A quick and easy perfect pizza dough for homemade pizza.

Homemade Pizza

There's not a thing wrong with delivery pizza (except for the cost) or even grocery store pizzas, which we buy on occasion, but you just can't beat a good homemade pizza.

Tonight was gonna be "leftover" night where we sort of clean out the fridge and nosh on all the leftover goodies that are in there from all the cooking I've been doing. Or else if nothing appeals to my hubby, he'll just have a sandwich for dinner and I'll eat the leftovers instead.

But tonight I got a hankerin' for pizza instead, so guess the leftovers can wait till tomorrow. Good golly was it yummy!

My favorite oatmeal raisin cookie from Quaker, with the addition of chopped nuts.

Vanishing Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

I am an oatmeal lover. Always have been. When there's a chill in the air, and on the rare occasion here, that freezing morning that you have to head out the door, there's nothing that can warm you up like a steaming bowl of oatmeal for breakfast and my oatmeal of choice has always been Quaker. I play around with it sometimes, adding things, but for the most part my favorite is just a basic bowl with a little sugar, butter and cream. Maybe a little Cinnamon Sugar.

A quick stroganoff using cube steaks, sirloin or tenderloin, cream soup, sour cream and mushrooms. Serve over hot cooked egg noodles.

Beef Stroganoff

I decided to make some quick beef stroganoff for dinner tonight, and I truly can't believe The Cajun ate both mushrooms and sour cream without saying anything and exclaimed, "this is delicious!" Hehehehe... I just love when I can sneak in food he wouldn't otherwise touch with a 10 foot pole. Hey, don't judge me.

A shortcut method of making chicken and dumplings that uses precooked chicken, commercial chicken broth and a can of flaky biscuits cut into strips for the dumplings.

Shortcut Chicken and Biscuit Dumplings

Love classic from scratch, old fashioned Southern style chicken and dumplings but don't have the time to stew a chicken? Then this shortcut chicken and dumplings is just what you need and there's even a slow cooker version included at the bottom of the recipe to make it even easier.

A basic whole wheat yeast sandwich bread recipe.

Basic Whole Wheat Bread

We were out of wheat bread today so thought I'd give it a try. This bread was a recipe I just sort of came up with after looking at a wide collection of them. I'm pretty new to the sandwich bread-making venture altogether, so I have a long way to go.

My second rise in the pan isn't generally as successful as I would like, and I end up with not much crown, even after a couple of hours of rise time. I think one of the problems is loaf pan size - I had no idea there wasn't a "standard" and can be as many as three of the smaller sized loaf pans!

Today was also a bit cold too - which likely hampered my rise too. Still this recipe produced a nice crumb and tasted good. I'll keep moving forward and try other recipes ... and a smaller pan.

A nice buttermilk bread made with a mixture of golden and black raisins and a touch of cinnamon.

Cinnamon Toast Raisin Bread

I had a taste for cinnamon raisin bread last night, so I decided to give another recipe from the A Passion for Baking cookbook a try today. The bread pans that I used were larger than the pans recommended in the recipe, so I ended up with one very small loaf and one sort of medium loaf, neither of which had much of a rise. On hindsight, I think I could have used only one of the loaf pans and made a large loaf just fine and I think I will do that next time.

A good basic white yeast bread perfect for sandwiches.

Basic White Sandwich Bread

Last night - despite the fact that it would take at minimum 3 hours, at 9:00 p.m. - I decided that I just had to have some homemade bread! If there is anything I am foodie-wise it's a carb gal for sure, and bread is one of my biggest loves. Hand me some sweet cream butter and I can literally go through a hot loaf of fresh, yeast bread in record time.

I ran across this bread at the King Arthur website and wanted to give it a try. I must say I absolutely loved it! It's a definite keeper. As soon as I pick up some more instant potato flakes, I will be making this again.

Here's how to make it.

Banana Maple Bundt Cake with Walnut Praline Swirl

 

A homemade bundt cake made with bananas and maple with a swirl of nut praline in the center.

Banana Maple Bundt Cake

Today I needed to use up some overripe bananas. Though I made a few minor changes, this recipe originated from a now defunct website and was delish!

 Flavor-wise, it's basically a light and fluffy banana cake, but with an elegant twist!

Oh and how do you like that vintage 1970s Tupperware Cake Taker there? 

A light and fluffy homemade pistolette French roll, suitable as both a side bread, or for sandwiches.

Homemade Pistolette Sandwich Rolls

After being on a roll here (haha!) lately to try and find the perfect-for-me roll that could serve as both a dinner roll and a sandwich roll I have finally found it!

I have made this batch multiple times now and this is now my go to sandwich roll. It's not hard at all and it makes a beautiful roll.

A yummy ground beef casserole that starts with a box of good ole mac and cheese. Perfect for kids, but we adults love it too!

Ground Beef Mac and Cheese Casserole

This ground beef casserole, made with a simple box of macaroni and cheese, is a weeknight favorite around our house. It comes together easy and bakes in no time. It's also a potluck favorite (double it) because while it's basic, it's well seasoned, flavorful and just good old fashioned comfort food. Nobody will know you started with a box of mac and cheese!