No-Fail Yeast Bread

I made bread! I found this recipe off of the KSL news website and it looked easy enough for me. It has "No-Fail" in the title of the recipe so I thought that if I failed then bread making isn't for me. To tell you the truth I have made bread a few times before. I have practiced making my Grandma's Wheat Bread and it isn't until recently that I think I finally got it down. Like I said, "Don't give up. Pick yourself up and try again." This is Delicious bread and seriously easy to make.

No-Fail Yeast Bread

Ingredients:
· 5 cups warm water
· 1/4 cup oil
· 1 1/2 Tbl. salt
· 1 cup honey, or 3/4 cup sugar
· 3 Tbl. yeast
· 3 Tbl. dough enhancer, (optional)
· 11-14 cups flour

Method:
This recipe is easiest if a large mixer is used. If a mixer is unavailable, dough maybe kneaded by hand. Combine water, oil, salt, sugar (or honey) and dough enhancer. Add yeast, mix. Stir in enough flour to make a soft dough. Knead for 8 - 10 min. Flour hands and remove from mixer. Divide into 4 parts. Shape each part into a loaf and place into greased loaf pans. Cover and allow to rise until dough is 1 inch above pan. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Bake 30 min.

The above pictures is what my husband calls "Poor Man's Shish Kabobs." Because of our recent weather we couldn't BBQ. So He threw all the ingredients for the Shish Kabobs in a Casserole dish. We had chicken and steak, that was left soaking in sauce, pineapples, mushrooms, green peppers and onions all mixed in the dish. We lined the pan with Foil and baked it on 400 degrees. I think it took about an hour. A little longer than we had hoped. The chicken wasn't cooking fast enough. Anyway, it was delicous along side the bread I made. You can cook up some rice to go with this dish as well.

Mini Chocolate Tarts

DELICIOUS!!!

I must admit I found this new website and found this delicious recipe. You really need to check out http://www.stephanieskitchen.com/ It is absolutely awesome. She has some great recipes. While I was making them I think I recall my friend Bobbi had made something like this. I doubled the recipe and it made A LOT! They are great. You can top them off with strawberries or raspberries or just plain, like I did.

Mini Chocolate Tarts makes 24 tarts

1 box chocolate cake mix
1 egg
1/2 cup melted butter1
3.4 oz box instant chocolate pudding
1 cup half and half
1 8 oz container cool whip

1. In a large bowl, mix together the cake mix, egg and butter until smooth. Scoop batter 2/3rds full into a mini muffin tin sprayed with non stick spray. Bake at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes or until the edges are set. Immediately press down the centers of the cups using a tart shaper or a plastic lid of a soda bottle. Cool completely.2. In a medium bowl, mix the pudding with the half and half until smooth. Fold in the cool whip. Spoon or pipe into the cups and top with a fresh strawberry or raspberry.

Chicken Enchiladas

This is a very delicious recipe. I don't make it very often because I don't always have the right ingredients on hand and then I forget to buy them while I am out. I suggest to DOUBLE or TRIPLE the recipe because if you don't you won't have enough. At least that is how I have experienced it. We did triple it the other night because we brought dinner into someone and we definitely had enough with a little extra we placed in the freezer.

(Sorry about the plate...I forgot to take a picture of it the night before and this was leftover at lunch the next day so I was using a snowman plate! :/ )

Chick Enchiladas

1 can Cream of Chicken soup
1/2 cup sour cream
2 Tblsp. margarine
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 tsp. chili powder
2 cups cooked chicken
1 can green chilies (diced or chopped)
1 can of mushrooms (I don't add unless Corey makes me put it on a few of them.)
8 flour tortillas (I use the ones they make at Walmart. If you use bigger shells you will probably not get 8 completed.)
Shredded cheese

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Stir together the soup and sour cream in a seperate bowl until smooth. In a saucepan over medium heat, cook onion and chili powder in hot margarine. Stir in chicken, mushrooms, chilies and 2 tablespoons of soup mixture. Remove from heat. Spread 1/4 cup of mixture along center of tortilla. Roll and place seam down in greased baking dish. Spread remaining mixture over enchiladas. Cover with foil and bake for 15 minutes. Uncover and sprinkle with cheese for 5 more minutes. ENJOY!

Now remember to at least double this recipe. It'll be a hit.

Chicken Taco Pie

I seriously don't know why this recipe is called Chicken Taco Pie. It is not made in a pie pan nor does it resemble a pie. This is just what I know it as. This is a hit with my family except child number three who thinks everything I put in front of him lately is "YUCK." He did used to eat it and want more but for some reason he has decided he doesn't like anything right now. Anyway, here is the recipe along with some pictures that may help or hinder the process.

Chicken Taco Pie

4-6 Flour Taco Shells
1 1/2 - 2 pounds of Chicken Breasts (Boiled in water and cut up into pieces)
2 cans cream of mushroom soup
1 cup sour cream
3/4 - 1 cup salsa (to your liking)
1 - 1 1/2 cups grated cheddar cheese

Boil the chicken on medium for about an hour or until well cooked. Rinse off, cut up, and set aside. In a bowl mix in the cans of Cream of Mushroom soup, sour cream, and salsa. I also mix in a bit of the cheddar cheese just for fun. Once that is all mixed up add the chicken and mix in. Spray a 9x13 pan with PAM or whatever you use. Tear up your flour taco shells and layer on the bottom. It usually takes about two shells or more to cover the bottom. Next, take half the chicken mixture and spread over the first layer of shells. Then shred about two more taco shells over chicken layer. After that add the remaining chicken mixture and spread until even. Sprinkle top with cheese. Cook at 325 degrees for 30 minutes.

