HOW DID I LIVE WITHOUT YOU...I REALLY DON'T KNOW!

This is one of my greatest recipe finds to date (no pun intended)!  I was cruising through one my favorite food blogs and this little number jumped out at me screaming, "take me I'm yours!"  No heating up the kitchen with the oven thank you very much!  There are so many options with this, pizza, gyros, tacos, any kind of sandwich you can think of--or just good ol' butter and honey...now...That's a WRAP!
      
Soft Wrap Bread
From King Arthur Flour 
Special thanks to melskitchencafe.com for introducing me to my new love!

3 to 3 1/4 cups (12 3/4 to 13 3/4 ounces) unbleached all-purpose flour

1 1/4 cups (10 ounces) boiling water

1/2 cup (5/8 ounces) potato buds or flakes

1 1/4 teaspoons salt

2 tablespoons (7/8 ounce) vegetable oil

1 teaspoon instant yeast (a must)

1. Place 2 cups of the flour into a bowl.  Pour the boiling water over the flour, and stir till smooth. Cover the bowl and set aside for 30 minutes.

2.  In a separate bowl, whisk together the potato flakes or buds and 1 cup of the remaining flour with the salt, oil and yeast. Add this to the cooled flour/water mixture, stir, then knead by hand for several minutes  to form a soft dough (you want it to be somewhat sticky).  Form the dough into a ball.  Add additional flour only if necessary;  keep your hands and work surface lightly oiled.  Let the dough rise, covered, for 1 to 2 hours-whatever you've got!

3.  Divide the dough into 8 pieces (each about the size of a handball, around 3 ounces), cover, and let rest for 15 to 30 minutes. Roll each piece into a 7- to 8-inch circle, and dry-fry them (fry without oil) over medium heat for about 1 minute per side, until they're puffed and flecked with brown spots. Adjust the heat if they seem to be cooking either too quickly, or too slowly; cooking too quickly means they may be raw in the center, while too slowly will dry them out. Transfer the cooked breads to a wire rack, stacking them to keep them soft. Serve immediately, or cool slightly before storing in a plastic bag.

Death by Peanut Butter and Chocolate Trifle!

 Come a little closer, don't be shy...

My sister-n-law Lora and I have a major thing for chocolate--maybe this is why we get along so well!  She sent me Incredible Chocolate Recipes cookbook from Southern Living for my bday a few years ago and wasn't kidding when she said I would die for this PB Trifle.  All her kiddos request it on their birthdays.  It's such a decadent, yummy, rich, gorgeous, heavenly dessert, I guarantee you'll be the hit at any potluck or party.  I was so glad I made it when we had some friends over, they happily took the leftovers home because if they hadn't, I'm sure it would've been the death of me!  

Peanut Butter and Chocolate Trifle

1 box fudge, brownie mix
2 cups whipping cream, divided
1 (11 ounce) package nestle toll house peanut butter and milk chocolate chips
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups peanut butter, nestle treasures chopped (I used Dove Peanut Butter)
1 (8 ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed
1 (11 ounce) package nestle toll house peanut butter and milk chocolate chips (optional)

1. Prepare and bake brownie mix according to package directions; cool. Cut into small 2-inch squares.

2. Cook 2/3 cup whipping cream and 1 2/3 cups morsels in a small saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly, until blended; remove from heat, and stir in vanilla. Chill 30 minutes.

3. Beat remaining 1 1/3 cups whipping cream at high speed with an electric mixer until soft peaks form. Stir one-third of whipped cream into chocolate mixture. Fold in remaining whipped cream.

4. Layer half of brownies in bottom of a 3 1/2-quart trifle dish or bowl; top with half of chocolate mixture, half of chopped peanut butter treasures, and half of whipped topping. Repeat procedure with remaining brownies, chocolate mixture, chopped peanut butter treasures, and whipped topping.

5. This step is optional (I was too lazy to do it).  Sprinkle 1 2/3 cups morsels in an even layer on a parchment or wax paper-lined baking pan. Bake at 200° for 2 minutes or until morsels are evenly melted; chill 1 hour or until firm. Break into large pieces. Garnish top of trifle with peanut butter-chocolate pieces.

Dear Abby and Pecan Pie...the best ever!

I recently read this little post and just had to share...

Dear Abby: One of my sisters-in-law has a recipe for pancakes and puts in a secret ingredient. She got the recipe from a relative who asked that the mystery never be revealed.

The relative died recently, and I’d like to know what the ingredient is because those pancakes are out of this world! Would my sister-in-law be betraying his request by sharing the secret? She says she made a promise. What do you think?

—Craving the Cakes in Florida

Dear Craving: Obviously, you have raised this subject with your sister-in-law and she refused to share the complete recipe. From that, I can only conclude that she plans to take her knowledge of the secret to her grave . I think she’s acting selfishly because good food is meant to be enjoyed by as many people as possible.

You said it sister!!  Now on with the recipe sharing...

