Sausage Apple and Cranberry Stuffing

Adapted slightly from Allrecipes

My sister and I tried this stuffing while she was out here, and it was fantastic! Lovely fall fruit flavors blended with spices and meat - it was an excellent combination. It would be interesting to use dried herbs, and different kids of breads. We tried it a second time without meat and it was still awesome, so feel free to make this one vegetarian if you so desire.

Serves 5-6

5 1/2 cups cubed bread (the recipe calls for half white half whole wheat, but whatever)
1 lb. ground turkey sausage
1 cup chopped onion
3/4 cup chopped celery
2 Tbsp fresh sage
1 Tbsp fresh rosemary
1 tsp fresh thyme
1 apple, peeled and chopped
3/4 cup dried cranberries
1/3 cup minced parsley
1 cup turkey stock
4 Tbsp melted butter

Preheat oven to 350 (176 C) and spread out the bread cubes on a single layer on a large baking sheet. Bake for 5-7 minutes until evenly toasted. Then transfer toasted bread cubes to a large bowl.

In a large skillet, cook sausage and onions over medium heat. Then add celery, sage, rosemary and thyme. Cook and stir 2 minutes to blend flavors.

Pour sausage mixture over bread. Mix in chopped apples, cranberries and parsley. Drizzle turkey stock plus melted butter, and toss mixture lightly. Fluff with fork. 

Morning Glory Muffins

adapted from Allrecipes

Now that I'm pregnant again, I've found that if I don't eat right when I start to feel hungry that I start to feel very sick. It's horrible. And not always convenient, because you can't always choose when you are able to eat. So I've had to be prepared, and make some small nutritious things to pack with me wherever I go just in case hunger strikes.

Bring on the healthy muffins!

I noticed these muffins because the recipe was interesting and had lots of fruit and veggies in them. To be honest, when I saw the range of ingredients I was a bit skeptical on how it would taste, but I was pleasantly surprised. They are sweet and soft, with a nice island flavor of coconut and pineapple.

Makes about 24 muffins

2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 cup sugar
3 tsp cinnamon
2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
3 eggs
3/4 cup applesauce
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups grated carrots
1 medium tart apple, peeled and grated
1 (8 oz) can crushed pineapple, drained (225 g)
1/2 cup flaked coconut
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup chopped walnuts

In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, cinnamon, baking soda and salt.
In another bowl, combine eggs, applesauce, oil and vanilla and mix well. Then add carrots, apple, pineapple, coconut, rasins and nuts. Then fold in dry ingredients.

Fill greased or paper line muffin cups about 2/3 full. Bake at 350 F (176 C) for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Don't undercook! Cool for about 5 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks.

Missy's Favorite Turkey Dressing

from Simply Recipes

I have made this recipe for every holiday party in the last three years and it is always my favorite! It's got a great blend of fall flavors and is so easy. It's a perfect side when you want to feed a lot of people.

Serves 8-12

1 loaf day old French bread, cut into 3/4 inch cubes (about 10-12 cups bread cubes)
1 cup walnuts (I have also used hazelnuts)
2 cups onion
2 cups celery
6 Tbsp butter
1 green apple, peeled, cored and chopped
3/4 cup raisins
1/2 cup chopped olives (martini olives, the ones with the pimento)
1-2 cups turkey or chicken stock
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
1 tsp ground sage
salt and pepper to taste

Toast the nuts on medium high heat until browned, about a minute or two. Let them cool and then chop them roughly.

Heat a large saute pan on medium heat. Melt 3 Tbsp (about half) of the butter in the pan and then pour in the bread cubes, coating them with melted butter. Let them toast; only turn them when they begin to turn brown. (It's best if the bread is already a bit dried out. If it's still moist, lay the cubes in a baking pan and put them in a hot oven for 10 minutes or your stuffing will turn out mushy.)

In a large pot, saute onions and celery on medium high heat with the other half of the butter (about 3 Tablespoons) until cooked through, about 5-10 minutes. Add the bread, chopped nuts, apple, raisins, olives and parsley. Add one cup of stock, the rest of the seasonings and salt and pepper.

