DAY 57 RECIPE: BRAIDED BREAD

Well, today I made some very delicious bread. It is NOT a quick task. Well worth the wait though! If you have some extra time or really want some wonderful smelling amazingly delicious bread, give this a try!

DAY 57 RECIPE:

BRAIDED BREAD

INGREDIENTS:
PART 1
1 Cup Lukewarm water
2 Tbsp Sugar
4.5 Tsp Yeast
PART 2
2 Cups Lukewarm Milk
2 Eggs
4 Tbsp Butter, melted
1 Tsp Salt
3 Cups Flour

PART 3

4 to 5 Cups Flour
2 Tbsp Oil
PART 4
1 Egg
1 Tbsp Water

DIRECTIONS:

PART 1
In a small bowl, dissolve sugar in water. sprinkle yeast over top. Cover and let sit for 10 minutes.
PART 2
In a large bowl, whisk eggs. add butter, mix.
Mix in yeast mixture, then milk. Now mix in flour and salt. Cover and let sit in a warm place for 1 hour.
PART 3
With a wooden spoon, mix in 3 more cups of flour. Now, knead the remaining flour in. Continue to knead until dough is smooth. Form a ball with dough. Pour oil around the sides of the bowl. Roll dough ball around in the oil until it is all lightly coated. Cover and let rise 1 more hour.
PART 4
Punch down dough. Separate dough into 3 equal sized balls. Of each of those balls, make three more. You should have a total of 9 little balls. Make each of these balls into a worm like rope about 10-12 inches long.
Take three worms, braid them together, starting from the middle, and tucking the ends under. Repeat two more times, to use up all the worms.
Lay each braid of worms onto a butter sheet pan.
To make this bread extra nice, let the worm braids rise for up to another hour before baking.
Prepare egg wash by whisking together egg and water.
When they are fully risen, Brush the tops with egg wash bake at 375 degrees for 35 to 45 minutes.

SHOOTING FOR THE STARS: OPRAH!!!!!

Hello there folks! I really wanted to thank all of you who stop by and check out my blog! I am having a really fun time sharing! I have had a goal in my head for awhile now. Two actually. Now it seems, these goals of mine are being broken down into smaller goals, all in order to achieve the big ones!
Being that you readers are all wonderful and amazing people, I know that you would all be willing to help me out!
This blog was actually started as a way to record all of my recipes, so I can make them into a keepsake type book for my kids. My goal has become to make/write my book and get it published. (Big goal number 1). My second big goal is to get a copy of this book to Oprah, and have her invite me on her show before she retires!(Big goal number 2).
So, I am calling to all my favourite people to help me in my endeavor! Pass the word around, get your friends, family and co workers to come check out the blog!I am trying to get even more fabulous readers here on my blog. The more the merrier right?  More followers+more visitors=more success on the blog= a better chance of getting a book deal/Oprah!
Thanks for doing such a great favour for me everyone!
I would also invite and greatfully welcome any comments with tips or advice on getting the word out there!
A million thanks and all my gratitude!
I will keep everyone up to date on my goals!
This weeks goal: get my blog hits up to 3000!

DAY 56 RECIPE: SUPER CHEESE CHEESBURGERS

Love Love Love Burgers! So versatile, so easy. And I love Love Love Cheese, so these are awesome! Cheesey pockets all through, tasty and amazing! Enjoy!
DAY 56 RECIPE:

SUPER CHEESE CHEESEBURGERS


INGREDIENTS:
PATTIES:
1 LB Lean Ground Beef
1 Egg, slightly beaten
1/2 Cup Cubed Cheddar Cheese
2 Tsp Thyme
1 Tsp Ketchup
1 Tsp Mustard
1/4 Tsp Nutmeg
1 Tsp Worcestershire Sauce
1 Tsp Salt
1/2 Tsp Pepper
1/2 Cup Fine Bread Crumbs
EXTRAS:
4 Buns, of your choice
4 Square Slices Cheddar Cheese (sandwich size)
Onions slices, tomato slices, Lettuce, Bacon, Mushrooms, condiments, etc. etc. Whatever kind of burger toppings you like:)

DIRECTIONS:
In a bowl combine all patty ingredients together. Mix together with your hands; just until everything comes together nicely. Over mixing makes for tough burgers.
Shape into 4 equal sized burger patties. About an 1/2 to 3/4 inch thick.
NOW, you can cook them either by grill or frying pan. Either way, make sure your grill or fry pan is at a medium heat, and then put the patty on. Cook about 6 minutes per side.
For the last minute or so of cooking, put the cheese SLICES on top so they have time to nicely melt.
When the patties are done cooking and the cheese is melted, slide them on to your bun and top as you like:)

DAY 55 RECIPE: SWEET AND SOUR PORK

A good way to use leftovers! I ade a pork roast the other night, had a decent amount leftover and thought I could try to make something aside from sandwiches with it. So I made this sweet and sour pork. Super easy prep. Takes a bit of cooking time, but not much effort! Can always be made with other kinds of pork, even if it is not cooked yet , you can cut it into strip and just extend the initial saute time a bit.
Hope you enjoy this! I think next time I make chow mein I will make this as a side dish!  Enjoy!
DAY 55 RECIPE:

SWEET AND SOUR PORK


INGREDIENTS:
1 Tbsp Vegetable Oil
4 Cups Strips or chucks of cooked Pork (leftover pork roast or chops, loins, etc. No bones)
3 Tbsp Pineapple Juice
1/2 Cup Water
2 Tbsp Vinegar
2 Tsp Soy Sauce
3 Tbsp Brown Sugar
1/4 tsp Salt
1/2 Tsp Garlic Powder

1/2 Onion, thinly sliced
1 Small Green Pepper, thinly sliced.

2 Tbsp Corn Starch
2 Tbsp Water

DIRECTIONS:
combine pineapple juice, 1/2 cup water, vinegar, soy sauce, brown sugar, salt and garlic powder in a small bowl. Stir until sugar is dissolved. Set aside.
Over medium high heat in a large, fairly deep non stick fry pan heat oil.
Add pork and sauté 4 - 5 minutes, until barely browned.
Reduce heat to low and add sauce. Stir a few times, cover and let simmer for 1 hour.
After 1 hour add onions and peppers, cook about 6 - 7 minutes.
Mix together corn starch and water until smooth. Immediately add to pan and stir frequently for about 5 minutes or until sauce is desired thickness. Serve:)