Bread

I, Linda Marie Aguirre, baked bread! I cannot believe it!!!! Never did I think the day would come that I would be able to bake my own bread. When Mario and I first got married I only knew how to make spaghetti (which he doesn't like) and ......well.....really just spaghetti. Poor Mario! Five years later I have become more comfortable cooking and baking, but have been scared to use yeast. Which is kinda funny since I worked as a chemist mixing concentrated acids, which are way scarier than yeast. Yeah, I'm crazy!

But my first attempt at bread went very well. Rachel, my really great friend from jr. high and high school, was visiting so she got to help and cheer me on.

This is a Kitchen Aid recipe so it is a little different. Here is the recipe:

Rapid Mix Cool Rise White Bread

Ingredients

6 to 7 cups all purpose flour

2 tbs. sugar

3 1/2 tsp. salt

3 packages active dry yeast

1/4 cup butter softened

2 cups very warm water

Directions

Place 5 1/2 cups flour, sugar, salt, yeast, and butter in mixer bowl. Attach bowl and dough hook to mixer. Turn to speed 2 and mix about 20 seconds. Gradually add warm water and mix about 1 1/2 minutes longer.

Continuing on speed 2, add remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time, and mix until dought clings to hook and cleans the side of bowl, about 2 minutes. Knead on speed 2 about 2 minutes longer.

Cover dough with plastic wrap and a towel. Let rest about 20 minutes.

Divide dough in half. On a lightly floured surface, roll each half into a 9x14 inch rectangle. Starting at short end roll tightly and pinch ends to seal.

Place in greased loaf pans. Brush each loaf with oil and cover loosely with plastic wrap. Refrigerate 2 to 12 hours.

When ready to bake, uncover dough carefully. Let stand at room temp. 10 minutes. Bake at 400 degrees for 35-40 minutes. Remove from pans immediatly and cool on wire racks.

SOOOOOO GOOD! This may just make me a regular bread maker!

Chicken and Broccoli Rice

So, we came home from church today VERY hungry....like all Sundays. All our meat is out in the garage freezer and we can't go out there...long story! Read my blog and I'll put the story there. So the only thing I had inside was chicken. So I throw some chicken in a pan and start some rice, without really knowing what I wanted to make. I just kept adding things I had and it actually ended up really good. In fact, Mario says it is one of his new favorites.

Ingredients

Chicken (boneless, skinless, cooked in pan with EVOO and cut up)

Brocolli (I used frozen and chopped, cooked according to directions)

1 Can Cream of Chicken

Few dollops of sour cream

A squeeze of lemon juice

parmesan cheese

salt and pepper (to taste)

onion flakes

garlic powder

Directions

In pan mix together cooked chicken and cooked brocolli, season with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Add some onion flakes, a generous sprinkle of parmesan cheese, and a squeeze of lemon juice. Add Cream of Chicken and sour cream. Heat through. Serve over white rice.

This is a super easy and quick meal. I served it with a green salad and raspberry lemonade.

Trilevel Brownies

Usually on Sunday's we eat right after church (about 1pm) and then I will make a dessert that afternoon for "dinner". Last week I made these Trilevel Brownies. Our friends Ned and Anelia came over so we relaxed and visited while eating brownies. These look hard to make but our really pretty easy. Adam even helped me....and by help I mean he ate a big chunk of butter when I wasn't watching!

Makes 32 Brownies

Ingredients

1 cup quick-cooking rolled oats

1/2 cup flour

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

1/4 tsp. baking soda

1/2 cup butter, melted

1 egg

3/4 cup granulated sugar

2/3 cup flour

1/4 cup milk

1/4 cup butter, melted

1 ounce unsweetened chocolate, melted and cooled ( I used Semi-sweet and it was great)

1 tsp. vanilla

1/4 tsp baking powder

1/2 cup chopped walnuts (I didn't use)

1 ounce unsweetened chocolate

2 tbs. butter

1 1/2 cups sifted powder sugar

1/2 tsp. vanilla

walnut halves (optional)

Directions

1. Bottom Layer:

Stir together oats, the 1/2 cup flour, the brown sugar, and baking soda. Stir in the 1/2 cup melted butter. Press mixture into bottom of an ungreased 11x7x1 1/2 inch baking pan. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 10 minutes.

