Best (and Easiest) Muffins EVER

Preheat oven to 375.

Mix together:

• 1 box cake mix (yellow, spice, carrot, chocolate)
• 1 can pumpkin (NOT pumpkin pie mix)

Mix well. The batter will be thick. Spoon into muffin pans that have been sprayed with non-stick cooking spray. Mini-muffins bake in about 7 minutes. Regular size muffins take a bit longer.

Tip: The Pampered Chef sells "Sweet Cinnamon Sprinkle" that we sprinkle over the tops of the batter. It gives the muffins a streusel like texture without the calories of traditional streusel.

Yep. That's it! Low fat, moderate calories, high in fiber. And the kids like 'em too (at least the chocolate version!)

The flavor cake mix you choose will determine the flavor of your muffins. Our favorites are carrot and chocolate. There are tons of variations to this recipe; mini chocolate chips, nuts, etc. Just be creative and enjoy!

Scones for Tea Recipes-Yummy!

Follow this link for Scone Recipes from Brenda at Old Fashioned Living.

Instant Oatmeal Muffins

It seems like we always have three or four packets of instant oatmeal left in the box. It's usually the ones that no one likes! Here's a creative recipe that will help you clean out your pantry!

I can't remember where I found this one, but it sure does sound delish.

Instant Oatmeal Muffins

• 1 cup Self Rising Flour
• 3/4 sugar
  
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 egg
• 1 stick butter, melted
• 3 packets instant oatmeal, any flavor will do
  
• enough boiling water to the wet ingredients and blend into a thick paste
  

1. In one bowl mix the flour, sugar and baking powder.
   
2. In another bowl gently whisk the egg and then add in the melted butter. Stir that together.
   
3. In the third bowl add enough boiling water to the 3 packets of instant oatmeal that it is a thick consistency of oatmeal.
   
4. Once the oatmeal is mixed well add it to the wet ingredients and stir them until blended. Then add the wet to the dry and mix them well. The batter will be thick.
5. Grease a muffin pan and add the batter.
   
6. Bake 15-18 minutes on 350.
   

This recipe will make 1 dozen regular sized muffins

Sweet Potato Biscuits

I made these for the first time this week and my family RAVED about them! They are great served with pork and wonderful right out of the oven with a cup of coffee! Thanks Kim!

Sweet Potato Biscuits
From the Kitchen of Kim Carper

• 4 - 5 c. self-rising flour (start with 4 cups and add as needed)
• 4 c. cooked and mashed sweet potatoes (if canned, drained)
• 1 ½ c. butter-flavored Crisco
• ½ c. granulated sugar
• ½ c. light brown sugar
• 3 tsp. cinnamon
• Milk – if needed to moisten

Mix sweet potatoes, Crisco, sugars, and cinnamon.
Work in flour and knead until ingredients are blended. Add small amount of milk (1-2 tablespoons as needed) for lighter biscuits.
Pinch small amount of dough and roll into biscuits.
Roll ball of dough in flour as needed & pat flour onto hands to prevent sticking.
Bake at 425 degrees for 20-25 minutes.
Serve hot with butter.

Makes about 35 biscuits

Cranberry Orange Scones

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 3 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup butter
• 1/2 cup dried cranberries
• 2 teaspoons grated orange rind
• 1/2 cup buttermilk
• 1 egg
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 2-3 tablespoons orange juice

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
2. Mix together flour, 1/4 cup sugar, baking powder, and salt in a bowl; cut in butter with a pastry blender or fork until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
3. Stir in cranberries and orange peel.
4. In a small bowl, mix buttermilk and egg; add to dry ingredients all at once, stirring until mixture is just moistened.
5. On a floured board, knead gently a few times, but not too much.
6. Form into a patty on an ungreased cookie sheet; cut into 8 wedges with a knife but do not move it.
7. Bake at 400 degrees F.
8. for 15-25 minutes or until light golden.
9. Mix together powdered sugar and orange juice into a glaze; drizzle over scones.
10. Separate scones and serve warm.

From Recipezaar.

Quick and Easy Sloppy Joes

Talk about an easy supper. . .

