Chicken, Broccoli, and Cheese Bread Braid

We had this tonight. All credit and compliments go to Pinterest and Food Family Finds. I had been wanting to try this awhile but I just always forget. It is great. And what was most surprising to me was that RJ inhaled it---broccoli and all!

Here is what you need:
2 cans Pillsbury Original Crescent Rolls
2 cups chicken chunks, cooked
2 cups cheddar cheese
2 cups broccoli, frozen, steamed and chopped
½ cup light mayonnaise
1 egg yolk
fresh rosemary

1) Preheat oven to 375 degrees F
2) On a parchment paper lined cookie sheet, spread both cans of crescents length wise to form a long rectangle. (I just lightly sprayed my pan).
3) Press each of the seams to form a single layer of dough.
4) In a large bowl, combine chicken, cheese, broccoli and mayonnaise. Spread mixture over the center of the croissant dough evenly to create a log.
5) Using a sharp knife, cut horizontal strips 1 inch apart down each side of the crescent dough.
6) Fold the dough strips over the top of the chicken mixture, alternating left and right to create a braid.
7) Brush the top of the braid with a beaten egg yolk and sprinkle fresh rosemary on top. (I did this but if you don't want your bread as flaky or as brown, you could omit the egg part).
8) Bake for 28 – 30 minutes until golden brown. (I only baked mine for 25 minutes. I personally think 20-25 minutes is perfect. My oven may just cook fast though).

Serve and enjoy!!!!

Oat and Honey Bread

I take no credit for this recipe, either.  The recipe came from Pinterest but the picture is mine.  I have made this bread 2 or 3 times now.  I LOVE it.  The hubby LOVES it.  The kiddo LOVES it.  Therefore it is a keeper.  It is by far my favorite homemade bread recipe that I have ever tried out.  The only downfall is that it is not wheat and I do LOVE wheat bread.  But this bread is so soft and tastes delicious.

Here is what you need:

• 3 Cups Flour
• 3/4 Cup oats, plus a little for topping
• 2 1/4 tsp yeast
• 1 1/2 tsp salt
• I Cup Milk
• 1/4 Cup lukewarm water
• 2 Tbsp butter
• 1/4 Cup honey, plus a little for topping

1. In a mixing bowl (I use my kitchen aid with the dough hook), add the flour, oats, yeast, and salt. Mix to combine.
2. In a small microwavable bowl or 2-cup measuring cup, Heat the milk until it is it warm. (I usually do 1.5 minutes). As soon as it comes out of the microwave add the butter to the milk and stir until the butter is melted. Add in the water and honey. Stir until combined and butter is melted.
3. Pour the milk mixture into the mixing bowl with the flour mixture. Using the dough hook, mix/knead until it is all combined and a soft dough ball forms. The dough will be really really soft and even somewhat sticky. (However, the first time I made this bread, it was so sticky that the dough was not forming a ball. I had to add a bit more flour. The second time I made it, I didn't have to...it was weird.)
4. Once the dough ball forms, dumb the dough ball into a lightly greased bowl, cover, and place in a warm place to let it rise. (The original recipe said this...I always just remove my dough hook and keep it in the kitchen aid bowl...I am lazy that way.) The original recipe said to let it rise about 30 minutes to an hour. (I keep mine about 30 minutes sitting by the heated oven).
5. Once the dough reaches about double the size (give or take), dump it onto a lightly floured or lightly greased counter and form into a loaf. (I know that there are several "techniques" for this as well, but, again, I am lazy. So, I just dump mine out and form the dough into an oblong type shape using my hands.
6. Grease/spray a loaf pan. I don't know sizes...sorry...I use my largest one. Place your oblong type shaped dough into the loaf pan. Cover and let raise again. (Again, the original recipe said 1 to 1.5 hours...Again, I maybe let it sit there 30-45 minutes)
7. Heat about 2 Tbsp (give or take) of honey in the microwave for 15-20 sec. Brush the top of the loaf with the warmed honey. Sprinkle more oats over the top of the honey (I do the honey part, but I have never added the oats on top)
8. Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 40-50 minutes.
9. Let cool a few minutes in the pan and then dump out to finish cooling.

Serve fresh with honey, jam, butter, or plain! So great!

Paula Deen Biscuits

Obviously by the title, I did not "create" this recipe.  However I have always been on the search for a great biscuit recipe.  I have several recipes that I like but sometimes they just turn out dry.  This one is awesome!!! I originally used them for homemade biscuits and gravy when we had family visiting.  However, I LOVE eating them plain, with butter, with honey, or with jam.  They are SO good.  Another benefit is that they are SOO easy and fast.  Start to finish, I think I spent 30 minutes on them.  Another benefit is that they are homemade so you can make them as big or as small as you want. Obviously, the larger you cut your biscuit, the fewer biscuits that you will have.  Thank you Paula Deen :)

Here is everything you need:

• 2 Cups Flour
• 1 tsp Sugar
• 1 Tbsp baking powder
• 1 tsp salt
• 8 Tbsp butter, softened
• 3/4 cup milk

1. Place the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a larger bowl. Stir to combine.
2. Using two knives or a pastry blender, cut butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture is pretty much all fine crumbs.
3. Make a "well" in the center of the dry ingredients. Pour in the milk. Knead with your fingers until the dough forms a ball and all ingredients are combined. (I used a spoon until it is all pretty well combined then I dig in with my fingers.) The dough will be soft and sticky but workable---sorry hard to describe.
4. Lightly flour a surface. Dump the dough out and rough into a rectangle of desired thickness. (You saw my biscuits Amanda...They were all different heights...obviously I suck at uniformity). Then using a biscuit cutter or a glass, cut biscuits. Place them on a slightly sprayed, greased, or buttered cookie sheet/pan. Repeat process until the dough is completely used.
5. Bake in a Preheated 425 degree oven for about 12 minutes.