Cover. Turn the heat to low and cook for an hour or until the apples are cooked through. Check every 10 minutes or so to add water if the stuffing starts to dry out and stick to the bottom of the pan.

Peanut Butter and Jelly Bread

adapted from Have Cake Will Travel

This was a fun recipe that encapsulates the qualities of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich in one glorious bread. It was a bit crumbly but would be perfect for breakfast or a quick snack.

Makes one loaf

1 cup milk

1 Tbsp apple cider vinegar

1/2 cup peanut butter

1/4 cup plus 2 Tbsp all fruit berry or orange jam

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp vanilla

2 cups oats, finely ground

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup flour

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 cup berries

Preheat oven to 350 (176 C) and prepare a 8x4 inche loaf pan with spray.

In a medium bowl, combine milk, vinegar, peanut butter, jam, salt and vanilla. The peanut butter may not mix smoothly but that is ok.

In a large bowl, combine oats, sugar, flour, baking powder and baking soda. Fold the wet ingredients into the dry ones, being careful not to over-mix. The batter may be thick, depending on the type of peanut butter you use.

Pour into prepared pan, cover with tin foil and bake for 70 minutes (or when a toothpick comes out clean). Pull the foil off after about 40 minutes to ensure that it turns a golden brown.

Let cool in the pan for 30 minutes.

Carrot and Molasses Muffins

from Mom

This is a very wholesome muffin. I grew up eating them, so I am used to the flavor, but Ben said they have a decidedly "healthy" taste... I'm not sure if that is a good thing or not, but if you put a little butter and honey on them I think they are fabulous.

1 slightly beaten egg

1 cup bran cereal

2 medium carrots, grated

1/2 cup yogurt

1/2 cup tomato juice

1/2 up molasses

1/4 cup oil

1 1/2 cups flour (I used whole wheat)

1 1/2 tsp baking soda

1 cup rasins (optional)

Preheat the oven to 400 (204 C). Combine the egg, bran, carrots, yogurt, tomato juice, molasses and oil and let sit for 10 minutes until the bran cereal is soft. Mix well. Then add the flour and baking soda and spoon into a prepared muffin tin. Bake at 400 for 18 minutes.

Olive Garden Style Breadsticks

adapted from Allrecipes

These are as close as you can get to the breadsticks at Olive Garden. They are soft and tasty and were great with soup and salad.

.25 oz yeast (about 7 grams)

1/2 cup sugar, divided

2 cups warm water, divided

3 Tbsp vegetable oil

1 egg

1 tsp salt

3 tsp garlic powder

1/2 Tbsp dried oregano, crushed into a powder

4 1/2 cups flour

1/2 cup melted butter (113 grams)

2 Tbsp parmesan (optional)

salt

Preheat oven to 400 (200 C)

In a large mixing bowl, dissolve yeast and 1 Tsp sugar in 1 cup of warm water. Leave until foamy. Then add oil, egg, salt, spices and remaining sugar and water.

Mix in 3 cups flour and then slowly add the remaining flour a little at a time until you come up with a soft dough. Knead for 6-8 minutes, then put in an oiled bowl, cover and let rise for about 45 minutes (or until doubled).

After the dough has doubled in size, punch it down, and divide into 36 pieces. Roll each piece into a small snake (about the size of a cigar) and place on a baking sheet about 1 inch apart. Let rise for about 30 minutes (or until doubled) Brush with butter and sprinkle with parmesan (optional) and salt and bake for 10-12 minutes when the breadsticks are a golden brown.

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

adapted from Visions of Sugar Plums

Peanut butter and bananas- is there anything they cant do?

This bread was a creative twist on your typical banana bread and I had to work quickly to take a photo before it all disappeared.

