Easy Homemade Breadsticks

I actually found this recipe here at this website. And I love it.  Here it is again. It's great for when you're having Pizza.

1 1/2 cups of warm water

1 Tbs. active dry yeast

2 Tbs. Sugar

1 tsp. Salt

4 cups Flour

1 stick (1/2 cup) butter

Garlic Powder

Parmesan Cheese

Directions: In a bowl, mix together warm water, yeast and sugar.  Let it sit for 10 minutes while the yeast activates and becomes frothy.  Then add salt.  When adding flour, add two cups, mix and then add the other two cups.  The dough should pull away from the sides of the bowl and not become sticky.  Knead for about 10 minutes. Then spray the inside of a plastic bowl with cooking spray and put the dough ball in it and cover.  Let it rise for about 15 to 20 minutes.  Preheat oven to 375F.  In a microwave safe bowl, microwave your cube of butter till all melted.  Once your dough ball has risen, take it out and the roll the dough out to just barely smaller than the pan you will use to bake your breadsticks (about an 11x13 or 2 cookie sheets if what i've done :P). On your pan, pour about half of your melted butter till it coats the pan.  Lay your rolled out dough in the pan, and using a pizza cutter, cut your dough into strips for breadsticks.  Then taking a basting brush, or just pouring over, coat the top of your breadsticks with the melted butter. Sprinkle with Garlic Powder and Parmesan Cheese.  Bake at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 to 18 minutes.   Then pull out, let cool a little bit and ENJOY!

It's a Burger Night!!!

So...you begging for a Burger but without the cholesterol. Here are a few I found, both I tried out this week and really liked. Here they are:

Veggie Burger 
This recipe I got off my cousin's blog.  She is way into nutrition and a terrific cook.  I have piratically loved EVERYTHING she has posted.  Anyway, here is the recipe she posted that I tried (you can check it out on her blog too.  I didn't have any kidney beans so I just doubled the black beans and it still turned out great):

1 can Kidney beans, rinsed

1 can Black beans, rinsed

1 c. brown rice, cooked

1 c. rolled oats, dry

¼ c. ketchup, BBQ sauce or other sauce you enjoy

4 t. Mrs. Dash or other desired spice

(makes 8-10 burgers)

Mash beans in a bowl with potato masher or a fork.  Mash until beans are mixed together and sticky, but you can still see parts of the whole bean.  Add rice, oats, sauce, & spices and then stir until all the ingredients are mixed together well.

Roll appx. 1/3 c. of mixture into a patty & put on a pan lined with waxed paper.  Put in refrigerator for about 10 minutes to dry out a little.  Cook on a hot pan or grill for 2-3 minutes on each side until well cooked.  You don’t have to worry about under cooking because there aren’t any raw ingredients, but just cook until heated through.  Add cheese, if desired, and let melt on top.  Serve on a wheat bun with desired toppings (spinach, onion, tomato, pickle & sauces)

 

Here's also another winner of a recipe:

 

Black Bean Sloppy Joes

This Recipe I got off the vegkitchen.  Joel and I really liked it, but it might of had a little too much "KICK" for the kiddos. 

1 Bell Pepper, finely chopped

1 medium Onion, finely chopped

2 garlic cloves, minced

2 (15oz) cans of black beans, drained

1 tsp. cumin

1 tsp. coriander

1 (15oz) can fire roasted diced Tomatoes

1 Tbs. Brown Sugar

1 Tbs. Worcestershire sauce or Soy Sauce

In a large sauce pan, saute bell pepper, onion and garlic.  Add beans, cumin, coriander and cook on medium low for 5 minutes.  

 

Meanwhile, in a blender, add tomatoes, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce (or soy sauce) and blend until smooth.  Pour blended tomatoes into bean mixture.  Simmer for 3 minutes and add salt and pepper to taste.  Serve on whole wheat buns with your favorite burger fixings. 

Then FINALLY, what goes GREAT with Burgers.  Well.... FRENCH FRIES of course.  But how about instead of frying them, we bake them.  Much better for the cholesterol. ;)

 

Baked Dill French Fries

6 medium Russet Potatoes

2 Tbs. olive oil

1-2 tsp. Salt

1/2 tsp. Pepper

1-2 tsp. Dill

Chives (optional)

 

Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.  Rinse potatoes and then slice potatoes wedges, "french fry" style.

In a large bowl, add olive oil, salt, pepper, dill and chives.  Then toss to where all fries are covered.  Then on a greased cookie sheet, spread out fries on baking sheet.  Bake at 375 for 15 minutes.  Then flip fries over and bake another 15 minutes.  Serve with your favorite dipping sauce or just eat plain.