Baking Bread

This recipe is from "Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread" cookbook. Favorite recipes from the Belle Center Amish Community.

2 pkg. active dry yeast
2 1/2 cup warm water
4 Tbsp. shortening ( I use olive oil)
2 tsp salt
6 cup white all purpose flour ( I use 2 cups whole wheat and 4 cups unbleached bread flour)
1/4 cup honey

Dissolve yeast in water. Stir in honey. Add shortening (olive oil) and salt and 2 cup flour. Mix well. Stir in remaining flour and let rise (approx. 45 min.) until double in bulk. Punch down well. Let rise again. Roll out and put in pans. I let it rise again. Makes 2 large loaves or 3 small ones. Bake at 375 for 30 - 35 min.

The Amish lady that sold me the book gave me this tip. When your bread comes out of the oven coat the tops of the bread in butter and place a cloth on them to cool. This will make your bread crust soft. It works!

Daddy's Chicken and Rice Casserole

When my husband is stressed I make this casserole. When I want to make a special comfort meal I make this casserole. When anyone in my family needs extra love and attention I make this casserole. This is a basic comfort meal. It has chopped broccoli so it is an easy way to get my children to eat vegetables. Because of the different ingredients this meal is often served by itself and sometimes with rolls. The past several days different ones in our family have had stomach aches. So tonight I thought I would make again some comfort in a bowl. It was well received add a Disney movie and it was like taking medicine.

Daddy's Chicken and Rice Casserole

This is my husbands favorite casserole. His mother made this for him as a child.

In a casserole dish layer

1 box of chopped broccoli stemmed in chicken broth

2 cups of rice cooked in chicken broth

2 Chicken Breast boiled and shredded. ( Use the broth for the rice and broccoli)

Top with sliced mozzarella cheese

Top the cheese with Cream of mushroom soup

Bake at 350 until top is golden brown and bubbly

No MSG in McCormick Hot Chili Seasoning and Original Chili Seasoning Mixes

Dear Consumer:

Thank you for taking the time to contact us. We appreciate your interest in our Hot Chili Seasoning and Original Chili Seasoning Mixes and welcome the opportunity to be of assistance to you.

Neither of these contain MSG.

Although Monosodium Glutamate is approved by the Food & Drug Administration, many consumers do have a concern about its addition to food products. Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) is used to enhance the natural flavor of foods.

Our company recognizes that there are differences in individual preferences and sensitivities to certain ingredients. We attempt to provide a wide variety of seasonings to accommodate various tastes. Because of concerns such as yours, we are continually evaluating our products and formulating new items without the addition of MSG. We have successfully removed MSG from a number of our existing products. We will continue our reevaluation process to determine if the quality and flavor our consumers expect can be maintained without the presence of MSG.

Whenever MSG is directly added to our products, it is always labeled in the ingredient statement. Because we are constantly improving our products, we encourage you to read the ingredient statement on our packages at the time of your purchase.

If we can be of further assistance, please call us at 1-800-632-5847, Monday through Friday, 9:30AM to 5PM Eastern Time. If you wish to respond to this note by e-mail, please include your name and e-mail address.

We hope to have the continued pleasure of serving you.

Sincerely,
Jennifer Heinlein
Consumer Affairs Specialist

If you can't pronounce it then don't eat it....

Enriched wheat flour (flour, barley malt, ferrous sulfate (iron), “B” vitamins (niacin, thaimine mononitrate (B1), riboflavin (B2), folic acid)), water, sweetener (high fructose corn syrup or sugar), yeast, wheat bran, whole wheat flour, wheat gluten, molasses. Contains 2% or less of: soybean oil, salt, sweet dairy whey, butter (cream, salt, enzymes), maltodextrin, honey, corn syrup, calcium sulfate, soy flur, dough conditioners (may contain: dicalcium phosphate, calcium dioxide, sodium stearoyl lactylate, ethoxylated mono and diglycerides, mono and diglycerides, and/or datem), yeast nutrients (may contain: ammonium sulfate, ammonium chloride, calcium carbonate, monocalcium phosphate, and/or ammonium phosphate), cornstarch, wheat starch, vinegar, natural flavor, beta carotene (color), enzymes, calcium propionate (to retain freshness), soy lecithin.
That’s what a slice of store-purchased bread contains.

This is from an interesting article. I hope you can take time to read it.

Homemade Bread: Cheap, Delicious, Healthy, and Easier Than You Think

http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/11/04/homemade-bread-cheap-delicious-healthy-and-easier-than-you-think/

A Personal Goal

Proverbs 31: 10 - 31
10Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.

11The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.

12She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.

13She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.

14She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar.

15She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.

16She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.

17She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.

18She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.

19She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.

20She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.

21She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.

22She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.

23Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.

24She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.

25Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.

26She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.

27She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.

28Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.

29Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.

30Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.

31Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.

Family Time

Tonight was a special night. We went to a nice restaurant and enjoyed a meal. Upon arriving home we started making food for a get together tomorrow. Everyone was busy cooking and helping. I picked up a movie for daddy. As the night got late and the food was cooking I noticed the changes. The house smelled wonderful. A cozy calm seemed to settle over the family. Daddy started the movie while mommy continued to bake. When I looked into the family room I noticed. Daddy had turned off the lights and there were pillows and blankets everywhere. Daddy had joined the children and was snuggled on the floor with a child. From time to time one of the crew would pop into the kitchen give me a hug and take a taste or sample. Mommy watched the last part of the movie. Now as everyone is being tucked into bed. I hear the happy sounds of laughter and bed time prayers. I am grateful for simple things. I believe that the simple things are in fact the most valuable.

Maple Frosted Pumpkin Cake

For the cake::

3 large eggs
2 cups light brown sugar
2/3 cup light olive oil ( I used vegetable oil)
1 15-oz can cooked pumpkin (or two cups of fresh cooked pumpkin)
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon Pumpkin Pie Spice
1/2 teaspoon sea salt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Prepare a 10 x 13" baking pan
Beat the eggs in a large mixing bowl till light and frothy; add the brown sugar, beat till smooth; add the oil, pumpkin, and vanilla; beat to combine.

In a separate bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients (the flour & sea salt). Add the dry ingredients into the wet mixture a little at a time and beat to combine- for two minutes.

Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan. Bake in a pre-heated oven for 30 minutes, or until the cake is firm and a wooden pick inserted into the center emerges clean.

Cool on a wire rack while you make your frosting.


Maple Cream Cheese Icing:

8 oz. softened cream cheese
3-4 tablespoons softened unsalted butter
3 to 4 tablespoons pure maple syrup
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3 cups powdered sugar (more, if needed)

Beat until the cream cheese and butter until fluffy. Add 3 tablespoons of the maple syrup, and vanilla. Add in the powdered sugar a cup at a time; beat till smooth. Add another tablespoon maple syrup, if needed. Add more sugar, if needed.

When the cake is cool, frost with the Maple Cream Cheese Icing. Sprinkle with finely chopped pecans or walnuts, if desired.

Here is the original recipe. This is a great website.
http://karinaskitchenlinks.blogspot.com/2007/10/recipe-of-month-maple-frosted-pumpkin.html