Copycat Kneaders Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread

About this time of year, I start craving foods made of pumpkin.  This a delicious, moist sweet bread.
Copycat Kneaders Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread
11 Tablespoons butter, softened (about 2/3 cup)
3 cups sugar
4 eggs
1 large can (30 oz.) pumpkin
3 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1 Tablespoon cinnamon
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
2/3 cup water
1 1/2 cups chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 325.  Prepare 3 loaf pans by spraying well with cooking spray.

Cream sugar and butter well.  Add the eggs one at a time, incorporating each well before adding the next.  Mix in the canned pumpkin.
Mix together all of the dry ingredients in a separate bowl.  Measure the water.  Alternate adding the dry ingredients with the water until all are well mixed in.  Stir in the chocolate chips.  Pour into the three prepared pans.  Bake at 325 for 55- 60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.  Cool and take out of pans.

Andelin's Gable House Cheese Broccoli Soup

Ah, just seeing this picture brings back memories!  There used to be a restaurant in St. George, Utah called Andelin's Gable House.  The food was absolutely delicious.  They had a regular menu or you could choose their five course meal.  It was such a treat to go there. They have published a cookbook and recently there was an article in the local newspaper reminiscing about Andelin's Gable House and announcing the cookbook.  My husband clipped this recipe from that article and so I tried it.  I have to say that, even the first time I made it I made some alterations.  I'll note those.  

Andelin's Gable House Cheese Broccoli Soup Recipe

1 lb. broccoli (they used frozen- I used fresh and chopped it pretty fine)

2 medium onions (they said 1 onion), chopped

3 sticks butter (3/4 lb.)

1 1/2 cups flour

8 cups milk

1 can evaporated milk

Salt and Pepper

Sharp Cheddar Cheese, grated (to taste)

In a saucepan, cook the broccoli in well salted water until tender, but not soft.  Put the lid on and set aside.  In a large soup pot, saute the onions in the butter until soft.  Stir in the flour and cook and whisk for about five minutes.  Add the milk and evaporated milk and continue to whisk until thickened.  Add the drained broccoli and stir well and heat.  Remove from heat and add the cheese.  Keep adding cheese and stirring until it suits your taste.  Stir until cheese is melted.  Serve, garnished with a sprinkling of cheese.

Relief Society Buttermilk Bread

I must really like you because I'm sharing my FAVORITE bread recipe with you.  This is a delicious white bread that slices so nicely for toast or sandwiches.  Why call it Relief Society Bread?  When I was Relief Society president, we went out visiting once a week.  We usually went to about four houses on an evening and this recipe makes four small loaves of bread  OR two big ones. This recipe is perfect for a bread maker machine or I do it in my Bosch. 

Relief Society Buttermilk Bread
Put in your bread maker or mixer bowl:
1 Tablespoon yeast
4- 4 1/2  cups flour ( I like to use a mixture of 3 cups all-purpose flour and 1 1/2 to 2 cups bread flour)
2 teaspoons salt
2 Tablespoons butter
1/4 cup honey (spray your cup with cooking spray before measuring and the honey will slide right out)
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
2 cups buttermilk, warmed to baby bottle temperature ( you can use 1/4 cup powdered buttermilk and 2 cups warm water)
 Mix on manual.  Let the bread knead for about 5-8 minutes.  Remove from mixer and divide into two large or 4 small well sprayed loaf pans.  The dough will be very sticky.  Cover and let rise.  Bake at 375 for about 15-18 minutes for small loaves and about 20-25 for large loaves.    Butter the tops when you take it out of the oven.  Remove from pans and let cool on wire rack.

Bacon and Blue Cheese Stuffed Chicken Breasts

I had some Blue cheese I needed to use, so  I googled "blue cheese recipes" and chose this one.  It was really delicious and had great reviews.  You need to use bone-in chicken breast for this.  It has such a good flavor.
 Bacon and Blue Cheese Stuffed Chicken Breasts
1 cup butter (2 sticks) butter, room temperature
4 oz. blue cheese, crumbled
4 slices bacon, cooked and finely chopped
1/4 cup chopped chives or green onion
4 skin-on, bone-in chicken breasts
Pepper to taste
In a large bowl, use a spatula to combine the soft butter, cheese, bacon and chives.  Divide in 1/2.  Put half of the butter compound on the end of a piece of plastic wrap and form into a roll.  Roll tightly in the plastic wrap.