3 Tbsp butter, softened

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup white sugar

2-3 large bananas, mashed

1/2 cup peanut butter

1 tsp vanilla

2 eggs

2 cups flour

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 cup milk

3/4 cup chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 (176 C). Cream together butter and sugars; add peanut butter, bananas and vanilla and mix thoroughly. Beat in eggs until just combined. Sift together dry ingredients in a separate bowl and add to wet mixture, alternating with milk. Fold in chocolate chips and spoon into a prepared 9x5 inch bread pan. Bake for 50 minutes. Let cool before serving.

Fuzzy Navel Tea Bread

adapted from the Streaming Gourmet

This bread was inspired by the fuzzy navel smoothie - a delicate combination of bananas, peaches and oranges. It turns out sweet and fruity, it is perfect for breakfast or tea.

Makes 2 loaves

3/4 cup yogurt

8 Tbsp butter (about 100 grams)

1 cup sugar

4 eggs

4 ripe bananas, mashed

4 ripe peaches, mashed

1 orange, juice plus zest

5 cups flour

2 tsp salt

3 tsp baking powder

Preheat oven to 350.

In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar. Then beat in the eggs, one at a time, and mix in yogurt, mashed fruit and orange zest. Whisk together dry ingredients, and add them to the wet mixture until just combined. Do not over mix.

Pour batter into loaf pan and bake for 60-70 minutes. (30-40 minutes for muffins) Test with a toothpick, it should come out clean when inserted.

Panzanella Salad

adapted from Stacey Snacks

My family has always been of the "waste not, want not" philosophy, and I had a loaf of stale bread that I felt bad throwing out. So I made a panzanella salad instead. Panzanella is an Italian salad made from bread and tomatoes, tossed in a light vinaigrette. The bread soaks up the juices from the tomatoes and dressing, resulting in a delicious flavorful dish.

Dressing:

1/3 cup balsamic vinegar

1/2 cup olive oil

1-2 cloves of garlic, minced

2 tsp dried basil

1/2 tsp dried oregano

salt and pepper to taste

Salad:

1 stale baguette (or other bread) torn into bite sized chunks

4-5 tomatoes

1/2 red onion, sliced thin

1/2 cup kalamata olives, chopped

1/2 cup crumbled Feta cheese

Mix your salad ingredients and place them in a large bowl. Whisk your dressing and pour over the bread and tomato mixture until the bread cubes absorb the dressing. You don't have to use all of the dressing, just use as much as you deem appropriate. Let it sit in the bowl for about an hour to let the flavors mingle together and allow the bread to absorb the juices.

Basic French Bread

from Every Day Food Storage

Bread can be so tricky. There are so many techniques to achieve different textures and densities and then there are the many variables with all the kinds of flours, gluten content and temperatures. So many ways to screw it up! And I am definitely a novice. I can bake basic bread, but if it needs any special treatment I definitely need more practice.

Anyway, today I tried out a basic French Bread. It is cheap to make, versatile and can be used with so many different meals. This time I did some research and tried out some new techniques and these loaves came out better than ever. I still have a ways to go to perfecting it, but am happy to see improvements.

I watched this great how-to video on youtube and it really helped a lot.

Makes 3-4 loaves

2 Tbsp yeast

2 1/2 cups warm water

7 cups flour

2 Tbsp sugar

1 Tbsp salt

Dissolve yeast in water, add sugar and let it sit for 10 minutes or so (until foamy). Then add salt and 2 cups of water. Beat until well mixed. Add the rest of the flour and knead on a floured board (or in your mixer) for about 5 minutes (longer if you are using whole wheat). Cover and let rise for 30-45 minutes (until doubled in size).

Grease a couple of baking sheets (or use baking paper) and sprinkle lightly with corn meal. Take the bread and punch it down, kneading for 1 minute. Cut the dough ball in to 3 or 4 pieces and let the dough rest for about 10 minutes.

Turn on the oven to 450 (232 C) to preheat. Roll each dough piece into a rope not quite as long as the baking sheet. Place on the baking tray and make sure there is ample space between loaves. Using a sharp knife, cut diagonal cuts (about 1/2 inch) on the top of each loaf; then you can brush with an egg wash for shine or spray a little water and add sesame seeds or whatever else you want to put on top. Let the loaves raise until double (30-45 minutes).

