Bread Starter

I'm reading a novel and the main character is using a starter for her bread. Maybe I should also try using starters or at least a sponges for bread again.

White Bread

I had no work yesterday so I decided to make a batch of white bread using Grandma H's recipe. Of course I altered her recipe as usual- I usually add Canola oil to the recipe in place of the shortening, but I added less than normal (2 Tb) plus 4 Tb melted butter. I used 3 cups of warm water in this recipe and didn't add the usual mashed potato and potato water. Nonetheless it turned out very soft and flavorful. I guess the butter helped.

Mini Meatloaf Muffins

1 Lb Hamburger

1/2 Cup Bread Crumbs

1/4 Cup Milk

2 Eggs

1 Tb Onion Powder or 1/2 of an onion chopped fine

1 Tb Worcestershire Sauce

1/4 tsp Garlic Powder

1/2 tsp Mrs. Dash Original

TOPPING:

BBQ Sauce

Shredded Cheese

Mix meatloaf ingredients. Place 1/3 Cup in oil sprayed (12 count) Cup cake tins. I filled 11 compartments with the mixture.

Poke holes in center of meatloaves and fill with BBQ sauce and sprinkle with Cheese. bake at 400 degrees for 25 minutes.

Peanut Butter Eggs or Balls

8 oz Cream Cheese (room temp)

1/4 Pound Butter (1 stick) softened

1 Cup Peanut Butter

2 Lbs Confectioner's Sugar

1 Tb Milk

Thoroughly mix the Cream Cheese, softened butter and Peanut Butter with a mixer.

Now add the Confectioner's sugar a few cups at a time. It will form little lumps.

Now add the milk and continue to mix. Form into a ball and wrap with plastic.

Chill in fridge until ready to form into balls or eggs and dip in melted chocolate. I didn't use the melting chocolate discs because it cost abut $1.50 a bag extra. I'm using semi sweet and milk chocolate morsels. I will insert a toothpick in the balls to dip them. I suppose I should add a Tb shortening to the chocolate.

NOTE: If you want a stronger peanut butter flavor I suggest you add 1/4 cup more peanut butter and only use 4 TB butter.

Deboning Chicken Breasts

Thursday I bought split chicken breasts for $.99 a pound. I ended up with 10 nice sized breasts for just under $10.00. I spent a good 1/2 hour skinning and de-boning them. The skin and bones went in the freezer for chicken soup. I froze two packages of chicken but kept 3 breasts out for Sunday dinner tomorrow. What shall I make with it? I have no idea.

Sour Cream Cranberry Bars

BOTTOM LAYER
1 Cup Butter Softened

1 Cup Brown Sugar

2 Cups Quick Oatmeal

1 & 1/2 Cups Flour

1. Cream butter and sugar, add flour and oatmeal until crumbly looking. Reserve 1 and 1/2 Cups for topping.

2. Press remainder into a 9" X 13" glass baking dish. bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes or until light brown.

3. Now mix the middle layer and pour on top of the crust.

MIDDLE LAYER
1 Cup Sour Cream

3/4 Cup Sugar

1 Egg Beaten

2 heaping Tbs Flour

2 Cups dried Cranberries (Dried Cherries taste wonderful too)

1 Tb lemon Juice

1 tsp Vanilla Extract

Mix ingredients and pour over baked crust

TOP LAYER
Sprinkle the reserved crumbs on top and bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes.

Refrigerate leftovers or freeze.

NOTE: You can substitute the dried berries with 1 and 1/2 Cups coconut if you want. It might be easier if you pour the sour cream mixture all over the crust (tipping dish to completely cover it, then sprinkle the coconut on top.

Spinach Soup

I made Spinach Soup yesterday! The typical crock pot soup. Chicken broth, the carrot, onion, celery trinity, a potato and a bag of frozen spinach. I even pureed 3/4 of it. Seasoning as usual, it's not bad.. Actually I had no broth and used Soup base instead.