Friday, May 1, 2009

Slightly Late Easter Post!


Mom and I searched through many different cookbooks to find our Easter breakfast this year. Something special to accommodate our lovely died eggs. Then Mom found it, this amazing breakfast bread that was very easy to make! We did one like the recipe said then we also did one with a raspberry sauce filling. Personally I liked the almond one better, but they were both good!

Cherry Almond Braid
From: The Best of Country Cooking- 1998

1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese
1/4 c. sugar
1/2 tsp. almond extract
1/4 c. slivered almonds (I toasted ours)
1/3 c. chopped maraschino cherries (We didn't have any, so we skipped these)
1 batch of the crescent roll recipe in the last post. (Or 2 packages (8 ounces each) refrigerated crescent rolls)

Glaze:
1 c. confectioners' sugar
1 to 2 Tbsp. milk
1 Tbsp. butter or margarine, melted
Additional slivered almonds for garnish.

In a mixing bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar until light and fluffy. Add extract. Fold in almonds and cherries; set aside. Roll out crescent roll dough to make a 12-in. square. (With the homemade crescent roll dough, we got two 12-in. squares, so we made one raspberry. You can either double the filling or just make the rest regular rolls) Spread the cream cheese mixture down center third of square to within 1 in. of top and bottom; fold top and bottom edge over filling. Bring long sides over filling and overlap. Pinch seams to seal. Bake at 375 degrees for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown. Cool completely on wire rack. Combine the confectioners' sugar, milk and butter; pour over top of loaf, Garnish with almonds. Yield: 8-10 servings.




Friday, March 27, 2009

Crescent Rolls


There are many stories to how the crescent or croissant roll got invented, when and why. Some say it was invented in Europe to celebrate the defeat of a Muslin invasion in 732. Others say it was invented in Vienna to celebrate the defeat of the Turkish siege as a reference to the crescent on the Turkish flag in 1683. However these little delicacies were invented I don't really care, I'm just glad they were!

2 pkg. active dry yeast
1/2 tsp. sugar
1/2 c. warm water
3/4 c. milk
1/2 c. shortening
1 tsp. salt
2 eggs
1/4 c. sugar
4-1/2 c. flour

In large bowl, sprinkle yeast and 1/2 tsp. sugar over warm water; stir until dissolved. Add milk, shortening, salt, eggs, 1/4 c. sugar and 1-1/2 c. flour.

Using mixer at low speed, beat until well blended. Increase speed to medium, beat 2 minutes. Add 1 c. flour; beat 2 minutes more.

Stir in enough additional flour to make soft dough. Turn out dough onto lightly floured surface. Knead until smooth and elastic, about 5 minutes.

Place in greased large bowl, turning over dough so that top is greased. Cover with towel and let rise in warm place until doubled, about 1 hour. Punch down dough and divide it in half. Cover and let rest 10 minutes.

With lightly floured rolling pin, roll out each dough half into a 16 inch circle. Spread each circle with 3 tbsp. butter or regular margarine, softened.

Cut each circle into 12 wedges. Roll up each wedge, starting at the wide end. Place rolled wedges, points down, 2 inches apart, on greased baking sheets. Curve the ends to form crescents.

If you want your rolls to be crusty, brush with 3 tbsp. melted butter after shaping and let them rise, uncovered. Otherwise cover and let rise until doubled, about 30 minutes.

Bake in 375 degree oven 15-20 minutes or until golden brown. If you want the crust to be soft, brush with 3 tbsp. shortening or softened butter immediately after baking. Remove from baking sheets right away. Serve warm. Makes 24 rolls.

Monday, January 26, 2009

Homemade Tortillas



I found this recipe online and it has become a family favorite! Store bought ones just don't taste so good any more, I think the homemade ones are more filling too. They are really easy to make and turn out soft and yummy!

Flour Tortillas


2 c. flour
1-1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
2 tsp. oil
3/4 c. warm water or milk

Stir together first 3 ingredients, Mix in liquids. Dough will be sticky. Knead 2 minutes. Let rest 10-20 minutes. Divide into about 8 balls and let rest for another 10-20 minutes. Roll or press out as flat as you possibly can. Fry on a dry skillet until slightly brown. You can keep them warm and soft if you cover them with a damp towel. Enjoy!

Monday, January 12, 2009

Treasures....


These are killer cookies! Their name describes them well...Treasures. I brought them to a Church potluck on Sunday and they went over really well! I used Snicker bars when I made them and they were delicious! And super easy to make. Here's the recipe.
Treasures
1 c. soft margarine
1 c. peanut butter
2 tsp. vanilla
2 eggs
1 c. white sugar
1 c. brown sugar, packed
3 c. all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
Miniature Milky Way, Snickers or Three Musketeer candy bars

Cream margarine, peanut butter, flavoring, eggs and sugars together. Combine and add dry ingredients. Quarter tiny candy bars; wrap enough dough around each piece to cover. Bake on ungreased cookie sheet at 350 degrees about 8 minutes. Let cook on pan 5 minutes before removing. Enjoy!