Dinner Rolls

These are the Hub's favorite Rolls.  This is a recipe from my Grandma that I grew up with.  And oddly enough, it is the same recipe we use to make homemade doughnuts (you would never guess it by the taste!).

Ingredients:

2 pkgs. dry yeast or 2 TBLS.

2 beaten eggs

½ cup warm water
1/2 cup sugar
½ cup melted margarine or shortening
2 cups warm water
About 7-9 cups flour
2 tsp. salt

Directions:
1. Dissolve yeast in ½ cup warm water (small bowl).
2. Put the remaining water in large mixing bowl.
3. Add sugar and salt to water in large mixing bowl. Stir until dissolved.
4. Add yeast mixture, eggs, and melted margarine and enough flour to make a batter.
5. Beat well.
6. Add more flour to make a soft dough. Knead until smooth and satiny, 6-8 minutes.
7. Let rise until double.
8. Punch down dough.  Grab dough in fist and squeez up through finger and thumb till you get a nicely formed ball (this is how I was taught.  If you have a different way, go for it). 
9. Place in greased baking dish.  Let rise again until doubled. 
10. Cook at 350 for 25 min.  Brush with melted butter and enjoy!

Hope everyone had a HAPPY and slightly SPOOKY Halloween!!!!  I know we did!

Don't let the Pigeon stay up Late!

By: Mo Willems

I don't know if I could even begin to tell you how much I love these pigeon books.  They are just so funny to me.  I also love the illustrations.  I love funky illustrations that are different but still good.  This is one book (along with all of the other pigeon books belonging to the pigeon "saga") that I would suggest to anyone.  I just think they are so cute and funny.  This particular one is about a pigeon not wanting to go to bed, and wanting to stay up, all while yawning and slowly falling asleep.  This reminded me of pretty much every child out there!  Mine is too young to act this way, but I'd imagine I/we were all a little bit like this at one point in time.

It's so fun having books you can relate to! 

Easy Crock Pot Chicken Burritos

This is a favorite at our house, and is so easy.  True to a crock pot recipe, you just throw everything in, let it cook, then enjoy!

Ingredients:

3-4 Chicken Breasts (uncooked-either frozen or thawed.  Mine are ALWAYS frozen :) )

1 Jar Salsa (Mild, Medium, or Hot, it's up to you)

1/2-1 package of taco seasoning

Optional:  Green peppers, onions, or whatever else you want to add)

Directions:

1. Add above ingredients together

2. Cook in Crock pot on low for 5-6 hours. 

3. When you are ready to serve, shred the chicken using a fork.  Mix altogether. 

Serve with cheese, sour cream, cilantro, tortillas, beans, etc...

Pomegranate Gelato

I know, I know, it has been a while since I have posted.  But for those of you (if any of you haven't given up on me yet) who haven't figured it out yet, we are expecting baby number 2!  So I haven't been feeling well.  But I have 3 posts ready to be published (almost) that I have been slacking on, so stick with me if you want some good recipes! 

I received some free POM Pomegranate juice from POM recently and decided to use it in a sorbet.  But after looking through ideas/recipes I decided on a Gelato.  It wasn't bad.  Not 100% like a Gelato, but pretty good.  We are big Gelato fans!  It is important to use POM juice with this recipe because from what I have read, other juices will turn the Gelato a grayish color.  So stick with the POM!  This stuff is good, and good for you!

Recipe found on Epicurious.com

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups heavy cream

1/2 cup whole milk
3/4 cup sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 1/4 cups bottled pomegranate juice
1/3 cup pomegranate liqueur such as PAMA  (I omitted this)
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice

Directions:
1. Whisk together cream, milk, sugar, cornstarch, and salt in a 2 1/2- to 3-quart heavy saucepan. Bring to a boil over moderate heat, whisking occasionally, then boil, whisking, 2 minutes. Remove from heat and whisk in remaining ingredients.

2. Transfer to a bowl and chill, uncovered, until cold, at least 1 hour.
3. Freeze in ice cream maker, then transfer to an airtight container and put in freezer to harden, at least 2 hours.
4. Soften gelato slightly in refrigerator, about 20 minutes, before serving.

*can garnish with pomegranate seeds or whatever else you want to add. I ate mine with chocolate chips!

Fresh Peach Pie

If you love peaches (like me), you would love this pie. It makes my mouth water just thinking about it.  Me and the fam just finished it off on Sunday-I made it Saturday-sweets don't stay in our house for long.  The only thing that touches the oven in this pie is the crust, hence the "Fresh" in the "Fresh Peach Pie".  I personally prefer my peach pies like this.  If I am going to have my peaches cooked I would rather have them as a cobbler.  This pie is very good, I especially like to warm it up just for a few seconds and eat it with ice cream-Vanilla Bean ice cream to be exact.  Try it out, let me know what you think.  Oh, ps, this is a SWEET pie!

Ingredients:

5-6 Peaches, sliced (I blanch* then peel mine)
1 Cup Sugar
Water
2 Tbls Cornstarch
4 tsp. Dry Peach Jello
Cooked pie crust

Directions:

1. Sprinkle 1/2 cup of sugar over peach slices.  Let set for 1/2 hour. 
2. Drain juices off peaches until well drained.  Add enough water to make 1 cup liquid. 
3. Add the other 1/2 cup of sugar and cornstarch to the water/peach juice. 
4. Cook in sauce pan until think (over medium heat). 
5. Add 4 tsp. or dry jello. 
6. Let cool. 
7. Combine with fruit and poor into cooked pie shell. 
8. Refrigerate until cold-at least 1 hour.

*For blanching, I slice a criss-cross across the top of the peach, just enough to break the skin.  I then bring a pot of water to boil, turn of heat and add peaches.  I let them sit in that hot/boiling water for about 30 secs, then transfer them to a bowl of ice water for 10-20 seconds.  The peach peel should come off very easily afterwards.

Slacking, but not on purpose.

I had been feeling a little under the weather, and am going to visit family later this week.  But I promise more posts upon my return!  I think that's good reason for my lack of posts lately....I don't think I have even tried something new lately...but burritos are on the menu for Wednesday, that's good news!

BUT I did make this dress while I was slacking.  My Mom tried to talk me through it since I have never really sewn anything and I did this without a pattern.  She wore it once and that's probably all she'll wear it.  This picture is just proof that I haven't been doing nothing (not that I need proof or anything!).