Cornbread

This is the OFFICIAL Flowers Family Cornbread (Cornbreb) =) Our family is absolutely over the top for this. It pairs well with all types of food. It's just so good.

Cornbread

1 C. Cornmeal

1 C. Flour

2/3 C. Sugar

1 tsp. Salt

3 1/2 tsp. Baking Powder

1 C. Milk

1/3 C. Oil

1 Egg

Mix all ingredients together, and pour into preheated, oiled cast iron skillet and bake at 425 degrees for 22 minutes.  Top with melted butter after removing from the oven.  Cut into pie pieces and Enjoy!!!

Homemade Biscuits

 

Sometimes, in life something gets your number and it becomes the "Thing" that you cannot do. Biscuits... They are my "THING". I admit it. I am a bit of a biscuit snob. I don't just like biscuits.. they have have to be good for me to eat them. I obviously live in the south and you and your biscuits are a staple.  I have tried a million recipes and all are dry, flavorless and nasty. The dog gets to enjoy  most of them. All that until recently when I met a new friend that told me all her secrets to making them wonderful. I didn't get the recipe from her but I believe that this would be very close.  She didn't have a recipe.. she just dumps till it looks right. LOL. 

Homemade Biscuits

2 1/2 Cups Self Rising Flour

1 Stick Butter - Cut into Tb. squares

1 C. Butter Milk

* Additional flour for rolling

In a mixing bowl, add 1 Cup of Self Rising Flour. In a food processor combine the remaining 1 1/2 C. of flour with the butter and pulls several times to combine into large crumbles. 

 Combine, both the flour and butter and flour mixture into mixing bowl and stir several times. After stirring make a well in the center of the flour and pour your cup of milk into the center. With a large fork combine the milk, butter and flour mixing no more than 15 times.

 

After mixing, turn dough out onto a floured surface and roll out till it is 1" think, fold into 3rds and repeat. Continue this process 7-8 times and pay special attention to not flatten the layers to much.  After doing this, your are ready for the final rolling. Roll out dough and use a SHARP dough cutter to cut out the biscuits. 

 Place the biscuits in a greased cast iron skillet, or backing sheet so that the biscuits are all touching.

 Brush biscuits with butter and place in a preheated 450 degree oven for 20 Min.

 When desired brownness has been reached brush each top with butter and serve warm with butter and any and all types of yumminess.  ENJOY!

Fried Pies

A southern tradition, Fried pies are part of every childhood memory it seems. I didn't grow up in the south, but have found them to be quite delicious. I would love to carry on the tradition of my children talking about how they ate fried pies.

Fried Pies

2 Tsp. Shortening
1 C. Flour
1 Egg - yolk only
3 Tb.. Hot Milk
1/8 Tsp. Salt
1 to 1 1/2 C. Fruit Filling

In am mixing bowl, cut shortening into flour. Add eggs, milk and salt. Mix well. Knead well to make dough smooth. Roll dough 1/8 inch thick. Cut into rounds. Cover 1/2 of each circle with fruit filling. Leave 1/4 edge for crimping. Fold circles over and pinch edges together or press with a fork. Fry pies in a fryer. Makes 6-8 pies. ENJOY!

Cinnamon Bread

I love bread, my boy loves bread and what could be better than adding cinnamon to bread. I love a slice of cinnamon bread for breakfast. It takes me back to when I was in college and had an amazing dorm mom that took very good care of me.

Cinnamon Bread

1 C. Butter Softened
2 C. Sugar
2 Eggs
2 C. Buttermilk (2 T. Vinegar or Lemon Juice)
4 C. Flour  - Divided
2 Tsp. Baking Soda

Cinnamon Sugar Mix
2/3 C. Sugar
2 Tsp. Cinnamon

Cream butter, sugar and eggs together one at a time. Add Milk, then 2 cups of flour. Mix! Add remaining flour and soda. Grease 2 Loaf pans putting 1/4 of batter into each pan. Sprinkle 3/4 of Cinnamon mix on top and swirl with knife. Top with remaining batter, then sprinkle with remaining cinnamon sugar.  Bake @ 350 degrees for 45-50 Minutes.  Serve with butter and ENJOY!

