Chebe GLUTEN FREE Bread Mixes

A few months ago I trolling around the blogs looking for gluten free and came upon Chebe Bread. These bread ingredients are identical to frozen product I found in my grocery (another post one day). 
When I realized the versatility of the mixes I ordered some from Amazon.com (who orders it directly from Chebe).  It is made from mannioc root or known as tapioca flour.  Other than some baking soda and seasonings (depending on the mix you buy) its really Paleo friendly.  However, the recipe on the box does call for cheese (1 cup) but the nice thing is....the mixes can be made with or without cheese.  SCORE!  I use cheese depending on my splurging mood.
What you see on the left is a few of their mixes.  What is missing is their cheese bread mix, Garlic and Onion breadstick mix.  They also send frozen dough if you want more convenience. They also provide many recipes for you to tickle your creativity bone.

Now, when I want to splurge on some bread (like a hamburger or hotdog) this is what I did...

 

PIGS in a Blanket....

• Make the dough (oil, eggs, milk and cheese)
• Cut my nitrate free organic hot hogs in half
• Divide dough in the number of 'dog halfs'
• Flatten dough and pinch/form around them.
• Bake @ 375 for 20-25 minutes until golden.

Aren't these just so CUTE?  With a little dish of ketchup, mustard, relish or onion....these were FAB!  K-man was thrilled and I didn't even both to mention that they were my gluten free stuff....

When I have a hamburger....too much bun kills me.  I'd rather be full from the protein and fillings of the burger than a huge bun.  Sure I can go bunless but sometime you want a soft, chewy package to PICK up your burger.  So I made a basic mix and instead their suggestion of 4 buns I made 6.  I didn't mind them being thinner.  If you want soft and thick.  Go for it.  I wanted thin and crusty.  When you have tomato and mayo, sometimes the bun falls apart and gets mushy.  NOT CHEBE buns!

 The topping is from King Arthur Flour.  Their Artisan Bread Topping.  It is sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, black caraway, flax and poppy seeds.  Very tasty!








Here's a view how thin they are....(kinda like those sandwich bun makers THIN version)






All in all, the CHEBE company is very accommodating.  I had a little issue that I posted on their FB site and a rep called me and replaced them.  Also in doing so he suggested to mix and match some of their other products.  Now, I've tried all except for the cinnamon rolls.  These will def be my Go-TO mix in the cabinet.  THANKS Chebe!!

My next recipe adventure will be using just straight tapioca flour and making my own rolls to see how they compare.  But it sure is nice to have these mixes around for whenever you need pizza crust, rolls, or buns.  Non-Paleo or gluten sensitive family members won't know what they are missing.  PROMISE!


 Enjoy!

Paleo Chocolate Cupcakes!!!

 I've made a few treats from some Paleo recipes.  Two different brownie recipes and although they were OK....they were too dense, not fudgy and way too greasy.  I never bothered to post them.  Last night, when I was craving some chocolate I found a cake recipe wonder if these too would be too dense and greasy as well....SCORE.  They were NOT!
I've made enough Paleo stuff now that I realize that I can go lighter on the oils to change the grease factor.  Knowing that egg proteins expand in the heat...perhaps an extra egg would give it some umph!!! So, in JennyMac fashion, I found some a cake and frosting recipe, tweaked them baked trumphantly!

Paleo Chocolate Cupcakes
created by JennyMac's Lipsmack

1 cup almond flour
1 cup cocoa powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. sea salt
1/2 cup coconut oil, melted (this would be fine with grapeseed as well I am sure)
5 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 cup honey

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line muffin tin with 12 papers.  Combine dry ingredients in medium bowl and set aside.  Whisk eggs, oil, vanilla and honey then pour into dry ingredients.  Use a electric hand mixer to combine, breaking up lumps and will help emulsify the eggs.  Use a ice cream scooper to put into muffin cups.  Cook for about 25 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.  Cool on cooking rack.  Makes 12.  See frosting recipe below.

Vegan Chocolate Frosting

1/2 cup dairy-free dark chocolate chips
1/4 cup grapeseed oil
1 Tbsp. honey
1 Tbsp. vanilla
pinch sea salt

Melt the chips with the oil in the microwave for 1 minute.  Stir until smooth.  Stir in honey, vanilla and salt.  Frosting will be very loose.  Dip each cupcake top into the glaze.  I noticed as I was dipping the frosting was getting thicker as I could double-dip some of the cupcakes again makes a thicker fudgy top.

These were light, fluffy and decadently scrumptious!


Mummmffftttt,

Paleo Bread- Basic White

One thing I inherited from my Grandmom is the love of bread.  I sure does ruin me at restaurants for it comes first and fills me up too fast before I SHOULD be eating my protein and veggies.  Why can't they serve me the hot and crusty bread after dinner? OR, how about during????  Anyhow....the traditional, crusty, chewy yeast breads are for big splurges for me these days BUT a basic gluten free bread to have with dinner or smeared with almond butter at breakfast will fill the bill!!!
I have waited for a bit to post this recipe for I have been trying many recipes and playing around with different combos that work well for me.... The beauty of this gluten free baby is that there aren't those other GF substitutes that won't work in the Paleo lifestyle like rice flour, potato starch, etc.  Give this a try!

