I love to cook everything in one pan, and with as little cleanup as possible. I also enjoy the art of making homemade bread, which is the the exact opposite, in terms of the aftermath I'll be left to deal with.
 One thing that my family loves to devour is *whatever we're having* baked into a bread.


Today I am going to share with you this Jess-ipe, which I haven't officially named yet, but I will tell you exactly how I make it.

You will need the following:

1 pound of cooked and shredded chicken
1/2 cup chopped broccoli(or more if you like that nasty crap, I chop it up enough that I'm not gagging, and so that my kids we don't know we're eating vegetables  ::shudder::)
chopped onion, fresh minced garlic, chopped cilantro1 cup Velveeta, cubed
salt/pepper to taste

You start with your basic yeast dough. If you'd like to make your very own yeast dough click here for a recipe. If not, 1 or 2 cans of Pillsbury pizza crust dough will work, depending on the size of your family. I have 4 children, ages 12 and under, and a husband, whom all have the appetites of 17 year old boys.
Lightly flour a surface, and roll your dough out into a rectangle. In the center of the dough, layer the chicken, the nasty broccoli, onion, garlic, cilantro, salt & pepper. (Make sure to leave space all the way around for tucking the dough under, that way dinner isn't oozing out of the bread and all over the oven that I'm sure you all keep sparkly clean) Top with the Velveeta cubes, and roll the dough up, stromboli style.
Bake at 350 until the crust is browning. Butter the top, and place back into the oven for a few minutes.
I'd say that you should let it cool a few minutes first before serving, (AND YOU SHOULD!!) but that never happens here. When I pull food out of the oven, they start circling the kitchen like a pack of wolves.
ENJOY!

How to make homemade yeast dough.

Homemade Yeast Dough

Yes, YOU can do it too!

To make your home smell like a bakery, you will need to follow these instructions:

Get:
1 large bowl

2 1/4 cups hot water(110 degrees according to the recipes, but I just turn the faucet to HOT)
2 1/4 tsp or 1 pack of yeast.
3 tbsp sugar

Place those 3 ingredients into your large mixing bowl, and walk away for 15 minutes.
When you come back, you should see that the sugar has fed the yeast, and it will look like this------------------------------>

It's pretty cool how yeast works. Its too scientific for me to get into right now, so click the link if you like to learn new things.




Next you will need:
2 tablespoons vegetable oil

2 tablespoons salt
3 cups flour(Plus up to 3 1/2 more cups in a little bit)
Mix this up with your hand, or a mixer. It will be very sticky, but should be mixed well. Add in 1 more cup of flour at a time, until it forms a soft dough. (If the dough feels tough, add a tablespoon of water. If it still feels sticky, add a couple tablespoons of flour.)

Now for the kneading.
Watch this video.  Kneading is important!!!!!! Set a timer for 6 minutes, and don't stop.

When you are done with that, you need to clean out your bowl, make sure that it is dry, and then grease the inside of your bowl with Crisco or vegetable oil. This step will prevent your dough from sticking to the bowl, and also from drying out during the "proofing" time.

I use the term "proofing" because that is what we called it at my very first job, where I was an assistant in the Winn Dixie bakery. Dang, I miss those rose-colored smocks that we were required to wear!!!
Good old Winn Dixie.


Now take that beautiful ball of yeast dough that you've created, and drop it into your bowl. Heat your oven to 200 degrees for 5 minutes, then turn it off. Put the bowl(covered with a cheesecloth or towel) in the oven, and shut the door.
You have 1 1/2 hours to let the dough rise. How will you spend your time?

I'm likely to be found writing my memoirs playing on Facebook.

When you pull the bowl out of your lukewarm oven, the dough should be doubled in size. If it is not, I'm sorry, I remember the very first time I tried to make bread, it didn't work.
If your dough is doubled, set the bowl on the counter top and get ready. I want you to make a fist. A fist like you're about to punch someone. Don't even act like you've never in your life wanted to punch someone at least once. Take your fist, hold it up & say "I'm your Huckleberry", and blast it right into the center of the dough.

Now is time to get creative. What will you make with this bread dough??

Pizza crust, a loaf of bread, bread bowls for soup, cinnamon rolls, are you drooling yet?... the sky is the limit.
:)

General rule of thumb for baking bread, 350-375 degrees for approximately 30 minutes, or until golden brown.

Jess' Chili

Don't mean to brag, well actually I do, I make really outstanding chili.

I also like to call this 'Artery clogging chili'. Please do some cardio exercises!

You will need:
1 lb browned gr beef/turkey/chicken
1/2 lb of bacon, cut up into small pieces, like an inch I guess?
Sliced/fried kielbasa
2 cans of hot chili beans
1 or 2 pks chili seasoning
1/2 of a vidalia onion, chopped
V8 juice
And of course, a chopped jalepeno--add at your own risk, and do not cut pepper with bare hands.

I don't eat spicy foods, I make it a rule not to. There are 2 exceptions though, wings and chili.

Cook all of the meat, add the beans, seasoning, onion and pepper. Pour V8 overtop. Mix and let it cook on medium for about an hour.
The amount of V8 you use is up to you, I aim for the consistency of Wendy's chili.

Serve with saltines or Fritos scoops--my family's favorite. Top with shredded cheese and about 5 dollops of Daisy sour cream.

Easy French Bread Pizza

I made this for the kids last night. HUGE hit at the Hamilton house.
You will need:
1 loaf of French bread
Tomato sauce and seasonings
Provolone cheese
Any pizza toppings you like
Butter and olive oil

Preheat oven to 350.
In a pan, mix 1 can of tomato sauce with seasonings for your pizza sauce.
Cut your loaf of French bread in half/(like a hot dog, not a hamburger)
Lightly(or heavily, whatever) spread butter onto both sides of the loaf of bread. Drizzle olive oil on each side and add seasonings of your choice. I am in love with McCormick Grinders: Italian Herb. Spread the tomato sauce onto both sides of the bread. Then add your cheese, and whatever other toppings you want.
Bake for about 15 minutes at 350, or until the bread is getting a little harder and the cheese is fully melted.

My Delicious Baked Ziti!

To make delicious baked ziti, you will need the following items:

1 pound of gr chicken/gr turkey/gr beef
1 small can of tomato sauce
1 packet of Thick and Zesty spaghetti seasoning
olive oil
fresh basil/fresh cilantro(or you really don't need these, I just like them for taste)
some ziti noodles, you know how much your family needs. We go through about half a box.
provolone cheese
Oh, and Italian herb seasoning(the kind in the grinder, every household should have this fine staple item)

Brown the ground whatever meat you choose, or don't use meat at all, cause its your prerogative. Drain the grease, unless you are into heart disease, I'm not judging. Add some water along with the tomato sauce, spaghetti seasoning packet, the fresh herbs to your liking, and olive oil(I guess like, 1 or 2 tsp's)
Cook the sauce on low-med heat.
In another pan, your noodles should have been cooking already. My fault for not telling you this beforehand.
Sprinkle/dash/mix any extra seasonings you might want in your sauce.
Drain your noodles, pour them into a 9x13 inch baking dish, and then your sauce goes overtop of this. Lay out slices of provolone cheese to cover and bake in the oven at 350 until it smells great and the cheese is melted.
If all goes right, this dish will be demolished in minutes.