Party Pizza's

With the fast approaching start of a new year, and all the New Years Eve Parties that happen during this time.  I thought that I would post one of our families absolute favorite party snacks. I am not a lover or Rye Bread, but this recipes use of Rye Bread works together fantastically.  They are so easy, and they serve a crowd, so do keep that in mind when making them. You wouldn't have to assemble them all and the filling could be stored for up to a week in the fridge. I know you will love them as much as we do. After all, what is a party without pizza!!

Party Pizza's

1 lb. Hamburger
1 lb. Hot Sausage (or whatever serves your taste)
1 lb. Velveeta
1 Tsp. Basil
1 Tsp. Oregano
1/4 Tsp. Garlic Powder
1/2 Tsp. Parsley Flakes
1 1/2 Loaves Earth Grains Party Rye Bread

Brown hamburger and sausage and drain well. Add Velveeta and stir thoroughly until cheese is completely melted. Add spices and mix well. Spread the above on the Party Rye Bread and put a small amount of shredded mozzarella cheese on top. Bake ins the oven just until the  cheese on top melts. This recipe makes about 1 1/2 loaves. ENJOY!

Suet Plum Pudding

Christmas Time, a time to spend concentrated time with those that you love. I guess that has me thinking a lot about those that are here now and those that have went before. In the last post, I shared a family tradition from my mom's side of the family and so today and I want to share a bit from my dad's. Both recipes are made every year in my family as tradition and also because they are rich and delicious. This Suet Plum Pudding recipe was made by my grandma Evelyn each Christmas and as I look at my dad eating it.. sometimes I would just love to know what memories this sweet treat brings back. I am sure that they are sweet indeed.

Suet Plum Pudding

1 C. Chopped Suet (Chopped, not rendered) * I use butter and it works Great!
1 C. Brown Sugar
1/2 C. Milk
2 Eggs
1 C. Raisins
1 1/2 C. Currants (Dried)
1 C. Walnuts
1 C. Candied Orange Slices (Chopped and mixed with 1/4 C. Flour)

Sift:
1 C. Flour
1 Tsp. Cinnamon
1/2 Tsp. Nutmeg or Cloves
1 C. Soft Bread Crumbs

Mix 1st 7 ingredients together and set aside. Mix cadied orange pieces with flour in seperate bowl and set aside. After sifting flour and spies and bread crumbs, combine all ingredients until blended. Cook in a double broiler 3-4 hours and serve warm with Hard Sauce.

Hard Sauce

1 C. Sugar
1 Tb. Corn Starch
1 C. Water

Mix Together and bring to a rolling boul. Remove from heat and add -

1/4 Tsp. Salt
1/2 Tsp Vanilla
1/2 Tsp. Lemon Extract
2 Tb. Butter

Serve while HOT! Enjoy!!!

Banana Cake

For my kids, they know full well that I will inevitable buy a whole bunch of bananas with the intent that we will eat them all before they ripen past our desired eating range and then I will wait just a few more days and a the sight of the first banana gnat finally decide to make something with them. In all honesty I think that they may like them in this form the best. =) This little scenario plays itself out over and over in our house, and well... the same banana bread, muffins, bars, and smoothies can get a bit dull.. So we tried something a little different and every piece was eaten with haste. Mission Complete!


Banana Cake
1 Cup White Sugar
2 Eggs
3/4 Cup Brown Sugar
3 Ripe Bananas
2/3 Cup Buttermilk
1/2 Cup Butter - Softened
1 Tsp. Baking Soda
2 1/2 Cup Flour
1/2 Cup Mini Chopped Walnuts - optional
1 Cup Mini Chocolate Chips - optional

Mix together well and pour into a well greased and floured bunt pan or two 8 inch round cake pans. Bake at 350 degrees for 40 min or until toothpick comes out with crumbles. Place on cooling rack and wait 15 minutes before inverting onto cake plate. Let cool completely and frost with your favorite frosting. I used Cream Cheese, but would also be delicious with a brown sugar frosting. ENJOY!

Fast & Easy Pizza Dough

I have always wanted a fast and easy recipe for pizza dough that you can whip up in just a few min. and bake. To date they have always fell short. So, today me and my husband teamed up to make a pizza feast for our kids. Oh and well, one pizza pie for just us. Pictured above is our *Buffalo Chicken Blue Cheese pizza made on the Weber. DELICIOUS!! This recipe for pizza crust is just one that I have found on the internet, tried and loved!!

Fast and Easy Pizza Dough

1 Cup HOT tap water
1 Pkg. Yeast or 1 1/2 T. if you are using bulk yeast
1 Tsp. Sugar

Mix all of this together in a 2 cup measuring cup and set aside to let the yeast activate.

In another large bowl combine

2 T. Olive Oil
1 Tsp. Salt
Add activated Yeast
2 1/2 Cups Bread Flour

If you are mixing without the aid of a kitchen aid mix well with a spoon and the turn out on a floured surface and knead together for 10 min. You may have to adjust flour for humidity and or the lack there of. Roll out when your dough is smooth and not to sticky. Roll out to desired circumference. Bake for 10 min. in the oven at 425 degrees or 8 min on the Weber. After baking coat the crust with a garlic butter. ENJOY!!!

If you are using a Kitchen Aid, which I highly recommend. Mix all ingredients together adding the activated yeast and flour last. Set the bread hook speed to 2 and let it kneed for 10 min. When time is up, remove the dough from hook and kneed a few times on a floured surface. Roll to desired circumference.  Bake for 10 min. in the oven at 425 degrees or 8 min on the Weber. After baking coat the crust with a garlic butter. ENJOY!!!

(*To make the buffalo chicken blue cheese pizza you will need 2 chicken breasts that have been fried in 2T. olive oil. and tossed with Buffalo Wild Wings sauce. When making the pizza use the Buffalo Sauce  as your pizza sauce. Add Chicken and fresh blue cheese crumbles and bake.  Bake in the oven at 450 degree's for 10 min. or until desired browning. )

Sour Dough Bread

In my little boys eyes there is just nothing better than a fresh, hot out of the over Sour Dough Roll. He lives for the day that I bake bread and is waiting with Knife and butter in hand. He once told his daddy that he knew why he married me ... "the Benefits" as he referred to my ability to bake bread and other goodies. We have had quite a bunch of laughs over that as you might imagine. The starter for this Sour Dough Bread was given to me from a friend who got it from her aunt that has kept this batch going for 50 years. That is really hard to believe, but I have managed to keep this one going for 2...so I guess I am on my way. =) To make this bread.. You need to call me and get a cup of the starter!

Sour Dough Bread

FIRST DAY - MORNING - FEED STARTER

3/4 Cup Sugar
3 Tbl.Potato Flakes
1 Cup Bread Flour
1 Cup Hot Water From Tap

Add all these ingredients to the starter and let stand on counter all day covered with a towel.

FIRST DAY - EVENING

REMOVE 1 CUP - of the starter and place in a tight cover tupperware with a few holes or slits poked in the top to allow it to breath and refridgerate. The one cup will be your starter for the next time that you want to bake bread.

READY TO MIX -
With the rest of the starter, make the dough by adding the following to the starter.
1/2 Cup Sugar
1/2 Cup Oil
1 Tbl. Salt
1 1/2 Cup Hot Tap Water
6 Cups Bread Flour (More or Less)

Mix well. Put into a well buttered bowl and turn to coat. Let stand on the counter overnight. Cover with a towel. Rising time is affected by the weather and humidity. The dough should rise to at least double in size; even if it takes an additional 12 hours. *note. This could happen in the winter if the house is not warm enough. On a hot humid day it may only take 6-8 hours to rise.

SECOND DAY - MORNING

Divide dough into 3 Parts. Cut into sections, do not pull apart. Knead each part with buttered hands for a minute or two. Put into buttered loaf pans 5X9 and brush tops with butter. Let pan stand on counter all day. Again, rising time is affected by the weather but the bread should rise above the top of the pans. If making rolls, pinch off each selection and knead and place in pan and let raise for several hours until they are about doubled in size. Make sure that the tops are nice and smooth. This will be how they look when they bake.

SECOND DAY  - EVENING

Preheat oven 350 Degree oven. Bake for 25 -30 minutes for a loaf and adjust for Rolls. Remove promptly from oven when done and brush with butter. Remove from pan and cool. Wrap and Store. Bread can be made one to 2 times a week or up to 20 days later. Do not Freeze Starter.