Basic Gluten Free Paleo Bread
adapted by JennyMacLipsmack

3 cups almond flour (not meal, this is a pale yellow bread not brown)
1 tsp. baking soda
4 eggs
2 egg whites
1 Tbsp. honey, agave or maple syrup (whichever you prefer)
1 tsp. vinegar
sesame seeds (optional for taste and look)

Preheat oven to 300 degrees.

Put almond flour in a large bowl and whisk out the lumps and add the baking soda.

In a small bowl, beat the egg and whites together.  Add honey and vinegar.

Mix the liquid in the dry.  Spray loaf pan with organic olive oil non-stick spray and LINE PARCHMENT PAPER in the loaf pan.  I cannot STRESS how important this is or your loaf will be IMPOSSIBLE to remove.  A slicone loaf pan will not require parchment, this is what I do for I was tired of forgetting about the parchment and the loaf sticking....grrrr.

Sprinkle with sesame seeds...(I love the toasty taste of them when I toast the bread!)

Bake @ 300 for 45 minutes

Remove from pan and cool completely.  Slice thinly and put in a bag and store in the fridge for convenient use later!

VARIATION:

Raisin Walnut Paleo Bread
by JennyMac's Lipsmack

3 cups almond flour or meal
1/2 cup flaxseed meal
1 tsp. baking soda
2 Tbsp. cinnamon
5 eggs
2 Tbsp honey, agave or maple syrup
1 tsp. apple cider vinegar
1 cup raisins
1 cup walnuts

Follow the directions for the heat and time from the recipe above....


Great dessert, breakfast or french toast bread!

Enjoy!
  

Gluten Free Morning Glory Muffins

Moist- full of fiber from carrots, apples and raisins!  Perfect for breakfast, snacks or dessert.  Make sure to check out my notes at the end for suggestions.

Morning Glory Muffins
adapted from Paleo Comfort Foods

2-1/2 cups blanched almond flour
1 Tbsp. cinnamon
2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
2 cups shredded carrots (about one bag of carrots depending on thickness), grated
1 large apple, peeled, cored and grated
1 cup toasted coconut (adds nutty-ness)
3 large eggs (organic-omega-3)
1/2 cup organic liquid egg whites
2 Tbsp. honey
1/3 cup coconut oil (....see notes)
1 tsp. vanilla

1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line standard size muffin tin.  I needed to line 20...depending on your 'scoop size'.
2.  Combine almond flour, cinnamon, baking soda and salt in a large bowl.  Add carrot, apple coconut and raisins and combine well.
3.  In a separate bowl whisk eggs, egg whites, honey, oil and vanilla  together.
4.  Pour the wet over the dry and mix well.  Batter will be thick.
5.  Using an ice cream scoop place batter into lined muffin tin(s).
6.  Bake for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the top comes out clean.
7.  Cool muffins for 8-10 minutes and then remove to a cooling rack.

Baker's Notes:

1.  I use Honeyville Almond flour from Amazon.com.  It is $36 for a 5 lb. bag.  Best bargain and works best than others I have used.
2.  I am not too fond of coconut oil that tastes like coconut.  It's too much or may be disconcerting to eat sauteed mushrooms that taste like coconut....ugh.  I prefer Spectrum.
3.  In using the organic coconut, I like the flakes over the finely grated.  This adds to the muffins giving it more chewiness as you would get from oatmeal (not used here).  Toasting will tone down the coconut flavor....giving it a subtle undertone.
4.  Go honey, don't substitute stevia for I find it will give a funny after taste.  Think about it....2 Tbsp of honey divided amongst 20 or so muffins?  That is about 1/2 tsp per muffin...not bad for sugar.  I love how these are lightly sweet not like I am eating cake.
5.  Although fat is not the enemy in the Paleo lifestyle, the recipe originally called for 1/2 cup coconut oil.  When peeling off the muffin papers, they absorbed alot of the oil.  What is the point for so much oil if it's only going to leech into the papers, right? I suggest 1/3 cup over using 1/2 cup.  For the muffins still stuck a bit to the papers.

Enjoy!

Cinnamon Raisin Bread

YUM!
Great for breakfast, tasty snack and who says you can't eat a slice with dinner?
I was looking for something different from using my basic paleo bread recipe, so I tweaked it to make cinnamon raisin bread.  Yes, I know I haven't posted the basic bread first...but I like to live on the edge!  lol

Cinnamon Raisin Bread
adapted from Paleo Comfort Foods

3-1/2 cups almond flour or meal
3/4 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
2 tsp. cinnamon
5 large organic eggs
2 Tbsp. honey
1 tsp. apple cider vinegar
1 cup organic raisins

1.  Preheat oven to 300 degrees.
2.  Combine all dry ingredients.
3.  In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs, honey and vinegar.  Add raisins.
4.  Combine wet with the dry.
5.  Grease the loaf pan and line with parchment paper.  This is VERY important!!!  I find that this bread as well as the basic loaf likes to STICK despite it being greased.  Consider yourself warned if you don't!!!!
6.  Pour the batter in lined loaf pan.
7.  Bake for 45-55 minutes until golden brown or until a skewer comes out clean when inserted.

