{The Best} Fluffy Whole Wheat Dinner Rolls

Seriously the fluffiest.

Photo Credit to Mel's Kitchen Cafe

1 1/2 cups warm water
3/4 tablespoon instant yeast (or 1 tablespoon active dry yeast)
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
2 tablespoons canola or vegetable oil
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup vital wheat gluten (see note)
3-4 cups whole wheat flour, give or take a little (see note)

In the bowl of a stand mixer or in a large bowl by hand, combine the warm water, yeast, sugar, oil, salt, gluten, and 2 cups of the flour. If you are using active dry yeast instead of instant yeast, let the yeast proof in the warm water and sugar for about 3-5 minutes until it is foamy and bubbly before adding the oil, salt, gluten and flour.
While mixing, gradually add the rest of the flour until the dough has pulled away from the sides of the bowl. Judge the dough by how it feels, not necessarily by the exact flour amount called for in the recipe (see a tutorial on working with yeast here). The dough should be soft and smooth but still slightly tacky to the touch.
Knead the dough in the stand mixer or by hand until it is very smooth and elastic, about 7 minutes in a stand mixer or 10-12 minutes by hand. As the dough is kneaded, it will continue to absorb some of the liquid and become less sticky so take care not to overflour at first as the texture will change as it kneads - and you can always add a bit of flour partway through if it seems overly sticky.
If kneading by hand, try using a bit of oil or cooking spray on the counter to help prevent stickiness instead of flour - that way the dough doesn't get overfloured. Lightly spray a large bowl with cooking spray and place the dough in the bowl. Cover the bowl with lightly greased plastic wrap. Let the dough rise until it has doubled, 1-2 hours.
Lightly punch down the dough and turn it out onto a lightly greased countertop. Divide the dough into 12 equal pieces and form the dough into round balls (a video tip on shaping the dough into rolls here).
Place the rolls on a lightly greased or silpat-lined baking sheet about an inch or two apart. Cover the rolls with lightly greased plastic wrap. Let the plastic wrap gently hang over the sides of the pan to fully cover the rolls but not press them down. Let the rolls rise until doubled, about 45 minutes.
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Bake for 12-14 minutes until lightly browned and cooked through.

Recipe Source: Mel's Kitchen Cafe

Sweet Potato Breakfast Skillet with Bacon

Do I seriously need to say anything more? I've made it a bunch and it's delightful.

Photo Credit to Allergy Free Alaska

12 ounces of bacon, cut into 1-inch pieces {or 16 ounces...}
Additional bacon fat, lard, ghee, or coconut oil
5 cups diced sweet potatoes (about a 1/2 inch dice)*
4 cups diced zucchini
1 cup chopped onion
1 red bell pepper, chopped
6 large eggs
Black pepper to taste

In a 12-inch cast iron skillet, cook the bacon pieces over medium-low heat until crisp (cooking the bacon at a lower temperature will render more fat).
Use a slotted spoon to remove the cooked bacon from the pan. Set aside. There should be enough rendered bacon fat to coat the entire bottom of the skillet, about 1/8 inch deep. If your bacon didn’t render this much fat (it can vary from brand to brand), add additional bacon fat, lard, ghee, or coconut oil to your skillet until there is 1/8 inch of fat.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees (F).
Increase heat to medium-high and carefully place the diced sweet potatoes in the hot oil. Cook the sweet potatoes without stirring until the bottom of the cubes start to turn golden brown (this can take several minutes). Stir and cook until the cubes just start to soften.
Increase heat to high and add the zucchini, onion, and bell pepper to the skillet. Cook until the vegetables are just starting to soften.
Stir in bacon pieces. Remove from heat.
Make 6 wells in the potato and veggie mixture; break one egg into each well.
Place skillet in the oven and bake for 9-14 minutes, or until the eggs are set. Serve immediately.

*Note: Cut all veggies the night before to save tons of time in the morning.

Recipe Source: Allergy Free Alaska

Chinese Green Beans with Turkey over Rice

Yummy, but will try in lettuce wraps next time...because why not?

Photo Credit to Weary Chef

1 tablespoon sesame oil
1 small bunch green onions sliced thin
2 cloves garlic minced or crushed
1 pound ground turkey
2 tablespoons chili garlic sauce {I used Mae Ploy}
2 tablespoons hoisin sauce
1 teaspoon crushed ginger
1 pound washed and trimmed green beans or Chinese long beans if available
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 tablespoon seasoned rice vinegar

Heat large skillet over high heat. Add sesame oil, and sauté green onions and garlic for about 2 minutes. Stir in ground turkey and sauté 3-5 minutes, until meat is mostly cooked. Crumble meat as much as possible.

Stir in chili garlic sauce, hoisin sauce, and ginger. Add green beans and soy sauce, and stir to coat. Continue cooking over high heat for 7-9 minutes longer, stirring frequently, until beans are slightly tender.

Stir in rice vinegar, and cook one minute longer. Serve over cooked rice.

