Granny's Waffles

These are usually reserved for Christmastime but anytime is a good time for strawberry and whipped cream smothered waffles.  And don't forget the side of bacon!

1 c skim buttermilk + a little
1 c flour
dash of salt
1 Tbsp canola oil
1/2 Tbsp vanilla
1 egg or egg substitute
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda

Mix all ingredients lightly (a little on the lumpy side) and let sit for at least 20 mins before baking.  Bake in waffle iron.  Serve with strawberries and whipped cream (and bacon.)

Yield:  4 big waffles
Note:  Granny usually quadruples or quintuples this recipe to feed all of us!

Double Chocolate Zucchini Muffins

GG and YoPapa have had a bumper crop of zucchinis this year and we have been searching for some new recipes to use them up.  Granny (Mom) found this one and tried it out today.  Super yummy plus a healthy dose of zucchini.  My kids ate them without any complaints or questions at all. . . well, except for the weirdo, Cash.

3 1/2 c white flour
1 c wheat flour
1 1/2 c sugar
1/2 c cocoa
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
3/4 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1 1/2 c oil
1 1/2 c milk
3 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
2 c shredded zucchini (this was about 2 medium to large zucchini - about the size of a typical cucumber)
1 1/2 c chocolate chips (semisweet)

Mix wet ingredients including sugar and zucchini.  Then in separate bowl mix all dry ingredients.  Add dry to wet and stir until just combined and then add chocolate chips.  Put in muffin liners filled almost full and bake at 350 for 15-17 minutes.  (Or 13-15 minutes for mini muffins.)

Yield:  about 40 standard muffins

These would also be good sprinkled with some sugar before baking but we forgot! 

Calzones

Okay, we have calzones or pizza probably every week and a half. My favorite food is pizza, ya, I'm 7. Granny requested that I put this on the blog, so I'm finally getting around to posting the recipe.Here is a step by step guide on what to do. I'm not much of a food blogger, but I did my best. Here goes:

These are the ingredients:
1 1/2 C water                            
1 t salt                                        
2 T sugar
 4 T oil
4 1/2 C flour
2 T active dry yeast
Pizza sauce and toppings
Egg wash: 1 egg  + 1 T oil, mixed

In a large bowl, stir water, salt sugar, oil and yeast.

Add flour a one cup at a time until dough is soft, not sticky.

 Cover and allow to rise until doubled in size (about a half an hour)...

 Punch dough down. Pinch off pieces of dough about the size of a Zhu Zhu pet, (that's all I had nearby that was comparable) You should be able to get  8 calzones out of this recipe.

 Roll out dough into an oval or rectangle.

 (FYI, I don't always make very pretty food...)

 Spread sauce on 1/2 of dough then stuff with toppings

I think one thing that makes my calzones extra special is to use mozzarella AND mild cheddar. I also like to use Ragu marinara sauce. But I'm sure everyone else has their preferences too.

 I like to grease my pan and spread cornmeal on it, just for an added touch.

 Okay, then fold dough down and pinch the edges closed, like so:

 Paint with the egg wash

 Cut 2-3 slits on the top for venting

 Bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes or until golden brown.

 Don't forget to blow in them, the are super HOT!

Then when you're done, thrown what you don't want on the floor, and then chuck your plate on the floor too.

 

This little guy ate 3/4 of an entire calzone! We are big fans over here.  

Italian Baked Chicken and Pastina

This recipe is a favorite at our house, and I use it a lot when I make meals for other people in the ward. It's easy and always tastes good!

Italian Baked Chicken and Pastina

Recipe courtesy Giada De Laurentiis

Prep Time:

15 min

Inactive Prep Time:

--

Cook Time:

40 min

Level:

Easy

Serves:

4 servings

Ingredients

• 1 cup pastina pasta (or any small pasta) (I use rotini pasta, and I usually do about 1 1/2 cups)
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1/2 cup cubed chicken breast (1-inch cubes)
• 1/2 cup diced onion (about 1/2 a small onion)
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes with juice
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1/4 cup bread crumbs
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan
• 1 tablespoon butter, plus more for buttering the baking dish

Directions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Bring a medium pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until just tender, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes. Drain pasta into a large mixing bowl.

Meanwhile, put the olive oil in a medium saute pan over medium heat. Add the chicken and cook for 3 minutes. Add the onions and garlic, stirring to combine, and cook until the onions are soft and the chicken is cooked through, about 5 minutes more. Put the chicken mixture into the bowl with the cooked pasta. Add the canned tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, parsley, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine. Place the mixture in a buttered 8 by 8 by 2-inch baking dish. In a small bowl mix together the bread crumbs and the Parmesan cheese. Sprinkle over the top of the pasta mixture. Dot the top with small bits of butter. Bake until the top is golden brown, about 30 minutes.

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