Biscuits

Every proper southerner loves biscuits in every form or fashion.

Clearly, I am not a proper Southerner.  I would much rather eat (and bake) a yeast roll or French bread or a muffin.  But I  DO love my grandma's and my mom's biscuits!

My mom told me she would show me how to make my Granny's biscuits, but I'm not sure.  Something about dumping ingredients randomly into a bowl bothers me. Fortunately, my mom has a real recipe for biscuits that is delicious and easy!

  Biscuits: 

2 c flour

1 c heavy cream or half and half

mix everything together till just combined. Pat out on a floured surface. Cut into circles. Bake at 475-500 for 10 min.

Tips: 1. Do not overmix or overhandle, or biscuits will be tough.

2. When you the dough is on the floured surface, don't get much extra flour in the dough.

See? Very simple, very little time, and very very good!

 MMM!!

Happy evening,
Mellie =)

A Recipe and a Book Review

I haven't posted in forever, but that's OK since no one's reading yet. =[

Still, I've missed posting. I like writing my thoughts, and I like the thought that, one day, someone will read my blog and find something they enjoy.

Anyway! Last weekend I went to an all-weekend event at my church, and while I've filled my heart and head with the Bible, I've filled my body with golden Oreos, chocolate, soda, and golden Oreos. I'm pretty sure I've gained like 5 or more pounds and I want to eat ridiculously healthy for a month.

(Well, I'm going to Asheville in a couple weeks, so I'll eat ridiculously healthy until then.)

When I'm ready to eat junk food again, I'm making these brownies. They're the best thing ever. They come from Jan Karon's Mitford Cookbook and Kitchen Reader. Dad likes them and he supposedly hates brownies! The secret is beating the heck out of the eggs and sugar, so don't skip that step. It's definitely worth the extra time!

And since the brownies are good, the batter, obviously, is AMAZING!

4 oz unsweetened baking chocolate, coarsely chopped

3/4 c unsalted butter, cut in small pieces

4 large eggs

1/4 tsp salt

2 c sugar

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 c all purpose flour

1 1/2 c mini chocolate chunks or Hershey's kisses

1 c chopped pecans or walnuts, opt.

Preheat oven to 350. Place unsweetened chocolate and butter in microwave safe bowl and microwave 5 to 8 minutes. Stir and let cool completely. In a bowl, beat eggs, salt, and sugar till light and creamy, about 10 min.  Add chocolate mixture. Stir in flour till just combined.  Add chocolate chunks and pecans and stir till just combined. Pour batter into a greased 9x13 in pan, bake 20-25 min.  Cool before cutting.

NOW, for the book review:

One of my all time favoritest books is The Mark of the Lions Series by Francine Rivers. If you haven't read it, then you should. There are 3 books : A Voice in the Wind, An Echo in the Darkness, and As Sure as the Dawn.  I read them last February/March.  They're a bit time consuming, even for me, and I'm a fast reader. 

They are Christian historical fiction, set in ancient Rome. They tell the story of a young Jewish girl named Hadassah who is taken from her home and sold into slavery to a family of Roman aristocrats, and falls in love with Marcus, the son of her owner. And they also tell the story of Atretes, a German soldier who is captured, taken to Rome, and forced to be a gladiator. 

It is very hard to explain the rest without giving stuff away, so just trust me, these books are the most sad, sweet, suspenseful, and wonderful books you'll ever read! Go read them today!

Warning: These books have lots of adult content, even though they're Christian, so if you are immature then don't read these.

Well, I'm off to make granola. Good night!

 Love, 

Mellie

Granola

At last, a healthy recipe!

I love this recipe for granola. It is not really sweet or dry like boxed granola. It is a great little breakfast or snack, and it has lots of protein, fiber, and healthy fats.  And it's really easy to make!

This is the basic recipe, but it's also good with different kinds of nuts (I love cashews) or dried fruits. (I like cranberries or dates best.) Or you could add more honey and make granola bars!! Just do whatever... no ingredients are unwelcome.

4 c. old fashioned oats

1 c dried coconut

2/3 c each walnuts, pecans, almonds, pumpkin/sunflowers seeds

1/2 t salt

1/2 t cinnamon 

1/2 c canola oil

1/3 c honey

1/2 t vanilla

Mix dry ingredients in a big roasting pan.  Stir in wet ingredients.  Bake at 325 for 30 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes.  Let cool, stir often while cooling.

     Love,

    Mellie

Orange Dream Pie

Hi Everyone! Hope you're having a great weekend!

