Cranberry Swirl Loaf

Cranberry Swirl Loaf
This is a beautiful swirl bread with a yummy topping! I got this from TOH. We loved it!! I make this with my KitchenAid. I'm sure you could make the dough in the bread machine if you wanted, too.


Photo by Beautiful BC


Bread
3-3 1/2 c. flour
1/3 c. sugar
1 (1/4 ounce) pkg fast rise yeast
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 c. water
1/2 c. milk
1/3 c. cubed butter

Filling
1 c. fresh cranberries or frozen cranberries
1/4 c. brown sugar
1/4 c. water
1 Tbs. cubed butter
1/2 c. chopped walnuts
1 Tbs. lemon juice

Topping
2 Tbs. flour
2 Tbs. sugar
2 Tbs. cold and divided butter

In large mixing bowl, combine 1 cup flour, sugar, yeast and salt. In saucepan, heat water, milk, and butter to 120-130 (I did this in the microwave). Add to dry ingredients, beat until combined. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough.

Turn onto a floured surface, knead until smooth and elastic, about 5-7 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour.

For filling, combine cranberries, brown sugar, and water in small saucepan. Cook over medium heat until berries pop, about 15 minutes. Remove from heat, stir in butter, walnuts, and lemon juice. Cool.

Punch dough down. Turn onto a lightly floured surface; roll into a 20-in. x 10-in. rectangle. Spread cooled filling to within 1/2 inches of edges. Roll up jelly-roll style, starting with a long side; pinch seam to seal. Place in a zigzag pattern in a greased 9-in. x 5-in. x 3-in. loaf pan.

For topping, combine flour and sugar in a small bowl; cut in 1 tablespoon butter until crumbly. Melt remaining butter; brush over dough. Sprinkle with topping. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 40 minutes. Bake at 350° for 40-45 minutes or until bread sounds hollow when tapped. Cool in pan for 10 minutes then carefully remove from pan to a wire rack to cool.

Check out more dessert recipes for Thanksgiving at What's Cooking at my House and then check out all the other recipe memes for Thanksgiving including main dish, side dish, and appetizers, too!

Thank you to one of my favorite veterans!

What do I have to be thankful for? A LOT! But today I want to say "thank you" to my husband! He has been in the military for almost 17 years. He loves his country and loves his job. I thank God everyday for him. It is hard to be a Christian in the military, but my husband stands for what is right and encourages others to do the same.




After a hard day of work..






I love you, honey!   Thank you for serving our country!

I also want to thank my father for serving! He served in the Air Force for 24 years. Thank you, Dad!



Who are you thanking today?  Has your family served in the military?  Looking for ways to support our troops.  Check out Happy Housewife's post on Serving Our Troops for some great ideas.

We decided to incorporate giving to veterans today with the Giving Challenge and donated a bunch of clothes that we don't wear anymore to the local DAV (Disabled American Veterans) thrift store. The DAV helps disabled American veterans have a better quality of life.

Then post a blog about Veterans Day and link up to the Veteran's Day Tribute!

Maple Roast Turkey and Gravy

I've wanted to participate in this great Thanksgiving menu meme this week, but I've had to help out a friend with health issues with her twin babies. Not that I minded as I love them to death. LOL! :D She even calls me "Auntie".

If you are looking for ideas for your Thanksgiving dinner, this is the week to check out some awesome recipes!! :D

This is a delicious twist on a regular turkey dinner. I usually include it with this Sausage Apple Cranberry Stuffing which people have said that sounds weird, but when they try it they LOVE it and my Grandma's Cranberry Sauce (no canned for us). It is the ONLY cranberry sauce we love and get asked for the recipe every time!



Ingredients:
2 cups apple cider
1/3 cup real maple syrup
2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme
2 tablespoons chopped fresh marjoram
2 1/2 teaspoons grated lemon zest
3/4 cup butter
salt and ground black pepper to taste
14 pounds whole turkey, neck and gibletsreserved
2 cups chopped onion
1 cup chopped celery
1 cup coarsely chopped carrots
2 cups chicken stock
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme
1 bay leaf

Directions:

Boil apple cider and maple syrup in a heavy saucepan over medium-high heat until reduced to 1/2 cup (about 20 minutes). Remove from heat and mix in 1/2 of the thyme and marjoram and all of the lemon zest. Add the butter, and whisk until melted. Add salt and ground pepper to taste. Cover and refrigerate until cold (syrup can be made up to 2 days ahead).

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Place oven rack in the lowest third of oven.

Wash and dry turkey, and place in a large roasting pan. Slide hand under skin of the breast to loosen. Rub 1/2 cup of the maple butter mix under the breast skin. If planning on stuffing turkey, do so now. Rub 1/4 cup of the maple butter mixture over the outside of the turkey. With kitchen string, tie legs of turkey together loosely.

