what's cookin'?

for me, it is usually a dessert!

(whole wheat cinnamon rolls)

on a normal day i talk to my husband late in the afternoon and our conversation usually leads to dinner. "gosh, i am starving" he explains, "because I worked through lunch today. are there any plans for dinner?"

my typical response is, "yes, i have made something delicious!"

then i continue, "today the kids and i made tasty double chocolate chip cookies. i wanted to try that new pie crust, so we also have an apple pie. i was thinking it would be fun to eat whole wheat cinnamon rolls for breakfast tomorrow so i am making the dough for those right now.

as for dinner, i don't have plans, unless you want cookies, pie or cinnamon roll dough."

(yummy apple pie)

i LOVE baking!

i LOVE eating what is baked!

here are the recipes you all requested:

Pumpkin Pecan Swirl Bread

(i usually make this in the bread machine on the dough cycle
for convenience, but the Bosch or kitchen aid also work).

for a 2lb loaf set on the 'dough cycle'
Pumpkin Pecan Swirl Bread

2/3 cup milk
2/3 cup canned pumpkin
1 egg
4 tbls butter or marg.
4 cups bread flour
(i am known to sneak in 1-2 tbls of wheat germ to give it a healthy punch)
¼ cup packed brown sugar
1 tsp salt
1 tsp nutmeg
¼ tsp ginger
½ tsp cloves
1 ¼ tsp dry active yeast

After 5 minutes of mixing add:

1 cup chopped pecans

if you make it in a kitchen aid or bosch mix with a dough hook for 5 minutes, add nuts then mix for another 5 minutes. let rest for10 minutes and mix again for 2 minutes. then let dough rest for an hour.

divide into rolls for dinner and let rise
or for dessert roll out and spread:

1 stick of melted margarine
2 cups brown sugar with 1/4 cup cinnamon mixture over top.

let rise in loaf pan or cup into spiral rolls.

let rise.

350 for 12-15 minutes (rolls) or 20-25 (loaf)

serve with cream cheese spread:

beat together 6 ounces of cream cheese, 1/4 cup softened butter, and 1 tsp vanilla until light and fluffy.
then add 1 1/4 cup sifted powdered sugar.

cover and chill until ready to serve.

Whole Wheat Garlic Basil Pizza Dough

you can file this one under 'fast and easy' (tee-hee)

when it is 3:30pm and i begin to panic that nothing is planned for dinner...pizza comes to mind. no, don't order it, make it! if you have a bread maker it is a life saver and makes the process so much smoother.

here is the bread machine recipe for a 2lb loaf of my famous, oh so delicious dough:

1 1/3 cups water
3 tbls olive oil
1 cup whole wheat bread flour (optional, you can substitute it for white flour)
3 cups bread flour
1 tbls fresh chopped basil (dry works too)
½ tsp dry oregano (optional)
1 tbls wheat germ (optional)
1 tbls minced garlic (or 4 cloves pressed)
2 tbls sugar
1 tsp salt
1 ½ tsp active dry yeast

set on ‘pizza’ or ‘dough’ cycle and it is ready in 1 hour.

i also use the pizza dough recipe when making calzones.
there are some like my sister-in-law, stephanie, who belittle my tasty calzones by calling them hot pockets. hot pocket, hot smocket!

Toppings for pizza:

Once it is rolled out to your preference top with a few squirts of bbq sauce and pizza sauce (I just use prego). spread until even on dough.

Suggested order of toppings:

1 cup shredded chicken (you can use pepperoni, but i don't always have it on hand).
½ shredded mozzarella
pieces of bacon or bacon bits
1/2 bell pepper (green, red or yellow)
fresh basil
mushrooms (optional)
olives (optional)
1 cup shredded monterrey jack cheese
½ cup shredded mozzarella
½ cup shredded parmesan

bake 375 for 20-25 minutes

if you don't have a bread machine, better homes and garden cookbook pg 336 has a good pizza recipe. just add the ingredients like garlic, sugar, basil and oregano when you add the dry ingredients.

i usually let the kids make there own

when we are not starving to eat right away.

spray cooking spray on foil

cut a chunk of dough off

let the kids roll it to desired thickness

cover with toppings

bake 375 for 10 minutes

bon appetite!

what do you bake?

i would LOVE to try it.