Tomato Garlic & Herb Bread

I've been on a little bit of a bread kick lately.  For years I could NEVER make a decent loaf of bread, or rolls, or anything using dough!  But then a couple years ago my mom came over and SHOWED me every little step.  So now I'm getting a little daring, and have been experimenting and tweaking my recipe a little.  This is the latest........Tomato Garlic & Herb.  I had some leftover sun dried tomatoes from a pasta that I made, so I chopped them up and put them into the dough.  It was so good, especially toasted with laughing cow cheese spread on it, or on a turkey sandwich!  My little girl, Macie, ate about 1/3 of a loaf while it was warm.  While I was trying to get a picture of it she kept stealing little bites, then she stole the whole slice, haha.  That's why I added the pictures......I thought it was funny. 

When I did it, I halved my usual bread recipe, so it made 2 loaves instead of 4.  If yours makes 4, I would probably double these ingredients. 

Favorite bread recipe
1/2 cup hopped sun dried tomatoes (you can get these in the bulk bins at Winco for way cheap)
1 tsp garlic powder
1 Tbs Italian seasoning (or you could do whatever herbs you like)
1 egg (for egg washing the crust)

Make your dough, and add the the tomatoes and spices for about the last 2 or 3 minutes of kneading.  Then separate into equal pieces and shape into a ball, then flatten them just a little.  Place them on a greased cookie sheet to rise.  When they are about double, cut three slits in the top of each one, and brush them with the beaten egg.  Bake at 425 for about 20 minutes.  The crust will be dark and shiny, and the bread should sound hallow when you tap it.  Cool on wire racks. 

Cinnamon Swirl Bread

I tried this today, and it was SO YUMMY hot out of the oven!  All I did was use the whole wheat recipe that I usually do, and added the cinnamon swirl.  But just use the bread recipe you're used to making, doesn't have to be whole wheat.........

your favorite bread recipe
cinnamon
sugar

Make your dough, then when you're ready to put it into the pans, roll each loaf out into a rectangle.  Sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar.  Roll up and pinch the edges shut.  Then pinch the ends together and fold under (to make it look pretty).  Put it the pans and let rise like normal and bake.  My little girl LOVED this!

Divine Breadsticks

Also from Mel's Kitchen Cafe. Easy and delicious with just a little planning ahead.

*Makes about 20-25 breadsticks, depending on how thick or thin you cut them

1 ½ cups warm water

1 tablespoon instant yeast

2 tablespoons sugar

3 ½ cups flour (Mel says - I usually use a combination of unbleached all-purpose flour and white whole wheat flour but use whatever you have on hand!)

½ teaspoon salt

3 tablespoons butter, melted (for the baking sheet)

Mix all ingredients (except melted butter) in a large bowl or electric mixer and knead for three minutes. Let the dough rest for 10 minutes. Heat oven to 375 degrees. Spread melted butter onto an 11X17-inch baking sheet. Roll out the breadstick dough about 1/4 to 1/2-inch thick and cut into strips with a pizza cutter. Twist slightly if desired and place about 1/2-inch apart on the baking sheet. Sprinkle with garlic salt, herbs of choice (I vary this depending on my mood but it usually consists of rosemary, basil, or thyme in some form and crushed finely) and parmesan cheese. Cover with greased plastic wrap and let rise 30 minutes. Bake 15-20 minutes at 375 degrees until golden brown.

Banana Bread

This is a fool-proof recipe. It turns out so yummy every single time! I just threw some in the oven so I figured I would post the recipe while it's baking.

1/2 c. margarine
1 c. sugar
2 eggs
1 c. mashed bananas
1/4 c. milk
1 tsp. lemon juice
2 c. flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 c. chopped nuts (optional, I leave them out)

Cream margarine and sugar. Add eggs and beat. Add bananas, milk and lemon juice. Sift dry ingredients and add. Add nuts. Bake in a well-greased 8x4x3 inch loaf pan for 1 hour at 350 degrees. Makes one loaf.

Buttermilk Drop Biscuits

We had foil dinners per Aubrey's recipe from this blog last night, and they were delicious! Thanks Aubrey! My husband said it was the best foil dinner he'd ever had. Anyway, I made these biscuits to go with it and I thought it was a great combo.

2 cups flour
2 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 stick butter
3/4 to 1 cup or so of buttermilk (I used regular milk since I didn't have buttermilk)

Combine dry ingredients. Cut in butter using a pastry cutter or 2 knives until the butter is in pea-sized pieces. Add the liquid a little at a time until dough is sticky- too sticky to roll out, but not so thin that it would run off the spoon. Drop by spoonful on a greased cookie sheet. Bake for 20 minutes at 400.
Serve with butter, honey, jam, or just plain!