Category: BREADS, BISCUITS & MUFFINS

CHILI STUFFED BREAD

ACTIVE PREP TIME: 15 minutes
COOK TIME: 25-30 minutes
TOTAL TIME START to FINISH: 45 minutes
SERVES: 4-6 depending on appetites
WHY I’LL MAKE IT AGAIN: This is a comfort food perfect for ANY Fall evening!  It’s a quick cinch to make on a weeknight too.
NOTES: Don’t over stuff your bread (like I obviously did 😀 )

CHILI STUFFED BREAD
3/4 pound ground beef
1-2 cloves garlic, FINELY minced
2 teaspoons ancho chile pepper
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper
1 can ROTEL tomatoes ORIGINAL, drained WELL
1 can SHOEPEG corn, drained WELL
1 tablespoon GREEN Tabasco sauce
1 tube Pillsbury PIZZA dough
1 egg, beaten
1/2 cup shredded Jack cheese
1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese

  • Preheat oven to 400°.
  • Line 9 1/2 x 5 loaf pan with foil. Leave a couple inches hanging over on ALL sides to use as handles to remove the bread at the end.
  • Lightly spray the foil with non-stick cooking spray. Set aside.
  • Lightly spray a large skillet with non-stick cooking spray.
  • Add ground beef, onions, garlic, ancho chile powder, salt and pepper. Cook until beef is browned and everything is well incorporated.
  • Add tomatoes and corn, stirring well.
  • Stir in the Tabasco sauce and half of each cheese.
  • Cool slightly.
  • Unroll dough and form into an 8×14 rectangle.
  • Cut a 4 inch section off the short end so you have a 4×8 section and a 10×8 section.
  • Fit the large section into the loaf pan, GENTLY stretching the dough into the loaf pan so the dough goes up the sides.
  • Add cooled meat filling.
  • Top with half of the remaining cheeses.
  • Roll reserved dough into an 11 inch long piece.
  • Cut crosswise into 14 pieces.
  • Arrange cut pieces into an overlapping basket weave pattern over the top of the meat mixture, sealing the edges.
  • Brush with the egg.
  • Top with remaining cheeses.
  • Bake 25 minutes.

ARTICHOKE PARMESAN SQUARES

ARTICHOKE PARMESAN SQUARES
1/2 package MRS. GRASS vegetable soup mix (save the other half for next time)
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup sour cream
1 package Pillsbury Crescent GRAND size
5 ounces frozen spinach, thawed and drained WELL
12-14 ounces artichoke hearts, drained and chopped small
8 ounce can water chestnuts, chopped
3 ounces Monterey jack cheese, shredded
2-3 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

  • Preheat oven to 375°.
  • Whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream and soup mix. Set Aside.
  • Lightly spray 9×13 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.
  • Roll out and arrange crescent rolls in baking dish, sealing perforations and pushing rolls slightly up the sides.
  • Bake 10-12 minutes until golden.
  • Add spinach. artichokes, water chestnuts, garlic and Jack cheese to the soup mixture, blending well.
  • Spread on top of the crescent rolls.
  • Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
  • Bake another 10-12 minutes until heated through and turning golden.
  • Cut into 2 inch squares and serve.

HONEY BUTTER ROLLS ala SANDRA & SALLY

I have been looking for a soft and fluffy, but yet sweet like a Texas Roadhouse type roll for ages.  I accidentally found it by way of Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom who found the recipe over at Sally’s Baking Addiction.

The only change I made to Sandra’s version was to use the bread flour that Sally recommends.

HONEY BUTTER ROLLS  Original Source:  Sally’s Baking Addiction
1 cup whole milk, warmed to about 110°F*
2 and 1/4 teaspoons Red Star® Platinum yeast
1/2 teaspoon granulated sugar
1/4 cup honey
1 large egg + 1 egg yolk
1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 and 1/2 cups bread flour (spoon and leveled)

