Quick and Easy Rolls

I did it! I made rolls from SCRATCH... not Rhodes! Guess what? It was easy. Seriously easy. Here's the recipe.

I watched my mom make bread growing up. In my mind making bread takes all day. Also, it uses yeast, a living thing that bubbles and has to be used in a very particular way. Plus, kneading it just right and making a big mess. I was wrong! Making breads can be fast and easy, with the right recipe.

My friend Sarah, the culinary expert, challenged me to make these rolls. They turned out pretty good, especially considering I've never made bread and I didn't allow the yeast mixture to sit for the full 15 minutes. I heard the beep of the timer but turned out it was the oven preheat timer, not the other timer... oops!

There are definitely things I need to learn still. They don't look quite right yet. But, now that I've taken the first step to overcoming my bread fear, I am open to trying other recipes. Maybe I'll find a good one that doesn't have eggs so my 2-year old can try them. But for now, I'm sticking to this one. Give it a try!

Egg-Free Apple Cinnamon Muffins

I made these muffins for some ladies in my neighborhood. I wanted to drop something off to let them know I was thinking of them. But, I didn't want to go to the store. So, I made these using ingredients I already had and wrapped them with things I had as well... scraps of fabric, paper doilies, and ribbon. I slipped the doilies under the ribbon after I had already snapped this picture.

Egg-Free Apple Cinnamon Muffins
from: Jodee Parkin

1 c. sugar
3/4 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 1/2 c. flour
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp allspice (I didn't have any and they were still good)
1 c. applesauce
1/2 c. oil
1 tsp. vanilla

Combine dry ingredients in a bowl. Add wet ingredients. Mix. Make at 400 degrees for 15-20 minutes in muffin tins.

TIP: Use an ice cream scoop to get even amounts of dough in each. This helps them to cook at the same rate.

Dressing for Shell Pasta Salad

I used this recipe for dressing. Then I added pasta, some veggies I had on hand, and a little cooked bacon. It was yummy and a lot easier than I expected. It's something I can make anytime with things I already have. The hardest part is cooking the pasta. Give it a try.

Check back for another kitchen project tomorrow!

Egg-Free Chocolate Chip Muffins

I tried these over the weekend. They were pretty tasty. Next time I will try 1/4 c. oil and 1/4 c. applesauce instead of 1/2 c. of applesauce and see if that helps the texture.

Veggie Muffins

My mom always used to add weird things into our food... rhubarb, wheat germ, oatmeal, zucchini, apple sauce... We never knew until she told us. Then I wondered why she would do such a horrible thing. Now I know. It's hard to get kids to eat healthy (at least for me)!! So I am really excited to try these muffins from MADE.

How do you sneak healthy food into kid's diets (or your own)?

Beautiful Jello

This Jello recipe from Our Best Bites makes me happy. It's like Jello art. I want to try some. I must be a bad mom because I don't think I have ever made my kids Jello. Can you believe it?

Crock Pot Potatoes

Did you know you can make potatoes in a crock-pot? I am so excited to try this since I always undercook potatoes. Find directions here.