While the bread is raising for the final time, you want to prepare a "steam oven" which will create the breads crunchy crust. To do this place an oven safe pan on the lowest rack or floor over your oven with several cups of hot water. When you put your bread in, the steam will be circulating in the oven and that will help make the crust nice and crunchy while keeping the inside soft.

Bake at 450 (232 C) for 10 minutes, then reduce heat to 350 (176 C) for 20-30 minutes or until golden brown. The bread should make a hollow sound when tapped. Remove from pans and cool.

This bread is best fresh and does not age well, so keep it wrapped in plastic overnight or it will get stale. If you aren't going to use it within 2 days, wrap in plastic and freeze until you are ready to use it.

Cranberry White Chocolate Muffins

adapted from Playing House

1/4 cup butter

1 cup sugar

1/4 cup applesauce

1 1/2 cup yogurt

2 eggs

3 cups + 1 Tbsp flour (I used 1/2 white, 1/2 whole wheat)

1 Tbsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

1 cup white chocolate chips

1 cup cranberries (I used lingon berries)

Preheat oven to 375 (190 C) and prepare a muffing tin. In a large mixing bowl, cream together butter and sugar, then add applesauce, yogurt and eggs. In another bowl, whisk together dry ingredients and then add them to the wet mixture, mixing until just combined. In a little bowl, place the berries and 1 Tbsp of flour, coat the berries with the flour so they don't sink to the bottom of your muffins. Then gently fold in chocolate chips and berries.

Fill the prepared muffin cups 3/4 of the way full and bake in the oven for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean when you poke it in the center.

Let cool for 5 minutes in the tin and then remove and allow to cool on the counter.

Mom's Sweet Corn Bread

from my Mom

This is seriously the best corn bread you will ever have. It is sweeter than typical corn breads, and it is delicious served warm with butter and honey.

Thanks Mom, for passing on this one on. It is one of my favorites.

3/4 cup butter (168 grams)

1 1/2 cup sugar

1 cup corn meal

1 Tbsp baking powder

4 eggs

2 cups flour

1 cup milk

1 tsp vanilla

1 tsp salt

Preheat oven to 350 (176 C) and lightly grease a 9 x 13 inch pan.

In a large mixing bowl, cream together butter and sugar. Add corn meal and baking powder and mix well. Separate the yolk from the eggs and add the yolks to the corn mixture. (Set aside the egg whites). Add in the flour, vanilla, milk and salt, mix until batter is smooth.

Beat the egg whites until stiff and fold into the batter gently until just combined. Pour into prepared baking dish and bake for 25 minutes or when a toothpick comes out clean when you stick it in the middle.

Chocolate Zucchini Bread

adapted from Allrecipes

There is no better way to eat a zucchini than chocolate zucchini bread. My mom would give this to us when we were kids and it was so good we didn't even know it had veggies smuggled inside. I like this particular recipe because the applesauce cuts down on the oil and it is easy to substitute whole wheat flour without affecting the taste. It comes out soft and moist, with subtle hints of chocolate sprinkled throughout.

I made two loaves and froze one of them. It was so good that it only lasted in the freezer one night before Ben and I decided we may as well eat that one too.

Makes 2 loaves

6 Tbsp Cocoa

2 Tbsp butter, softened

3 eggs

1 1/2 cup white sugar

1 cup applesauce

2 cups grated zucchini

2 cups flour (I used 1/2 white, 1/2 whole wheat)

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp vanilla

1 cup chocolate chips + 2 Tbsp flour

Preheat oven to 350 degrees (175 C). Lightly grease two 9 x 5 inch loaf pans.

In a large mixing bowl, cream together butter, cocoa, and sugar. Then add zucchini, applesauce, eggs, and vanilla. Sift together flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon and add it to the wet mixture. Coat chocolate chips in 2 Tbsp flour (so they don't all sink to the bottom) and then gently fold 3/4 cup into the mix. Pour the batter into prepared loaf pans and sprinkle remaining 1/4 cup chips on top. Bake in oven for 60-70 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the loaf comes out clean.

