Are English Muffins really English?

Why are they even called muffins?  I have always thought they were more like flat rolls.

None of these questions really matter, the only thing that matter is I LOVE English muffins.  Toasted and topped with melted butter, really it's the best!  

Problem for me is that I live in the Middle east and when I can find English muffins they are terrible quality and are covered in a layer of ice.

New challenge, make my own.  I can do this and have but it is a lot of work for the yield.  With having 3 kids at home doing school and a toddler I just don't find the time often to indulge in making these crispy, chewy delights.  So, when I am in the mood I take the easy way.  I have decided, there is nothing wrong with the easy way as long as it is delicious!

The easy way is to make this amazing English Muffin Bread

It has the texture and taste of an English muffing but has less steps and only one proofing time.

Start by pouring the warm milk and water into the mixing bowl. I use milk made with powder for all my baking, that way I always have it on hand and don't make my kids angry by using all the "drinkable milk."  I never notice a difference for the taste in baked goods.

I then add the dry yeast and sugar.  I do it in this order because I have had instances when if I put the yeast in first when I get my dough out of the bowl there is still dry yeast at the bottom that was not softened.

Next, add the flour, baking soda,  and salt.  Always add the salt with the flour so that it is not touching the yeast, salt will kill yeast and you will get less of a rise.

Mix with the hook for 8 minutes

It will look like a thick batter, it is very sticky

Spray pans and sprinkle with cornmeal

Spoon batter into prepared pans, it will double in size so use that as a guide to how full you fill the pans

Spray plastic wrap with oil spray and cover loaves

Preheat oven to 200 F

Proof until double in size

Bake until golden brown and done (when a thermometer in the center measures 190 F)

Slice and enjoy with butter, honey, or to make your favorite sandwich with.

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Carl and April

2:13 PM

I love to braid.  I used to braid my own hair everyday for school and then I turned to braiding my friends' hair.  I was blessed with 3 girls and I still love braiding, more than they would like.  

When I stated working with bread I found a new way to have fun with braiding.  I can braid rolls, breads, and pastry.  

Braiding transforms delicious baked goods into delicious works of art.  

To begin we start with my Daddy's Roll dough

Preheat the oven to 400 F

After the first rise punch it down and it is ready to shape

Using one pound of the dough, roll it out into a 16x8 inch rectangle

Spread Cream Cheese Filling Down the center

Add any other fillings (fruit preserves, caramel, chocolate)

On each side of the fillings cut the dough in to 1/2-3/4 inch strips

Begin with a strip at the top and fold over the filing.  Take a strip from the other side and fold it over the filling.  Continue to fold strips from each side over the filling, creating the braid effect.  When you get to the bottom pinch and fold under.

Brush with egg wash (whisk one egg with 1 tsp water)  and sprinkle lightly with sugar

Let rise and then put in the oven to back until Golden brown (12 minutes) 

Enjoy for dessert, breakfast, or snack!  Really you could have it at any time and don't forget to make some delicious hot cocoa to accompany it.

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Carl and April

12:40 PM

During the school year I have very little time to spend putting together meals.  Most of the day is enjoyed in helping the kids with their schoolwork and doing lessons.  As much as I adore playing in the kitchen I do like to do some other things with my free time.  This cornbread is so fast and easy to make but best of all it is super moist and all four of my kids love it.  Try it with your favorite soup or chili.

This is served with my Southwest Chili

Take 2 boxes Jiffy cornbread mix, add 1 cup shredded cheddar

Whisk 1 cup of milk with 2 eggs

Add milk/egg mixture to dry ingredients

Add 1 can creamed corn to the batter

Add 2-3 chopped jalapenos (add more if you would like spicier)

Pour mixture into heated and greased cast iron skillet

Bake in at 375 until golden brown and set

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Carl and April

1:41 PM

I guess I should say more since there was more to this delicious dinner and it begins with some truly delicious Grilled Herb Chicken and Sausage Kebabs with Herb Cream Sauce.

But, since you came to this page for the Bacon wrapped asparagus I will refocus.

My good friend recently mentioned making these and it has stayed at the back of my mind.  So, today when I had asparagus that had to be used and a half a pack of uncooked bacon I thought I better try this out.

First, I counted how many pieces of bacon I had and then made that many piles of my asparagus (which were washed, dried and ends cut off)

Then I hold a bundle together and starting at the bottom begin to tightly wrap the asparagus with the bacon.  I did not want a lot of overlap as I like my bacon crisp and did not want any chewy bacon hidden under crisp.

You will see a lot of recipes for these that call for brushing the bacon with olive oil but I don't agree with that. There was plenty of grease from the bacon that I definitely did not need to add any unless it is for the taste but...oh yeah, that is what the bacon is for.

Place the bundles on a heated grill and cook until desired crispness.  Place on paper towels, sprinkle on some fresh ground pepper and serve.  

