Peach BBQ Sauce

I have had several people ask for my Peach Chipotle BBQ Sauce recipe. I hesitated posting it because I thought I might market it. However, I have decided that I like sharing far more than I like making money. So, here is my not so secret Peach Chipotle BBQ Sauce recipe.


Two #10 cans Ketchup

6 Tbls chipotle seasoning

3 Tbls chili seasoning

1 1/2 tsp mace seasoning

8 cups puréed peaches

1 1/2 Cups puréed onion

I puréed sweet pepper

1 Cup apple cider vinegar

4 Tbls Worcestershire sauce

1 1/2 cups Molasses

4 Tbls paprika

1 Tbls liquid smoke

1 Tbls minced garlic


I then bottle it and seal the bottles to use through out the year, or to give it to friends. It goes really well with my smoked pork ribs. Hmmm... I may just have to fire up the smoker. It's about that time again. 

Dinner Rolls

We have been making these for years…kinda. I was introduced to the idea of dinner in a role when I was going to school. I can’t remember exactly what the ingredients were other than I believe it had cream cheese and ham. It may have had ranch dressing as well. Anyways if it didn’t have those ingredients we have added them and then some…. The past couple of days we have tried a couple of new ideas with terrific results. Previously we have used a different recipe for the roll dough, but the results of this past couple of days prompted my daughter to ask me to write the recipe down so I chose to use my blog that way she can find it while she's at school. So, now you know the why I will now tell you the how:

Dough-

1 1/2 Cups Warm Water

1/4 +Cup Canola Oil

1/3 –Cup Honey

2 Tbsp. Yeast

1/2 Tbsp. Salt

1 Cup Oat flour

1 to 1 1/2 Cups Wheat flour

*2 Tbsp. Dry Basil

* This is optional, but it is really good especially for the pizza roll.

Approximately 3 Cups of White flour.

When I say approximately I have learned that I use just as much as I need to have the dough pull away from the sides of the bowl it may be a little less or a little more thus approximately . 

You will notice also that I used the + and – signs for oil and honey. This is because I don’t use exact measurements, this may drive some of you crazy, but I was once told that bread is not an exact science and therefore to work on principles rather than exact amounts. That being said I do use measuring cups. Before measuring cups were available people still made bread so, don’t worry too much about exact measurements it will turn out ok as long as you are close to the amounts and at the end the dough pulls away from the bowl. The idea is to make a soft dough but not sticky. That makes for a light roll.

Roll your dough into a rectagle about a 1/4 inch thick.

Preheat oven to 350^o F.

Once your rolls are rolled and cut you will let them sit for 15 minutes or until they begin to rise. Then you can throw them in the oven and cook them for 20-25 minutes.

Now what to put inside the roll? Let your imagination run wild, but here are a couple of ideas that we really like.

Philly Cheese Steak

8 oz Cream Cheese

2-3 heaping scoops of Mayonaise just to help the cream cheese more spreadable

1 Tbsp. Worcestershire Sauce

1 tsp. Chipolte tabasco sauce (Note if you are afraid of the heat of the Chipolte, don't be you can't taste the heat, but it gives depth to the flavor.)

1 Bell Pepper Chopped

1 Medium Onion Chopped

1 lbs ground beef.

1 1/2 Cups grated Swiss Cheese.

Sauté the onions, peppers, and meat together. Mix the Cream Cheese, Mayo, Worcestershire sauce, and Chipolte tabasco sauce together and  then spread it on the rolled out dough. Sprinkle the sautéed ingredients over the top of your other mixture sprinkle Swiss Cheese over that and roll the dough like you would cinnamon rolls. Cut them 1 1/2 inches and place them an inch apart on a cooking sheet. Let set for 15 minutes then throw them in the oven.

Pizza rolls

Spread  Alfredo sauce on rolled out dough then add your favorite ingredients. Obviously Red sauce will work as well. Roll that puppy up and follow the previous instructions.

Ranch Rolls

8 oz Cream cheese

2-3 heaping scoops of  Mayo

1/2 Pkg  of dry ranch seasoning

2 Cups of Hamburger or Ham

2 Cups of Grated Cheese of your choice

I could add several more but there are plenty of other sites that will get your culinary imagination going. I just wanted to share these ones because they were such a hit at our New Years party as well our dinner tonight.

Now, I think I will go pull out my dumb bells and work some of this off again. Hope you enjoy! I know we did.  

