Homemade Quick and Easy Bread

Recipe

6.5 c unbleached flour

3 c lukewarm water

1.5Tbsp yeast

1.5Tbsp salt

Pour flour in a large bowl.

In another bowl, mix water, yeast and salt until there are no lumps.

Mix the water mixture into the flour bowl, make sure there are no lumps.

Cover with a towel or napkin and place in a cool, dry place to rise for 2 hours.  After the dough has risen, form 2 balls and sprinkle with flour.

Preheat oven to 450 degrees with a pizza stone in it.  Place a pan of water, about 1 inch deep, under the pizza stone for moisture.  Slice the top of the dough a couple of times with a knife, sprinkle the pizza stone with corn meal or flour, then place the two balls of dough on it and bake for 30 minutes.

Our Review

We loved this bread because it was so easy and because we love bread.  The second time we make it, we added flax seed in place of some of the flour and that was equally good.  Each time we make this, I plan to alternate different types of flour and adding herbs just to try different things.  We also made one "ball" into a loaf in a bread pan so that it could be sliced for sandwiches easier.

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Pork Chops with Ginger Pear Sauce

Recipe

4 pork chops

salt

2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil

2 Tbsp butter

1/3c minced shallots

2 Tbsp minced ginger (we used fresh)

1 large pear, peeled and diced

1.5c chicken stock

3 Tbsp cider vinegar

2 Tbsp honey

1/4 to 1/2 tsp minced fresh rosemary (we used dry)

fresh ground pepper

Salt the pork chops and let them sit at room temperature while preparing the other ingredients.  Heat the oil in a pan until shimmering.  Add the pork chops to the pan, without crowding, searing one side for 3-5 minutes and the other side for 2-3 minutes.  Then lower the heat and cook for about 15 minutes until cooked through.  Remove to a plate and cover to keep warm.

Remove all but 1 tablespoon of the oil from the pan.  Add the butter, shallots, and ginger and toss to combine.  Cook for 1 minute, then add the chopped pear and toss to combine.  Cook for 1 minute and then add the chicken stock, vinegar and honey.  Bring to a rolling boil and continue boiling until the liquid is reduced by 2/3, about 4-6 minutes.  Turn off the heat and add the rosemary and pepper.  Add salt to taste and serve with the pork chops.

Our Review

Yummy!  We loved this one too.   We had issues with the pear mixture not reducing after about 8 minutes and we were hungry so we just ate it.  Still tasted great.  

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Grilled Marinated Salmon

Recipe

1/4c soy sauce

1/4c rice wine vinegar

2 Tbsp white sugar

1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil

1 tsp mustard powder

1 tsp ground ginger

1 tsp ground black pepper

2 pounds salmon

Mix all ingredients in a bowl.  Put salmon in a ziplock bag or a tupperware, pour marinade over and marinate overnight.

Cook over medium high heat for 3-4 minutes.

Our Review

This was amazing.  It may have been the fact that we used a wild fresh Alaskan Salmon that we ordered from a farm or it may have been the marinade itself.  In any case, it was amazing.

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Homemade Hot Pockets

Recipe

Pizza crust dough 

Ham

Cheese

Pepperoni

Pizza sauce

Break off a ball of pizza dough about 2 inches in diameter.  Roll out pizza dough, fill with meat and cheese. Fold over, pinch sides to seal.  Bake at 350 degrees for 15-18 minutes.  

To freeze, let them cool completely and then freeze.  Reheat at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.

Our Review

I made the pizza dough from scratch and then made ham and cheese versions as well as pizza sauce, pepperoni, and cheese versions.  While they are good, they were still too dry.  The next time I make these, I will add more sauce to the pizza versions, perhaps 3-5 tablespoons, and I will also look at adding something moist to the ham and cheese versions, although I haven't decided what would be the best thing to add.

