Easy peasy crusty bread

 

This is my lovely ceremic coated iron pot (Dutch Oven) Isn't it pretty?

 

 

First, in a large bowl, whisk together:

3 cups unbleached white flour

1 1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon yeast

 

Then mix in 1 1/2 cups water

 

This will look like a shaggy mess, but that's totally okay,

it's supposed to look like that!

 

Cover with plastic and let sit on the counter 12-18 hours.

DO NOT REFRIGERATE!!!!

This is the proofing process, and refrigerating the dough WILL ruin it.

 

 

Dough will more than double in size, that means you did it right!

 

Preheat your oven to 450F degrees

Preheat your pot in the 450F degree oven for 30 minutes.

 

While your pot is preheating, dump the dough onto

a HEAVILY floured surface.

 

Shape into a ball, and cover with the plastic while your pot is heating.

 

After 30 minutes, carefully remove your pot from the oven,

and drop the dough ball in.

 

You may want to flour your hands before handling the dough,

as it is VERY sticky.

 

Put the cover on your pot, and bake in

450F degree oven for 30 minutes.

 

Remove the lid, it will look like this:

 

Put back in 450F degree oven for another 15 minutes.

 

It should look like this:

 

Carefully remove the bread from the pot and place

on a cooling rack until completely cool.

 

Here's another picture of my dutch oven, it's so pretty!

 

There are also a few variations of this bread.

 

CranOrangeAlmond:

3/4 cup dried cranberries

zest of 1 orange

1/2 cup sliced almonds

 

LemonRosemaryGruyere:

zest of 1 lemon

chopped rosemary

11/2 cups shredded gruyere cheese

 

Simply add to dry mixture before adding water.



I call it Penne a la Jennay

This is a quick and easy summer meal that'll last for days!

1 pound box of penne pasta

1 pound medium shrimp

fresh basil

fresh tomatoes

olive oil

parmesan cheese

Cook pasta per directions on the box.

Saute shrimp with garlic in olive oil.

While pasta and shrimp are cooking...chop your tomatoes and basil.

When pasta is finished cooking, drain, and rinse with cold water.

Let shrimp cool, add to pasta with the oil, then mix in the tomatoes and basil.

Mix all ingredients and add oil to coat pasta.

Shred cheese over pasta to your liking.

Refrigerate leftovers.

Mug Brownie

1/4 cup flour

1/4 cup sugar

2 tbs cocoa

pinch of salt

Mix together

Add:

 2 tbs olive oil

3 tbs water

Mix well.

Microwave for 1 minute 40 seconds.

Single serving brownie in a mug! Enjoy!!

Nutella Cookies

Nutella Cookies

Yield: 36 cookies

Ingredients:

1 cup nutella

1 cup flour

1/2 cup sugar

1 large egg

Blend all ingredients well.

Form into 1" balls and place on an ungreased cookie sheet.

Using the bottom of a glass, flatten the dough.

Bake at 350 degrees F for 7-8 minutes.



Let cool and remove from cookie sheet. Enjoy!



Smoked Tuna Salad

What you will need: Large pot, lighter, 4 squares of unscented toilet paper, can of tuna in olive oil, pitcher of water or fire extinguisher.

Open can of tuna and do not drain. Press toilet paper squares into oil and put into the pot.

Take the pot, the water, and your lighter and go outside as this will smoke a little bit.

Light corner of the toilet paper and let it burn.

Let burn for 10-15 minutes. Sizzling and popping sounds are normal.

Fire will burn out on it's own when all the oil is burned off and it will stop smoking.

You can safely take it inside now. 

Using tongs, carefully remove tuna can from pot, and remove toilet paper from the tuna.

Let cool completely, and prepare as you wish.

I used mayo, onion, lemon juice, and a little bit of garlic.

How to clean plastic containers

Let's face it. We've been there. Taco sauce, tomato soup, Spaghettios.... they wreak havoc on your plastic containers! Here is an easy how-to to clean your containers out.

1. Fill almost to the top with water and a squirt of dish soap
2. Add 1/4 cup of bleach
3. Microwave the container for 40 seconds, or until the solution is boiling
4. Allow to rest until the water is luke-warm
5. Wash out your container and it is as good as new!

Sopapilla Cheesecake

So easy and SOOOOO good!

2 cans buttered crescent roll dough
2 packs of cream cheese
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 cup butter, melted
Cinnamon and sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix together softened cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla. Unroll 1 can of crescent roll dough and spread into bottom of greased 13x9 cake pan. Spread cream cheese mixture evenly over dough. Unroll other can of crescent roll dough and lay on top. Brush top with melted butter and sprinkle cinnamon and sugar all over. Bake for 25-30 minutes. Let cool completely before serving and refrigerate any leftovers.

Note: Filling will be runny if you attempt to serve it when it's still warm. Can be baked in an 8x8 pan, simply cut recipe in half.

Pfannkuchen

This is like dessert for breakfast...so good! Should be cooked in an oven safe skillet. If you don't have one, it can be baked in a pie plate, just make sure everything is non-stick. An iron skillet would work best. This recipe is definitely enough for 2 servings.

Peel, core, and slice 2 apples. I prefer granny smith apples for this recipe. Caramelize apples with 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon and about 1/2 cup brown sugar.

Mix 3 eggs, 1/2 cup flour, 1/2 cup milk, 1 teaspoon sugar, 1/4 teaspoon vanilla, and a pinch of salt.

When apples have fully caramelized, add batter. Let simmer for about 5 minutes or until edges start to puff.

If, like me, you do not have an oven safe skillet, put mixture in an 8-9 inch pie pan. Bake at 425 degrees for 15 minutes. Don't forget your non-stick spray, or it will stick. If using an iron skillet, simply put it in the oven. When it's finished baking, flip out onto plate, and enjoy.

7-up biscuits

These are sooooo good and sooooo easy to make!

2 cups biscuit mix
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup 7-up
1/4 cup melted butter

Preheat oven to 450 degrees F
Cut sour cream into biscuit mix in medium size bowl
Add 7-up...should form a soft dough. (you may need to add 1/4 cup more biscuit mix)
Melt butter in 9x9 baking dish
Spoon biscuit dough into pan. Should make 9 biscuits.
Put in oven and bake for 12 - 15 minutes or until golden brown.
Serve warm and enjoy!

Rest in Peace Craigles...

you will be so missed.