Tasty Tuesday-12/7

White Chocolate Brownies-Eat at Home
Eggnog Bread-Mommy's Kitchen
Peppermint Meltaways-What Megan's Making
Olive Garden Chicken and Gnocci Soup-Brenda's Canadian Kitchen
Peppermint Truffle Brownies-Let's Dish
Peanut Butter Dough Balls-What Megan's Making
Slow Cooker Candy-apples to zucchini

Menu Plan Monday

Seen as I never posted a menu for last week, I will share with you some things we did have. After cooking for Thanksgiving, having a 4th bday party, and we ALL got sick, just the thought of food wasn't boding well, so I cooked with what I had!

-Peanut Butter Banana Chocolate Chip Bread
-Rootbeer BBQ Beef
-Orange Chicken with broccoli and brown rice
-Blueberry Pancakes

This week we will be enjoying:
-BBQ Beef Burritos
-Chicken Parmesan
-Pizza Rolls
-Thai Chicken Noodle Soup
-Baked Potato Soup
-Apple Cheddar Monte Cristos

Baking:
-Eggnog Bread
-Peppermint melts...or Peppermint sandwich cookies for a cookie swap on saturday

I think that's about all of it! I do need to work on my baking/candy making list. I started it tonight and got one thing written down.

Maple Oat Bread with Cinnamon Swirl

I have been wanting to make this bread for a while now and definitely make it into french toast! This worked out perfectly for both!

I did cut down on the brown sugar after reading it was a very sweet bread especially if you are going to use it in french toast!

Maple Oat Bread with Cinnamon Swirl-adapted from The Happy Housewife
1 cup plus 2 tbsp lukewarm water
2 1/2 tsp yeast
2 tbsp pure maple syrup
4 tbsp softened butter
1 1/2 cups rolled oats, ground
3/4 cup whole wheat flour
1 tsp apple or orange juice
1 tsp gluten
2 cups ap flour
1 tbsp brown sugar
1 1/4 tsp salt

Swirl ingredients:
4 tbsp butter
1/3 cup brown sugar
cinnamon

Combine all the bread dough ingredients and mix/knead until a soft dough forms. Place in a warm place and let rise for one hour or until doubled.

Place dough on lightly floured surface and roll out as thin as possible. Melt the butter and combine with the sugar. Spread over the dough. Sprinkle with cinnamon. Roll up like a cinnamon roll, making sure ends are tucked in and ends are folded in. Place seam side down in loaf pan. Let dough rise for 1 1/2 hours until doubled.

Place in 350 degree oven for 30-40 mins. Tent with foil after 20 mins. Slice and serve warm.

**Now my loaves look small as I couldn't figure out from the recipe if it made one or two loaves. I think it only makes one as these are pretty small and the sugar mix didn't cover both loaves. This was excellent bread and made fantastic french toast!

Apple Sausage Cheddar Balls

We used to make these growing up, but I haven't had them in a long time. Mostly because they are not the healthiest item to make. BUT I saw this recipe so it bumps the nutrition up a bit and I used whole wheat flour. I also doubled the "dough" ingredients so it stretched a little farther.

Apple Sausage Cheddar Balls-adapted from Cooking During Stolen Moments
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 lb bulk sausage(I only used 12 oz)
2 cups shredded cheese
1/4 cup maple syrup
2 apples, shredded
1/4 tsp allspice

Mix all ingredients together. Form into balls and place on cookie sheet. Bake at 375 for 15-20 mins.

**Q tried a couple bites, but his appetite has been lacking a bit since he was sick over the weekend. I ate these and thought they were fabulous. You couldn't really taste the apple, but the sweetness was there and it off set the saltiness of the pork and cheese! Definitely a keeper!

Sweet Potato Pancakes

 I had some extra sweet potato puree left over so I decided to give these a try. I made it special treat by adding in mini chocolate chips. A had been begging to eat them so I finally gave in!

Sweet Potato Pancakes-shared from Lick the Bowl Good
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour, sifted
3 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
2 eggs, beaten
1 1/2 cups milk
2 tsp vanilla
1/4 cup applesauce(or butter melted)
1 cup cooked sweet potato, mashed
2 tbsp brown sugar
1 tbsp sugar
1/2 cup chopped pecans(omitted)

Whisk together all ingredients until well combined. Place on hot griddle and cook until edges are firm. Flip. *If you are adding in chocolate chips sprinkle on top before you flip them.

**These were pretty tasty, but K informed me he likes the pumpkin ones I make better. I think it has to do with the vinegar in that recipe as it makes it lighter and fluffier(like buttermilk would)

Beef Stew

This is a family favorite of ours! It is easy as it uses the crock pot, one of my favorite appliances!

Beef Stew- from Big Y
1 lb stew meat
1 qt beef stock
1 pkg baby carrots
2-3 potatoes, chopped
1 onion, chopped
1 14 oz can diced tomatoes
2 bay leaves
2 tsp minced garlic
2 tbsp cornstarch
2 tbsp water

Place all ingredients in slow cooker except water and corn starch. Stir to combine and set to low for 6-8 hrs(or until veggies and meat are tender) One hour before serving, combine cornstarch and water until smooth, stir into stew and set slow cooker on high for one hour. This should help thicken the stew. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

**This is a great fall or winter very filling dish! Its a great crowd pleaser!

Cranberry Orange Bagels

I like to have things in my freezer that can be easily grabbed in the morning...I'm not much of a morning person and add 2 kids in(one who moves like molasses) and I'm frantically scrambling for the door to get to where we need to go. I already have part of a batch of Pumpkin Bagels in there so I wanted to try these next.

I'm loving making my own bagels...really!

Cranberry Orange Bagels-shared from Apples to Zucchini
1 cup plus 2 tbsp warm water
1/2 cup dried or fresh cranberries(chop the fresh ones)
1/3 cup brown sugar
zest of one orange(2-3 tsp)
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ground cloves
3 cups flour(1 cup ww, 2 cup ap)
2 1/4 tsp yeast

Combine ingredients in bread machine according to manufacturer's directions. Start dough cycle. Check after 5 mins to make sure its not to soft(which is what happened to me and I wasn't here to check it, add more flour 1 tbsp at a time, or if its to dry add 1 tbsp of water at a time until desired consistency is reached). About 15 mins before cycle is done, place a large pot of water on stove and bring to a boil.

Once dough cycle is done, remove dough and place on lightly floured surface. Divide into 8-9 equal pieces. Roll into balls and flatten slightly. Break hole in the center and give it a twirl to form bagel shape. Place on cookie sheet and let rise for 10 mins.

Place bagels in water 2-3 at a time(depending on how big your pot is) and let boil for 45 secs, flip and boil for 45 seconds more. Remove with slotted spoon and drain.

Bake for 18-22 mins or until golden brown.

**These were very good! Chewy on the inside, crispy on the outside! As previously mentioned I wasn't here to watch the dough, normally I am and always will be. But if you find you come home and the dough is too soft, then let it finish the cycle. Once its done place dough on a heavily floured surface and lightly knead in extra flour until a stiffer dough forms. I saved the bagels whew...I hate waisting food!