Sloppy Joes

• 1 lb. hamburger
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1 Tbsp. vinegar
• 1 Tbsp. mustard
• 1/2 c. ketchup
• 1/8 tsp. pepper
• 1 tsp. sugar
• 1/4 tsp. salt

Brown hamburger with onion. Drain. Combine in skillet with remaining ingredients. Simmer about 20 minutes. Serve on toasted Hamburger Buns. Enjoy!

Cake Mix Dinner Rolls

I found this fascinating recipe at Mommy's Kitchen! Check out her site.

• 1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast
• 1 1/2 cups warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
• 3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour or Bread Flour
• 1 (9 ounce) package yellow cake mix (about 1 cup)(don't use the whole box it is usually 18oz you can also use 1 jiffy yellow cake mix)
• 1/4 cup margarine, melted
• 2 egg whites beaten

1. In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Let stand until creamy, about 10 minutes.
2. Stir in the flour and cake mix. Beat until dough is smooth. Add some flour on the counter and knead any additional flour to the dough. Knead until it is not sticky anymore.
3. Lightly oil a large bowl, place the dough in the bowl and turn to coat with oil. Cover with a damp cloth and let rise in a warm place until doubled in volume, about 1 hour.
4. Lightly grease two baking sheets.
5. Deflate the dough and turn it out onto a lightly floured surface.
6. Divide the dough into two equal pieces and form into rounds. Let rest for 5 minutes and then roll into 12 inch circles.
7. Cut each circle into 10 wedges. Brush melted margarine onto the circles. Roll up the wedges, beginning at the wide end.
8. Place on prepared baking sheets with the end of the roll on the bottom. Brush the rolls with margarine and beaten egg white. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 25 minutes.
9. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
10. Bake in preheated oven for 12 to 15 minutes, or until golden brown.

Quick & Easy Breezy--Super Versatile Blueberry Muffins

Blueberry Muffins

Ingredients:

• 2 cups flour (I used 1 cup whole wheat & 1 cup regular flour with marvellous results.)


• 2 teaspoons baking powder


• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon


• 1/4 teaspoon salt


• 2 eggs


• 1 cup milk


• 3/4 cup sugar (I used 1/2 cup Splenda-ish sweetner and 1/4 cup white sugar.)


• 1/2 cup vegetable oil (I used about 1/3 cup. Next time, I will try using 1/2 cup applesauce.)


• 1 cup blueberries - frozen or fresh - thawed
  
  Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees
2. In a large bowl combine flour, baking powder, cinnamon, salt and sugar; mix well.
3. In a separate smaller bowl beat eggs lightly and stir in milk, and oil.
4. Quickly stir egg mixture into dry ingredients.
5. Carefully stir in blueberries
6. Spoon mixture into greased muffin cups (or lined cups) and bake for 15 to 17 minutes.

Bread Recipes for Any Occasion

From the Family Fun Website:

Whether baking alone or with the assistance of kid-chefs, these recipes are easy enough for anyone to create. From sweet breakfast muffins to garlic bread, find breads to suit any occasion.

For more great family recipes, be sure to sign up for FamilyFun's free "In the Kitchen" Recipe newsletter.

Buttery Bread Machine Rolls

From The Grocery Cart Challenge

via Recipezaar

Ingredients

• 1 cup warm milk(70 to 80 degrees F.)
• 1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 4 cups bread flour
• 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast

Directions

1. In bread machine pan, put all ingredients in order suggested by manufacturer.
2. Select dough setting.
3. When cycle is completed, turn dough onto a lightly floured surface.
4. Divide dough into 24 portions.
5. Shape dough into balls
6. Place in a greased 13 inch by 9 inch baking pan.
7. Cover and let rise in a warm place for 15 minutes.
8. Bake at 375 degrees for 13-16 minutes or until golden brown.

