What’s Cookin’ in the Parsonage?

I’m not sure if there’s a smell so grand as garlic baking on bread sticks!  Does that bring Olive Garden to mind?  What a delight to smell that basket of garlic making its way to your table! 

Do you know there is a smell God loves?  I read  this in my Bible reading this weekend – Genesis 8:20, 21 – And Noah builded an altar unto the LORD; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar. And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man’s sake; for the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done. The Lord loves the smell of our love for Him that is seen in our obedience!  Is He smelling that sweet savor in your life today?

 
I was so happy to find a recipe that mimics the taste of Olive Garden’s bread sticks.  They are a yeast bread that only has to rise once, so they are done in a relatively short amount of time. 

My menu yesterday was:

Place in roasting pan.  Arrange onion and pepper slices on top of roast, then pour tomatoes over top.  cover and bake at 250 degrees for at least 4 hours, more if you have time.  check occasionally to see if it needs water. d(Okay, you cant’ do this if you’re at church, but I just make sure it has plenty before I leave.) Makes its own gravy.

I did my mashed potatoes in the crock pot – like I’ve mentioned before.  Just peel and cut them up, cover with water in your crock pot and turn to high.  When you get home they will be ready to mash!

For Southern Style Green Beans in a can, pour the beans – liquid and all in a skillet.  For 2 cans of greens beans add about 2 Tbl of butter and cook over low heat until all the liquid is evaporated.  They taste like they’ve cooked all day long!

Garlic Bread sticks as seen on Chef in Training.

1 1/2 cups warm water (between 110 – 120 degrees F)

1 package active dry yeast

4 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

2 tablespoons sugar

1 tablespoon salt

In a large bowl, dissolve sugar and yeast in warm water and allow to sit for 10 minutes, covered. Mixture should be frothy.In separate bowl, combine flour and salt.

Add to yeast mixture. Add melted butter. Mix with paddle attachment of stand mixer or wooden spoon until fully combined.

Knead dough for a few minutes just until dough is smooth. Do not over knead!

1 stick unsalted butter (or 1/2 cup margarine)

2 teaspoons garlic powder

1 teaspoons salt

After bread sticks have cooked for 6 or 7 minutes, brush the bread sticks with half the butter mixture.

Then continue to bake. Bake for 5-8 more minutes.

Allow to cool for a few minutes before eating.  (Sure.  Just try!)

Strawberry Whipping Cream

Whip up heavy whipping cream with about 1/3 Cup powdered sugar.  Whip until soft peaks form.  Mash up strawberries or raspberries, add to whipped cream. 

What was cooking in your kitchen this weekend?

From my parsonage kitchen,