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Mexican Lasagna

Recipe

1.5 lbs ground beef

1 yellow onion, coarsely chopped

2 garlic cloves, finely minced

6 oz tomato paste

1 Tbls chili powder

2 tsp ground cumin

dash of ground cayenne pepper

1 tsp dried oregano

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

24 oz tomato sauce

14.5 oz diced tomatoes, drained

15 oz black beans, rinsed and drained

1.5c frozen corn kernels

6 oz chopped olives, canned

9-12 no-boil lasagna noodles

2c shredded mozzarella cheese

1c shredded cheddar cheese

1c sour cream

8oz cream cheese

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Lightly grease 9x13 pan.

Cook ground beef with the onion, drain the grease.  Add the garlic and tomato paste, stir to combine and cook for 1 minute.  Stir in chili powder, cumin, cayenne, oregano, salt, and pepper and mix well.  Add diced tomatoes and tomato sauce, stir to combine, and then add beans, corn, and olives.  Mix well and heat for about 5 minutes.

Remove from heat.  Spread 1/2 cup of the mix into the bottom of the 9x13 pan.  Layer noodles over the sauce, then spread 1/3 of the mix on top of the noodles.  Dollop 1/3 of the sour cream and 1/3 of the cream cheese across the mix and then sprinkle 1/3 of the cheeses on top.  Repeat the layers two more times until all ingredients are used.

Cover lasagna with foil and bake for 35 minutes.  Uncover and bake for 10-15 more minutes until lasagna is hot and bubbly.

Our Review

This was pretty good, everyone liked it, but I couldn't get past the strange taste of noodles with the mexican ingredients.  I'd like to try it again with a few changes.  Next time I will use tortillas instead of the lasagna noodles.  I think it would also be a good idea to mix the sour cream and cream cheese together so they would be easier to spread around.  We didn't use a lot of cayenne pepper and we didn't have the olives, I think it would be fine with the olives too.

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Navy Bean Soup

Recipe

1 lb dried navy beans, soaked overnight and then drained

1/4c bacon, chopped, cooked, and drained

1/2c onion, chopped

1/2c carrots, chopped

1/2c celery, chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

1lb ham bone or ham hocks (we used the leftover ham from our holiday dinner)

8c water

1/4tsp dried oregano

1/4tsp paprika

2 bay leaves

1 Tbsp parsley, chopped

In a slow cooker, add all ingredients.  Let cook for 8 hours.

Our Review

This recipe was longer and was not cooked in a slow cooker, I put it all in a slow cooker but can not remember if it was on low or high, I'm guessing low.  It was very good.  Next time I may add more bacon, but otherwise it was already good.

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Fish Tacos

Ingredients

1/4 cup reduced-fat sour cream
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
Coarse salt and ground pepper
1/4 small red cabbage, thinly shredded (about 2 1/2 cups)
4 scallions, thinly sliced (about 1/2 cup)
1 jalapeno chile, halved lengthwise, one half minced
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 pound tilapia fillets (or other firm white fish), cut into 16 equal strips
8 flour tortillas (6-inch)
1/2 cup fresh cilantro leaves

In a large bowl, combine sour cream and lime juice; season with salt and pepper. Transfer half the mixture to another container; set aside for serving. Toss cabbage, scallions, and minced jalapeno with remaining sour-cream mixture. Season again with salt and pepper.

In a large nonstick skillet, heat oil and remaining jalapeno half over medium-high heat; swirl to coat bottom of pan. Season fish on both sides with salt and pepper. In two batches (starting with larger pieces), cook fish until golden brown on all sides, 5 to 6 minutes. Discard jalapeno.

Meanwhile, warm tortillas according to package instructions.

To make tacos, fill tortillas with slaw, fish, and fresh cilantro leaves. Drizzle with reserved sour-cream mixture. Serve immediately.

Our Review

We liked them.  I thought the sauce with the cabbage was really good.  One child ate six or seven and one ate three.  He said he didn't like fish, but he ate them all.  We did not add jalapenos into ours though and we made more sauce.  Next time, I'd make more sauce.

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