Best White Bread

 Best White Bread

Ingredients:

1 TBSP plus 1 1/2 tsp Active Dry Yeast

2 1/4 c Warm Water (110-115 degrees)

3 TBSP plus 2 tsp Honey

4 TBSP unsalted butter, melted (or 1/4 c Light Olive Oil)

7 c Bread Flour

2 TBSP Sea Salt

Directions:

1.  In the bowl of a stand mixer, put 1/2 cup of warm water. Sprinkle yeast on top. Add 2 tsp honey. Whisk until yeast dissolves. Let stand until foamy, about 5 min. Add butter or oil and remaining water & honey. Whisk flour with salt; Add 3 cups to yeast mixture. Mix on low with dough hook attachment until smooth. Add remaining 4 cups of flour, one cup at a time, mixing until dough comes away from the sides of the bowl and forms a smooth, elastic ball, about 7 minutes.

2. Remove the dough from the bowl, shape into a ball. Oil the bowl of the stand mixer. First, place the ball in top down, then flip it over in the bowl, so that the dough is coated in oil; Cover in plastic wrap.

3. Let dough stand in a warm place until doubled in size (about 1 hour). Punch down dough. Divide in half.

4. Shape each half into a boule by folding each side into the bottom middle until the boule is even and smooth. Transfer to a large baking sheet covered in parchment paper. Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Drape the loaves in plastic. Let stand until dough nearly doubles again (about 45 minutes). Reduce oven temperature to 400 degrees. Bake on the middle rack until tops are golden brown, about 35-40 minutes. Transfer to wire racks. Cool completely before slicing.

Cottage Cheese Cookie Dough

Ingredients:

2 c Low Fat Cottage Cheese

1/4 c Sugar or Maple Syrup

1 TBSP Vanilla Extract

2 c Almond Flour

1/2 c Orgain Vanilla Protein Powder (about 2 1/2 scoops)

1 c Dark Chocolate Chips

Directions:

1. In a blender, combine cottage cheese, sweetener, and vanilla in high until very smooth. Transfer to a large bowl.

2. Add protein powder and almond flour to cottage cheese mixture and stir until well incorporated

3. Fold in chocolate chips

Nutrition information:

Per half cup serving:

Calories - 269

Fat - 16g

Carbohydrates - 24g

Protein - 9g

Chocolate Zucchini Muffins

 Chocolate Zucchini Muffins

Ingredients:

3 c AP Flour

1 c Dutch Process Cocoa

2 tsp Baking Powder

1 tsp  Baking Soda

1 tsp Salt

1 c Light Olive Oil

1 c Milk

4 Large Eggs

Vanilla (Measure with your heart)

1 c Granulated Sugar

1/2 c Brown Sugar, lightly packed

3 c Grated Zucchini, drained

1 c Semi-sweet Chocolate Chips, optional

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray muffin tins with non-stick cooking spray. Set aside.

2. In a large bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cocoa.

3. In another bowl, combine oil, milk, eggs, vanilla, and sugars. Stir in zucchini.

4. Add wet ingredients to the dry and stir until just combined. Fold in chocolate chips if using.

5. Fill the prepared muffin tins until the cups are 3/4 full.

6. Bake for 20-22 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool in pans for 5 minutes. Remove to wire racks until completely cool.

 

Meatball Stroganoff

Meatballs:

2lbs Lean Ground Beef

1 cup Italian Bread Crumbs

Salt & Pepper to taste

1/3 cup Milk

Sauce:

2 Tbsp Olive Oil

2 Tbsp Butter

1 Medium Onion, Halved & thinly sliced

3 Cloves of Garlic, Minced

2 4oz Cans of Sliced Mushrooms (or equivalent of fresh sliced mushrooms)

1 Tbsp Paprika

4 Tbsp AP Flour

2 cups Beef Broth

8oz Sour Cream

For Serving:

Egg Noodles

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Mix together all meatball ingredients until well combined. Form into 36 1" balls (I use a scoop to keep them uniform). Place on a large baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake for 25-30 minutes.

