Olive Garden Breadsticks Copycat Recipe

I recently posted an Olive Garden soup recipe that I love (my Pasta e Fagioli copycat recipe) and realized I needed to post a breadstick recipe to go along with it. These breadsticks are deliciously soft and fluffy, with just the right amount of chew and they taste just as delectable as the real thing. According to this source I found online the Olive Garden uses margarine to coat their breadsticks. With that said, if you prefer butter over margarine (like me) then feel free to use that instead. Now you can enjoy bottomless breadsticks at home =)!  

Olive Garden Breadsticks {Copycat Recipe}

Yields 1 dozen

Ingredients:

1 cup + 2 Tbsp warm water (110 - 115 degrees)

1 1/4 tsp active dry yeast

2 Tbsp granulated sugar, divided

3 - 3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 3/4 tsp salt

3 Tbsp vegetable oil

Topping:

2 Tbsp margarine or butter*

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp garlic powder

Directions:

In the bowl of an electric stand mixer, whisk together warm water, yeast and 1/2 tsp granulated sugar until yeast has dissolved. Allow to rest 10 minutes. Add in remaining 1 Tbsp + 2 1/2 tsp granulated sugar, 1 1/2 cups flour, 1 3/4 tsp salt and vegetable oil, then fit mixer with paddle attachment and blend mixture until well combine. Switch mixer to dough hook attachment, add in remaining 1 1/2 cups flour and knead mixture on low speed, adding up to 1/4 cup additional flour as needed, and knead until dough is smooth and elastic (dough should pull away from sides of the bowl but should still be slightly sticky). Transfer dough to a large buttered mixing bowl, cover with plastic wrap and allow to rest in a warm place free from draft until double, about 1 1/2 hours.

Punch risen dough down, divide into 12 equal portions (2 ounces each by weight), keep them covered with plastic wrap as you work. Roll each piece into a 9 inch rope on a lightly floured surface, then transfer to two Silpat lined or buttered cookie sheets. Cover and let rise 1 hour. Preheat oven to 425 during the last 10 minutes of rising. 

Bake in preheated oven 11 - 13 minutes until golden (I actually broiled mine during the last minute for a perfectly golden crust). Meanwhile, in a small bowl whisk together 1/2 tsp salt and garlic powder. Remove breadsticks from oven and run a stick of margarine or butter over hot breadsticks and immediately sprinkle with salt mixture. Serve warm or allow to cool and store in an airtight container.

Recipe Source: Cooking Classy

Chicken Pot Pie Crumble - My Favorite Pot Pie

You are looking at a must try comfort food meal. I was never a fan of chicken pot pie until a friend so kindly brought me this dish after I had my baby a few years ago. I'm fully in love with it! Rather then getting a surrounding of heavy pie crust you get a fluffy biscuit topping that will quickly have you loading your plate with a second round. In my opinion the topping is what makes this dish. It sets it apart from it's competitors, being loaded with Parmesan cheese, plenty of heavy cream, some black pepper and cayenne pepper for a slight kick, and I also added a little garlic powder (because how can I resist?). Then to finish, it's browned in the oven to beautifully golden perfection. 
And the wonder doesn't just end at the topping. That is just the beginning. It's loaded with fresh, sauteed veggies, fall apart tender chicken which is all tossed in a creamy white sauce. This hearty dish would also be incredible made with leftover turkey from your upcoming Thanksgiving feast. 
I love how this is your entire meal in one dish. The main course with the chicken, the side with its generous portion of veggies and a bread with that unbelievable topping. I love how the slightly tangy flavor from the Parmesan cheese will keep people wondering what delicious ingredient that incredible flavor is coming from. 
This meal will remind you of what a classic, simple, just plain good meal is intended to be. Enjoy!

Chicken Pot Pie Crumble
Yields about 5 - 6 servings

Ingredients:
20 oz. boneless skinless chicken breast halves (about 2 large)
1 (14.5 oz) can low-sodium chicken broth
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 cup peeled and diced carrots (about 2 large carrots)
3/4 cup diced celery (about 2 large stalks)
3/4 cup finely diced yellow onion (about 1/2 medium onion)
2/3 cup frozen peas
3 Tbsp butter
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 cup milk
1 tsp lemon juice
1 1/2 tsp dried parsley
1/4 tsp dried thyme

For the crumble:
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
1/4 tsp garlic powder (use 1/2 tsp for a slightly stronger garlic flavor)
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
1/4 cup butter, cold and diced into small cubes
2 oz. finely shredded Parmesan cheese (about 1/2 cup packed)
3/4 cup + 2 Tbsp heavy cream

