Pita Pockets

I had no idea that making pitas was so easy.  I thought you would have to do all of this fancy rolling and pinching or something to make them hollow.  They really take hardly any work, and very little time!  They tasted fantastic (warm, fresh bread? Always great) and I like to know what exactly is in my food.  This recipe made 12 pitas, which was too many for just the two of us, so I would probably half or third this next time (and there will definitely be a next time!)

I used the great silicone baking mat Jennifer and co. gave me for Christmas to make them perfectly even!

They just puff right up!

Perfection.

Pita Pockets

• 1 package yeast
• 1 1/4 cup warm water
• 3 cups flour (I used half white, half wheat)
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp sugar
• 1 Tbsp oil

Combine water and yeast in a large bowl.  Let sit for about 10 minutes.  Add flour(s), sugar, salt, and oil.  Mix well.  Knead dough until soft.  Divide dough into 12 equal parts.  Roll each part into a ball and then flatten into a 6 inch circle.  Place dough circles on floured surface and let rest for 40 minutes or until slightly puffy.  Place on ungreased jelly roll pans (I needed two large ones).  Bake at 500F for 4-8 minutes, flipping halfway through baking.  Stack pitas in 2-3 piles and cover loosely with a dish towel to let steam escape.  Slice in half with a serrated knife.

I loved these with Justin's Maple Almond Butter, egg white/spinach/cheese scramble, and Greek salad.  So good!

Fresh Cranberry Orange Loaf

Up until last week, I had never tasted a fresh cranberry.  While I was at the grocery store I saw a big bag of them for pretty cheap, so I grabbed one and decided to try making something with them.  When I tasted one, I was expecting something sweet and tangy-- but it was so bitter!  I was surprised, but apparently that's just what fresh cranberries taste like.  I guess cranberry sauce just has a LOT of sugar in it ;)
I found a recipe for a cranberry orange loaf, and let me just say that it is FANTASTIC.  This is definitely going into the holiday baking rotation.  It's amazing.  If my ward would actually assign me some people to visiting teach, this is what I would take them.  For now I guess Sam and I will just have to work on eating large quantities on this beautiful thing.

Cranberry Orange Loaf

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 t baking powder
• 1/2 t baking soda
• 1/2 t salt
• 1 T grated orange zest
• 1 1/2 c fresh cranberries
• 1/2 c nuts, coarsely chopped
• 1/2 c margarine, softened
• 1 c white sugar
• 1 egg
• 3/4 c orange juice
  OPTIONAL GLAZE:
• combine icing sugar and orange juice to form a syrupy consistency
  

1. Preheat the oven to 350F.  Grease and flour a 9x5'' loaf pan.
2. Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.  Stir in orange zest, cranberries, and nuts. Set aside.
3. Cream together margarine, sugar, and egg until smooth.  Stir in orange juice.  Stir in flour mixture until just moistened.  Pour into pan.
4. Bake 1 hour or until a knife comes out clean.  Let stand for 10 minutes.  (If desired, poke holes in the top, glaze and let sit another 5 minutes).  Remove to a wire rack and cool.

Tips:
I needed 2 large oranges to get the right amount of zest and juice.  To get more juice from your oranges, heat them up in the microwave for 10-20 seconds and then roll on the counter, applying enough pressure to soften it up.  Then cut in half and squeeze to juice it.

The glaze is delicious, but not necessary for it to be awesome :)

If you wait for it to cool completely it's quite easy to cut with a serrated knife.

Try making mini loaves to give as gifts!

Pizza Dough

This recipe is from my mother-in-law, Momma White.  She makes awesome pizza!  This dough recipe is the best I've ever used, and super easy! It always turns out!

Pizza Dough

1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast

2 cups warm water (110 degrees to 115 degrees)

3 tablespoons vegetable oil

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

4 cups all-purpose flour

Directions

1. In a large mixing bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Add oil, salt and 2 cups flour. Beat on medium speed for 3 minutes. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough. Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease top. Cover and let rest in a warm place for 10 minutes.

2. Divide dough in half. On a floured surface, roll each portion into a 13-in. circle. Transfer to two greased 12-in. pizza pans; build up edges slightly. Bake at 375 degrees F for 15 minutes or until lightly browned. Spread with sauce; sprinkle with toppings. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until cheese is melted.

(Variation:  Add Italian Seasoning and/or garlic to the dough!)

Cinnamon Buns

If you want to make the world's best cinnamon buns, you also need the world's best bun recipe.
Sometimes when Grandma Frache makes her buns, she will also make extra dough to do cinnamon buns.  They're basically just amazing!
There isn't a set recipe for these buns.  Grandma is the sort of baker who just knows what looks and fells right, and will grab a handful of this, a pinch of that...
To make the cinnamon buns, you roll out the bun dough to about 1/2-1'' thick.  Spread a lot of butter on the dough. Sprinkle with a lot of cinnamon.  Spread a lot of brown sugar on top. (Optional: sprinkle raisins on top)
Roll up the dough to form a "log".  make sure it's rolled up tight!  Using a piece of thread, wrap it around the dough and close off to cut.  Put on a jelly roll pan close together and bake 15-18 minutes @350F or until tested done.

Cinnamon Buns

If you want to make the world's best cinnamon buns, you also need the world's best bun recipe.
Sometimes when Grandma Frache makes her buns, she will also make extra dough to do cinnamon buns.  They're basically just amazing!
There isn't a set recipe for these buns.  Grandma is the sort of baker who just knows what looks and fells right, and will grab a handful of this, a pinch of that...
To make the cinnamon buns, you roll out the bun dough to about 1/2-1'' thick.  Spread a lot of butter on the dough. Sprinkle with a lot of cinnamon.  Spread a lot of brown sugar on top. (Optional: sprinkle raisins on top)
Roll up the dough to form a "log".  make sure it's rolled up tight!  Using a piece of thread, wrap it around the dough and close off to cut.  Put on a jelly roll pan close together and bake 15-18 minutes @350F or until tested done.