  • Pour warm milk into the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook attachment.
  • Sprinkle yeast and 1/2 teaspoon sugar on top of the milk. Give it a light stir with a spoon and allow to sit for 5 minutes. The mixture should be frothy after 5 minutes. If not, start over with new yeast.
  • With the stand mixer running on low speed, add the honey, egg, egg yolk, melted butter, salt, and 3 cups of flour.
  • Beat on low speed for 1 minute, then add remaining 1/2 cup of flour.
  • Beat on low speed for 1 minute as it all combines. The dough should be thick, yet soft and only slightly sticky pulling away from the sides of the bowl as it mixes. When it does, it is ready to knead. If, however, the dough is too sticky to handle– add more flour, 1 Tablespoon at a time. Make sure you do not add too much extra flour; you want a soft, slightly sticky dough.
  • Form dough into a ball and turn it out onto a lightly floured surface.
  • Knead for 2 minutes, then place into a greased bowl– I usually just use olive oil or nonstick spray.
  • Turn the dough over to coat all sides. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and place it in a warm environment to rise until doubled, about 2 hours. For this warm environment, preheat the oven to 200°, then turn oven off and place the bowl inside the warmish oven.
  • Once doubled in size, punch down the dough to release any air bubbles.
  • Remove dough from the bowl and turn it out onto a lightly floured surface.
  • Punch down again to release any more air bubbles if needed.
  • Using a sharp knife, cut the dough in half. Cut each half into 8 equal pieces for a total of 16 pieces that are about 1/4 cup each– golf ball size, give or take. They don’t need to be perfect!
  • Shape into balls as best you can and arrange in a greased 9×13 baking pan.
  • Loosely cover with plastic wrap and allow to rise until doubled in size and puffy, about 1 hour.
  • Preheat oven to 350°.
  • Bake the rolls for 18-21 minutes until the tops are golden brown and the edges of each roll look cooked.

TOPPING
1/4 cup (60g) unsalted butter, very soft
2 Tablespoons (42g) honey

  • Mix the topping ingredients together to make a creamy honey butter.
  • Remove the rolls from the oven when they are done and brush or spread a generous amount of honey butter onto each warm roll.
  • Serve with any remaining honey butter.
  • Cover leftovers and keep in the refrigerator for up to 1 week or freeze for up to 3 months, then thaw overnight in the refrigerator.
  • Warm up in a 300°F (149°C) oven for 10 minutes.

NOTES based on SALLY and SANDRA:

  • WHOLE milk will make the richest soft rolls.  Anything less will make them chewier and dense.
  • Don’t leave off that honey butter topping! The rolls will be lacking a little flavor without it. I prefer spreading the honey butter on the rolls after they bake as opposed to before they bake. The reason is because spreading or brushing butter on top of the delicate, airy unbaked roll weighs them down and encourages them to deflate. Best to spread on the honey butter right after baking.

HONEY BUTTER DIP BUTTERMILK BISCUITS

Tall, fluffy, sweet and buttery!  These biscuits NEVER disappoint!

HONEY BUTTER DIP BUTTERMILK BISCUITS Adapted from Brandie @ The Country Cook

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
1 tablespoon QUALITY honey
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tablespoon granulated sugar
1 1/2 tablespoon baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
Pinch FRESH ground black pepper
1 3/4 cup buttermilk

  • Preheat oven to 450°.
  • Melt butter.
  • Stir honey into melted butter.
  • Pour melted butter and honey into an 8×8 baking dish.
Sift together the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt.
  • Pour in the buttermilk into flour mixture, stirring until a loose dough forms, batter will be a bit sticky.
  • Pour biscuit dough into baking dish on top of the melted butter and spread as evenly as possible.  An offset spatula sprayed with non-stick spray helps.
  • Pre-cut the dough into 9 squares. This will help later when they are done.
  • Bake for about 20-25 minutes until golden brown and spring back to the touch, rotating dish once during baking.

LEMON POPPY SEED BLUEBERRY ROLLS

LEMON POPPY SEED BLUEBERRY SWEET ROLLS

FILLING
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
the zest of one lemon
1 cup FRESH small wild blueberries or defrosted frozen berries

  • Combine  sugar, and salt in bowl.
  • Stir in melted butter, lemon zest, and vanilla extract.
  • Fold in blueberries.
  • Set aside while you prepare the dough.