Directions:
Place chicken in a slow cooker, pour chicken broth over chicken. Cover with lid and cook on low heat about 5 - 6 hours until chicken is cooked through. Remove chicken from slow cooker, dice and set aside. Strain broth from slow cooker through a fine mesh strainer into a bowl and reserve broth (if you don't have a fine mesh strainer just try to remove the pieces of fat). 
To prepare crumble: Preheat oven to 450 degree. In a mixing bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, salt, pepper, garlic powder and optional cayenne pepper. Using your finger tips, cut butter into mixture until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in Parmesan cheese. Pour in heavy cream and mix just until combine. Break and drop mixture into 1 - 2-inch pieces onto a Silpat lined baking dish. Bake in preheated oven for 10 minutes until golden. Remove from oven and set aside.
To prepare filling: Heat olive oil over medium high heat. Once hot, add diced carrots, onion and celery. Saute vegetables, stirring occasionally until lightly golden and tender, about 5 - 6 minutes. Pour vegetables into a bowl and set aside. Reduce heat to medium, melt butter in saucepan (I like to brown it a bit for and extra layer of flavor), then add in flour and cook, stirring constantly for about 20 seconds (it will be very thick). While stirring, slowly add in milk followed by reserved chicken broth, lemon juice, parsley, thyme and season with salt and pepper to taste. Bring mixture just to a boil,  then slightly reduce heat and allow to cook about 1 minute longer until thickened, stirring constantly. Remove sauce from heat and add sauteed vegetables, frozen peas and diced chicken to sauce, then toss to evenly coat. Pour mixture into a 9-inch pie dish and sprinkle with baked crumble topping (mine fit perfectly in my pie dish but if yours is coming close to the top edge you may want to sit it on top of a cookie sheet to prevent spills in your oven). Bake in 400 degree oven until nicely golden about 12 - 14 minutes. Serve warm.

Recipe Source: adapted slightly from Cook's Illustrated, and yes I omitted the tomato paste and soy sauce =)

Homemade Tortillas - White and Whole Wheat Recipes

If you ask me, made from scratch Mexican food is just about as good as it gets. I've mentioned before that Mexican and Italian food are my two favorite kinds of food. One thing I love about each of them (other than the number one reason - the incredibly delicious flavors) is their use of so many fresh ingredients and how a lot of it is made from scratch. I've been to Mexico just a few times and one of my favorite things there was always the fresh tortillas. I loved stopping by the market to get a bag filled with a large stack of fresh flour tortillas from the bakery (I loved the fresh churros they have too, mmmm). I could probably eat that whole stack in one sitting.
These may seem like one of those things that's not worth the time and effort but I'm telling you, it is! I just don't like the flour tortillas from the store that are pre-made and loaded with preservatives, they just taste weird to me. Once you've had fresh tortillas, you know what I mean when I say homemade and store-bought aren't the same thing at all. There is the uncooked version you can get in the refrigerated section of the grocery store (which is what I use when I don't have time to make them from scratch) which are undoubtedly so much better than those you get on the shelf. Then several steps up from those are the homemade version.
These tortillas are a definite highlight of a Mexican meal. They are a simple, yet incredible upgrade. The tortilla is the first thing your going to bite into after all, so it better be good right? Enjoy!

Homemade Tortillas
Yields about 8 10-inch tortillas (you can get more then this just roll them 6 or 7-inches for taco size shells)

Ingredients:
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp baking powder
1/3 cup shortening or lard (or a combo of both)
1 - 1 1/4 cups very warm water
You'll also need large Ziploc bag

Directions:
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together flour, salt and baking powder. Using your hands, rub the shortening into the flour mixture until evenly distributed (mixture should hold its shape when clamped between your hands). Pour in 1 cup water and use a wooden spoon to stir until mixture comes together, adding additional water as needed (I used 1 cup + 2 Tbsp water). Knead mixture by hand until smooth (I just did this in the bowl). Divide mixture into 8 equal portions and shape each portion into a ball. Cover dough balls with plastic wrap and let rest at least 30 minutes and up to 1 hour. 
Roll each ball out on a lightly floured surface into a 10-inch circle (for a nice circular form flatten ball slightly then roll in one direction, make a  1/6 turn roll again, make another 1/6 turn and roll again. Continue to roll and turn until your dough circle is about 10-inches across). 
Heat a large non-stick skillet over medium high heat. Place rolled tortilla in hot skillet and cook until bubbles begin to appear on the surface, then flip tortilla to opposite side and cook until golden brown spots begin to appear on bottom. Immediately transfer cooked tortilla to a large Ziploc bag and seal bag (or tuck the opening underneath that way you wont keep on zipping and unzipping the bag as you work). Repeat process with remaining tortillas. Tortillas can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for about 2 days or in refrigerator up to 1 week.

