Dinner Tonight - Cinnamon Buns

Once again I will not be cooking dinner tonight - its our anniversary - so I made a yummy dessert so the kids wont feel completely left out ;-). I made Gooey Cinnamon Buns. Hope everyone enjoys!

3 cups flour
1/4 cup plus 2 tbs sugar
3/4 tsp salt
1/4 cup oil
1 egg plus 1 egg yolk
1 cup warm water
2 1/4 tsp yeast
cinnamon and sugar mixture
1/3 cup oil for filling

In the bowl of a mixer, mix flour, 1/4 cup sugar. salt, oil and eggs. In a separate bowl activate yeast in warm water with 2 tbs sugar. Once activated add to mixer with rest of ingredients. Let rise for 2 hours. Roll out into rectangle. Spread oil on dough and top with cinnamon sugar mixture. Roll jelly roll style and cut into circles/buns. place in greased 9x13 pan and brush with oil and bake for 1/2 hour. Pour glaze over warm buns.

Glaze:

1 cup powdered sugar
2 tbs oil
2 tbs boiling water

mix to create smooth glaze.

Dinner Tonight - Chocolate Chunk Pudding Cookies

For dinner tonight we are having shabbos leftovers. We usually have leftovers on Sunday night, but because of Lag Baomer we went to a BBQ. Monday night is officially leftover night this week. I did want to post something though, so I made a batch of Chocolate Chunk Pudding Cookies!!!! This way we have something new for dessert. Enjoy!!!

1 stick margarine

1/2 cup oil

1 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup sugar

1 package instant vanilla pudding mix

1/2 tbs vanilla extract

2 eggs

2 1/3 cups flour

1 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

1 cup chopped chocolate chunks

Preheat oven to 350 degree. Beat together margarine, oil and sugars. Add in vanilla pudding, extract and eggs. combine dry ingredients and add to margarine mixture. Fold in chocolate chunks. Form into 45 cookies and bake on greased cookie sheet for 12-15 minutes. 

Shabbos Menu - 4/26

I am hosting a birthright Israel NEXT Shabbat Meal this week so I am having a bunch of company. Here is my menu. Hope you all have an amazing shabbos!

Corned Beef

Marinated chicken  - for salad bar

mixed veggies

Biscotti

Cin twists

chicken with rice

Salad bar

garlic dip

chumus

roasted red pepper dip

black olive dip

basil dip

chicken with rice

potato kugel

chulent 

corned beef

carrot muffins

apple crisp

onion roll

mixed veggies

Cole slaw

creamsicle

biscotti

cin twists

popcorn

Dinner Tonight - Rib Steaks

I am in the middle of cooking for Shabbos so I needed a quick dinner. I threw up some Rib steaks (just spiced with salt and pepper and broiled) and I am serving it with cous cous and cut up veggies. Enjoy!

Dinner Tonight - Pancakes

For dinner tonight we are doing "breakfast for dinner". I am making pancakes with lots of different toppings. The kids (and adults!) can choose from, blueberries, chocolate chips, bananas, strawberries, M&M's, whipped cream, syrup, butter, jam and marshmallows. I am also making eggs (so there is a little protein involved!). For dessert I made this fabulous popcorn. It tastes so gourmet and is really easy to make. Enjoy!

8 cups popped popcorn

1/2 cup lightly salted roasted peanuts

3/4 cup brown sugar

3 tbs butter

2 tbs corn syrup

1/4 tsp baking soda

1/2 cup chocolate chips

Spread popcorn and nuts evenly on sprayed cookie sheet. Bring sugar, butter, and corn syrup to a boil over medium heat. Let cook for 4 minutes without stirring. Turn off flame and add in baking soda. quickly toss with nuts and popcorn - being careful not to burn yourself with the caramel. Bake on 300 degree for 20 minutes, stirring twice through out. Melt chocolate chips and drizzle over popcorn. Let sit out and set for 3 - 4 hours then break up popcorn into smaller pcs. 

Dinner Tonight - Mushroom Calzones

I have made calzones many different times before in many different varieties  For dinner tonight I am making mushroom calzones, a new recipe that I found in one of my cookbooks. I took the easy way out by using store bought pizza dough. If you want to make your own dough use this simple and delicious recipe: http://couponingtocooking.blogspot.com/2012/05/dinner-tonight_10.html
ENJOY!!!

2 lbs Pizza dough (double recipe)
1 medium onion diced
2 tbs oil
10 oz fresh mushrooms diced
1/4 tsp salt
black pepper to taste
1/4 tsp + dash of oregano
3 oz cream cheese
1/2 cup ricotta cheese
1 scallion sliced
3/4 cup mozzarella cheese
1 egg beaten

saute onions in oil for 2 minutes. Add in mushrooms and continue to saute for 10 minutes. Season with salt pepper and 1/4 tsp oregano. In a small bowl combine cream cheese, ricotta and scallions. season with pepper and dash of oregano. Divide dough into 8 pcs. roll dough into an 8 inch circle. Smear with 1/8 of the cream cheese/ricotta mixture. sprinkle with 1/8 mozzarella cheese and top with 1/8 of mushrooms. Fold in half (like a half moon), crimp edges with a fork to seal and place on greased cookie sheet. Cut slit in center of each calzone (to vent) and brush with egg. Bake on 350 degrees for 20 minutes.

Dinner Tonight - Pepper Steak!

I love pepper steak. The only problem with making pepper steak at home, is that if you don't do it just right, your meat is dry and tough. This recipe from my bro, takes all the guess work out of it. You boil it in the liquid for 1 1/2 - 2 hours, ensuring that all the meat is juicy and tender. I am serving it over rice. Enjoy!

2 lbs pepper steak meat
1 tbs garlic powder
1 tbs onion powder
1 tbs salt
1 tbs onion soup mix
2 tbs brown sugar
pepper
crushed red pepper flakes
1/3 cup white wine
1/3 cup soy sauce
1/3 cup teriyaki sauce
2-3 green peppers
1/2 red pepper
1 large onion
corn starch

place first 11 ingredients into pot. Add enough water to cover all meat. Bring to boil and simmer for 1 1/2 - 2 hours. Cut the peppers and onions into strips. Sautee for 1-2 minutes; just to take the initial bite out. Add peppers/onions into meat and cook for an additional minute or two. Make a cornstarch/cold water mixture. Pour into pot and let sauce thicken.