Wheat Buttermilk Bread

A few weeks ago, a friend at church shared a loaf of bread with us. It was AMAZING and I need to get that recipe, but then I saw this recipe on one of my favorite blogs and it looked very similar to what we had. I knew I had to try it until I could get my hands on the other one!

Wheat Buttermilk Bread-shared from Finding Joy in My Kitchen
1 1/4 cups buttermilk
1 tbsp butter, softened
1/4 cup honey
1 1/2 tsp salt
1/4 cup dry milk
3 cups flour(I used 2 cups wheat, 1 cup white)
4 tsp vital wheat gluten
2 1/4 tsp yeast

Place ingredients in bread maker according to manufacturer's directions. Press dough setting and allow to work through cycle. Check dough to make sure its the right consistency, I added more flour to mine as it was really wet.

One dough is done, shape into a loaf shape. Place into a greased loaf pan, cover, and let rise for 1 hr. Bake at 325 for 30-40 mins until bread is lightly browned and sounds hollow. Remove from pan and allow to cool almost completely before slicing.

**I wasn't so sure that this would rise well because the first rise didn't look like it usually does, but after the second rise it looked fine, not as high as the original did. It tastes delicious and I love the texture of the bread, its nice and soft. It made EXCELLENT grilled cheese!

Naan Bread

I've had this list on my tasty Tuesday list for a while now and I FINALLY got to make them! They were pretty easy to make and the boys loved helping me! Cooking them was easy considering I used my George Foreman Grill!

I did adapt this to using my bread machine for the dough, but its not necessary!

Naan Bread-adapted from Let's Dish
1 cup warm water
1/4 cup sugar
3 tbsp milk
1 egg, beaten
2 tsp salt
3 1/2 cups bread flour(I used 2 cups ww, 1.5 ap +4 tsp vital wheat gluten)*
Topping:
1/4 cup butter, melted
1 tsp garlic salt

Add ingredients to bread machine as recommended by manufacturer. Start on dough cycle and once it beeps remove dough. *Check dough to make sure its not to dry or wet, you may need more or less flour. Divide dough into 18 or so equal pieces and roll into a ball. Place on cookie sheet and cover with a towel. Allow to rise for an hour until doubled. Mix together butter and garlic salt. Roll dough out into circles. Place on pre-heated george foreman grill. Brush with butter/garlic. Cook for 2-3 mins until puffed and brown, flip and brush top with more butter. Cook for another 2-3 mins(with the grill closed).

**This made delicious bread that we ate along with some chicken tikka masala. The boys gobbled them right up as well!

Homemade Soft Pretzel Bites

We had plans to meet up with friends today, but of course the weather discouraged us from doing it. So instead we made some pretzel bites.

We also had a science experiment, in the recipe it states to add the baking soda into the boiling water and guess what happens? EXPLOSION of water EVERY.WHERE. So when you add the baking soda please please please add in slowly.

*I apologize for the blurry picture...I have finally figure out what is wrong with the camera!

Homemade Soft Pretzel Bites-adapted from Two Peas in Their Pod
1 1/2 cups warm water
6 tbsp butter, melted
2 tbsp light brown sugar
2 1/2 tsp kosher salt
2 1/4 tsp yeast
2 cups whole wheat flour
2 cups ap flour(up to another half cup)

Other ingredients:
3/4 cup baking soda
1 egg, beaten+1 tbsp water
kosher salt
cinnamon and sugar(optional)

Place ingredients in bread machine according to manufacturer's directions. Set to dough and let the cycle run through. Check the dough to make sure its not to wet or sticky, if it is add in more flour.

Once dough is done, remove from pan.

Preheat oven to 425 and place a large pot of water on stove and bring to a boil.

Divide dough into 8 equal pieces. Roll into long ropes. Cut into pieces.

Once water is boiling, SLOWLY add in 3/4 cup baking soda.

Place about 15 pieces of dough into boiling water and boil for 30 secs. Remove with a slotted spoon onto a cookie sheet. Brush with egg wash and sprinkle with salt or cinnamon and sugar and place in the oven. Bake for 10-15 mins until golden brown.

**A requested cinnamon and sugar ones, so I'll be melting some butter and rolling them in cinnamon and sugar. I didn't see on the original recipe where they said to do that after the egg wash. That would have been easier! Good thing I thought of it after!

These were soft on the inside and chewy on the outside. My first batch I think I cooked a little too long, but they still tasted wonderful! The boys had fun rolling the dough out.

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!

Lasagna Soup and Pizza Hut Bread Sticks

I can't remember where I got this recipe from...I think it was one of the magazines I get. It intrigued me as I never thought to make soup out of lasagna and it was completely worth it! I make it in the crock pot but you can also do it on the stove!

