Potato Bread

This is for 1 loaf, I usually double or quadruple it; depending on how I feel

Hardware:
mixer -- with bread attachment
bowl
spatula
pot
loaf pan(s)

Ingredients

1 C whole wheat flour
1 C mashed potatoes
1/2 C lukewarm water
1/2 C water
1 pkg active dry yeast
2 t sugar
3 C bread flour
1 t salt
3 T butter

Make mashed potatoes -- you can either use instant for a creamier potato or use real potatoes your choice

I use rapid rise yeast so I don't do the blooming process, however, if you are using active dry you'll need to: head milk and water in a saucepan to lukewarm, sprinkle with sugar and yeast and set aside for 5 minutes.

I put the flour, potatoes, yeast and milk, salt and butter into mixer and combine until just blended.

Knead for a few minutes until the dough is smooth -- about 8-10 minutes. This will be sticky so you might need extra flour to knead in. Put the ball of dough in a lightly greased (I use a smidge of olive oil on a paper towel) bowl and allow to rise.

Once risen, punch down and divide into loaf pans if doubling the recipe and allow to rise again.

Preheat oven to 400. Once the second rise is done, bake for 45 minutes or until top is golden brown.

March - Lasagna soup

Hardware:

Large soup pot or stock pot
cutting board/knife

Ingredients
1 lb Italian sausage
2 onions chopped -- I only used 1
garlic - pre-minced to taste
oregano
bay leaf
basil
red pepper flakes (optional)
2 T tomato paste
1 can diced tomatoes
1 med bell pepper diced (optional)
8 oz chopped mushrooms
1 C fresh spinich
6 C broth/stock
pasta -- I used a box of rigatoni

brown sausage until throughly cook and drain -- set aside

In stockpot (can do this while sausage is browning) sweat onion, garlic and add oregano and mushrooms (peppers and pepper flakes if using). Once cooked add sausage when browned and tomato paste.

add in tomatoes, broth and bay leaf -- let this simmer for about 30 minutes

add in pasta, spinish and cook until tender (about 10 minutes) remove bay leaf

add in basil and season with salt/pepper to taste

top with ricotta cheese or other cheeses if you desire.

March - Italian Porkchops

Hardware:
bowl, baking sheet/casserole dish
utensils

Ingredients

1 T mustard - favorite kind
1 T olive oil
Italian seasoning
Pork chops
mozzarella cheese

Mis mustard, olive oil and Italian seasoning. Coat pork chops. Place on greased pan/casserole dish. Bake at 400 for 20-25 minutes. Sprinkle cheese on top of chops and then bake for an additional 5-10

I served this with mashed potatoes and steamed veggies

Feb - Sleezy Cheezy Chicken

Hardware
microwave safe bowl and spoon
cutting board and knife
large casserole pan
food processor

Ingredients

2 T butter (might need more depending on the amount of chicken)
2 cloves garlic - minced
1/2 C bread crumbs -- used part of a loaf of bread -- about 4 pieces
1/2 C grated cheddar cheese
2-4 T grated Parmesan cheese (I used more)
Italian seasoning

Preheat oven to 350

In food processor mix bread, Italian seasoning and parm cheese. Once in crumb form add 1/4 C of cheddar cheese and set aside in a bowl.

Melt butter and garlic together

Cut up chicken into strips, dip in butter/garlic and then dredge in bread crumbs and lay in casserole dish.

drizzle any remaining butter/garlic over chicken, I sprinkled more parm cheese over them at this point and then some more bread crumbs.

Bake for 45-60 minutes or until juices are clear

I served this with rice and steamed veggies.

Feb - Honey Mustard Chicken Pasta

Hardware:

Saute pan
Knife, cutting board
Bowls, spoons, spautula

Ingredents

2 C bow-tie pasta (1 box and I used the mini bow-tie)
bacon -- approximately 4 slices off a frozen block and then chopped
mushrooms - 1 can or 8 oz fresh
onion - 1 small diced fine
garlic - I used pre-minced as it's easier
2 C diced chicken -- I used chicken breast cut into strips
frozen peas -- just a handful or two
2/3 C milk, 1/2 C milk - divided
2 T brown mustard -- favorite kind
1T +1t honey
1/8 C flour

Cook Pasta according to directions, drain when noodles are just tender

Cook chicken to done and set to the side (original recipe says to cook bacon at the same time -- bacon becomes soggy) Start bacon in pan after chicken is done cooking. When the bacon is done, remove and sweat onions and add mushrooms.

Mix flour and 1/2 C milk together (this is when I add additional herbs like basil, oregano and thyme). Add milk to onions and mushrooms an stir until just thickened. Ad peas and additional milk and stir. Add mustard and honey -- I tended to go with taste and I know I added more of each; but large squirt of "this" is really subjective.

Simmer until sauce is thickened again. Add pasta, chicken and bacon.