If the instructions confused you a bit here are pictures in the order of how the layers should be.

THE FINAL PRODUCT

WARNING!!! HEALTH TIPS!

Now remember, I warned you.

I told you when I started this it wasn't going to be all about recipes. I'm doing this to serve you up some of my favorite things.

Anyway, a few years ago I lost 40 pounds. This was back in 2004. I had a couple different work out videos that I would do on occasion but nothing really would work. Of couse I was very impatient, as I am now. I wanted results and I wanted them NOW! There was a certain talk show host that was concentrating on weight loss that year. He, I mean this host, had books out and plans. Well, I did get a book or two of this particular host. I hate fish and a lot of diet plans have this so I just stuck to what I eat on a regular basis but on a smaller scale. Basically, it came down to eat what you want but in smaller portions. I really liked the fact the we were allowed to have chocolate too. I started watching my portion sizes but allowed myself the sweet stuff too. On top of all this I decided to try out a new work out video. What could it hurt? The only problem was it was just the bar and videos it included. It was a step aerobics program. Here is their FREE advertisement.

THE FIRM is what I decided to start doing. I had to adjust a bit. I didn't have the steps. So, I used my stools that I had in my house. Probably not the smartest thing to do and I am not recommending it so don't hold me responsible if you decide to do something so irresponsible. One or two of the videos I had to use a chair to support myself when doing weights. They use the "Fanny lifter" for these routines. The stool was too low so I had to once again improvise. All I can say is that I am a HUGE believer in THE FIRM. I am doing it all again now. The only difference is that I have the actual steps a.k.a Fanny Lifter. This definitely is one of my favorite things.

Now, I know you all have your favorite work out routines, videos, or whatever. JUST....STICK...TO IT!!!! I will be the first to admit that I am extremely frustrated right now. I just have to tell myself that I am building muscle and the weight will start coming off. It happened five years ago. Since then I had two more kids and now I am working at getting all that weight off again. It will take time. DON'T....GIVE...UP!!! Once the weather is nice I will be going out for my walks again as well. Keep it going even if you don't see results. Something is happening but it might not show it on the scales just yet. These things do take time. I will be reading this over and over to remind myself of that. Good Luck to any of you who chose to be healthier as one of your New Years Resolution. I started this off before the New Year but I plan to stick to it. I will report back every so often. Maybe this will motivate me. My goal, if my body will allow it, is to lose 50 pounds by the end of the year. I'll be fine with 40 but it really would be nice to lose that extra 10.

Hot Fudge Sauce

I am finally getting around to posting this requested recipe. I am such a slacker.

Good Luck with this one. I grew up with this yummy sauce drizzled over our ice-cream. It is delicious. It is even better when you put the leftovers in the fridge and occasionaly sneak a scoop and eat it straight from the spoon. Sh...don't tell anyone! ;)

Hot Fudge Sauce

1 cup sugar
2 Tbsp. Cocoa

Cook this on low for a few minutes while stirring.

Add in:

7/8 cup evaporated milk (WHAT??? you say. I said the same thing. It is between 3/4 cup and 1 cup).
2 Tbsp. butter

Stir it and when it starts to boil turn it down and stir for a few more minutes.

ENJOY!

Brownies

I have had a request to post the recipe I use for brownies. There are actually a few different ones I use but this one is REALLY easy. I LOVE this one. I don't really care to buy boxed brownies. Don't get me wrong, I will still eat them when given the chance. I just really like making them from scratch. If anyone has read the comment from a previous post it does not call for "Nine parts crack." Although, he sent me rolling on the ground with that comment. Here is your recipe:

EASY DOUBLE CHOCOLATE CHIP BROWNIES

2 cups (12 ounce package) Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips, divided
1/2 cup butter or margarine cut into pieces
3 eggs
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup sugar
1/4 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional---I have never used them)

MELT 1 cup chocolate chips and butter in large, heavy saucepan over low heat; stir until smooth. Remove from heat. Add eggs; stir well. Add flour, sugar, baking soda and vanilla; stir well. Stir in remaining 1 cup chocolate chips (and nuts if wanted). Spread into greased 13 x 9-inch baking pan.

BAKE in preheated 350 degree oven for 18 to 22 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out with fudgy crumbs. Cool completely. Cut into squares (or just grab a fork and eat straight from the pan.) ;)

Note: I have also added Reese's Peanut Butter chips to this recipe when adding in the remaining chocolate chips. You can adjust accordingly. It adds a delicious twist.

The picture above may look like a boring old pan of brownies. Now, picture making it festive topped with Peppermint ice-cream and chocolate sauce drizzled on it.

YUMMY!!!

(Please note that this is not my own recipe. It is just one that I really enjoy making.)