Pepperoni & Cheese Bread

This was delicious. Derek ate almost the entire loaf himself!

Italian/French bread
pepperoni
parsley
spreadable butter or margarine
mozzarella cheese
parsley

Slice the bread (but don't go all the way through)
spread butter/margarine on both sides of each slice
put pepperoni on each slice
top with mozzarella
sprinkle with parsley

Bake at 350 degrees for about 15 to 20 minutes or until cheese is melted.

(Next time, I think I may heat up some marinara sauce to dip the bread into)

Beer Bread

It is snowy and cold out so two loaves of beer bread sounded comforting. This is really easy. So yummy warm with butter. (We brought it to a friends' house and it was a hit all around!)

(This makes ONE loaf....)
3 cups all purpose flour
1/4 c sugar
1 tsp salt
3 tsp baking powder
1 can beer
2 tbl melted butter

Mix flour, sugar, salt & baking powder. Add beer and butter. Mix until just moistened. It will be lumpy.

Bake at 375 degrees for 40 minutes in a greased 8 X 4 loaf pan. Cool completely. Slice and serve. (Delicious with cheese and sausage too.)

French Bread

I LOVE homemade bread. This recipe sounded too easy to NOT try it, right? I didn't know it was this simple. I have all of these ingredients on hand all the time. Oh carbs, I love you. How can people go carb-less? It's just not right... Ellie enjoyed learning how to knead, turn, punch down and shape dough. And I heard that kneading bread dough is a decent workout for your arms.

2 tbsp active dry yeast
2 c warm water (110 to 115 degrees)
2 tsp salt
1 tsp sugar
4 1/2 to 5 c bread flour (we used all purpose instead AND about 1 c of whole wheat)
1 tsp cornmeal
(I also added a squirt of honey)

In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Add the salt, sugar, and 2 cups flour. Beat until smooth. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough.

Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease the top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled (about 1 hour)

Punch dough down. Turn onto a lightly floured surface. Divide in half. Shape into 12 inch long loaves.

Place seam side down on a greased baking sheet. Cover and let rise until doubled (about 30 minutes). Sprinkle with cornmeal. With sharp knife, make four shallow slashes across the top of each loaf. Bake at 450 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes or until golden brown.

Ham and Cheese Stromboli

I was going through my cookbooks, looking for something simple to make this week and also something post worthy. I've never made a Stromboli before. Yum-O! And REALLY easy.

1 tube refrigerated crusty French bread loaf
2 c shredded cheese (we used cheddar)
1/4 lb. thin sliced ham (we actually used cubed instead)
1 tbls butter, melted
1 tbls grated Parmesan cheese (I was out and used shredded Parmesan instead)

Spread dough out and roll to size of jelly roll pan. (I wasn't able to roll it quite that big, but did my best.) Sprinkle with cheese and add ham. Roll up tightly. Pinch seam together. Place seam side down. Brush with melted butter and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. (I also sprinkled with some garlic salt too.) Bake at 350 degrees for approximately 45 minutes or until it rises and is golden and dough is done inside. Slice.

Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

I've always failed at quick breads. This is the first recipe I've managed not to ruin. Really easy, really good. It will be a nice, quick breakfast for Peyton to "eat and run" while on her way to the bus stop for summer school.

1 1/4 c flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 + 1/8 tsp salt
1/2 + 1/8 c sugar
1/4 c oil (I use canola)
1 large egg
2 large bananas, mashed
1/2 c chocolate chips (I use milk)

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Grease (2) 6 X 3 X 2 loaf pans. In large mixer bowl, beat sugar, oil, and egg. Add bananas. Beat in dry ingredients until just blended. Stir in chocolate chips gently. Pour into loaf pans. Bake for 45-50 minutes. Cool 10 minutes.

Monkey Bread

My mother in law makes this for all Holidays. The first time I had it, I was hooked. I've heard of people making it with refrigerator biscuits, but my mother in law uses frozen bread dough.

1 loaf frozen bread dough (like Rhodes), thawed (I usually put loaf in fridge the night before)
2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 c brown sugar
1/2 c white sugar
1/2 c butter or margarine, melted
(I've heard of people adding coconut and/or chopped nuts)

cut dough into approximately 24 pieces (smaller = better)
combine sugars & cinnamon
coat dough pieces with butter and roll in sugar mixture
place in well-greased bundt pan
cover and let rise in warm place until light or doubled in size (1.5 to 2 hours)

Bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes
Cool 1 to 2 minutes, loosen edges and carefully invert onto serving plate

(*Note: Bread may be baked in 2 bread loaf pans or tube pan with solid bottom Also, plan ahead for this one b/c of rising time)

Egg Bread

My friend H made this last week for a lunch get together. It was VERY good. So, I asked her how easy it was to which she responded "very". So, here it goes.

4.75 to 5.25 cups all purpose flour
1 package active dry yeast
1 1/3 c milk
3 Tbls. sugar
3 Tbls. butter
1/2 tsp. salt
2 eggs

1) In large bowl, add 2 c flour and yeast packet; set aside. In saucepan, heat and stir milk, sugar, butter, and salt until warm and butter almost melts. Add milk mixture to flour mixture along with the eggs. Beat with an electric mixer on low for 30 seconds. Beat on high speed for 3 minutes. With wooden spoon, stir in as much of the remaining flour as you can.

2) Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Knead in enough of the remaining flour to make a moderately stiff dough that is smooth and elastic. Shape into a ball and place in a lightly greased bowl, turning once to grease surface of the dough. Cover and let rise in a warm place till double in size (about 1 hour).

3) Punch dough down. Turn dough onto a lightly floured surface. Divide in half. Cover and let rest for 10 minutes while lightly greasing two 8 X 4 X 2 inch loaf pans.

4) Shape each portion of dough into a loaf. Place in prepared pans. Cover and let rise in a warm place till nearly double. (about 30 minutes)

5) Bake in a 375 oven for 25 to 30 minutes or till bread sounds hollow when tapped. Remove bread from pans and cool on wire racks.

(Note: for planning purposes, this takes a total of about 2 1/2 hours start to finish)