Tips for Better Whole Wheat Bread

Use white wheat rather than red. It has a milder flavor. I buy Prairie Gold from Wheat Montana Farm & Bakery 1-800-535-2798

I use a Nutrimill wheat grinder. It can be purchased at http://www.harvestessentials.com/ for $249.95.

Freeze any excess wheat that you grind so you do not lose any of the nutrition.

I make my dough in a bread maker. I bought the Sunbeam Programmable Breadmaker for $42.22 at Wal-Mart.

You can make dough for two loaves in a Kitchen Aid Mixer and six loaves in a Bosch Mixer.

Dough Enhancer really makes a difference in your bread. I use Blue Chip Baker Dough Enhancer that I bought online for $6.99. You can purchase it at www.cooksquarters.com/consumables.htm

Use the recipe on the back of your dough enhancer. My recipe is:
1 1/3 cups warm tap water
2 tsp dough enhancer
3 Tbsp oats
2 Tbsp dry milk
1 tsp salt
3 Tbsp oil
2 Tbsp honey
3 Tbsp gluten
3 cups whole wheat flour
2tsp yeast

Always start with water in a bread maker. Flour should be second last. Yeast is always last. This is important in a breadmaker.

Add 3 Tbsp of rolled or steel cut oats for added nutrition if you like. You can not taste it and is a way to use up some of that food storage.

Measure your honey after the oil to prevent sticking to your measuring spoon.

Mix the gluten with a cup of flour before adding it to your breadmaker. Gluten is what will keep your wheat bread from becoming crumbly. It also will make lumps of chewy spots if you do not mix it with some four. You can purchase gluten online at www.cooksquarters.com/consumables.htm for $8.99.

Roll your dough out flat on a plastic cutting board to prevent sticking. I got mine at Sam’s Club for $10. Then roll dough into a loaf and place it in a loaf pan.

Let dough rise for 30 minutes covered with a towel.

Bake for 28 minutes at 350°.

If your crust is too hard lower the temperature of the oven.

Bread bags can be bought online for easier storage at http://www.cooksquarters.com/ $7.50 for 100.

Warning: If you leave warm bread unattended, this could happen to you.

Mint Truffles

1 bag mint oreos

8 oz softened cream cheese

1 package of Andes Mint Chips (found next to the chocolate chips, they are on the top shelf at the Beach Street Super Walmart)

1 1/2 t crisco

Grind the oreos in a food processor until they are powder.

Switch the blade to the mixer and add cream cheese. Mix until blended.

Refrigerate over night until very firm.

Roll into balls. Refrigerate over night until firm.

Put Andes mint chips in a microwave safe bowl with 1 1/2 t crisco. Microwave for 30 seconds. Stir. Microwave for another 30 seconds. Stir.

Dip truffle balls, one at a time, into chocolate and use a spoon to fish them out. Place them on wax paper. Cool in the refrigerator until the chocolate is solid.

Serve cold or at room temperature.

Cream Cheese and Brown Sugar Filled Cinnamon Rolls

Rolls:
5-6 Cups of Flour
1 package of white cake mix
4 1/2 t yeast
2 C warm milk
2 eggs slightly beaten
1/2 t salt

Topping:
8oz cream cheese softened
2 C brown sugar
cinnamon (as much as you like)

Frosting:
1/3 c butter softened
3 T milk
1/4 t vanilla
1 1/2 C powdered sugar

Preheat oven to 350. Sthir together 4 C flour, cake mix, and next 4 ingredients in your mixing bowl. Gradually add enough remaining flour to form a soft dough.

Use the dough hook of your kitchen aid to knead for about six minutes. If you don't have a kitchen aid, knead by hand until smooth.

Roll to a 36 X 16 inch rectangle. Spread with cream cheese. Sprinkle with brown sugar. Add cinnamon.



















Roll rectangle and cut into 1/2 inch slices. Place on a jelly roll pan. I needed two.



















Cover and let rise for about 15 minutes.



















Bake uncloverd for 12 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove pan from oven and spread warm rolls with frosting.

Heat rolls in the microwave for 10 seconds if they have cooled before you want to eat them.

Pesto Sauce

3 cups fresh basil leaves
1 1/2 cups chopped walnuts
4 cloves garlic, peeled

1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1 cup olive oil

salt and pepper to taste

In a food processor, blend together basil leaves, nuts, garlic, and cheese. Pour in oil slowly while still mixing. Stir in salt and pepper.

We have a bumper crop of basil in our back yard so this was cheap to make. It would be expensive if you had to buy the basil. I know some of you are also growing basil so I thought I would share this recipe. It was very yummy on pasta and crackers.

Balsamic Grilled Bruschetta Chicken

2 boneless skinless chicken breasts

Pinch of kosher salt

¼ Cup balsamic vinegar

¼ Cup extra virgin olive oil

4 slices fresh mozzarella cheese

1 Roma Tomatoes, seeded and diced

8 fresh basil leaves, stacked, rolled and chopped

Pinch of kosher salt

1 Tablespoon balsamic vinegar

Freshly grated Parmesan Cheese

1. Marinate chicken over night with balsamic vinegar and olive oil.
2. Cook chicken on grill over low heat for about 7 minutes on each side. During the last two minutes of cooking add two slices of mozzarella to each chicken breast to melt.

3. In a large bowl combine the tomatoes, basil, salt and balsamic. Toss gently to combine. Place chicken breasts on a serving plate and top with tomato mixture. Add Parmesan and Serve warm.

We tried to garden this summer and the only thing that is doing well is our basil, so I have been looking for new ways to use it. I adapted this recipe from one that I found on picky pallet.

Chocolate Chip Pancakes

I know this isn't rocket science, but I had never tried this before and my kids, neice, and nephews loved these. Just add 1/4 cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips to each batch of pancakes that you make. I used my Hungery Jack mix and made 3 batches to feed 6 kids and two adults. We buttered and added syrup and they were really good.

Peasant Bread for bread machine

¾ cup water
2 T olive oil
2 C flour
1 t salt
1 ½ t sugar
1 ½ t rosemary (it is best fresh)
1 T yeast

Add ingredient to bread machine in order. Select the dough setting.

When machine is finished, shape dough into a mound. Cover and let it rise for about and hour or until it has doubled.

Rub olive oil on lightly with your fingers to coast.

Bake at 375 for 20-25 minutes. Cut into strips to serve.

You can double the recipe by a half increasing the flour to 3 cups.