Burlap Wreath

I decided to make a very simple burlap wreath for fall/winter.  I chose a burlap ribbon with some red woven thru it so it would be good for fall or winter/Christmas time.  We will see how long I keep it up! I just felt like doing something small and quick and crafty.  With 3 kids in the house the crafts around here have to be quick!

I took a wire wreath and simply wrapped the burlap around it nice and tight. (I'm not a fufu kind of girl-that would be my mom and sisters, if you are looking for fufu you would have to ask them!) Do this starting about 15 inches into the ribbon(do you have an end to make a bow with!).  Keep wrapping it around until you get back to the beginning.  Now tie a bow! And your done! Simple, fun, and easy!

 Note: This can be done with a small child in your lap-I would know!

Friday-Breakfast Mush

I have made this before, you can look Here for the recipe.  I hope you enjoy this as much as my family does.  Please don't let the name fool you, it really is amazing.  It all comes together in one skillet, that means less dishes. Something I find truly amazing, because I'm the one who does the dishes around here!

Thursday-Onion/Egg Casserole

Thursday-was my attempt to recreate a dish that someone brought to a fellowship that was amazing.  Now it is still missing something-maybe I will be able to get the actual recipe from her some time, but for now here is mine.  By the way it is still amazingly good-my husband said "make sure you write this one down it is amazing!"

Onion/Egg Casserole:
8 eggs
1 c milk
1 loaf onion or everything bread
1/2 package cream cheese
1/2 stick butter
1 lb shred cheese(I used colby jack)
1 tsp mustard powder
1tsp garlic powder

In a greased 13x9 pan, crumble up the bread and put in on the bottom, sprinkle half of the cheese over top of the bread.  Add cream cheese on  top dropping in tiny balls or crumbles.  In a bowl mix together the eggs, milk , garlic, and mustard powder.  Pour over top of the bread making sure to coat it all and get it in all of the corners. Top with remaining cheese.  Bake at 350 covered for 30min and 15 minutes uncovered.  

This was melt in your mouth good.
*This could also be made the night before, kept in the fridge all night, and then pop it into the oven the next morning!

Wednesday-French Toast Bake

This recipe was supposed to be one of our family friends, BUT my computer decided to act up and not let me on the internet...meaning I couldn't get to my email to find the recipe. I had to make this one up since I had no internet access-I will say this is my best one yet.  I usually have something to go off of, but all I had on this one was my taste buds!

French Toast Bake:
3/4 Loaf of bread(just regular bread) or 1 loaf of day old french bread(didn't have that on hand so I used regular bread)
6 eggs
2 c milk
3/4 c sugar
2 tsp cinnamon

Topping:
1/2 c flour
1/2 c brown sugar
1 TBSP cinnamon
1 tsp nutmeg
1 sick cold butter
Apples(peeled and chopped) *optional, but highly recommended

Grease a 13x9 pan, cut or tear your bread. I cut mine because I am OCD like that(or as my husband likes to say CDO-because then it is in alphabetical order!)  I was able to cut each slice of bread into 9 pieces, and I used about 3/4 of a loaf of bread.

I didn't have any french bread on hand-but I do know that the family friend makes it with day old french bread-so feel free to go that direction as well!
Mix the eggs, milk, sugar, and cinnamon together, and then pour over top of the bread.

Let this set for at least 1 hour-or overnight, in the fridge! (I made this up that morning and let it set until I was ready to pop it in the oven which gave it slightly over an hr to bake)

For the topping: Mix everything together except for the apples, and cut it all together until the butter chunks are really small, like pea sized or even smaller if you wish.  I used my mixed on low to do this step since I didn't feel like cutting it with a knife(like usual), still had grumpy kids, so convienence was a must!(worked wonderfully, I will do it this way from now on, so I don't have to waste all that energy on cutting thru cold butter!)

Assembly: Since you already have the eggs mixture and the bread together, right before you put it in the oven top with apples(if your not using apples, skip this step), then top with the crumbly buttery goodness!

Bake at 350 for 45 minutes(this keeps it moist, if you like yours a bit firmer then cook it for longer) We like things underdone in this household, and this was not under done but was just perfect!

Enjoy!

Tuesday-Mini Quiches

Tuesday-I needed something quick and easy due to melting children recovering from the flu. What threw some stuff together from the fridge/freezer and called it good.  And you know what? It wasn't just good it was great!

Mini Quiches:
4 eggs
1/4 c milk
1/4 c frozen spinach(thawed)
1 tsp garlic
1 tsp onion
1/2 c cheese
1 pkg crescent rolls

*This makes 24 mini quiches!

First, I thawed the spinach-I simply put it in the microwave for 1 min and called it good. 
While that was thawing, I mixed my eggs, milk, garlic, onion, and 1/4 c of cheese together.  Then add in your spinach. Grease your mini muffin tin really well.  Now for the "crust" for each section of crescent roll(meaning the two triangles that kind of come partially together), press the seams together, making a rectangular piece.  Cut this in half and then in 3rds, giving you 6 pieces(for every 2 crescent rolls). Place these in the muffin tin.  Pour the egg mixture over top.  Add the rest of the cheese to the tops of them.

 Bake at 350 for 12 minutes. Quick, easy, and yummy.  A bite sized lunch that was perfect for little fingers to eat.

*Note I would have loved to put bacon in these as well, just didn't have any on hand-but would definitely recommend adding some if you have some available, just for an extra little something!

Monday-Strawberry Scones

On Monday we had Strawberry Scones.  This is not your average scone, it was moist and oh so very yummy!  I couldn't get enough! To be honest my husband and I ate all 8 since the kiddos were still down with the stomach flu, and not up to eating much.  I think they each maybe ate one bite! They did say they were yummy, but all done, which means this recipe also wins kid points!

Strawberry Scones:
1 c strawberries hulled and diced
2 c flour
1/3 c sugar
1 TBSP baking powder(yes a TBSP!)
1/4 tsp nutmeg(heavenly!)
6 TBSP cold butter, cut into 1/4" pieces
1/2 c whole milk(yes whole milk-it tastes better that way!)
1 tsp vanilla

Cut up your strawberries really small and place on a paper towel to dry-you don't want them too wet!
In a bowl combine flour, sugar, baking powder, and nutmeg.  Cut in the butter until butter is the size of peas.  You can do this by using to knifes or I use my kitchen aide on slow with the whisk attachment and it comes out fine, but you have to watch it to make sure it doesn't beat it all together, you don't want that. Add the strawberries and lightly mix with a fork-just enough to coat the strawberries. Mix the milk and vanilla together, put a well in the flour mixture, and pour the milk mixture into the well.  Gently stir until it forms a ball.  Knead this ball on a flour surface just a few times.  Place onto baking stone and gently press it into an 8" circle.  Using an oiled pizza cutter, slice it into 8 slices, and then gently move them away from each other so they are not touching.  Bake at 425 for 18 minutes.  Let cool for about 15 minutes. If you want to go the extra mile then cool it on a rack, I usually just let mine set on the pan I don't like the extra dishes and it does keep them a bit more moist!

Sunday- Biscuit & Gravy, Bagels

We actually made two breakfast meals on Sunday(well technically 3 if you count actual breakfast as well!).  We love breakfast food around here-don't you?  To kick off Breakfast week today you get 2 recipes!

Biscuits and Gravy:
Butter Biscuits(usually I make them from scratch-didn't have time tonight,these came out of a can!)
1 lb Sausage
1/4 c flour
1 qt milk(I used whole, but use whatever you like or have on hand)
1 tsp pepper(I don't like pepper to spicy for me, so add more if you wish!)

Open up your can of biscuits and bake them according to package directions(really difficult right?!).  OR if you wish make your own, go for it.  I have a good recipe but of course can't seem to locate it currently(I guess that means I need to reorganize my cook book!)

Brown the Sausage in a skillet. Once it is completely browned sprinkle flour on top and mix well coating all the sausage.  Add the milk and pepper.  Stir occasionally until thick and bubbly! (this usually takes about 10min)

 Enjoy!

Homemade Bagels:
1 1/2 c lukewarm water
2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast(or one sml pkg)
4 TBSP sugar
3 3/4 c flour
1/4 c onion, chopped fine
1 tsp minced garlic

1 egg white
poppy seeds
sesame seeds

In a bowl mix together 1/4 c of the water with the yeast, mix it a bit and let set until foamy-usually about 5-10 minutes.  Pour into mixing bowl.  Add the sugar, flour, and remaining water, mix well.  Add in 2 cups of the flour, onion, and garlic.  Mix until well blended. Continue to add the rest of the flour in slowly this should form a dough that is firm enough to knead.  Knead the dough on a well floured surface mix in any additional flour that is needed to keep it from sticking!  It should hold the imprint of your hand when you are done.
Place the dough in a well greased bowl, turning over once to coat with oil. Cover with plastic wrap and let set for 1 hour or until doubled in size.
Punch dough down and knead for a few more times. Divide the dough into 8 equal pieces. Take one of the balls, and push your floured thumb thru the center and then stretch the hole out a bit, making it about 1" in diameter.  (It should look like a doughnut) Place on a well floured surface and continue with the rest of the dough balls. Let these set. While the dough is setting bring a pot of water to boil.  Once it is boiling drop them in one at a time, starting with the first one you put a hole in.  Let it set in the boiling water for 30 seconds, flip it over with a slotted spoon and boil on the other side for 30 seconds. Place on a tea towel to absorb the extra water.  Continue to do this with the remaining dough.  Place on a well greased cookie sheet. (I did mine on a stone and they were a bit soft-we liked them this way, but if you prefer a firmer bagel then I suggest a cookie sheet would be better!)
In a bowl whisk the egg white until foamy.  Spread over top of the bagels, then sprinkle with poppy and sesame seeds.  Bake in the oven at 400 degrees for 20-25 minutes! Our baked for about 23 minutes!

Spread some yummy goodness on top or just eat them the way they are.  I used butter, and the hubby used a nice pile of cream cheese.  These bagels are dense, filling, and wonderful.  I hope you enjoy them as much as we did!! They are my attempt at a remake of Tim Hortons Everything Bagel-for those of you lucky enough to have one near you.  I will say-these are better LOL!(per the hubby, but maybe he is just being nice!)

Breakfast Week

This past week was breakfast week around here.  Something I just felt like doing, who knows why!  We had breakfast food every single day for lunch.  Now that the week is over, I would like to share all the yummy recipes with you.  I will be posting one a day since we ate one a day, please stay tuned.  Some of these are to die for, some of them I may change a few things the next time I make it(but will make sure to include that in the recipe)

I hope you enjoy Breakfast week just as much as we did!