Kid Tested and approved :)

Our Favorite Salsa Recipe Just Leveled Up

As the summer begins to wind down we begin to look forward to the blessings of our hard work. The tomatoes that seemed to take forever to begin to ripen are now beginning to trickle through our door with more regularity. The onions have been waiting, and the peppers...well, my peppers this year seem to be playing catch up. Now it is time to bring all these vegetables together for a party of flavors that hopefully will last through the winter season.

This recipe is one that my sister came across a couple of years ago, and we have loved it. It has been our favorite recipe ever since we were introduced to it. However, we just can't leave a good thing alone. Sometimes it works for us, sometimes it works against us. This time we added chipotle to the recipe and it definitely worked for us. That is the flavor that sent my tongue into a happy dance with the first batch of salsa this year. So, I hope you enjoy!

Our Favorite Salsa

8 Cups tomatoes cored, seeded, and diced. (dicing the tomatoes rather than blending helps keep it thick)
2 1/2 Cups         Onions
1 1/2 Cups         Bell Peppers
6                        Jalapenos (adjust as desired)
6 Cloves            Garlic (I always sneak more in ;) )
1-2 tsp               Cummin
2 Tbls                Salt
1/3 Cup             Vinegar
1/3 Cup             Sugar
15oz                  Tomato sauce
12oz                  Tomato paste
4 Tbls                Chipotle peppers blended from a can (I will add more when my wife is not looking ;) ) 


Combine ingredients in a stock pot and simmer for 10 minutes bottle and process for 10 more minutes.    Let the happy dance begin!

Honey Wheat Oat Bread

Sometimes I get the hankering to create my own recipes. I usually go for a search on the internet and browse sites gleaning the principles of the recipes that I find interesting, then I start with a basic recipe and adjust different ingredients until it works. I like a simple base to work off such as this recipe. I will then experiment with things like adding basil or maybe even cheese. I might add cinnamon or whatever, but now that I have my base to work off of I can have fun. I hope you enjoy. I know that we certainly have.

2 Cups Warm Water
2 TBS Yeast
3/4 TBS Salt
1/4 Cup Honey
1/4 Cup Oil.
3 Cups Wheat Flour
1 Cup White Flour
1 1/2 Cups Oat Flour
2 TBS of dough enhancer

Sprinkle Yeast on top of Warm Water and let stand for 5 to 10 minutes. If the yeast has fallen to the bottom of the water and seems not to be growing I like sprinkling a small pinch of brown sugar around. It is kinda fun watching the yeast start to fizz and rise to the top of the water.
After the yeast is activated I add the oil, honey, and salt. I like to put the oil and honey in the same container, oil first then honey, it make the honey come out easier. After that the dough enhancer and flours. I knead the dough in the machine for 10 minutes then divide it in two and form them into loaves and put them in greased loaf pans and let them rise til the double in size. Preheat oven to 350 degrees while you are waiting for the dough to rise. Then bake in oven for about 30 minutes or until the bread is browned and sounds hollow. If you like your crust soft, like I do, then I spread butter over the top.

Note: Oat flour= uncooked oatmeal run through the blender.

Cory's Chipotle Pepper Stew

This recipe exceeded my expectations. I had 2 lbs of stew meat and I was thinking about fajitas, DeeAnn suggested a stew. So this morning we gathered the ingredients and I made it at work. Oh, it was both yummy and satisfying and the flavors are still rolling around in my mouth. MMMMmmmmMMMM.....


1 Large Red Bell Pepper medium fine chopped.
1 Large Onion medium fine chopped
1 16oz can of Kidney Beans
1 16oz can of Garbanzo Beans
1 16oz can of Stewed Tomatoes blended
1 16oz can of Diced Tomatoes w/ basil, garlic, and oregano
2 lbs Beef Stew Meat
1 pkg Grill Mates Chipotle Pepper Marinade
1 C. Water
1/2 C. chopped Cilantro

Cut the meat into roughly 1 inch by 1/4 inch pieces and then brown it. Add the onions, peppers, and water along with the marinade seasonings. Simmer about 15 minutes add the Tomatoes and Beans simmer another 15 minutes then add the Cilantro.