ENJOY!!!

Grandma's Raised Donuts.

   Words just cannot describe the happiness that pours over me when I mixed up the very first batch of these and it was a stellar success. It was a very surreal moment for me.  My Grandma Marshall was many wonderful things, and one of those was a fabulous cook and had a gift for making the best sweet treats. I never knew this woman here on this plain, but I seriously cannot wait to meet her in heaven one day and I only pray that heaven has a huge kitchen and we will be able to not only sit together and visit about recipes, but also get to bake together.
    So... This my 150 recipe that I have posted. This my love and Passion.. I dedicate it to those that have gone before. Those that have passed this on to me. May I carry the torch well. ♥

Grandma's Raised Donuts

2 1/4 Tbs. yeast of 1 Pkg. of Fast Rise Yeast
1/2 Cup Very Warm Water
1/2 Cup Milk - Scalded
3 Tbs. Shortening
1 Tsp. Salt
1/2 Cup Sugar
2 Eggs - Well Beaten
1/2 Tsp Nutmeg
4 Cups Sifted Flour

Dissolve Yeast in Warm Water. (I use really Hot Water) Add Shortening, salt and Sugar to the Scalded Milk. Stir until Dissolved add cool to lukewarm. Add yeast Mixture, Stir in eggs, Nutmeg, and Flour 1 Cup at a time.  Beat well after each addition. Kneed until Smooth. Let rise in warm place until doubled its original size. Push down and roll 1/2 inch thick. Cut with Donut cutter and set aside to raise again. Approx. 1 hour and 10 min. Fry in a Veg. Oil at 375 Degrees. Remove from oil when they have came to the top and are light golden and bubbling has decreased. Promptly roll in powdered sugar after they have cooled enough to touch. Or wait to glaze until completely cooled! ENJOY!!!

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins

With Fall in the air...let the Pumpkin recipes begin! Love these Muffins and Love my Sis that I got the recipe from. Her daughter took these to the fair in her 4h group and won it big...SO it is just not me that says that they are fantastic.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins

4 eggs
2 c sugar
1 (15 oz) can pumpkin
1 1/2c oil (can sub applesauce)
3 c flour
2 tsp. soda
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp salt
2 c miniature semi-sweet choc chips

In a Large mixing bowl beat eggs, sugar,oil,and pumpkin until smooth. Combine dry ingredients and then add to pumpkin mixture. Fold in choc chips. Fill muffin cups 2/3 full. Bake at 350 for 20-25 min. yield 30-36 muffins.
 

Zucchini Bread

 Zucchini is a summer time staple at our house, and my kids will cheer and chant for it. Of all the vegetables - they have a special fondness for the ZUK!  Making bread is such a great way to use up those "oops, I left it in the garden a day or two to many". This moist bread will bring your whole family coming back for more.  Oh, and I got this recipe from a friend that found it on allrecipes.

Zucchini Bread

3 Cups Flour
1 Tsp. Salt
1 Tsp. Baking Soda
1 Tsp. Baking Powder
3 Tsp. Ground Cinnamon
3 Eggs
1 Cup Vegetable Oil
2 1/4 Cups Sugar
3 Tsp. Vanilla
2 1/2 Cups Grated Zucchini
1 Cup Chopped Walnuts (Optional)

Grease and flour two 8 x 4 inch pans. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Add flour, salt, baking powder, soda, and cinnamon together in a bowl. Beat eggs, oil, vanilla, and sugar together in a large bowl. Add dry ingredients to the creamed mixture, and beat well. Stir in zucchini until well combined. Pour batter into prepared pans. Bake for 40 to 60 minutes, or until tester inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool in pan on rack for 20 minutes. Remove bread from pan, and completely cool. 

 Recipe Variations -

I added Mini Chocolate Chips to the batter and filled Extra Large Muffin Tins and Mini Muffin Tins and topped with Cinnamon Sugar. Adjust Cooking time for both. The Large Muffins took about 30 min. and the Mini's took 15 min. in my oven. SO YUMMY~!

Cinnamon Icebox Rolls

My Mother in Law Sylvia has a gift for making these Cinnamon Rolls. She is known for them and she must add an extra heaping of love to hers, because I try as I may cannot manage to get them to taste as good as hers. Love them. Love her!


