Prayerful Thoughts Over Morning Coffee

WEEKEND EDITION

Acts 2:42

42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

French Bread – 2 Pound Loaf

This quick to make, simple loaf is yummy, sure to please, and claims to be healthy.  The recipe has been floating about the internet for so long it is not possible to know where it originated . . . likely somebody’s grandma!

I made it in my bread machine opting for a light crust (color) and choosing the rapid setting.  If your machine doesn’t have a rapid setting, I am told the regular setting works fine.  Realize this will take much longer.  On my machine the regular (basic) setting is 3 hours compared to 1 hour on rapid.  I even sliced it while it was hot, being impatient to taste it!

Being watchful of the order in which your bread machine requires ingredients, here are all you need:

1 1/2 C warm water

4 C bread flour

1 -1/2 TSP Salt

2 -1/2 TSP Yeast

So simple and quick you’ll want to make extra to share!

Psalm 78:25

25 Human beings ate the bread of angels;
    he sent them all the food they could eat.

 

#Martha_L_Shaw – #Prayerful_Thoughts_Over_Morning_Coffee

 

 

Quick and Easy!

Here is a quick and  so simple way to bless your family and friends!

• after school treat
• with coffee after a meal
• bless the new neighbor
• bring to the office
• church coffee fellowship
• just because

Nutella Cookies – 3 Ingredients!

1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup Nutella
1 Egg

Preheat oven to 350. Makes 24 cookies on ungreased baking sheet.

Combine 3 ingredients to form dough. It will be a dry and dense dough. I recommend using your hand (keep one clean, silly. You know the phone will ring.) This will go quicker with mixing it by hand IMPO.

Place one inch balls on cookie sheet and press/flatten a bit with a glass.

Bake for about 8 minutes.

There are different variations out in cyber space. Some call for adding 1/2 cup of sugar. I prefer them without. If you have a really really “bad” sweet tooth, go on and add the sugar. I do not believe they need it. Yummy!

Quick White Bread – No Yeast

This is Irish Soda (white) Bread.

It is not the dark and raisin filled bread I recall from childhood. It is a basic white bread with baking soda as leavening rather than yeast. It calls for butter milk instead of white milk as the magic with the leavening is enhanced. I used a butter milk alternative this time for the first time in this recipe with good results.

This loaf can be made on a lightly greased baking sheet as a round “artisan” type loaf and cuts can be made (cross) if desired. The ingredients are few and likely things you have:

2 cups of flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup milk with 1 tbsp lemon juice added in lieu of buttermilk

sift tog first 3 ingredients, add milk and mix to form a soft dough. Pour into lightly greased loaf pan or form shape desired on baking sheet.

Bake at 375 for approx 35 minutes or until nicely browned on top.

I have read differing opinions on switching whole wheat flour for all-purpose flour. I have not tried it but would recommend using a bit less flour and depending on how the dough feels (whole wheat will be more dense as a rule) add a bit more if needed. I have seen comments on bread making which suggest splitting the flour to half all-purpose and half whole wheat, while others go with entirely whole wheat. When I have some whole wheat on hand, I’ll try it.

Cinnamon Bread Recipe

Here is the recipe for the cinnamon bread pictured in my Bread of Life post.  I just ate two slices with butter for my supper.  Yum!

CINNAMON BREAD

Batter:

½  cup butter, softened

1  cup sugar

1 egg

1 cup buttermilk or 1 cup milk plus 1 tablespoon lemon juice

2 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

Cinnamon/sugar mixture:

1/3 cups sugar

1  teaspoon cinnamon

Batter:

Cream together butter,  sugar, and egg.  Add butter milk or milk and lemon juice, flour, and baking soda.  Put 1/2 of batter (or a little less) into greased loaf pan

Mix in separate bowl the 1/3 c sugar and cinnamon.  Sprinkle 3/4 of cinnamon mixture on top of the 1/2 batter in loaf pan.  Add remaining batter to pan; sprinkle with last of cinnamon topping.  Swirl with a knife.  Bake at 350 degrees for 45-50 min or until toothpick tester comes clean.

Cool in pan for 20 minutes before removing from pan.

Note:  we drink only skim milk or 1% milk.  I used 1% milk and lemon juice in lieu of buttermilk and it came out great.

Almost too pretty to eat!

Trisha’s Tapenade

 Ingredients:

3 garlic cloves (minced)

1 cup kalamata olives

2 tablespoons of capers

3 tablespoons of fresh chopped parsley

2 tablespoons of lemon juice

 2 tablespoons of olive oil

Salt and pepper to taste

 

Directions: 

Place minced garlic and liquid ingredients in a medium sized bowl.  Chop remaining ingredients and add to bowl.  Salt and pepper to taste. Mix and serve!

Do you know Trisha?  She’s a blogger here!  You will want to try out her recipes and other ideas for sure!  Visit Trisha’s Flying Meatballs today!  (and learn the story behind the blog name!!!)

Sweetened Frustration – Along with a Cashew Brittle Recipe!

Ah, change, new seasons, lambs, lions, and general discouragement . . . how they do mount up.  My left foot is still swelling and painful and my 3 day work week begins again tomorrow which means more pain . . . what to do?  Pray a lot, rest a lot, try not to be frustrated, continue as caregiver to elderly parent who lives with me, wonder why she thinks it’s her turn to be grumpy?  Nope, foot still hurt.  What next?

Mom napping . . . try new nut brittle technique!  The result?  Delightful caramel color, slightly browned flavor, cashews instead of peanuts, and here it is waiting for you to drop in for some with a cuppa . . . yes, I designed and made the quilted table-cloth too.

Cashew Brittle:

In a microwave bowl mix:

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup light corn syrup

Cook in microwave on high for 4 1/2 to 5 minutes depending on your microwave.

Remove from microwave and stir in:

1 Tbsp butter

1 tsp vanilla

1 cup cashew pieces (or your choice of other nuts)

Cook for approx 1 minute to 1 minute 30 seconds on high.

Final step, stir in 1 tsp baking soda then spread onto waxed paper and allow to cool completely, then break into pieces and nibble away.  It should keep for a couple of weeks or so depending on climate, but I doubt it will last that long!

 

Quilt?  I had a fat quarter I liked, selected some scraps in suitable colors, chose a simple star block pattern, and the results are what you see here!

“I’m a Baking Enthusiast” Award!

Have you been the the mydearbakes blog?  NO?  Oh, you simply must pop right over there and plan to stay a while.  The cakes you’ll see?  The inspiration you’ll feel?  Oh, I could go on and on, but I shall not spoil your fun.  Click the link and visit them soon and often!

I am excited and honored to announce that I have been chosen by mydearbakes to receive their “I’m A Baking Enthusiast” Award!

I thank them so much for honoring me with this award!

Italian Tortilla Chips From YOUR Oven!

Who says tortilla chips need to come out of a plastic bag, made to outlive ALL of us, be filled with chemicals and tons of salt?  NOT ME!

So, I started with my own corn tortillas, cut them in quarters, sprayed cooking spray on a baking sheet, placed my wedges on the sheet and gave them a quick spray on top.  I then sprinkled an Italian seasoning blend on them (use your fav) and baked them at 350 for 10 minutes.  I let the wee bit of grease drain off on paper toweling, then back in the oven for a quick second trip – this time with a sprinkling of REAL Parmesan cheese on them.

Yum.  No salt shaker was touched in the making of this snack and no cheese from a plastic brightly colored canister!

Cin-fully Good Waffles!

I had a big meal earlier and so wanted some little thing for the evening meal.  Hmmmm . . . waffles!  I read recently of making homemade dessert in minutes by making brownies in the waffle maker. Make the batter in which ever way you like but scoop some into the waffle maker instead of the baking pan and in 5 minutes or less you’ll be adding ice cream.  Yum.  Haven’t tried it yet, but it got me thinking.

S0, last time I grocery shopped I saw the store brand “tube” of cinnamon rolls was on sale and picked up a package.  Oh, were they good.  In my waffle maker it took about 4 minutes.  The “tubes” of rolls come with frosting, but I’m not into overly sweet things, so I popped them out of my waffle maker and added a bit of butter only.  My whole main floor smells AMAZING and I had a simple and yummy evening meal.  I put the rest of the tube of rolls in a zipper bag and into the refrig for another meal.  Try it!  Think outside the tube!

Cinnamon Swirl Waffles

 

Don’t have a waffle maker?  Check your local thrift shops.  I found mine at a small thrift shop in town for just 2.00!

Nacho Cheese Soup With Chicken and Orzo

Here is a quick and zesty recipe you’ll love!

I started with orzo and cooked it at a simmer until almost “done.”  This could be done with brown rice, quinoa, etc.  I measured approximately a cup and a half, uncooked.  When “almost done” drain and set aside.

I next opened a can of condensed nacho cheese soup and cooked it with a can of lowfat milk. As soon as the cheese melted, I added my cooked orzo and let it simmer.

While my cheesy orzo simmered, I took some cut up grilled chicken breast from my freezer (I always have some in the freezer and ready to warm up and use for a quick dish.)  I thawed my already cooked chicken in the microwave, then plated my cheesy pasta, topped with my chicken. Yum!

Options:  This can be a meatless meal easily.  I also like it with broccoli in place of the chicken.  Other interesting ingredients, when I have them, include colorful sweet peppers, chopped, and put in just before serving . . . I like mixing my textures!  Also chopped onions, any leftover meat you may have will work nicely.  Skip the rice or pasta and add lots of colorful steamed or sauted veggies and serve in a bread bowl topped with shredded cheddar cheese!  (good use for the bread you made or bought yesterday which is a bit less fresh!