So She Won't Be Disappointed

For today's Tasty Tuesday, I'm posting my recipe for homemade English Muffins.  This one is for the City Wife, Country Life gal, because she was craving English Muffins yesterday, and when I saw that she was disappointed that she didn't get to post about them today, I just had to share my recipe!  They are so very good, but not like anything you buy at the store.  They aren't the sour dough kind, either...I tried sour dough starter once, and there was a comment by someone in the house about it "smelling like death", so I tossed it out.  I would like to give it a go, again, though.  Anyway, my recipe is from the Baking Bites blog.  She has some amazing recipes there...like, homemade Samoa Girl Scout cookies.  WOW, those are good!  And since the Girls Scouts are openly pro-choice, this is a much better and tastier option, IMHO.  

English Muffins
1/3 cup water, warm (110F)
1 tbsp sugar
2 1/2 tsp active dry yeast
1 cup nonfat milk, slightly warm (100-110F) **I'm shameless, so I use whole milk instead**
3/4 tsp salt
2 cups all purpose flour

 

In a large bowl, whisk together water, sugar and yeast and let mixture stand for 10 minutes, until slightly foamy.
Using a wooden spoon, stir in remaining ingredients and mix until smooth.
Cover with plastic wrap and set aside for 40 minutes.

Heat a griddle/nonstick frying pan over medium/medium-high heat (water dropped on the griddle evaporates very quickly). Lightly grease with cooking spray.
Drop dough by scant 1/4 cupfuls onto greased surface and cook until medium brown on the bottom. 

Normally, I use my plug-in griddle, and I can cook all of them at once, but I didn't feel like cleaning it after, so I went with the cast iron skillet this time:

The top with look set and the sides will appear somewhat dry. The exact time depends on the temperature of your griddle and the size of your muffins, but expect this to take several minutes. Flip over and cook 2nd side until brown.  Cool on wire rack for at least 15 minutes or until completely cool.

The recipe says it makes about 10-12 muffins, but I usually only get 8, because we like them on the large side...apparently, I ate one straight off the skillet I only got 7 this time:

When ready to serve, split muffins with a fork and toast.
Serve with butter, jam, peanut butter, etc.  SO GOOD!  For St. Patrick's Day this year, we used these to make Shamrock Toasties a la Catholic Cuisine:

 Enjoy!  

 

Tasty Tuesday!

A cousin of mine recommended this recipe on Facebook, and, due to pregnancy cravings, I just had to try it immediately!  She also thought it was funny that only a pregnant woman could crave something that she'd never even eaten before...I'm sure some of you can relate =)  Anyway, it's very simple, but it was sooo good!  So good, I actually want one right now...

Taco Bell Mexican Pizzas a la Homemade!

The recipe is from Lynn's Kitchen Adventure's.  Her pictures are prettier than mine...

Homemade Taco Bell Mexican Pizzas:

INGREDIENTS:

1 package tostada shells (or, you can deep fry flour tortillas...way too much work, but probably really tasty)

1 can refried beans

1/2 lb. taco meat (I used the recipe here)

shredded cheese (cheddar, colby jack, or a mexican blend)

1 jar taco sauce (I used Old El Paso brand, and I'm now addicted!)

1 chopped tomato (optional)

1 can sliced black olives (optional)

a few sprigs chopped green onion (optional...I actually didn't use these, but they would have been good!)

sour cream, salsa, and/or guacamole for garnish

DIRECTIONS:

Layer tostada shell with beans, meat, taco sauce and cheese.  Place another tostada shell on top.  Cover that with taco sauce, olives, tomatoes, onions, and more cheese.  Bake in 400 degree oven for about 8 minutes, or until cheese is melted.  

What's so great about these little guys is that the recipe is totally flexible!  I made a batch of these on a Friday without the meat, and they were very good.  They make for a very quick and easy lunch for the kids, and depending on the ingredients you choose, can also be pretty healthy.  You can also just do a single shell with all the toppings, which is even easier...that's what I did with the meatless ones.  I'd like to try and find a good homemade re-fried beans recipe that uses black beans, as we prefer that to the traditional canned kind, but the canned ones worked just fine.  

Oh, and that link for the taco meat recipe has a fantastic cheese enchilada recipe with a sour cream sauce that is just awesome!  

Enjoy!  And, hop on over to the City Wife, Country Life blog to see what other people are making for Tasty Tuesday =)