Awesome Pizza dough

This recipe comes from a friend of mine who used to own a pizza restaurant.  =)

2 Cups water (110 degrees)
1 1/2 tsp. yeast
1/8 Cup sugar
1 tsp. salt (original recipe is 1/2 tsp)
5 cups flour
1/4 C. oil

Put water into mixing bowl.  Add yeast, salt, and sugar.  (Sometimes I add the salt here, sometimes later to preserve the yeast.)  Let set until yeast is soft.  Add two cups of flour and mix well.  Add remaining flour all at once.  Mix by hand, folding in from the edges.  Dough should be stiff.  Now add the oil.  Mix until all the oil is absorbed.  Cover and let rise, approximately 30 minutes.
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The last time I made pizza, I used the Kitchen Aid with the dough hook for about five minutes because I didn't have time to let it rest in the fridge, and it actually turned out heavenly--couldn't get enough!!

German Pancakes

My family has always loved these pancakes, which puff up in the oven and are buttery and heavenly. =)

6 tablespoons butter
6 eggs
1 cup milk
1 cup flour
1/2 tsp. salt

Heat oven to 375 degrees.  Melt butter in 9X13 inch pan until bubbly.  Mix other ingredients together and pour into bubbly butter.  Bake for 25 minutes and serve with syrup or other pancake topping.

Tonight I made more batter and have added cheese to the big portion for dinner, and will add brown sugar to the other, for a "dessert."  I'll let you know how it goes...

Hermana Smith's No Bake Cookies

A companion from my LDS mission to the Dominican Republic taught me this recipe.  Without ovens (in general) there, this was the perfect treat!  I made them the other day for my kids, and felt good that there are oats and peanut butter in them--every bit of nutrition helps. =)

2 cups sugar
1/2 cup milk
1 cup butter
1/2 teaspoon salt

Stir these ingredients to boil for one minute, then add:

1 cup peanut butter
1 tsp. vanilla
3 cups instant oats
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

Scoop out onto cookie sheets and cool.  (I did this with parchment in the freezer and fridge--worked well.)  YUM!!

Thanks Hna. Smith!!!

Christmas Breakfast Casserole

This was served at our ward (LDS church) Christmas breakfast.  Pretty good, especially when my husband cooks!

Grease a 9X13 pan.  Add a layer of frozen hashbrowns and drizzle 3 tablespoons of melted butter.  Bake at 425 for 25 minutes or until golden brown.  (Can be done the night before.)

Mix in a separate bowl 12 eggs, breakfast meat of choice, and 2 cups grated cheese and pour over hashbrowns.  Bake at 350 for 30-40 minutes.

It was good, but I know my husband added salt, pepper, and garlic, and a layer of cheese on the top.  He also precooked the cubed ham to caramelize them.  YUM.

Best Brownies

1/2 cup butter
1/3 cup cocoa
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup all purpose flour
1/4 tsp. salt
optional 1/2 cups nuts  (I prefer chocolate chips myself!)

Preheat oven to 350.  Grease 8x8x2 inch pan.  In a medium saucepan, melt butter over low heat.  Remove and add cocoa and stir well.  Add sugar.  Add eggs one at a time.  Stir in vanilla, flour and salt.  Do not over-beat.  Add nuts (chips!) and spread in a prepared pan.  Bake 25 to 30 minutes.  Frost as desired.

LOVE this brownie recipe!!  Delish, even without the frosting.  A light layer of sifted powdered sugar is a good topper as well. ;)

Bran Muffins (or Raisin bran)

Ok, so I tried this recipe with regular bran flakes and it was DELISH!!
So today I will try it with actual raisin bran, even though my kids don't like raisins--will they give in and eat the muffins anyway (last time they were a hit!) or will they pick out the raisins??  Time will tell...

RAISIN BRAN MUFFINS
4 cups raisin bran
2 cups milk
1/2 cup oil
2 eggs
2 cups flour
1/2 cup sugar
2 tablespoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
Add milk to flakes to soften; add oil and eggs.  Blend well.  In a separate bowl, mix the rest of the ingredients well, and then mix with flake mixture.  Distribute into greased (I use butter Crisco spray) muffin tins using a heaping tablespoon-sized cookie scoop.  Bake at 400 degrees about 16 minutes.  Makes about 24.

PS: They picked out the raisins! =(  What kid doesn't like raisins??  Oh, well, back to the regular bran.  I'd also like to try "Total" cereal.