Sweet Wheat Hawaiian bread

I love sweet breads, this bread would make delicious french toast for a Sunday morning brunch.  Feel free to comment with any questions.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup warm water, for proofing

2 packages active yeast

1 1/2 cups pineapple juice

3/4 cup white sugar

3 eggs, at room temp

1/2 cup butter, melted and cooled

1/2 teaspoon  dry ground ginger 

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

3 cups whole wheat flour

3 cups AP flour, plus some for your surface

Directions:

1. In a small bowl mix yeast with warm water, cover with a clean towel and let proof for 10 minutes.

2. In a large bowl whisk together; yeast mixture, pineapple juice, sugar, eggs, butter, ginger, vanilla, and salt whisk until the eggs are incorporated .

3. Slowly add in the flour 1 cup at a time, stirring with a wooden spoon until you have a soft slightly sticky dough, form into a ball and cover with a damp towel set aside in a warm place to rise for 1 hour until it has doubled in size. (I preheat my oven early and put the bowl next to the oven) Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

4. Punch down dough and turn out onto a floured surface. Split dough into 3 equal parts and roll into 3 balls, score the top with a sharp knife. Transfer dough balls to parchment lined baking sheets with plenty of room to rise. Cover again with a damp towel for 40 minutes in a warm place to rise.

5. Remove towels and bake at 350 degrees F for 25-30 minutes, tap the bottoms of the loaves it should make a hollow sound. 

Serve this bread warm with any meal.

Flour Tortillas

Making you're own tortillas at home is not as complicated as you may think. Now when I say "very warm water" I mean as warm as your hands can handle safely without burning yourself. Using bacon grease will give your tortillas a better flavor then using just shortening or just lard etc. still tasty is a website that shows different foods shelf life. I use it for everything because I like to make extra food for leftovers and for last minute meals from the freezer.

Makes about 28 5in tortillas

Ingredients:

5 cups all purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon bacon grease

1 tablespoon lard or shortening

1 1/2 cups very warm water

Directions:

1. Stir flour, baking powder and salt. Cut in grease and lard once it is completely combined add in water a little at a time, mixing with your hands, once dough is combined knead on a floured surface until dough is elastic. Spray the same bowl with a nonstick spray and spray the top of the dough, place a clean towel on top and rest for 15 minutes.

2. Divide the dough into halves and then into 28 golf size balls, pat down and keep them on a floured surface with a damp towel to keep the dough from drying out while rolling out the dough. Roll the dough balls with a rolling pin to desired thickness and size, I like mine about 5 inches in diameter.

3. Heat a skillet to medium-high heat and cook tortillas until bubbles start to form, then flip the tortilla and cook, pressing down on the bubbles. They are done when brown spots are on both sides, wrap them in a clean towel to keep them warm.

Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator or freezer for longer shelf life.

BBQ Chicken Pizza- on the Grill

Sure you can use store bought cooked chicken but it is much more flavorful using my Spice Blend.

 

Ingredients:
1 boneless skinless chicken breast
1 teaspoon of Rebecca's 8 Spice Blend
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup honey BBQ sauce
1/2 cup of Monterrey jack cheese
1/2 cup mozzarella cheese, mix cheeses together
1/2 onion, sliced
1/4 cups Perfect Pizza Sauce
1 prepared Pizza Dough- Yeast Free rolled out and uncooked

Garlic Oil:
1/4 cup vegetable oil
2 big cloves of garlic, minced.

Preparing Garlic oil: Heat oil in a small pot, add in garlic and cook until fragrant, it does not take long. Remove from heat and it's ready.

Directions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
1. Season chicken with salt and spice, bake for 30 minutes, until meat is no longer pink. Cut into bite-sized cubes and toss in BBQ sauce.

2. Heat up your grill and brush grill grate with garlic oil and lay the pizza dough on the grill, then brush the dough with garlic oil. Cover the grill and let it cook for a couple minutes, keep checking on it, once it gets crispy and golden brown on the bottom side, turn it over and then add the toppings; sauce first, cheese, onions, then chicken. Close grill lid and cook until cheese is melted and crust is golden brown on the bottom slide the pizza off the grill and eat while its hot!

**Most kids do not like onions so just leave them out for kids.**

Pizza Dough- Yeast Free

Here is my basic yeast free pizza dough, great for grilling. The BBQ makes the pizza crust taste 10 times better, giving it a smokey flavor and a great crispy texture. Use this for BBQ Chicken Pizza- on the Grill.

What kind of toppings do you put on your pizza?

 Makes enough dough for 2 pizzas

Ingredients:

3 cups all purpose flour

4 tablespoon olive oil

1 cup water

2 tablespoons baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon sugar

1/4 teaspoon oregano

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

Directions:

1. Mix together all the ingredients except for olive oil and water, once they are combined add in the oil and water.

2. Using a wooden spoon stir until the flour is completely dissolved. (The dough should be a little sticky.)

3. Turn dough onto a well floured surface, knead with floured hands until it is elastic and no longer sticky.

4. Roll dough into a ball, cut in half and roll both out into whatever shape you desire for your pizzas.

5. I suggest making this pizza dough on a outdoor grill, grease the grill grate with garlic oil and lay dough over the grill brush the dough with garlic oil and watch closely, it cooks pretty fast. Then turn it over and then top your pizza with sauce and any other toppings you enjoy!

 I placed the dough on wax paper to prevent the two from sticking.

**This dough stores well in the refrigerator or in the freezer, keep it in a ball and wrap it tightly with greased plastic wrap to store.**

Sweet Sausage n' Cheese Kolaches aka Pigs in a Blanket

 Kolaches are definitely a staple in Texas doughnut shops, there are so many varieties of these sweet bread snacks. They can also be frozen* for a quick snack or breakfast.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup milk
3/4 cup sugar
1 1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup unsalted
1/2 cup warm water
2 packages of yeast
2 eggs beaten
5 cups all purpose flour
1 package cocktail weenies (any variety, I use cheese filled)
1 cup cheddar cheese, grated
1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, set aside.

1. Heat milk, sugar, salt, and butter until sugar and salt is dissolved. Set aside to cool till lukewarm.

2. In a small bowl mix warm water and yeast until well combined, cover with a towel and let rest for 5 minutes.

3. In a large bowl combine milk mixture with yeast and water mix, to that add in beaten eggs and whisk till smooth; add flour in 3 additions mixing well after each addition. Turn dough out onto a floured surface.

4. Knead dough until it is no longer sticky and is elastic. Transfer to a greased bowl, cover with plastic wrap. Let rest in a warm place until dough has doubled in size (about 1 hour).

5. Divide dough into 32 balls, roll out into circles about 3-4 inches in diameter.

6. Place a pinch of cheese in the center of each dough circle, then 1 sausage. Fold like a burrito.

7. Transfer to kolaches to the parchment lined baking sheet, brush the tops with melted butter and bake for 5 minutes, brush the kolaches with butter again and return to baking for 5 more minutes they should be a golden brown, let them cool for 10 minutes.

Cheese. Sausage.

Fold.

Roll.

Cool.

EAT!

*Freezing Instructions: Once cooled, wrap kolaches individually in plastic wrap. Freeze in a freezer ziplock bag for up to 3 months. Great for a quick snack or breakfast, just unwrap and microwave for about 2 minutes a kolache.*

Garlic Bread

The best garlic bread ever!

Ingredients: 

1 loaf of soft French or Italian bread, sliced length-wise and spread open

1/2 cup Smart balance spread softened

1 head of garlic, with the base cut off

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 tablespoon fresh parsley, finely chopped

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

1/4 teaspoon paprika

pinch of salt

Directions:

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.

1. Place garlic on a piece of aluminum foil large enough to wrap; pour olive oil over garlic, sprinkle with a pinch of salt and wrap tightly upwards. Put on a baking sheet and roast for 25 minutes, let it cool. You know it's done when the garlic is soft

2. To a medium-sized bowl squeeze garlic to release cloves; mash them until rather smooth. Combine with all other ingredients until well blended. Spread the mixture on both halves, transfer to a baking sheet and broil for 3-4 minutes, leave the oven door partially open.

3. Slice and enjoy!

Pepperoni Bread

A perfect party food, or after school snack. Something that adults and kids can both enjoy!

Ingredients:

Easy pizza dough

1 1/4 cups warm water (105-115)

 1 package active dry yeast

1 teaspoon sugar

2 teaspoons olive oil, vegetable oil is fine also

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

3 to 3 1/4 cups all purpose flour

Filling

1 teaspoon dried basil

2 tablespoons melted butter

1/4 teaspoon dried oregano

1/2 teaspoon dried parsley

1 package sliced pepperoni

1 1/2-2 cups grated mozzarella cheese

Directions:

1. In a medium sized bowl add water and sprinkle yeast on top, once it starts to dissolve add the sugar and whisk to combine. Let rest for 5 minutes.

2. Mix in salt and add 2 cups of flour, stir vigorously with a wooden spoon until flour dissolves. Add the rest of the flour 1/2 cup at a time stirring well after each time until dough is firm and no longer sticky. Then move dough onto a floured surface.

3. Sprinkle hands with flour and knead the dough for about 4 minutes until fluffy and springy.

Place dough in a oiled large- size bowl turning to oil all sides of dough, cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let rest in a warm place until dough has doubled in size; about 1 hour.

Punch down dough several times to let out air and move to a floured surface and knead for 1 minute.

4. Combine butter and seasonings. Brush on dough, some to brush on top later.

    Preheat oven to 400 degrees F

5. Roll the dough into a large rectangle, brush with butter mixture and arrange pepperoni's to cover the entire dough surface leaving a 1 inch border then sprinkle cheese evenly leaving the same border. beginning with a long end, roll up the dough like a jelly roll. tuck each side under and move roll seam side down to a non-stick sprayed baking sheet. Cover it with oiled plastic wrap, let dough rest for another 15 minutes in a warm place.

6. Remove plastic wrap brush the remaining butter mixture on top, bake for about 35 minutes until it is golden brown.

7. Slide onto a wire rack let cool for 15 minutes and cute into thick slices, serve warm with warm marinara sauce.