Dear Abby's Pecan Pie
I got this recipe from my mom's friend who clipped the original from the newspaper over 30 years ago!  I love recipe history!  Wish I loved doing family history just as much!

9-inch unbaked pie crust (new favorite pie crust recipe below)

1 cup light corn syrup
1 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
3 eggs, slightly beaten
1/3 cup butter, melted
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 cups pecans coarsely chopped

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees.

2. In a large bowl, combine corn syrup, sugar, butter, salt and vanilla; mix well.  Add slightly beaten eggs.   Pour into unbaked pie crust; sprinkle with chopped pecans.

3. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 to 50 minutes or until center is set. (Toothpick inserted in center will come out clean when pie is done.) If the crust or pie appears to be getting too brown, cover with foil for the remaining baking time. Cool.

Perfectly Flaky Pie Crust
Adapted from Cook's Illustrated

*Makes one single 9 inch pie crust
 1 1/4 cup flour
1 Tb sugar
1/2 tsp salt
3 Tb chilled shortening (I used butter flavored) cut into pieces
4 Tb chilled butter-cut into pieces
4-6 Tb ice cold water

*Instructions for using a food processor (I'm still waiting for this lovely appliance to grace my life):
Pulse the flour, salt and sugar with half the shortening until it's the texture of cornmeal. Add the remaining shortening or butter and pulse until it's the size of small peas. Add water using pulse to combine until dough forms into ball. Be careful not to over pulse!

* Instructions for the old fashion way (the reason you dread making pie)!
1.Stir the flour, salt, and sugar together in a large bowl.

2.Cut the chilled butter or shortening into the dry mixture using a pastry cutter or by pinching the fat into the mixture with your hands.

3. Add the chilled water one tablespoon at a time, mixing gently with a fork after each addition. You may not need to use all of the water.  Just add enough until there are no more loose crumbs.  Gently press the dough into a ball. Handle the dough as little as possible--overworking will make it tough.

Tammy stated to me that she HATES pecan pie...Oh really...

BREAKOUT!



I'm ready to breakout of this bloggin break or whatever it  has been.  I've really missed this place.  The past eight months have been a blur, but I'm ready to get my life in focus and start bloggin about the things that make me happy and content...food, family and friends!

Gazpacho isn't very MACHO!

It's hot hot hot here, and this cold soup has really hit the spot for lunch the past few days!  My Brother in law James was quite hesitant to eat this, he's never tasted cold soup before and felt it was too girly...but it says something when he went back for seconds!  Thanks Karen for sharing this awesome recipe with me, it makes me long to be sitting on your back porch eating gazpacho, having some good ol' girl time.    

GAZPACHO

4 cups v-8 juice
1/2 cup onion, minced
1/3 cup olive oil (I use 1/4 cup)
1/3 cup red wine vinegar
1/4 cup green pepper, minced
3 Tb parsley, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 tsp Tabasco sauce (optional)
salt and pepper to taste (I add very little because V8 doesn't hold back on the sodium)
8 tomatoes, chopped
2 cucumbers, chopped
2 avocados, cubed
Garlic croutons
Grated Parmesan cheese

Combine V8 juice, onion, olive oil, vinegar,green pepper, parsley, garlic,Tabasco sauce, salt and pepper. Refrigerate 6 hours or overnight.

Next day, add tomatoes, cucumbers, and avos, Refrigerate. Serve very cold with croutons and parmesan cheese.

printable recipe

Meet Virginia...

I feel so blessed that I was able to live in one of the most beautiful states in our country, and get to know the incredible people she holds. Here's some pictures from Deb's visit in May. This might help you see why I've been sounding a little whiny lately. Goodbye Virginia, you really are for lovers!

See you when the red desert dirt settles...

Coconut Macaroons make me SwooN!

It's pretty plain to see, I'm on a coconut kick lately. I think it's my secret desire for a tropical getaway! But for now, my reality is packing a gazillion boxes and cleaning my brains out! We're heading back the the desert, yep, good ol' St George Utah! It's been an amazing 18 months here in Virginia. I wish I could pack up the beautiful surroundings, along with all my wonderful friends. My heart aches just writing about it! On Sunday night we went to Conrad and Kristie's for our farewell barbeque. These macaroons were served for dessert, and let me tell you, I was swooning! They are the best homemade macaroons I've ever tasted! The recipe is from the ultimate cook/baker in the world-Barefoot Contessa...wish we were neighbors (there's another secret desire revealed). I better get back to reality!

Coconut Macaroons
Barefoot Contessa

14 oz. can sweetened condensed milk
14 oz. sweetened shredded coconut (flaked)
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
2 extra-large egg whites, at room temperature
1/4 tsp. kosher salt

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

Combine coconut, condensed milk, and vanilla in a large bowl.

In electric mixer with whisk attachment, whip the egg whites and salt on high speed until medium to firm peaks form. Carefully fold into the coconut mixture.

Drop batter by rounded tablespoons onto cookie sheets lined with parchment paper.

Bake 25 to 30 minutes, until golden brown.

printable recipe