Easy Homemade Sandwich Bread!

"Keep calm and bake on!"

That's what we did during Typhoon Trami and there's nothing like the smell of fresh homemade bread in the home...can you smell it now? Happiness!

A lot of work went into this lovely loaf of bread. I mixed all the ingredients together and then my youngest got to work kneading it. He did a great job! I usually put it in my kitchen aid and let that do the work, but the bread came out dense. My 7yr. old wanted to help knead it so I should him how and he ended up giving it a few too many punches and then folding. It turned out to be a great method!!

It wore him out a little bit and he had fun! Plus the dough came out nice and soft and rose perfectly!!

So glad my kids love to help out in the kitchen. I certainly love teaching them the importance of cooking!! 

They love love this bread and I love that they love it!

Happiness is definitely homemade!

I've been using King Arthur's Bread Flour and it's been great....

*This recipe is for a bread machine. I don't have a bread machine, so I do it a little differently. If you have a bread machine then add it all together in the machine and press start. If you don't follow my directions.

Easy Sandwich Bread

Ingredients:

• 1 cup lukewarm water
• 1/3 cup lukewarm milk 
• 3 tbsp. butter
• 3 3/4 cup bread flour
• 3 tbsp. sugar
• 1 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1 1/2 tsp. active dry yeast or instant yeast

Directions:

• Put lukewarm water in your mixing bowl and add sugar and instant yeast. Let it rest for 5mins.
• It should be foamy and bubbly, add the rest of the ingredients and mix together.
• Knead it for 10-12mins until nice and soft.
• Oil a loaf pan and shape the dough for the pan. 
• Let it rise for 1 hr. and don't forget to set your oven at 350 degrees.

For the small 1lb. loaf use this...

• 2/3 cup lukewarm water
• 1/4 lukewarm milk
• 2 T butter or I like avocado oil
• 2 1/2 cups bread flour
• 5 tsp. sugar
• 1 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1tsp. active dry yeast or instant yeast

• I let it rise for 2.5 hrs. I turn the oven on about the last 30 mins of the rising time to 350 deg. and then bake for 33 mins in a glass baking dish.

• After it's done rising put into the oven for 40-45mins until golden brown..... 

Let it cool and enjoy with some fresh butter and smile :) 

Hoisin Chicken Stir-fry

I bought some small chicken cuts at a local Japanese grocery store and fried them up with some homemade hoisin sauce. This meal turned out great and was quick and easy to throw together!

Homemade Hoisin Sauce:

• 4 Tbps. Soy Sauce
• 2 Tbsp. Black Bean Paste
• 1 Tbsp. honey or molasses
• 2 tsp. white wine vinegar
• 1/8 tsp. garlic powder
• 2 tsp. sesame oil
• 20 drops hot sauce
• 1/8 tsp. black pepper 

Combine all the ingredients together!

I fried up some garlic and onions. Then added the chicken and cooked for about 5mins and then added the last of the sauce that I had. Maybe about 1/8 cup or a little more and it thickened up really well. Add some green onions to brighten up the dish! Maybe next time I'll have to marinate the chicken in my homemade hoisin sauce. Yum!

The results were all thumbs up! 

The Fish Fam really enjoyed this dish over rice!

Melt In Your Mouth Meatballs

I made these meatballs the other night and heard over and over how good they were!

I found them over at Genius Kitchen who spotlighted Kittencal's Italian Melt In Your Mouth Meatballs.

Give them a try and enjoy!!!

Delicious Baozi!

Today we made delicious homemade baozi! 

I used this recipe....https://redhousespice.com/pan-fried-pork-buns/.

I pan fried some and steamed the rest.

I made the pork filling and the dough, both of which I doubled.

Pork filling from Red House Spice:

• 250g / 9oz minced pork
• 2 stalks spring onion, finely chopped
• 1/2 tablespoon ginger, minced
• 2 teaspoons light soy sauce
• 1/2 teaspoon Shaoxing rice wine
• 1/2 teaspoon pure sesame oil
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 pinch Chinese five-spice powder
• 5 tablespoons water (or chicken stock)

The dough raised nicely, then my youngest came and patted it down. 

All set up and ready to fill.

The pork filling smelled soooo gooood!

My kids made an assembly line and filled and bao-ed the buns.

They did a great job!!

