Olive Bread

Ingredients:

2 1/2 cups white flour
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
2 tsp active dry yeast
1 1/4 cup very warm water
1 tbs sugar
3 tbsp olive oil
2 tsp sea salt
2/3 cup kalamata olives, coursely chopped
2 tbsp rosemary sprigs, chopped

Directions:

1. Proof the yeast with the water and sugar in a small bowl and cover with clingwrap. Let rest for 10 minutes.

2. In a large bowl, mix together the two flours, salt, and rosemary. Add the yeast mixture and the olives at the same time. Begin mixing until it becomes a mound of dough. Transfer to a well floured area and begin kneading the dough until smooth and elastic, about 10 minutes.

3. Place the dough in a well oiled bowl and cover with clingwrap. Let it rest for about 45 minutes to an hour until it doubles in size.

4. Punch down the dough and knead again for about 5 minutes. Place in the same bowl for another 45 minutes to an hour.

5. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Place a pan of water in the oven. Carefully place the loaf onto a baking sheet with parchment paper or a bread pan. Brush with olive oil and spices if you want.

6. Bake for 15 minutes at 450 degrees, then at 375 degrees for another 30 minutes. Then it is ready to enjoy!

Buttermilk Biscuits

Ingredients:

1 cup all purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp table salt
2 tbsp butter, chilled and cut into pieces
1/2 cup buttermilk

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees.

2. In a large bowl, add the flour, salt, baking powder and baking soda. Mix thoroughly.

3. Add the pieces of butter to the bowl. Using a pastry cutter, mix the butter with the flour until it resembles coarse meal. Then, add the buttermilk.

4. Stir in the buttermilk until moist and knead the dough a few times. If the dough is too moist then add more flour as you are kneading.

5. Roll the dough to 1/2 thickness and cut with a 2 inch biscuit cutter. Place the biscuits on an ungreased baking sheet and brush with egg wash.

6. Bake for about 10-12 minutes or until nice and golden.

Challah, Wild Mushroom & Herb Stuffing

Ingredients:

1 large loaf of challah

1/2 stick of butter

2 cups yellow onion, diced

2 cups celery, diced

2 cups wild mushrooms, sliced

2 tbsp fresh rosemary, minced

2 tbsp fresh sage, minced

salt and pepper to taste

3 cups chicken stock

Directions:


1. Preheat the oven to 300 degrees. 


2. Cut challah into cubes and spread onto two baking sheets. Bake for about 25 minutes or until dry and toasted.


3. In a saute pan, melt the butter and cook onions until soft. Then add the celery, mushrooms and herbs. Cook all together for about 10 minutes.


4. In a large bowl, combine the bread crumbs, onion mixture and chicken stock. Toss well.


5. Divide stuffing into two baking dishes. Cover with foil and refrigerate until ready to cook. 


6. Bake at 350 degrees for about 40 minutes. Serve immediately. 

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread

Ingredients:

3/4 cup brown sugar
1 cup cooked/canned pumpkin
1/4 cup canola oil
1/4 cup plain yogurt
1/4 cup applesauce
1 egg
1 1/4 all-purpose flour (can do half regular and half whole-wheat)
2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup chopped walnuts/currants/raisins
Cooking spray

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Combine first 5 ingredients in a large bowl, stirring well with a whisk.

2. Combine flour, cinnamon, salt, and baking soda in a medium bowl, stirring well with a whisk. Add flour mixture to pumpkin mixture, stirring just until moist. Stir in chocolate chips.

3. Spoon batter into 2 (8 x 4-inch) loaf pans coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350° for 45 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes in pans on a wire rack, and remove from pans. Enjoy!

Apple Cinnamon Bread

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
4 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1/4 cup canola oil
1/2 cup applesauce
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 cups peeled and chopped apples (about 1½ to 2 apples)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a loaf pan and set it aside.

2. In a medium bowl whisk together the flour, cinnamon, baking soda and salt. Set aside.

3. In the bow, beat the eggs. Add in the oil and applesauce and mix until smooth. Next, add the sugar and mix until well-combined.

4. Gradually add in the flour mixture and mix until the flour is just barely combined. Gently fold in the apples with a rubber spatula. Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan.

5.Bake for 50 to 55 minutes, or until the loaf is golden and a thin knife inserted in the center comes out clean.

Zucchini Bread Muffins

Ingredients:

3 eggs
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup honey
2 cups grated zucchini
1/2 cup grated carrot
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3 cups all-purpose flour
3 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1 cup chocolate chips

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease muffin tins, liberally.

2. In a large bowl, beat the eggs with a whisk. Mix in oil and sugar, then zucchini, carrot and vanilla.

3. Combine flour, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder and salt, as well as nuts and chocolate chips.

4. Stir this into the egg mixture. Divide the batter into prepared pans.

5. Bake loaves for 60 minutes, plus or minus ten, or until a tester inserted into the center comes out clean. Enjoy!

The Best Shabbat Challah

Ingredients:

1 egg
3 tbsp butter or 1/4 cup oil
3/4 cup warm water
1/4 cup orange juice
1 1/2 tsp salt
3 tbsp sugar
3 cups bread flour
2 tsp active dry yeast or 25 grams fresh yeast

Directions:

1. Mix wet ingredients in one bowl.

2. Mix dry ingredients in another bowl.

3. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients in small batches, knead as you go.

4. When combined, place dough in a greased bowl and cover with a towel.

5. Let rise for 1 hour in a warm place.

6. Remove from the bowl and punch down the dough.

7. Place on a floured baking sheet and braid into challah shape.

8. Let rise 1 more hour in a warm place.

9. Bake for 40 minutes at 325 degrees.

Ema's Famous Banana Bread

Ingredients:

1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup canola oil
1 smashed medium banana
1/4 cup plain yogurt
1/8 cup applesauce
1/2 cup chocolate chips
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp cinnamon
1 egg
1 cup flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt

Directions:

1. Mix the dry ingredients separately and mix well.

2. Mix together sugar and oil in a separate bowl and then add the rest of the wet ingredients and blend well.

3. Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and stir just until moistened.

4. Add chocolate chips and bake for about 35-40 minutes in a 350 degree oven.