Homemade English Muffins

• I **LOVE** english muffins for breakfast.  With the prices continuing to be on the rise and to pay $3 or more for a pack of six; I've taken matters into my own hands.  I found a recipe on Allrecipes.com (click the link for original recipe) but I adapted to work for me. :-)

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Warm the 1 cup milk in a small saucepan until it bubbles, then remove from heat. Be careful not to boil.  I tested it with the finger test (clean finger...almost too hot to put finger in it)

 Mix in the 2 Tablespoons sugar, stirring until dissolved. Let cool until lukewarm. 

In a small bowl, dissolve 1 packet (2 1/4 tsp) yeast in warm water with a pinch of sugar. Let stand until creamy, about 10 minutes.

In a large bowl, combine the milk, yeast mixture,melted butter and 3 cups flour. Beat until smooth.

 Add salt and rest of flour, or enough to make a soft dough. I only had to add an additional 2 cups.  The orginial added 3 cups.  The dough should be soft and pliable but not sticky. Knead. Place in greased bowl, cover, and let rise about 1 hour.

Punch down. Roll out to about 1/2 inch thick. Cut rounds with biscuit cutter, or drinking glass. I used a cookie cutter that was about 2 1/2 inches in diameter.  Sprinkle waxed paper with cornmeal and set the rounds on this to rise. Dust tops of muffins with cornmeal also. Cover and let rise 1/2 hour.

Heat greased griddle. Cook muffins on griddle about 10 minutes on each side on medium heat. Keep baked muffins in a warm oven until all have been cooked. I put the muffins in for about 15 minutes at 200 to finish cooking on the inside!

Allow to cool and place in plastic bags for storage. 

Homemade English Muffins makes approximately 12 (depends on size of muffin)

• Ingredients you'll need
• 1 cup milk
• 2 tablespoons white sugar
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• 1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast
• 1 cup warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
• pinch of sugar
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• 1/4 cup melted butter (cooled)
• 3 cups bread flour
• 2 cups of whole wheat flour (I used King Arthur)
• 1 teaspoon salt
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• In a small bowl, dissolve 1 packet (2 1/4 tsp) yeast in warm water with a pinch of sugar. Let stand until creamy, about 10 minutes.
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• In a large bowl, combine the milk, yeast mixture,melted butter and 3 cups flour. Beat until smooth. Add salt and rest of flour, or enough to make a soft dough. I only had to add an additional 2 cups.  The orginial added 3 cups.  The dough should be soft and pliable but not sticky. Knead. Place in greased bowl, cover, and let rise about 1 hour.
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• Punch down. Roll out to about 1/2 inch thick. Cut rounds with biscuit cutter, or drinking glass, I used one that was about 2 1/2 inches in diameter.  Sprinkle waxed paper with cornmeal and set the rounds on this to rise. Dust tops of muffins with cornmeal also. Cover and let rise 1/2 hour.
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• Heat greased griddle. Cook muffins on griddle about 10 minutes on each side on medium heat. Keep baked muffins in a warm oven until all have been cooked. I put the muffins in for about 15 minutes at 200 to finish cooking on the inside!
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• Allow to cool and place in plastic bags for storage. 
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• Enjoy with butter, jam, cream cheese, slice of cheese, peanut butter.
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• Excuse me?? Do you know the muffin momma??  
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triple chocolate chip cookies!!

INGREDIENTS:
1 cup flour

• • 1 pkg (4 serving box) white chocolate instant pudding (you could use any flavor)
  • 1/2 cup butter (1 stick) softened
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
• 1 cup milk chocolate chips - you can use white, butterscotch, peanut butter - it just wouldn't be triple chocolate :-)

PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER:

Preheat oven to 350° F. 

• Combine flour, pudding mix, salt in small bowl. Set aside. 
• Beat butter in large mixing bowl on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. 
• Beat in brown sugar and baking soda until well combined.
• Beat in eggs and vanilla extract
• Gradually beat in flour mixture. 
• Stir in chocolate chips. 

Drop cookie dough by rounded teaspoon onto ungreased baking sheets about 2 inches apart 

Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until set. 

Cool on baking sheets 2 to 3 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely. 

Caramel Macchiato Ice Cream

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• Ingredients that you'll need
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• 1 cup milk
• 2 tablespoons instant coffee granules
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 pinch salt
• 2 cups heavy cream
• 3/4 cup caramel dessert sauce

Directions

1. Whisk together milk, instant coffee granules, sugar, and salt in a large bowl until sugar is dissolved. Stir in the heavy cream, then cover and refrigerate until chilled, at least 2 hours.
2. Pour the chilled mixture into an ice cream maker and freeze according to manufacturer's directions until it reaches "soft-serve" consistency. Transfer half of the ice cream to a one- or two-quart lidded plastic container. Pour half of the caramel sauce over the top, then repeat the layers with the remaining ice cream and caramel. Swirl the caramel into the ice cream using a chopstick or knife. Cover surface with plastic wrap and seal. For best results, ice cream should ripen in the freezer for at least 2 hours or overnight.

The Ice Cream Maker that I have a Deni Ice Cream Maker with Candy Crusher.  

Found these for year round fresh herbs, tomatoes and lots more!

http://store.earthbox.com/Green-EarthBox-Ready-to-Grow-Kit/productinfo/1010065/

Hot buttered rum cake

1 box devils food cake mix and all items to make cake
When adding the water..add a packet of Hills Bros. Hot buttered rum packet...add 2 tablespoons of instant coffee and bake as directed. ENJOY!!

Mandy's Crockpot Chicken Pot Pie

1 can of refrigerated biscuits
4 chicken breasts cut into bite sized pieces
3 medium potatoes, diced
3 carrots, diced
2 stalks of celery,  diced
1 medium onion, chopped
1 bottle light ale beer (I used Sam Adams blackberry weitbeer)
Enough water to cover everything
Season to taste with salt, and pepper and herbs
Cook on high in crockpot for about 3 hours.
With about 15 minutes left, cut biscuits into quarters and bake for 14 minutes at 375°.
While waiting..remove about 1 cup of hot liquid and with a fork, add flour a little bit at a time, until thickened. Add back into pot and mix carefully until whole pot is thickened.
Put biscuits in individual bowls and spoon mixture over them. ENJOY!!!