COFFEE CAKE KNOTS with COFFEE ICING yields 12 knots
Prep Time 40 minutes Cook Time 20 minutes Total Time 1 hour
DOUGH 3 1/2 – 4 cups AP flour 1 packet Instant Yeast 2 tablespoons brown sugar 1/2 teaspoon sea salt 1 cup warm milk 3 LARGE eggs 4 tablespoons butter, softened
In a large mixing bowl, combine 3 ½ cups flour, the yeast, brown sugar, and salt.
Add the milk, eggs, and butter, mixing until the flour is completely incorporated. If the dough seems sticky, add the remaining ½ cup of flour a little at a time. Cover the bowl and let sit at room temperature for 10 minutes.
FILLING 3/4 cup brown sugar 1 tablespoon espresso powder 1 tablespoon, plus 1 teaspoon QUALITY cinnamon
In a small bowl, combine 1/2 cup brown sugar and 1 tablespoon cinnamon.
ASSEMBLY 5-6 tablespoons butter, softened Preheat the oven to 375°.
Line a baking sheet with parchment. On a floured surface, roll the dough out into a 14 x 16 inch rectangle about 1/4 inch thick, adding flour as needed.
Spread the dough with 5-6 tablespoons of butter and sprinkle with the cinnamon sugar mixture.
Fold the dough in half, directly over the cinnamon, pressing to adhere.
Cut into 12-14 strips.
Twist each strip into a loose knot, they don’t need to be perfect.
Place on the prepared baking sheet. Bake 20 minutes, until golden.
ICING 4 tablespoons butter 1/3 cup PURE maple start 3/4-1 cup powdered sugar 1 teaspoon espresso powder
Melt together the butter and maple syrup in a small pot set over medium heat.
Remove from the heat and whisk in the powdered sugar and instant coffee.
Drizzle over the knots.
NOTE: For a quicker prep time you can use store bought dough!
Cooking for a crowd? Try this classic fettuccine Alfredo sauce combined with tender fettuccine and then baked to perfection for an easy to prepare and serve version!
Be sure to join us for Happy Homemaker Monday and link up with our host, Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom
You guessed it – still cold and even predicting a bit of snow tomorrow. Last Saturday was chilly, but BEAUTIFUL and then woke up yesterday to gray, foggy, rainy and low temps again. This week is supposed to be all over the place!
I try and remind myself of this every day! I’m actually feeling pretty good despite all the extra work and stress in my life lately. I think my blog/server/email issues are all resolved and with minimal disruption and only a lost post or two. I did however lose all your sweet comments from last week. At least I was able to read them before they disappeared.
Hubby’s appointment last week for a second opinion went pretty much how we expected, but we REALLY like the new doctor A LOT! AND we are a lot more comfortable with the new treatment plan.
The remainder of the week was spent working on the estate sale that began on Friday. Friday and Saturday went well despite the vultures who showed up an hour early! Both days were NON-STOP!! Yesterday was a welcome relief of a little down time to play catch up at home.
Some hot water, peach yogurt and a banana.
THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS
LAUNDRY & CLEANING Despite being so busy I am actually caught up on the laundry and dishes, but do need to vacuum.
GROCERIES & ERRANDS It’s supposed to rain all day today, but I’m hoping to get the groceries and errands done today if possible.
PAPERWORK, PHONE CALLS, PROJECTS & TRAVELS I made a BIG dent last night in a pile last night. Hopefully I’ll get to it again tonight.
RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING I was lucky to get a plan made for this week and a list for the groceries to match, but have a stack of recipe to sit and go through if I can find a quiet time to make a month’s worth of menu planning later this week.
WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV
CABLE The only thing we watch last week was a NASCAR race and an old DVR recording of CASABLANCA and SKYJACKED on TCM. I’m really hoping things begin slowing down so I can catch up on what on the DVR.
I’m still reading book #24 of Jana DeLeon’s Miss Fortune series, but have been way too tired to even read at night.
