gifts of homemade bread

Recently I was given copious amounts of homemade bread, including a savory homemade bread.  Well i ran out of room in the freezer for all the bread and didn't want it to go bad, so i decided to modify english muffin pizza into my homemade bread pizza!

Homemade Bread Pizza

(makes 2 servings)

6-8 slices of home made bread, approx 1/2 to 1 inch thick

3-5 tbsp of your favorite tomato sauce (i <3>

1 tsp, divided, garlic powder

1 tsp, divided, oregano or basil (dried works when the fresh stuff isn't)

1/4 cup mozzarella.

Preheat oven to 375F.  Arranged bread slices on a baking sheet.  Spread about 1/2 tbsp of marinara sauce on each slice.  Evenly sprinkle each slice with cheese.  Sprinkle garlic powder and the oregano or basil.  

Bake at 375F for 8-12 minutes until doneness.  

Quick Breakfast Muffins

I have a very busy day with work, yes work on a Sunday.  Oh well, at least it will be a fun day at work.  Anyway, I didn't want the usual pbj sandwich, toaster waffles, or ceral... I wanted muffins!

So i decided to make whole grain chocolate chip waffles which ended up being very very filling.  I barely managed to eat two.

Whole Grain Chocolate Chip Waffles

(makes 6, easy to double or triple for more)

1 cup water

2 tbsp safflower oil

1 egg (or egg replacer)

1/4 cup whole wheat flour

1/4 cup unbleached white flour

1/4 corn meal

1/4 wheat germ, almond flour, oats, barley flakes, etc. (I used wheat germ today)

3 tbsp agave nectar (or 1/3 cup granulated sugar)

2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp ground ginger

1/4 cup chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 400F and spray muffin pan with nonstick cooking spray.  

Whisk the water, oil, and egg together until blended well.

Add all of the next ingredients except for the chocolate chips.  You may need to add a little bit more water depending on humidity.  Stir everything together until blended with some lumps.  Add the chocolate chips.  

Fill muffin cups about 2/3 full.  Bake at 400F for 20-25 minutes depending on your oven.

Serve warm while the chocolate chips are still gooey.

Cold Rainy Day Lunch

Its cold, its rainy, and its grey.  Looks more like Fall then Spring, feels like it too.  

I made a hold over from my preschool days...yes, i went unbelievably retro with lunch today...  

Hot Dogs and Beans.  

Its one of those super simple meals:

1 can of baked beans (i prefer maple cured)

4 hot dogs (2 per person)

2 tbsp ketchup

1 tbsp molasses 

Cook the hot dogs in the microwave.  While they are cooking mix the beans, ketchup and molasses in a small pot over low.  Simmer, stirring often.  Add the hot dogs sliced in to small slices.  Simmer for an additional 5 minutes or until the beans are thouroughly heated.  SERVE!  Thats it, warm comfort foods on a cold dreary day.

For Loki

This post is for Loki whom requested the following:

Homemade Croutons

1-2 loaves french bread (I use Trader Joe's bake at home loaves as well as homemade ones)

2 tbsp olive oil

1 tbsp powdered Ranch 

or

2 tsp garlic powder

1 tbsp italian seasoning herb blend

Preheat the oven to 325F.

Cut the bread into cubes and put in a small-medium bowl.  Sprinkle the olive oil and the seasonings over the bread and toss to coat as evenly as possible.

Spread the croutons on a baking sheet evenly.  Bake at 325F for about 5-10 minutes depending on your oven and perfered donesness.  

I like mine crunchy on the outside yet soft inside, so usually i turn my oven off after 5 minutes and let them continue to cook in the oven for another 3-5 minutes before removing.  

enjoy!

Slow Roasted Tomato Bruschetta

I seem to have an abundance of cherry tomatoes this week.  I definitely slow roasted far more then i needed but they will taste great on basically everything I make the rest of the week.  I didn't keep track of any of the amounts so they will be estimated and you can adjust the amounts as needed.  I used the same roasted tomatoes as I used here.