Recipe Source: Weary Chef

Skillet Butternut Squash, Sausage and Penne Pasta

This doesn't have the most flavor of any dish, but it was pretty homey and yummy.

Photo Credit to Mel's Kitchen Cafe

1 large shallot (or 1/4 cup minced yellow or white onion)
2 cloves garlic, finely minced or pressed
1 pound chicken sausage (if links, remove the casing)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
5 1/2 cups low-sodium chicken broth {I used 6ish}
12 ounces penne pasta
3 cups peeled and diced butternut squash
3 cups coarsely chopped fresh baby spinach
2 large sage leaves, torn into small pieces, or 1/4 teaspoon dried, more or less to taste
1 cup (about 4 ounces) shredded or cubed fontina or mozzarella cheese
Salt and pepper to taste
Freshly grated Parmesan for serving, if desired

In a large 12-inch nonstick skillet, combine the shallot, garlic, sausage, salt and pepper. Cook over medium heat, breaking up the meat into small pieces, and cooking until the sausage is cooked through, 5-7 minutes. Scrape the mixture to a plate and return the skillet back to the heat.
Add the chicken broth and pasta and bring to a boil. Lower the heat to a simmer, and cook for about 8 minutes, stirring often to prevent sticking and the pasta clumping together. Stir in the squash and simmer 5-7 minutes longer until the squash and pasta are both tender. As the squash breaks down, it will help bring a creaminess to the sauce and pasta so add more liquid, if necessary, while cooking if the mixture seems dry.
Stir in the spinach and sage and cook for 1-2 minutes until the spinach is wilted. Add the sausage/shallot mixture back to the skillet and stir in the fontina or mozzarella cheese and add salt and pepper to taste.
Off the heat, cover the skillet with a lid or foil and let the pasta sit for 5-10 minutes. Give it a good stir and serve with freshly grated Parmesan cheese, if desired.

Recipe Source: Mel's Kitchen Cafe

Sweet Cornbread

Maybe I should try a new cornbread recipe, but this one is amazing. {As is the one Sharrie makes...I need to get that recipe...}

Photo Credit to Mrs Harding Cooks

Sweet Cornbread
1 1/2 cup flour
2/3 cup sugar
1/2 cup yellow cornmeal
1 Tbs baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/4 cup milk
2 large eggs
1/3 cup vegetable oil
3 Tbs butter, melted

Preheat oven to 350. Mix dry ingredients and wet ingredients separately, then whisk together to form a smooth batter. Pour in a greased 9x13 pan, bake for 30-35 minutes until edges are golden brown. Delicious served with honey butter!

Recipe Source: Mrs Harding Cooks

Glazed Kielbasa Pineapple Bites

Perfect New Year's {gluten free!} appetizer. {I also thought thick ham steak chunks would be good in place of the Kielbasa.}

Photo Credit to Jam Hands

Glazed Kielbasa Pineapple Bites
1 (14 oz.) regular Kielbasa, sliced
1 (20 oz.) can pineapple chunks, reserve juice
3 Tbsp. Teriyaki sauce
1 Tbsp. sweet chili sauce
1 Tbsp. honey
1 Tbsp. pineapple juice (from can)

Preheat oven to 425-f degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Place a piece of pineapple on top of a slice of kielbasa and stick a toothpick into them.
In a small bowl combine remaining ingredients. Place kielbasa bites onto the baking sheet and brush glaze over tops and sides of bites.
Bake for 15 to 20 minutes until hot. Let cool slightly and serve warm.

Recipe Source: Jam Hands

Sweet Potato Crusted Spinach Quiche

Healthy and delicious. I love sweet potatoes!

Photo Credit to Fourteen Forty

Sweet Potato Crusted Spinach Quiche
2 medium sweet potatoes
Olive oil spray
1 bunch spinach
1/2 small onion
1 clove garlic
4 eggs
1 cup grated fresh mozzarella
Spring herbs (dill, parsley, chives) to taste
1 tablespoon organic white miso {I actually used tahini...this is optional}
1/4 cup white cheddar cheese
1/4 cup parmesan cheese
Sea salt and pepper to taste

Peel sweet potatoes and slice thinly with a food processor.
Lay potato slices out in pie dish in a crust-like fashion, spray with oil, and bake on 400 degrees fahrenheit for 15 minutes. (After crust has baked, reduce oven to 375 degrees fahrenheit.)
Spray a saute pan with oil and saute sliced onion and crushed garlic clove until lightly browned, about 7 minutes. Stir in spinach and saute until wilted and tender, about 4 minutes. Drain spinach over the sink to rid excess liquid.
Blend eggs and mozzarella in a medium bowl. Add herbs, white cheddar cheese, and miso {or tahini or nothing}.
Add spinach/garlic/onion mix to the egg/cheese mixture. Add salt and pepper to taste. Place the combined mixtures in the potato crust. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese on top.
In a 375 degree oven, bake until the quiche is firm and the cheese has browned, about 40 minutes.
Tastes best a little warm.

Recipe Source: Slightly adapted from Fourteen Forty