Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Blueberry Cinnamon Rolls

I saw this recipe on Pinterest.  I love cinnamon rolls and blueberries so why not combine them.  They were awesome!  Even my oldest, who hates blueberries, couldn't eat enough of these. 

Dough:
2 cups whole milk
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup sugar
2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast
4 cup flour
1/2 cup flour
1/2 heaping tsp baking powder
1/2 scant tsp baking soda
1/2 tbsp salt

Blueberry Filling:
1 pint blueberries  (I used 2 C. frozen blueberries)
3 tablespoons granulated sugar
2 teaspoons cornstarch (I wanted my filling a little thicker so I used a little more cornstarch)
2-3 teaspoons lemon juice
3/4 cup water

Additional Blueberries for Sprinkling:
1 pint blueberries (I didn't use these extra blueberries)
2 Tbsp sugar
4 Tbsp cinnamon
2 Tbsp flour

Prepare Blueberry Filling: In a small saucepan, combine 1 pint of the blueberries, sugar and cornstarch. Stir in lemon juice and water. Turn heat to medium and cook, stirring often, until mixture begins to thicken slight. Remove from heat and allow to cool.

Prepare the Dough: Mix whole milk, vegetable oil and sugar in a pan. Scald to 150 degrees. Let cool until lukewarm (~45 minutes). Sprinkle in yeast and let sit. Then add 4 C flour, stir mixture together. Cover and let sit for one hour.   Add 1/2 C flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Stir mixture together.  Divide the dough in half.

Sprinkle surface generously with flour and form into a rectangle, roll the dough thin, maintaining a rectangular shape. Spread half of the blueberry filling onto the dough. Sprinkle half of the additional blueberries for sprinkling on top. Roll the dough toward you. Pinch the seam to seal it. Grease foil cake or pie pans. Cut rolls 3/4 to 1 inch thick and lay in greased pans. Repeat with other half of dough and blueberry filling.  Cover the rolls and let sit for 30 minutes. Bake at 375 for 15 to 18 minutes.    We frosted ours with cream cheese frosting!  Yummy!

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Mediterranean Pork with Cous Cous

I saw this recipe on Kitchen Cafe.  My kids love cous cous and pork so I thought it was good combination for them.  I was a little worried about  the spices being to strong, but they were perfect.  All my kids had seconds so I consider that a hit. 

2 to 2 1/2 pounds boneless pork loin, trimmed of fat
2 tablespoons olive oil
3/4 cup chicken broth
1/2 tablespoons paprika
1/2 tablespoons garlic powder
2 1/4 teaspoon dried sage
1/4 teaspoon dried rosemary
1/4 teaspoon dried marjoram
1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon oregano
1 teaspoon basil
1-2 cups couscous, prepared according to package directions

In a liquid measuring cup combine the oil, broth and spices. Cut small slits with a paring knife into the pork roast (or pork chops). Place the pork in a 4-quart slow cooker and pour the broth/spice mixture over the top of the pork. Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for 7-8 hours until the pork is tender.  Remove the pork from the slow cooker and shred into pieces. Return the shredded pork to the slow cooker and toss with the juices/liquid. Serve the meat/juices over couscous.

Monday, November 14, 2011

Baked Creamy Taquitos

This was a recipe I saw on Pinterest.  It came from Our Best Bites.  It looked really easy and simple.  I did find that I used more chicken and cheese than the recipe called for and so I had to double the sauce.  They were delicious.  My 18 month old, who doesn't have a very adventureous appetite, loved these.  She ate a whole one by herself. 

1/3 cup (3 oz) cream cheese
1/4 cup green salsa
1 Tablespoon fresh lime juice
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
3 Tablespoons chopped cilantro
2 Tablespoons sliced green onions
2 cups shredded cooked chicken
1 cup grated pepperjack cheese (I just used shredded colby jack and it was still delicious)
about 12 small corn or flour tortillas (I used whole wheat flour tortillas)
kosher salt
cooking spray

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Line a baking sheet with foil and lightly coat with cooking spray.  Heat cream cheese in the microwave for about 20-30 seconds so it's soft and easy to stir. Add green salsa, lime juice, cumin, chili powder, onion powder and garlic powder and mix well. Add cilantro, green onions, chicken and pepperjack cheese and combine well.

The corn tortillas are harder to roll without cracking. For the corn tortillas: work with a few tortillas at a time and heat in the microwave until they are soft enough to roll without cracking. It helps to place them between damp paper towels. Usually 20-30 seconds will do it. If you find yours are cracking when you roll them or come unrolled right away, just try heating them longer and try the paper towel thing.  Place 3 Tablespoons of chicken mixture on the lower third of a tortilla, keeping it about 1/2 inch from the edges. Then roll it up as tight as you can.

Place seam side down on the baking sheet. Lay all of the taquitos on the baking sheet and make sure they are not touching each other. Spray the tops lightly with cooking spray or an oil mister and sprinkle some kosher salt on top.

Place pan in oven and bake for 15-20 minutes or until crisp and the ends start to get golden brown. Makes around 12 taquitos.  We dipped our taquitos in a green salsa/sour cream mix.