir only.

Day 10; stir in 1 cup flour, 1 cup sugar and 1 cup milk. Remove 1 cup to make your first bread, give 2 cups to friends along with this recipe, and your favorite Amish Bread recipe. Store the remaining 1 cup starter in a container in the refrigerator, or begin the 10 day process over again (beginning with step 2).

To make bread on Day 10:
To the balance (a little over one cup) of the batter, add the following ingredients and mix well.
1 cup oil
1/2 cup milk
3 eggs
1 tsp vanilla

In a separate bowl combine the following dry ingredients and mix well:
2 cups flour
1 cup sugar
1-1/2 tsp baking powder
2 tsp cinnamon (we left this out of ours)
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 - (5.1 oz) box instant vanilla pudding
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup nuts

Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients. Mix and pour into two well greased and sugared bread pans. Bake at 325 degrees for 1 hour.

** We made banana nut bread by using banana pudding mix instead of the vanilla... and we made the chocolate chocolate chip bread by adding chocolate pudding and chocolate chips to the batter. You can make this in any combination you can think of - use any flavor pudding... and add all sorts of mix-ins! 

Next time we might just add chocolate chips to the version with the vanilla pudding - that would be YUMMY too!Pin It Now!

Snickerdoodle Muffins

Snickerdoodle Muffins
Adapted from a recipe on Tasty Kitchen.com
Yield - 24 muffins (for me)

2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 whole eggs
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
1 pinch salt
3/4 teaspoon ground or grated nutmeg (I used pumpkin pie spice)
1 1/4 cups sour cream
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

Topping
1/2 cup sugar
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350. Grease muffin tins or use paper liners.

Cream the butter, sugar, and cinnamon until soft about 3 to 5 minutes. Add in the vanilla. Add in the eggs one at a time and mix until well incorporated. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, cream of tartar, and nutmeg (or pumpkin pie spice in my case).

Add about 1/2 cup of the flour mixture to the butter & sugar - mix to incorporate... then add in 1/4 cup of the sour cream - mix to incorporate. Alternate these into the mixture until all are combined - start with the flour and end with the flour... scrape the bowl occasionally.

In one final bowl, mix the sugar and cinnamon for the topping. Pour the muffin batter into your muffin pans - I used a cookie scoop to make sure that all of my muffins were roughly the same size. Sprinkle the tops with the sugar topping. Bake for approximately 20 minutes or until golden brown.Pin It Now!

Coconut Chocolate Delights

Coconut Chocolate Delights
Courtesy of Pillsbury.com
Yield: 20 cookies

3/4	cup Fisher® Roasted and Salted Almonds
1 1/2	cups coconut
1/2	cup Eagle Brand® Sweetened Condensed Milk (from 14-oz can)
1	package (16 oz) Pillsbury® Ready to Bake!™ refrigerated sugar cookies (24 cookies)
1/3	cup Hershey’s® baking cocoa
1/3	cup Hershey's® milk chocolate baking chips

Reserve 20 almonds; set aside. Chop remaining almonds. In medium bowl, stir chopped almonds, coconut and milk until well blended. Refrigerate mixture 25 minutes for easier handling. Let cookie dough stand at room temperature for 10 minutes to soften.

Meanwhile, heat oven to 350°F. In large bowl, knead cookie dough and cocoa with hands until well blended. Cover with plastic wrap; set aside.

For each cookie, press 1 rounded tablespoon dough into 3-inch round. Place 1 tablespoon coconut mixture on center of each round. Wrap dough around filling, pressing edges to seal; shape into a ball. Place balls 3 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheets. Press each ball with fingers into 2 1/2-inch round. Press 1 whole almond on each cookie.

Bake 9 to 12 minutes or until puffed and edges are set. Immediately remove from cookie sheet to cooling rack. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.

In small microwavable bowl, microwave chocolate chips uncovered on High 10 to 20 second, stirring every 10 seconds, until smooth. Place in resealable food-storage plastic bag; cut small tip from corner of bag. Drizzle chocolate over cookies. Before storing, let cookies stand at room temperature until chocolate is set. Store in airtight container.Pin It Now!

The Best Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

The Best Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies


1 cup Crisco Butter Flavor Shortening (1 stick)
1 cup Sugar
1 cup Light Brown Sugar (firmly packed)
3 eggs
2 tablespoons Milk
1 1/2 teaspoons Vanilla Extract
1 1/2 cups All-purpose Flour
1 teaspoon Baking Soda
1/2 teaspoon Salt
4 cups Quick Cooking Oats
1 cup Chocolate Chips
1 cup Pecans (or Walnuts)

Heat oven to 375 degrees F.  In a large bowl (we use the Kitchen Aid mixer), blend the Crisco with the sugars, adding the sugar gradually.  Add the eggs (one at a time), milk and the vanilla; beat well until mixture looks somewhat fluffy.  I use the paddle mixer on the Kitchen Aid for this - not the whisk.  In a small bowl, mix together your flour, salt and baking soda. Add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture in the bowl 1/2 c. at a time; beat well.  Add the oats 1/2 c. at at time.  If you are using a Kitchen Aid or any other heavy duty stand mixer - this is the reason you will want to use the paddle attachment.  Otherwise, if you are using a hand mixer, you will want to mix the oats and the remainder of the ingredients in by hand.  Once the oats are incorporated, add your chocolate chips and finally your nuts (pecans or walnuts).  Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls, about 2 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheets.  Back for 13 to 15 minutes or until golden brown.  Be very careful to not let the cookies brown too much or they will be very crisp after cooling - especially the next day.  Remove the cookies and let stand for 5 minutes.  Transfer cookies to a plate or some other surface to finish cooling.  Of course make sure to taste one while they are still hot and gooey - YUM!