Oh my, the past several weeks have LITERALLYbeen non-stop and ALL menu plans went right out the window! We ended up eating out many times or making sandwiches or C.O.R.N. on the fly. So let’s try this again!!!!!
MONDAY 3/13
TUESDAY 3/14
WEDNESDAY 3/15
THURSDAY 3/16
FRIDAY 3/17
SATURDAY 3/18
SUNDAY 3/19
DINNER
APPLE CIDER PORK CHOPS with CRISPY SMASHED HERBED POTATOES
RUSTIC MAC & CHEESES or BUFFALO MAC & CHEESE BITES
MEATLOAF with PEAS & POTATOES
BEEF & BLACK BEAN SOUP with YEAST ROLLS
CORNED BEEF with POTATOES & CARROTS of course
CHICKEN FRANCESE
PEASANT SKILLET with PARMESAN RANCH ROLLS
DESSERT
rustic caramel apple tart
chocolate malt krispies
grasshopper brownies for the Saint Patrick’s Day bake sale at the Eagles
dulce de leche & cinnamon sandwich cookies
I didn’t even have time to take pictures last week because things were soooooo non stop!
This mouth watering slow cooked spicy beef tips & gravy is the PERFECT hearty and savory meal for a cool evening. Serve it over creamy mashed potatoes, your favorite pasta or even rice for a wonderful supper.
Prep Time 10 mins Cook Time 7 hrs Total Time 7 hrs 10 mins
2 pounds stew meat FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper, to taste (about 1 teaspoon of each) ½ teaspoon FRESH dried thyme 3-4 cloves garlic, FINELY minced 1 package dry LIPTON’S onion soup mix 2 cups homemade beef broth 3 tablespoons Jalapeno ketchup 1 tablespoon Lea & Perrin’s Worcestershire sauce 3 tablespoons cornstarch
1 LARGE shallot, sliced into rings
2 LARGE carrots, rustic chop
Place stew meat in the bottom of a 6-quart slow cooker, topped by shallot rings.
Add salt, pepper, thyme, garlic, onion soup, beef broth, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, and cornstarch to a medium bowl, whisking together well.
Pour over beef tips.
Cover and cook on low for 7-8 hours.
At hour 5 or 6 add carrots.
Cook 1-2 hours more until carrots are tender.
Serve over rice, noodles, or mashed potatoes, and enjoy!
KENTUCKY STYLE ‘BAKED’ WHITE BEANS adapted from COOK’S COUNTRY 1/2 pound country ham steak, roughly chopped small or shredded 1 tablespoon butter or avocado oil 1 LARGE shallot, chopped 2-3 garlic cloves, minced 3 cans (15 ounce) cannellini beans, drained and rinsed 2 1/2 cups water
2 1/2 cups homemade chicken broth
2 tablespoons white wine vinegar 1/2-3/4 pound ham hock (optional) 1/4 teaspoon liquid smoke (I like mesquite, but hickory is also good) FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper
Heat butter over medium heat in a dutch oven until melted.
Add shallots, cooking until soft and beginning to brown.
Add garlic, sautéing a minute more until fragrant.
Add beans, water, broth, liquid smoke, vinegar, ham hock and ham pieces and bring to a boil over high heat.
Reduce heat to medium low and simmer 30-45 minutes, stirring occasionally until beans are tender.
1 pound ground beef 1/2 small onion, FINELY chopped FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper 2 cups homemade chicken broth
1 teaspoon BETTER THAN BEEF bouillon 2 1/2 cups WHOLE milk 3 large YUKON gold potatoes, peeled and cubed 3 tablespoons WONDRA flour 1 tablespoon butter, melted butter 8 ounces Velveeta, cubed chopped pickles, garnish crumbled bacon, garnish grated cheddar, garnish chopped tomato, garnish
In a large skillet brown ground beef and onion over medium high heat until crumbly and cooked through. Season with FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper as you go. Drain well of fat. Stir in 2 cups of the milk and set aside.
Combine the chicken broth, bouillon and potatoes in a dutch oven. Bring to a boil and immediately reduce heat to a simmer for 10-15 minutes or until potatoes are tender.