DOUGH
1 1/4 cup whole milk, divided
4 teaspoons instant or rapid-rise yeast
2 tablespoons granulated sugar; divided
2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon poppyseeds
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided

  • Butter a cast iron baker or basking dish.
  • In a small heat proof bowl heat ¼ cup of the milk in the microwave until 110 degrees (about 15 to 20 seconds).
  • Stir in yeast and 1 teaspoon of sugar and let sit until bubbly.
  • Mix together flour, baking powder, salt, poppy seeds and remaining 5 teaspoons of sugar together in large bowl.
  • Stir in 2 tablespoons butter, yeast mixture, and remaining 1 cup of milk until dough forms.
  • Transfer dough to a floured counter and knead until smooth ball forms, about 2 minutes.
  • Roll dough into a 12 by 9 inch rectangle, with long side parallel to counter edge.
  • Brush dough all over with 2 tablespoons melted butter, leaving ½-inch border on far edge.
  • Sprinkle dough evenly with filling, then press filling firmly into dough.
  • Loosen dough from counter and roll away from you into a tight log and pinch seam to seal.
  • Roll log seam side down and cut into 8 equal pieces.
  • Stand buns on end and gently re-form ends that were pinched during cutting.
  • Place 1 bun in center of prepared pan and others around perimeter of pan, seam sides facing in.
  • Brush the tops of the buns with remaining 2 tablespoons butter.
  • Cover buns loosely with plastic wrap and let rise for 30 minutes.
  • Preheat the oven to 350°.
  • After rising, bake buns until edges are well browned, 23 to 25 minutes.

Loosen buns from sides of pan with paring knife and let cool for 5 minutes.

LEMON CREAM CHEESE ICING GLAZE
2 ounces cream cheese, softened
3 tablespoons butter, softened
Juice of one lemon
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
3/4 cup powdered sugar
pinch of salt
*More lemon zest for topping

  • Mix together softened cream cheese and butter until smooth.
  • Add lemon juice, confectioners sugar, vanilla, and salt and mix until combine.
  • Pour glaze evenly over tops of buns, spreading with spatula to cover.

CINNAMON CRUMB APPLE OATMEAL MUFFINS

CINNAMON CRUMB APPLE OATMEAL MUFFINS – yields 22 standard muffins

MUFFINS
1 ½ cups all purpose flour
1 cup QUICK cooking oats
2 ¼ teaspoon baking powder
pinch of salt
1 ¼ teaspoon QUALITY cinnamon
¼ teaspoon FRESH grated nutmeg
¾ cup sugar
2 large eggs
½ cup butter, melted and cooled
½ cup milk
2 large or 4 small Granny Smith apples chopped SMALL

  • Preheat oven to 350°.
  • In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, oats, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon.
  • In a separate bowl, whisk together the sugar, eggs, butter and milk.
  • Stir the flour mixture with the liquid mixture.
  • Stir in the apples.
  • Divide batter evenly between 12 muffin cups.

TOPPING
½ cup dark brown sugar
1 tablespoon Wonderer flour
½ teaspoon QUALITY ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon FRESH grated nutmeg
1 tablespoon butter

  • Whisk together the sugar, flour and cinnamon.
  • Cut in the butter.
  • Sprinkle on top of the muffins.
  • Bake about 20 minutes or when a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.
  • Cool in pan 5 minutes, then remove to wire rack to cool completely.

CINNAMON BUN CUPCAKES

CINNAMON BUN CUPCAKES
CUPCAKES
1 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon table salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
2 LARGE eggs
1/2 cup canola oil
3/4 cup sugar
2 teaspoons PURE vanilla extract
1/2 cup sour cream

  • Pre-heat oven to 350°.
  • Line cupcake tins with papers.
  • Sift flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt together. Set aside.
  • Whisk eggs for about 1 minute. They will become frothy and lightened in color.
  • Add oil and whisk again until combined.
  • Add sugar and whisk for about 1 minute.
  • Add vanilla extract.
  • Add sour cream to the batter, whisking until combined
  • Now add the sifted dry ingredients to the bowl and whisk gently. Whisk batter until JUST until combined. DO NOT OVERMIX!

CINNAMON SWIRL
1 1/2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
2 tablespoons brown sugar
2 tablespoons white sugar

  • Make the Cinnamon Swirl: mix 1 1/2 tablespoons of ground cinnamon with 2 tablespoons of brown sugar and 2 tablespoons of white sugar. Set aside.

