100% Whole Wheat Apple Bread

So, yummy, so healthy, so good!


INGREDIENTS

3 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1/3 cup milk, dairy or otherwise
2 Tbs. honey
1 cup warm water
1 1/4 teaspoons salt
1/4 cup applesauce
3 tsp. dry yeast

DIRECTIONS

In the bread machine pan, place all ingredients in the order suggested by the manufacturer. Set your machine on "dough" cycle. When cycle is done, take the dough out of the machine form into a loaf, you might need more flour to make the dough handle well.

Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes, take it out and tent with foil to prevent over-browning, bake for 20-25 minutes. Let cool before slicing.

Turkey Meatloaf

I decided to get inventive today and use a bunch of ingredients that had been sitting forever in my freezer or pantry... What better way to use up a bunch of ingredients than to make a meatloaf!? I didn't have any hamburger... it is something I try to avoid most of the time because of the fat content... but I did have ground turkey! I had croutons, which I normally use in my meatloaves, but I wondered how it might turn out if I used slightly undercooked rice instead... then I looked for other fillers and veggies... VOILA, a new recipe is born!


INGREDIENTS

1 lb. ground turkey
1/2 cup minced fresh, frozen onions
1/2 cup dry brown rice
1 cup sliced fresh, frozen mushrooms
poultry seasoning
Mediterranean seasoning
2 tbs. mashed potato flakes
barbecue sauce
bell pepper strips (steamed)


DIRECTIONS

Combine rice and seasonings in a rice cooker with 1 1/2 cups water. Place bell pepper strips in the steamer basket on top, and turn on the rice cooker. Thaw the turkey, if it is frozen and combine it with the onions and mushrooms. When the rice is done, combine it with the meat, then add the potato flakes.

Mash it down into a 3x9 inch loaf pan. Top with the barbecue sauce and bake at 400 degrees till done. Top with bell peppers before serving, heat if necessary.

Inaugural Luncheon

As you know, this is a food blog, and in honor of the Inauguration of the 44th President of the United States of America, I am writing about the Inaugural Luncheon. You can find the recipes in PDF format at the Inauguration Website.

The Menu:

First Course
Seafood Stew
paired with
Duckhorn Vinyards
2007 Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley

Second Course
A Brace of American Birds (Pheasant and Duck),
served with Sour Cherry Chutney and
Molasses Sweet Potatoes
paired with
Goldeneye
2005 Pinot Noir, Anderson Valley

Third Course
Apple Cinnamon Sponge Cake and Sweet Cream Glace
paired with
Korbel Natural "Special Inaugural Cuvee"
California Champagne

Sounds delicious! Well, except for the duck... I have never cared for duck, myself. It was interesting to note that the first Inaugural Luncheon was a more "Thanksgiving style" meal, comprised of South Carolina turkey, Smithfield Ham, potato salad, and pumpkin pie. The meal has since become quite gormet!

I hope you enjoy looking at the menu, and maybe even try a recipe or two!

Tuna Supreme Melts

I love these tuna melt sandwiches... it just doesn't get any better!


You will need day-old bread to make this recipe... Because of it's flavor, I make a loaf of my V-8 Juice Bread and let it sit overnight before slicing, but you could buy day old bread or make any other variety of bread you prefer. You need slices that are fairly thick.

I also make my own mayonnaise, it tastes better than anything you can buy... I use this mayonnaise recipe for a greater depth to my tuna salad.

INGREDIENTS

Thick sliced, day-old bread
Thinly sliced Roma Tomatoes
2 regular tins of Tuna
Sweet Pickle Relish, to taste
1 teaspoon Lime Juice
1 teaspoon Dried Minced Onion
Mayonnaise to taste
Cheese of your choice
cooking spray

DIRECTIONS

Combine tuna, relish, lime juice, and onion. After combining well, add just enough mayonnaise to pull it all together... you don't want too much mayonnaise or you will end up with soggy sandwiches.

Spray a skillet with cooking spray and heat to high. Place a slice of bread in pan, top with tomato and tuna salad. Cook till the bread is well toasted. Place cheese on top of tuna salad and top with final piece of bread. CAREFULLY flip the sandwich over in the pan, place a saucer on top of the sandwich to press it down well and cook till the bread is well toasted.

Serve.

Southwest's Best Flavors

I love Southwestern American Cuisine almost as much as I love Italian food! Try this scrumptious blend of flavors wrapped in a lettuce leaf, stuffed in a cored tomato, on a bed of tortilla chips... I am allergic to avocado, but I can imagine that this recipe would go really well with guacamole or sliced avocado... the variety is nearly endless!

Start by making [Emeril's Southwest Seasoning]. The recipe makes 1/2 cup of the seasoning, and I find all sorts of uses for it. It is absolutely essential for the following recipe. Store the remaining seasoning blend in a used seasoning jar.

Next, soak 1/2 pound of dry black beans overnight. Cook the beans according to the package instructions, then cool them in the refrigerator... they need to be cold for the recipe. You could use a can or two of black beans, but I find them to be too squishy for this particular recipe. I also recommend using fresh or frozen vegetables rather than canned where it calls for it in the recipe, as this is meant to be a crisp blend of flavors.

Without further ado...

INGREDIENTS

Black beans (already prepared)
2 cups Corn (thawed, if using frozen)
1 cup diced mild chiles of your choice
1/4 cup minced onion
2 Large tomatoes, chopped
1/4 cup Emeril's Southwest Seasoning blend (already prepared)
2 Tbs. Lime juice

DIRECTIONS

Combine all ingredients well, being careful not to mash them. Chill at least one hour before serving. I have served this recipe in many ways, some I listed above. Use your imagination!

Bread Machine Nutty Fruit Bread

I have no words...




INGREDIENTS

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2/3 cup Sugar/Honey/Agave (you get the idea)
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup olive oil
2 extra-large eggs, lightly beaten
1/4 cup sour cream or plain or vanilla yogurt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2/3 cup mashed banana/strawberries/peaches/pears/blueberries (you get the idea)
1/3 cup finely chopped nuts of your choice

DIRECTIONS

1. In the bread machine pan, place all ingredients (except the fruit and nuts) in the order suggested by the manufacturer.

2. Use the 'sweet' bread setting and 'light' crust color, for 1 1/2 lb loaf.

3. When the machine beeps during the kneading cycle, add the fruit and nuts. Make sure your bread machine gets it all mixed in. If it doesn't by the time the rising cycle starts, stop your machine!!!!

Now you have two options:

1. Turn the machine on the "express bake" function. This should kneed the bread briefly and then rise and bake it. PLEASE, if you have to do this WATCH IT CLOSELY to prevent a burnt loaf! The "express bake" function bakes at a different temperature than the sweet bread function. You will probably have to remove the loaf before the baking cycle ends if you have to use the "express bake" function. If you remove it too early, you will have an undercooked loaf.

2. (MY PREFERRED METHOD) Break out your loaf baking pan and finish kneeding the dough by hand, this will require extra flour. Bake in a oven preheated to 325 degrees for 1 hour and 15 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

I have only had the machine not mix well twice in all the times I have made this bread. Both times was when I used blueberries. But sure does make a pretty (and tasty) loaf!