Raspberry Honey Wheat Rolls

I did make bread but in a cloverleaf bun form yesterday.  I traded in my usual plain honey for raspberry honey and made a raspberry honey butter to have with them.  The best part was playing basketball with the 1 1/2" dough balls into the muffin tins.  I wish I would have made every basket when I played on the high school girls basketball team like I did with these.

Raspberry Honey Wheat Rolls

1 cup warm water
1/4 cup raspberry honey
3 tsp active dry yeast
1 large egg
1/4 cup butter, melted
1 tsp salt
2 cups bread flour
1 cup wheat flour
1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

Combine raspberry honey and warm water and stir until honey has dissolved.  Add in yeast and let sit for 10 minutes.  In the meantime, combine the flours and salt in a medium sized bowl.  In a large bowl, mix the slightly cooled melted butter and egg.  Add in the yeast after the 10 minutes and stir.  Gradually add in the flours and salt mixture.  Turn out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 5 minutes.  Pour olive oil into the bottom of the large bowl and roll the dough ball in it.  Cover and let sit in a warm place for 1 hour or until doubled in size.  Grease your muffin tins (I used large ones) and place 3 - 1" dough balls in each.  Allow to rise again.  Bake at 350° for 15 minutes. Remove from oven and brush some raspberry butter on top.


Raspberry Butter

1/4 cup butter, softened
1 tbsp raspberry honey

Cinnamon Apple Muffins

Sunday morning arrives and I have no idea what to make for breakfast.  I have no bread in the house because I know I can make better than any bread from the grocery store and cheaper too.  I might make some later to go along with a soup that I'm planning on making in the crock pot but that didn't help me out now.  I did have a single apple in the crisper and one container of Greek yogurt that has an approaching expiration date...the combination screamed out muffins.

Cinnamon Apple Muffins

1 1/2 cups flour
3/4 cups sugar
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
6 oz Greek yogurt
1 large egg
3/4 cup buttermilk
1 cup apple, diced
cinnamon & sugar for topping

Combine dry ingredients in a medium sized bowl and whisk lightly.  In a small bowl, stir yogurt, egg and buttermilk until blended.  Gently fold in wet ingredients into flour mixture.  Add in apples last.  Fill greased muffin cups 3/4 full.  Bake for 15 minutes at 350°, remove from oven and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar.  Return to oven for another 7 minutes.

I always have cinnamon sugar on hand.  It comes in handy for baking or just on buttered toast.

Cinnamon Sugar

1/2 cup sugar
1 tbsp cinnamon

Pepperoni Cheese Ball

I love cheese in all forms so combining two types of cheese together in something besides a grilled cheese sandwich (I actually opt for three cheeses in those) is a dairy nirvana for me.  Adding in Italian flavors is just like icing on the cake...

Pepperoni Cheese Ball

8 oz cream cheese, softened
2 cups applewood smoked mozzarella, shredded
2 oz pepperoni, diced small
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp oregano
1/4 cup walnuts, chopped

Mix together softened cream cheese and mozzarella cheese. Add in the pepperoni, and spices. Shape into a ball shape in bowl and cover
with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2 hours. Remove and roll in chopped
walnuts.

Return to refrigerator. Remove 15 minutes before
serving.  Serve with crackers.

Prosciutto Blackberry Rolls

This is a nice treat or side that covers your 4 basic food groups but it gives you a taste of savory and sweet in one bite.

Prosciutto Blackberry Rolls

1 can crescent rolls

8 slices prosciutto

8 pieces of brie, cut small

4 tsp blackberry jam

Separate rolls into 8 sections. Place a slice of prociutto in the center of the widest part. On top, place a bit of brie and 1/2 tsp of blackberry jam. Roll up and bake for 15 minutes at 325°.   

Cranberry Orange Brie Bites

Need a fun appetizer or snack to serve?  I made these on New Years Eve using the Cranberry Orange Jam I made ~ http://micheleswomancave.blogspot.com/2012/12/orange-bread-cranberry-orange-jam.html

Cranberry Orange Brie Bites

15 mini Phyllo Cups
1 small brie
15 tsp Cranberry orange jam

Cut up brie to fit into bottom of phyllo cups. Place 1 tsp of jam on top of the brie.

Bake and enjoy!

Servings: 15

Bake for 20 minutes at 350°F

BBQ Chicken & Bacon Dip

My kitchen seems to have an excess of cream cheese and frozen cranberries at this time of year so you'll probably be seeing a few more recipes that use either of them.

BBQ Chicken & Bacon Dip

2 chicken breasts, braised and shredded

8 oz cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup bbq sauce

2 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled

2 tbsp green chilies

1 cup shredded cheddar jack cheese

Mix all ingredients together in a medium sized bowl. Scoop mixture into a greased pie pan and bake at 325° for 30 minutes. Serve with your favorite crackers.

Buttermilk Waffles with Strawberry Sauce

Happy New Year!  I hope everyone had a wonderful night whether it was out celebrating or sleeping.

I'm starting off the new year with two new recipes for brunch this morning.  I didn't want to waste a day off and I caught a glimpse at morning television and decided my day was better spent in the kitchen.

Buttermilk Waffles

2 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon
2 large eggs, separated
2 cups buttermilk
4 tbsp butter, melted

1/2 tsp vanilla

Sift all dry ingredients into a large bowl. In a small bowl, beat egg whites until light and fluffy. Gradually mix buttermilk, egg yolks, melted butter  and beaten egg whites into dry ingredients.

Bake per your waffle makers instructions.

Makes 11

Strawberry Sauce

1 pound strawberries, quartered

1 tsp lemon juice

dash lemon zest

1/4 cup sugar, to start - add more depending on sweetness of berries

In a medium saucepan, cook strawberries, lemon juice and zest and 1/4 cup sugar until it starts to thicken.  Taste and adjust sugar amount accordingly.  Blend with a stick blender for a minute and allow to cool slightly before serving.