ASSEMBLY

  • Now start by pouring about 1 heaping tablespoon of the batter on the bottom of each cupcake tin.
  • Sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon of the Cinnamon Swirl mixture.
  • Top with another heaping tablespoon of batter.
  • Now, sprinkle another 1/2 teaspoon of Cinnamon Swirl mixture over batter.
  • Top with another heaping tablespoon of batter.
  • Using a toothpick, swirl the batter a few times to create a swirl effect.
  • Top already swirled cupcakes with one final 1/2 teaspoon of the Cinnamon Swirl mixture.
  • Bake for 10-12 minutes, checking halfway to rotate pans.
  • Remove from the oven once cupcakes are lightly golden brown and puffed.
  • Cool 10 minutes.

GLAZE
+/- 1 cup powdered sugar sifted
+/- 2 tablespoons milk

  • Mix powdered sugar and milk together.

NOTES:  There are many factors that will affect your glaze consistency.  The brand of sugar you use, whether you use a scale or a measuring cup…  If your glaze is too thin and runny, add more sifted powdered sugar and test for consistency again.  If the glaze is too thick and not spreading, add a very, very small amount (1 teaspoon) of milk at a time, until you achieve your desired consistency.

BANANA UPSIDE DOWN CAKE

I found this recipe for BANANA UPSIDE DOWN CAKE over at TrickNTreat. I love banana in any type of cake, but this recipe takes bananas to a whole other level. The caramel topping is truly the “icing” on the cake!  I added a small amount of cinnamon to help enhance the flavors.

BANANA UPSIDE DOWN CAKE Yield 8 servings

TOPPING
3 small VERY RIPE bananas, cut lengthwise
4 tablespoons butter
½ cup brown sugar

  • Melt butter in a skillet, remove from heat and add brown sugar, stir until sugar is melted.
  • Pour butter mixture onto 8 in pan, arrange banana, cut into 2 lengthwise  on top of sugar mixture.

CAKE
1 ½ cup all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ cup milk
2 VERY RIPE bananas mashed
¾ cup sugar
½ teaspoon QUALITY cinnamon
1 teaspoon PURE vanilla
8 tablespoons butter
1 LARGE egg

  • Preheat oven to 350°.
  • Spray an 8×8 baking dish or a loaf pan with non-stick spray.
  • Sift flour, cinnamon, baking powder and baking powder.
  • Beat butter and sugar until creamy.
  • Add salt, vanilla and egg.
  • Fold  in half of the flour, mixing well.
  • Add mashed banana, milk and remaining flour, stirring until well incorporated.
  • Spoon batter over sliced banana topping and spread evenly.
  • Bake for 40-50 minutes or until a tester inserted comes out clean.
  • Cool in pan for 10 minutes.
  • Invert into a serving plate and serve.

NOTE: IF you prefer a different look, the bananas can be cut into chunks or rounds instead of lengthwise. I PREFER a lot of small rounds myself.

While I’m glad I tried this recipe and it was good, I really prefer my regular Banana Nut Bread.

MONKEY MUFFINS

MONKEY BREAD MUFFINS
1 cup toasted walnut pieces
10 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and divided 6 + 4
1 ¼ pounds Bridgford rolls, thawed
¾ cup sugar
1 tablespoons ground cinnamon
²⁄³ cup packed brown sugar
¹⁄³ cup molasses
PINCH sea salt flakes

  • Coat muffin tin holes with non-stick cooking spray.
  • Sprinkle half of the walnut pieces evenly among the muffin tin holes.
  • In a medium bowl toss the rolls in 4 tablespoons of the melted butter.
  • In another bowl combine the sugar and cinnamon. Add the rolls one at a time, tossing in the cinnamon mixture until well coated.
  • Place one roll in each muffin tin.
  • Top evenly with remaining walnut pieces.
  • In a small sauce pan combine the remaining 6 tablespoons of butter, molasses, brown sugar and sea salt.
  • Cook over medium heat, abut 5 minutes, until well blended and bubbly.
  • Remove from heat and cool 10 minutes.
  • Spoon 1 tablespoon over each roll.
  • Cover loosely with saran wrap and chill at least 8 hours.
  • Remove pan from refrigerator 30 minutes before baking and let stand at room temperature.
  • Preheat oven to 350°.
  • Place muffin tin on a baking sheet to catch any drips and bake 20 minutes until rolls are puffed and cooked through.
  • Remove from pan and let stand 5 minutes on cooling rack.
  • Line baking sheet with foil.
  • Invert muffin tin and spoon any remaining syrup over muffins and arrange on platter.
  • Best served warm.

CORN BREAD CAKE

CORN BREAD CAKE
1 cup yellow cornmeal
1 cup all purpose flour
½ cup sugar
4 teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon sea salt
1 egg, beaten
1 cup WHOLE milk
½ cup avocado oil

  • Preheat oven to 425°.
  • Grease an 8×8 baking dish OR a deep 9-10 inch cast iron skillet.
  • Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl and blend well.
  • Bake 20-25 minutes or until golden in color and toothpick comes out clean.

NOTE:  A well drained can of green chiles or jar of pimientos make a flavorful addition to change up the flavor.  Crisp bacon or a can of well drained shoepeg corn also make great additions.

BLUEBERRY BANANA MAPLE MUFFINS

I made these recently for a friend’s birthday and instantly fell in love <3 with them!  I’ve adapted the original recipe just slightly and think it’s absolutely perfect now.

BLUEBERRY BANANA MAPLE MUFFINS slightly adapted from Brandi Milloy
yields 18 muffins

½ cup unsalted butter, room temperature
²⁄³ cups PURE maple syrup
1 LARGE egg, room temperature
2 small VERY RIPE bananas, mashed
¹⁄³ cup WHOLE milk
1 teaspoon PURE vanilla extract
2 cups sifted cake flour
1 ½ teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
Pinch of sea salt
2 cups SMALL WILD blueberries
¼ cup FINELY chopped walnuts
¼ cup DARK brown sugar, for topping

  • Preheat oven to 350°.
  • Line muffin tin with cupcake liners or grease tins well.
  • In an electric mixer bowl, cream together the butter and maple syrup.
  • Add egg, mashed banana, milk and vanilla extract, mixing until well blended.
  • In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
  • If you are using fresh blueberries add the flour mixture to the banana mixture and mix just until combined.
  • Then FOLD in blueberries.
  • If you are using frozen blueberries, add 3/4 of the flour mixture to the banana mixture and mix. Then add your frozen blueberries to the remaining flour mixture and toss. This will keep the frozen blueberries from sinking to the bottom of the muffins.
  • Scoop batter into muffin tins until they’re about ¾ of the way full.
  • Whisk together the brown sugar and walnuts.
  • Top with a generous sprinkle of the brown sugar nut mix.
  • Bake for 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the muffin comes out clean.
  • Cool COMPLETELY on wire rack.

SMASHED BANANA BREAD OR CAKE

Just like most people I have several banana bread recipes, but this one is one of the simplest that makes either a bread or a cake without any modification except baking time!

SMASHED BANANA BREAD

1 ½ cups flour
¾ teaspoon baking powder
¾ teaspoon baking soda
¾ teaspoon salt
2 LARGE eggs
1 ½ cups SMASHED & VERY RIPE banana
¼ cup + 2 tablespoons sour cream
1 teaspoon PURE vanilla extract
1 teaspoon DARK rum
5 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
1 cup sugar
½ cup finely chopped walnuts
½ cup golden raisins
Powdered sugar, for dusting
FRESH whipped butter, for eating

  • Preheat oven to 350°.
  • Grease 9×5 loaf pan OR 9X9 baking dish with non-stick spray.
  • In a small bowl whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt.
  • In a medium bowl beat the eggs with the sour cream, rum, vanilla and banana.
  • In a large bowl beat the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy.
  • At a low speed gradually add the wet ingredients to the butter and sugar until well blended.
  • Gradually add the flour into the mixture until well blended.
  • Foll in the raisins and nuts.
  • Pour into prepared pan, scraping bowl clean.
  • Bake. See below for times.

BAKING TIMES:

LOAF PAN
1 hour 30 minutes until tester comes out clean.
Transfer to cooling rack for 45 minutes.
Turn out onto cooling rack.
Dust with powdered sugar.
Slice and serve with FRESH whipped butter.

CAKE PAN
Bake 45-60 minutes until tester comes out clean.
Transfer to cooling rack for 45 minutes.
Turn out onto cooling rack.
Dust with powdered sugar.
Slice and serve with FRESH whipped butter.