Homemade Wheat Tortillas
Yields about 10 10-inch tortillas

Ingredients:
3 cups whole wheat flour (or 2 cups wheat flour + 1 cup all-purpose)
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp baking powder
3 Tbsp shortening
3 Tbsp canola, vegetable or olive oil
2 tsp sesame seeds, optional
1 1/4 - 1 1/2 cups very hot water
You'll also need a large Ziploc bag

Directions:
In a large mixing bowl whisk together flour, salt and baking powder. Using your hands, rub shortening into flour mixture until evenly distributed, about 1 minute. Add in canola oil and mix with your hands until evenly distributed. Mix in optional sesame seeds. Pour 1 1/4 cups hot water into mixture and mix with a wooden spoon until mixture starts to come together, adding additional water as needed, then knead by hand until smooth.
Divide dough into 10 equal portions and shape each portion into a ball. Cover with plastic wrap and let rest at least 30 minutes or up to 1 hour.

Roll each ball out on a lightly floured surface into a 10-inch circle (for a nice circular form flatten ball slightly then roll in one direction, make a  1/6 turn roll again, make another 1/6 turn and roll again. Continue to roll and turn until your dough circle is about 10-inches across). 
Heat a large non-stick skillet over medium high heat. Place rolled tortilla in hot skillet and cook until bubbles begin to appear on the surface, then flip tortilla to opposite side and cook until golden brown spots begin to appear on bottom. Immediately transfer cooked tortilla to a large Ziploc bag and seal bag (or tuck the opening underneath that way you wont keep on zipping and unzipping the bag as you work then seal it shut when finished). Repeat process with remaining tortillas. Tortillas can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for about 2 days or refrigerated up to 1 week.


Recipe Source: white tortilla recipe adapted lightly from whatcookingamerica.net

Whipped Specialty Butters

What is one out of the ordinary thing you should add as a new highlight to the Thanksgiving feast this year? Something that probably wouldn't have come to mind, whipped specialty butters to go along with those fresh out of the oven, homemade rolls. These butters are amazing! I was at my mother-in-laws a few days ago and she had fresh bread and some whipped cinnamon honey butter she'd bought at the store. I knew it would be a breeze to recreate after reading the ingredients list on the packaging label, so I came home and made it. In my opinion the homemade version may just be a bit better because it's freshly made, but other than that they taste exactly the same. 

I also decided to create a few other versions as well because why stop at just one flavor? There are many more I wanted to make but didn't have the time. Here's a few I had in mind: orange honey butter with orange extract and fresh orange zest, salted caramel butter with caramel sauce (rather than honey) and coarse sea salt, and lavender honey butter with dried lavender, because honey and lavender just go together. Really there are so many different flavors you could make, but if there's one you must try this Fall it's the Cinnamon Honey Butter. It makes an ordinary roll taste similar to a cinnamon roll.

Note that pictured is only 1/4 of each recipe just because I didn't want to use 3 cups of butter at once, there's no way my family of 4 could eat that much unless were were to serve it scooped over the top of ice cream cones. If it weren't so fattening I probably would like that =). 

If you are looking for a delicious dinner rolls recipe, I'd recommend trying this one. Enjoy!

Cinnamon Honey Butter

Ingredients:
1 cup salted butter, at room temperature
3/4 cup honey
1/2 cup powdered sugar
2 1/2 tsp molasses
2 tsp cinnamon

Directions:
In a mixing bowl, using an electric hand mixer on medium speed, whip together all ingredients until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.

Raspberry Butter

Ingredients:
1 cup salted butter, at room temperature
1/2 cup raspberry jam, seedless if preferred
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 tsp raspberry extract (add 1/2 tsp more for stronger raspberry flavor)

Direction:
In a mixing bowl, using an electric hand mixer on medium speed, whip butter until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add in remaining ingredients and mix until well blended. 
Note: the raspberry is naturally pink no food coloring is needed.

Vanilla Bean Honey Butter

Ingredients:
1 cup salted butter, at room temperature
seeds of 1 vanilla bean
2/3 cup honey
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract

Directions:
In a mixing bowl, using an electric hand mixer on medium speed, whip together all ingredients until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.


Recipe Source: Cooking Classy

Amazing Dinner Rolls

Is there anything like a fresh, hot out of the oven, homemade dinner roll? Dinner rolls are a classic that will never fade. These dinner rolls are dangerously good! How could something with so few simple ingredients be so delicious? I will tell you how: lots of butter, whole milk and a little patience. While creating this recipe, I was looking to achieve a tender, pillow-y soft texture, along with a light sweetness that wasn't overpowering (if I wanted a roll that was super sweet I'd just have cake), with just the right amount of moisture and fats - hence the use of whole milk along with the butter. I prefer a larger ratio of milk than water because water has zero flavor so why let it waste good space in the roll? 
I love making fresh breads and rolls, because I let my KitchenAid mixer do all the work =). The hardest part is that "little patience" I mentioned before, the rising time. I wish they'd just go POOF! in a number of seconds and be beautifully risen. If only. The nice thing about it though is that it basically forces me to get that sink-full of dishes done while I'm waiting. If you don't have a stand mixer you could also make these the good old fashioned way, kneading by hand. 
I hope you love these rolls and serve them as the perfect complement to your holiday feasts and family gatherings. Come back soon as I'll be posting 3 specialty butter recipes that you can spread along these divine dinner rolls (as if they needed any upgrade but these butters just push the rolls over the top).  Enjoy and share... really, because I'm warning you if you don't share you'll want all 24 rolls to yourself!

