Apple Dapple Cake

I really do enjoy anything that contains apples. This is one of my favorites, Apple Dapple Cake. It is a simple, quick recipe that your family will love. Give it a try.

If you have any questions or comments we'd enjoy hearing from you. Just write to us at:

cookingwithsteveandkim@yahoo.com

INGREDIENTS:

1 cup flour
1 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon of salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon of cinnamon
A couple of dashes nutmeg and cloves
2 eggs
1 stick butter (very soft)
3 cups apples, sliced and peeled
1/2 cup walnuts and raisins (optional)

PREPARATION:
Mix wets. Add to dries, then stir in apples. Pour into a buttered 8x8 pan. Bake at 350 degrees for approximately 35-40 minutes. Take out of the oven, let cool for a short time and then serve with your
favorite ice-cream or independently, your choice.

Happy Eating
Steve and Kim

SIMPLY CHICKEN

Simple Chicken breast recipes are one thing that a recipe box or kitchen should not be without. Between soccer games, karate, and doctor appointments life can be very hectic and cooking a 5 course meal is just out of the question. However our families still deserve a well balanced, nutritious and tasty meal; which means we have to improvise and come up with recipes that are simple, quick and meet those requirements.

These simple chicken breast recipes are just the ticket to sitting your family down to a hot, nutritious and flavorful meal. They will take you from the chicken to the table with ease and little time. Enjoy!

This first one is very simple and is a one pan wonder. My family really enjoys it and it only takes me about 10 minutes to throw together and then about 35 minutes to cook. I love cooking this on nights when my husband works because it smells wonderful and when he walks in he always says “ooooo, can‘t wait for dinner.”

Ranch Chicken with Veggies

4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
2 c veggie of choice (carrots work well)
1 c Italian bread crumbs, plus a little extra
2 packages of dry Ranch dressing mix

Preheat oven to 350.

Spray or oil the a 9x13 dish and coat with extra bread crumbs.

In a bowl mix the ranch dressing and 1 cup of bread crumbs together. Coat the chicken in the mixture and place in pan. Then put your veggie in the mixture, stir to evenly coat and then place carrots in the pan around the chicken.

Bake for 35 minutes then serve with slices of bread or biscuits.

This next simple chicken breast recipe is a marvelous well-balanced meal that can be done in one pan. It’s incredibly easy to make and simple to clean up. This recipe can also be converted to a crock pot if necessary and baked during the day.

Chicken and Rice

8 boneless skinless chicken breast
1 can onion soup
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1/3 can milk
1 box of long grain and wild rice mix
1 16 oz bag of frozen veggies

Preheat oven to 350.

Evenly spread the rice in a 13x9 inch pan. Then sprinkle the herb packet that came with the rice over it, and top with the veggies. In a bowl mix the onion soup with one can of water and pour it over the veggies. Then place the chicken on top of the rice. In a bowl mix the mushroom soup with the milk and pour this over the chicken. Bake for 1 ½ hours.

Both of these recipes do involve quiet a few ingredients and minimal amounts of prep time. However if you need something with almost no prep and few ingredients then you can always opt for the classic; throw some chicken in a pan and pour a can of cream of chicken over it, serve it with instant mashed potatoes and a veggie. This simple chicken breast recipe has been around for ages and has become a favorite quick meal for most families.

We'd love to hear from you and are always looking for ideas for our postings here. Why not take a minute to drop us an e-mail? Just click HERE to contact us.
Thanks and good eating.
Steve and Kim

THE BEST BREAD IS HOME MADE BREAD

While growing up I remember the smell of fresh-baked bread being prepared by my mother. Back then there was no such thing as the automatic bread maker so she had to do everything by hand. Oh the smells that came from her kitchen! If you've never experienced this smell then you haven't lived. Why not give baking your own bread a try? You'll enjoy it I'm sure. Here are a couple of our favorites.

There is nothing like fresh homemade bread and these two will fill your home with all those lovely baking flavors so typical of bread baking.