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Carl and April

12:42 PM

I posted these together since I use the same base for both cookies

First thing is to re-hydrate the raisins in the rum if you are doing the raisin oatmeal variety.  Otherwise, just start making the base.

Then Cream the Sugars with butter.  This is a really important step and should be creamed until the butter absorbs the sugar which takes almost 5 minutes.  This will keep your cookies from spreading.

Then you add your eggs one at a time beating well after each one.  

Add the dry ingredients

At this point you add either the raisins or the cinnamon chips.

Scoop out onto a cookie sheet.

When they are finished they don't look done but they will continue to cook on the pan, let them cool on the pan.  If you bake them til they look done they will be drier.

Oatmeal Cookie Base Recipe 

Yield:  5 dozen cookies

1 cup butter, softened

1 cup granulated sugar

1 cup packed brown sugar

2 eggs

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 3/4 cup flour

1/4 cup cornstarch

1 tablespoon cinnamon

Option of cinnamon chips, chocolate chips, or rum raisins 

Preheat oven to 350.  Cream butter and sugars for 5 minutes.  Add eggs and beat after each addition until it is fluffy, add vanilla.  Combine dry ingredients.  Add to the creamed mixture, mix til just combined.  Add option.  Scoop out dough onto cookie sheet with a silpat or parchment paper.  Bake for 7-8 minutes.  Cookies will looked under cooked, allow to finish cooking on sheet as it cools then remove to rack. 

For Rum Raisin Oatmeal Cookies

2 cups raisins

1/4 cup rum

Place raisins in a sauce pan, pour rum over the top.  Heat on stove until it starts to boil and then turn off heat, cover with lid and allow to cool. 

For Seriously Cinnamon or Oatmeal Chocolate Chip cookies

2- 12 ounce packages cinnamon chips

                           or

2-12 ounce packages chocolate chips

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Carl and April

12:00 PM

I had leftover crushed mint from our Christmas cookies and I love mint with chocolate so I came up with these.  They are melt in your mouth and are pretty much addictive.

I wish I had taken more pictures while making them but they are pretty easy to do.

2 cups crushed peppermint candy

1 cup Cream

¼ cup butter

18 large marshmallows

1 cup (6 oz) chocolate morsels (if you like sweeter you could use half milk, I prefer to use semi-sweet or darker)

2 cups mini marshmallows
Fine sea salt for sprinkling

Combine first 4 ingredients in a heavy saucepan; cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, about 10 minutes or until a candy thermometer registers 234 degrees F. 

Remove from heat; add morsels, stir until morsels melt.  Fold in mini marshmallows.

Drop by rounded tsp. (work quickly) onto lightly butter wax paper; sprinkle with sea salt; cool.  Store in an airtight container.

Yield:  3 ½ dozen

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Carl and April

9:58 AM

Double Pork Chili

We were thinking of a quick and easy dinner to come home to after church.  Since it is winter (at 80 degrees) we decided on chili.  I had no ground beef or chicken so I came up with a delicious pork option.

Start by crisping the bacon.

Add chopped peppers

Add onions.

Next comes the spices.  Chili powder, cumin, chipotle powder and oregano.

After browning the ground pork combine it with the beans in the crock pot.

Add the tomatoes and simmer in the crock pot for several hours.

We served ours topped with sour cream and shredded cheddar.  Our side was Easy Mexican Corn Bread.

Recipe for Double Pork Chili

Ingredients

6 slices smoked bacon, cut up.

4 cloves chopped garlic

2 medium onions, chopped

1 red bell pepper, chopped

1 yellow onion chopped

3 tablespoons chili powder

1 tablespoon smoked paprika

2 teaspoons chipotle chili powder

2 teaspoons dried oregano

1 pound ground pork

1 can beer (can use other kind of liquid but this gives great flavor)

2 (15 ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed

1 (15 ounce) can kidney beans, drained and rinsed

1 (24 ounce) can diced tomatoes, with juice

1 cup beef stock

Salt and pepper as needed

Toppings

Sour cream

Shredded Cheddar

Diced Avocados

Sliced Scallions

Directions

In large heavy-bottom frying pan, cook the bacon over medium heat until lightly crisp.  Once the bacon is browned, add the garlic, onions, bell peppers, and spices.  Cook until the vegetables are soft and spices are aromatic.  Add the pork, break it up and brown, cooking until no longer pink.  Stir in the beer, deglazing the pan.  Pour the contents of the frying pan in a slow cooker.  Add the beans, tomatoes and beef stock.  Stir together.  Cook in the crock pot for at least 4 hours.  Taste for seasoning and add salt and pepper, if necessary.  Transfer the chili to serving bowls and add toppings of choice.

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Carl and April

1:19 AM

The kids asked if we could do ethnic themed weeks for dinner and these are 2 of the dishes we had for Italian week.

Arancini with marinara.  I know they aren't served with marinara but we really liked it together.  There are also some brussel sprouts hiding in the back.

Lamb Osso Buco on  Marscapone Polenta

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Carl and April

8:06 AM