Lettu (Finnish Crepes)

This is what Ben's Finnish grandma would make for breakfast sometimes. And though Ben usually is not a breakfast person, he does love Lettu.

Traditional Finnish Crepes are usually small (about 8 cm diameter) , and although they are a little thicker than regular French crepes, they are much thinner than a pancake.

Serves 4

4 cups milk

4 eggs

1 tsp salt

2 cups (400 ml) flour

8 Tbsp (100 grams) butter, melted + butter for cooking

Whisk the eggs, salt and milk together. Slowly add the flour a little at a time, and once it is mixed, add in the melted butter. Cover the batter and let it stand for 30 minutes to an hour.

Heat a frying pan until very hot. Generously butter the pan and pour the first batch of crepe batter in the rounds. You may have to tilt the pan around to get even coverage on the bottom of the pan. Fry until the bubbles on the batter surface begin to set and flip the crepes over.

Fry the crepes until they are golden, remove and continue frying with the rest of the batter. You may have to add more butter to prevent sticking.

Serve with jam, fresh berries or fruit, whipped cream, or syrup.

Kate's Tortillas

From my sister Kate

I have tried many flour tortilla recipes and none of them come out as soft and pliable as these ones. I really like how simple the ingredients are and the fact that it doesn't use butter or lard. It does take a bit of practice to make them look good, but by the time we had rolled out a few we were definitely getting the hang of it.

Makes about 8 nine inch tortillas

2 1/4 cup flour

1 1/2 tsp salt

3 tsp oil

3/4 cup (approx) hot water

Mix together flour and salt, then blend with oil. Slowly add the hot water, a little at a time until the dough starts together. Knead dough until it becomes smooth and stretchy, but not sticky.

Cut the dough into about 8 segments and roll them out on a floured surface until very thin, almost transparent.

Heat a frying pan on high. Take the tortilla and cook it on the frying pan for only 10-15 seconds and then flip it over. Wait an additional 10-15 seconds, take the tortilla off the heat and set it aside.

Banana Banana Bread

adapted from Allrecipes

This is my go-to basic banana bread recipe. I really like this one because it uses a ton of bananas so it really holds on to the banana flavor. It soft and delicious, and even better the next day, so I would double the recipe and save one loaf for tomorrow.

makes 1 loaf

2 cups flour (I used half white, half whole wheat)

1 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 cup butter

3/4 cup brown sugar

2 eggs, beaten

2 1/3 cups mashed overripe bananas (about 4 large bananas. If you don't have enough bananas, feel free to replace with other berries, applesauce or other mashed fruit)

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp vanilla

1/4 tsp allspice

1/4 tsp nutmeg

Preheat oven to 350 (175 C) and lightly grease a 9x5 inch loaf pan.

In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, salt, vanilla and spices. In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar. Stir in eggs and mashed bananas until well blended. Stir banana mixture into flour mixture; stir just to moisten. Pour batter into prepared loaf pan.

Bake in preheated oven for 60-65 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean. Allow the bread to cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack.

*You can also make these into muffins, bake at 350 (175 C) for 25 minutes

Light Banana Nut Muffins

I haven't been in the mood to eat bananas lately and as a result I keep getting lovely black ones by the end of the week. I've been looking for some ways to use them, but it seems that so many banana bread recipes use a ton of sugar and white flour, which diminishes the healthy quality that I'm looking for. Anyway, these were easy and tasted quite good, especially with the nuts on top.

3 egg whites

1/2 cup sugar

3-4 ripe bananas

1/2 cup applesauce (unsweetened if possible)

1 cup whole wheat flour

1/2 cup quick oats

1/2 cup white flour

1 Tbsp flaxseed

1 tsp salt

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp vanilla

1/2 tsp nutmeg

1/2 cup chopped walnuts or almonds

Preheat oven to 350. Lightly grease a muffin tin or line with paper cups. In a medium bowl, mash together applesauce, vanilla and bananas, then fold in egg whites. In a large mixing bowl, combine flours, oats, salt, sugar, flaxseed, baking soda, spices, and about 1/4 cup of nuts. Pour batter into prepared muffin tin and sprinkle remaining nuts on top of muffins. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean.