Add beef mixture to the dutch oven, stirring to combine.
Whisk flour into remaining milk and melted butter. Fold into soup gradually.
Reduce heat and stir in cheese cubes until smooth, thickened and heated through.
Be sure to join us for Happy Homemaker Monday and link up with our host, Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom
Spring is only 2 weeks away, but NOT here! The geese that flew over yesterday were actually headed south! The snow started early, changed to rain and then back to snow and then sleet. The afternoon hail was the size of large grapes! The breeze was bone chilling. I assume that none of these are good omens – the geese in particular must know something we don’t.
This morning it’s lightly snowing now, but is supposed to turn to rain a bit later and then we’re supposed be getting more snow yet again this week with super cold temperatures still so you guessed it, I’m continuing to layer and staying as warm as possible.
I admit I’ve been burning the proverbial candle on both ends. Of course that’s also when Murphy’s Law kicks in and something else or even several something elses go wrong!
You may have noticed I haven’t been around to visit much. I apologize!!! I have been battling technology issues transferring my blog from one server to another and boy what headaches did that cause! I THINK (fingers crossed) that it’s all handled! Now we’re working on transferring domains and email addresses this week. For a week or so I guess I was like an old Verizon commercial except instead of “Can you hear me now?” it was “Can you see me now?” 😀
Quick and easy this morning. We need to be on the road fairly early for a specialist appointment in another city 100+ miles away just after lunch time and the weather is a bit iffy so I’m just having a peach yogurt and hot water.
THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS
LAUNDRY & CLEANING I’m actually up to date – yesterday’s bad weather kept me inside and staying busy.
GROCERIES & ERRANDS I have to do the shopping for a meal at the Eagles that a friend and I are preparing on Friday as well as the 2 soup nights I’m signed up for when I go to town for a pedicure on Tuesday. Wednesday Dana and I have to prepare the parts for Friday’s meal and then do the regular COSTCO shopping for the Eagles lodge. Thursday-Saturday will be spent helping my friend with what we hope will be a BLOW OUT for the estate sale we’ve been working on. The last 2 weeks have been so very busy with the estate sale and a good deal of the large pieces are sold and gone already which is a good thing.
PAPERWORK, PHONE CALLS, PROJECTS & TRAVELS I’m still waiting on several return calls for a couple projects. We’re traveling to a specialist appointment for hubby and will hit a couple of my favorite stores before we come home.
RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING This is a serious work in project and will be reevaluated after I see what proteins I can buy at my favorite store later today.
WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV
CABLE The DVR is full of things to watch when I get a chance. I’ve been so busy I can’t even tell you what!
I began Book #24 of Jana DeLeon’s Miss Fortune series last night.
Last week’s menu went right out the window with so many glitches in the week. So, there will be a couple items that appear to be duplicates of last week’s menu, but are indeed for the first time 😀
MONDAY 3/6
TUESDAY 3/7
WEDNESDAY 3/8
THURSDAY 3/9
FRIDAY 3/10
SATURDAY 3/11
SUNDAY 3/12
DINNER
MONROE COUNTY PORK STEAKS with SMOKEY “BAKED” WHITE BEANS
CHILI and CORN BREAD
PEASANT SKILLET & CRISPY SMASHED TATERS
APPLE CIDER PORK CHOPS, AU GRATIN PEAS & POTATOES
Cooking at the EAGLES CHICKEN PARMESAN SPINACH ARTICHOKE BAKE, ROASTED HONEY ROSEMARY BUTTERNUT SQUASH and CHOCOLATE FRITO BARS
ROAST LEMON CHICKEN and MAC & CHEESE
OUT
DESSERT
RUSTIC CARAMEL APPLE TART
My finished MIXED MEDIA flower cart from last Friday night’s class is done! I just didn’t like the Eiffel tower in the original painting so changed it up to fit me with the hanging basket of flowers 😀MY FAVORITE LOCAL BARN IS STILL A WORKING ONE
