CRANBERRY CHICKEN

3-4 chicken breasts
2 T. soy sauce
2 T. butter
2 T. lemon juice
2 tsp. oregano
2 cloves garlic
1 can whole cranberry sauce.

Put all ingredients in crock pot. If chicken is frozen, on high for about an hour then on low until chicken is tender. If thawed, on low til chicken is tender.

Serve over rice.

sorry, no picture, just know that it is easy and good!!!!!

Homemade Tamales?

Have any of you tried to make homemade tamales? I have this idea that I want to try it, but I've also heard it's a lot of work. I'm not sure how much effort I want to put into it. Any feedback on this?

Bread

This is the bread recipe I've been using lately. It is pretty good and I haven't had a bad batch yet.

Wheat Bread

1 3/4 cup cold water (some ice)
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup oil
1 Tbsp salt
2 1/2 cup wheat flour
1/2 cup gluten flour

Mix these ingredients together. Meanwhile, prepare the yeast mixture and allow it to rise.

1/2 cup warm water (on the hot side)
1 1/2 Tbsp yeast
1/2 tsp. sugar

Add risen yeast. Mix. Then add:

2 - 2 1/2 cup white bread flour

Mix until the dough starts to clean the sides of the bowl. Knead about 10-15 minutes. Let rise until it doubles (about 1 1/2 - 2 hours) and punch down. Put into 2-3 loaf pans and let rise again to the top of the pan. Brush with 1 beaten egg. Bake at 375 uncovered for 5 minutes. Then cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove from pan immediately and allow to cool for 4-5 hours.

I usually make 2 loaves with this recipe in my kitchenaid. The girl that I got the recipe from doubles it and makes 5 loaves in her bosch. We don't eat a ton of bread so one batch lasts about 3-4 weeks for us. It freezes really well too.

Doughnuts

These are super good. Give them a try...

Doughnuts

1 cup water
2 tsp yeast
1/4 cup shortening
1/4 cup sugar
3/4 tsp salt
pinch of mace (optional - you can't really taste it anyway)
1/4 cup dry milk
1 egg
2-3 cups bread flour (i always end up using 3 cups)

1. Dissolve yeast in water. In mixer add shortening, salt, sugar, mace, dry milk, and egg.
2. Add yeast water and the flour on top of water.
3. Use hook attachment and mix on low for 3 minutes until it is completely combined.
4. On medium speed mix for about 8 minutes or until a window pane is achieved.
5. Place in a greased bowl for about an hour or until double.
6. Roll out to 1 inch thickness and cut with round cookie cutter and cut out hole.
7. Lay cut doughnuts on parchment squares and cover with plastic wrap and let rise until double.
8. In 350 degree oil drop doughnuts in one at a time. Cook about 30 seconds to a minute on each side or until light golden brown.
9. Place on paper towels or drip rack. Roll in cinnamon sugar while still hot or let cool and frost.

These take a bit of time but are well worth it for an occasional treat!

Cinnabon Cinnamon Rolls

1/2 C warm water
2 pkgs. dry yeast
2 T sugar
3 1/2 oz. pkg instant vanilla pudding
1/2 C butter, melted
2 eggs
1 tsp salt
6 C flour
butter, softened (for spreading)
2 C brown sugar
4 tsp. cinnamon


Combine water, yeast, and sugar. Stir until dissolved, set aside. In a large bowl, prepare pudding mix according to the package directions. Add butter, eggs and salt, mix well. Add yeast mixture, blending well. Gradually add flour. Knead until smooth. Place in a greased bowl. Cover and let rise until doubled. Punch down and let rise again. Roll out on a large floured board to 34 x21" rectangle. Spread surface with soft butter. Mix together the 2 C brown sugar annd 4 tsp cinnamon and spread over buttered dough. Roll up tightly and cut into 2" slices. Place on greased cookie sheet 2" apart. Lightly press each roll down, cover and let rise until doubled. Bake at 350* for 20 minutes or until they start to brown. (DO NOT OVERBAKE)

Cream Cheese Frosting

1 8 oz pkg cream cheese
1/2 C butter
1 tsp. vanilla
3 C powdered sugar
1 T milk
Preparation: Mix all ingredients until smooth. Frost over warm rolls.

**I haven't made these yet, but I am hoping to this weekend. I read a discrepancy on the flour. This little old lady made these on "Good Things Utah" and said 3 cups of flour, but the recipe they posted said 6 cups of flour. Just so you know...

6 can Chicken Tortilla Soup

1 can chicken broth
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 can corn, drained
1 can black beans, drained
1 can Rotel tomatoes with cilantro and lime
1 can chicken, drained
1 tsp garlic salt
1 tsp onion powder

Mix it all together in a large pot until warm. Serve with crushed tortilla chips and cheese.

I made this last night and it was pretty good. The actual recipe calls for 2 cans of chicken broth and no cream of chicken, but from all the reviews on said it was better this way. It does make it a gross gray color, though. The Rotel makes it spicy, so just be aware. I used a rotisserie chicken, but canned chicken probably works too.

Bean Recipes

Tara has a surplus of beans. We did too at one point, so here are some recipes we used a lot to use them. The chili recipe makes enough for 3 adults. I made that recipe up, so I am the first to admit it sounds odd.

Taco Soup
1 lb ground meat
3 15 oz cans of beans (kidney, black, garbanzo, pinto - you can mix it up)
1 pkg taco seasoning
1/4 chopped onion
1 cup corn
1 lg can tomato juice
1 can stewed tomatoes

In a large pot, brown meat. Drain if needed. Add the remaining ingredients until warm. Serve with cheese and tortilla chips.



Chili
1/2 lb ground meat
1/2 pkg taco seasoning
1 tsp minced garlic
1 can tomato soup
1 can water
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp chili powder
1 tsp lime juice
2 cans beans (I like kidney and black, but whatever suites your fancy)
salt and pepper to taste


Brown meat - add taco seasoning while browning meat. Drain if needed. Stir in tomato soup and can of water. Add remaining ingredients. Simmer on low for 20-30 min.