Almond Poppyseed Bread

This is from my "Our Best Bites" cookbook. Its SOO good! We ate both loaves in like 3 days!

Almond Poppyseed Bread
3 c. all-purpose flour
2 1/2 c. sugar
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
1 1/3 c. canola oil
3 eggs
1 1/2 c. milk
1 1/2 tb. poppy seeds
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 1/2 tsp. almond flavoring

GLAZE
3/4 c. white powdered sugar
1/4 c. orange juice
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. almond flavoring

Preheat oven to 350.
Mix dry ingridients, then add, wet ingredients and poppyseeds. Beat for 1 minute. Pour into prepared pans (5 mini pans or 2 regular loaf pans) and bake (60-40 minutes for mini pans, 50-60 min for large pans; keep an eye on them). When done, place on a cooling rack for 10 minutes

Cinnamon Swirl Bread

I am not much of a bread baker. I don't really like doing it. It takes too long and is very easy to mess up. BUT when I found this recipe, I knew I had to try it! It turned out perfectly both times I have made it this week. Thanks Pioneer Woman! (Her pictures are always the best.)

• 1 cup Milk
• 6 Tablespoons Butter
• 2-½ teaspoons Active Dry Yeast
• 2 whole Eggs
• ⅓ cups Sugar
• 3-½ cups All-purpose Flour
• 1 teaspoon Salt
• ⅓ cups Sugar
• 2 Tablespoons Cinnamon
• Egg And Milk, Mixed Together, For Brushing
• Softened Butter, For Smearing And Greasing

Preparation Instructions

Melt butter with milk. Heat until very warm, but don’t boil. Allow to cool until still warm to the touch, but not hot. Sprinkle yeast over the top, stir gently, and allow to sit for 10 minutes.

Combine flour and salt.

In the bowl of an electric mixer, mix sugar and eggs with the paddle attachment until combined. Pour in milk/butter/yeast mixture and stir to combine. Add half the flour and beat on medium speed until combined. Add the other half and beat until combined.

Switch to the dough hook attachment and beat/knead dough on medium speed for ten minutes. If dough is overly sticky, add 1/4 cup flour and beat again for 5 minutes.

Heat a metal or glass mixing bowl so it’s warm. Drizzle in a little canola oil, then toss the dough in the oil to coat. Cover bowl in plastic wrap and set it in a warm, hospitable place for at least 2 hours.

Turn dough out onto the work surface. Roll into a neat rectangle no wider than the loaf pan you’re going to use, and about 18 to 24 inches long. Smear with 2 tablespoons melted butter. Mix sugar and cinnamon together, then sprinkle evenly over the butter-smeared dough. Starting at the far end, roll dough toward you, keeping it tight and contained. Pinch seam to seal.

Smear loaf pan with softened butter. (I used butter flavored shortening.) Place dough, seam down, in the pan. Cover with plastic wrap and allow to rise for 2 hours.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Mix a little egg with milk, and smear over the top. (I skipped this part) Bake for 40 minutes on a middle/lower rack in the oven.

Remove from the pan and allow bread to cool. Slice and serve, or make cinnamon toast or French toast with it.

* It makes only one loaf, but it is huge. So the second time I made it, I split the dough in half and did 2 mini loaf pans and 1 regular size. The minis turned out great, the single loaf was still good, just not as tall.

Homemade Enchilada Sauce

Okay, I'm not a super huge enchilada person. I like them once in a while, mainly when its really cold outside. Then I found this recipe. AMAZING! I'm not sure where I got it, but it is so good. I will never use canned again.

3 TBSP oil
2 TBSP flour
1/4 cup chili powder
1 TBSP cumin
~Combine in large pot over medium heat, whisking until bubbly. Add:
2 cups beef broth
2 cups tomato sauce
1/2 tsp oregano
1 clove minced garlic
Salt to your liking

Simmer on low for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Use in place of canned enchilada sauce. I didn't do the whole 1/4 cup of chili powder and it still had good flavor. Its not a hot or spicy sauce, just a warm heat. Seriously, its so good. :)

(I do the tomato sauce first, and then add some beef broth to the empty can and swish it around to get all the leftover sauce on the sides and bottom.)

This would be good with your Imitation Cafe Rio or with my Cafe Rio Pork Burritos.

I had some shredded pork in the crock pot the other night, wasn't sure what to do with it, so I whipped up this sauce and instead of making and baking the enchiladas (takes forever!) I just did it the quick way!

In Order:
Tortilla
Meat
Smother in sauce
Cheese
Rolled it up
Smothered in more sauce and cheese
Shredded Lettuce
Pico de Gallo and Voila! Super easy and super yummy!!!
*You could always add beans and rice as part of the filling too.