No-Knead Honey Whole Wheat Bread

I picked up this recipe over at thisladyshouse.com and tried it out this morning. It's actually really good and really easy! I am not a great bread maker - it seems I always mess something up. But this is right up my alley and I hope to make it a "usual" around our house.

You only have to let it raise once, then you put it in the oven. SO simple that I was really skeptical and thought it would not come out. Well, it did!

Here's the proof! And it tasted good, too. I think I will definitely use this recipe a lot...

No-Knead Honey Whole Wheat Bread

2 heaping Tbls yeast

4 cups warm water

3/4 cup honey

1 can evaporated milk

1 heaping Tbls salt

2 beaten eggs

10 cups whole wheat flour (may substitute white flour up to 5 cups)

In a small bowl, pour water. Add yeast then add honey. Let sit for 5 minutes.

In a large mixing bowl, combine evaporated milk, salt and eggs. Add yeast mixture and beat with an electric mixer for a minute or two.

One cup at a time, add flour. Let rise until double, about 20 minutes.

Spoon into 3 greased loaf pans. Dough will be consistency of banana bread.

Bake in a pre-heated 350 degree oven for 35-40 minutes.

Avocado Taco

Avocado Taco

I'm not sure if this was actually a "thing" before I "invented" it, but I came up with the idea myself, so I like to think it is my original recipe (although I'm sure I'm not the first - just don't tell me any different, okay?)

Now that I am going meatless, I have discovered that the next best thing to bacon is avocado. It's like the vegetarian's bacon. What can't you do with it?

So I made up this sandwich/taco so I could eat something almost as good as a real taco. And it is pretty tasty, too.

Enjoy!

Avocado Taco

1 8" flour tortilla (I get southwest flavored ones from the local grocer!)

1/3 to 1/2 avocado, smashed

salt, garlic salt or seasoning salt to taste

2 iceberg or romaine lettuce leaves

Sprouts (I used a spicy mix of radish, broccoli and alfalfa, homegrown)

1 Tbl Pink Vinaigrette dressing (recipe on here)

Spread the avocado across half the tortilla. Place the vegetables and pour a little dressing.

Eat!

You can add a little cilantro, if you like, or some salsa. Dress it up however you want!

You can also add tomato, cucumber, zucchini, olives, corn, onions or jalapeños. Your imagination and taste buds can really go wild!

Egg Substitutes

Use these substitutes for eggs when you don't have any in the house or for those special vegetarians in your life.

For cakes, use #1-7.

For cookies, use #8 or 9.

For muffins, use #1, 3 or 10.

For each egg, sub:

1: 1/3 cup applesauce

2: 1/4 cup applesauce + 1 tsp baking powder

3: 1/2 pureed banana (1/4 cup)

4: 3 Tbl pureed fruit

5: 1 Tbl gelatin + 3 Tbl warm water

6: 1 Tbl white vinegar + 1 Tbl warm water

7: 2 heaped Tbl potato starch

8: 1 Tbl corn starch +2 Tbl water

9: 1/4 cup vegetable oil

10: 1/3 cup cooked pumpkin

Mixes you can also use:

2 Tbl flour + 1/2 tsp oil + 1/2 tsp baking powder + 2 Tbl liquid (water, juice, milk, etc)

or

2 Tbl water + 1 Tbl oil + 1/2 tsp baking powder.

Brown Sugar Muffins

These are a family favorite! Usually I make them plain but sometimes, just to be fancy, I put oats on top and drizzle the baked muffins with maple syrup.

When my husband and I started a vegetarian diet, I tried these with a couple changes to remove the dairy in them. They tasted just the same!

I also add 1/2 cup of white bean puree to make them healthier and give a "sneaky" bit of protein and vitamins to these treats!

Brown Sugar Muffins (substitutions in parentheses)

1/2 cup shortening

1 cup packed brown sugar

1 egg   (1/3 cup applesauce)

1 1/2 cup all-purpose flour (may use wheat flour or gluten-free substitute)

3/4 cup ground oats

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1 cup milk  (1 cup rice or almond milk)

2 tsp vanilla

Cream together shortening, brown sugar, and egg. (May also add 1/2 cup white bean puree to make it healthier.)

In a separate bowl, sift together flour, oats, baking soda, and salt. Add to creamed mixture.

Add milk and vanilla, stirring until mixed well.

Pour into greased muffin tins. (You can use papers, but this will peel off a lot of the muffin when you take off the paper.)

Bake at 400°F for 18 to 20 minutes. High altitude, about 22 to 24 minutes.

Makes about 12 regular size muffins, 6 large.

Pink Vinaigrette

I love this recipe! Tangy and sweet, it's great on spinach with fresh mozzarella cheese, mandarin oranges or fresh strawberry slices, slivered almonds, bacon bits and red onion slivers.

Pink Vinaigrette

1/2 cup red wine vinegar

1 cup sugar

1/2 tsp salt and pepper

1/2 red onion

2 tsp mustard

1 cup olive oil

Mix all ingredients except oil in a blender.

Add oil and blend until smooth.

Homemade Taco Seasoning

Got this from thehumbledhomemaker.com. She has a lot of great mix recipes that I have used and I love them!

Making your own mixes can certainly be beneficial in many ways. One is that you are getting less of the extra nonsense that they put in already-made mixes like MSG and such. Plus you can get a fresher taste when you mix them yourself. My favorite is that you can adjust each ingredient the way you like it and create your own flavor!


Taco Seasoning

2 tsp chili powder (you can also make this homemade!)
1 1/2 tsp paprika
1 1/2 tsp cumin
1 tsp onion powder
3/4 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp sea salt (or regular salt)
dash cayenne

This makes enough to cover 1 package taco seasoning or 3 Tbl.

For a fresher taste, omit the garlic powder and add fresh chopped garlic when you use the mix!

Super Duper Breakfast Hash

 Okay, the name isn't so great, but this stuff is AMAZING! It's a great breakfast meal but hardy and flavorful enough you can serve it for dinner! And who doesn't like BFD (breakfast for dinner)?

It's easiest to make it in an electric skillet but you can convert it to a pan or even a casserole dish in the oven. I haven't tried it in a crock pot yet but that's definitely a possibility.

Breakfast Hash
Serves 6-8

1 onion, cut up
4 cups hash brown potatoes
1 cup sausage, cooked and crumbled (may use ham, bacon, bacon bits or any other meat you wish)(be sure it is pre-cooked and cut into small pieces)
2-3 eggs, beaten
1 cup shredded colby jack cheese (or your fave!)
Salt and pepper
2 Tbls cooking oil
2 Tbls butter

1. Get your skillet heating up then add oil and butter.
2. Cut up onion and add to skillet. Saute until onion begins to turn opaque.
3. Add hash browns and stir. Turn over every 2-3 minutes.
4. Add meat and mix it all up.
5. When mixture is almost done, add eggs and stir around until eggs are cooked. They should look like little pieces of scrambled egg all mixed in the potatoes.
6. Spread cheese across entire surface of potato mixture and put the lid on the pan. Turn off burner, call your guests, then serve!