French Bread

5 cups all-purpose flour


2 1/2 (.25 ounce) packages active dry yeast

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

2 cups warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)

1 tablespoon cornmeal

1 egg white

1 tablespoon water

2 tablespoon butter

1 tablespoon honey
Directions

1.In a large bowl, combine 2 cups flour, yeast and salt. Stir in 2 cups warm water, and beat until well blended using a stand mixer with a dough hook attachment. Using a wooden spoon, stir in as much of the remaining flour as you can.

2.On a lightly floured surface, knead in enough flour to make a stiff dough that is smooth and elastic. Knead for about 8 to 10 minutes total. Shape into a ball. Place dough in a greased bowl, and turn once. Cover, and let rise in a warm place until doubled. (45 minutes)

3.Punch dough down, and divide in half. Turn out onto a lightly floured surface. Cover, and let rest for 10 minutes. Roll each half into large rectangle. Roll up, starting from a long side. Moisten edge with water and seal. Taper ends.

4.Grease a large baking sheet. Sprinkle with cornmeal. Place loaves, seam side down, on the prepared baking sheet. Lightly beat the egg white with 1 tablespoon of water, and brush on. Cover with a damp cloth. Let rise until nearly doubled, 35 to 40 minutes.

5.With a very sharp knife, make 3 or 4 diagonal cuts about 1/4 inch deep across top of each loaf. Bake in a preheated 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) oven for 20 minutes. Brush again with egg white mixture. Bake for an additional 15 to 20 minutes, or until bread tests done. If necessary, cover loosely with foil to prevent over browning. Remove from baking sheet, and cool on a wire rack.
 
6. Melt together 2 tbsp butter and 1 tbsp honey. Pour onto hot bread and cover with foil and a damp towel for 15 minutes.

CHICKEN CASSEROLE

2 (10 oz.) pkg. frozen broccoli

2 c. cooked chicken

2 cans cream of chicken soup

1 c. mayo

1 t. lemon juice

1 t. curry powder

1/2 c. shredded cheese

1/2 c. bread crumbs

1 T. butter, melted

Steam broccoli; drain and combine with chicken in greased baking dish. Combine next 4 ingredients and pour over broccoli and chicken mixture. Sprinkle with cheese, bread crumbs and butter. Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes.

Cracker Jack

AKA Carmel Corn

2 sticks butter or margarine

1-3/4 c. brown sugar

1/2 c. light Karo syrup

Boil 5 minutes and remove from heat. Add 1 t. vanilla, 1/2 t. salt and 1/2 t. soda. Pour over 6 quarts popped corn and mix well. Put in large roasting pan. Bake at 250 degrees for 40 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes. Cool on waxed paper. Keeps well in a plastic bag.

I cook it in my big metal bowl or the roaster pan. I make 2 batches in my air popper

Homemade Cream Cheese Frosting

http://www.cooksrecipes.com/cake/cream_cheese_frosting_recipe.html

Cream Cheese Frosting
4 ounces (half of an 8-ounce package) cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups powdered sugar
In a small bowl, beat cream cheese, butter and vanilla until well blended. Gradually add powdered sugar, beating to spreading consistency.
Frost cooled cake.
Makes makes enough frostiing to frost a 13 x 9-inch cake. (Recipe can be doubled.)

Cook's Tip: If a sweeter frosting is desired, add more powdered sugar to taste

Pumpkin Bars!

Pumpkin Bars:
15 oz Pumpkin
4 eggs
1 2/3 c. white Sugar
1 c. Oil

Mix well. Mixture will look oily.

2 c flour
2tsp Cinnamon
2 tsp Baking Powder
1 tsp Baking Soda
1 Tsp Salt

Add to mixture. Mix well.
Pour onto cookie sheet.
Bake 350 degrees for 20-30 min

I used Homemade Cream Cheese Frosting that I found here: http://www.cooksrecipes.com/cake/cream_cheese_frosting_recipe.html
Also on this blog

Pumpkin Bread with Cream Cheese Filling

Cook Time: 70 minutes

Total Time: 70 minutesIngredients:

•Filling:

•1 package (8 ounce) cream cheese, at room temperature

•1/2 cup granulated sugar

•1 tablespoon all-purpose flour

•1 large egg

•1 tablespoon finely grated orange peel

•.

•Bread:

•1 2/3 cups all-purpose flour

•1 teaspoon baking soda

•1/2 teaspoon salt

•1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

•1/2 teaspoon ground cloves

•1/4 teaspoon ginger

•1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

•1 cup pumpkin puree, canned or homemade

•1/2 cup vegetable oil

•2 large eggs

•1 1/2 cups granulated sugar

•1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts, optional

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 325°. Lightly grease two 8x4x3-inch loaf pans. In a medium mixing bowl, combine cream cheese, 1/2 cup sugar, 1 tablespoon flour, 1 egg, and the orange peel; beat until smooth and creamy. Set aside.

Into another bowl, sift 1 2/3 cup flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, and nutmeg; set aside. Put pumpkin puree, vegetable oil, 2 eggs and 1 1/2 cup sugar in a large mixing bowl; beat well. Stir the pumpkin mixture into the flour mixture just until combined. Fold in the pecans or walnuts, if using.



Pour half of the pumpkin bread batter evenly into the two prepared loaf pans. Spoon cream cheese mixture on top of pumpkin batter layer and then pour on the remaining pumpkin batter.



Bake in preheated 325° oven for 60 to 70 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into center of the loaf comes out clean. Cool bread in pans for 10 minutes; remove to a rack to cool completely.

Pumpkin bread recipe makes 2 loaves.

Russian Chicken

2 bottles Russian Dressing

1 packet of Onion Soup Mix

1/2 jar apricot jam

Mix together and pour over frozen chicken in a 9x13 pan

Cook at 350 for 45-60 min until chicken is no longer pink in the middle

Serve over rice.