Fast, simple, and oh so delicious!

Lemon Zucchini Bread

Anyone you has every grown zucchini knows that it grows like a weed and that there is more than enough to go around an entire neighborhood.  Hands down, my favorite thing with zucchini is either zucchini bread or zucchini carrot muffins.  So, I am always on the watch for new recipes to try with my zucchini. 
This recipe is so GOOOOOOD....it combines a lemon bread and zucchini bread into Lemon Zucchini Bread.  It may not be a combination that one would think "normal" but it was so yummy, and I am happy to have another zucchini usage.

Here is what you need:
2 Cups Flour
2 tsp Baking Powder
1/2 tsp Salt
2 Eggs
1/2 Cup Oil
2/3 Cup sugar
1/2 Cup Buttermilk
Juice of 1 lemon
Zest of 1 lemon (I personally am going to use 2 next time, BUT I LOVE lemon)
1 Cup grated zucchini

1) Blend together eggs, oil, sugar, buttermilk, lemon juice, and lemon zest.  Then add zucchini and mix well.
2) Add in the flour, baking powder, and salt.  Mix until blended but do not over mix.
3) Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 40-45 minutes.  Cool in pan for 10 minutes and then on wire rack.
4) Make glaze and drizzle over top (optional).

Lemon Glaze
1 Cup Powdered Sugar
Juice of 1 Lemon

Banana Muffin

This is a really really basic and easy banana muffin recipe. We like it our house, but I think next time I may add some cinnamon chips to them.

Here is what you need:

1 Egg

1/3 Cup Milk

1/2 Cup Vegetable oil

2 or 3 medium bananas, mashed

2 Cups Flour

1/3 Cup brown sugar

3 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

#1) Heat oven to 400 degrees. Grease or line 12 muffin cups.

#2) Beat egg. Stir in milk and bananas. Mix well. Add oil and sugar. Mix well.

#3) Add flour, baking powder, and salt. Mix until flour is moistened. It is OK if the batter is lumpy!!!

#4) Fill muffin cups about 3/4 cups full. Bake about 20 minutes.

Enjoy!

No Brainer Bread Sticks

Here is the bread sticks recipe that I ALWAYS use. I have decided to share it since I talk about it a lot.

Again, it is super easy.

1 Tbsp yeast

1.5 Cups Warm Water

2 Tbsp Sugar

1.5 tsp Salt

3-4 Cup Flour

-Dissolve yeast in the water. Add sugar and salt and mix. Add flour until a soft dough forms (I usually have to use about 3.5 Cups here). Dough should not be too sicky but not flaky either.

-Lightly dust counter with flour. Dump out dough. Knead for 3 minutes. (I usually use about 1/4 to 1/2 Cup additional flour here)

-Pinch off some dough and shape into a bread stick. (I roll it between my hands like a worm). Place onto a greased cookie sheet.

-Raise for 10-15 minutes and Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

-Melt about 2 Tbsp of butter and brush on top of bread sticks. Sprinkle tops with desired seasoning. (I use Parmesan, Garlic, and a little seasoning salt) Go with your taste. Easy to be experimental and creative here :-)

-Bake for 15-20 minutes or until a nice golden brown.

Enjoy warm or cold!

Note: I melt about 2 Tbsp of butter and spread it in the bottom of the cookie sheet and then place the bread sticks in it. Yes, it is unhealthy, but I think the bread tastes better this way :-) Also, I can never make the same sized or shaped bread stick. I haven't mastered that yet.

Basic Biscuits

I made these biscuits awhile back for dinner and again for breakfast a few days later. I have since been asked for the recipe. They are just a basic baking powder biscuits and are super easy to make.
1/3 Cup shortening

1 3/4 Cup Flour

2 1/2 tsp Baking powder

3/4 tsp Salt (varies by taste)

3/4 Cup Milk

1) Preheat oven to 450 degrees.

2) Mix dry ingredients together. Cut shortening into the dry ingredients with a pastry blender (or forks). Mixture should look like fine crumbs. Add milk and mix. If the dough is sticky, add slightly more flour. If the dough is flaky or floury, add a splash more milk. Should be moist but not sticky.

3) Sprinkle flour on counter. Place dough on counter and knead about 10 times.

4) Roll out dough into a rectangle til about 1/2 inch thick. Cut biscuits out. (I use a circle cookie cutter, but can use a biscuit cutter or a glass turned upside down.) You may have to dip the cutter in flour. Place the biscuits on a sprayed (PAM) cookie sheet. Repeat until all the dough is used.

5) Bake for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown.

Makes about 12 biscuits-varies depending on the size of cutter you use.

Enjoy!