Dinner Rolls
Yields 2 dozen

Ingredients:
1/3 cup warm water, 110 - 115 degrees
2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast
1/3 cup + 1/4 tsp granulated sugar
1 1/3 cups whole or 2% milk, warmed to 110 - 115 degrees
3/4 cup salted butter, at room temperature, divided
1 large egg, at room temperature
1 1/2 tsp salt
4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour*

Directions:
Measure out warm water into a liquid measuring cup then stir in yeast and 1/4 tsp sugar, whisk until yeast has dissolved then let rest 5 - 10 minutes until mixture is foamy. Pour yeast mixture (scrapping out excess) into the bowl of an electric stand mixer fitted with whisk attachment, add in 1/3 cup sugar, warm milk, 5 Tbsp butter, egg and salt. Blend mixture until combine. Add in 2 cups flour and mix until well combine. Switch attachment to a dough hook, with mixer on low speed, slowly add remaining 2 1/2 cups flour and mix until dough is smooth and elastic, about 4 - 5 minutes (dough should be slightly sticky when touched). Transfer dough to a greased, large mixing bowl and cover bowl with plastic wrap. Allow dough to rise in a warm place, free from draft, until double in size, about 1 1/2 hours.
Punch dough down and divide dough into two equal portions. Shape each portion into a ball. Roll each dough ball out on a lightly floured surface into a large circle about 13 inches across (try to keep dough as much of an even thickness as possible). Spread each circle of dough evenly with 2 Tbsp butter. Cut each circle into 4 equal quarters, then each quarter into 3 wedges (just imagine cutting pizza slices or pie slices). Roll each wedge up, beginning on wide (outside) edge. Transfer rolls to a buttered 10 x 15 inch cookie sheet (the tip of the rolled wedge should be tucked on the bottom. Note that you can fit 3 rows of 8 rolls). Cover rolls loosely with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until double in size, about 1 hour. During the last 10 minutes of rising preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Remove plastic wrap and bake rolls in preheated oven for 15 - 20 minutes until golden brown. Remove from oven and brush with remaining 3 Tbsp butter (you may not need all of it). Serve warm or allow to cool and store in an airtight container.

*I found 4 1/2 cups to be perfect for me but if you live somewhere very dry or humid, or at a very high altitude you may want to reduce or increase measurement by a 1/4 of a cup, just note the dough should be fairly sticky. Don't add too much flour or your roll will be heavy. The dough should be sticking to the bottom of the mixing bowl near the end of mixing just not the sides. It should stick slightly to a clean fingertip then spring back slightly when pulled away.

Recipe Source: Cooking Classy

After first rise, divide dough into two equal portions and shape each into a ball.

 Roll each ball into a 13 inch circle.

 Spread softened butter evenly over entire surface. Using a pizza wheel, cut circle into 4 equal quarters then cut each quarter into 3 equal wedges.

 Snugly roll each wedge.

 The tip of the wedge should be tucked under the bottom, like so.

 Transfer and align rolls on a buttered baking dish.

 Cover with plastic wrap and let rest until double in size, about 1 hour.

 Bake in preheated oven 14 - 16 minutes.

Coat tops with butter.

 Pull rolls apart. Serve warm.

Banana Bread Cinnamon Rolls

What do you get when you combine banana bread with cinnamon rolls? These incredible Banana Bread Cinnamon Rolls! A cinnamon roll and banana bread in one, how could these not be good? Then when they are slathered generously with cream cheese frosting and finished off with toasted nuts, all I can say is wow yum! This is breakfast done right. Enjoy and be sure to eat them warm. 

Banana Bread Cinnamon Rolls
Yields 1 dozen

Ingredients:

3 medium overripe bananas
1 tsp lemon juice
2/3 cup milk (I used whole)
3 Tbsp butter, diced
2 Tbsp vegetable oil
2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1 large egg yolk
3 3/4 cups bread flour, divided 
1 Tbsp cornstarch
3/4 tsp baking powder

3/4 cup packed light-brown sugar
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/8 tsp nutmeg
6 Tbsp butter, melted

1 recipe Cream Cheese Frosting, recipe follows
toasted walnuts or pecans, chopped (optional)

