Amish White Bread

It has been a really long time since I made homemade bread.  I thought I would give it a try a few nights ago.  So I went looking for a recipe.  I found this Amish White Bread recipe and it looked easy so I gave it a try.  It was really good bread.  There was a nice golden brown crust.  When you tap on it it had a nice hollow sound.  It was one of the easiest bread recipes I have tried.  I will be using this one again. 

There is not much better than warm homemade bread and butter.

This is all that was needed for this recipe.

In a bowl add 1/3 cup sugar

2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast or 2 teaspoons fast acting or bread machine yeast.

1 cup warm water.  Around 110 degrees

Let that sit and foam for about 10 minutes.  If your yeast doesn't start foaming pretty quick then you need to start over.  The water might have been too hot or you have old yeast.

Put a little oil in a bowl.

Roll it around to coat the inside.

After 10 minutes add 3/4 teaspoon salt

2 Tablespoons oil

3 cups all purpose or bread flour.  Add the cups one at a time.  You may need to add a little more flour if your dough is too sticky.

Mix the dough until it all comes together.

Change out for the dough hook.

Mix the dough for about 3-5 minutes.  I set the timer on my phone.

The dough should be soft not sticky.

Now place in the bowl.

Turn it over so both sides will be coated with oil.

Spray the plastic wrap so it won't stick.  Cover and place in a warm draft free place for about 1-1 1/2 hours.  I put mine in my van in the garage.  No draft but it is warm.

After the rising time, take it out.

Punch the dough down.

Turn out onto a floured surface.  Shape into a loaf shape.

Place in a loaf pan.  Cover again and let rise 30 minutes to an hour. Back in the van it goes.

After it's last rise time it should be over the edge of the pan.  Place in a preheated 350 oven.  Bake for 30 minutes.

 Take out of the oven.  Isn't that a pretty loaf of bread?

 Turn out on a cutting board.

Now enjoy with a little butter.

Amish White Bread Recipe

1 cup warm water 110 degrees
1/3 cup sugar
2 1/4 teaspoon active dry yeast
3/4 teaspoon salt
2 Tablespoons oil
3 cups all purpose flour

Preheat oven to 350.  Bake 30 minutes.

Baked Million Dollar Spaghetti

This recipe is a nice change from your usual spaghetti recipe.  You can use bottled sauce and that makes it even easier.  There are tons of choices in the jared sauce aisle in the grocery store.  Also Publix has it buy one get one free quite often too.  So it is a good idea to keep some in the pantry for one of those nights you want something easy.  This recipe isn't one of those 30 minute meals but it can be done in less than an hour.

A little fresh parm cheese on top and you are good to go.

 You will need 6 cups of sauce for this meal so you will need a big jar and maybe a little extra.

 Chop and saute  an onion.

 Add ground beef and brown.  Then drain fat off.

 While the beef is brown you can cook the pasta.  Cook one pound of pasta about two minutes shy of what the directions tell you.

 Drain the noodles.

 I put them back in the pan they cooked in.

 Add 5 cups of sauce to the noodles.

 Toss them around to coat well.

 Noodles all covered.

 Add 1 cup of sauce to the ground beef and onions.

 Stir well.

 Take 8 oz of softened cream cheese.

 Add 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese to the cream cheese.

 Mix well.

 In a 9x13 baking dish add half of the noodles to the bottom of the pan.

 Add the cream cheese and cheese mixture.

 Spread it out as best you can.

 I added a little grated parm on top.  You can't have too much cheese.

 Sprinkled around on top of the cream cheese mixture.

 Then add the remaining noodles on top.

 Now add the ground beef mixture on top of the noodles.

 Add about a cup of shredded mozzarella cheese on top.  I didn't measure the cheese. I wanted it covered well.

 Cover with foil.  Place in a preheated 350 oven and bake for 30 minutes.  Then uncover and cook for an additional 10 minutes.

Then serves with some additional parm cheese on top.

Baked Million Dollar Spaghetti Recipe

1 pound spaghetti
1 pound ground beef
1 medium onion
garlic
salt and pepper
6 cups spaghetti sauce
8 oz softened cream cheese
3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese