Hot Dog Bun Croutons

In these uncertain times, I’m trying not to throw anything away. I can’t believe I never thought to make these from leftover buns. They’re the perfect consistency! They’re a little sweeter than regular bread but I’m really happy with the recipe I found. Next time maybe I’ll try making my own brats instead :)

https://www.savoryexperiments.com/hot-dog-bun-homemade-croutons/

Lemon Zucchini Bread

It's also Zucchini season and in the hubby's grand tradition of gardening, we have more than enough. The hubby is actually the one who sent me this one. It was really yummy. I will say the icing is the key to extra lemony taste. I will say I should have doubled or tripled the amount of lemon in the bread. I also like that this particular recipe only made one loaf which is great for just 2 people so it can be freshly made often.

https://tastesbetterfromscratch.com/lemon-zucchini-bread/

Italian Zucchini Bread

Oh wow--probably one of my new favorite savory breads, and no yeast! I didn't take into account the elevation and density of the bread. It actually took about 1.5 hours to bake, so it didn't get out in time for dinner. When the hubby tasted it, he said, "it needs marinara". Noted for next time. I actually think I'll put it in a 13x9 jelly roll pan or baking dish and make breadsticks or make muffins. It didn't seem like a traditional loaf pan was the right dish for this recipe. Since then I've found more recipes in this category with zucchini. Can't wait to try more. :)

http://thesouthernladycooks.com/2015/08/06/italian-zucchini-bread/

Chocolate Chip Zucchini Banana Bread

It's that time of year. Between the months of July-September, I post all the latest zucchini recipe finds that I can come up with. Even after all that, I still end up with a freezer full of shredded and chopped squash. We are blessed to have such a lush garden. This is a great twist on traditional banana bread and with the chocolate chips, you could probably get the kids to eat it.

http://www.spendwithpennies.com/chocolate-chip-zucchini-banana-bread/

The Ultimate Bread Recipe

One of my favorite Facebook groups is Homesteading with Patara of Appalachia's Homestead. One of my first experiences making bread was with The Mixer Bible. Now that one took 6 hours of multiple processes. Then I discovered the following recipe and am ecstatic that it only takes 2 hours and "boom!" bread! It's a good thing too because I forgot to buy bread this week and we're likely snowed in this weekend. I couldn't let the teenager go without his grilled cheeses, egg sandwiches and PBJs. :) Seriously though, if you're interested at all in Homesteading even in a small way, this group and this recipe need to be in your life.

http://appalachiashomestead.blogspot.com/2015/03/the-ultimate-bread-recipe.html

BIEROCKS (GERMAN STUFFED ROLLS)

I'm in the following (amazing) facebook group: Homesteading with Patara of Appalchia's Homestead
I get a ton of good homesteading tips as well as anecdotal stories to read and share. A few days ago, someone posted that they were able to get cabbages for 15c/lb, so I went to my local grocer and found them for 25c/lb. I was so excited I bought 8 head! I also have been working on my bread-making skills so I decided it was time to make bierocks from scratch.

I'm so glad that I've spent the past week using my Mixer Bible to learn tips and tricks about bread making, such as warming up the mixer bowl in warm water, warming up the stove or microwave as a place to let the dough rise, and making sure the temp of melted butter and milk is at 100 degrees F so it doesn't kill the yeast. I also had made lasagna the night before and had leftover beef/sausage/onion mix. I put the cabbage in a pan and added the meat and was done in a flash. [The sausage also added a nice spice.] Finally, I sprinkled shredded cheese for extra yumminess. The one thing I forgot to do is add egg and/or butter to the tops, but it still was a hit with the family. After watching a couple of YouTube videos, I decided to make it like a pie with 2 pieces of dough, one placed on top and pinch the edges. If you're looking for a short cut, Rhodes rolls are a great alternative.

Next project is homemade sauerkraut and repeat this recipe replacing the cabbage with sauerkraut. :)

https://www.curiouscuisiniere.com/bierocks/

Pina Colada Bread

Our local grocery store had pineapples 98c each, so the hubby (and his shopping addiction) bought 14! So, last night I looked through "The Best of Colorado" cookbook--a Christmas gift from the hubby a few years ago. I found Pina Colada Bread. I think it was delicious, but definitely needs the glaze to enjoy it. We tried it without the glaze and agreed it wasn't as good. I think I added too much baking powder and/or baking soda as it slightly affected the flavor. Next time I will make a couple of adjustments, but overall it was very good. It was fun to make a Colorado favorite. :)

Dark Chocolate Zucchini Coconut Bread

I'm pulling double zucchini duty today. The first is a corn zucchini chowder (see other blog) and for dessert, this super delicious bread is more like a cake loaf; chocolate chips make everything irresistible. And--it turned out beautifully even in high altitude here in Colorado.

http://flavorthemoments.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/dark-chocolate-coconut-zucchini-bread1-flavorthemoments.com_-500x668.jpg

Molasses Zucchini Bread

Holy moly! Jason keeps bringing in more and more zucchini, so it looks like I'm going to be busy blogger for the next couple of weeks. Yesterday, I used my "Baking at High Altitude" cookbook and made Zucchini Bread. I have to say, it's probably the best sweet bread I have ever made. Even Jason says he can't get enough. I will probably end up making more and freezing it for holiday gifts. Every recipe in this book is amazing--the Muffin Lady wins again. :)