Directions:
Puree bananas in a food processor along with 1 tsp lemon juice until mixture is smooth and no chunks remain, set aside (you should have just over 1 1/3 cups pureed bananas). 
Heat milk and 3 Tbsp butter in a small saucepan over medium low heat. Cook stirring occasionally until butter has melted. Remove from heat and pour mixture into the bowl of an electric stand mixer. Whisk in vegetable oil and allow mixture to cool to 110 degrees. Whisk in yeast, stirring until dissolved and allow mixture to rest 5 minutes. With the paddle attachment, mix in granulated sugar, salt, egg yolk, 2 cups bread flour and pureed bananas. Switch mixer to a hook attachment, add 1 1/2 cups bread flour and sprinkle in cornstarch, then knead mixture on medium low speed until a smooth and elastic dough forms (dough will be sticky). Cover bowl with plastic wrap and allow to rise to until doubled in size, about 1 1/2 hours. 
In a small bowl whisk together light-brown sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg, set aside. 
In a separate small bowl, whisk together remaining 1/4 cup bread flour and baking powder. Return bowl with dough to electric stand mixer, pour in flour/baking powder mixture and knead dough with hook attachment until mixture is well blended and smooth. Roll dough out on a floured surface (dough should be slightly sticky so I floured the surface fairly generously) to a 16 x 20 inch rectangle. Using the back of a spoon, spread 6 Tbsp melted butter evenly over the top of the dough. Sprinkle top evenly with brown sugar mixture and spread into an even layer, coming within a 1/2 inch of all edges. Starting on the 16 inch side, snugly roll dough to opposite end. 
Cut rolled dough into 12 equal pieces (I cut it in half first, then halves into halves, then those halves into thirds). Arrange rolls in a buttered 13 x 9 inch baking dish (reshaping flat sides as needed). Cover baking dish with plastic wrap and allow to rise until doubled in size, about 45 minutes. Preheat oven to 350 degrees (I do this during the last 10 minutes of rising) and bake rolls in preheated oven for 22 - 26 minutes until golden. Allow to cool slightly then cut into rolls and frost with Cream Cheese Frosting and sprinkle with optional chopped nuts.

Cream Cheese Frosting

Ingredients:
6 oz. cream cheese, softened
6 Tbsp butter, softened
2 1/4 cups powdered sugar
2 - 3 tsp milk

Directions:
In a large mixing bowl, using an electric and mixer, whip together cream cheese and butter until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add powdered sugar and mix until smooth. Pour in milk and mix until well blended. 

Recipe Source: Cooking Classy

Mom's Navajo Tacos and Indian Fry Bread

I will always love Navajo Tacos. I've eaten them ever since I can remember. My mom makes the best Navajo Tacos ever (Navajo taco topping anyway =). She would cheat a little and use frozen Rhodes Rolls dough for the fry bread portion, which was also delicious but nothing compares to homemade Navajo fry bread. If you want to use frozen roll dough, all you have to do is fully thaw and rise the dough (according to directions on package) then fry it and top with the Navajo taco topping. This recipe I created for the fry bread really is incredibly simple though, you can basically make it in the time it takes just to prepare the roll dough for thawing. 
I decided to use two leavening agents for the fry bread because I wanted the slight flavor yeast gives without having to have it rise for hours, but if you don't have yeast on hand you could just add another teaspoon of baking powder. 
I would highly recommend you make 1 1/2 (or double) the recipe listed so you have left over fry bread to warm and serve with honey butter. I love this meal because you get dinner and an incredible dessert with the left over fry bread.
My mom's recipe uses a few things not found in your traditional Navajo taco filling that I think are excellent improvements, basically musts. Many recipes don't have beans or canned tomatoes or even seasonings. My mom would use taco seasoning but I basically just added my own because I don't buy taco seasoning often. Also, I like to add more traditional Mexican foods like salsa, Mexican hot sauce, cilantro and avocados. 
Another great Navajo Taco filling is left over chili (it doesn't have to be my chili recipe, any good ground beef chili would be great =). Use a slotted spoon when serving it so you don't make the fry bread soggy. If you haven't ever had Navajo Fry Bread (aka Indian Fry Bread) or Navajo tacos, then I'm telling you now is the time to try it! A pillow-y, soft center is encased by a lightly crisp, chewy, perfectly fried and golden exterior then its generously topped with a browned beef, deliciously flavorful taco filling and then it's garnished with more toppings that perfectly compliment and blend all the flavors. It is definitely a satisfying taco. Yum yum YUM! Enjoy!

 Who knows why I can't dollop sour cream in the center, we'll just say I meant to do that =)

 So good with honey or honey butter...

