Homemade Wonder Bread

--
2 1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast
1/4 cup warm water -- (110 degrees)
1 tablespoon white sugar 
4 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup instant potato flakes
1/4 cup powdered milk
2 teaspoons salt
1/4 cup white sugar
2 tablespoons butter or margarine
1 cup warm water -- (110 degrees)

Whisk together the yeast, 1/4 cup warm water and sugar. Allow to sit for
15 minutes.

Add ingredients in the order suggested by your machine's manufacturer,
including the yeast mixture. Select the basic and light crust setting.

This recipe yields a 2 pound

FOR OVEN

I put all of this, according to bread machine, and set on dough.. Let it go thru it's thing. Take out , punch down dough, roll to fit your pan.. Cover w plastic, let rise , put in oven 350 degrees 20 minutes covered , and 15 mins uncovered. So it can brown.

Raisin Cinnamon Bread

I made this bread today and it was delicious!
Cinnamon Raisin Bread

Description

Simple, wholesome, perfect. Follow these instructions for yummy homemade cinnamon bread.

Ingredients

• 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

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. 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. 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.
Yummy!

Orange Meringue Pie

1  1/2 cup orange juice
1 tsp. butter
2 Tbl. cornstarch
sugar to taste
3 egg yolks
3 egg whites
1 pre baked pie shell

Directions:
In heavy saucepan dissolve cornstarch in 1/4 cup cold water
Beat egg yolks and add to orange juice.  Place in saucepan with cornstarch water, sweeten to taste.
Cook slowly until mixture is thickened
Take from heat, add butter and stir until butter melts
Pour into prepared pie crust
Make meringue with egg whites and a little bit of sugar and top pie with meringue.
Bake at 350 degrees until meringue is lightly done.

Tacos

We usually eat at church on Wednesday nights and last night we had tacos.  Every Sunday we will look at our menu and then we will sign up for what we want to bring.  I have never made the meat filling for tacos before but that was the only thing that no one had signed up for when I went to look at the list. 
Here's my recipe which I think turned out pretty good.

Taco seasoning
1 tablespoon chili powder
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon black pepper

Directions:
In a small bowl mix together all of these spices and store in an airtight container.

When I went to make the tacos I browned approximately 3 pounds of hamburger.  I mixed 3 tablespoons of  the seasoning mix with 2 tablespoons of flour.  I sprinkled this mixture over the ground beef and then added about 2/3 cups of water and 2 small cans of tomato sauce.  I put in the crock pot and let it cook on low for about 3 hours.

Cinnamon Coffee Cake

I made this coffee cake recently for a ladies Bible study that I host at my house.  It turned out great and I plan on making this again.

1 cup butter, softened
2  3/4 cups sugar, divided
4 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
3 cups flour
2 cups (16 oz) sour cream
2 Tbl. cinnamon

Directions:
In a large bowl, cream butter and 2 cups of sugar until fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.  Beat in vanilla.  Add flour and sour cream alternately, beating just enough after each addition to keep batter smooth.

Spoon one half of the batter into a greased 13 X 9 pan.  Combine cinnamon and remaining sugar; sprinkle over batter.  Add remaining batter and bake at 350 degrees for 50 minutes.

Sewing Machines for Quilting

I am looking to buy a sewing machine that I will use for machine quilting.  As I save my money I will be looking to see which one I want to buy:

http://www.amazon.com/Brother-PQ1500S-Quilting-Sewing-Machine/product-reviews/B003C29EL4/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?showViewpoints=1


And here  is another one:

http://www.amazon.com/Janome-1600P-QC-Sewing-Quilting-Machine/dp/B009VKTIN0/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1392769404&sr=8-8&keywords=janome+quilting+sewing+machine

http://www.amazon.com/JUKI-TL-2000Qi-Sewing-Quilting-Machine/forum/FxTLQNAADJBRU1/-/2/ref=cm_cd_ql_psf_ql_next?_encoding=UTF8&asin=B004C04YII&cdAnchor=B004C04YII&cdSort=newestdoc

Blueberry Cobbler

1cp milk
1cp flour
1cp sugar
1 stick butter
3tsp baking powder
1qt blueberries
Melt butter add milk and dry ingredients mix well. Pour into greased baking dish add blueberries-DO NOT MIX. Bake for 20 mins or until golden brown @ 350.

I can't wait to try this recipe.  I think I may try it with blackberries and see how that tastes.

Making Rice in the Crockpot

Today I decided that I would try making rice in the crockpot.  I buttered the inside of my crock pot and I added in one cup of rice and two cups of water with a little bit of salt.  I'm going to let it cook about 2 hours and 15 minutes on high stirring it about 45 minutes into cooking!  Can't wait to see the final product!

This turned out great.  I will definitely make rice this way again!