Homemade Pita Bread!

Ingredients

1 1/4 cup warm water
1 tablespoon yeast
3 -3 1/2 cup flour
1 tsp salr
2 tbsp olive oil

In medium mixing bowl combine yeast and warm water, whisk - let sit for 5 mins till yeast dissolves.

In small mixing bowl combine 1 cup flour and salt.

Add that to the yeast mixture, stir until flour gets worked in.
add flour cup at a time till well mixed, flour needs to remain a little moist.
Turn out onto floured surface and knead until elasticy.
Roll into ball - elongate a little and then divide into 6 pieces.
take each of those 6 pieces and roll into round ball.



Then take one ball at a time and with rolling pin - roll out into a 8 inch diameter

Now put each dough disc on a oiled cookie sheet, brush with olive oil and let rest/rise for 30-40 minutes.

Preheat oven to 425. Cook 9 minutes. (i check at 7 mins.)
Should start to raise, once out of the oven - let cool and then cut in half and use knife to cut open the pocket more.

French Toast Casserole

Makes one 9 x 13 pan

Ingredients

1 stick of melted butter

1 cup of pecans (i crush mine a little)

1 cup of brown sugar

1 large loaf of french bread (1 day old a little stale)

6 large eggs

3 cups of milk

2 tsp of vanilla extract

cinnamon and powdered sugar to sprinkle over top

1.) Mix in the bottom of a 9 x 13 casserole dish the melted butter, pecans, and brown sugar. Spread evenly over bottom.

2.) slice the french bread into 2 inch slices and place over the top of the mixture in your casserole dish. (don't be afraid to squish it in)

3.) In a medium bowl combine eggs, milk and vanilla, till well incorporated. 

4.) pour evenly over the top of the bread. 

5.) Sprinkle with cinnamon. 

6.) cover and let sit in refrigerator over night. 

7.) bake at 350 *F for 45 min. **FLIP the bread pieces over about halfway through baking.** I usually sprinkle again with cinnamon.

8.) Sprinkle with powdered sugar and serve with warm syrup! 

9.) ENJOY!

***How to toast walnuts (or any nut)

1.) Preheat oven to 350
2.) Put the amount of desired nuts on cookie sheet
3.) put them in the oven on the middle rack
4.) WATCH CLOSELY - should take about 5-7 mins. DO NOT LET THEM BURN.
5.) they will be slightly browned.
6.) take out and let cool.

ONE BOWL Old Fashioned Chocolate Chip Cookies

yields about 2 dozen cookies

Ingredients:

1 stick of unsalted, softened butter
2 tbsp + 2 tsp of shortening
1/2 cup of packed brown sugar
1/2 cup of white granulated sugar
1 large egg
1  1/4 tsp of vanilla
1/2 tsp of baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1  2/3 cup all purpose flour
1 cup (or more) of semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup nuts ( i used toasted walnuts)


1.) In a bowl i use the hand mixer, blend the shortening and butter together till well incorporated.
2.) next add the brown sugar and white sugar, blend that till smooth.
3.) add the egg, and vanilla blend till incorporated
4.) Sprinkle the baking soda, and salt, again mix until incorporated.
5.) Slowly add the flour, a little at a time.
6.) with a wooden spoon fold in the chocolate chips, and nuts.
7) Bake on an ungreased cookie sheet for 8-10 minutes at 375* For until golden brown.
8.) Let cool slightly and enjoy!