Navajo Tacos
Yields about 8 tacos (adults usually eat 2 and the kids eat 1)

Ingredients:
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 lb lean ground beef
1/2 cup yellow onion, diced
2 cloves garlic finely minced
2 tsp chili powder
1 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp cumin
1 (15 oz) can dark red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
1 (14.5 oz) can petite diced tomatoes, drained 
1 (4 oz) can diced green chilis
salt and pepper, to taste

For serving:
Navajo Fry Bread, recipe follows
Romaine or Iceberg lettuce, chopped
Cheddar or Monterrey Jack cheese (I use a combo of both), grated
Roma tomatoes, diced
sour cream

Other optional toppings I sometimes add:
black olives, sliced
avocados, diced
fresh salsa 
hot sauce (you could add cayenne pepper to the taco filling as well)
cilantro, chopped

Directions:
Heat olive oil in a large non-stick skillet over medium high heat. Once oil is hot, crumble beef into oil, add onions and cook, stirring occasionally and breaking up beef when stirring, until beef has browned and cooked through. Drain fat from beef and return to skillet (my mom doesn't drain the fat, she says it gives it more flavor so you can leave it if you'd like). Stir in garlic, chili powder, paprika, cumin, kidney beans, canned diced tomatoes and green chilis then season mixture with salt and pepper to taste. Simmer, uncovered for 10-15 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, spoon mixture over Navajo Fry bread, then top with lettuce, cheese, tomatoes and sour cream (and any of the other optional toppings listed). Serve immediately.

Navajo Fry Bread
Yields 8 (6 inch) fry breads

Ingredients:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp active dry yeast
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 - 1 cup warm milk (110 degrees)
1 Tbsp butter or shortening, melted
Vegetable oil, for frying (sometimes I use half olive oil)

Directions:
In a mixing bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, yeast and salt. Whisk melted butter into warm milk and pour milk mixture into dry ingredients. Stir until mixture comes together and forms a ball, dough should be slightly sticky and elastic so add an up to an additional 1/4 cup milk as needed. Cover dough with plastic wrap and allow to rest 10 minutes. Heat 1 inch of oil in a large cast iron skillet to 350 - 360 degrees over stove top. Divide rested dough into 12 equal pieces. Working with floured hands and one piece of dough at a time, roll dough out on a lightly floured surface into a 6 inch circle and gently drop into hot oil, and cook until golden brown 1-2 minutes per side (second side will cook faster). Remove from oil and drain onto a plate or baking sheet lined with paper towels. Serve warm with Navajo Taco topping or for dessert, spread with honey butter.

Recipe Source: Cooking Classy

Auntie Anne's Pretzel's Copycat Recipe

Mall pretzels that you can now enjoy in the comfort of your home for a fraction of the price with countless dipping sauce options, yes please! I found this recipe over at one of my favorite food blogs, Yammie's Noshery. It's such a great blog to follow, so if you're not yet following I suggest you do it now =). She takes amazing photos, creates many of her own recipes and she has great taste in food. This recipe she posted is one example of her great taste in food. I mean, who doesn't love a fresh, warm Auntie Anne's pretzel? And with Yammie's homemade garlic cheese sauce you've got a match made in heaven. Save a few for dessert and you can try them with a warm glaze, caramel or chocolate sauce for dunking. How ever you dunk them I recommend you eat them warm, they just aren't the same cool. This Auntie Anne's Pretzels copycat recipe is one you are going to want to try. You get a chewy yet fluffy, perfectly tender, beautifully golden brown pretzel that will have you savoring every last flavorful, salty little bite. Enjoy!

Auntie Anne's Pretzel's Copycat Recipe
Yields 12 pretzels

Ingredients:
2 cups milk (I used 2%)
1 1/2 Tbsp active dry yeast (2 packets)
6 Tbsp packed light-brown sugar
4 Tbsp butter, at room temperature
4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus an up to an additional 1/2 cup as needed
2 tsp fine salt

1/3 cup baking soda
2 cups warm water
coarse salt, to taste
6 Tbsp butter, melted

Dipping sauce for serving, optional*

Directions:
Warm milk in a microwave safe bowl in microwave (or alternately over stove top in a small saucepan) until temperature of milk reaches 110 degrees, about 1 1/2 - 2 minutes on HIGH power. Pour milk along with yeast into the bowl of an electric stand mixer and whisk together until yeast has dissolved, let rest 5 minutes. Add brown sugar, 4 tbsp softened butter, 1 cup flour and 2 tsp fine sea salt to milk mixture and using the whisk attachment, stir until blended. Switch attachment to a dough hook, add remaining 3 1/2 cups flour and kneaded mixture on medium low speed until elastic. Mix in up to an additional 1/2 cup flour, as needed, until dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and allow dough to rise in warm place until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Line two baking sheets with Silpats or parchment paper (alternately you could grease them). Punch dough down several times to release any air pockets. Divide dough into 12 equal pieces (the easiest way to do this is to divide the dough in half, then divide the halves into halves then those and into thirds). Cover divided dough loosely with plastic wrap (just to prevent a dry crust from forming on the outside) and roll each piece out into a long, thin rope about 32 - 36 inches long (I found working on a non-floured to very very lightly floured surface worked best, I began with a lightly floured surface and realized it was much harder to get more stretch, plus it was much faster to roll them out when working on a less-no flour surface). Form dough rope into a pretzel shape. 
In a shallow bowl, whisk together baking soda and warm water then fully immerse pretzel into water mixture and allow excess water to drip off (I ended up shaping most of them into the pretzel shape once placing on the cookie sheet rather then doing it twice, I would just fold the rope into halves several times then immerse in water mixture then shape them on cookie sheet). Place on prepared baking sheet, reshape as needed and sprinkle to taste with coarse salt. Repeat this process with remaining dough. Bake pretzels in preheated oven 7 - 11 minutes until golden brown (note that you will likely only be able to cook 6 at a time among the two baking sheets) Remove from oven and brush top and bottom of pretzels with melted butter. Serve warm with optional dipping sauce. Reheat in microwave or in a warm oven once they've cooled, if desired.