This weekend it is like 80 degrees outside, which like NEVER happens here. It feels amazing! I'm really ready for spring/summer, aren't you?

Today I thought I'd post a light springy recipe.  This pie is fabulous and we make it a lot for Easter.  It comes from Taste of Home's Simple and Delicious magazine. There are also lemon and other variations but I like this best. And the original recipe says to drizzle with white chocolate which I've never tried but it sounds good!!

                                                                  
                                                                  Orange Dream Pie

            (From Simple and Delicious)       

• 1 tablespoon water
• 1 envelope unsweetened orange soft drink mix
• 1 tablespoon orange juice
• 2 packages (3 ounces each) cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup confectioners' sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1-1/2 cups heavy whipping cream, whipped
• 1 graham cracker crust (9 inches)

• In a small bowl, combine the water and soft drink mix until dissolved. Stir in orange juice. In a bowl, beat the cream cheese, confectioners' sugar, vanilla and orange mixture until fluffy. Fold in whipped cream. Spread into crust. Chill for at least 1 hour or until set.

            Have a good weekend!

     Love,

    Mellie

Best Pizza Crust

                               I LOVE pizza.                             

It's one of  my all time favorite foods.

I mean, I know it's all greasy and cheesy and fattening, but a piece or two every now and then won't make you fat.  And you can always soak up the grease with a napkin.

If all you've ever had is nasty pizza, and now you think ALL pizza is like that, don't be scared to try this. It's not anything like what you had at school.

If you like frozen or delivered pizza,you'll love this.

Pizza Crust

(Makes 2 really thin, or 1 medium, pizza crust.)

1 pkg. yeast

1 c warm water

2 1/2 cups all purpose flour

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 tbsp olive oil

Italian seasoning, opt

 Mix yeast with water. Wait 10 minutes, or until foamy.  Mix with remaining ingredients till a soft dough forms.  Knead 6-8 minutes.  Cover and let it rise for 20-30 minutes or till doubled.  Spread onto greased baking sheets, (use 1 sheet for a thicker crust and 2 for a really thin crust.) Bake 10 minutes each.  Add desired toppings* and bake 10 more minutes each, or until cheese is bubbly. 

**Edit: I started using half whole wheat flour. It is just as good, if not better, than the all white version. DO NOT use all whole wheat flour, it will be completely inedible!

*Here's Some of my favorite toppings, besides the old classic cheese/pepperoni:

-Canadian Bacon

-Feta or Parmesan cheese

-bacon

-Greek Pizza:olive oil, olives, spinach, tomatoes, basil and oregano

Have a good weekend!

Love,

Mellie

10 Random Things...

1. I made these the other week and they were pretty legit...

2...but these are sort of the best thing ever.

      3. I love this book. I read it a couple weeks ago, it was SOO good!!

4. You really should go here. If you don't live near one, I promise the food is worth the drive!

5. I really, really, really love this......

6...and this.

7. these are the most amazing things ever!

8. I really, really hope someone reads this.

9.I hope that someone is not a grandma who thinks I am just soo cute. I'm in high school, for crying out loud!

10. I wonder if anyone will EVER read my blog. Maybe I should just quit. I dont know! I hate talking to air.

Well, anyways, this weekend I will try to post a recipe or two. Goodbye!

I really am this random in person but I'm not quite this boring. I'm just not used to writing things for everyone  to see. I'm shy.

 Love,

Mellie

Introduction

Hi.

My name is Mellie.

I wasted days fighting with my computer, and now I'm sitting here typing a post I don't think anyone will read.

Is it worth it? I hope so. I hope ONE person finds this blog and finds ONE recipe or something that they like. At least then I will have accomplished SOMETHING, even if it's small. 

Well, I have to get up early in the morning (YICK!!) so I'll be brief.This recipe is possibly the simplest cookie recipe,like, EVER, and they are delicious. Plus they have no eggs so you can eat lots of dough (the best part.)

Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies

(adapted from Get Me Out of the Kitchen! Cookbook by Sharon & Gene McFall)

1 c flour

1 c butter

1/2 c sugar

1 1/2 c quick oatmeal

1 c chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350. Combine all ingredients in a large bowl. Mix till thoroughly combined. Roll into walnut -sized balls. Place on ungreased cookie sheets, bake for 10-12 min, if desired. =)

I'll post again as soon as I can, I have stuff to do tomorrow night!

Goodnight for now!

 Love, 

Mellie