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Baking Pita Bread

Pita dough rising

Pita dough rising

After tasting fresh homemade pita bread it’s nearly impossible for me to eat the stuff I find in stores here. It is fun to make and pretty easy. Although the recipe calls for placing the rolled out dough directly on the oven rack I place mine on baking sheets in the oven. Just a little easier and neater. I also used about half whole wheat flour in this batch.

Pita Bread

 4 ½- 4 ¾ c. flour

1 pkt. Active dry yeast

1 ½ t. sugar

1 ½ t. salt

1 ¾ c. water

2 T. oil

In large bowl combine 2 cups of the flour with other dry ingredients. Heat water and oil to 120-130 degrees (warm) and add to flour mixture in bowl beating until smooth. Beat three minutes then begin stirring in enough flour to make a soft dough. Knead on floured surface until smooth and elastic, about 10 minutes. Cover dough with plastic wrap and then a towel and let rest on board 20 minutes. Punch dough down and divide into 12 pieces. Shape each into a smooth ball and place on board, allowing space in between. Cover and let rise 30 minutes. Pre-heat oven to 500 degrees. Roll dough balls into circles. Place 3 circles at a time directly on oven rack. They will puff up and brown in about three minutes. Remove to rack to cool and repeat with remaining dough. Makes 12.

Roll dough out into circles right before baking

Roll dough out into circles right before baking

Fresh baked pita bread

Fresh baked pita bread

 

Applesauce Fruit and Nut Muffins-Vegan

Applesauce Fruit and Nut Muffins

Applesauce Fruit and Nut Muffins

I had a request from a friend recently for more vegan baked goods. Came up with this recipe today and they came out moist and light. I also have a LOT of applesauce that I canned so looking for things to do with it other than just eating it.

Applesauce Fruit and Nut Muffins

2 c. applesauce- I used unsweetened

1/2 c. oil

1 c. sugar

1 t. vanilla

2 c. flour  Note: You can use all purpose, I used whole wheat pastry flour.

1 c. rolled oats

2 t. baking soda

2 t. cinnamon

1/2 t. baking powder

1 c. dried cranberries or raisins

1 c. chopped nuts

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line 24 muffin cups with paper liners or grease lightly. Set aside. Combine applesauce with the oil and stir in sugar and vanilla. Add flour, oats, soda, cinnamon and baking powder. Stir to mix well. Stir in fruit and nuts. Spoon batter in to muffin cups filling just over half-full. Bake for 18-20 minutes or until golden brown on top. Makes 24.

Cocoa Mint Hearts

Cocoa Mint Hearts

Cocoa Mint Hearts

If you want an easy chocolate treat to make these may just be what you are looking for. They are a simple candy that require little time and no cooking. Easy enough for kids to help, too.

  Cocoa Mint Hearts

9 c. powdered sugar

1 c. cocoa

1/2 c. butter, softened

1/2 c. water

2 t. peppermint extract

In large bowl combine ingredients until well blended. You can add more water, if needed, 1 teaspoon at a time. Divide mixture into 2 pieces and shape in balls. Place each between sheets of wax paper and roll out to 1/4 -inch thickness. Cut out with tiny cutters and place on foil-lined tray. Chill several hours, then wrap up in colored foil or place in tiny candy bags. Makes 80 1-inch candies.

Roll out between wax paper

Roll out between wax paper

Cut out with heart-shaped cookie cutters

Cut out with heart-shaped cookie cutters