Homemade Pumpkin Bread

Happy Labor Day everyone!!  Hope you had a fun and safe weekend!

Well, fall is knocking on the door, which gets me in the mood for fall cooking!
Here's one of my favorite fall recipes. A moist delicious pumpkin bread that makes 2 loaves, which is handy when you need to take something to church or a friend. It also freezes well.

You will need...

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups sugar

2 eggs

1/2 cup oil 

1 can pumpkin

1 3/4 cup flour

1 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

2 tsp pumpkin pie spice

1/3 cup buttermilk

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. 

With an electric mixer on medium speed, combine 1 1/2 cups sugar, 1 can pumpkin, 1/2 cup oil and 2 eggs until smooth, scraping sides of bowl with rubber spatula as needed.

Next add dry ingredients and buttermilk.

Mix on medium speed until combined. 

Thoroughly greese 2 loaf pans. 

Divide batter in half filling each loaf pan approx half full. 

Bake at 350 degrees for approx 1 hour or until inserted toothpick comes out clean. 

Remove from oven and let rest for approx 10 minutes before turning out on wire rack to cool.

Serve with butter. 

Makes a delicious addition to breakfast or snack!

Enjoy!

Buttermilk Ranch Dressing

This is a fast and easy homemade ranch dressing recipe that our family loves! With real mayonnaise and buttermilk, this recipe makes an extra creamy and tangy dressing that goes great with salad, veggies, pizza, calzones and more. 

Ingredients:

1 cup mayonnaise 

1 cup buttermilk

1 teaspoon parsley flakes

3/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon onion powder

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder 

1/8 teaspoon ground thyme 

Whisk all ingredients together until smooth. 

Serve with your favorite salad, veggies, pizza or calzone!

Enjoy! 

Homemade Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies

If you are looking for a moist, chewy, melt in your mouth chocolate chip cookie recipe, then look no further! Pictures cannot begin to describe the deliciousness of this cookie. We make them so much at our house, I have the recipe memorized! This recipe also works well for cookie bars. 

Ingredients:

1 cup butter(2 sticks)

1/2 cup granulated sugar

3/4 cup packed brown sugar

1 egg

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 package chocolate chips

Begin by preheating your oven to 375 degrees. 

Next, get out your large mixing bowl and microwave (approx 45 seconds on high) the 2 sticks of butter until approximately half melted. This is an important step in the chewiness of the cookies. Melted butter makes chewier cookies than room temperature butter. Also, I like to use real salted butter for my cookies but margarine works well too. 

Next, add 1/2 cup granulated and 3/4 cup packed brown sugar. 

Using your electric mixer, mix on high speed until mixture becomes light and creamy. This is also an important step in the chewiness.  Creaming the butter, sugar and egg well helps make the cookies soft and chewy.  Next add 1 egg and continue mixing on high until mixture once again becomes light and creamy. Use a rubber spatula to scrape sides of bowl as needed. 

Next add 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 2 teaspoons vanilla extract. Mix well. 

Next add 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour and mix on low speed just until combined. 

Now we save the best for last! The chocolate chips!!! To me, this is the most important part. It's like icing on the cake.  For some reason, I prefer milk chocolate chips over semi-sweet. I'm not sure why. I've just always been a milk chocolate fan. Even with other candy and sweets. I'm milk chocolate all the way! Ok anyways....enough about my love affair with milk chocolate. On with the show. Incorporate the chocolate chips either with the mixer on low speed or a spatula. 

Next, using your handy dandy cookie dough scoop, create delicious mounds of mouth watering cookie dough and space evenly on your favorite baking sheet. I prefer my pizza stone as it creates a nice crispy bottom while preserving the chewy gooey goodness in the middle of the cookie. For all you cookie dough lovers, try your best to refrain from eating the raw cookie dough. ;-)

Next, bake at 375 degrees for 8-10 minutes or until lightly golden. It's very important to NOT over bake your cookies! 

Now all you have to do is sit down, relax and enjoy one your delicious chocolate chip masterpieces.  Even pour yourself a glass of milk. You deserve it!! Your family will be oohing and awing every time they sink their teeth into one of your cookies! 

Enjoy! Let me know what you think! Thanks!!!

Homemade Egg Noodles

This is my great grandmother's recipe for homemade egg noodles. We have them every year during the holidays. It takes a little elbow grease to make them but it's all worth it in the end. They are delicious!

Ingredients:

2 eggs, beaten

1 1/2 cups flour + more for rolling

2 tsp cold water

1/2 tsp each salt and pepper

Like my vintage s&p shakers? They were my Grandma's. Miss her.

Combine eggs, cold water and salt/pepper.

Add 1 1/2 cups flour and combine. Dough will be very sticky.

Turn dough out onto a floured surface and knead, adding flour, until no longer sticky and you have a nice smooth ball.

Next flour your rolling pin and begin rolling dough out, adding more flour as necessary. Dough will be very elastic at first but just keep rolling, just keep rolling, just keep rolling. :-)  Roll until the dough is approximately 1/8 inch thick.

Next cut your noodles approximately 1/2 inch wide X 2 inches long.  I like using a pizza cutter but a sharp knife will work just fine.

Then use a pastry knife or spatula to scoop the noodles up in a pile, making sure none are stuck to the cutting board.

Next spread them back out on the board and allow to dry for 3-5 hours.

To cook, bring approximately 4 cups broth(chicken or beef) to boil. Add noodles and cook for 20-30 minutes or until noodles are cooked through. Add shredded chicken or beef and serve with mashed potatoes, noodles or rice.  Recipe can easily be doubled for a croud.

Enjoy!

Homemade Broccoli and Cauliflower Cheese Soup

This is a chunky style broccoli and cauliflower cheese soup with lots of veggies and real cheese. Nothing artificial here. Yum!

Ingredients

1/4 cup butter

1/2 medium onion, finely diced

2 stalks celery, finely diced

1/4 cup flour

1 pint half n half

2 cups chicken broth

1 cup carrots, finely diced

1 1/2 cups broccoli, chopped

1 1/2 cups cauliflower, chopped

Salt and pepper to taste

1/2 lb cheddar cheese, shredded

Melt butter over medium heat in 2 qt saucepan. Add onions and celery and sauté.

Add flour and brow slightly making a roux.

Add half n half and cook until thick, stirring constantly.

Add chicken broth, remaining veggies and salt and pepper. Cook until veggies are tender.

When veggies get tender, mash slightly with potato masher. 

Remove from heat and add cheese, stirring until melted. Make sure the liquid is NOT boiling when you add the cheese or else the cheese will clump together. 

Makes an excellent meal with a sandwich!

Enjoy!

Homemade Buttermilk Cornbread

If you like a cornbread that is NOT sweet, this is a great recipe for you to try.

Ingredients:

2 Tbs oil

1 cup buttermilk

1 egg

1/2 tsp baking soda

2 Tbs flour

1 cup yellow corn meal

1 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

First step, preheat oven to 450° and place a clean 12 cup regular muffin tin in oven to preheat. This makes for nice crisp muffin bottoms. 

Beat egg, then add oil and buttermilk and combine.

Next add dry ingredients and combine. 

Remove hot muffin tin from oven and generously grease with cooking spray.

Fill each spot 2/3 full.

Bake for approximately 20 min or until golden.

Remove from oven and immediately add butter!

Add your favorite honey, jam or jelly for a sweet treat!

Enjoy!!