Just in time for Easter Bread

 

Easter is almost here! Try this yummy and beautiful Easter bread that will complete any Easter table!

Italian Easter Bread 

1 package Rapid Rise yeast

1 and 1/4 cups scalded milk, cooled to room temperature

pinch of salt

1/3 cup butter, softened

2 eggs, beaten

1/2 cup sugar

3.5 cups flour (approximate)

1 egg, beaten

5 dyed Easter eggs (doesnt have to be hard boiled. they will cook in the oven)

sprinkles

Glaze (confectioners sugar, milk, and vanilla)

In a large mixer, combine yeast, warm  milk, salt, butter, eggs and sugar. Add about half the flour and beat until smooth with dough hook.   Slowly add the remaining flour to form a stiff dough.   Knead until smooth with dough hook attachment. Place dough into a greased bowl and cover with a damp towel. Let rise for 1 hour.

Form dough into a log and cut dough into 10 equal parts.

For each bread you will need two parts. Roll each of the two parts and then twist together to form a twisted circle. Cover again and let rise for another hour.

Take your beaten egg wash and brush over the doughs, and then add sprinkles, and your egg to the middle of each bread. Cook in a 350 degree oven for 25 minutes or until golden brown.

Let cool. Spoon on glaze if you would like.

Enjoy!

 

Tuscan Minestrone Soup

 

Hi everyone, I experimented with this new soup recipe and I thought I would share.

It is a different take on a minestrone soup. A "Tuscan" version that is less tomato based. It turned out really well and I loved it! I served it with a olive oil and garlic crostini. Here's the recipe:

What You'll Need:

About 5 cups of chicken stock or vegetable stock (Two Quarts plus a little more)

2 zucchini (diced)

1 onion (diced)

5 carrots (diced)

2 yukon gold potatoes (diced)

1 red bliss potatoe (diced)

1 head of iceberg lettuce, shredded or roughly chopped

1 big handful of baby spinach

1 can of cannellini beans

Red pepper flakes

1 sprig of thyme

salt and pepper

olive oil

1/4 cup of grated parmesan cheese plus a little sprinkle for garnish

Once all vegetables are chopped, saute zucchini, onions, carrots, and potatoes in olive oil(You want enough olive oil to coat the bottom of the pan and the vegetables, about 1/4-1/2 cup.), salt and pepper until starting to get tender, about 10-12 minutes.

Next add the chicken stock and bring to a low boil.. Then add the iceberg lettuce, thyme, red pepper flakes(amount is a preference, I used a shake) and beans and let simmer for about 15 minutes of so.

Add spinach, and Parmesan cheese last, and bring to a low boil.

Pour into a bowl, and serve with a sprinkle of parmesean cheese on top.

Enjoy!

Mix and Match

Nuts are a really healthy and delicious snack. Nuts are packed with good for you fats that your body needs, not to mention they are so good! I used to only eat almonds, but then I decided, I needed to mix it up! Almonds are really good for you, but I found that so are most nuts and when all mixed up, they are even better! I like to use a variety of nuts, dried fruit, and dark chocolate to change it up all the time, so have fun with it and use whatever nuts you like!

Here are some facts from the Mayo Clinic about what nuts have in them that make them healthy!

• Unsaturated fats. It's not entirely clear why, but it's thought that the "good" fats in nuts — both monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats — lower bad cholesterol levels.
• Omega-3 fatty acids. Many nuts are also rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3s are a healthy form of fatty acids that seem to help your heart by, among other things, preventing dangerous heart rhythms that can lead to heart attacks. Omega-3 fatty acids are also found in many kinds of fish, but nuts are one of the best plant-based sources of omega-3 fatty acids.
• Fiber. All nuts contain fiber, which helps lower your cholesterol. Fiber also makes you feel full, so you eat less. Fiber is also thought to play a role in preventing diabetes.
• Vitamin E. Vitamin E may help stop the development of plaques in your arteries, which can narrow them. Plaque development in your arteries can lead to chest pain, coronary artery disease or a heart attack.
• Plant sterols. Some nuts contain plant sterols, a substance that can help lower your cholesterol. Plant sterols are often added to products like margarine and orange juice for additional health benefits, but sterols occur naturally in nuts.
• L-arginine. Nuts are also a source of l-arginine, which is a substance that may help improve the health of your artery walls by making them more flexible and less prone to blood clots that can block blood flow.

Don't forget even though nuts are healthy for you, they are only healthy in moderation. When eating nut mixes, or nuts in general you shouldn't have more then a handful, becuase it becomes too much of a good thing!

This particulur trail mix is:

Raw almonds

Raw walnuts

Pistachios (shelled)

Pepitas

Craisins

Dark chocolate covered edamame (Trader Joes; not too many of these just sprinkle a few in there for good measure!)