Mini Monkey Breads.

We made these delicious buns on Easter Morning and oh boy were they delicious! They are pretty easy, they just take a lot longer to make, but the time put in is definitely worth it!

 *****

Cinnamon Bubble Buns

Family Fun

Makes 12

Hands-On Time: 1 hour

Total Time: 2 hours 20 minutes (includes rising)

 

 

Ingredients

Dough
1 package active dry yeast
1/4 cup warm water
3 Tbs unsalted butter, melted
2/3 c. sour cream
3 Tbs. sugar
1 large egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups flour, plus more for kneading
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp. baking soda

Cinnamon-Sugar Coating
1/3 c. packed brown sugar
1 tsp. cinnamon
3 Tbs. unsalted butter, melted

Vanilla Glaze
1 1/4 c. confectioner's sugar
1 Tbs. unsalted butter, melted
1 Tbs. milk, preferably whole
1 tsp. vanilla extract

Directions
Step 1: Start by making the dough.  In a large mixing bowl, sprinkle the yeast over the water and let it stand until bubbly, 5 to 10 minutes.  Stir in the butter, sour cream, sugar, egg, and vanilla.  Beat in 2 cups of the flour, the salt, and the baking soda until incorporated.  Add the remaining 1/2 cup flour and continue mixing until a smooth, soft dough forms.

Step 2: Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface (reserve the mixing bowl) and knead it until smooth, about 3 minutes.  As you work, add more flour if the dough is sticky (do not exceed 2 Tablespoons).  Place the dough back in the mixing bowl and cover the bowl with plastic wrap.  Let the dough rise in a warm place until it has doubled in size, about 1 hour*

Step 3: Lightly coat a 12-cup muffin pan with nonstick spray or butter, then flour the cups and tap out the excess.

Step 4:  In a small bowl, blen the sugar and cinnamon for the coating.  Place the melted butter in a small, shallow dish.

Step 5: Gently punch down the dough to deflate it.  Form it into a long cylinder and divide it into 12 equal portions.

Step 6:  Using kitchen scissors or a dough scraper, divide each portion into 6 equal pieces, then roll each piece into a ball.

Step 7:  To make a bun, coat six balls with melted butter, then roll them in the cinnamon-sugar mixture.  Arrange five of the balls in the bottom of a prepared muffin cup.  With your fingertip, make a small well and press the sixth ball in the center Repeat with the remaining dough.  Loosely cover the buns with plastic wrap and let them rise ina  warm place until they're puffy and have doubled in size about 40 minutes.  Heat the oven to 350.

Step 8: Bake the buns on the center rack until golden, 20 to 22 minutes.  Transfer the pan to a wire rack placed over a sheet of waxed paper or aluminum foil to cool for 5 to 8 minutes, then tilt the pan and gently tap it on a work surface to release the buns.  If needed, a knife can be used to release them from the pan.  Place the buns on the wire rack

Step 9: In a small bowl, combine the ingredients for the glaze and stir until it's smooth.  If needed, thin the glaze by adding water 1 teaspoon at a time.  Brush each bun with the glaze.  Serve immediately or at room temperature. 

*Make it Ahead: To make the dough in advance, follow the directions through the kneading in step 2.  Cover the dough with plastic wrap and refrigerate.  Chilled dough should sit at room temperature for 1 hour before handling.

The food that has gotten me through college.

This is by far my favorite recipe ever.

I make it all the time.

Everyone loves it.

It's easy.

It's fast.

It's perfect. 

so enjoy!

*****

5 minute jello

1 large pkg. jello
1 c. boiling water
3 c. ice

Dissolve jello in boiling water in blender on low speed for a full 3 minutes.
Add the ice and lend for about one minute more on low speed until container is cold.
Pour immediately into serving bowl (if you want to add any fruit or whipped cream, etc. do it now)
Put in refrigerator for 5 minutes before serving.

yumyumyum

Our family has this great thing called,
The Woodward Family Cookbook
It pretty much saves lives when you need to find a delicious recipe really fast.


Today our family is going to Jessica and Ryan's housewarming party and my mom told me and my adorable little sister to make cookies. 

My dad wanted chocolate chip oatmeal cookies,
so we turned to the family cookbook
and we were not disappointed.

