Breadsticks

1 ½ cups warm water
1 tablespoon instant yeast
2 tablespoons sugar
3 ½ cups flour (I usually use a combination of unbleached all-purpose flour and white whole wheat flour but use whatever you have on hand!)
½ teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons butter, melted (for the baking sheet)

Mix all ingredients (except melted butter) in a large bowl or electric mixer and knead for three minutes. Let the dough rest for 10 minutes. Heat oven to 375 degrees. Spread melted butter onto an 11X17-inch baking sheet. Roll out the breadstick dough about 1/4 to 1/2-inch thick and cut into strips with a pizza cutter. Twist slightly if desired and place about 1/2-inch apart on the baking sheet. Sprinkle with garlic salt, herbs of choice (I vary this depending on my mood but it usually consists of rosemary, basil, or thyme in some form and crushed finely) and parmesan cheese. Cover with greased plastic wrap and let rise 30 minutes. Bake 15-20 minutes at 375 degrees until golden brown.

Stuffed Bread Sticks

• 1 t. yeast
• 1 t. sugar
• 3/4 c. warm water
• 1/4 c. olive oil
• 1/2 t. salt
• 1/2 t. Italian seasoning, optional
• 2-3 c. flour
• 8 mozzarella string cheese sticks, cut in half
• 32 slices pepperoni
• 2 T. butter or margarine, melted
• Optional topping: 2 t. Parmesan cheese, 1/2 t. each garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt

1. Let yeast and sugar dissolve in warm water in a large mixing bowl for about 5 minutes. Add olive oil, 1/2 t. salt and optional 1/2 t. Italian seasoning. Slowly add the flour until completely combined and dough is no longer sticky. Knead for 5 minutes, place in a greased bowl, cover and let rise for 1 hour.

2. On a floured surface, roll dough into a rectangle. (I don’t have any good measurements for you here besides saying not too thin and not too think.) Cut into 16 squares. At the edge of each square, place one piece of mozzarella and two pieces of pepperoni. Roll up and tuck in sides. Be sure to seal well to cut down on cheese melting out during the baking process. Place on a baking sheet. Repeat until done.

3. Drizzle or brush melted butter or margarine over each mini bread stick. If desired, combine the optional topping ingredients in a small bowl and sprinkle on top. Bake at 375 degrees for 15-20 minutes, until golden brown.

I made these into mini bread sticks because I thought that would be fun for the kids. However, you can definitely make full sized ones and keep the string cheese whole.

Tips for freezing pizza dough -

Several people have asked how I freeze pizza dough. I bet there are tons of different answers to this question, so this is just what works best for me.

I prepare the dough as directed and let it rise. Then I punch it down and divide into portions, if needed. I flatten each portion into a disc shape, then I place it in a freezer bag and freeze.

When I’m ready to use the dough, I remove it from the plastic bag and place in an oiled bowl. I cover it with a towel until it’s completely thawed and then use as if fresh. I haven’t run into any problems with doing it this way and the dough always tastes as good as fresh.

My Go-To Cornbread

Printable Version

½ cup cornmeal
1 ½ cup flour
2/3 cup sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
1/3 cup oil
3 tablespoons butter, melted
2 eggs, beaten
1 ¼ cup milk

Add dry ingredients, make a well and add oil, butter, eggs, and milk into the center. Stir until just mixed (batter will be runny - don't be alarmed!). Bake in an 8” square pan at 350 degrees for 35 minutes. This doubles perfectly for a 9X13-inch pan.

Cheese Rolls with Buttery Parmesan Crust

Printable Version

**If you double the recipe, don't double the amount of yeast - it should stay the same as in the original recipe**

Dough:
4 1/2 teaspoons instant yeast
1/2 cup warm water
1 cup lukewarm milk
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1/4 cup butter, softened
1/3 cup sugar
1 teaspoon salt
5-6 cups unbleached all-purpose flour

Filling:
8 ounces cheddar or pepperjack cheese, cut into 15 cubes

Topping:
2 tablespoons butter
1/4 cup Italian-flavored bread crumbs
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
1 egg yolk beaten with 1 tablespoon water

For the dough, combine all the ingredients and mix and knead until you have a soft, elastic dough (don't add too much flour - the key to soft dinner rolls is a soft dough!). Place the dough in a lightly greased bowl and cover, letting rise in a warm place for 20-30 minutes.

Prepare a 9X13-inch pan by lightly greasing the bottom and sides with butter or nonstick cooking spray. Deflate the dough and divide into 15 pieces. Shape the pieces of dough into rounds and punch a cube of cheese from the bottom up into the center of each piece. Pinch the dough tightly together to close the bottom. Place the rolls, pinched side down, in the prepared baking pan. Cover and let rise again for another 15 to 20 minutes, or until nearly doubled.

While the rolls are rising, melt the butter and stir in bread crumbs and parmesan cheese. Set aside.

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. When the rolls have risen, brush the tops with the egg yolk beaten with water. Sprinkle tops of rolls liberally with the bread crumb mixture. Bake for 15 to 18 minutes, until the tops of the rolls are nicely browned. Remove from the pan immediately and cool on a rack. Serve warm.

Lion House Dinner Rolls

from The Lion House

2 tablespoons active-dry yeast
2 cups warm water
1/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup butter or shortening
1 egg
2 1/2 teaspoons salt
2/3 cup nonfat dry milk
5-6 cups flour

In the large bowl of an electric mixer, combine yeast and water. Let stand 5 minutes. Add sugar, shortening, salt, dry milk, 2 cups flour and egg. Beat together until very smooth. Add remaining flour gradually (about 1/2 cup at a time) until a soft but not sticky dough is formed. Turn dough onto a lightly floured board and knead until it is smooth and satiny (I simply use my very-well-loved Bosch mixer to knead for me). Return dough to an oiled bowl and cover to let rise until doubled.

Separate dough into three portions. Roll out each portion into a circle and cut into 8 pie-shaped pieces (or 12 pieces if you want smaller rolls). Roll up crescent-style and place on baking sheet (I line mine with a silpat liner or parchment paper). Cover with saran wrap that has been sprayed with nonstick cooking spray and let rise until doubled, about 45 minutes. Bake at 375 degrees for 12 minutes - until nicely browned. Makes 2-3 dozen rolls.

*Freezable: I freeze the baked rolls in freezer-safe ziploc bags. I microwave the frozen rolls (about 6 at a time) for 2 minutes before serving.

French Bread Rolls

adapted from allrecipes.com

1 1/2 cups warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
1 tablespoon active dry yeast
2 tablespoons white sugar
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 teaspoon salt
4 cups all-purpose flour

In a large bowl, stir together warm water, yeast, and sugar. Let stand until creamy, about 10 minutes.

To the yeast mixture, add the oil, salt, and 2 cups flour. Stir in the remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time, until the dough has pulled away from the sides of the bowl. Turn out onto a lightly floured surface, and knead until smooth and elastic, about 8 minutes. Lightly oil a large bowl, place the dough in the bowl, and turn to coat. Cover with a damp cloth, and let rise in a warm place until doubled in volume, about 1 hour.

Deflate the dough, and turn it out onto a lightly floured surface. Divide the dough into 12-14 equal pieces, and form into round balls. Place on lightly greased baking sheets at least 2 inches apart. Cover the rolls with a damp cloth (or greased saran wrap), and let rise until doubled in volume, about 40 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).

Bake for 12-13 minutes in the preheated oven, or until golden brown.

*Can freeze the rolls after baking - microwave on high for 2 minutes before serving.

Parker House Rolls

*Makes enough rolls for one 11X17-inch sheet pan

1/2 cup sugar
2 cups hot water
1/2 cup oil
6 - 7 cups flour
1 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
2 tablespoons instant yeast

1/4 cup butter, melted, for shaping rolls

Add hot water to sugar and oil and beat with electric mixer (or by hand). Add eggs and salt; beat well. When mixture is lukewarm, add yeast and keep beating. Add flour until a soft dough forms. Do not knead. Let rise in covered, oil bowl for one hour.

Form rolls. To make Parker House rolls, roll out dough to 1/2-inch thickness and cut circles with round cutter, about 3 inches in diameter. Holding dough circle by the edge, dip both sides into melted butter. Fold in half on baking sheet and pinch edges together to seal (don't be afraid of this step - use your index and middle finger to indent the edges of the roll together all the way to the bottom of the sheet pan otherwise they will pop open while baking). Arrange folded dough in rows in pan, each nearly touching the other. Cover and let rise for 30-45 minutes. Bake at 350 degrees for 18-20 minutes. Brush tops with melted butter, if desired.

Blueberry Breakfast Crumble

• 2 c. oats
• 1/2 c. brown sugar
• 1/4 c. sliced almonds, optional
• 1/4 c. flour
• 1/2 t. baking soda
• 1/2 t. cinnamon
• 1/2 c. butter or margarine, melted
• 2 c. blueberries, fresh or frozen
• 1/2 c. sugar
• 1/4 c. flour
• 1 t. almond or vanilla extract
• 1 c. flour
• 1/2 c. brown sugar
• 1/2 t. cinnamon
• 1/4 c. butter or margarine, cut into small pieces

1. In a large mixing bowl, combine oats, 1/2 c. brown sugar, 1/4 c. sliced almonds, 1/4 c. flour, baking soda and 1/2 t. cinnamon. Pour in melted butter or margarine and stir to combine. Press into 2 greased cake pans (or 1 13×9 casserole dish).

2. In the same bowl, toss blueberries with sugar, 1/4 c. flour and almond or vanilla extract. Spread onto pressed crust.

3. Wipe out bowl and combine 1 c. flour, 1/2 c. brown sugar and cinnamon. Cut in butter or margarine until crumbly. Sprinkle over the blueberries.

4. Bake at 375 degrees for 25-35 minutes, until set and golden brown on top.

--cut into bars for quick breakfast