2. Middle Layer:

Stir together egg, sugar, the 2/3 cup flour, milk, the 1/4 cup melted butter, 1 oz melted chocolate, the 1 tsp vanilla, and baking powder until smooth. Fold in chopped walnuts. Spread batter over baked layer in pan. Bake in the 350 degree oven about 25 minutes or until a wooden toothpick comes out clean. Place the pan on a wire rack while preparing top layer.

3. Top Layer:

In a medium saucepan heat and stir the 1 oz. chocolate and the 2 tbs. butter until melted. Stir in the powdered sugar and 1/2 tsp. vanilla. Stir in enough hot water (1 to 2 tbs.) to make a mixture that is almost pourable. Spread over brownies. If desired, garnish with walnut halves. Cool in pan on a wire rack. Cut into bars.

Enjoy!!!

Recipe from the Better Homes and Gardens New Baking Book

Mashed Potatoes

These are a very basic mashed potato. The only difference is how they are whipped with the kitchen aid. They are super smooth and fluffy....

Ingredients
5 large potatoes, peeled, quartered, and boiled
1/2 cup low fat milk, heated
2 tbs. butter
1 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. pepper

Directions
Warm mixer bowl and flat beater with hot water; dry. Place hot potatoes in bowl. Attach bowl and flat beater to mixer. Gradually turn to speed 2 and mix until smooth, about 1 minute.
Add all remaining ingredients. Turn to Speed 4 and beat until milk is absorbed, about 30 seconds. Gradually turn to Speed 6 and beat until fluffy, about 1 minute. Exchange flat beater for wire whip. Turn to Speed 10 and whip 2 to 3 minutes.

I served these with Shake N Bake Chicken and green beans. They are worth the extra time to beat and make fluffy.

Recipe from the KitchenAid Recipe Book

Banana Bread

The other day I was at Janice's house when her neighbor can over and gave us a huge box of bananas. I had so many bananas the only thing to do was make LOTS of delicous banana bread...my families favorite! This is a really great Martha Stewart recipe that Janice told me about. It is super moist from all the sour cream. I made a few loaves but also did some muffins. The muffins I individually wrap in seran wrap and freeze. Then when we are ready to eat I pop one in the microwave for about a minute and it tastes like it came right out of the oven. Yum-O!

Ingredients
Makes 1 loaf
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, at room temperature, plus more for pan
1 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 1/2 cups unbleached flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup mashed very ripe bananas
1/2 cup sour cream
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans (I didn't put these in)


Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 9-by-5-by-3-inch loaf pan; set aside. In an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, and beat to incorporate.
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt. Add to the butter mixture, and mix until just combined. Add bananas, sour cream, and vanilla; mix to combine. Stir in nuts, and pour into prepared pan.
Bake until a cake tester inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean, about 1 hour 10 minutes. Let rest in pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a rack to cool.

7 Layer Bean Dip

This is a recipe that my friend Janice taught me and I just changed it a little bit. The best part is that the salsa I used was our homemade canned salsa. Delish! Last friday night Mario and I decided to have a date night at home. I made this dip and we sat on the couch after the kids went to bed and ate while watching a movie. I was really fun to just relax at home with good food!

Ingrdients
Ground Sirloin
packet of Taco Seasoning Mix
1 can refried beans
LOTS of cheddar cheese shredded
Sour Cream
1 jar salsa
shredded lettuce
Avacado (diced)

Directions
1. Brown meat and season with Taco Seasoning Mix, add a little water and simmer
2. Put meat in small casserole dish and cover with beans. Heat in oven at 350 for half an hour or however long it takes for beans to get heated.
3. Take dish out of oven and cover beans with a layer of sour cream, a layer of salsa, and cheese. Place dish back in oven until the cheese in melted.
4. cover with shredded lettuce and avacado (you can also top with diced tomatoes, olives, red peppers, etc.)

Serve hot with tortilla chips!

Quick Mix Chocolate Cookies

I had to make cookies for a funeral and didn't want to run to the store. This is what I had in the house to make. They are OK cookies but not amazing or anything.

Ingredients
1 box Betty Crocker® SuperMoist® devil's food cake mix
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 eggs
1/4 cup sugar

Directions

1. Heat oven to 350°F. In large bowl, mix cake mix, oil, vanilla and eggs with spoon until dough forms.
2. Shape dough into 1-inch balls; roll in sugar. On ungreased cookie sheets, place balls about 2 inches apart.
3. Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until set. Cool 1 minute; remove from cookie sheets to cooling racks. Cool completely, about 30 minutes. Store tightly covered.

