Elle Is For Living!

Easy Artisan Bread

This is the easiest best bread ever. Without the rising times, it takes <10 minutes of your time. Here are the steps:

Activate yeast
Add flour
Let rise 1 hour
Form into round loaf
Let rise 30 minutes
Bake 30 minutes

That is it! Lots of great variations but plain (how the recipe is written) is FABULOUS!

2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast

1 teaspoon sugar

1 1/4 cups warm water

1 1/4 teaspoons kosher salt

2 1/2 to 3 1/2 cups All-Purpose Flour ( 400 grams) plus extra for dusting

4 to 6 quart Dutch Oven or Casserole dish with a lid (has to be able to handle 460F)

MIX THE DOUGH & FIRST RISE (1 HOUR):

Combine yeast, sugar, and warm water in a large mixing bowl (you can also use a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook).

Let the yeast proof for about 5 minutes, until the mixture is foamy.

Turn on your dryer.

After the 5 minutes is up, add flour to bowl. Mix with a sturdy spatula until the dough starts to come together, then add salt and mix until all ingredients are incorporated. For best results, mix until no dry bits of flour remain. Note: This is a relatively slack (wet) dough, so it may seem a bit shaggy and sticky at this point. Don't worry - it will become more smooth and elastic as we go!

Cover bowl with a clean tea towel and let rise in the dryer (not while it is running lol!) for 1 hour, until dough has doubled in size.

SHAPE THE DOUGH & FINAL RISE (30 MIN):

When dough has risen, take it out of the dryer and turn on dryer again for next rise.

Lightly flour a large cutting board.

Tip the dough out of the bowl and onto the cutting board. DO NOT PUNCH THE DOUGH DOWN - you want to keep all those nice air bubbles intact.

Shape the dough into a round loaf: Pull each corner of the dough in towards the center (like you're folding an envelope) and repeat until the dough feels tight and begins to resist your folds. Flip the dough over (envelope seams on the bottom) and put it back in the bowl.

Cover with a tea towel and put back in dryer to let rise another 30 minutes or so while you preheat the oven.

HEAT THE OVEN :

While bread is rising, place an empty dutch oven (with the lid on) or I use a white Corning Ware casserole dish with a glass lid, in your oven and heat to 460 degrees Fahrenheit.

BAKE!

When the oven is hot, you're ready to go! Use oven mitts to pull the dutch oven out and remove the lid.

Lay a piece of parchment paper down and tip your bread dough gently out of the proofing basket onto the parchment paper. Make sure the seam side is up this time - this is what will create those beautiful cracks on top of the bread!

VERY CAREFULLY (without burning yourself!) use the sides of the parchment to lift the bread up and place it into the hot Dutch oven/Corning Ware dish.

Put your oven mitts back on, place the lid back on the pot, and slide the whole thing back into your hot oven.

Cook bread for 30 minutes.

After 30 minutes, remove the lid from your container. The bread should be taller, crusty, and very lightly browned. Continue cooking the bread, uncovered, for 5-15 minutes more until the bread has deepened in color and you have a beautiful brown crust. (I do 5 minutes as we don't like the crust too crunchy).

When bread is done, use oven mitts to pull the pot out of your oven.

Use your parchment paper to lift the bread out of the container onto a cooling rack. Let cool for at least 30 minutes before cutting into it.

Slice, slather with butter, and enjoy!

Asiago

1/4 tsp fresh ground black pepper

1 cup shredded Asiago cheese, divided (you'll save some for topping the bread)

Rosemary Garlic

2 Tablespoons fresh chopped rosemary

8- 10 roasted garlic cloves, roughly chopped or 2 tsp garlic powder

Wheat Nut

Replace 1 C white flour with 1 C wheat flour

1/2 C sunflower seeds

2 Tbsp flax seeds

AFTER baking, sprinkle with Nothing But The Bagel seasoning, optional

Original recipe with LOTS of detailed notes are at: https://www.lifeasastrawberry.com/easy-crusty-french-bread/

Elle's Mom's Cinnamon Coffee Cake

This is so quick and easy to make and DELICIOUS!

Ingredients

1 beaten egg

2 Tbsp melted butter

1/2 C sugar

1/2 C milk

1 C flour

2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

TOPPING

1 C brown sugar

2 tsp cinnamon

2 Tbsp flour

4 Tbsp melted butter

1 C walnuts

Combine wet & then add dry ingredients

Mix well and pour into greased 8 x8 pan

Sprinkle with topping

Bake at 375F for 20 to 25 minutes

Elle's Easy Crock Pot Roast

Crock Pot Roast

Ingredients

Roast (I like cross rib)

Lawry's seasoning salt

Garlic Powder

Salt & pepper

McCormick Montreal steak seasoning

Season with lawry's, garlic, salt & pepper and a bit of Montreal steak

Put in crock pot on high and cover

After 1/2 time turn down to low for remainder of time

If you want to add veggie, add after you turn to low

Check if veggies are cooking too quickly you may need to remove to a plate and microwave right before serving to heat

Beef roast size Cooking time LOW HIGH

2-3lb / 1-1.5kg 7-8 hours 3-4 hours

3-4lb / 1.5-2kg 8-9 hours 4-5 hours

4-5lb / 2-2.5kg 9-10 hours 5-6 hours

5-6lb / 2.5-3kg 10-11 hours 6-7 hours

6-8lb / 3-4kg 11-12 hours 7-8 hours

I use the times as rough guides and go more by when the roast is fork tender and comes apart easily.