Thanks Aunt Luann for a delicious recipe :)

*****

Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies

Aunt Luann

The only cookies we ever make (almost)

1 c. shortening
1 c. white sugar
1 c. brown sugar

1 tsp. vanilla
2 eggs

1 1/2 c. flour
1 tsp. soda
1 tsp. salt

3 c. oatmeal
1 pkg. chocolate chips
1/2 c. nuts (optional)

Cream together shortening, brown and white sugar.  Then beat in eggs and vanilla.  Sift together flour, soda and salt, then add it to creamed mixture.  Add oatmeal, chocolate chips and nuts.  Bake at 375 for 7-10 minutes.

*Try raisins instead of chocolate chips.

What my dad learned in the army.

To make life easier, clean up the dishes while you clean.

And it works.
I promise.

Get Better Boy.

 Funny story. 
My room mate Brandi was going to make soup for this guy because he was sick,
but she had a huge test and was kinda stressed so she just got him a sprite instead, but him and his roomies gave her a hard time about not bringing the soup. 

Meanwhile I was at my friend Erica's house trying her delicious lime melt-away cookies when I got a call from Brandi...
"WHERE ARE YOU??!? I need you!!!"

So I came home and helped her make baked potato soup.
It's easy,
Delicious.
And just wonderful!
Y'all have to try it because it is so good.
 
Baked Potato Soup

*****

2 c. chicken stock/broth
2 c. milk

4 T. butter
1/4 c. flour

3 bay leaves
1/4 tsp. white pepper
1 large potato, peeled and finely diced
1/2 tsp. salt

Toppings:
Sour cream
cheddar cheese
green onion
bacon bits.
(pretty much anything you'd put on a baked potato. but these are totally optional.  It's also very good plain.  I like it best with cheese.)

Heat broth and milk in a large saucepan over med-high heat to almost boiling. Remove from heat and set aside. Reduce heat to low. In a large soup pot, melt butter, add flour, stirring constantly 3 minutes to cook flour and make a roux. Gradually add milk mixture to roux pouring in a slow steady stream, while stirring vigorously to blend and eliminate lumps. Add bay leaves and white pepper. Add diced potato and salt and continue to simmer over low heat 15-20 minutes or until potatoes are tender and soup thickens. Lightly mash potatoes in soup, and stir to blend well. Serve with the different toppings.

Italian Chicken

One of my All time Favorites.

I lovelovelovelovelove this recipe.

I made this on superbowl sunday for me and erica ellen.  She doesn't even really like tomato with chicken, but she said she loved it... she even had seconds....so that's saying something :)

This is a family recipe that we got from Uncle Gary, but we have shared it with the world.
If you make it, I know you'll love it because it's just awesome like that.
On top of it's deliciousness, it's super easy to make.
so enjoy!

*****

1 cut up chicken (2-3 lbs) or 4 breasts

1 (6 oz.) can tomato paste
1 can tomato soup and a little water
1 (4 oz.) can sliced mushrooms (optional)
1/4 tsp. onion salt
1/4 tsp. oregano
1/4 tsp. garlic salt

1/4 c. parmesan cheese
2 c. mozzarella cheese

cooked spaghetti


1.  Preheat oven to 375.  Remove skin from chicken and arrange in lightly greased cake pan. 
2.  Stir together soup, about 1/2 can of water, tomato paste, onion and garlic salts, oregano and mushrooms.
3.  Spoon sauce over chicken.
4.  Put in oven for 45-50 minutes, until chicken is tender
5.  Sprinkle cheese over chicken.
6.  Bake until cheese is melted - 5 more minutes.
7.  Serve over spaghetti

Poor Man's Stroganoff

So, I pretty much have the best aunt in the whole entire world.

Before I came to college my Aunt Glynis gave me a notebook of cheap, easy, fast recipes.
It has kinda saved my life.
I love it.

anyway, the first recipe in it is actually from Grama Adams.
It's called poor man's stroganoff.
And it is trés délicieux.

So here ya go!

 

****

1 lb. hamburger  (ground beef)

1 can cream of mushroom soup

Garlic Powder

1 c. Sour Cream

Hot noodles or rice   (I like using egg noodles)

In a skillet, brown the hamburger until no longer pink; drain.  Add soup, sour cream and garlic powder to taste.  Let simmer on medium heat until well combined.  Serve over hot noodles or rice. 

****