LOVE it...hope you will too!


Enjoy!

Gluten Free Biscuits

Along with my love for chocolate, I admit I also love breads.  Biscuits, rolls...hot and buttery....YUM!  So when I was told that going Paleo meant breads made with almond flour or coconut flour could be made, I felt I wouldn't die.  Of course when we go out to nice dinners I may splurge on the hot crusty yeast breads on occasion but at home I still can have some breads.  I am still find it difficult to render a tall rising bread for a sandwich but when I do....you'll be the first to know.  For know these little biscuits are nice and light and remind be of popovers.  Not too difficult to make either.

Basic Biscuits
from Paleo Comfort Foods

6 large egg whites (I use the carton of egg white sometimes as well)
3/4 cup blanched almond flour
1/4 cup coconut flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1 1/2 tsp organic butter or coconut oil

1.  In a bowl, beat the egg whites until they are very frothy.
2.  In a separate bowl, mix the flours and baking powder.  Cut in the cold butter with a two knives or a pastry blender.  You will be making a crumbly mixture.  Let sit in the fridge for 15-20 minutes.
3.  Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
4.  Remove flour mixture from fridge and gently fold in the egg whites, stirring to combine.
5.  Spoon the biscuit batter in a greased muffin cups.
6.  Bake for 12-15 minutes or until golden brown.
Makes 12.

Cook's Notes:
1.  These are very soft and fluffy.  They are not going to fall apart since they have egg in the them.
2.  These taste very much like popovers despite them not rising as tall.
3.  I have tried other biscuit recipes and there will be other versions to come.
4.  This batter will be 'soupy' at first.  Give it a moment for the coconut flour to absorb the liquid and it will be more manageable.
5.  Use a standard ice cream scoop to keep the biscuits consistently the same size.
6.  I don't know how these biscuits would work on a cookie sheet really....I think they would spread and be thinner.  The muffin cups hold the 'biscuit' shape nicely.
7.  Bits of Cheese and bacon was also suggested to mix in if you were splurging or allowing dairy in your Paleo life.  We use a little cheese now and then and since I had a Tbsp of some leftover organic shredded cheese, I used it up here.  It can be seen in the picture below.

Enjoy!

 

Paleo Brownies

Whether you are on a diet or experiencing a new lifestyle of eating....sweets are always recommended to be in moderation.  I am a confessed 'chocoholic' and when I choose to go "Paleo" and found it was not on the 'forbidden' list like grains, sugar, legumes, etc; I was a happy camper.

I've trolled around the web a bit to find a good recipe as well as used a recommended one from a fellow Paleo co-worker who turned me onto this new way eating (forever in your gratitude Ginny!).  Alas, my first attempt was not a good one.  I blame it on the second type of coconut oil I was using; it was a highly scented and flavored of coconut.  I did not want my brownies to taste like Almond Joy (yet).

Since I think I've got a pretty good starting grasp on my use of Almond flour and baking in general....I made my own.  It's thin, yet fudgy.  I am happy with it....perhaps you will enjoy it too.  Let me know.

Yummo-Paleo Brownies
-created by Jenny Mac's Lipsmack

1/2 cup honey
3 (1 oz) squares unsweetened chocolate (or 1/2 cup cocoa powder and increase oil to 5 T)
2 T coconut oil, organic butter or favorite oil of choice
1 tsp. vanilla
2 eggs
1 cup almond flour

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Melt oil and chocolate in the microwave for 1 minute intervals, until melted.  Thoroughly stir in honey.  Blend in eggs one at a time.  Mix well.  Add vanilla.  Stir in flour.

Spread in a 8X8 baking pan (a disposable aluminum one works awesome without greasing).  Bake for 30 minutes or until a knife comes out clean.  Cool and cut into 16 squares.


Enjoy!

Looks like Oatmeal but is it?

We love cookies here and although K-man can eat whatever he wants, I am on the fun adventure of trying Paleo recipes.  Back in the day when I was using tons of splenda and other lowfat options....K-man always could tell.  He'd crinkle his nose after a bite and I'd end up having to all that I created or give it away.  With my new passion for finding tasty Paleo treats.  K-man is the standard...if he eats it and likes it then....WINNER!  I found these in my Primal Palate Cookbook. Tweaked a bit...they are awesome.

N'Oatmeal Cookies 

adapted from Food Lover's Kitchen (their new site)

2 cups almond flour (they used almond meal-makes the dough browner)

1/2 c. flax seed meal

1/2 unsweetened, shredded coconut (I toasted mine)

1/2 cup raw sunflower seeds

1/2 cup raw pumpkin seeds

1/2 cup coconut oil (I used grapeseed oil)

1/2 honey or pure maple syrup (I did 50/50 ratio)

2 eggs

1 cup raisins

1 tsp cinnamon (they suggest 1 Tbsp.)