Sundried Tomato and Cottage Cheese Muffins

adapted from In Fine Fettle

I wanted something quick and tasty to serve alongside a salad I was making and stumbled upon this recipe. It is vegetarian, made without butter and full of flavor, coming out with a sort of a quiche-like texture.

1 cup plain cottage cheese

3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

3/4 cup whole wheat flour

1/2 cup white flour

1 tsp baking powder

1/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes

1/4 cup basil, chopped (I used 1 Tbsp dried basil)

1 tsp dried dill

1/4 cup finely minced onion

1/4 cup water

4 eggs, lightly beaten

1/2 tsp salt

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a mixing bowl, combine the cottage cheese, all but 1/4 cup of the Parmesan cheese, flours, baking powder, sun-dried tomatoes, spices, water, eggs, and salt.

Fill each greased muffin cup 3/4 full with batter, sprinkle on the remaining Parmesan cheese and bake for 30-35 minutes (or until set, risen and golden brown). Serve warm or at room temperature

Whole Grain Chocolate Banana Bread

from Whole Grain Gourmet

This bread was great, 100% whole grain and studded with sweet, chocolaty goodness. Mine came out a bit crumbly, and next time I may add a tablespoon of lemon juice or oil to help it hold together better. Still, the taste was great and I will definitely be making this again.


1/3 cup butter, softened to room temperature
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla
2 eggs
1 1/2 cup mashed bananas (about 3-4)
1 3/4 cup whole wheat flour (King Arthurs has extra gluten to help hold it together!)
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 cup hot water
1/4 cup chopped walnuts
1/2 cup chocolate chips (dark is best!)

Preheat the oven to 325, and lightly grease a 9x5 inch loaf pan. Combine flour, cinnamon and salt in a bowl. Whisk and set aside.
In a larger bowl, combine butter, honey and sugar and beat for two minutes. Add the eggs and lightly beat until just combined. Mix in the bananas and vanilla, being careful not to overmix. Slowly add the flour mixture.
Put the hot water in a separate bowl, and add the baking soda. Then beat it into the batter. Gently fold in the nuts and chocolate chips. Pour the batter into the pan and bake at 325 for 52 minutes. A knife should come out clean when stabbed through the bread, if it is not, put it in for another couple of minutes.

Allow to cool for 30 minutes and enjoy!

Thin Crust Pizza

Adapted from Frolicking Foodie

When it comes to pizza, I am a thin crust kind of girl. I think it allows you to enjoy the different flavors without filling up on bread. Anyway, after trying several recipes, I finally found a thin crust that we both liked.

4 1/2 cups flour

1 tsp salt

1 1/2 tsp sugar

1 Tbsp yeast

2 Tbsp oil (I used oil from sun dried tomatoes)

1 1/2 cup warm water

Toppings:
tomato sauce
mushrooms, sliced
zucchini, thinly sliced
olives, sliced
spinach
mozzarella cheese

Mix the sugar, yeast, oil and water together in a bowl and leave for 5-10 minutes, or until it is foamy. Sift salt and flour and combine wet and dry ingredients, slowly incorporating them. It will start out really messy and slowly come together to form a nice smooth dough. Knead together for about 10 minutes.

After the dough is mixed, put it in a bowl, splash on a bit of oil (just until coated) and let it rise in a sunny spot until it has doubled in size. (this can take anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours depending on how warm the spot is)

Preheat the oven to 375. Once doubled, take the dough out and cut off a chunk that fits the size that you want. Roll it out on a lightly floured surface until it is a little less than 1/2 centimeter thick and let it rest for a few minutes. Then slather on the sauce and toppings and put it in the oven for 15-20 minutes, or until the crust begins to brown.