Meatballs

Spaghetti and meatballs is a favorite dinner in our house, we have this very often on Sunday's. This recipe is slightly different from your basic bread crumb Italian meatball recipe, but the flavor is the same.(please ignore the messiness of this plate....the kids were hungry and I was rushing!)

What you will need

1 lb of ground beef(you may sub chicken, turkey or do a combo of beef, pork and veal)

1/4 cup Parmesan cheese

1 tbsp parsley flakes

1 tsp pepper

2 tsp garlic powder

1/2 cup oatmeal

1 egg

You will begin by combining all ingredients in a bowl. Bring all ingredients together without over mixing.

Once you have finished combining, form into small balls, about an 1 inch in diameter. Bake at 350* for about 15 minutes(if you are making larger meatballs, allow a longer baking time). When finished baking place in your favorite sauce and simmer on your stove top for at least one hour, this will allow your sauce to cook into your meatballs.

French Bread

I made this french bread when I forgot to pick some up at the store for dinner to serve with Spaghetti. This bread is quite simple and tastes delicious. Try adding in other ingredients, such as, rosemary, oregano or a tbsp of olive oil, to change the taste a bit.

What you will need

1 1/4 cups water brought to 110*

2 tsp sugar

1 tsp salt

3 cups flour

1 1/2 tsp yeast

Glaze

1 egg beaten

1 tbsp water

1 tsp garlic powder

Begin by proofing your yeast in your 110* water and your sugar. Allow to proof for 15 minutes. I like to use my stand mixer for the next steps, you can also use a hand mixer if you have a bread hook, or you may mix by hand. Next you will add in your flour 1/2 cup at a time and your salt. Once your mixture forms a ball, place in an oiled bowl, turning the dough so all sides are coated.

Now, allow your dough to rest covered in a damp towel for about an hour. This allows your bread to rise, it should double in size.

After the hour has passed, punch down your dough to let the air escape. Turn out onto a floured surface. Roll dough into a rectangular shape.

Once your dough is rolled out into a rectangle, begin to roll the dough, starting closest to your body and rolling upward. Once finished, tuck in the outside edges and cut about 4 shallow cuts into the top of your bread.

For rising, allow to sit for another 15 minutes, sitting under a damp towel. Once finished rising, brush with your egg wash mixture and sprinkle the top with your garlic powder. Bake at 375* for approximately 20 minutes.

Cinnamon Rolls

This cinnamon roll recipe is taken from familyfun.com, I have made a few changes, but used their recipe as a base. You can make these the night before and allow them to sit in the refrigerator overnight, then you can get them in the oven first thing in the morning! The aroma is something your family will love to wake up too!

What you will need

Dough

1/4 cup warm water

1 package dry active yeast

1/3 cup sugar

1 cup warm milk

2 tsp vanilla

1 egg

3 3/4 cups flour

1 tsp salt

4 tbsp softened butter

Filling

3/4 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup walnuts or pecans(these can be omitted)

2 tsp cinnamon

4 tbsp softened butter

Sweet Glaze

1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

2 tbsp milk

2 tbsp melted butter

1 tsp vanilla

1/8 tsp maple flavoring(sub with almond extract, lemon or orange flavor)

Start by taking your warm water and dissolving the yeast for about 5 minutes. Next, take your warm milk and dissolve the sugar, when this is finished, add in the beaten egg and vanilla. Now, add your milk mixture to your water and yeast. Once those are blended add in two cups of flour. With a wooden spoon, stir in your flour, mixing 100 times. Once finished mixing in the flour allow to sit, covered with a wet towel, undisturbed for 15 minutes.

Now stir in the softened butter and the flour 1/2 cup at a time. When the dough becomes hard to stir, begin to mix with your hands and knead for 2 to 3 minutes. Place the dough on a floured surface and knead for another 6 to 7 minutes.

Now place your dough in an oiled bowl, coating all sides of the dough with the oil. Allow the dough to sit in a bowl, covered with a damp towel for one hour. This will cause the dough to rise some more. Once the hour has passed, punch the dough down and allow to sit another 15 minutes.