1 tsp. vanilla

1 tsp. baking soda

1.  Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

2.  In a large bowl combine the dry ingredients.

3.  In a smaller bowl combine the eggs, honey, vanilla, extract, and oil with a hand mixer.

4.  Stir wet into dry ingredients

5.  Stir in raisins and seeds.

6.  On a parchment paper lined cookie sheet drop 1 Tbsp sized amount.  12 on a sheet will do. Slightly press each mound.

7.  Bake for 15 minutes.  Cool.

Cook's Notes:

-Remember the Paleolithic way of eating has NO GRAINS.  This is a fake out oatmeal cookie.  You are getting your fiber from the seeds and raisins.

-Parchment really works better here for they were harder to get off the silpat sheets.

-I would have used coconut oil but the current one I have in my cabinet smells and tastes of coconut.  I prefer the brand I used prior that was taste and coconut aroma free.  Sometimes I am in the mood for coconut flavor, sometimes not.  I didn't today.

-The difference between almond flour and meal is that the meal is brownish/beige and the brown almond skins are incorporated in it.  Almond flour uses blanched almonds where the skins are removed rendering a yellow/whitish flour.  No difference in taste or texture....

Enjoy!

Herb Crackers

Would you like a cracker with few carbs?  Would you like a snack with no worry of trans fat? Should a snack with ingredients that you can pronounce be part of your diet?  Yes? Then read on.... We have changed our way of eating lately, we decided this is not temporary thing or a diet but a lifestyle that we are comfortable with adopting.  After the recipe, if you like to hear more about what we are doing then keeping reading.

Herb Crackers
adapted from Make it Paleo

2 cups blanched almond flour
1 cup flax meal
2 tsp. garlic powder
2 tsp. onion powder
2 tsp. pepper
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. oregano
1/2 cup sesame seeds
2 eggs
2 Tbsp. olive oil

1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2.  In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, flax meal and spices.

3.  Mix eggs and oil and pour over flour mixture.  Stir all ingredients together until it forms a dough.

4.  Roll dough into large ball and place on parchment paper.  Cover dough with another sheet of parchment.  Using a rolling pin, roll out into a 1/4 inch thick layer.

5.  Transfer cracker dough on parchment to a cookie sheet.  Remove top layer of parchment.

6.  Score dough with a knife to desired cracker size.

7.  Bake crackers for 15-20 minutes until light brown.

8.  Let cool, break crackers into squares and serve.  Serves 3-6

Cook's Notes:

-The recipe called for adding cumin.  It is a strong spice.  I used only 1 tsp. but I felt it still overwhelmed the cracker.  If you LOVE cumin try using 1 tsp first.

-The original recipe called for 2 tsp of salt.  This was a bit salty for me.

-These crackers are great with soups and salads.  The Primal Palate pairs these with their baba ghanoush recipe.

Why go Paleo?  What is it?

Paleolithic Man, a caveman who hunted and gathered his food.  It was all natural, not processed.  He ate only meat, vegetables, fruit, nuts and seeds.
I've been on too many diets and 'systems'....I am hitting the big 4-6 pretty soon and if I can't get a handle on my food lifestyle then my health will die off like the dinosaurs...lol

The Paleo Plan is rather simple: meats, veggies, fruit, nuts and seeds.  No grain, no dairy, no legumes and absolutely no processed foods.  I've been reading for years about our food/produce industry and really believe the more man processes foods the more 'frankenstein-ian' it is, this concerns me.

K-man doesn't really need to lose any weight but his biking and overall endurance has changed from being with me for 5 years (before JennyMac, he was on the Bachelor Man Plan: chunky soup, sandwiches and rotating through each fast food joint one night a week) He was fully supportive of this decision for whatever JennyMac needed he was behind her.  He's suffered through other diets but he's actually enjoying this new lifestyle.  He can eat however he wants at work.  He gets real bread and sweets on occasion....but I am finding him eating my desserts and snacks now too!!!!

Anyway, I don't wanna cause you eye strain from reading all the fine minutia of the Paleo Way.  But if you are interested or have questions... Pop me a comment!  I have great links to Paleo sites and the books I've cook from.

Enjoy!

Organic Sausage Patties

Lately, we have been consciously removing the processed foods from our diet.  Since I do so much reading about farming practices, food processing and food additives, quite honestly it's SCARY.  In conjunction with getting rid of eating 'convenience' I've been also buying organic meats (as well as other products).  I've been shopping at Trader Joe's since our decision and the grocery bill each week has NOT been more from buying only organic.  Actually it's been less!!!  Go figure.
It's going to take some time to get rid of the stuff we have in the cabinets but we feel this would be good to 'ease' our way into this lifestyle without cleaning out the pantry and having a WHOPPING first shopping bill.  Anyhow, here's a simple and tasty recipe I'd like to share with you:

Homemade Breakfast Sausage
adapted from Paleo Comfort Foods

1 lb ground pork
1 tsp. kosher salt
1 tsp. freshly ground pepper
2 tsp. fresh sage, finely chopped
1 tsp. fresh thyme, finely chopped (if you use dried, use half the amount)
1/4 tsp. fresh rosemary, finely chopped (if you use dried, use half the amount)
1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg (I grated mine fresh)
1/2 tsp. cayenne

Take ground pork and mix with all the ingredients.  Form 2 inch patties.

