Hillbilly Bread

This recipe was shared with me by a dear friend in Alaska. I can still smell it's aroma in her warm, and inviting kitchen on a cold winter day.
This is my go-to bread recipe. It's no-fuss and delicious!
Smeared with a dab of butter on each slice and it's heavenly! :)

2 cups warm water
1 1/2 Tablespoons yeast
2 cups whole wheat flour
1 Tablespoon salt

Mix above ingredients together and let stand for 30 minutes.
Add the following ingredients to the first mixture:

1/2 cup warm water
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup olive oil
2 1/2 cups All-Purpose flour
2 1/2 cups wheat flour

Mix well. Let rise until double in size. Punch down and make into 3 loafs. Place into greased pan and let raise to desired size.
Bake 30 minutes at 350 degrees. Remove from pans and let cool on rack.

* I usually halve this recipe for my little family, but have, at least once, made the entire recipe and froze a loaf. I like to form a "bowl" bread on my Pampered Chef stone. 

Printable Recipe:
Hillbilly Bread

Homemade Wheat Buns

These can be made in a bread machine, or with a mixer or even by hand!
(I made them in my bread machine until I received a Kitchenaid from my husband for my birthday recently!)
If making with a breach machine add all ingredients except yeast. Add the yeast last, in a well made in the flour. Select 'Dough Cycle.'

1 1/3 cup warm water
¼ cup Sugar (scant)
2 ¼ teaspoon bread machine yeast
1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 1/2 tsp salt
2 1/4 cups Whole Wheat Flour
1 1/4 cups All-Purpose Flour

Preheat oven to warm and then turn off.
Place water yeast and sugar in mixing bowl.
Allow to sit about 5 minutes, until foamy.
Add oil, salt, and flour and allow mixer to knead for 10 minutes.
Remove dough onto floured surface and knead into a tidy ball.
Put ball of dough back into mixing bowl, cover with plastic wrap or tea towel, and place in warm oven with bowl of warm water placed on bottom rack.
Allow to rise until doubled in size.
(When dough cycle on the bread machine is complete continue as follows.)
Roll on floured surface, into long log, and cut into 9 pieces.
Place on parchment lined baking sheet and flatten dough pieces until they are the thickness of a pancake and sides are almost touching.
Cover sheet with cloth and put in warm oven for 45 to 60 minutes or until doubled in size.
Remove from oven.
Preheat Oven to 375 degrees.
Bake for 17 minutes.

Printable Recipe:

Homemade Wheat Buns

Sloppy Lentils (Crockpot)

Most Americans have eaten them... Camp food... Busy weeknight meal... Birthday party meal...

..::Sloppy Joes::..

Here is a much healthier version that tastes JUST like sloppy joes.

My 10 year old daughter, who has a selective palette, LOVES these. 

When I made them recently, she ate them as leftovers two days in a row! :) 

HERE is a little write up on lentils...many reasons why we love them around here! 

I serve these with homemade wheat buns.

1 3/4 cups water
1 cup puy lentils, rinsed

1 cup chopped onion
28 oz can diced tomatoes
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup ketchup
1 teaspoon mustard powder
1 tablespoon (heaping) chili powder
3 tablespoons agave nectar
1 Tbsp white vinegar
salt and ground black pepper to taste

Combine all your ingredients in the crockpot. Turn on low and cook for approximately 5 hours, until lentils are tender and the mixture has thickened and absorbed most of the liquids.

Printable Recipe:

Sloppy Lentils

Note: Adapted from:
http://www.passionatehomemaking.com/2009/10/sloppy-lentils-in-the-crockpot.html

Shared HERE

Banana Bread

The kind my Mom used to make. A recipe my whole family uses.
This is my go-to banana bread recipe!


¾ cup of sugar
1 ½ cups of mashed bananas (4 large)
¾ cup vegetable oil
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon of salt
½ cup chopped nuts, if you like
(I love banana walnut anything!)


Heat oven to 325°.
Grease a loaf pan, either 9x5x3 or 8 ½ x4 ½ x2 ½ inches.
Mix sugar, bananas, oil, eggs, and vanilla in a large bowl. In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and nuts, if you are adding them. Combine dry ingredients with wet ingredients until well mixed.
Pour into pan.
Bake until a toothpick inserted in center of the bread comes out clean, 60-70 minutes.
Let cool 10 minutes, then loosen sides of loaf from pan and remove from pan.
Let cool completely before slicing with a serrated knife.

Printable Recipe:
Banana Bread