Makes about 42 cookiesPin It Now!

Slow Cooker Chicken Marsala

I made this last Sunday, but completely forgot to take a picture of mine - because I wasn't feeling very well. 

Slow Cooker Chicken Marsala

Courtesy of Pillsbury.com

2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
8 boneless skinless chicken breasts
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
2 jars (6 ounces) sliced mushrooms, drained
1 cup sweet Marsala wine or chicken broth (I used 1/2 a cup of each)
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup cornstarch
3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

Spray 4-5 quart slow cooker with cooking spray. In cooker, place garlic and oil. Sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper; place in cooker over garlic. Place mushrooms over chicken; pour wine over everything.

Cover; cook on low heat setting about 5-6 hours.

Remove chicken from cooker; place on plate and cover to keep warm. In small bowl, mix water and cornstarch until smooth; stir into liquid in cooker. Increase heat setting to high; cover and cook about 10 minutes or until sauce is thickened slightly.

Return chicken to cooker. Cover and cook on high heat setting 5 minutes longer or until chicken is hot.

To serve, spoon mushrooms mixture over chicken breasts and sprinkle with parsley.

In the photo - they served it over white rice, but we chose to have ours over egg noodles instead. This makes a simple easy dinner when served with a salad.

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Creamy Lime Squares

Oh sweet heaven... YUM! Somehow being pregnant has kicked into a weird love of limes... especially key lime yogurt!

Creamy Lime Squares

Courtesy of: Pillsbury.com

Yield: 24 servings

2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 cup cold butter or margarine
3/4 cup frozen (thawed) limeade concentrate (from 12-oz can)
2 containers (6 oz each) Yoplait® Thick & Creamy Key lime pie yogurt
1 box (4-serving size) French vanilla instant pudding and pie filling mix
1 1/2 teaspoons grated lime peel
1 container (8 oz) frozen whipped topping, thawed
1 to 4 drops green food color
Extra whipped topping, if desired
Lime slices, if desired
Fresh mint leaves, if desired

Heat oven to 350°F. In large bowl, mix flour and powdered sugar. With pastry blender, cut in butter until mixture looks like fine crumbs. In bottom of ungreased 13x9-inch pan, press mixture evenly. Bake 20 to 30 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool completely, about 40 minutes.

In large bowl, mix limeade and yogurt with wire whisk until blended. Beat in pudding mix until well blended. Let stand 5 minutes to thicken. Stir lime peel into yogurt mixture. Gently stir in whipped topping and food color until desired green color.

Pour yogurt mixture over cooled crust; spread evenly. Refrigerate at least 2 hours before serving.

For squares, cut into 6 rows by 4 rows. Serve each square topped with extra whipped topping, lime slice and mint leaf.

High Altitude:
Bake 23-28 minutes

Nutritional Information:

1 Serving:
Calories 200 (Calories from Fat 90)
Total Fat 10g (Saturated Fat 6g, Trans Fat 0g)
Cholesterol 20mg
Sodium 125mg
Total Carbohydrate 25g (Dietary Fiber 0g, Sugars 13g)
Protein 2gPin It Now!

Fruity Spinach Salad

(Photo from Taste of Home.com)

Yet another salad that makes me drool right now... pregnancy might just be VERY good for my diet! Because protein is important to me right now - I'd likely either have a side of grilled chicken with this, or toss it into the salad.

Fruity Spinach Salad

Courtesy of Taste of Home.com

Servings: 8

• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/3 cup white wine vinegar
• 1/3 cup olive oil
• 1 tablespoon grated onion
• 1 teaspoon ground mustard
• 1 package (12 ounces) frozen unsweetened strawberries, thawed and undrained
• 1 teaspoon poppy seeds
• 1 package (9 ounces) fresh spinach, torn
• 1 cup sliced fresh strawberries
• 1 large banana, sliced
• 1 medium ripe avocado, peeled and sliced
• 2 green onions, thinly sliced
  
  
• In a large bowl, whisk the first five ingredients until the sugar is dissolved. Stir in thawed strawberries and poppy seeds.
• Place spinach on individual salad plates. Arrange the fresh strawberries, banana and avocado over spinach. Top with green onions and dressing. 

Nutrition Facts: 1 cup equals 214 calories, 13 g fat (2 g saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 29 mg sodium, 25 g carbohydrate, 4 g fiber, 2 g protein.

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