Heat skillet over medium heat.  Place patties in skillet and cook until browned, the flip over and continue to cook until fully cooked through.


Cook's Notes:

1.   These absolutely rendered so little fat from cooking.  Those 'tubes' of sausage we used to get were mostly WHITE in color for the meat instead of red/pink.

2.  The fresh sage was KEY in giving it a breakfast sausage taste.

3.  These can be made and frozen to pop out for breakfast makings any morning or weekend.  Other than the size of these puppies, it was no more complex than making hamburger patties.

4.  These were so less SALTY as well.


K-man loved these, he was surprised that I made these instead of old stuff we used to get.

Enjoy!

Strawberry Cheesecake Muffins

Strawberry Cheesecake Muffins

Sometimes when I post, there's a story.  First, a lovely picture and it's recipe.  There is some background as to how and why this recipe came about, if you are curious....read on.

1 (4 ounce) package cream cheese
1/3 cup confectioners' sugar

1/4 cup strawberry preserves

1/2 cup dry biscuit mix
2 tablespoons white sugar
2 tablespoons cold butter

2 cups dry biscuit mix('heart smart/lower fat version is okay)
3/4 cup white sugar
2/3 cup milk
1 egg
1/3 cup butter, melted
2-4 Tbsp. chopped pecans

1. Cream together the cream cheese and confectioners' sugar in a bowl.
2. Shape the cream cheese mixture into a log, then wrap with plastic wrap and place in the freezer.
3. Place the strawberry preserves in a small bowl and freeze while preparing the remaining ingredients.
4. Place 1/2 cup biscuit mix and 2 tablespoons white sugar in a bowl.
5. Cut 2 tablespoons cold butter into the biscuit mix-sugar mixture with a knife or pastry blender until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs; refrigerate crumb mixture.
6. Preheat an oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
7. Line 6 extra large muffin cups with paper liners.
8. Whisk together 2 cups biscuit mix, 3/4 cup white sugar, milk, egg, and 1/3 cup of melted butter in a bowl.
9. Fill each prepared muffin cup half full of batter. Reserve remaining batter.
10. Divide the cold strawberry preserves evenly over the batter.
11. Cut the cold cream cheese log into 6 equal pieces, and place each piece on top of the strawberry preserves.
12. Top each muffin cup with remaining batter.
13. Sprinkle muffins with the crumb mixture and chopped pecans.
14. Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown, about 25-30 minutes. 

Cook's Notes:
1.  Freezing the cream cheese and jam keeps it from melting into oblivion during the baking process.  DO NOT skip this.
2.  The muffins will sink as the cream cheese cools.  Proteins expand.  The sinking of the cream is normal.

Now, for the story.

I submitted this recipe YEARS ago to allrecipes.com.  When I first became a member I submitted MANY.  Three were published (easy decadent truffles, blue cheese broccoli salad and pesto tortellini salad) and the rest sat in dust.  I am not even sure the dates of my submission but I know we are talking the 90's!!!  I had contacted them in the early 2000's and asked what was the hold up....they responded that they get thousands of submissions and for me to be patient.  I went on with my life.
Now allrecipes.com has really flourished.  Published cookbooks, video tutorials, links to big company sponsors....
A few days ago they emailed me saying I was published again.  This time is was my strawberry cheesecake muffins.  I had created these from going to starbucks and eating one of their pumpkin cheesecake muffins.  After a few failed attempts with oozy cream cheese and learning to FREEZE it beforehand, I came upon a successful recipe finally.  I have only two reviews for it.  The first one was not a good one for I realized I called for using the WHOLE brick of cream cheese when only half should be used.  WHAT was I thinking?  I submitted the second review giving the correction.  Hopefully people will notice that.

This recipe is a rich one, thank goodness it only makes 6.  I plan on giving some away.  You know, calories on someone else's hips other than MINE!  Let me know how it works for you!
 
Enjoy!

French Toast Casserole

My present to you is something simple to pop in the oven on Christmas Morning.  This casserole is soft, buttery and so yummy. Oh did I mention it's easy to make?

French Toast Casserole
from JennyMac Lipsmack

1 loaf french bread, cut into 1-inch cubes (10 cups)
8 eggs
3 cups half and half (or cream if you want it silky rich)
1/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 teaspoon salt
12 strips of bacon, cooked and broken into pieces. 
Topping:
2 tablespoons butter, cubed
3 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
maple syrup

Using a serrated knife cube your french bread into one inch pieces.  
In a large mixing bowl, beat eggs, cream, sugar, vanilla and salt.  Add bread and mix with egg mixture to coat.  Add bacon pieces and mix again.

Grease a 13X9 baking dish (those non stick glass ones are awesome).  Pour all your eggy bready bacony mixture into the baking dish.  Cover and place in fridge overnight.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Uncover and give the bread another stir.  Sprinkle cinnamon sugar all over the bread cubes and dot with butter.  Cover with non stick foil and bake for 45-50 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean.

