Shepherd's Pie

Shepherd's Pie

 Shepherd's Pie

Ingredients:

4 Cups cooked shredded or ground beef, turkey, or chicken

1 Cup baby carrots sliced

1 Cup frozen English peas

2 Cups broth

2 Tablespoons butter 

2 Tablespoons all purpose flour

2 garlic cloves minced

1 medium onion chopped

Mashed Potatoes (goes on top)

Cheese (goes on top potatoes)

Paprika for garnish**

With stove on medium high heat, place butter in medium sauce pan. When butter has melted, add flour. Add salt, pepper, garlic, onions. Cook 2 minutes stirring constantly. Slowly pour in broth while constantly whisking. Combine flour mixture and broth thoroughly. Taste for seasoning, Add carrots. Cook until carrots start to become tender and  mixture starts to boil and thicken.Add meat and peas. Pour into 9x9 pan.

Top with mashed potatoes, cheese, and paprika if desired.

** Smoke paprika is delicious in this dish.

Strawberry Pie

 

Strawberry Pie

Easy Strawberry Pie

On stove top:

In medium sauce pan, Boil for 5 minutes: 

1 cup whole strawberries and 3/4 cup water. Remove from heat. 

Mash the berries. Pour mashed berries through a strainer. 

Measure 1 cup strawberry juice. Pour juice into pan. (Use same saucepan)

Add 3 Tablespoons corn starch. 

1 Tablespoon fresh lemon juice

1/4 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup sugar. Whisk together.

Place saucepan on medium heat. Whisking constantly. Bring mixture to boil for 3 to 5 minutes until mixture is clear. The mixture is cloudy at first. Remove from heat. Add 2 cups of whole or sliced strawberries. Pour into your favorite pie crust. Serve with whipped cream.

 

Easy Tzatziki Sauce

Easy Tzatziki Sauce  

1/2 English cucumber finely grated, strained

1 1/2 cups plain Greek yogurt

1 to 2 clove garlic finely grated

2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

1/8 teaspoon fresh ground pepper

2 Tablespoons fresh dill (1Tablespoon dried dill)

Combine all ingredients in a medium size bowl. Serve immediately or chill before serving. Serve with homemade pita chips (recipe in this blog under All In One Bread Recipe).

All in One Bread Recipe use for Pita Bread, Pizza Crust, Dinner Rolls

Clover Rolls

Pita Bread

Pizza Crust

 

 

 

 

Preheat oven 500 F. Place rack on lowest part of the oven.

 

2 1/4 cups (386 grams) all purpose flour

1 packet rapid rise or instant yeast

2 T oil

1 cup warm tap water

2 teaspoons  sugar 

1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt

Use stand mixer with dough hook. Place all ingredients in the bowl. Mix on low. Once ingredients are combined: knead the dough for 5 minutes using the mixer. If kneading by hand, knead for 10 minutes.

Place dough in an oiled bowl. Cover with clean towel. Let rise for 60  minutes until doubled in size. Punch dough. For Pita Bread: Place dough on oiled surface. Cover with bowl and let rest for 10 minutes. Cut dough in half then cut each half in 4 sections. Roll out to 5 inch disk. Place on parchment lined cookie sheet. Let rest for 15 minutes. Bake for 5 to 7 minutes. Bread should rise and puff. Remove from oven. Cut into half for pita pockets or triangles for soft chips. Separate triangles and bake for 2 minutes @ 500 F for crispy chips. Serve with Tzatziki Sauce (recipe in this blog).

*This recipe converts easily to pizza crust and dinner rolls. For pizza crust, punch dough, cut into half, rest for 10 minutes. Roll dough into desired shape for pizza or use small ice cream scoop to make clover rolls as pictured above.

Chocolate Waffles

Chocolate Waffles

1 1/2 cups self rising flour (if using all purpose flour add 1/4 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon baking powder, 1 teaspoon baking soda)

1/2 cup cocoa powder

2 Tablespoons  sugar

1 large egg

3/4 cup half and half (any milk)*

2 teaspoons vanilla

 

Mix together in large bowl. Mixture will be slightly lumpy. 

Prepare waffle iron and cook waffles per manufactures instructions..Enjoy!

*Half and half makes the waffles fluffy on in the inside and crispy on the outside.

Tip: Want more chocolate? Add 1/4 cup chocolate chips. 

Go crazy add your favorite nuts. Top with slices of bananas and/or strawberries.

**Bonus Recipe: For pancakes pour an additional 1/4 cup half and half.

Best Cinnamon Rolls

Large Rolls

Small Rolls

Best Cinnamon Rolls

 

4 to 4 ½ cups all-purpose flour

1 package active dry yeast

1 cup milk

1/3 cup sugar

1/3 cup butter

1 teaspoon Kosher salt

2 large eggs

 

In a medium sauce pan, add milk, sugar, butter and heat to 115 F over low heat or until butter is melted. Stir constantly.

In a large bowl (stand mixer with dough hook) add 2 cups flour, salt and yeast, stir. Stir in milk mixture. Add eggs. Thoroughly mix. With mixer on high, add rest of flour ½ cup at a time. Knead: Mixer with dough hook knead 3 minutes. Knead by hand 6 minutes. Butter a large glass bowl. Add the dough. Turn the dough once. Cover with clean towel. Let rise for 1 hour.

Punch dough. Invert the bowl over the dough. Let rest for 10 minutes. 

Roll out dough to 9x13 rectangle.

Spread the dough with soft butter. Sprinkle cinnamon mixture over the dough.

For large cinnamon rolls, roll the dough from the wide side.

For smaller cinnamon rolls, cut the dough in half and roll the dough from the long side.