2. Place olive oil and butter into a large frying pan over medium heat. When butter is melted, add the onions and mushrooms. Gently cook until the onions are softened and translucent. Add garlic and paprika and cook until fragrant. Sprinkle flour over the vegetables and stir to combine.  Slowly add beef broth, stirring, until thickened. Add 1/2-1 cup of the sauce to the sour cream and stir (this warms it to keep it from splitting). Add the sour cream mixture to the sauce and stir to combine. Remove from heat.

3. To serve, place meatballs over egg noodles and pour the sauce over top.

Christmas Joy and Culture Building

We, as women, are in a very unique position in building culture. As keepers of the home, we have the glorious task of shaping and making the people in our care. This takes on special meaning and weight during the Advent and Christmas seasons.

The Advent and Christmas seasons are a time of great anticipation - a time of looking forward to and then celebrating our coming King. We are in the distinct position of putting hands and feet on this. If we are intentional, we can train our people in joy. We can spread joy around like glitter with special activities, treats, and foods. We can give our people a small taste of eternity in the here and now.

We don't do this to gain glory for ourselves - to have beautiful crafts, delicious treats, and charming photos to share on social media. We don't do this as an end to itself, like our annual material overindulgence. We do this because our God is love and His coming is joyous. This is the training ground where we learn to look in anticipation to the coming of the Lord and learn to celebrate His coming.

If we are not careful, we can see these activities, foods, and the like as small and insignificant - not that important. Nothing could be further from the truth! Luke 13:20-21 says that the kingdom of God is like leaven - such a small thing. As anyone who has made bread knows, it takes a tiny bit of yeast to grow great loaves of bread. It is precisely these "little things" that take hold in our souls & the souls of our children that grow and spread, expand God's kingdom and establish culture. We sow these things in faith knowing God will grow our small offerings into big things in our children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, our church community, and His kingdom at large.

This won't look the same for every family. Build your culture in your home. Start where you are, being careful not to compare your beginning with someone else's middle. You can certainly use others' ideas as a jumping off point. But, if your family doesn't like gingerbread, don't force it. If they aren't into crafts, find something that brings joy to the family God has given you. If there's a treat you love and they don't, give it up joyfully. Hold all things loosely. There should be an attitude of "get to" not "have to." We are building anticipation and celebration, not dread. If you aren't sure where to start, ask your husband, your family, or other ladies in the community. 

So ladies, this Advent and Christmas season, fill your homes with wonderful scents and tastes. Swell its walls with love and laughter. Spread joy. Grow God's kingdom, looking forward in faith to the growing kingdom God promises to bring about with our tiny offerings of cookies, games, glitter, and colorful packages.

 

Stove top Candied Walnuts

 

Ingredients 

¼ cup white sugar

¼ cup brown sugar

½ teaspoon salt

¼ teaspoon cinnamon 

2 tablespoons vanilla

2 cups walnut halves

2 tablespoons butter

Instructions

• Prepare baking sheet or tray lined with parchment paper. Set aside.
• In a skillet or pot over medium heat, combine brown sugar, white sugar, butter, salt, cinnamon and vanilla. Stir occasionally. It will start turning into a dark syrup once the butter has melted and sugar caramelized. Once the sugar is no longer grainy, reduce heat to low and stir in the walnuts.
• Quickly stir walnuts until evenly coated. Try to separate each walnut while stirring. This is easily done if walnuts are not overcrowded.
• Pour candied walnuts on prepared tray with parchment paper. Quickly separate walnuts before the caramel hardens using two wooden spoons. 
• Allow walnuts to cool completely. Break apart any remaining clumps. Store in an airtight container for up to three weeks.

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Protein Bites

1 cup oats (uncooked)

1 cup creamy peanut butter

3 scoops vanilla protein powder

2 TBSP honey

4 TBSP mini chocolate chips

Combine all ingredients in a bowl. Use a small scoop to scoop out and form into a ball. Enjoy!

Yield 16 bites

Per one bite:

154 calories

12.8g carbs

9.8g fat

6.6g protein

2g fiber