Lasagna dutch oven Magnolia 2

 

Weekend Skillet Chili

 

Texas Sheet Cake

 it's a sin I don't have this blog posted.  From Aunt Shell custom cookbook for me.

Enjoy - A quick fast easy fam fav.  I've frozen and pulled out for easy no fuss dessert later on.

Mexican crinkle cookies

 

Came from A Taste of Home, in peachie and blogged here:

Robert Matthew Cowan my son loves these - easy, soft, chewy, and the hint of cinnamon are bomb.

Gingersnap Cookies - chewy dad's fav

 

3 cups sugar

2 1/4 cups shortening

3/4 cup molasses (dark color)

CREAM above 3 ingredients

add 3 eggs

add 6 cups of flour gradually

1 teaspoon salt (I always use kosher salt)

1 Tablespoon Cinnamon

1 Tablespoon Cloves

1 Tablespoon Ginger

2 Tablespoons baking soda

Roll in a ball (or medium cookie scoop) roll in sugar

Makes a lot (medium scoop 6 dozen)

Do Not grease pan

bake 350 for 8-10 min.  You take out when they get lines in them

something extra add a Hersey's kiss on top when out of the oven.  My dad's fav and his 40th birthday treat! 

ENJOY

Lion House Bakery Challah Braid

 Awesome - My kids favorite of late.  Made RS Christmas dinner 12.2.25

Recipe makes 2 loaves

I double the recipe in my Bosch and make 4 loaves on 2 sheet pans. One loaf gives me aprox. 15-17 slices, but I prefer just to rip hunks of this amazing bread with softened butter.  Comfort and deliciousness at it's finest.

1 Tablespoon dry yeast

1.5 cups water (110-115 degrees)

1/4 cup granulated sugar

1/4 cup vegetable oil

1 teaspoon salt

2 eggs, beaten well

Pinch of saffron (optional)

  (Saffron maybe more for looks than taste unless you go to Turkey and buy fresh if so bring me some!)

4.5-5 cups flour

1 egg yolk, beaten well

1/4 teaspoon water

Sesame seeds / Poppy seeds / or Everything but the Bagel seasoning

sea salt fancy touch

corn meal optional

Place yeast and water in a large bowl.  Stir slightly to dissolve.  Add sugar, oil, salt, beaten eggs, saffron, and 2.5 cups flour.  Beat well.  Add enough remaining flour to make a soft dough and knead until smooth.(Remember slightly sticky dough makes very awesome bread but you don't want super sticky as that is too hard to shape post rising)  Place in a greased bowl.  Cover and let rise until double in bulk (1-2 hours).  Punch down dough and divide into 6 pieces.  Roll each piece into a long rope 18-20'' long x 1'' diameter.  Braid three of the ropes together. (Online other great braiding / knot ideas).  Repeat with the remaining 3 pieces of dough. Place on a greased cookie sheet sprinkled with some corn meal (think it gives it a fancy elevated easy touch).  .  Mix egg yolk with 1/4 teaspoon water and brush over braids. (Heather uses an entire egg with 1 Tablespoon of water)  Sprinkle with seasame seeds/poppy seeds & sea salt or fav salt. (or Trader Joe's everything but the bagel seasoning for a punch of flavor)

Cover (with a towel or spray plastic wrap with Pam) and let rise 45+ min. (usually doubles in size) You'll get a feel for the rise depending on the season / your warmth in your room etc.

(unique to have eggs / with yeast in a bread more of a "roll" thing to do, so this bread is extra fluffy and yum)

Bake 350 for around 20 min.

some braid techniques

Spring Mix fruit salad and balsamic

 

2 cups candied walnuts (I buy the candied walnuts from Trader Joe's or candy above but no one has time for this I love Trader Joe's the most!)

12 oz. crumbled Gorgonzola Cheese

20 oz. Spring Mix

2 cups seedless red grapes

2 stalks of celery

2 granny smith apples

Clean and cut grapes in half, core and cut apples into bite size pieces.  Dice celery and combine with spring mix.  Before serving toss with grapes, walnuts, and Gorgonzola cheese.  Top with Sweet Balsamic Dressing to taste.

Sweet Balsamic:

1/2 cup sugar

1/4 cup. balsamic vinegar

1/3 medium red onion (dice in food processor)

3 cloves garlic

1/3 cup rice vinegar

1/2 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. pepper

juice of 1 lime

1/4 cup Parmesan Cheese

2 Tablespoons sour cream (love the touch of sour cream with oil and vinegar, makes this dressing one of my fav's)

1/2 cup vegetable oil

Mix together in a blender and chill in a glass shaker jar (I use old washed spaghetti sauce/jam jars etc.)