Simple Whole Wheat Bread

2 1/2 cups warm water

3 tsp yeast
3 TB sugar

Combine in mixing bowl and let sit for several minutes.  Then add:

3 tsp salt
3 TB melted butter

Turn on mixer and slowly add 6 cups whole wheat flour.  Dough should pull completely away from the bowl by the end.  Let the mixer knead (or do it by hand) for about 8 minutes.

Place dough in an oiled bowl, cover with a clean towel, and let rise for about an hour.  Punch down dough, divide into two loaves.  Place into greased bread pans and let rise again.

Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

***
This is my new go-to bread recipe.  It is simple, quick and delicious!

Whole Wheat Naan

2 tsp yeast
1 cup warm water
1/4 cup sugar
3 Tbsp milk
1 egg lightly beaten
1 1/2 tsp salt
3 1/2  cups whole wheat flour

Dissolve yeast in water.  Let sit for several minutes.  Combine all ingredients together with a wooden spoon until well-mixed into dough.  Let dough rise until double in size.  Break into golfball-size balls and place them on a greased cookie sheet to rest for 30 minutes.  Cover loosely with plastic wrap.  When done, heat a non-stick pan to medium heat and rub it with some olive oil.  Roll each ball until quite thin (I just used my hands to flatten them, using a rolling pin took too much flour for my taste).  Cook a few minutes on each side until lightly browned.  Makes about 12-15.

***
Naan is usually served with Indian food (chicken saag on top is divine!), but these are SO good that I can just eat them plain or with butter/honey.  I ate 3 of them just while I was cooking them!  I plan on using them tomorrow for lunch when I make a middle eastern greens soup.  I'm not sure if there will be any left though!  My kids are gobbling these up like crazy too!

Snickerdoodle Muffins

Credit: fortheloveofcooking.blogspot.com

3/4 cup of sugar
1 large egg
1 1/2 cup of flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp freshly ground nutmeg
1/4 cup of vegetable oil
3/4 cup of milk
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
3 tbsp sugar
1 tsp cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly coat a muffin tin with cooking spray.

In a large bowl, beat together the sugar and egg until creamy. In a small bowl, stir together the flour, baking powder, 1 teaspoon of cinnamon, salt, and nutmeg. Pour dry mixture into the egg mixture and stir to combine. Add vegetable oil, milk, and vanilla, stirring until just combined.

Fill muffin tin (I got 11 muffins).  Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes clean, about 15-18 minutes. Let cool for 3-5 minutes, then remove muffins from tin. In a small bowl, combine 1 teaspoon of cinnamon and 3 tablespoons of sugar. While the muffins are still warm, roll each one in the mixture, coating all sides with the cinnamon sugar.


***
Yum!  These are called Cinnamon Sugar Donut Muffins, but I think we will re-name these "Snickerdoodle Muffins"!!  They were quick and easy to make, and I know we will be eating a lot of these from now on!  (And my oven didn't ruin them, shocking!!)

Best Banana Bread Ever!

1/3 cup butter
3/4 cup sugar
1 egg, beaten
1 1/2 cup flour (I used 100% whole wheat)
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
4 bananas
2 TB water
1 tsp vanilla

Cream butter & sugar together.  Add beaten egg.  In seperate bowl, combine dry ingredients.  In a blender, puree bananas, water and vanilla until smooth.  Combine all the mixtures and bake in a greased bread pan for 50-55 minutes at 350 until a toothpick comes out clean.

***
SO GOOD!!!  This is definitely my new banana bread recipe.  Might have to make it every week!  I love finding recipes like this where I can substitute the whole wheat flour and not lose ANY flavor.

Brown Sugar Oat Muffins

1 cup old-fashioned oats
1 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup white flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt

Combine in a bowl.

2 eggs
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
3/4 cup milk
1/4 cup canola oil
1 tsp vanilla

Whisk together in a separate bowl.

Add wet mixture to dry ingredients, combine just until moistened.

Fill greased muffin cups 2/3 full.  Bake at 400 for 15 minutes.  Makes 1 dozen.

***
I was craving bran muffins this morning, but didn't have the ingredients, so I found this recipe instead in my Taste of Home cookbook.  They were SO good...perfect hint of sweetness!  But the oats and whole wheat flour made me feel like they were a healthier snack option.  Yum!!

Homemade Cornbread

1 c cornmeal
1 c flour
1 T baking powder
1 egg
1 c milk
1/4 c melted butter

Combine dry ingredents.  Add wet ingredients and mix until just combined.  Pour into greased 8x8 dish and bake at 425 degrees for 20 minutes.

***
We got this recipe from a book about Tennessee that we checked out at the library!  Quick, easy recipe.  Yummy smothered in butter & honey and served along with mashed red potatoes, bbq chicken, and collard greens!!