Bread Machine Rolls

These rolls are great. I tend to make a couple of batches right after another and freeze them so we have rolls for dinner. You could make these without a bread machine, you'd just have to knead everything and let it rise for about an hour before making the rolls.

1 cup warm water (about 110 degrees)
1 Tablespoon honey
1 cup wheat flour (you can omit this and use all bread flour if you are married to someone who hates wheat)
2 cups bread flour
1/4 cup powdered milk
3 Tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon salt
3 Tablespoons butter, softened and cut into pieces
2.5 teaspoons active dry yeast or 1 packet

Place all the ingredients in your bread machine according to manufacturer's instructions (ours says water first, then honey, flour, etc.) Select dough setting and start. After it is completed, remove the dough and punch down. Break into 12 balls (you can make buns with about 6-8 balls). Place on ungreased baking sheet (I use our stone). Cover with damp cloth and let rise about 30-40 minutes. Preheat oven to 350 and bake 12-15 minutes or until lightly browned. Brush tops with melted butter when they are warm. They freeze well (thaw for 25 seconds in microwave).

Super Bran Muffins

I am always hungry and always in search of a good, healthy, filling snack. This one hits the spot and is good for you, too.

Half a box of All Bran (bran buds) cereal (15-18 oz. box)
1/2 cup oil (I use 1/4 cup applesauce, 1/4 cup oil)
2 cups buttermilk (2 cups milk with about 1 Tbsp lemon juice)
2.5 teaspoons baking soda
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
2.5 cups flour (I use half wheat/half white)
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons cinnamon
fruit of choice (my favorites are blueberries--just pour in however much you think is good, chopped apple (1) + 1/2 cup raisins, or bananas)

Mix dry ingredients. Add wet ingredients and stir well. Add fruit and stir. Fill muffin tins 2/3 of the way full and bake at 400 degrees for 15-20 minutes.

Makes ~30 muffins. I leave some out but they tend to spoil on the counter after a few days with so much fruit in them. I put the rest in a freezer bag and freeze. Just pull out a muffin and microwave it for 25-30 seconds and it's nice, warm and you'd never know it was frozen.

Spinach Quiche

I'm so proud of this recipe--I mixed several recipes and my own personal touches to create a delicious quiche. We have so many eggs from our chickens, I feel like I'm always cooking with them!

Spinach Quiche
1 pie crust (refrigerated or frozen)
1 cup frozen spinach, thawed and squeezed DRY
6 eggs
1 cup light sour cream
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 bunch of green onions, chopped, white parts only
1 clove garlic, minced
2 cups cheese (I like 1/2 cheddar, 1/2 mozzarella or whatever is on hand--monterrey jack works well too, just mix and match!)

Place pie crust in 9 inch pie pan. On the stove, cook onion and garlic in olive oil or butter a minute or until they begin to soften some and are nice and fragrant. In bowl, combine eggs, spinach, onion and garlic, sour cream and heavy cream. Blend with mixers. Stir in cheese. Pour into pie pan--hopefully it won't overflow--mine did just a little bit. Place on baking sheet and bake at 325 degrees for 45 minutes or until set.

Another Great Banana-nut Bread Recipe

You'll REALLY never go back to your old recipe once you try this one....It is great as muffins too and stays moist for over a week in an air tight container.

3/4 cup butter, softened
1 (8oz.) pkg cream cheese
2 cups sugar
2 large eggs
3 cups flour
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 1/2 cups mashed bananas (4 medium)
1 cup chopped pecans or favorite nut
1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Beat butter and cream cheese at medium speed with electric mixer until creamy. Gradually add sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, beating just until blended each time. Combine flour and next 3 ingredients and gradually add to butter mixture until just blended. Add bananas, nuts, and vanilla. Goes well into 2 8x4 inch loaf pans. Bake at 350 for 1 hour. Shield with aluminum foil for last 15 minutes to prevent browning. (also makes about 24 muffins, but only bake for 25 minutes)
Enjoy!