Homemade English Muffins

These turned out great! I was wondering if they were going to turn out, and they didn't look like english muffins till I cooked them, then they puffed right up! I used 2/3 whole wheat flour and they were yummy! Easy and good.

2 pkgs. yeast (2 1/4 t. per package)
2 c. warm water
5-6 cups flour
1 T. sugar
3 t. salt
1/2 c. shortening
cornmeal
butter

Dissolve yeast in warm water (unless instant) Add 3 c. flour, sugar, salt, shortening, stirring till moistened. Gradually add 2-3 c. flour to form a stiff dough. On floured surface gently knead 5-6 times till no longer sticky. Roll dough 1/4" thick. Cut with a 4" round cutter. Sprinkle cornmeal on cookie sheets. Place circles on. Top w/additional cornmeal. Let rise 45 mintutes, covered with saran wrap and a towel.
Heat griddle to 350 degrees. With a wide spatula invert onto ungreases griddle. Cook 5-6 minutes on each side.
They will puff up as they cook.

Lion House Rolls

These rolls are just so rich, flavorful, and delicious! They are not as complicated as I thought, actually quite easy. They have become one of my favorite breads to make!

Ingredients:
2 cups warm water (110-115 degrees)
2/3 cup nonfat dry milk (instant)
2 Tb. dry yeast
1/4 cup sugar
2 tsp. salt
1/3 cup shortening (butter or margarine)
1 egg
5-5 1/2 cups flour, all purpose (bread flour can be used if you have it on hand)
Method:

In the large bowl of an electric mixer, combine the water and the milk powder and stir so the milk dissolves. Add the yeast to tthis mixture then the sugar, salt, shortening, egg and 2 cups of the flour. Mix on low speed of mixer until ingredients are wet, then turn to medium speed and mix for 2 minutes. Stop the mixer and add 2 more cups of flour then mix on low speed until the ingredients are wet, then turn mixer on medium speed and mix for 2 minutes. The dough will be getting stiff and you may need to remove the bowl from the mixer and mix in the remaining flour by hand. Add approximately 1/2 cup of flour and mix again. (This can be done by hand or mixer). The dough should be soft, not overly sticky, and not stiff. (It is not necessary to use the entire amount of flour). Scrape the dough off the sides of the bowl and pour approximately on tablespoon of vegetable oil all around the sides of the bowl. Turn the dough over in the bowl so it is covered with the oil. (This helps prevent the dough from drying out.) Cover with plastic and allow to rise in a warm place until double in size. Sprinkle a cutting board or counter with flour and put the dough on the flour. It is now ready to roll out and cut into desired shape and size of rolls. Place on greased (or parchment lined) baking pans. Let rise in a warm place until the rolls are double in size (approx. 1-1 1/2 hours). Bake in a 375-degree oven for 15-20 minutes or until they are browned to your satisfaction. Brush with melted butter while hout. Yields 2 to 2 1/2 dozen rolls.

I've seen these done a couple different ways: Divide dough into 3 equal balls. Roll into a circle and cut with pizza cutter like a pizza. Roll into crescent shape.
Divide dough in half. Roll out in rectangle 8x12" and cut into 2x4" rectangles. Roll up and place in pan like sideways cinnamon roll.

French Bread Rolls

So this recipe seems pretty similar to the french bread recipe I recently tried and loved, but they turned out so good in roll form that I had to include this recipe in my cookbook as well. Oh, these are beautiful! I used them for hamburger buns, awesome sandwiches, sloppy joes, you name it! And inexpensive to bake. These can be a yummy dinner roll or made larger for buns. I brushed the top with butter to keep them soft and moist.

1 1/2 c warm water
1 T active dry yeast
2 T white sugar
2 T vegetable oil
1 t. salt
4 c all-purpose flour

In a large bowl, stir together warm water, yeast, and sugar. Let stand until creamy, about 10 min.
To the yeast mixture, add the oil, salt and 2 c flour. Stir in the remaining flour, 1/2 c at a time, until the dough has pulled away from the sides of the bowl. Turn out onto a lightly floured surface, and knead until smooth and elastic, about 8 min. Lightly oil a large bowl, place the dough in the bowl, and turn to coat. Cover with damp cloth, and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hr.

Deflate the dough and turn onto lightly floured surface. Divide dough into 12-14 equal pieces, and from into round balls. Place on lightly greased cookie sheet at least 2 inches apart. Cover the rolls with a damp cloth and let rise until doubled , about 40 min. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Bake 12-13 min., or till golden brown.

Mindy's Sloppy Joes

I have never really liked sloppy joes. My friend Mindy made this for me one time, and it was sooo good, it's on my list of "make often". Really easy and inexpensive too.
I halve the recipe but still use a whole can of tomatoe soup, just make to your taste.
2 lbs. hamburger
1 med. onion
1/2 can tomatoe soup
1/2 c ketchup
2 T brown sugar
1/2 t. chili pwd.
1/2 t. worchestershire
1 t. salt
1 1/2 t. mustard
1/2 t. curry pwd.

Brown onion and meat together. Add the rest. Simmer 20 minutes. Serve on rolls.

French Bread

I got this recipe from my friend Mindy, who got it from her Mother=in-law who is a great baker. It is so easy, and sooo yummy. I used it for sloppy joes and sandwiches, but it would be delish as garlic bread too. This is the first french bread I've made and liked.

2 c warm water
2 T sugar
1 T yeast

Stir the above together, let rest a few minutes till you see yeast working.
Add:
2 T oil
4-5 c flour (never more than 5)
1 t. salt

Mix together. It will be sticky. Put in a bowl with shortening. Let rise 1 hr. Shape into 2 loaves on cookie sheet and let rise 30 min. more.
Bake 20-25 min. at 400 degrees.

Oat Bread

I always bake my mom's whole wheat bread recipe, but last summer I was away and didn't have my wheat grinder, and when I used store-bought whole wheat it just was heavy and not the same. SO I tried this recipe and oh, it is sooo good! Its chewy and soft and so delicious as toast. So every now and again I have to switch it up and bake this.

1 c oats
2 c boiling water
1/3 c warm water (to activate yeast)
2 T yeast
1/2 c honey
1 T salt
2 T melted butter or oil
1 1/2 c wheat flour
3 c white flour

In mixing bowl, add oats and pour the boiling water over to soak and soften. Meanwhile, place yeast and 1/3 c water in a small bowl to allow yeast to activate. Once the oats have softened and cooled a little, but are still warm, add the honey, salt, butter, and yeast mixture. Mix together, then add flours. Continue mixing until dough pulls away from the side of the bowl.
Let rise, covered, until doubled. Spray 2 loaf pans and dust with oatmeal. Shape dough and place in pans. Lightly drizzle loaves with honey and then sprinkle with oats. Let rise again until the dough reaches the top of the pan. Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 30 minutes or till golden brown.