French Bread - Made in under an hour!!!

I have been craving bread all day, but didn't feel like spending all day making fresh bread. If you had told me yesterday that French Bread could be made, including baking and rising time, in under an hour I would have thought you were crazy. But, it's true, AMAZING French Bread can be made in under an hour. This is by far the best bread I have ever made, and no crazy kneading or waiting for it to rise and rise again.

All you need is:

• 1 1/2 cups warm water
• 1 Tbs honey
• 1/2 Tbs salt
• 1 1/2 Tbs active dry yeast or 1 packet
• 3 to 4 cups flour

Pour water into a medium mixing bowl and add the salt, honey, and yeast.
Gently mix just to slightly dissolve the yeast and let the mixture rest for 10 minutes.
Slowly knead in most of the flour. I ended up only needing 3 1/2 cups of flour. Your dough should be moist but not sticky.
Shape one large or two small loaves, place them on a cookie sheet and let rise 20 minutes.
Use a knife to slash the tops diagonally.
Preheat the oven to 450 degrees and bake for 20 minutes or until golden brown.
Another way to tell when your bread is done is to knock on it, the bread should sound hollow.
Let the bread cool 10 minutes before serving.
Because this bread doesn't contain any preservatives it will go stale faster than store-bought bread.
Enjoy!

Microwave Hot Fudge Cake

I forgot to take a photo! Here's a photo of Bellingham, WA instead.
It comes out looking like this if you are curious.

I stumbled upon this recipe today and had to try it. The cake was good, the sauce came out a little like pudding. My only caution is that you need someone to split this with! I split it with my dad and still had a stomach ache from all the sugar.

• 1/4 cup flour
• 3 Tbsp. granulated sugar
• 2 tsp. baking cocoa
• 1/2 tsp. baking powder
• 1/8 tsp. salt
• 2 Tbsp. milk
• 2 tsp. vegetable oil
• 1/4 tsp. vanilla
• 2 Tbsp. chopped nuts (I used Pecans... yum!)
  
• 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 Tbsp. baking cocoa
• 1/2 cup hot water

1. Mix flour, granulated sugar, 2 teaspoons cocoa, the baking powder and salt in 24-ounce microwavable casserole. Stir in milk, oil and vanilla until smooth. Stir in 2 tablespoons nuts. Sprinkle with brown sugar and 1 tablespoon cocoa.
2. Place water in 1-cup microwavable measure. Microwave uncovered on High 1 minute to 1 minute 30 seconds or until boiling. Pour over batter.
3. Microwave uncovered on High 2 minutes 30 seconds to 3 minutes, rotating casserole 1/4 turn after 1 minute, until cake is set but still glossy. Serve warm topped with ice cream. Garnish with sliced bananas, additional nuts and cherries.

Apple Applesauce Cake

• 2 cups peeled & diced baking apples (I used yellow transparent apples that were given to me by The Harwell's.)
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 cup flour
• ¾ tsp. baking soda
• ½ tsp. salt
• 1-1/2 tsp. cinnamon
• 1 dollop of sour cream (or 1 egg replacer equivalent)
• ½ cup apple sauce
• 1tsp. vanilla

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
In a small bowl combine peeled and diced apples with sugar.
In a medium bowl mix the sour cream (or egg replacer), applesauce and vanilla.
Add flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon and mix well.
Fold in diced apples.
Spread the batter in a greased 8 or 9 inch round cake pan.
Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.