Lasagna Soup
1 lb Italian sausage, crumbled(or sliced) cooked, drained
8 oz-1 lb pasta(I used shells, but any will do)
1 28 oz can crushed tomatoes
2 bay leaves
1 onion, chopped
2-3 garlic cloves, minced
1 container cottage cheese
2 tbsp tomato paste
pinch of red pepper flakes
1-2 tsp dried oregano
1-2 tsp dried basil
6 cups broth

Place all ingredients in slow cooker except cheese and pasta. Cook on low for 6 hrs. Cook pasta in another pot until tender. Stir cheese and pasta into soup and serve.

**We love this soup, although this time I forgot the cottage cheese. But it was still pretty tasty!

Pizza Hut Style Bread Sticks-shared from food.com
1 1/3 cups warm water
3 tbsp olive oil
4 cups flour(3 ap, 1 ww)
1 tsp salt
2 tsp oregano
3 tbsp powdered milk
2 tsp yeast

Place ingredients in bread maker according to manufacter's directions. Set on dough setting and wait!

In the mean time make topping:
2 tbsp parmesan cheese
1 tbsp garlic salt*
1 tbsp garlic powder
1 tbsp onion powder
1 tbsp oregano
olive oil

Combine all ingredients except olive oil in bowl and stir until well combined. Set aside. *I didn't have garlic salt, so I added in more garlic powder and 1 tsp salt.

Once dough is done, remove from bread machine and place on a lightly floured surface and roll into a rectangle that is 1/2-3/4 inch thick.  With pizza cutter cut dough into 1X4 inch strips. Place on greased cookie sheets(I did use my non-stick pans). Brush bread with olive oil and sprinkle with topping. Let rise for 20 mins or until doubled. Place in 350 degree oven for 10-12 mins or until golden.(Make sure you watch these as the topping browns quickly)

**We can't say that these tasted just like pizza hut, but I think the fact that they aren't dripping in fat is the reason. These were the best bread stick recipe we have tried thus far. They were fluffy and airy. The outside had a bit of a bite and the topping was great.

Pumpkin Spice Bagels

I am continuing my love for pumpkin right now...A asked for bagels and this was on my list this week so I went ahead and made them. They are very easy considering they use your bread machine, but I'm sure you could easily make them using a stand mixer.

Pumpkin Spice Bagels-shared from Apples to Zucchini
2/3 cup warm water
1/2 cup pumpkin puree
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
3/4 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp allspice
1/2 tsp cloves
3 cup bread flour*
2 1/4 tsp yeast

*I used 2 cups whole wheat flour, 1 cup ap flour, and 4 tsp vital wheat gluten.

Combine ingredients in bread maker according to man. recommendations. Start dough cycle.

About 15 mins before the cycle ends, place a large pot of water on the stove and bring to a boil.

Once cycle is complete, turn dough onto lightly floured surface. Shape dough into 9 balls. Flatten slightly and push a hole into the middle. Stretch dough out to make about a 1 inch hole. Lay on cookie sheet, cover and let rise for 10 mins. Preheat oven at 400 degrees.

Place 2-3 bagels into boiling water and boil for about 45 secs, flip and boil for 45 secs more. Place on greased cookie sheet. Place in oven for 15-20 mins until golden brown.

**A wasn't a fan of these...even though I called them orange bagels. If I called them pumpkin, I knew he wouldn't eat it. Q on the other hand loved one and ate almost a whole one. Then half of mind for breakfast...I loved the flavor. I did freeze the batch this time as I remember last time they went bad before we finished them. Now we have fresh homemade bagel whenever we like! I think these would taste fabulous with the creamy apple tortilla cream cheese.

Honey Wheat Rolls

This is a simple recipe that requires a bread machine, but you can also adapt it to your stand mixer or by hand. I have used this recipe a few times before and they have always come out great!

Honey Wheat Rolls from Allrecipes.com
1 1/4 cups warm milk
2 tbsp butter, softened
1/4 cup honey
1 egg, beaten
3/4 tsp salt
3 cups whole wheat flour
3/4 cup flour
1 1/4 tsp yeast

Place ingredients in the order listed into the bread machine pan. Make a well for the yeast, in the flour, before adding it. Turn machine on and press dough button. Let it work its "magic". Check the dough a few minutes to make sure it is the right consistency. You will want it to be smooth and elastic, if it seems to wet, add in more flour until the dough forms. If its too dry, add in 1 tbsp of water until consistency is reached.

Once dough cycle is done, take dough out of pan and place on a lightly floured surface. Roll dough out so it 3/4 of an inch thick. Cut dough using a 3-4 inch biscuit cutter and place on cookie sheet. Cover and let rise for 1 hr or until doubled. Bake in 350 degree oven for 10-15 mins until golden brown.

*You can also shape these into grinder/hoagie/hero rolls or hot dog rolls. The first picture are my MONSTER rolls, the dough was a bit thicker as I wanted to see what would happen. They will work well for the sailor sandwiches later this week!