*Dipping sauces I would recommend are Yammie's amazing garlic cheese sauce (click here for the recipe), marinara sauce, or honey mustard. For a sweeter option, try with a warm homemade doughnut glaze, caramel sauce or chocolate sauce. Alternately if you want another dessert option, skip the coarse salt step of the recipe and sprinkle instead with lots of cinnamon sugar.

Recipe Source: adapted from Yammies Noshery and Food Network

Coconut French Toast with Coconut Syrup

Hello Breakfast! Ordinary French toast gets a major upgrade with a few exciting coconut additions. This fluffy french toast is made with creamy coconut milk and then it gets more real coconut flavor from pure coconut extract. Then it's cooked until perfectly golden and drenched with an irresistible, deliciously sweet coconut syrup (which again is full of real coconut flavor from coconut milk and extract) and to finish it's sprinkled with what more but the real thing, shredded sweetened coconut. 
I listed below additional ideas for this french toast which I cannot wait to make in the future. This recipe is definitely going into my breakfast (and dinner) rotation! Enjoy and share!

Coconut French Toast
Yields 10 slices (about 5 servings)


Ingredients:
1/2 cup canned coconut milk, well shaken
1/2 cup milk
5 large eggs
1/2 tsp coconut extract
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
2 Tbsp all-purpose flour
1 Tbsp granulated sugar
1/8 tsp baking powder
1/8 tsp salt
10 1" slices day or two old French Bread
Coconut Syrup, for serving, recipe follows
Sweetened shredded coconut, for serving, optional


Directions:
Preheat a non-stick electric griddle to 350 degrees. In a blender, combine coconut milk, milk, eggs, coconut extract, vanilla extract, flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Blend on low speed about 10 seconds until well blended. Pour mixture into a shallow bowl. Butter preheated griddle and dip bread slices into egg mixture and allow bread several seconds to absorb the mixture (I like to gently squeeze it like a sponge to make sure it gets soaked all the way through) then allow some of the excess to drip off. Cook on buttered griddle until golden on bottom, then lift bread with a spatula and butter griddle again. Then flip french toast to opposite side and cook opposite side until golden brown. Serve warm with coconut syrup and sprinkle with optional sweetened shredded coconut.


So I haven't tried this yet but I need to very soon, this french toast would be excellent if each slice were coated in a combination crushed cornflakes and ground sweetened shredded coconut (after you dip it in the egg mixture) and then cooked on a buttered griddle as directed. And to go one step further you could slice each piece of bread down the center stuff it with bananas with a little bit of brown sugar or crushed pineapple, diced mangoes or diced strawberries with sugar.


Coconut Syrup


Ingredients:
6 Tbsp butter
1 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup canned coconut milk, well shaken
1 pinch salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp coconut extract


Directions:
Melt butter in a medium saucepan. Stir in sugar, coconut milk and salt. Bring mixture just to a gentle boil over medium heat, stirring frequently. Remove from heat and stir in baking soda and coconut extract, whisk mixture for about 10 seconds until frothy. Serve warm. Store in refrigerator up to one week in an airtight container.


Recipe Source: Cooking Classy (adapted slightly from my Buttermilk French Toast and Vanilla Cream Syrup)

Crusty Rustic Bread (it's no knead!)

Everyone reading this, please, you need to make this bread! I'm telling you, this is the best loaf of yeasted bread I have ever made! I've baked many o' things, but funny thing until today I've never made my own loaf of no knead rustic bread. Seriously, why I have not tried it until now I can never tell you! I had no idea that such an incredibly quick and easy recipe could yield such amazing results. It is the perfect loaf of rustic bread, wonderfully crisp and chewy on the outside, while tender and even slightly moist on the inside. I can now officially say I've made a loaf of bread as good as a professional artisan bread baker thanks to the wonderful post over at Simply So Good. I'm so happy I found this recipe (from my countless hours of Pinterest gawking. Seriously I could spend my whole day on there, it's dangerous). Never again will I pay $5 to buy a loaf of rustic bread at the store or bakery. Astoundingly I liked this even better and it had to cost less than .50 cents to make. 
I also can't wait to try many different variations on this simple recipe. Thank you thank you to Simply So Good for posting such an amazing recipe. Head over there for step by step photos, mix in ideas and to browse through the over 1,000 comments posted (when I saw there were over 1,000 comments I knew this recipe had to be good). I hope this recipe becomes a staple in your home too!