I sometimes cook my roasts from frozen. Rinse, season and put in crock pot and add a bit more time.

Sunday Chat: Dealing With Difficult Times

For to you it has been granted

for Christ’s sake,

not only to believe in Him,

but also to suffer for His sake

Philippians 1:29

Beloved, do not be surprised

at the fiery trial

when it comes upon you to test you,

as though something strange

were happening to you.

1 Peter 4:12

Suffer hardship with me,

as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.

2 Timothy 2:3

Indeed, all who desire to live

a godly life in Christ Jesus

will be persecuted

2 Timothy 3:12

For I will show him how much

he must suffer for My name’s sake.”

Acts 9:16

Many are the afflictions

of the righteous,

but the Lord delivers him out of them all.

Psalm 34:19

I have told you all this

so that you may have peace in me.

Here on earth you will

have many trials and sorrows.

But take heart, because

I have overcome the world.”

John 16:33

Jesus replied,

“You do not realize now

what I am doing,

but later you will understand.

John 13:7

Nothing in all creation

is hidden from God’s sight.

Everything is uncovered and laid bare

before the eyes of him

to whom we must give account.

Hebrews 4:13

And we know that in all things

God works for the good

of those who love him,

who have been called

according to his purpose.

Romans 8:28

In his kindness God called you

to share in his eternal glory

by means of Christ Jesus.

So after you have suffered a little while,

he will restore, support, and strengthen you,

and he will place you on a firm foundation.

1 Peter 5:10

Yes, and the Lord will deliver me

from every evil attack

and will bring me safely

into his heavenly Kingdom.

All glory to God forever and ever!

Amen.

2 Timothy 4:18

Count it all joy, my brothers,

when you meet trials of various kinds,

for you know that the testing of your

faith produces steadfastness.

And let steadfastness have its full effect,

that you may be perfect and complete,

lacking in nothing.

James 1:2-4

Instead, be very glad for these trials

make you partners with Christ in his suffering,

so that you will have the wonderful joy

of seeing his glory

when it is revealed to all the world.

1 Peter 4:13

So if you are suffering in a manner

that pleases God,

keep on doing what is right,

and trust your lives to the

God who created you,

for he will never fail you.

1 Peter 4:19

I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me.

    He freed me from all my fears.

Those who look to him for help

will be radiant with joy;

    no shadow of shame will darken their faces.

In my desperation I prayed, and the Lord listened;

    he saved me from all my troubles.

For the angel of the Lord is a guard;

    he surrounds and defends all who fear him.

Psalm 34:4-7

The Lord is my light and my salvation

    so why should I be afraid?

The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger,

    so why should I tremble?

Psalm 27:1

Give all your worries and cares to God,

for he cares about you.

1 Peter 5:7

I cried out, “I am slipping!”

    but your unfailing love, O Lord, supported me.

When doubts filled my mind,

    your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer.

Psalm 94:18-19

Stay alert!

Watch out for your great enemy,

the devil.

He prowls around like a roaring lion,

looking for someone to devour. 

Stand firm against him,

and be strong in your faith.

Remember that your family of believers 

all over the world

is going through the same kind

of suffering you are.

1 Peter 5:8-9

My child, don’t reject the Lord’s discipline,

and don’t be upset when he corrects you.

For the Lord corrects those he loves,

just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights.

Proverbs 3:11-12

Blessed is the man whom You chasten, O Lord,

And whom You teach out of Your law;

Psalm 94:12

For his God instructs and teaches him properly.

Isaiah 28:26

Who is the man who fears the Lord?

He will instruct him in the way he should choose.

Psalm 25:12

I will instruct you and

teach you in the way which you should go;

I will counsel you with My eye upon you.

Psalm 32:8

He leads the humble in justice,

And He teaches the humble His way.

Psalm 25:9

Let me hear Your loving kindness in the morning;

For I trust in You;

Teach me the way in which I should walk;

For to You I lift up my soul.

Psalm 143:8

As it is written in the Scriptures,

‘They will all be taught by God.’

Everyone who listens to the Father

and learns from him comes to me.