Ingredients

Slow Roasted Tomatoes

1-2 tbsp Olive Oil

1 tsp oregano

1/2 tbsp Feta chesse

1/2 tbsp montery jack/cheddar cheese blend

French Bread Loaf, cut into thin slices (1/4-1/2 inch thick)

Preheat oven to 350F.  

Line the french bread slices on a pan.  Combine the olive oil and the oregano and sprinkle over each slice.  Evenly split the feta between the slices.  Top with 2-3 slices of roasted tomoatoes.  Sprinkle with the remaining cheese blend.

Bake at a 350F for 8-10 minutes until the cheese is melted and lightly crisp.  

A very simple dish to make once you have the slow roasted tomatoes already done.

untraditional caesar salad

I love salads, esp. casear salads.  Which is funny b/c i can't stand anchovies.  But the vegitarian recipes lack something, flavor or intensity, i'm not sure which.  I made this tonight and it honors an amazing grilled lettuce casear salad i've had at a semi-local organic restaruant.  This recipe is truley untraditional in that i use healthier greens then romaine lettuce (which is great if your dehydrated, not so much if your looking for a vitamin rich food) and spinach, feta cheese, and zero anchovies and no fake vegitarian subsititues for it.

Untraditional Caesar Salad

Dressing:

1 tbsp olive oil

2 gloves garlic, mashed

1 tbsp lemon juice

1 tbsp red wine vinegar

1 tbsp water

1/4 tsp dijion mustard

1/4  tsp black pepper

1 tbsp feta

1 tbsp parmesean cheese

Salad

1 handfull of your favorite salad mix 

1/2 handful of spinach

3-4 scallions (green onions), chopped

1 cup favorite croutons

1. In a small sauce pan, heat the oil and garlic over medium heat, saute for about 5 minutes.

2. In another bowl, combine the lemon juice, vinegar, water, dijion, and black pepper.  Add to the garlic mixture.

3.  Heat over medium, stirring constantly, for about 1 minute or until the mixture starts to bubble.  Remove from the heat and allow to cool for about 5 minutes or if prefered, completly cool.

4.  Add the cheeses to the dressing and stir to combine.  Combine all the salad ingredients and toss with the dressing.

IF you want to make your own croutons, which by the way is VERY VERY easy, double the dressing ingredients and before tossing with the cheese, drizzle over cubbed french bread (or other day old bread) and broil for 5 minutes.

By the way, a warm untraditional caesar dressing tastes fabulous in the winter.

multi grain bread

This bread rocks! I've been making it for a few years. On occasion i might add some other flours i might have in the hours. Makes some of the best pb&j sandwiches ever. And lunch sandwiches. Its super dense, the only thing it doesn't work well for is french bread. Its too moist.

4 grain Poppyseed & Flaxseed Wheat Bread

Ingredients
1.5 tbsp cornmeal
1 tbsp flaxseed
2 tbsp wheat germ
2 tbsp wheat bran
2 tbsp rolled oats
1 tbsp quinoa flour
1 cup white flour
3/4 cup wheat flour
1 tbsp sugar
1 tsp salt
1 tsp poppyseed
2 package active dry yeast
1 cup warm water (110-115 degrees)

Directions
1. In a small bowl combine yeast, sugar, and warm water. Let proof (about 10 minutes).
2. In a food processor (or blender) combine all dry ingredients, leaving about 1/4 cup of white flour for kneading. Pulse to combine.
3. Place flour mixture in a medium bowl. Add yeast mixture. Mix until smooth.
4. Turn out on a floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic. (6-8 minutes)
5. Place in a greased bowl, cover with a very lightly damp towel, and let rise to double its size.
6. Punch dough down. Fold over and and transfer to a greased 8inchx4inch loaf pan. Re-shape to match loaf pan.
7. Cover and let rise (15minutes or to double its size).
8. Bake at 350F for 35-40 minutes.
Makes 8 1-inch slices.

Number of Servings: 8