Serve with maple syrup.
So rich and creamy, I love the smokey bacon with the sweet maple and the not really sweet eggy bread. 

Cooks Notes:

1.  Do not cut off that fabulous crust.  This recipe is awesome even with a day old loaf.  I bought my bread on Tuesday and prepped this Friday afternoon.  Yes, it was 'sketchy' to cut however my fingers all remained intact.
2. If you have homemade vanilla sugar hanging around like I FORGOT to use, this would be the ideal time to use it.
3.  I am going to try this again with some toasted pecans on top....YUM!!!!




Post Script.....
I hope you all are healthy and WARM this holiday season!  We've had a tough few weeks with no heat.  Our house was built in 1959.  We bought it 5 years ago knowing that the 3 Horsemen of the Homeowner's Apocalypse (the furnace, A/C and hot water heater) were OLD.  We feel we were truly blessed from this whole ordeal.   The Carbon Monoxide detector has been going off since last year and we were being stubborn and complacent.  We thought the detector was probably old...took it down, replaced it.  It didn't go off again....few months later it went off...."oh the batteries probably need to be replaced" (um, there is a signal for THAT by the way on the detector).  All the while the detector was going off during the middle of the night waking us up @ 3 in the morning.  The one night K-man was working through the night on a water main break and I was home alone the detector went off one hour after I turned on the heat when I came home from work.  This was odd.  I called K-man....what do I do?  (WHAT, WHERE was my brain?- mmmm, fuzzy from fumes perhaps?)
I called the Fire Dept and waited with my neighbor outside for them to arrive.  I let them in the front door and watched them come in with their CO monitor in hand.  As soon as he stepped in it beeped and he said It's 148!  Pointed to me.  "YOU- Get out."  What you may or may not know, BELOW 35 ppm (parts per million) is okay but anything above that is considered toxic and potentially lethal.  I was sitting in a house where the million of the oxygen molecules were tainted with 148 carbon monoxide ones!....I had no headache, no nausea, no vomiting, wasn't sleepy....however my common sense and get up and go safety know-how was stagnant.  I remember just standing there with K-man on the phone, listening to him tell me what to do and thinking/pouting...."why can't he be here and do this?"  I NEVER THINK like THAT....Add the symptom of DELERIUM to list from CO exposure.  Alas, a cracked heater exchange on a circa 1988 furnace was the cause.
Anyway.....since major appliances like the furnace, A/C and hot water heater a big to-do, located near one another and connected (via gas) and were ALL old.  Bundle the price, work....replace them all at once.  Holy crap.  1988= furnace and HWH but the A/C was the original install!  None of the houses in our development had A/C originally and the original owner of our house finally broke down in the 60's to put it in.  The estimator said it was a miracle we've been having any A/C in the past summers because this model belonged in a museum.  LOL.  So there you have it....an $11,000 to our wallet during the holidays. LOVELY.  Bottom Line....YOU ALL NEED TO MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A CO DETECTOR IN YOUR HOUSE AND CALL 911 IF IT GOES OFF....we are so lucky to be alive.

Enjoying our warmth and feeling blessed, we wish the very same to you as 2011 comes to a close....

POST POST SCRIPT....thanks Anonymous commenter for your tip on correcting my error on the difference between carbon monoxide (CO) and carbon dioxide (CO2).  Clearly my brain was still not functioning right in writing this post since I DO know my chemical elements and their abbreviations usually.  But thanks for your CONCERN.

Sausage, Egg and Biscuit Casserole...

For Dinner? Yes!!!! Why do we feel the societal conformity that eggs, sausage/bacon and biscuits must be eaten for breakfast only and if we eat them for dinner that somehow it is weird or breaking some rule? Is the 'breakfast police' gonna break your door down saying "I'm sorry ma'am you are violating the law by eating waffles, pancakes or eggs for dinner!" LOL. Even though I had eggs for dinner growing up we still regard eggs for dinner as some guilty pleasure. Like eating cookies would spoil our appetite before a meal. So silly, isn't it?

I found this recipe in Cuisine Magazine . It's a magazine solely of recipes with no ads.
I tweaked a wonderfully sinful sausage and egg casserole I think you'd love.



Sausage, Egg and Biscuit Casserole
adapted from Cuisine Magazine by JennyMac Lipsmack

1 lb. sausage or bacon
7 eggs
1 cup milk
1 cup heavy cream
1 tsp. pepper
1/2 tsp. salt
8 biscuits (canned, leftover homemade ones that are a bit stale, frozen, bakery, what you like best)
1-1/2 cups shredded cheese

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Coat a 7X11 baking dish with nonstick spray. Brown sausage or cook bacon until brown/crispy. Transfer to paper towel to absorb excess grease.

In a bowl, whisk eggs, milk, cream, salt and pepper.

Split biscuits in half and layer bottoms in greased dish. Sprinkle sausage/bacon over biscuits and top with 3/4 cup of cheese. Cover with biscuits tops and pour egg mixture over top.

TIME to make a decision.... EAT this NOW or tomorrow morning?

Eating now.....Bake for 30 minutes or until eggs are set (165 degrees) and no longer jiggly. Cover with cheese and cook for another 10 minutes. Let casserole stand for 10 minutes.