John 6:45

In the same way,

let your light shine before others,

so that they may see your good works

and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Matthew 5:16

What you have learned and received

and heard and seen in me

practice these things,

and the God of peace will be with you.

Philippians 4:9

Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.

1 Corinthians 11:1

Do not be conformed to this world,

but be transformed by the renewal of your mind,

that by testing you may discern

what is the will of God,

what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Romans 12:2

For to this you have been called,

because Christ also suffered for you,

leaving you an example,

so that you might follow in his steps.

1 Peter 2:21

As an example of suffering and patience,

brothers, take the prophets who spoke

in the name of the Lord.

James 5:10

FFFFFFFFFFFFFF

There is nothing better

for a person than that

he should eat and drink

and find enjoyment in his toil.

This also, I saw,

is from the hand of God,

Ecclesiastes 2:24

Sunday Chat: What Are You Focused On

There is nothing better

for a person than that

he should eat and drink

and find enjoyment in his toil.

This also, I saw,

is from the hand of God,

Ecclesiastes 2:24

As for the rich in this present age,

charge them not to be haughty,

nor to set their hopes on the

uncertainty of riches, but on God,

who richly provides us

with everything to enjoy.

1 Timothy 6:17

So we fix our eyes

not on what is seen,

but on what is unseen,

since what is seen is temporary,

but what is unseen is eternal

2 Corinthians 4:18

Set your minds on things

that are above,

not on things that are on earth.

Colossians 3:2

But seek first the kingdom of God

and his righteousness,

and all these things

will be added to you.

Matthew 6:33

all too quickly

the message is crowded out

by the worries of this life,

the lure of wealth,

and the desire for other things,

so no fruit is produced.

Mark 4:19

“Then He said to them,

“Beware, and be on your guard

against every form of greed;

for not even when one has an

abundance does his life

consist of his possessions.”

Luke 12:15

“Do not store up for yourselves

treasures on earth,

where moths and vermin destroy,

and where thieves break in and steal.

But store up for yourselves

treasures in heaven,

where moths and vermin

do not destroy,

and where thieves

do not break in and steal.

For where your treasure is,

there your heart will be also.

Matthew 6:19-21

Submit yourselves, then, to God.

Resist the devil,

and he will flee from you.

Come near to God and

he will come near to you.

James 4:7-8

Let us draw near to God

with a sincere heart and

with the full assurance

that faith brings,

having our hearts sprinkled

to cleanse us from a guilty conscience

and having our bodies washed

with pure water.

Let us hold unswervingly to

the hope we profess,

for he who promised is faithful.

Hebrews 10:22-23

But for me

it is good to be near God;

I have made the Lord God my refuge,

that I may tell of all your works.

Psalm 73:28

Think about Him

in all your ways,

and He will guide you on the right paths.

Proverbs 3:6

Love is patient,

love is kind.

It does not envy,

it does not boast,

it is not proud.

It does not dishonor others,

it is not self-seeking,

it is not easily angered,

it keeps no record of wrongs.

Love does not delight in evil

but rejoices with the truth.

It always protects,

always trusts,

always hopes,

always perseveres.

1 Corinthians 13:4-6

“Do not be conformed

to this world,

but be transformed

by the renewal of your mind,

that by testing

you may discern

what is the will of God,

what is good and

acceptable and perfect.”

Romans 12:2

But the fruit of the Spirit is

love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

Galatians 5:22

In the same way,

let your light shine before others,

so that they may see your good works

and give glory to your Father

who is in heaven.

Matthew 5:16

Come and hear,

all you who fear God;

let me tell you what he has done for me.

Psalm 66:16

For I am not ashamed of the gospel,

for it is the power of God for salvation

to everyone who believes,

to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

Romans 1:16

And I heard the voice of the Lord saying,

“Whom shall I send,

and who will go for us?”

Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.”

Isaiah 6:8

Each one must give as

he has decided in his heart,

not reluctantly or under compulsion,

for God loves a cheerful giver

2 Corinthians 9:7

Give, and it will be given to you.

Good measure, pressed down,

shaken together, running over,

will be put into your lap.

For with the measure you use it

will be measured back to you.”

Luke 6:38

In all things I have shown you

that by working hard in this way

we must help the weak and

remember the words of the Lord Jesus,

how he himself said,

‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

Acts 20:35

The point is this:

whoever sows sparingly

will also reap sparingly,

and whoever sows bountifully

will also reap bountifully.

2 Corinthians 9:6

“But seek first his kingdom

and his righteousness,

and all these things

will be given to you as well.”

Matthew 6:33

So, then, be careful how you live.

Do not be unwise but wise,

making the best use of your time

because the times are evil.

Ephesians 5:15-16

Set your minds on things

that are above,

not on things that are on earth.

Colossians 3:2

Am I now trying to win

the approval of human beings,

or of God?

Or am I trying to please people?