Roll dough tightly. Pinch the seams together. Cut using a serrated knife. Place in a buttered baking dish.

Cover and let rise for 1 hour.

Bake 375 F for 20 -30 minutes.

Enjoy or drizzle with icing**.

*Cinnamon mixture:  Stir together: ½ cup sugar and 2 teaspoons cinnamon

**Icing: 1 cup confectioner’s sugar, 1 Tablespoon milk, ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

 

Quick Southern Biscuits

Preheat Oven to 375 F

2 Cups Self Rising Flour

2 Tablespoons Baking Powder (makes a lighter biscuit)

1 Tablespoon sugar (optional)

2 Tablespoons plain Greek yogurt (replaces the butter)

3/4 Cups evaporated milk (makes the biscuit taste buttery)

 

In a large bowl:  whisk together the dry ingredients, then stir in yogurt and milk. Turn the dough onto a floured surface. Knead the dough 7 to 10 times (more than 10 times and the biscuit will be tough). Roll or pat the dough to 1/4". Cut the dough using a biscuit cutter, butter knife, or glass. Place biscuits on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for 10 - 12 minutes. Remember oven temperatures vary. Check for doneness. Also if using a dark colored pan, drop the temperature 25 degrees. Makes 10 biscuits. Enjoy.

 

 

5 alarm chili

5 Alarm Chili with Beans

In a large dutch oven:

Cook 1 lb ground meat (drain the fat)

Sautèe:

2 - 4 garlic cloves minced

1 large onion minced

 

After the onions become translucent Add:

1 Tablespoon Better Than Beef Bouillon

The Break Down Cafè chili seasoning* or your own

1 7.76 can oz (220 grams) Chipotle Adobo sauce

2 15.5 oz cans (439 grams)  Kidney and Pinto Chili Beans (do not drain)

1 can Rotel Tomatoes (do not drain)

4 cans water (use the bean can)

 

Bring to boil. Reduce heat to simmer for 30 minutes. Stir occasionally. Serve with shredded cheese and crackers. 

* Chili seasoning recipe is in this blog.

 

 

Enchilada Bake

 Baked Enchilada

Ingredients:

                     1 pkg Corn Tortilla Street Taco* 

                     1 large can red enchilada sauce

                     1 small can green diced chiles

                     2 cups shredded cheese vegan or dairy

                     1 lb cooked ground meat in taco seasoning or vegan substitute

                    

 Preheat oven 350° F

 

In a loaf pan (for larger families use 13 x 9 pan might take the whole package of corn tortillas) pour 2 Tbls of red enchilada sauce in bottom of pan (double if using 13 x 9 pan). On top of the sauce layer, place tortillas, ground meat, chiles, sauce, and cheese. Alternate layers until all ingredients are used. Place baking dish on foil lined baking sheet before placing in oven to prevent boil over spills. Bake for 45 to 60 minutes until bubbly and cheese is brown. Enjoy!

* Can use Regular Size Corn Tortillas or flour tortillas

** Make your own mix using the taco seasoning located in thebreakdowncafe blog

Fluffy Buttermilk Pancakes

 Fluffy Buttermilk Pancakes

Ingredients:

1 Cup Self-rising flour (130 g)

1 large egg beaten

1 Cup Buttermilk  (120 ml)

1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract (15 ml)

1 Tablespoon melted butter (15 ml) *

*Need extra butter to prepare skillet or griddle*

Here's how we make fluffy pancakes:

In a medium size bowl, whisk flour. Add liquid ingredients. Stir until just combined with a fork.

On medium low to medium high heat: Prepare a non stick skillet or griddle with butter. When butter has melted, pour 1/4 cup batter into skillet or on griddle. Wait for bubbles to form in middle of pancake before flipping (See picture). Serve with berries, whipped cream, powdered sugar, or warm maple syrup. Enjoy.

Easy Homemade Hot Chocolate

Easy Homemade Hot Chocolate

S'mores Hot Chocolate

 Ingredients: 1 cup half & half (any milk including vegan milk)

                     1/2 cup chocolate chips*

                     1 tsp vanilla extract (optional)

                     Marshmallows (optional)

Place milk and chocolate in a large sauce pan on stove with heat on medium low. Stir constantly to prevent scorching. When chocolate is melted and the mixture comes to a boil, remove from heat and add vanilla. Pour into your favorite mug add marshmallows or not. Serves one. Enjoy!

Traditional Hot Chocolate

Tip: Try this with white chocolate chips and use 1/2 tsp almond extract. Yummy. 

* 4.4 ounces Chocolate bar

** Roasted marshmallows with graham crackers crumbled on top makes a s'mores hot chocolate. Delicious.

***For an extra chocolate flavor, add 1 tablespoon of cocoa powder per mug

Sweet Potato Pie

Sweet Potato Pie Filling*

 

 

2 Eggs slightly beaten

2 Cups Warm Sweet Potato Puree

3/4 cup milk (any milk will do but evaporated milk works best)

2 Tbls Butter (melted or let the warmth from the potatoes melt the butter)

1 Tbls Vanilla Extract

1 Tbls Cinnamon

3/4 Cup Brown Sugar (Packed)

 

Add butter to warm sweet potato puree, this will help the butter melt. Then simply combine all ingredients and pour into favorite pie crust. And bake at 350° F for 45- 60 minutes until knife inserted in center of pie comes out clean.

 

Bonus*Additional recipe. For sweet potato casserole, add 1 cup pecan pieces and bake for 35 – 40 minutes at 350° F. Then remove and add marshmallows. Bake until marshmallows are brown approximately 10 minutes.