Crusty Rustic Bread

Yields 1 loaf

Ingredients:

3 cups all-purpose flour

1 3/4 tsp salt

1/2 tsp active dry yeast

1 1/2 cups warm water (about 110 degrees)

Directions:

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together flour, salt and yeast. Pour in warm water and stir mixture with a wooden spoon until a shaggy ball forms. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and allow to rise for 12 - 18 hours (on the counter at room temperature).

Heat oven to 450 degrees. Once oven has reached 450 degrees, place a cast iron pot covered with lid into preheated oven, heat pot for 30 minutes. 

Meanwhile, turn dough out onto a heavily floured surface then shape dough into a ball. Cover dough with plastic wrap and allow to rest while pot is heating. Remove pot from oven and with floured hands, carefully drop dough into hot pot (you DON'T need to grease the pot) cover with lid, then immediately return pot to oven and bake 30 minutes (at 450 degrees). After 30 minutes, remove lid from pot and bake uncovered for 15 minutes. Remove from oven and allow bread to cool on a cooling rack. Once completely cooled, bread stores well in an open paper bag (it helps the bread maintain it's crisp crust. I wouldn't recommend storing it in an airtight container or ziploc bag).


Update 7/3/11: 
I made a wheat version of this with 1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour, 1 1/2 cups bread flour, 1 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp yeast, 2 Tbsp honey combine with 1 1/2 cups + 1/3 cup warm water and rise and cook according to directions listed. It was delicious!

Recipe Source: adapted from Simply So Good, thank you for such an incredible post!

Banana Bread - The Perfect Loaf

Here is a recipe that is my proud result of many trial and error loaves of banana bread in an effort to achieve the perfect loaf. I've tried many other banana bread recipes and experimented several times to create my own recipe. Let's just say baking is an art, it's quite temperamental the measurements need to right on. It's easier to create a recipe for an entree rather creating a recipe for a baked good. So, after several loaves of experimenting I've finally found the perfect measurements and ingredients to create what I call The Perfect Loaf of Banana Bread. Just how good? Good enough that it doesn't even need a slathering of butter! It's so good I've made it two days in a row. It's amazingly moist, perfectly sweet, slightly rich, loaded with banana flavor and my favorite part - the topping. Be sure not to leave it off or use substitutions. It compliments the banana bread perfectly. I wanted a topping that enhanced the bread, you know made it fancier than your average banana bread =), and this topping does just that. I love how the spice is just on top. Before I made this recipe I would always have to decide if I wanted my banana bread to have a hint of cinnamon flavor or not. Now, I get a bit of cinnamon flavor but not throughout the entire loaf so it doesn't take away from all that amazing banana flavor it just brushes the top of the loaf. I hope this recipe becomes your go to banana bread recipe for all your overripe bananas.

Banana Bread (aka The Perfect Loaf)
Yields 1 loaf


Ingredients:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
6 Tbsp butter, softened
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup packed light-brown sugar
2 eggs, at room temperature
1 3/4 cup mashed well, overripe bananas (about 3 1/2 - 4 bananas, be sure to measure)
1/3 cup sour cream, slightly warm (I warmed mine 20 seconds in the microwave)
1 tsp vanilla extract


Topping:
2 Tbsp Raw Turbinado sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg


Directions:
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. In a mixing bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt, set aside. In a large mixing bowl, using an electric mixer, cream together butter, granulated sugar and brown sugar until pale and fluffy about 3 - 4 minutes. Stir in eggs, one at a time mixing after each addition. Add in mashed bananas, sour cream and vanilla and beat until combine scraping down the sides of the bowl frequently. Add in flour mixture and mix just until combine. Pour mixture into buttered 9 x 5 loaf pan. In a small mixing bowl whisk together raw sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg. Sprinkle mixture evenly over batter in loaf pan. Bake in the center of oven about 1 hour 10 minutes until toothpick inserted into center of loaf comes out clean. Remove from oven and allow to cool 5 minutes before removing to cool on a wire rack (I used a large plate when removing the loaf from the pan. I placed the plate over the top of the loaf then carefully flipped it upside down, then placed the wire rack over it and flipped it again. I don't know if that makes sense in writing =) but it helped keep more of the sugar on the top of the loaf).


Recipe Source: Cooking Classy