If I were still trying to please people,

I would not be a servant of Christ.

Galatians 1:10

Elle's Easy Meatloaf - 2 Ways!

Some people like their meatloaf with a nice tomato glaze. Others prefer a gravy. I love both ways or, even better, both ways together! The stove top stuffing adds such beautiful spices and the mustard in the glaze adds the perfect amount of zing. This is such an easy recipe and, is the perfect size for us to have it for 3 meals, which I love. I do find that the gravy doesn't freeze well so I usually make fresh gravy to go with the leftovers.

Servings: 6

2 large eggs

1/2 cup water

6 ounce box Stove Top stuffing mix any flavor

2 pounds lean ground beef

1/4 cup ketchup

Tomato Glaze

1 cup ketchup

1/4 cup brown sugar

2 tsps Worcestershire sauce

1 to 2 tsp yellow mustard (depending on how much 'zip' you like)

Mushroom Gravy (optional)

3 tbsp unsalted butter

¼ cup shallot chopped

2 cloves garlic minced

8 oz mushrooms sliced

1 tsp Worcestershire sauce

¼ cup all-purpose flour

3 tbsp balsamic vinegar

2 cups beef stock

¼ tsp Kosher salt

¼ tsp ground black pepper

1 tbsp flat-leaf parsley fresh, for garnish, optional

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray a 9×13″ baking pan or dish with non-stick cooking spray; set aside.

In a large mixing bowl, whisk the eggs and water together until well combined.

Add the stuffing mix, ground beef, and 1/4 cup of ketchup. Use your hands to mix the ingredients together until well combined.

Transfer the meat to the baking dish and shape the meat into a loaf (or you can put it in a loaf pan for the shape and invert onto the 9 x 13 pan and remove the loaf pan if you want it to look prettier than hand shaping it)

Combine all ingredients for the glaze and brush the meatloaf evenly with the glaze.

Bake at 350°F for 55 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes then slice and serve with mushroom gravy (optional)

MUSHROOM GRAVY

In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium-high heat.

Add the shallots and cook until soft, about 2 to 4 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for another 1 minute.

Add the mushrooms and cook, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned and have released their liquids, about 8 minutes.

Whisk in the flour and stir to coat. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes.

Add the balsamic and then the stock. Use a whisk to incorporate the flour into the liquid. Slowly simmer and stir until thickened, about 4 to 5 minutes.

Season with salt and pepper. Keep warm over low heat.

Elle's Easy Homemade Mayonnaise

This is very easy and makes up the right amount that I can use it up within a few days and not have it go bad. SO much healthier than the mayonnaise that is out there made from seed / soybean oil. Just put it all in a jar, put the immersion blender on the bottom and, with it on, slowly bring it up as you watch it turn into 'mayo'! That's it.

¾ cup light olive oil

1 large egg

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

½ teaspoon salt

¼ teaspoon ground black pepper (Optional)

Place light olive oil, egg, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper together in a bowl. Use a hand-held immersion blender to blend mixture together, placing the blade directly on top of the egg yoke. Pull up the immersion blender slowly when fully emulsified, taking care not to over blend. Store in a tightly closed container; refrigerate until using.

You can substitute avocado oil for olive oil, if desired

Elle's Killer Twice Baked Potatoes

These are seriously the BEST twice baked potatoes...at least Mark says so! I think it is the variety of cheeses that make the stuffing so creamy and rich. Let me know if you agree!

Ingredients

2 russet potatoes

1 wedge original laughing cow cheese

1 oz cream cheese

1/4 C shredded colby jack cheese

1/4 C shredded parmesan cheese

dash of garlic powder

bacon, optional

green onions

Pierce potatoes with a fork and cook in microwave till tender

Let cool

Cut off top (about 1/4") and then cut around the edge of the potato to scoop out the guts

Put the potato guts in a bowl and finely chop and then mince with a fork till smooth

Add remaining ingredients minus green onions

Stuff potato shells with filling and press green onions on top for a garnish

You can wrap at this point in saran wrap and foil and freeze. If frozen, pull the night beforehand and allow to thaw in the fridge

Put in oven or air fryer at 375F to 400F for 8 to 12 minutes or till cheese is melted and they are slightly brown and very hot

You can double, triple or adjust to whatever you want. All quantities are approximate but, the various cheeses are what make these so amazing. v

MaryEllen's 4 Ingredient Slow Cooker Pork Chops

My good friend MaryEllen gave me permission to post this. It is so easy and really good. Mark thinks he doesn't like pork chops but every time I make this he has to admit that he loves it! Easy and delicious and makes leftovers - you can't ask for more than that!

Servings: 4

4 pork chops dusted with s&p

1/2 packet brown gravy

1/2 packet onion soup mix

1 can cream soup (mushroom)

Mix all in crock pot

Cook on low for 5 to 6 hours till done

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