Honey Whole Wheat Bread

I had another request today to put this on my blog. So here it is. It makes 5-6 loaves. Your suppose to use a Bosch but you don't have to.

Pre-heat oven to 170

1. Place 9 cups of whole wheat flour, 3 tablespoons of yeast and 3/4 cup wheat gluten in the Bosch. Mix for 1 minute to combine.

2. Add 6 cups Hot water and mix for another minute. Cover and let dough sit for 10 minutes or until it rises to near the top.

3. Add: 1/2 cup Olive Oil, 1 cup Honey, 3 tablespoons dough Enhancer, 2 tablespoons salt.

4. Turn on mixer and add 3-6 more cups of flour until the dough pulls away from the sides and is not super sticky. I usually add only 3 more cups of flour. I've found that the bread turns out much better if the dough is a little more sticky.

5. Turn out onto oiled countertop. Yes, I said oiled. Much less mess. Knead a few times. I like to score my dough to make 6 loaves. Take each section and knead into a tight ball and add to a well greased loaf pan.

6. I place 3 loaf pans on a rack set on the lowest level in the oven, and then 3 more on a rack placed in the middle. Let the bread rise and cook in 170 oven for 25 minutes.

7. Without touching the pans increase temperature to 325. Cook for 15 minutes.

8. Switch loaves from bottom to top and vice-versa and cook for another 10 minutes.

9. And voila, you have 6 loaves of bread and it took you less then 2 hours.

If you have any questions, just ask.

Hope you enjoy it, my family loves it!! It makes the best peanut butter and jelly sandwiches!!

What to do with that Jicama!

As I was thinking about what to make with my jicama, the idea of a fruit coleslaw popped into that nogin of mine. I really liked how it turned out. My kids didn't like addition of the craisans or pecans. But I thought they were lovely additions.

Jicama Fruit Coleslaw

1/2 Jicama, peeled and julienned(cut into small french fry sticks)
1 apple peeled and julienned
1 pear peeled and julienned
1/4 cup craisans
1/4 cup pecans
1 small container of low-fat vanilla yogurt
1 tablespoon honey
zest of 1/2 orange
juice of half orange

1. Toss the fruit together in a medium bowl.
2. In a small bowl mix together the yogurt through orange juice
3. Toss the yogurt mixture into the fruit.
4. Add the craisans and pecans just before serving.

This is delicious and a great way to use that jicama!!!

Birthday Pavlova

This is what stiff peaks look like!
Pretty cool!!

The whipped eggwhites spread out on my pan.
It's really easy!

After baking in the oven.
You must cool the pavlova in the oven like the recipe says.
Or else you'll end up with huge cracks!!

The end result!
Beautiful and Delicious!

For my Birthday I wanted to do something that was light and somewhat healthy. I'm trying so hard to reach my weight loss goal that I wouldn't even let my birthday get in the way of my success. I decided to go with Pavlova. It's basically a huge mirange. Instead of using heavy whipping cream I used light coolwhip and kicked it up a few notched by adding orange zest!! Yum!! In addition to the strawberries there is a layer of toasted coconut underneath. I love coconut and had to treat myself to it. I got the recipe from Food Network.

White Bean Chicken Chili

The chicken and beans

The other ingredient.

The veggies diced up.

What it looks like half way through cooking.

The finished product!!

I pre-cooked my white beans and chicken together in the crock-pot the day before. I took 2 cups of white beans placed them in a medium saucepan, covered them with about 2 inches of water, brought them to a boil and let them cook for about 1 hour. That jump starts the beans if you forget to soak them overnight like I do all the time. After the pre-cook I placed the beans in the crock-pot and then my chicken breast on top. To that I added one onion quartered, salt and pepper. I cooked them for about 6 hours on high. After letting them cool a bit I placed the whole crock-pot in the the fridge.

My family gobbled this chili up. It was so good. Along with the chili I served grilled pieces of artisan bread, and an orange/pear salad.

White Bean Chicken Chili

1 Red Bell Pepper finally diced
1 onion finally diced
1 aneheim chili finally diced
1 jalapeno pepper finally diced
2 Tablespoons chili powder
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp garlic powder
2 cups water
4 cups white beans
4 chicken breast

1. In a large dutch oven saute all the veggies until just tender.

2. Add the seasons and cook with veggies a few minutes to toast and enhance their flavor

3. Add the beans and chicken

4.Add the water. If you did cook your chicken and beans in the crockpot just use the juices from that.

5. Let simmer about 30 minutes to combine all flavors.

Serve with shredded cheddar cheese and some sour cream and enjoy!!! It's so GoOoOod!!!

Lasgana Stuffed Bell Peppers

All the ingredients

Pre-mix

After being mixed


Cutting the tips of the bell pepper

Scooping out the seeds and veins

Stuffed and ready to bake

The end result.
I have to say the toasted cheese is my favorite part.

The last few weeks I've joined a food co-op. It's been GREAT!!! I get so many fresh fruits and veggies. Last week we received a boat load of small red bell peppers. I decided to stuff them with lasagna filling. In an effort to introduce more veggies into my children's diet I made them all eat these. For the most part they were received with good marks. Beckham ate ALL of his. I asked him if he liked it. His response," it was gross but I still ate it all." It couldn't have been that disgusting for him to eat it all.

Lasagna filling

2 cups cottage cheese
1/2 cup mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
2 eggs
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1 tsp dried basil
1/2 tsp granulated garlic(or garlic powder)

1.Mix all ingredients until well combined. You can you use this filling for lasagna or manicotti too.
2. Cut the very tips off of the red bell pepper. Scoop out the seeds and veins.
3. Fill each pepper to the top. Sprinkle with more mozzarella cheese
4. Bake in a 350 oven for 45 - 60 minutes.