This is from www.bettycrocker.com

BBQ Pork

I've done lots of recipes but keep forgetting to write them down! Oh well....

Here is a good one that is great as a make ahead freezer meal as well.

Ingredients
1 large pork roast
a little bit of water
garlic salt and pepper
bottle of BBQ sauce (or you can make your own, but I like the store ones and it's easy that way)

Directions
Put the pork roast into a slow cooker. Season it with garlic salt and pepper. Pour a cup or so of water over it. Close lid and cook on high for 4-6 hours (I think I did 5 today, but if the roast is frozen it will take a lot longer). When cooked through shred with a fork and pour in BBQ. Let it cook a little longer with the BBQ sauce so the flavor will be absorbed.

This is great served over rice or as a sandwich with a crusty roll. Today we had it as a sandwich with homemade oven fries and corn. Very easy and yummy!

Chicken Pot Pie

This is my new favorite thing to make when I don't feel like cooking (that happens alot!). It is so easy but good enough to serve for Sunday dinner.

Ingredients
1 bag Frozen Mixed Vegetables (defrost)
1 cup cut-up cooked chicken (I used more)
1 can (10 3/4 ounces) condensed cream of chicken soup
1 cup Original Bisquick® mix
1/2 cup milk
1 egg

Directions

1.Heat oven to 400ºF. Mix vegetables, chicken and soup in ungreased glass pie plate, 9x1 1/4 inches.
2.Stir together remaining ingredients with fork until blended. Pour into pie plate.
3.Bake 30 minutes or until golden brown.

I topped it with Cheddar Cheese because it sounded good at the time. It can really go either way. I got this recipe from www.bettycrocker.com . This website is great. You can save a recipe box and even make a grocery list.

Chicken Alfredo Lasagna

I took a bunch of recipes for ideas and then put this together on my own. I was a little nervous but it turned out really well. Mario doesn't like ricotta cheese so I've been looking for a good lasagna without it and this worked perfect.

Ingredients

9 uncooked lasagna noodles
chicken, browned and cubed (I don't know how much I used...alot?)
1 onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic, chopped
1 (14.5 ounce) can chicken broth
1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary (I just used some dried)
1 (14 ounce) can artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
1 (10 ounce) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed, drained and squeezed dry
1 jar alfredo sauce
3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Spray a 9x13 inch baking dish with cooking spray.
Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add noodles and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain. Lay out on wax paper.
Spray a large skillet with cooking spray and heat on medium-high. Saute onion and garlic for 3 minutes, or until onion is tender-crisp. Stir in broth and rosemary; bring to a boil. Stir in artichoke hearts and spinach; reduce heat, cover and simmer 5 minutes. Stir in alfrdo sauce.
Spread 1/4 of the artichoke mixture in the bottom of the prepared baking dish; top with 3 cooked noodles. Sprinkle 3/4 cup mozzarella cheese over noodles. Repeat layers 2 more times, ending with artichoke mixture and mozzarella cheese.
Bake, covered, for 40 minutes. Uncover, and bake 15 minutes more, or until hot and bubbly. Let stand 10 minutes before cutting.

So Good!

White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies

These were so yummy! These are Mario's favorite cookies and I have always just bought them, but these were so easy and delicious I will never buy premade again.

Ingredients

1/2 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup shortening
1/2 cup white sugar
1 egg
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup white chocolate chips
7 ounces macadamia nuts, chopped
(I added a little almond extract)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C). Lightly grease cookie sheets.
2. Beat butter and shortening until soft and creamy. Gradually add the sugars and beat well.
3. Add egg and vanilla and beat well.
4. Combine flour, soda and salt; gradually add to butter mixture beating well after each addition. Stir in chips and nuts.
5. Drop dough by rounded teaspoonfuls onto lightly greased cookie sheets. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until done. Remove to wire racks to cool.

Recipe from AllRecipes.com (I LOVE this site!)

100 Recipes in 2009

I am way into New Years Goals! Last year I read 100 books, so this year I thought it would be fun to stick with the number 100 and do 100 recipes. I'm going to post each recipe here so I can keep track. I don't love cooking, but have to do it everyday as a stay-at-home mommy. So I figured that if I learned more recipes and maybe used some different techniques and ingredients I might learn to love cooking and baking. It's only been a couple of weeks and I am already enjoying it! Part of it may be because I got a new Kitchen Aid for Christmas and LOVE using it. So here is to a year of cooking!