Braided Spaghetti Bread

Braided Spaghetti Bread:

This is perhaps the most visually appealing meal I've ever made!  My sister often tells me that I need to take her "culinary photography" classes, so note that the picture doesn't due justice to the meal!

Bread Dough
Spaghetti Noodles
Spaghetti Sauces
Cheeses, of your choice (shredded mozzarella perhaps?!)
Browned hamburger, if desired
Egg
Italian spices

Prepare a loaf of bread dough, or thaw a boughten loaf.  I prepare mine in the bread machine.

4 cups of flour
2 tsp quick rise yeast
3 TBSP Vegetable oil
1 3/8 cup water
3/4 tsp salt

Mix the above ingredients and allow the bread machine to do the rest!

While the dough is being prepared cook spaghetti noodles, about 6 oz. 

Roll the dough out into a rectangle.  Using the middle of the rectangle combine the rest of the ingredients.  Lay down the noodles, top with sauce, cheese, hamburger and spices.

Once all of the ingredients are placed in the center of the rectangle, cut strips, about one inch deep (towards the ingredients) along both sides of the rectangle. Starting at one end, alternate crossing the strips of dough to cover the spaghetti.

Use the beaten egg to coat the top of the braid and sprinkle spices on top.

Bake at 350 for 30 minutes.  Enjoy!  (After cooking, you may cover and freeze.)   

Banana Crunch Muffins

Banana Crunch Muffins:

3 large mashed ripe bananas

3/4 c sugar

1 egg

1/2 c melted butter

Mix together.  Add the following ingredients:

1 1/2 c flour

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

Grease the bottom of the a muffin tin.  Fill about 1/2 full.  On top, sprinkle the following mixture:

1/3 c brown sugar

1 tsp cinnamon

1 TBSP flour

Bake for 15 minutes at 375 degrees.  Be careful not to over bake.  They will appear dark, but yummy nonetheless!

Pizza Burgers

Pizza Burgers - - so simple and a husband favorite.

Brown 1 pkg hamburger then add 1 can tomato soup (Do not dilute first like you're actually making soup!) stir around to get it all hot. Then add 1/2 cup shredded cheese (I use mozzarella), 1 tbsp. Italian seasonings (I add oregano and basil) and cook until cheese melts. Separate buns and top each bun with meat mixture and more cheese-place in oven on top shelf with it set to broil and 500* -Cook until cheese bubbles and melts

If you're planning to freeze this mixture, move to the fridge the night before eating.  Enjoy!

Chicken Tater Tot Casserole

Chicken Tater Tot Casserole 

Cook 2 chicken breasts.  Cut these up into small pieces.  While those are cooking, cook about 10 bacon strips.  I use turkey bacon, but any bacon would work.  Cut the bacon up into small pieces.  Combine the chicken and bacon pieces with 2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese.  The cheese does not need to be warmed or melted at this point.

If you want to use this as a freezer meal, place the chicken, bacon and cheese together in the freezer at this point. 

When you're ready to cook add a small bag of tater tots along with your bagged ingredients and place either in the crock pot or oven.  I also add amount a cup of milk and pepper to mine.  It takes about 4 hours in the crock pot or 1 hour in the oven (350 degrees).  In the crock pot, the tater tots will become soft and your meal will evenly mix together.  If cooking this meal in the oven, the tater tots will become more crunchy and your meal will be layered.  As my husband would say, both ways are "flavorful!"

French Toast

  French Toast - the right way!

Create a mixture with beaten egg and cinnamon.  (1 egg per sandwich.)  Take two pieces of bread and spread your favorite topping (we like peanut butter or Nutella).  Put those sides of bread together (you can even add bananas if you desire).  Dip the sandwich in the egg mixture and place on a griddle.  Cook both sides - ENJOY!

Stromboli

  Stromboli:

Make a loaf of bread dough.  I prefer to make 1 lbs loaf in a bread machine.  You can also buy from the grocery store. Spread the loaf out into a rectangle on a greased cookie sheet.  On the bottom 2/3 of the dough spread a mixture of your liking.

My inside mixture: pizza sauce, shredded mozzarella cheese, parmesan cheese, canadian bacon and pepperonis.

Fold in the sides to prevent mixture from squeezing out the sides.  Roll the mixture starting with the end with the mixture.  When finished, make sure the crease of the dough is facing down.

Beat an egg and spread on top of the Stromboli.  Sprinkle spices on top. I prefer parsley.  Cut slits in the top.  Bake at 500 for 10 minutes.

Cashew Chicken

Cashew Chicken: Spicy

Boil 2-4 chicken breasts (depending on size) and cut into bite-size pieces.

Meanwhile, combine a mixture of

                 4 TBSP Soy Sauce

                 1 1/2 TBSP cornstarch

                 4 tsp sugar

                 2-3 tsp vinegar

After cutting up the chicken, place in a skillet and add 1/4 cup oil, and 1 TBSP soy sauce along with red pepper flakes, onion salt, and minced garlic (add to your liking).  Add 1/2 of the mixture and 1/2 cup of cashews until the sauce is all absorbed.  Take the chicken off of the stove and add the additional 1/2 of the liquid mixture.

I double the liquid mixture and then pour the other half over rice and top with chicken.  This chicken also tastes great wrapped in a tortilla shell.

Bacon Cheeseburger Wrap

Bacon Hamburger Wrap

Ingredients: 

        Frozen or Homemade Bread Dough (1 loaf)

           1 lbs. browned hamburger

            5 strips of cooked bacon (cut into small pieces)

            velvet cheese diced into small pieces (amount depends on how cheesy you want your wrap)

Thaw your bread dough and prepare a greased surface.  On the greased surface, roll dough into a rectangle.  I create two smaller rectangles.  (1 loaf of bread dough can create two wraps.  Each wrap feeds 2-3 adults.)  In the middle of the rectangle(s) place hamburger, bacon and cheese.  Fold in the sides of the rectangle.  Then begin with the side closest to you and roll to create a runza shape.  Make sure the seam of the bread roll is placed down and no openings are showing.  Bake at 400 for 20 minutes.  

If you choose to freeze, still bake.  Then wrap in seran wrap and tin foil.  Take out of the freezer and place in the fridge, 1 day before you plan to eat.  I place in the oven for 10 minutes and then finish in the microwave.  Placing it back in the oven for a few minutes first, allows the bread to remain crisp.