Sprinkle with Cheese and a dollop of sour cream. Yum Yum. :)

Reporting in Week 7

End of Week 6

Well, we are now over half way through this contest and this week has been kind of blah for me. I wrote in my earlier entry about my mental clicks, so in my report I thought I would share with you what I have done to eat less. I must give my disclaimer before I start. I am not an expert. But then again what is an expert but a has-been-little-more-than-a-drip. I have found that what works for one person may not work for another. What is healthy for one person may not be healthy for another. Each of us must learn to read our own body and understand it. Though I do believe that the basic principles of my plan are not dangerous unless taken to an extreme. So, what do I mean when I say eat less and move more? Well, first when I eat out I immediately ask for a togo container and before I take one bite I put half of it away. Second, at home we eat off of mostly the square tupperware plates or use the normal cereal bowls. I now use the smaller bowl where I can. When I use the plate I now have the discipline not to eat more than firsts and a couple of sneaks off of Matthew or Spencer's plates.(mostly for the reaction ;~) ) It is much easier now that my stomach has shrunk.
We have increased our vegetable intake, not that we are eating things we didn't use to, but our desire for more vegetables has increased. I would eat more fruit, but my family is a little slow to catch on to the fruit thing and I usually like my fruit with things that kinda negate their value as a source of positive nutrients. Oh well, I am sure that I will be inspired to eat more fruit sooner or later.
As for dessert, well I have no intention on giving that up, but instead of having a cereal bowl full of ice cream or even the smaller bowl. I settle for a snack cup. Dessert is where I feel creative. I have discovered a new favorite dessert. Here is my recipe for my cookie dough tongue teaser:

1 small cookie dough ball (peanut butter is my favorite)

about 3 to 5 Tbs. of Vanilla ice cream

place the small dough ball in the bottom of a tupperware snack cup then put it in the microwave for 30 seconds. Place the ice cream on top and drizzle with caramel. 

The trick is learning that when you eat a little it costs less and when you eat it slow you let the flavors wrap around your tongue and allow the memory of the flavor linger longer. It is much more satisfying than the "bite swallow, tastes good, but its gone method." 

I have noticed an increase in my desire for hot foods as well. Spicy is good until later that is... but we wont go there. Last week I happened to look up on the internet foods that increase your metabolism, it was interesting to see how many of those foods were foods that I have been drawn to. 

End of Week 7 still falling

Exercise this week has been up and down. Tai Chi on Monday and Wednesday due to sleeping in, Biggest Loser 10 minute workouts for 30min.on Tuesday, Thursday, and abbreviated to 20min. on Friday. This was not one of my stellar weeks, although when I did sweat I did sweat big time. So we shall see how it goes. Tomorrow I am going to have to have a good workout or the scale might not budge. It seems like It is stuck on my scale at home this week. I suppose it is bound to happen a couple more times on my journey.

Dad's Bread Recipe

Dad's Bread was famous in our neighborhood. I remember we had an auction once and one loaf went for $35 dollars. My dad was kind of embarrassed about the fuss, but we all new it was good. Dad didn't ever go straight off of a recipe, but this was pretty much it, except he mixed the wheat with 50% white flour. I purposely have left out one secret ingredient, but then again how do you measure love?

2 Tbls Yeast in ½ cup warm water
5 cups hot water from tap
7 cups unsifted whole wheat flour
2/3 cups honey (or molasses, or 1/3 cup each)
2/3 cups cooking oil
2 Tbls Salt
5-6 cups more whole wheat flour

1. Sprinkle yeast in ½ cup warm water. Do Not Stir
2. Combine 5 cups hot tap water and 7 cups flour in Mixer Bowl and mix on LOW speed, while you combine oil, salt and honey (or molasses) in a separate bowl.
3. Add the salt, oil and honey to the mixture in the bread mixer, and continue to mix until everything is well blended.
4. By this time, the yeast should have had plenty of time to brew. The yeast should be on top of the water. Add to ingredients in the mixing bowl and blend thoroughly.
5. Add 5-6 more cups of flour. Let the dough knead on LOW speed for 10 minutes
6. During this time, grease four bread pans. Oil hands and the counter. Remove dough from mixer ¼ of the amount at a time. The dough will be a little sticky, but will easily form in to loaves by shaping on the oiled counter and drawing in four ways to center of dough to form the loaf. Place in pan with folded side to bottom of pan. Watch the bread so that it does not rise more than 1/3 in bulk.
7. Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes. When bread has baked, remove immediately fomr the pans. For a softer crust, brush tops of loaves with oil or butter. Cover with a kitchen towel to cool.

Variations
Sweet Rolls: pat out desired amount of basic bread recipe to ½’ thickness. Sprinkle on cinnamon. Sugar, raisins and nuts. Roll up and slice off about 1” thick. Place in muffin tins or pans. Bake at 350 degrees 20 minutes. Add glaze, if desired.

Hamburger or Hot Dog Buns: Add rye flour to whole wheat half and half. Form dough into buns. Brush on egg white and sprinkle with sesame or poppy seeds.