Soft Pretzel

These take a little while but are so yummy.  Its not constant work.  They are not harder than any other yeast recipe. They are great with mustard or any dipping sauce you like.

This is what you need:
3 1/2ish cups of flour
2 1/2 teaspoon of yeast
1 tablespoon of sugar
1 egg
salt

Now its time to proof the yeast.  Mix 1 1/2 cups of warm but not boiling water with sugar, yeast.  Let rest for about 5 min until bubbly.

Here is how you mix the dough.  But the proofed yeast in a mixer bowl.  Mix in flour until it comes together with a slightly sticky ball.  Switched in dough hook and knead for 3-4.  Knead for 3ish min by hand.

Place dough in a tightly covered bowl in a warm place.  Let rise for about 45 min or until doubled in size.

Cut into eight pretty equal pieces.

Roll into a rope to about 24 inches.  It works best if you roll from the center out.

Twist into a pretzel shape and place on a greased pan.  Let rest for 20 min uncovered. While you wait preheat oven to 425 and boil a large pot of water with a large mouth.

Boil for 3 min per side in batches and remove from water and place on greased baking sheet.

Whisk egg and brush egg on boiled pretzel and then grind on some course salt from a salt mill or you can use pretzel salt. Bake for 35 min at 425.  If you have tow pans rotate sheets half way through.

Remove and let cool for a couple of min.

Serve warm with dipping sauce.  You can use mustard, cheese sauce, BBQ sauce, ranch, marinara etc.

Vanilla Scones

These are a snap to make a head of time and are a great breakfast treat and go well with a cup of coffee in the morning.

This is what you need for the scones and we will get to the glaze later.
3 cups of flour
2 sticks of cold butter
1 egg
1 teaspoon of salt
3/4 cup of cream
5 teaspoons of baking powder
2/3 cup of sugar
2 vanilla beans

Remove the caviar from two vanilla bean pods.  You slit it down the side and use a knife to scrape out the caviar or you can slice off the ends and squeeze it out.  Whisk it into the cream and let it dissolve.

Mix flour, sugar, salt, and baking powder together.

Cut about tablespoon at a time of cold butter into the flour mixture.  It should look like small pea gravel.

Take and egg and add it to cream and vanilla and whisk together and add to flour and butter.

Combine until it comes together.

Roll out and make it as close to a rectangle as possible.

Cup stripes in one direction and then the other to make rectangles and then cut across to make triangles.

Bake for about 18 min at 325

Cool

Whisk together a couple cups of powdered sugar, 1 tablespoon of vanilla extract (or more caviar if you have it I know vanilla pods cost alot) and milk until desired consistancy

Use a pastry brush to brush on glaze and let it harden and then serve

Buffalo Mac and Cheese

This is one of our favorite staples.  Is easy and simple work night meal.  That can be made in 30 min and doesn't take any baking in the oven.

Here is what you need:
1 cup of milk
1 Tablespoon of cornstarch
3 cups of shredded cheddar (I like sharp)
1/2 pound of pasta
3-4 chicken tenders
1/4ish cup of wing sauce (I usually use Franks but I have some right now from our favorite wing place in Eburg)
Blue cheese crumbles (some might think it is optional but to me it is essential)

Whisk 1 cup of milk and 1 tablespoon in sauce pan over medium heat.  Be sure to whisk occasionally so it doesn't get lumps until it thickens.

Steam so chicken and then while it is still hot but it in your kitchen aid mixer with the paddle and it will shred beautifully.  Sometimes I make this without chicken.  If your shredded chicken is cold be sure to add chicken when your pasta and cheese sauce is at the perfect consistency otherwise if you need to add more cheese to will clump on the chicken.  I have done this.

Shred at least three cups of cheddar cheese.  I like to shred my own it melts better.  Mix in with milk rue still over medium heat.

Mix in some hot cooked pasta.  I like to use tri-colored twisted macaroni but you can use pretty much anything. Corkscrews work great too.

You might need to add more cheese and/or milk to reach the right consistency and cheesiness.  I like my macaroni saucy but its up to you.

Stir in 1/4 cup of wing sauce. Taste and add more depending on your heat level.

Stir in shredded chicken and let heat for a min.

Enjoy this way or if you are like me adding blue cheese is essential.

Chicken pot pie

This is yummy and not that hard.

 Here is what you need:
1 onion,
2 cups of chicken broth (I used better than bullion)
1/4 cup of flour,
1/2 cup of cream or half and half
1 cup of wine
shredded chicken (I used a rotisserie chicken)
4 tablespoons of butter
thyme
garlic,
3 carrotts
3 stalks of celery

Peel and chop 3 carrots.

Do the same with the celery and onion

Saute veggie with several tablespoons of butter in a large sturdy sauce pan for 3-4 min until onion and celery are tender.  If you like garlic I like alot add some fresh garlic.

Add the chicken and if it cold chicken like mine was because I shredded it ahead of time cook for a few min until it is warm.

Add 1/4 cup of flour and mix in and cook for a min

 

Add broth, wine and simmer for a couple min until it thickens.  Add salt and pepper and the cream. Add what ever seasonings you like.  I added fresh thyme and red pepper flakes along with lemon juice.  Simmer for a few min add more liquid if you need.

Now onto the crust

Mix 3 cups of flour with 1/2 tablespoons of salt

Cut 3 sticks of cold butter into the flour with a pastry cutter until it resembles small pebbles.

Whisk and egg and add to flour butter mixture along with 1 tablespoons of vinegar and 4-5 tablespoons of cold water

Mix until to forms a shaggy ball.

Place ball in freezer bag and flatten and chill for 15 min and then roll out on a floured surface

Place some of the filling in a casserole dish.  You will have leftover and you can freeze it for another time.

Cover casserole with crust and trim off excess and make a few slits with a knife to create vents.  Whisk an egg and brush on top.

Bake at 375 for 30-40 min until golden on the top.  Dish up and enjoy.