Morning Glory Muffins

I've been on a healthy kick, so many of my new recipes in the repertoire are very healthy.  I save the hearty eating for when I visit home or for special occasions.  I think that the healthy stuff is great too, though.  I also try to use original recipes from my family and adapt them to be a little healthier.

Some of those "healthy versions" of recipes end up not all that good.  After all, it's the fat and sugar that is the best part, right?  Well, guess what: these muffins are seriously fan-freaking-tastic, and very healthy.  They have a lot of great stuff in them, and they will keep you going for a long time (hence the name).  They even got me featured on a blog. Dang right.

Morning Glory Muffins

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• 3/4 cup sugar (or honey)
• 1 1/2 tablespoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon ground cloves
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups grated carrots
• 1 apple – peeled, cored, and chopped
• 3/4 cup raisins
• 1 tablespoon wheat germ
• 1 tablespoon flax
• 1 egg
• 2 egg whites
• 1 cup applesauce
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 2 tablespoons chopped walnuts or almonds
• 2 tablespoons toasted wheat germ

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Lightly oil 18 muffin cups, or coat with nonstick cooking spray.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs, egg whites, sugar, applesauce and vanilla.
3. In a large bowl, stir together flours, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Stir in carrots, apples, raisins, 1 T wheat germ, and flax. Stir in wet mixture until just moistened. Spoon the batter into the prepared muffin cups, filling them about 3/4 full.
4. In a small bowl, combine nuts and wheat germ; sprinkle over the muffin tops.
5. Bake at 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the tops are golden and spring back when lightly pressed.

Grandma Buns

These buns are legendary.  You don't even know.  It's a staple at all Frache family holidays and Sunday get-togethers.  The other day, I tried making them for the first time and I nearly fell over because they turned out so well.  They were totally perfect at first- but then they got a little dry the next day, so not quite there, but stinkin' close.  Anyway, I want to share the love with you.  This is the recipe that my grandma Rayma Frache has been using for years.  She got the recipe from my adopted grandma/birthday buddy Doris Erickson.

Grandma Buns:
  
Combine the yeast and flour:

• 2 Tbsp Fermipan inst. yeast (only available in Canada, I think.  Use this type if possible)
• 4 cups flour (I used half bread/half all-purpose.  My grandma swears by Ellison's)

Whip together the following ingredients:

• 8 Tbsp white sugar
• 6 Tbsp oil (Canola)
• 2 eggs
• 3 cups warm water

Add flour/yeast mixture and blend well.

Combine the following:

• 1 tsp salt
• 3-4 cups flour

Add the salt/flour to the mixture and blend well until smooth.

Pour out onto floured surface and knead.  Place in a large greased bowl, turning once so dough is coated.  Cover with cloth and let rise 15 min in warm over. Punch down. Let rise again about 30 min.  Punch down.
Pour out onto floured surface.  Form into buns (If you roll out and then use a glass to cut them they will be more uniform). Place on a greased pan.  Cover and let rise in a warm place.

Bake 15-18 min @350F
Makes about 4 doz.

If you try making them, please let me know how it goes!

Banana Oat Muffins

...plus, they're low fat!  I adapted this from a normal muffin recipe that had waaay too much sugar and fat in it.

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups White Flour Bleached
• 1 cup Quaker Oats
• 1/3 cup Light Brown Sugar
• 2 tsp Baking Powder
• 1 tsp Baking Soda
• 1/2 tsp Salt
• 1 Egg
• 3/4 cup Skim Milk
• 1/4 cup Plain Low Fat Yogurt
• 1/4 cup Apple Sauce Unsweetened
• 1 tsp Pure Vanilla Extract
• 1 cup Bananas-mashed
• 1/3 cup Mini Chocolate Chips (optional)

Beat egg slightly. Add milk, yogurt, apple sauce, and vanilla.  Stir in bananas.  Combine remaining ingredients and then add to wet mixture.  Stir until just combined. Grease or line muffin tins, pour in batter, then bake at 400F for 16-18 minutes.  Immediately remove to cooling rack.

Makes 16 muffins, at 122 calories each.  Without the chocolate chips, it's only 102 calories each. 

Om nom nom... Quick and easy pizza!

I love me some homemade pizza.  However, it can take so darn long to wait for the dough to rise and all that jazz!  Therefore, if you are in a hurry (or starving) just use this quick and easy recipe and you'll be om nom noming in no time!

No-rise Pizza Dough

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 package yeast (or about 2 1/4 tsp)
• 1 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tbsp white sugar
• 1 cup warm water
• 2 tbsp vegetable oil

(if you want extra flavour, which I highly recommend, add oregano, garlic, and basil as well)

• Combine dry ingredients
• Combine wet ingredients, then add to dry and mix
• Roll out and put topping on
• Bake at 375F for 20-25 minutes

Ta-da!

More pizza tips:

• Mix garlic and butter together and spread it on the edges of the pizza that don't have toppings. It'll make the crust extra tasty!
• Put the cheese on LAST!  Trust me- your toppings will be juicier and not get all crusty and dried out.
• Who says you can only use mozzarella? I love me some monterey jack, pepperjack, and provolone.
• Turn the broiler on for a minute or so to make the cheese all perfect-like. Watch it carefully though!
• Best pizza ever- bbq sauce, grilled chicken, mushrooms (optional), dried chili seeds, slivered almonds, and half montery jack/half pepperjack. Seriously.
• Second best pizza- alfredo sauce, grilled chicken, and broccoli.

What's your favourite pizza, and favourite pizza place?