Eating tomorrow.....Cover with foil. Place and bake in preheated oven for 60 minutes until eggs are set. Uncover and place on 3/4 cup of cheese or until melted.

DELISH!!!!

Cook's Notes:
This dish also came with a sage gravy recipe. Any white sauce is butter, flour and milk or cream (depending how rich you want it) but I really felt this recipe was PLENTY rich and didn't really need it.
I was right, plenty moist, rich custardy eggs with cheese....a rich white sauce just made my arteries feel threatened to close.
K-man was OVER the moon with this tasty dish. I felt so guilty from eating it that I felt we should be eating some salad or fruit with it. K-man shook his head and said "just gimme TWO!"

Big Game Food

The Skins have a big game today. They have lost the past 3 games, and they have been playing kinda 'eh' these days but just because your team is being 'eh' doesn't mean your "game food" has to be 'eh' too.

We love nachos but none with the canned cheese like they serve typically at stadiums. Yuck. Nachos are fun because you can tweak them so many different ways.

Super Deluxe Nachos

1 lb. SHAVED beef (this is the good quality super thin sliced beef your butcher does, similar to 'steak-um beef' but don't use that unless you are desperate.)
1 envelope Taco Seasoning
1 cup frozen corn
1 can black beans (drained and rinsed)
shredded cheese
Your favorite tortilla chips
Fresh salsa (I usually make my own but the summer tomatoes are gone)
Chopped Jalapenos (I used three, seeded and deveined)
Sour cream

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cook your beef with Taco seasoning. Add corn so it will thaw. When beef is cooked add beans. Cover baking sheet with non stick foil. Layer chips on foil and hearty handfuls of cheese. Add layer of hot beef and corn mixture. Add more cheese on top of beef. Place in oven just long enough to melt cheese. About 10 minutes.
Sprinkle on fresh salsa, scoops of sour cream and jalapenos (don't forget all dairy is the ANTIDOTE for the jalapeno evils).

YUM! Have plenty of napkins, your favorite beverage of choice and you will have a happy tummy regardless of how your team plays!

Enjoy!

Nice to be appreciated...

...And I appreciate YOU Katie. Thank YOU!

Some of you may have noticed that I've been dormant for a bit. I have highs and lows about my food blogging. I went strong for about a year and then perhaps a few 'know-it-alls' would comment negatively and it would bug me. Of course I know my stuff and think many people who do make rude, negative comments are idiots generally and don't know what the HELL they are talking about but these comments did trigger an overall feeling of 'why bother' blogging?

One person emailed me a few months ago..."I see you haven't posted in awhile....I guess you threw in the towel"....

Lovely.

I even stopped experimenting with fun recipes for meals for I let the negativity thwart my adventurous juices to get out and try new fun stuff. K-man will be just fine with basics...spaghetti one night, hamburgers on the grill....he was but occasionally he'd HINT about a meal. "This should go on your blog" I felt I lost my mojo. I went and found a new friend on the WWW and started playing Facebook games....they care about me! Yeah, they want me to send them stuff to get farther in the gaming. Two my foodie blog friends who were playing stopping playing the games and devoted their time in blogging....I knew that Cafe World was NOT appropriate replacement for REAL food.

TODAY I got this email (pasted word for word):

Hi Jenny, I just want to send you a quick note to let you know that I found
your blog linked through the Pioneer Woman's blog, (WHAT? I didn't know I was on there?) via your baked Salami and Mozzarella egg rolls. I just started reading your blog and I absolutely LOVE it. It's easy, fun and it makes me feel like I can cook everything myself. I am obsessed with all these wonderful food blogs out there lately, and I recently read your post about how you had been down on yourself and you felt like no one would notice if you stopped blogging. Well, now..I will notice!
I will be constantly checking your fab blog for fun recipes to make for my fiance. I am pumped to make him the jalapeno and sausage breakfast strudel! Especially since he hates anything sweet! (Party pooper!) So thanks for keeping people like me, who aren't confident enough to start my own Foodie blog, inspired enough to give these amazing recipes a whirl in our own kitchens!! So keep up the amazing work and have a wonderful day!! -Katie

AWWWWW. Katie you are so sweet! That really made my day.

I really need to stop letting my inner demons take over and just go with the flow...When something good is happening in the kitchen....blog it about it.

Luckily today with the game coming on I was making something fun to munch on:

Sweet and Spicy Meatballs
JennyMac Lipsmack Creation

1 bottle Heinz chili sauce
1 small jar of grape jelly
1 small jar of jalapeno jelly
3 packages of premade beef meatballs (they had about 12 per package)
1/2 onion minced in food processor
4 jalapenos, deveined and seeded, minced in food processor

Place all meatballs in the the crockpot. Place sauce and jellies on top. Don't worry about mixing it. When the inside gets hot enough to melt everything, THEN you can mix it. Add minced onion and peppers. Cook on HIGH until sauce is thickened and meatballs are coated. Eat with toothpicks as appetizer or as K-man wanted just some bread on the side.

Enjoy!

