100% Whole Wheat Bread

Whole Wheat Bread is a healthier option to white bread.  This bread has a nutty taste, is moist and a little sweet.  Most people believe that making bread is difficult, but I don't think it is. The most difficult part about making bread is the waiting process.  Putting the ingredients together takes no time. The result of making your own bread is amazing. 

Ingredients:

1 to 1/4 cups of lukewarm water

1/4 cup of vegetable oil

1/4 cup of honey

3 1/2 cups of whole wheat flour

2 1/2 tsp of instant yeast or 1 packet active dry yeast disolved in 2 tbsp of  the water in the recipe

1/4 cup of nonfat dry milk

1 1/4  tsp of salt

1) In your mixer bowl with the paddle attachment, combine all of the ingredients and mix until the dough starts to leave the sides of the bowl.  Replace the paddle attachment and attach the dough hook. Knead the bread for 6 to 8 minutes, or until it begins to become smooth. Note: This dough should be soft, yet still firm enough to knead. Adjust its consistency with additional water or flour, if necessary.
**If you don't have a mixer, then you can do the same thing by hand.  Mix all of the ingredients with a wooden spoon in a bowl.  Once well combined flour the counter and knead by hand.  

2) Transfer the dough to a lightly greased bowl, cover it, and allow the dough to rise till puffy though not necessarily doubled in bulk, about 1 to 2 hours, depending on the warmth of your kitchen. 

3) Transfer the dough to a lightly oiled work surface, and shape it into an 8" log. Place the log in a lightly greased 8 1/2" x 4 1/2" loaf pan, cover the pan loosely with lightly greased plastic wrap, and allow the bread to rise for about 1 to 2 hours, or till the center has crowned about 1" above the rim of the pan. Towards the end of the rising time, preheat the oven to 350°F.

4) Bake the bread for 35 to 40 minutes, cover with aluminum foil after 20 minutes to prevent over-browning. 

5) Remove the bread from the oven, and turn it out of the pan onto a rack to cool. If desired, rub the crust with a stick of butter; this will yield a soft, flavorful crust. Cool completely before slicing. Store the bread in a plastic bag at room temperature.  Enjoy!!

Yields 1 loaf

Source: King Arthur Flour

Arroz con Gandules (Pigeon Peas Rice)

Arroz con Gandules was the first dish my mom ever taught me to cook.  I have been making it since I was 14 years old.  Most people are intimidated by the process, but I can assure you that it's really not that complicated.  I will walk you thru step by step, and you will have the best dish ever. The best pot to use for the rice is a Caldero.  You can find it at any Hispanic store. Here we go!

 

Ingredients:

4 cups of medium size rice (rinsed)

3 cups of water

1 can of pigeon peas

1/4 cup of sliced alcaparrado-capers (optional)

1 can of tomato sauce

5 tbsp of oil

3 tbsp of sofrito (mix of onions, sweet peppers, garlic, cilantro,culantro)

1 Goya chicken bouillon packet

1 culantro and achiote (Goya Sazon packet of coriander and annatto )

1/2 cup diced Kielbasa or Chorizo

salt to taste

In a pot add the pigeon peas, capers, tomato sauce, oil, sofrito, chicken bouillon, culantro and achiote envelope and Kielbasa or Chorizo.  The Kielbasa or Chorizo will give the rice a great flavor. Cook this for about 5 minutes on medium heat.  Then add the rice, the water and salt.

Continue to cook on medium heat with the lid on, but not all the way..leaving a space for some of the steam to come out for about 5 minutes or until all of the water has evaporated. Stir the rice and set to simmer. Cover the pot completely and cook for about 30-40 minutes, stirring it after 15 minutes.  I usually let the rice on simmer for about an hour, while I'm cooking other things. Enjoy with your favorite meat.

Tips: You can substitute the Pigeon Peas (Gandules) for red beans, pink beans, garbanzos or any bean of your preference.  If cooking long grain rice add and extra 1/2 cup of water

Fun Desserts in a Glass

Not only are these recipes easy, but they are pretty. They are perfect for a gathering, and you can make them ahead of time. Be creative and try vanilla pudding and sliced bananas in between layers, or crushed Oreo cookies with chocolate pudding and pieces of chocolate cake.  Try different fruits like, blackberries, blueberries, kiwi or even pineapple.  Just make it fun and delicious.

Lemon-Strawberries Parfaits

Old Fashioned Doughnuts

My sister and nephew came to visit us.  We were kind of bored and hungry, so we said.."Lets makes some donuts".  Even though we are trying to eat healthy, we thought why not.  We had a great week, we deserve a treat.  These donuts are fun to make and taste even better the next morning.  Enjoy with a hot cup of coffee.

Chili

There is nothing better than a big bowl of chili during a fall day.  As the leaves start to fall and the cool evenings come in, a bowl of chili is just what you need to bring it all together. But who says you have to wait until then.  Grilling hotdogs...top them off with this delicious chili.  I have made this recipe many times, and it's always a hit.