Sylvia's Cinnamon Icebox Rolls

2 pkg. Dry Active Yeast (or 2 Tbl. Yeast)
1/2. Cup Warm Water
2 Cup Lukewarm Milk (Scalded and then cooled)
1/3 Cup Sugar
1/3 Cup Oil
1 Tbl. Baking Powder
2 Tsp. Salt
1 Egg
5-6 Cups Flour - Plus
4 Tbl. Butter
1/2 Cup Brown Sugar
1 Tbl. Cinnamon

Glaze (For the Bottom of the Pan)
1 Cup Brown Sugar
2 Sticks Butter

Powders Sugar Frosting:
1 Cup Powdered Sugar
1 Tbl. Milk
1/2 Tsp. Vanilla

Dissolve yeast in warm water, add in milk, sugar, oil, baking powder, salt egg and 3 cups of flour and mix until smooth. Mix in the rest of the flour and knead for 8-10 min, until smooth and elastic. Place in a well greased bowl and turn greased side up. Cover; and let raise in warm place for 1 1/2 hours or until it is doubled.

Melt one stick of butter in the bottom of pan a 9x13 pan and sprinkle with brown sugar and repeat with second pan.

Punch down dough and divide into 2 halves. Roll each half into a 12x12 rectangle. Spread with 2 tbl. of butter and sprinkle with 1/4 cup of brown sugar and cinnamon. Roll up, beginning with the wide side. Pinch edges together and stretch roll to make even. Cut roll into 12 slices. Place slightly apart in pan. Wrap pan tightly with heavy duty aluminum foil. Repeat with remaining dough. Refrigerate at least 12 hours but no longer than 48 hours. ( To bake immediately, do not wrap. Let rise in warm place until double about 30 min.. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Bake until golden brown 20-30 min. Frost with frosting while they are still warm. ENJOY!!!

(Be prepared to make these again and again if you take them anywhere...They will be requested).

Baking Powder Biscuits

Saturday Morning after sleeping in a hour or two is the perfect time at my house to all join in the kitchen and make breakfast. Sometimes if you are like me you will have the misfortune of not having enough biscuits, so this is good for those moments and others when a good meaty biscuit is in order. Sausage and Gravy always hits the spot. This recipe always makes me think of home.

Baking Powder Biscuits

2 Cups Flour
4 Tsp. Baking Powder
1 Tsp. Salt
1/2 Tsp. Cream of Tarter
1/2 Cup Butter
1 Egg
2/3 Cup Milk
2 Tbl. Sugar

Blend Flour, Baking Powder, Salt, Cream of tarter, Butter and Sugar. Mix eggs and milk. Mix well. Drop by Tsp. fulls or roll out and cut with Biscuit cutter. Bake at 400 for 20 min. Enjoy!

Jumbo Caramel Banana Muffins

These are my nieces State Fair Prize Winning Muffins. She is getting to be quite the baker...just like her mom. Yumminess indeed!


Jumbo Caramel Banana Muffins

1/4 c. shortening
1 c. sugar
1 egg
1-1/2 c. mashed ripe bananas
1 teas. vanilla
1-1/2 c. flour
1 teas. soda
1/4 teas. salt

Caramel Icing:
2 Tbl. butter
1/4 c. brown sugar
1 Tbl. milk
1/2 c. powdered sugar

Cream shortening and sugar. Add egg, beat well. Add bananas and vanilla. Combine dry ingredients, then add to creamed mixture.
Bake at 350 for 23-28 min.. Makes 6 jumbo muffins.

For icing, melt butter over medium heat in a saucepan. Stir in brown sugar and milk, bring to a boil. Cool slightly, whisk in powdered sugar. Drizzle over muffins.

Mexican Cornbread

My hubby's favorite...Enough Said!

Mexican Cornbread

1 Cup Self Rising Cornmeal
1/2 Tsp. Baking Soda
1/2 Tsp. Salt
1/2 Tsp Sugar
3 Eggs, Beaten
1 Cup Milk
3 Jalapeno Peppers, Chopped or 20 Pepper Rings
1/2 Cup Chopped Onions
1 1/2 Cup Shredded Cheese
1 Tsp. Garlic Powder
1 Can Cream Style Corn
1/3 Cup Oil

Combine Cornmeal, Soda, Salt and Sugar, stir in remaining ingredients. Spoon into hot greased 10 inch cast iron skillet or bake in a 10x13 cake pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 min. or until golden brown.