Carrot Oatmeal Muffins

Not only do I get my recipe ideas from recipe websites and food blogs but also from the culinary mysteries I read. This recipe was from the last installment of Devil's Food Cake Murder by Joanne Fluke. Good stuff (story and recipes, that is)!

Carrot Oatmeal Muffins
adapted from Devil's Food Cake Murder Novel

1 and 1/2 cups flour
1 cup oatmeal (I used rolled oats but she used quick oats....I enjoyed the heartiness of the rolled oats)
1 Tbsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 cup FINELY shredded carrots (pack them down when you measure)
1/2 cup raisins (soaked in warm water at the start of the recipe)
1/2 cup milk (fat free was fine)
1 egg, beaten
1/3 cup butter, melted
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 cup walnuts/pecans, toasted and chopped (optional)

Grease a 12 cup muffin pan or 24 mini muffin pan. Set aside.

In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour and oatmeal. Sprinkle the baking powder, soda and cinnamon. Mix thoroughly.

Stir in brown sugar, Mix until everything is blended.

Shred carrots on the small holes on the grater. Fine shred is best. You want them to cook in the same time it takes the muffins to bake and turn golden brown. Add the carrots and raisins to your bowl. Mix.

In a separate bowl, combine the milk, beaten egg, melted butter and vanilla. Give a stir until all combined.

Add the wet to the dry and gently stir until the dry are moistened and no dry pockets remain. Fill muffin cups with ice cream scooper. Bake at 375 degrees for 20-25 minutes for regular muffin tin. Bake 15-20 for the mini. OR until toothpick comes out clean.

Set the muffin pan on a wire cooling rack for 10 minutes. This cooling process is essential because if you try to take the muffins out of the muffin cups now they may break in pieces- YES, they are that moist!

Makes 12 truly EXCELLENT muffins or 24 AWESOME mini muffins.

Mad for Moist Muffins,

BAKED Salami and Mozzarella Egg Rolls

Did you know that you don't have to FRY an egg roll? I saw these beauties on Kaitlin in the Kitchen blog and she saw it on Guy's Big Bite. Fun twist on egg rolls, great appetizer....until I remember...you don't have to deep fat fry egg rolls I discovered last year. Very crunchy and doesn't get SOGGY! Here's how it works....

Baked Salami and Mozzarella Egg Rolls

2 Eggs
12 oz. jalapeno mozzarella cheese sticks (12 in a bag)
24 Slices Thin Salami
24 Egg Roll Wrappers
oil for coating

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.

In a small bowl beat your eggs until combined. Unwrap your string cheese and cut each one in half. Lay a egg roll wrapper down on a flat surface and brush each side with the egg wash using a pastry brush. Place a piece of salami in the middle of the wrapper, and then 1 piece of the string cheese at the bottom of the piece of salami. Roll the wrapper up from the bottom until piece of cheese is covered, then stop and fold in each side, then continue rolling it and make sure it's sealed well. Repeat until you are done or run out of an ingredient (I had leftover salami but no extra cheese or wrappers- I think I may have eaten one stick?). Place each egg rolls on a baking sheet brush with vegetable oil. Bake for 20 minutes or until golden.

Cook's Notes:
1. Don't overbake, they will start to bust open and ooze cheese. But I didn't mind the oozy cheese for those crusty puddles are an appetizer in itself!
2. These will be so crunchy that refrigerating the leftovers will NOT make them soggy, great for reheating the next day!
3. Suggested dipping sauce- marinara!
4. Did NOT miss the greasiness or calories!
5. Gonna try another version with ham or roast beef.....

Enjoy!

Irish Limey Bars

Well, they aren't Irish but they are green from the lime....just in time for St. Patty's Day!

So you know you classic lemon bar recipe? Ever change it up and use lime instead? If you bring a GREEN dessert to work, no one will pinch you for not wearing green...but HUG you because they are soooooooooooo delicious.

Limey Bars

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, divided
1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
1 cup butter, softened
4 eggs
1 1/2 cups white sugar
1/2 cup lime juice
zest from 3 limes


1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. Mix 2 cups of flour and confectioner's sugar together. Cut in the butter or margarine. Mix well until the dough resembles pie dough consistency. Press the dough into a 9x13 inch baking pan.
3. Bake 15 to 20 minutes or until golden brown.
4. Beat together eggs, sugar, 4 tablespoons flour, lime juice and lime rind for at least 1 minute. Pour the mixture over the baked crust.
5. Bake the bars another 20 minutes, or until the lime topping has set. Sprinkle with confectioner's sugar when cooled.

Cook's Notes:
1. Awesome, nicely tart. Thick buttery, shortbread-like crunchy crust. Perfect.
2. Next to the title of the recipe, you can SEE the lime bits....it's wonderful. BUT, you may NOT get 1/2 lime juice from those 3 limes. You may have to supplement with the bottled lime juice. You know how limes are, big on flavor, little on juice. I rolled them, microwaved them for 30 sec. and still got only 1/4 cup of lime juice with all THREE, cheap bastids!
3. Go ahead use those limes you are saving for your cocktails....you got everything else in your fridge/pantry!

Happy St Patty's Day!