Sunday!!!

Well,  here we are again at the beginning of a new week..  Not sure if I would say today was a good new beginning or not..  I woke up not feeling well this morning and while at work have gotten progressively worse.  Then my BekahBoo came into work at 7:30 and she wasn't feeling well..  I know my child isn't feeling well when she asks me to make Chicken noodle soup,  because she is a vegetarian..  so I now have a huge pot of Chicken noodle soup simmering on the stove..   just have to add the chicken and noodles..   Then it will be dinnertime..   For me,  I am going to spend the rest of the afternoon resting...  It's been a very long day already!!!!  Will post the recipe and pictures later for the soup!!! 

It's the weekend!!!

Woohoo,   it's Saturday!!!  For me I say so what..  It is my weekend to work and it is going to be a brutal weekend..  LOVE IT!!!!!   Not really..  The schedule for the week of Thanksgiving/Black Friday came out and I am not disappointed..   I pull a mid Wednesday,  which I am glad of and I close on Friday..  so it all works out well..  :)   I will just have to plan my preparation for Thanksgiving around my Wednesday...  I am very happy..   I miss being in the bakery this year though.. I miss making Thanksgiving cupcakes...   I can talk food 24/7..  and I really loved being over there last year..  It makes me yearn to have my own coffee shop/cafe/bakery!!!   Not sure what will be for dinner tonight..  I do have some frozen Vegetable Barley soup that I could pull out and we could have..  maybe some grilled cheese to go with it..  Ok,  well off to finish getting ready for work..  I hope everyone has a fabulous day!!!!

Spaghetti Carbonara

Spaghetti Carbonara

1 pound spaghetti.  I use whole wheat
1/2 pound bacon, sliced crosswise into 1/2-inch pieces
3 large eggs
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus extra for serving (optional)
Freshly ground black pepper
 

Bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat and cook the spaghetti. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, cook the bacon over medium-low heat until just crispy, 8 to 10 minutes. Skim off some of the fat. Drain the pasta, add to the bacon in the pan, and toss to combine. 

Whisk together the eggs, cheese, and pepper in a small bowl. Pour into the pasta, and combine thoroughly. Serve immediately with extra grated cheese, if desired.

Thanksgiving Dinner Rolls

Years ago I made the mistake of making homemade dinner rolls for Thanksgiving.   Ever since my children say it isn't the holiday's without them.   A lot of people don't understand until they get to taste one.  

Dinner Rolls

2 pkgs. yeast or 5 tsp yeast
1c. plus 2Tbsp sugar
1 1/2c warm water.  about 100 to 110 degrees.  you don't want it hot,  it will kill the yeast.
1c. milk
1/2c. butter
2 eggs
2tsp salt
8 1/2 to 9 c all purpose flour or bread flour or a combination of whole wheat flour and all purpose or bread.  Use a little more all purpose or bread than wheat because the wheat flour will make the rolls heavy.

In a big bowl dissolve yeast in 1/2 c. warm water and add the 2tbsp sugar,  let sit for about 5 minutes until you see the yeast start to grow.   While the yeast is proofing, melt your butter into the milk.  I use the microwave and do it for a minute at a time in a glass measuring cup.  Make sure the milk doesn't get to hot.  you can also do this in a pan on the stove.   Beat the eggs in a bowl and add the salt.  When the yeast is bubbling then add the 1c. sugar, the milk, butter mixture slowly,  then add the warm water and the eggs and salt.  Stir well and then add 3 cups of the flour and mix adding 1 c of flour at a time mixing after each addition.  When a soft dough forms dust your counter with flour and put dough in the middle,  add more flour to the top and start kneading for 5 to 10 minutes until the dough is firm and elastic.   Grease a bowl with oil and place dough in it.  Rolling it around to coat entire surface with the oil.  cover with either plastic wrap or a clean dish towel and let rise for 1 to 1 1/2 hours until doubled in size.   Punch dough down and pull out into a floured surface.   cut into 3 equal parts and working with one at a time,  roll into a circle until about 10 to 12 inches in diameter and then using a pizza cutter cut into 8  equal pieces,  roll into crescent shapes and place on a greased pan,  repeat with other dough and again allow to rise for 45 minutes to an hour until doubled in size.  make sure when you are placing them on the pans that you give them room to double.   Bake in a 350 degree oven for 10 to 15 minutes.  

These rolls are a lot of work,  but the taste is amazing and since I got my KitchenAid mixer it does most of the work for me.   I was never taught how to make yeast breads..  it was something that I researched for a while and taught myself how.  I love it,  the smell and end product when it comes out the way you envision.  :)   I will be posting pics of everything on Thanksgiving!!! 

I am including a website with a step by step method with pics for bread making for those of you who aren't familiar with the process..
http://baking.about.com/library/weekly/aa020100.htm
You can also do your own research on bread baking..  and I hope it if is something that intrigues you that you try it.  

It's Thursday!!!

Sorry I didn't get around to posting Thanksgiving recipe's yesterday,  I will definitely get to that today and will post a dinner recipe also.  I hope everyone has been having a terrific week.  It has been absolutely gorgeous!!!   I will write more later...  I promise!!!

Good Wednesday morning!!!

Good morning!!!  I hope that everyone is well!!!  Are you ready for Thanksgiving??   Does the thought of it just make you crazy??  The answer is planning!!  I know planning is boring and no fun,  but it also helps you to not be so exhausted and frustrated..   I started my planning about 6 weeks ago with the menu, ingredients,  when I wanted to do as much prep as possible with chopping vegetables, etc.     Years ago after my mom passed away I realized I didn't have any of her recipe's written down,  and I didn't want to do that to my own children, so I started a holiday notebook,  and this year I have started working on the first copy,  in my own handwriting to give to my son and his wife for Christmas.   I hope they like it.     Ok,  off to shower..   I will post more Thanksgiving recipes later today.   Take care all and have a wonderful day!!!

Chocolate Snicker cookies (Chocolate Snicker Cookies)

Chocolate Snicker Cookies

1/2 c. butter
1/4 c. peanut butter
1/2 c. sugar
1/2 c. packed brown sugar
2 eggs
1 1/2 c. all purpose flour
1/2 c. cocoa powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
5 snack size snicker bars, chopped

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Cream butter, peanut butter, sugar and brown sugar in a mixing bowl,  add eggs 1 at a time,  beating well after each until well incorporated.  Turn off mixer and add the flour, cocoa and baking soda,  turn on low and mix until all the flour is incorporated and a soft dough is formed.   Depending on humidity you may have to add a little more flour as needed.  Add the chopped snickers and mix well.   Roll into 1 inch balls and roll into sugar,  place on greased cookie sheets and bake for 8 to 10 minutes.   Makes about 3 dozen.   

I like my cookies soft and chewy so I bake them for 8 minutes and remember the longer the oven is on the hotter it gets..