Banana Bread

So GOOD, it is going to make you buy old black bananas just so you can make it. My sister Estelle has made this for years and yes...I always misplace this recipe and have to call her to get it again. So...now I will know just right where to look. I believe that this recipe originally was Veronica C.. Thank you whomever created it!!!

Banana Bread

1/2 Cup Butter
1 Cup Sugar
2 Eggs
1 Tsp. Vanilla
1 Tsp. Baking Soda
2 Cups Flour
2-3 Mushy Bananas

Mix all together and pour into a Greased Loaf Pan. Bake for 50-55 minutes at 350 degrees.

Savory Cheddar Biscuits

If you are looking for the Red Lobster Cheddar biscuits...well here they are. NO, they are not the exact same, but the best that I have came up to so far in my searching. LOVE THEM. My friend Julie gave me this recipe. Make a great addition to a cold night with some soup.

Savory Cheddar Biscuits

2 C. Flour
4 Tsp. Baking Powder
1 Tbs. Sugar
1/2 Tsp. Onion Salt
1/2 Tsp. Oregano
1/4 Tsp. Dry Mustard
1 1/4 Cup Cheese
1 Egg - Well Beaten
1 Cup Milk
1 Tbs. Melted Butter

Mix together and drop onto a cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees until golden on the bottom.

German Pancakes

German Pancakes are so delicious. They are basically a Crepe. The kids love them and top them with all kinds of things. Jason and his dad have always had the saying since he was a kid that "if you eat 4 it will make you a MAN". I am not sure about that, but they are really good and I love them.

German Pancakes

1 Cup Flour
3 Eggs
1 Cup Milk
1 Tsp. Oil
Dash of Salt
1 Tsp Vanilla
1 Tbl. Sugar

Heat skillet and addition oil until hot. Pour a thin layer into the bottom of the pan and brown, flipping to make sure both sides are done. (Similar to a pancake only thinner) When done, place on plate and butter.... Then add a very thin layer of jelly or jam of choice and roll up. Enjoy!

Grandma's Best Ever Buns

This is my Grandma's Bun Recipe and she was known for them. I make them all the time, and with the help of a kitchen aid they are so easy. If you set them by your coffee maker to raise (assuming that you have it on) they will raise very quickly! Makes two 9X13 pans of buns! For just a little extra work...you can use half for buns, and make the other half into cinnamon rolls for the next morning. I will add the instructions for that at the bottom of the Bread Recipe. If the smell and taste of these don't make you feel like Betty ~ Nothing will!

Grandma's Best Ever Buns

In a 2 Cup measuring cup Mix Together:

1/2 Cup of extremely HOT Tap water
1 Tablespoon Sugar
3 Packages of yeast (3 Tablespoons)

Take a fork and mix this well and let set to raise to a full cup or more.

In Mixing bowl:

1/2 Cup Oil
3 Cups Hot Water
3/4 Cup of Sugar minus one Tablespoon used previously
1 Teaspoon Salt
2 Eggs

Mix this together and then add the yeast mixture to it. Add only 1/2 of the flour at a time.

9 Cups of Flour - May need a little more if you dough is too sticky

MIX WELL!

Place in a greased bowl and top of dough. Cover with a tea towel and let raise till dough doubles in size. Punch down and let raise again.

Make into buns and place in a Greased 9x13 pan - let raise again. Bake in a 375 degree oven for 10-12 min. or until golden brown. Butter tops while still warm.



CINNAMON ROLLS:

After second time raising...Roll out and on a flat floured surface and Butter top of rectangular shaped dough generously and sprinkle with cinnamon and brown sugar. Roll up and cut 1 1/4 Slices off the end and place in prepared 9x13 pan. To prepare pan - melt 1 stick of butter in the bottom of pan and sprinkle with brown sugar evenly. Bake at same temp as above until brown and be sure to check center ones to make sure they are done. Frost as desired!