Then roll in a piece of foil.  Label and put in your freezer.  (This makes a great topping for grilled steak or on baked potatoes.  You could even mix it into mashed potatoes.)

Preheat the oven to 425.  Put the chicken in a sprayed square pan.  Carefully lift the skin from the chicken and put about 1/4 of the remaining butter compound under the skin of the breasts.  You'll need to use your hands.  Spread the rest of the butter over the top of the chicken breasts.  Sprinkle with pepper.

  Roast the chicken about 35-40 minutes.  Remove from oven and let stand a few minutes before serving.

Orange Creme Brulee French Toast

I love breakfast foods and having a brunch with family or friends is one of my favorite things to do. Here is one of my favorite things to make. It is a combination of 2 similar recipes, taking my favorite parts from both.

6 tablespoons butter
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 1/2 tablespoon corn syrup
1 loaf Italian bread, 5-6 inches in diameter
6 large eggs
1 1/2 cup half and half
1 teaspoon vanilla
zest of one orange
1/4 teaspoon salt
orange slices for garnish--if desired

Spray or grease one 13 x 9 pan.

in small saucepan, melt butter with brown sugar and corn syrup over moderate heat.  Stir until smooth.  Pour into 9 x 13 baking dish.  

Break french bread into 1 or 2 inch pieces and sprinkle on top of sugar mixture.  In medium bowl, whisk eggs, half and half, vanilla, salt and orange zest until well combined.  Pour egg mixture evenly over bread.  Cover.  Chill 8-24 hours.  In 350 degree oven bake 40-50 minutes.  (If casserole has been brought to room temperature first, reduce baking time to 35-40 minutes)  Garnish with fresh orange slices, if desired.

(I didn't have oranges this time and it tasted great without.)

Chocolate Chip Cookie Brownie Surprise Cakes

My granddaughter, Brielle and I had fun making these yummy treats for FHE when I was visiting them in Wisconsin to welcome Brielle's new baby sister.  These are easy and fast and yummy.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Brownie Surprise Cakes
1 large roll chocolate chip cookie dough (Toll House is good)
1 brownie mix and the ingredients it calls for (oil, eggs, water)
1 bag of "surprise" candy, ie: miniature reese's, rolos, oreo cookies
2 dozen foil cupcake liners

Preheat the oven to 350.  Put the foil liners (we found the paper liners stuck, but the foil ones worked great!) in two muffin tins.  Press a cookie sized piece of dough into the bottom of each liner.  Then put a surprise on top of that.  It can be any miniature candy bar or an oreo cookie.  We used Reese's peanut butter cups.  Then mix up the brownie batter according to the directions and fill the cup to 2/3 full with brownie batter.  Bake for about 14 minutes or until toothpick comes out pretty clean.

What's For Dinner? October

Love Autumn.  Love the Autumn food.  I can't wait for October when it seems okay to make stew again,  Halloween Soup and, oh, the desserts:   my most delicious caramel apple crisp, Pumpkin Pie Cake, and Ginger Snaps that Don't.  Here's my menu plan for the month:

  Beef Stew - I love this yummy stew that combines tomato with cream of mushroom

Mama's Meatloaf

Philly Cheesesteak Sandwiches

Chicken Stuffing Casserole in Crockpot/ Cranberry Sauce

Breakfast Burritos/ Fruit

Ono Burgers/ Oven Fries

Crockpot Beef Stroganoff

Corn Chowder in bread bowls

Patty's Borstch/ Rolls

Nectar of the Gods/ Ham Sammies

Halloween Soup (our Halloween night tradition)/ Pumpkin Bread

Recipes to try:

Chicken Thigh Pasta

Treats:
Most Delicious Caramel Apple Crisp

Ginger Snaps That Don't

Chocolate Chip Cookie Brownie Surprise Cakes