Sweet Potato Streusel Muffins

From Heavenly Homemakers:

Muffins:

• 2 cups whole wheat flour
• 2 t. baking powder
• 1 t. nutmeg
• 1/2 t. sea salt
• 1/2 cup honey
• 1/4 cup raisins (optional)
• 1 egg
• 1 cup mashed sweet potato
• *1/2 cup milk
• 3 T. melted butter

Topping:

• 3 T. rapadura (dehydrated cane sugar juice) or brown sugar
• 1 T. butter, softened
• 2 T. chopped nuts (optional)

1. Combine flour, baking powder, salt and nutmeg in a bowl.
2. Add honey, raisins, eggs, sweet potato, milk and butter. Stir until just mixed.
3. Scoop into 15 paper lined muffin cups.
4. In a small bowl, combine topping ingredients. Sprinkle evenly over each muffin.
5. Bake at 400 degrees for 15-20 minutes.

*To make mashed sweet potatoes:
Scrub two medium sweet potatoes. Stab them each with a knife, then place them in a glass baking dish. Cover and bake for 1 hour or until the potato is very tender. Allow potatoes to cool a few minutes, then carefully peel them. Mash the potatoes with a fork or potato masher.

Homemade Whole Wheat English Muffins

• 1 cup milk
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 3 tablespoon margarine
• 1 envelope active dry yeast
• 1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
• 3 1/2 cups (about) all-purpose flour Cornmeal

1. Scald (I wasn't sure how to scald milk, so I found out online) the milk and stir in the sugar, salt, and margarine. Cool to warm (105 - 110 degrees F).
2. Measure one cup of warm (same temperature) water into a large warm bowl. Sprinkle with the yeast, then stir until yeast is dissolved.
3. Stir in the milk mixture, then stir in the whole-wheat flour and 1 1/2 cups of the all-purpose flour. Beat with a spoon until smooth. Add enough additional flour to make a stiff dough.
4. Turn out onto a floured board and knead two to three minutes, or until the dough can be formed into a ball (note: dough may be sticky).
5. Put the dough in a greased bowl, turning over to grease all sides. Cover and let rise in a warm place one hour, or until doubled in bulk.
6. Punch the dough down with lightly floured fingertips.
7. Divide the dough in half. On a board heavily sprinkled with cornmeal, pat each half into a half-inch thickness. Cut with a three-inch cookie cutter and put about two inches apart on ungreased baking sheets.
8. Let rise in a warm place a half hour, or until doubled in bulk. Cook on a lightly greased medium-hot griddle or skillet until well-browned on both sides, about ten minutes on each side.
9. Cool on racks.
10. To serve, split muffins and toast.
11. Makes about eighteen muffins.

Gluten- and Nut-Free Southern Skillet Cornbread

• 1 Tbsp. bacon drippings or vegetable oil
• 2 cups stone-ground cornmeal
• 2 Tbsp. superfine sugar
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1 tsp. salt
• 2 large eggs, beaten
• 2 1/4 cups buttermilk

1. Preheat oven to 450°F and place a rack in top third of oven.
2. Put the bacon fat in a large cast-iron skillet or a 9-inch baking pan and place in oven.
3. Mix cornmeal, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a large bowl.
4. In a separate bowl, whisk together eggs and buttermilk; add to cornmeal mixture. Beat until smooth.
5. Pour batter into hot pan. Bake until top is browned and center springs back when gently pressed, 20 minutes. Cut into wedges and serve hot.

Homemade Pizza Crust (a la Uncle Larry)

• 1 Tbsp. active dry yeast
• 1 cup warm water (105 to 115 degrees F.)
• 1 tsp. sugar1 tsp. salt
• 2 Tbsp. vegetable oil
• 2 1/2 cups flour
  

1. Dissolve the yeast in the water.
2. Add the rest of the ingredients in and mix.
3. Dump onto a floured surface.
4. Knead into a smooth dough (five minutes or so).
5. Roll out and press down onto a greased pizza pan.
   Add toppings. (Have fun and be creative with this! Our favorite variety is salsa or barbecue sauce, diced cooked chicken, and cheese.)
6. Bake at 450 degrees F. for around 12-15 minutes until the crust looks crispy and lightly browned.

By the way, you can make up a double or triple batch of the pizza crust dough and freeze the extras if you don't need it. This speeds up the preparation even more as all you have to do is pull out a bag of dough and a bag of chopped cooked chicken in the morning and then put the pizza together right before you're ready to eat. You can also freeze the pizzas already cooked - but I doubt it would ever stay uneaten long enough to make it to the freezer around here!