Ingredients:

3 pounds of ground beef

2 14.5 oz can of diced tomatoes

1 8 oz can of tomato sauce

1 8 oz can of tomato paste

1 med onion chopped

1 med green pepper chopped

2 15.5 can of kidney beans

1 tbsp of cumin

2 tsp of chili powder

1 tsp of cayenne pepper

1 tsp of paprika

1 tsp of dried oregano

1 tsp of dried thyme

1 tsp of black pepper

salt to taste

In a pan cook the ground beef until brown then drain any liquid in the pan.  Add the chopped onions and peppers.  Cook for about 5 minutes.  Add all of the other ingredients.  Cook for about 20 minutes on low and then simmer for another 15 minutes.  Enjoy with some shredded cheddar cheese and a scoop of sour cream!!

The Simple But Perfect Pancake

There is nothing better than waking up to the smell of homemade pancakes.  This recipe is my go to recipe, is really simple but delicious.  You can add  blueberries, sliced bananas or even apples. The pancakes are fluffy and really tasty.

Banana Nut Muffins

If you don't know what to do with those ripened bananas you have sitting on your counter, why not make some homemade banana nut muffins.  They are really easy to make and perfect with a cup of coffee as your morning breakfast.

Ingredients

1 cup walnuts or pecans

1 3/4 cup all purpose flour

3/4 cup granulated sugar

1 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

1 tsp cinnamon

2 large eggs lightly beaten

1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled

3 ripe large bananas mashed well

1 tsp pure vanilla extract

Preheat oven at 350 degree

Line a 12 cup muffin pan with paper liners or butter or spray with a non stick spray.
In a large bowl combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and nuts.  In another bowl combined the mashed bananas, eggs ,melted butter and vanilla. 

 With a spatula or wooden spoon, lightly fold the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients just until combined and the batter is thick and chunky.  Do not over mix the batter.  Spoon the batter into the prepared muffin tins.  Bake for about 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.  Place on a wire rack and cool.  Makes about 12-16 muffins depending on size.

Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

I went to sleep last night and woke up thinking about these cookies.  Oatmeal Raisin cookies are just great.  Ever since I was a little girl I loved eating oatmeal. I guess that's why I love these cookies so much.

Ingredients:

1 cup unsalted butter room temperature

1 cup light or dark brown sugar

1/3 cup granulated sugar

2 large eggs

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour

1 tsp of baking soda

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

3 cups old fashioned rolled oats

1 cup dark raisins

Preheat oven at 350 degrees F
Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.  Bake in the center oven rack.
In your mixing bowl beat the white and brown sugar until smooth and creamy.  Add the eggs one at at time mixing well after each addition.  Mix in the vanilla.

In a separate bowl add the flour, baking soda, salt, and ground cinnamon. Add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture until well incorporated. Stir in the oats and raisins.

Drop about two tablespoons of dough into a the prepared baking sheets.  Flatten the cookie slightly.  Bake cookies for about 10-14 minutes or until the edge of the cookies are nice and golden brown but still soft in the center. Cool on a wire rack.

Source: Joy of Baking

Whipped Cream

Homemade whipped cream is the way to go.  Is really easy to do and so much better in taste than the canned stuff.

The whipped cream is nice and smooth and not over whipped.  Perfect with your favorite dessert.

Ingredients

2 cups of heavy cream

2 tbsp of sugar

1 tsp of vanilla extract

Chill the clean bowl of a stand mixer and the whisk attachment in the freezer for 10 minutes. Add all of the ingredients to the bowl and whisk on high speed until medium peaks form, about 1 minute. (Alternatively, you can use a hand whisk and a large chilled bowl. Whisk all of the ingredients until medium peaks form, about 2 to 3 minutes.) 

Peanut Butter Cookies

This is a classic Peanut Butter Cookie with the criss cross fork marks.  This classic Peanut Butter Cookie will have you pouring a giant glass of milk for dunking.  Easy and delicious..here is the recipe.

Ingredients:

3/4 cup unsalted butter room temperature

1/2 cup light brown sugar

1/2 cup granulated white sugar

1 large egg

1tsp vanilla extract

3/4 cup peanut butter smooth or crunchy

2 cups all purpose flour

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 cup chopped peanuts (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degree F
In your mixing bowl, beat together the butter and the white and brown sugar until light and fluffy.  Add the peanut butter.  Beat in the eggs and vanilla until well incorporated.

In another bowl mix together the flour, baking soda and salt.  Add the dry ingredients to the peanut butter mixture.  Mix well and then fold in the chopped peanuts.

Roll the batter into 1 inch balls and place them 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheet.  Then using a fork press down and make a crisscross pattern on the cookie.   Bake cookies for about 10-12 minutes until the edges are lightly brown .  Place on wire rack to cool.

Makes about 40 cookies
Source: Joy of Baking