Easy Tasty Pancakes and home made maple syrup

I like this recipe because it uses ingredients you will most likely have in your home.  When you wake up and crave pancakes you can whip these up quick.  They are super light, fluffy and delicious!

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon white sugar
• 1 1/4 cups milk
• 1 egg
• 3 tablespoons butter, melted

1. In a large bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, salt and sugar. Make a well in the center and pour in the milk, egg and melted butter; mix until smooth.
2. Heat a lightly oiled griddle or frying pan over medium high heat. Pour or scoop the batter onto the griddle, using approximately 1/4 cup for each pancake. Brown on both sides and serve hot.

Maple Syrup

1 C. Water

2 C. Sugar

1 T. Maple Flavoring

Put sugar and water together in pan, bring to a boil.  Remove from heat add maple flavoring.  For thicker syrup add more sugar.

Perfect steak on the grill

Before I give my recipe I want to educate and give a few tips on the do's and don'ts of frilling steak.

 1. Make sure your grill is hot enough BEFORE you put the meat on.  Your temp for a good steak should be between 425  and 450.  Remember every time you open the grill heat escapes.

2. DO NOT salt steak before it hits the grill.  Salt draws moisture out of the meat and to the surface,  Water boils at 275 degrees meet cooks at 350 if you salt it, basically you end up boiling steak.

3. Know your cuts of steak.  There are a lot of options to choose from some are awesome straight, some best for marinade some for heavy spice or rubs.  Do some research find out what's what.  My favorite cuts for straight steak flavor are 1.Ribeye 2. Tri-tip 3. Chuck steak 4. T-bone 5. Sirloin.  All the cuts are good and have their place but to me these 5 really are the best for grilling.

4. DO NOT over cook the meat.  Dry steak is gross, don't fear a little pink.

5. DO NOT cut the steak right of the grill.  If you cut it immediately you will lose all the juices which is what make it delicious.  Let the steak sit for about 3 minutes, this way the juices redistribute making the steak juicy and delicious.

Making the perfect steak:

Decide what cut you are going to use.  I will be using Chuck steak, it has the same taste and texture as ribeye, just as delicious and a lot cheaper.  ($2.49/lb)

Steaks (4 bout 1/4" thick.)(thick steak is great too just remember to cook it longer.)
Melted Butter
Pepper
Salt

Preheat grill between  425 and 450.  Brush melted butter on both sides of steak.  Pepper to taste.  Place on grill (direct heat) meaning  directly above the flame.  For medium rare (the only way really to eat steak) cook on one side 3:30, flip over and cook another 3:30.  (if the steak is thicker you will have to cook it longer, thinner less time.)  If you like your steak more done increase cook time, but try not to turn the steak more than once.  Use tongs or a spatula to turn.  If you use a fork or a knife all the juices will run out when you turn it.  Once it is cooked to your preference remove and salt to taste.  Let sit 2-3 minutes then cut and enjoy.  It is so simple and so delicious.

Super Easy Home-made bread

What is better than the smell of fresh baked bread?  When you pull a hot loaf out of the oven there is almost nothing more impressive.  This is not quit as easy as a bread maker but it is close and it is delicious.


Heat oven to 350°

In a mixer or large bowl combine

 2 ¼ cups warm water
* Water should be as hot as you can stand to put your hands in. If it is burning you, it is too hot and              will kill your yeast.
3 Tablespoons sugar
* You can also substitute honey or molasses
2 Tablespoons Instant Yeast
* One package should last you at least six months so it is worth the cost!

Mix and let this sit about 2 min until water is at least slightly bubbly and the yeast is disolved.

Add

2 teaspoons salt
* You can use just one I you would like sweeter bread
3 Tablespoons of butter or margarine
* You want it to be soft but not melted. If you are pulling straight from the fridge 11 seconds in the    microwave is about what you will need to soften it.

Mix for a few seconds to break up the butter.

Add

5-6 cups of flour
* I realize that this is a large margin of difference so what you will want to do:
Add the first 3 cups, one at a time, while the mixer is on a medium speed
Turn the mixer to high and add 2 more cups, again one at a time
For the last cup of flour first feel the dough. It should be sticky still at this point,
Slowly mix in the last cup. You will probably not need all of it so go slow.
When you have enough the dough should not be sticky but also not firm.

Mix for 7 minutes. (It should be very smooth at the end. If mixing by hand mix for 10 min)

Cover your counter space in oil and place dough on it to rise. Raise dough for 7 min. (Don’t let raise more than 10 min) Separate into 2 equal parts and shape. Place in greased bread pans.

Bake for 30-40 min.
*You do not want to take it out when golden brown. It should be darker than golden otherwise the middle will not be done.

Remove promptly from the bread pan and place on cooling rack or  on  a dish towel to avoid sweating.

Cover the top in butter or margarine to make it shiny! Then marvel in your delicious bread!

Purpose Of my Blog/ Keylime pie

I love great food, however I do not like complicated, time consuming recipes.  Most of us are just too busy to really make a gourmet meal.  I hope to share with you, my friends some of our favorite and easy recipes that you can make your own.  I am also not a big spender, you will find I use basic, easy to find ingredients and my recipes are very inexpensive.

Key lime Pie is so good and a very refreshing summer treat or any time for that matter.  There are a lot of very complex recipes that take a lot of work and don't really turn out that well.  This recipe is very simple and the results are impressive.  One thing I have found is that real key limes make all the difference in the world. (I buy them at wal-mart) They are tiny and take a long time to juice  but are well worth the trouble the difference in flavour is remarkable.

Takes about 15 minutes to make 11 minutes to cook. Costs around $3-5.

One Graham cracker crust (easiest way to do it)

3 cups sweetened condensed milk

1/2 cup sour cream

3/4 C key lime juice (about 20 limes worth I buy them at wal mart.)

1T lime zest

1 drop green food coloring

Pre-heat oven to 375.  Mix the sweetened condensed milk, sour cream and lime juice until well blended.  Mix in lime zest and 1 drop green food coloring. Pour mixture into crust and `cook about 11 minutes (until small bubbles come up and pop)  Refrigerate for at least 4 hours.  Enjoy your friends will be so impressed.