Arrange the chopped onion, chopped celery, and chopped carrot around the turkey in the roasting pan. If desired, the neck and giblets may be added to the vegetables. Sprinkle the remaining thyme and marjoram over the vegetables, and pour the chicken stock into the pan.

Roast turkey 30 minutes in the preheated oven. Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C), and cover turkey loosely with foil. Continue to roast, about 3 to 4 hours unstuffed or 4 to 5 hours stuffed, until the internal temperature of the thigh reaches 180 degrees F (80 degrees C) and stuffing reaches 165 degrees F (75 degrees C). Transfer turkey to a platter, and cover with foil. Reserve pan mixture for gravy. Allow turkey to sit about 25 minutes before removing stuffing and carving.

To Make Gravy: Strain pan juices into a measuring cup. Spoon fat from juices. Add enough chicken stock to make 3 cups. Transfer liquid to a heavy saucepan and bring to a boil. In a small bowl, mix reserved maple butter mixture with flour to form a paste, and whisk into the
broth. Stir in thyme and bay leaf. Boil until reduced and slightly thickened. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

What are your plans for Thanksgiving?

Check out the main dish recipes today at What's Cooking at my House and then check out the other fantastic recipes for appetizers and side dishes on Monday and Tuesdays posts.

Wordless (or not so) Wednesday - God's beauty in His creation!

God thundereth marvellously with his voice; great things doeth he, which we cannot comprehend.

For he saith to the snow, Be thou on the earth; likewise to the small rain, and to the great rain of his strength. Job 37:5-6


Check out more Wordless Wednesday picture fun over at 5 Minutes For Mom and Wordless Wednesday!

Giving Challenge - Day 9

I have thoroughly enjoyed this Giving Challenge.

You can never out give God! Why? Because He gave His only son to die on the cross for our sins.

Saturday I drove ladies from our church to a ladies retreat and was blessed by the teaching and preaching but was also blessed by a lady giving me money for taking her there.

SONday gave out coupons that I had cut from the paper. I also gave someone else the classifieds. I was blessed by the services at church but also by the pastor noticing all of the veterans including my husband.

Today I took care of the twins for my friend, so she could go to her dr appt. She came home in a lot of pain, so I brought them home with me for a while longer. Also took a meal to our pastor's family. The twins always bring such delight to myself and my children.
You can still participate in this wonderful challenge. Check out the challenge at Kingdom First Mom!

Sweet Chicken Bacon Wraps

Picture courtesy of Sharlene W

This recipe was a hit for appetizers. It is wonderful and so easy, too!

Sweet Chicken Bacon Wraps

1 1/2 lbs boneless and skinless chicken breasts
1 (1 lb) package sliced bacon
3/4 c brown sugar
2 T chili powder

Cut chicken breasts into inch cubes.

Cut each bacon slice into thirds. Wrap each chicken cube with bacon and secure with a wooden pick inserted on the diagonal starting where bacon seam overlaps.

Stir together brown sugar and chili powder. Dredge wrapped chicken in mixture.

Coat a rack and broiler pan with non-stick cooking spray. Place chicken on rack in broiler pan.

Bake at 350°F for 30 to 35 minutes, or until bacon is crisp.

Enjoy!

Check out more great recipes at Tempt My Tummy Tuesdays, Tasty Tuesdays, and Tuesdays at the Table!

What do you do all day?

Thanks to my husband's aunt Denise for sending me this one! :D


A man came home from work and found his three children outside, still in their pajamas, playing in the mud, with empty food boxes and 20 wrappers strewn all around the front yard.

The door of his wife's car was open, and so the front door to the house and there was no sign of the dog. Proceeding into the entry, he found an even bigger mess.. A lamp had been knocked over, and the throw rug was wadded against one wall.

In the front room the TV was loudly blaring a cartoon channel, and the family room was strewn with toys and various items of clothing.

In the kitchen, dishes filled the sink, breakfast food was spilled on
the counter, the fridge door was open wide, dog food was spilled on the floor a broken glass lay under the table, and a small pile of sand was spread by the back door.

He quickly headed up the stairs, stepping over toys and more piles of
clothes, looking for his wife. He was worried she might be ill, or that
something serious had happened.

He was met with a small trickle of water as it made its way out the
bathroom door.

As he peered inside he found wet towels, scummy soap and more toys
strewn over the floor.

Miles of toilet paper lay in a heap and toothpaste had been smeared over the mirror and walls.

As he rushed to the bedroom, he found his wife still curled up in the
bed in her pajamas, reading a novel.

She looked up at him, smiled, and asked how his day went.

He looked at her bewildered and asked, 'What happened here today?'

She again smiled and answered, 'You know every day when you come home from work and you ask me what in the world I do all day?'

Yes,' was his incredulous reply.

She answered, 'Well, today I didn't do it.'

Check out more Friday Funnies at the Homesteaders Heart and laugh yourself through the weekend!