Next you can prepare your filling. Chop the nuts to a fine consistency, then add in your brown sugar and cinnamon.

Now you may roll out your dough into a rectangular shape. Spread your 4 tbsp of butter on the dough, leaving one inch all around the edges.

Once you have finished, sprinkle your filling over the butter and pat down with your hands. Now roll the dough in a tight roll and allow to sit, covered in a damp towel for another 15 minutes.

After the cinnamon rolls have rested, cut into slices about an inch and a half in size. Place in a buttered baking dish and bake at 350* for 20 minutes.

While baking you can prepare the glaze by putting your powdered sugar, butter, milk, vanilla and maple in a bowl. Stir with a fork.

Allow your cinnamon rolls to cool for a few minutes then pour over your glaze.

Snow Ice Cream!

I heard about this Snow Ice Cream on facebook and thought...we have to do this! There is so much snow out there, we might as well make something yummy out of it! This is a great activity to do with your kids!


What you will need

7 cups of snow
1 can sweetened condensed milk
2 tsp of vanilla

First, put on your coats, hats and boots and go outside to get yourself some snow! Next, have your camera ready!

Put your snow into a large bowl, pour the sweetened milk over the top and stir. Finally add in the vanilla. Stir and serve.

Strawberry pie with Crumb topping

I had alot of frozen strawberries in the freezer so I decided to make this pie. This recipe is very simple and unlike most strawberry pies because it is baked.



What you will need

4 cups frozen strawberries
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup sugar
3 tsp cornstarch
2 tbsp butter

Topping
3/4 cup flour
3/4 brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
7 tbsp softened butter


Start by creaming your butter, flour, sugar and cinnamon together. When finished there will still be small pea size pieces of butter. Now mix your strawberries, flour, sugar and cornstarch together. Pour into your pie dish with your favorite pie crust recipe. Now take your crumb topping and pour over the top, place small dabs of butter on top of the crumbles.




Bake at 375* for 1 hour.

Easiest Pie crust

I found a variation of this pie crust on allrecipes.com, I changed a couple of ingredients. This recipe is so simple and very tasty. It can be made in minutes. If you would like to make this a savory pie crust, lower the sugar to 1 tsp and up the salt to 1 tsp. Also, try substituting olive oil for the vegetable oil.

What you will need

1 1/2 cups flour
2 tsp sugar
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup oil

Place your flour, sugar and salt into your pie dish, whisk together. Now add in your oil and mix with a fork. Once finished press into your pie dish and poke holes with a fork into the bottom. Bake at 400* for 15 minutes.

Italian Bread Bowls

This Italian bread recipe can be used as a loaf of bread or made into bread bowls. This simple recipe makes for a delicious and easy addition to any soup or stew.

What you will need

1 package yeast
1 1/2 cups water brought to 110*
1 tsp salt
1 tsp garlic powder
3 1/2 cups flour
1 tbsp oil

Egg Wash mixture
1 egg white
1 tbsp water

This is easiest made in a stand mixer with bread hook if you have it. If not a stand mixer is just fine! Begin by warming your water to 110* most faucets will produce water to this temperature. Pour yeast into water and allow to proof, this will take about 10 minutes and will become creamy looking. Now add in the salt, garlic powder and oil, then begin adding the flour 1/2 cup at a time.

Once everything is combined place on a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth, about 5 minutes. When finished kneading place in a oiled bowl, turn to coat and cover with a damp towel, place bowl in a warm area. Allow the dough to sit for about 40 minutes while it doubles in volume.



When this process has finished "punch" the dough down and split into 4 portions, about 4 in. in diameter. Now place on a lightly greased cookie sheet. Allow to sit for another 35 minutes, again allowing it to double in size.





Place in a preheated 400* oven and bake for 15 minutes. At 15 minutes take out and brush the egg wash mixture on top for browning, bake for another 15 minutes. Once finished baking allow to cool on a wire rack.