Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Homemade Pop-Tarts

     I've had my eye on this recipe for almost a year.  Last year for Christmas, my brother and sister-in-law gave me this cookbook and I became obsessed with everything homemade.  Last Christmas was almost a year ago and 350 some odd days have passed where I hoped and waited for a pop-tart.  I was crazy to put it off for this long, but time, money, and life seemed to get in the way.  In my mind, pop-tarts are not vital for survival, but so many other groceries are actual necessities.  One Saturday I declared no more!  J.T. and I had just finished paying off a $40,000 student loan and I thought pop-tarts were the proper way to celebrate this financial accomplishment.  I sent J.T. to the grocery store and he purchased the $5.00 jar of organic strawberry preserves I needed to make my highly anticipated pop-tarts.  The pop-tarts were wonderful - better than I ever hoped or imagined.  Flaky, buttery, gooey strawberry filled bliss on a plate - gluten and dairy free.  



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recipe adapted from The Homemade Pantry

Ingredients
  • 2 ¼ cups multi-grain flour blend, plus additional for rolling out dough
  • ½ teaspoon celtic sea salt
  • 1 cup coconut oil, chilled and diced into chunks
  • 2 teaspoons raw apple cider vinegar
  • 4 tablespoons cold water
  • 2 eggs, divided
  • 1 tablespoon room temperature water
  • 7 tablespoons organic strawberry preserves
  • pure cane sugar, for dusting


Directions
  1. In the bowl of mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, mix together the flour and salt on low speed for 2 minutes.  Drop the chilled coconut oil chunks into the flour and use a spoon to toss the flour and oil together.  In a small liquid measuring cup, whisk together 1 egg, the vinegar, and cold water.  Place both the flour mixture and egg mixture into the freezer for 10 minutes.  
  2. Remove the flour mixture from the freezer and assemble the mixer with a paddle attachment.  Turn the mixer on low speed and beat the flour and oil until it begins to resemble a coarse meal.  Remove the liquid ingredients from the freezer and whisk again.  Slowly pour the wet ingredients into the mixing bowl.  Mix on low until the dough comes together, forming a large ball (you will still see large white chunks of coconut oil in the dough).  Dump the dough onto a board and divide in half.  Shape each half into disks and wrap each disk in plastic wrap.  Chill in the refrigerator for 2 hours.  
  3. Whisk together 1 egg and 1 tablespoon of water and set aside.  Line a large sheet pan with parchment paper.  Remove the dough from the refrigerator and flour a dough board or the countertop.  Flour 1 disk and gently roll out the dough into a large circle.  If the dough begins to crumble, continue working with it until it softens, applying flour as needed to keep it from sticking.  Use a large biscuit cutter and cut 7 rounds, placing the rounds on the prepared baking sheet.  Brush the dough with the prepared egg wash and spoon 1 tablespoon of preserves into the center of each round.  
  4. While you are rolling out the remaining dough disk, place the baking sheet into the freezer.  Roll out 7 more rounds.  Gently lay these rounds on top of the preserve filling.  Use a fork to seal the corners all the way around each pastry.  Poke each pastry three times, going down the center, and brush the tops and sealed edges with the egg wash.  Sprinkle with sugar.  Place the prepared pop-tarts back into the freezer for 10 minutes and preheat the oven to 375 degrees.  
  5. Bake for 24 minutes, or until golden brown.  Rest on the baking sheet for 1 hour before removing.



Make ahead:  Prepare the pop-tarts as instructed above and refrigerate or freeze.  If refrigerating, arrange the pop-tarts in one single layer.  To reheat, preheat the oven to 375 degrees and reheat for 5 minutes.  If freezing, arrange the pop-tarts on a large baking sheet, in one single layer.  Freeze for 1 hour.  Stack the frozen pop-tarts in a freezer safe plastic bag.  Reheat in a 375 degree oven for 10 minutes.  


Multi-Grain Flour Blend
Ingredients
  • 350 grams whole grain oat flour
  • 350 grams sweet white sorghum flour
  • 300 grams arrowroot starch


Directions
  1. Whisk together the oat flour, sorghum flour, and arrowroot starch.  Store in a large (5 pound capacity) container in the refrigerator.  Use in place of whole wheat flour or whole white wheat flour.  

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Menu Plan, December 15 - 21

     Yesterday, I was off work for my birthday leave and it was a wonderful day.  As usual, I was little Miss Susie Homemaker and filled my day with baking, cleaning, laundry, and sewing.  In general, I spent my time doing things that I never have time to do during a normal week.  I  left time for a little relaxation, which included watching The Rachael Ray Show at 10:00 and my favorite Christmas movie of all time, Home Alone.  I managed to work in a small nap (accidentally) and enjoyed one of my favorite lunches - a toasted peanut butter and jelly sandwich.  All in all it was a great day and the first day I have had for myself since February 25.  Christmas break begins in 4 days!

Sunday
  • Shepherd's Pie
  • Green Beans
Monday
  • Black Bean Pizza
  • Green Peas
Tuesday
  • Potato Soup
  • Cornbread Muffins
Wednesday
  • Veggie Burgers on Cornmeal Waffles Cakes
  • Roasted Potato Fries
Thursday
  • Beef Vegetable Casserole (using up vegetables & sauces from the freezer)
  • Roasted Carrots
Friday
  • Leftovers

Monday, December 9, 2013

Menu Plan, December 8 - 14

     We are gearing up for another busy week in our house.  Our church has their annual Christmas Program this weekend, which includes three performances.  This year is a little unusual for me, because I am not participating for the first time in over ten years.  J.T., however, will still be there for every rehearsal and performance.  I planned our menu around his rehearsal/performance schedule.  On his busier nights, I picked meals that were very quick to prepare or already partially done.  We are looking forward to Christmas break and are ready to get these hectic weeks behind us!  

Sunday
  • Turkey & Rice Casserole
  • Roasted Sweet Potatoes, Squash, & Zucchini
  • Green Beans
  • Cherry Pie
Monday
  • Tuna Croquettes
  • Roasted Brussels and Potatoes
Tuesday
Wednesday
  • Veggie Burgers on Cornmeal Waffles Cakes
  • Sweet Potato Fries
Thursday
  • Homemade Hamburger Helper
Friday
  • Leftovers

Friday, December 6, 2013

Millet Tomato Soup


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     Although my favorite tomato soup is Pappa al Pomodoro, this particular tomato soup comes in second.  I know I posted a soup recipe just over a week ago, but we are finally getting real December weather in Alabama.  Cooler temperatures scream soup and cornbread to this southern girl.  I decided to use millet in place of the pasta called for in Ina's original recipe.  Millet is a gluten-free grain the cooks relatively quickly.  I chose this grain because I knew it would thicken the soup and give it a heartier bite than rice or pasta would lend.  Although my Dad refers to millet as bird seed, it is a powerful grain that is high in both fiber and protein.  Be sure to buy Muir Glen brand tomatoes to use in this recipe (and all your recipes!).  In my opinion (this is not a paid endorsement), this is the best brand of canned tomatoes you can purchase in the grocery store.  As with many soups, I think this tastes better a day or two after it is made. Make this over the weekend and reheat for an easy weeknight meal. 


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• 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 3 cups onions, chopped
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 cups chicken stock, preferably homemade
• 3 cups water
• 1 (28 ounce) can Muir Glen fire-roasted crushed tomatoes
• 2 ½ teaspoons Celtic sea salt
• 1 teaspoon coarse ground black pepper
• ½ cup millet

Directions
  1. Heat the olive oil in a large dutch oven over medium-low heat. Add the onions and sauté until translucent and golden yellow, about 15 minutes.
  2. Stir in the garlic and cook 30 seconds, or until fragrant.  Add the chicken stock, water, tomatoes, sea salt, pepper, and millet.  Bring to a boil, cover, and reduce the heat to a simmer.  Cook for 30 minutes.  Serves 5.


Make ahead:  This soup can be made in advance and heated just before serving.  Freeze up to 3 months.   

Menu Plan, December 1 - 7

     I am a week behind posting our menu plan, but Thanksgiving weekend was very busy.  We had seven people at my parents house for our annual Thanksgiving lunch.  Over the course of five days, I learned to become very flexible with my meal plan and found out quickly it could not be set in stone.  Lists and spreadsheets keep my life organized and I do not care to deviate much from "the plan."  As the holidays approach, I know plans will change over and over again, but having a rough idea always makes things a little smoother :) 

Sunday
  • Thanksgiving Leftovers
Monday
  • Slow Cooker Pot Roast
  • Roasted Potatoes
  • Green beans
Wednesday
  • Veggie Burgers on Cornmeal Waffles Cakes
  • Sweet Potato Fries
Thursday
  • Butternut Squash Soup
  • Cornbread Muffins
Friday
  • Leftovers