Pumpkin Zucchini Bread

3 eggs slightly beaten
2 cups sugar
1 cup canned pumpkin
1 cup butter
3 cups flour
1 tsp.vanilla
1 T baking soda
1/2 tsp. each: baking powder, salt,
cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves
1 cup shredded zucchini
1 cup chopped walnuts/ chocolate chips
***Combine eggs and sugar. Add pumpkin, butter and vanilla. Combine dry ingredients to pumpkin ingredients. Stir in zucchini and nuts/chocolate chips. Pour into 2 greased loaf pans. Bake @ 350 for 50 minutes. cool for 10 minutes

Parmesan Rolls

Ingredients:
12 frozen Rhodes rolls
¼ to ½ cup butter, melted
¾ cup finely grated parmesan cheese (the powdery consistency)

Directions:
Dip each frozen roll in butter, then in cheese (on all sides). Place on greased cookie sheet and let defrost and rise for 6-8 hours. Bake at 375 for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown.

Focaccia Bread

This is one of my favorite recipes! It was the first bread recipe I attempted, and it is by far the easiest bread recipe I've ever used. Trust me, it is almost impossible to mess this one up. The directions are wordy, but don't let that stop you!

Focaccia Bread

Ingredients:

4 to 4 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 cup water (105 degrees Fahrenheit to 115 degrees Fahrenheit)

1 teaspoon active dry yeast

1 cup warm water (same temp)

2 teaspoons salt

1 tablespoon olive oil

Coarse salt

1. Start by making a "sponge," which is the starter for the bread: In a bowl combine 1/2 cup of the flour, the 1/2 cup warm water, and the yeast. Beat with a wooden spoon until smooth. Cover loosely with plastic wrap. Let sponge stand overnight (or 8 hours) at room temperature to ferment.

2. Gradually stir in the 1 cup warm water, the 2 teaspoons salt, and just enough of the remaining flour to make a dough that pulls away from the sides of the bowl. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Knead in enough of the remaining flour to make a stiff dough that is smooth and elastic (8 to 10 minutes). Place dough in a lightly greased bowl, turning once. Cover; let rise in a warm place until double (about 1 hour).

3. Turn dough out onto a greased baking sheet. Place an extra large bowl upside down over the dough to cover it; let rest 30 minutes...this will help form a stiffness to the dough. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 450 degrees. Shape dough on the baking sheet into a circle about 11 inches in diameter by pulling and pressing with your fingertips. (Try not to stretch dough too roughly or it will deflate; you want to keep air bubbles intact.)

4. Make 1/2-inch-deep indentations every 2 inches in dough. Brush dough with olive oil; sprinkle lightly with coarse salt.

5. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until golden, checking after 8 minutes and popping any large air bubbles with a sharp knife. Remove focaccia from sheet with large spatulas. Cool on a wire rack about 15 minutes. Serve warm.

We LOVE ripping it apart and dipping it in olive oil and vinegar. You can also use it for sandwiches.

Banana Bread

Hi, I'm Dani's friend Jan. Thank you for sharing your delicious recipies with me! I have two banana bread recipies-- one is more gushy and chocolate-y, and one is more firm and appropriate for nuts.

Nutty Banana Bread
2 c. sugar
1 cup oil
5 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp salt
2 1/2 tsp baking soda
4 c flour
7-10 ripe bananas, mashed
1 c chopped nuts (optional - I always use chocolate chips because I don't like nuts)

Mix ingredients together and pour into 2 prepared loaf pans. Bake at 325 F for 1+ hour, or until bread tests done.

Gooey Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

1 c sugar
1 cube margarine or butter
2 eggs
3 mashed bananas (1 1/4 c)
1 1/4 c + 2 tbsp flour
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp soda
chocolate chips (mini chips work well)

Cream sugar and margarine, add eggs and bananas and mix well. Add dries. Grease a pan, fill it half full and back it at 325 F for about 50 minutes to an hour or until it tests done.

My favorite food blog (besides this one, of course) is this one.

Grandma's Bread Sticks

These might be the best bread sticks ever! The left-overs freeze really well in zip lock bags. Thaw by setting them out at room temp. for a few hours.

Grandma's Bread sticks

Serves 8

1 T. yeast
1 and 1/2 c. warm water
2 T. sugar
1/2 t. salt
3 c. flour
1/2 c. butter (1 stick)...you can use margarine, but I DON'T recommend it.

1. Dissolve yeast in 1 and 1/2 c. warm water (about 5 minutes).
2. Mix all ingredients together, slowly adding flour last; knead until smooth and elastic. Let rise 10 minutes.
3. Melt 1 stick butter and pour into jelly roll pan (or cookie sheet).
4. Roll out dough into a rectangle, about the same size as the pan. Cut into 1 x 4 inch strips, using a pizza cutter. Roll each piece in melted butter and place in the jelly roll pan.
5. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and/or garlic salt. Let rise 15-20 minutes

Bake at 350 for 18-22 minutes.