Moist Potato Tea Bread

What You Need:

* 1 C of flour
* 1/2 t baking soda
* 1/4 t salt
* 1/2 t pumpkin pie spice
* 1 C cold sweet potatoes, mashed
* 1/2 C sugar
* 3 T canola oil
* 2 T of buttermilk
* 1 t vanilla extract
* 1 large egg

How to Make It:

1. Place the oven temperature on 350 degrees and allow the oven to preheat.
2. Lightly spray a loaf pan with a non stick cooking spray.
3. Dust the loaf pan lightly with flour and tap out any excess.
4. Place the flour into a mixing bowl.
5. Add the baking soda, salt and pumpkin spice.
6. Whisk together until the ingredients are blended well.
7. Place the mashed sweet potatoes into a separate mixing bowl.
8. Sprinkle the sugar over the top of the potatoes.
9. Pour the oil, buttermilk and the vanilla into the mixture.
10. Break the egg into the mixture then whisk until blended together well.
11. Transfer the sweet potato mixture into the bowl with the flour mixture.
12. Stir just enough to moisten the dry ingredients through.
13. Place the batter into the prepared loaf pan.
14. Bake 28 minutes or until a butter knife inserted in the center comes out clean.
15. Cool the loaf in the pan on a wire rack for 12 minutes.
16. Invert the pan over a wire rack and allow the loaf to cool 1 hour before serving.

Serves: 1 loaf

Sweet potatoes make breads very moist so there's no need for the extra butter or oil. Sweet potatoes are also a great source of beta carotene along other nutrients making them a healthy choice any time of year. Pumpkin can be used in place the sweet potatoes if you prefer.

The vegetables in this best bread recipe make it a very healthy bread to treat your family with.

Farmer's Country Loaf

What You Need:

* 1 C warm water (110 degrees)
* 2 1/2 t active dry yeast
* 1 1/2 t salt
* 1 1/2 C + 2 T bread flour

How to Make It:

1. Pour the warm water into a mixing bowl.
2. Sprinkle the yeast over the top of the water.
3. Allow the mixture to stand 5 minutes or until it begins to bubble.
4. Once the mixture begins to bubble, stir in the salt and the flour until well blended.
5. Use a flexible rubber spatula and knead the dough by folding it over and pushing it into the bottom of the bowl.
6. Knead the dough 4 times.
7. Sprinkle the remaining flour over the dough and continue to knead the dough as directed above for 5 minutes or until the dough is spongy.
8. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and push the dough into a ball shape.
9. Cover the bowl with a kitchen towel, place in a warm area and allow the dough to rise 1 hour.
10. Use the rubber spatula and stir the dough. Cover again and allow the dough to rise for another hour.
11. Sprinkle a flat surface lightly with flour.
12. Place the dough onto the floured surface and form a loaf.
13. Use additional flour on the board if the dough becomes too sticky.
14. Sprinkle a baking sheet with flour in an area about double the size of the loaf.
15. Place the loaf on the floured area, cover loosely with plastic wrap and let the dough rise 1 hour or until it is double in size.
16. Set the oven temperature to 375 and allow the oven to preheat.
17. Remove the plastic wrap from the loaf.
18. Fill a spray bottle with water and spray the inside of the oven with the water.
19. Bake the bread 5 minutes then spray the oven again being careful not to spray the bread.
20. Bake the bread 12 minutes then spray the oven again.
21. Continue baking the bread 12 more minutes or until the bread is browned and crusty on top.
22. Allow the bread to cool on a wire rack 1 hour before slicing.

Serves: 1 loaf

This is a wonderful bread to serve with that Easter dinner. Be sure to have plenty of butter or better yet apple butter to smother each slice with.

This is truly one of our best bread recipes. Do not be afraid of the yeast. It is easier than you think. If you wish you can add one teaspoon of sugar to your dough, with your yeast, it will make the raising process faster; I often do it when I'm in a hurry. I also place the bread in any warm place I can find. I have a friend who places it in her bed, under the duvet, with the electric blanket switched on!! Can you believe it?

Okay, so now you have two of our best bread recipes, what do you think of them?
Let us know by e-mail at our blog address HERE.

**PS. Would you please twitter this article to your friends? We're sure they'll enjoy it as much as you have. Thank you.
Steve and Kim: