Monday, January 25, 2010

Pocket Meals ~ bread and directions




2 ¼ t yeast
½ cup warm water
½ cup warm evaporated milk
(can substitute ¾ cup regular milk)
¼ cup sugar
¼ cup shortening
1 egg
1t salt
4 cups flour

In small bowl, proof the yeast with warm water and apx 1 Tbs sugar. While this proofs, warm milk.
Add milk, sugar, shortening, egg, salt, yeast mixture and 3 cups of flour, mix until smooth. Knead on floured surface until elastic. Place in greased bowl, cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled.

** Prepare Fillings **

Punch down dough, divide into roll-sized pieces. The size will depend on you, and how big you want the pockets to be. This recipe makes apx 16 good-sized pockets.

On a lightly floured surface, roll and stretch dough to about 6” in diameter. This can be in either a circle, oval, etc. If I am making a couple different recipes at a time, I will make them in different shapes so they can easily be distinguished. 




Place filling inside circle of dough, fold up to center, pinch to seal. I usually put any cheese on first, as I cook it seal-side down. This allows the cheese to melt down into the fillings. 




Place on greased baking sheet (or stoneware!). Cover and let rise until doubled, about 20-30 minutes. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes, or until golden brown.

Serve immediately, refrigerate or freeze for later!!

This bread is very soft, and kind of sweet.  It stays soft when refridgerated as well.  PERFECT for these mini-meals!!

Italian Pocket Meal Fillings

1 ½ lbs ground beef

1 can spaghetti sauce
Parmesan cheese

Brown beef, drain. Add spaghetti sauce, simmer. Add cheese, then a scoop of meat for pocket.

Philly Cheese Steak Pocket Meal Filling

2 lbs thin steak, sliced bite-sized

Onion, sliced
2 Green peppers, sliced and bite size
Monterey Jack Cheese, slices or shredded
Seasonings – to taste

Brown steak. Add onions, green peppers and seasonings and simmer until onions are clear. (I used a little Worcestershire sauce and salt and pepper). Add to pocket with cheese.

Sloppy Joe Pocket Meal Filling

1 ½ lb ground beef

Manwich mix

Brown beef, drain. Add can of Manwich, simmer.

Breakfast Pocket Filling

1 doz eggs, scrambled

1 lb breakfast sausage (not links)
Cheese

Brown sausage, drain and set aside on paper towel on a plate. Scramble eggs, add cooked sausage. Layer with cheese.

You can also use bacon instead of sausage, or any combination of breakfast food!

Saturday, January 16, 2010

Tips for Baking Yeast Breads

I hear from lots of people how they have just had such terrible luck with making bread.  Mine has definitely been through trial and error, so here are the tips I've learned that help me.

* Always, always, ALWAYS proof your yeast.   Yeast is an active and live bacteria.  If the liquids you add are too cold, it won't activate.  If it's too hot - you'll kill it.  To proof your yeast: measure your yeast in a seperate bowl, add 1T sugar (sugar is the bacteria's food) then add warm water.  The ideal temperature is between 110 and 115 degrees F.   Active Dry Yeast NEEDS to be proofed.  And while Instant Yeast does not, I always do anyway, because then I don't waste an entire batch of bread by killing off or not activating the yeast.
According to a friend of mine who read this, some fancy schmancy new ovens have a 'bread proofing' function.  I must explore this idea further.

* If your bread doesn't rise, or doesn't rise fast enough - it may be too cold in your house. I often take a large pan of water and put a cooling rack over the pan.  I turn the stove onto medium low and put the dough in a greased bowl to rise.  Just watch to make sure the towel you cover it will isn't anywhere near the burner.  Also, don't get it too high, or it will rise too fast and can even start to cook onto the edges of the bowl.

* Don't put in too much flour.  While the amount of flour you add does depend on the humidity level of your area, you actually want your dough to be wetter and sticky.

* Wheat or Heavy Grained Bread.  They take longer to rise, don't rise as high or fluffy and can become quite dense.  Use 1/2 and 1/2 with white flour, or add some additional glueten for a fluffier bread. I like to use Bob's Red Mill .  You can often find it in the baking section of your grocery store.

* Don't over-knead your bread.  Texture really does matter.  You want it elasticy, but well mixed.  You'll have to experiment with this for yourself, especially depending on how you mix before you knead.  I have found that by mixing in my kitchen Aid with the dough hook on low I can lower my knead time and get a great texture.

*Storing your Yeast.  If you buy the large bag at Costco to save money (like me).  Then once the bag is opened it does need to be stored in an airtight container in your fridge.  Without it refridgerated, it will die and be useless.  Also, write the expiration date on the container.

* Milk in receips can create a great flavor and texture.  However, if you do not scald the enzymes will interfere with the yeast.  Canned milk and buttermilk are great for baking.  Buttermilk adds an amazing texture, but use 1/2 of what is called for in the recipe.

* Liquids you can substitute the water in your recipe with yogurt (1/2 of liquid called for) or other broths, juices or flavorings for flavor.

* Don't overcook.  Loaves are done when they sound hollow when tapped.  Remove from pans immediately to cool.

*Storing your bread.  Loaves can be frozen and stored well, but make sure they are completely cool before freezing.

* Freezing to bake later.  Do you love warm, fresh rolls at dinner, but don't always have the time to do the full prep?  I picked up some disposable baking tins at the Dollar store and prepped a double batch of rolls.  After the first rise when you shape the rolls, divide them up into the different pans.  Cover them well (tin foil, etc) and place in the freezer.  Then, all you have to do is pull out the pan, set in a warm place to defrost and rise, then pop in the oven!  Also, you can place them on a cookie sheet to freeze, then toss them into a large ziploc.  Just like the store-bought freezer rolls.   You can also do this for full loaves of bread. 


Happy Baking!

Friday, January 8, 2010

Chocolate Banana Waffles


My kids love frozen waffles for breakfast.  But, with the Waffle Shortage this year, I figured we may need to come up with a new alternative.

I made one batch of these, and it make apx 14 regular sized waffles.  My daughter rated the dinner with 10 A+'s, and they quickly gobbled them up.   I will be making them next with whole wheat flour, doubling (or more) the batch and freezing them.

They do come out kind of soft right out of the waffle maker, but can be taken out of the freezer and tossed into the toaster! 


1 ½ cups all-purpose flour

3 teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
½ cup white sugar
¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 cup milk
2 eggs
2 tablespoons butter, melted
2 bananas, mashed
1 cup mini chocolate chips

Preheat waffle iron. In a large mixing bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, salt, sugar and cocoa. Blend in milk, eggs and butter and bananas until mixture is smooth. Stir in chocolate chips.

Spray preheated waffle iron with non-stick cooking spray. Pour mix onto hot waffle iron. Cook until golden brown or your waffle iron turns off.

I served with butter, powdered sugar, sliced strawberries, whipped cream and some chocolate chips.

*PS.  To my dear friend Jannet who can't eat chocolate.  I bet you could substitute the cocoa with white chocolate powder, carob powder, or whatever. :D