They were delicious and filled with lots LOVE!!!

Instant Pot: Ribs, Mashed Potatoes, and Broccoli

If your looking for a good instant pot bbq ribs recipe this one is really really good and really really easy! It's definitely a Fish Fam Favorite.

http://www.pressurecookrecipes.com/easy-bbq-instant-pot-ribs/

Pressure Cook Recipes has some really great IP meals. I use them a lot.

I have two Instant Pots so in one I cooked the ribs in one, mashed potatoes in the other, and steamed the broccoli on the stove. Super easy and super good.

http://www.pressurecookrecipes.com/pressure-cooker-mashed-potatoes/

Dish it all up and serve. YUM!

Life Saving Leftovers: Teri Chicken Sauce Over Rice

I really love making dinner, but sometimes it's nice to rely on leftovers, especially when we are in a rush or I don't feel well and the leftovers become life savers!!!

Our Hawaiian Teriyaki Chicken from a few nights ago came to the rescue.

Heated up the sauce on the stove.

(We don't have a microwave)

Cooked some white rice.

Steamed some edamame beans.

Cut up some bell peppers and carrots.

Dinner is served!

Here is another Life Saving Leftover Teri Chicken Plate....

With green beans, fried tofu, and cut up veggies. 

Yum!

Wusthof Kitchen Knives!

I love love love my Wusthof kitchen knives!

They are sharp sharp sharp.

So sharp that I gotta be careful.

I've cut myself a time or two. OUCH! 

They do such a great job and cut so precisely with little effort!

I missed them the whole summer. LOL!

So happy to have them back!!!

Instant Pot: Saucy, Tender Pork Chops

The Fish Fam loved these tender and saucy pork chops. I put them down on their plates, we blessed the food, and then I got up to grab something in the kitchen. I was only gone for a couple minutes, but when I came back there weren't any pork chops on their plates and they were licking their chops saying, "These are the best, can you make them tomorrow too!"

Hahaha! I was like did you really just down that whole pork chop?!!

I love love my instant pots and put them to work everyday. They do a great job at making meat tender and juicy. Something that I couldn't really do in the oven or on the stove top. 

Here is the link to the recipe I used from The Kitchn.....https://www.thekitchn.com/instant-pot-pork-chops-257222

If you have an Instant Pot and have it sitting on your counter (unused) don't be scared!!! Get it out and put it to work!! You'll be so glad you did. 

I call my IP Mr. Incredible!

Breakfast Goodness

This is one of my most favorite low FODMAP breakfasts: Bok Choy, soft boiled egg, and sweet potatoes w/ some peanut butter. Yum!! It's super easy to make in my instant pot. Throw it all in for 5mins. and then it's done! I do have more sweet potato than pictured, but cut it up and didn't keep the fun flower shape. I have to stick close to fodmap safe foods and am really happy this one is a winner.

And this is THE BEST Paleo Pancake mix out there!

Sooo good!

Thank goodness I can order it on Vitacost.com and have plenty of it for me here in Okinawa.

I'll spread some peanut butter or almond butter on the pancakes with some really yummy organic vanilla strawberry jam by Stonewall Kitchen. 

I alternate between these two breakfasts, the photo at the top and this one.

I always look forward to breakfast!

Leftovers for Lunch....

Last night we had the boys favorite Teri Chicken, so leftovers were for lunchu!

My oldest whipped together some sesame noodles and it smelled delicious!

Sesame Noodles Sauce

• Wide rice noodles, the kind for Pho, cooked and drained
• 1/4 cup Soy Sauce
• 2 Tablespoons Sugar
• 2 cloves Garlic, Minced
• 2 Tablespoons Rice Vinegar
• 3 Tablespoons Pure Sesame Oil
• 1/2 teaspoon Hot Chili Oil
• 4 Tablespoons Canola Oil
• 3 whole Green Onions, Sliced Thin

Directions

• Whisk all ingredients (except noodles and green onions) together in a bowl. 
• Taste and adjust ingredients as needed.
• Pour sauce over warm noodles and toss to coat.
• Sprinkle with green onions and toss.
• Serve in a bowl with chopsticks. 

Throw in some perfectly steamed broccoli, which after the water reaches boiling point add the broccoli to your steamer tray and cook for 5mins. They come out perfect on our stove. Then rinse them off in cold water to stop them from cooking further.