Bierocks

Hmm, what are bierocks you are probably wondering?... Well this is a food that takes me back to Germany, not that I have ever been there but it is a German food, my family has German roots and that is how I learned to make these.  I remember making these when I was a little girl with my grandma.  A bierock is a cabbage, burger, and onion filled bread pocket, with some other stuff in there too of course.  I really like them, but others like them too so I don't think they are just a food you like since you've grown up with it.  So if you're feeling adventurous and want to make something new, this is it!  They do freeze well (after you bake them) and make such a quick lunch when you're on the go!  

Dough:

4 cups flour (I used half wheat and half white all purpose flour)
2 teaspoons yeast
1 cup milk
1/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup oil
1 teaspoon salt
2 eggs


Filling:

1 head of cabbage (small to medium size)
1 pound hamburger (or vegetarian burger substitute)
1 onion
4 cloves garlic
1 cup cheese (optional)
1/2 can sauerkraut (optional)
3-4 Tablespoons butter
a pinch of garlic powder
salt and pepper to taste


Step 1: Mix the dough and let it rise for 1 - 1 1/2 hours. When the dough is about 30 minutes from the end of rising start on the filling.  (You can also break this up into a 2 day project and make the filling one day then the dough the next, it's what my grandma prefers to do).

Step 2: Chop the onion and garlic and saute in 3-4 tablespoons of butter.  Once it's semi-translucent add the burger.  Once it is close to being done, add the cabbage and cook until the cabbage is wilted, about 10 minutes.  The sauerkraut is totally optional too, I love it but I know most people don't.  Add the cheese and some salt and pepper, then it's all about tasting! It's what I remember doing the most with my grandma, we tasted and added some more seasoning then tasted again... and again.

 Step 3: When the dough is done rising, separate into about 18-24 pieces (depending on how big you want the pockets to be in the end).  Shape the piece of dough into a circle. 

 Then roll it out.

 Place a spoon full of filling in the center of the pocket.  I use an ice cream scoop.

 Pinch two edges together like a taco

 Then bring the other 2 edges to the center

 Pinch the edges closed (you can shape these like squares or circles, whatever you like, I did both)

 Flip it over onto a greased baking sheet

 Let them rise again for about 30 minutes.  Then bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.

Move to a cooling rack and enjoy while warm.  I like to dip them in ketchup, Stephen prefers ranch, others like something spicy.  Give them a try, I think you will love them too!

Enjoy!

Wheat Grinding

One of my favorite childhood memories is wheat harvest! I remember going to my grandparents farm in Kansas and helping make sandwiches and pies during the week for all the guys who were out working in the fields... good memories.  My aunt is a wonderful bread baker and grinds wheat from harvest every year for flour.  She would always share some flour with me but lately I've been needing a lot more flour and the wheat flour in the stores just does not compare.  So this year, my family brought me some wheat from harvest and I finally got around to grinding it yesterday! I now have wheat flour to last me probably a year and I am really excited.  So here is the process of how we ground the wheat into flour.

Beautiful wheat!

The wheat grinder we used.  A sweet friend used to grind all her flour and bake all her bread for her family, she's pretty awesome. 

We poured the wheat into the top of the grinder.

And the flour comes out the bottom.

I'm excited for all the breads and new recipes to try with my flour.  More recipes to come soon!

Banana Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting

I always buy bananas at the store, especially when we go to Sam's.  Stephen and I don't really eat them too often, but I love to put them in smoothies and every once in a while I feel compelled to just eat a banana.  Needless to say, they always go bad before we eat them all.  I shouldn't say bad though because overripe bananas make the best breads and desserts! 

It has been a long week already, but finals are almost over and I am so ready! I decided to take a break today from studying to bake these delicious treats for my friends at school.  I was really at the point of mental exhaustion and don't think I could put anymore info in my brain.  I think it's safe to say we deserve these after the week we've had.  Especially since they include cream cheese frosting!

Banana Bars

1/2 cup butter (softened)
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 large eggs
3 overripe bananas
1 5 oz. carton of plain Greek yogurt
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 cups flour

Cream Cheese Frosting

1 package cream cheese (softened)
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
2 tablespoons milk
1/4 cup butter (softened)
3 cups powdered sugar

 Cream together butter and sugar

 Add 2 eggs

 Then add Greek yogurt, vanilla, and bananas.  

 Combine baking soda, salt, and flour then add to the mixture.  

 Grease a 9x13 pan with butter and pour mixture into pan.

 Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until toothpick inserted comes out clean.

Let the bars cool completely.  Combine ingredients for frosting and spread it over the bars (sorry, I ran out of light and energy to take pictures at this point.)

Enjoy!

These are a lot like banana bread, but with a more cake-like texture and of course, the frosting! I definitely recommend them and they're really easy!

Mom's Meatloaf

This is seriously one of my favorite meals my mom makes!  It takes me back to my childhood to after church dinner, Christmas, or any other special occasion and just reminds me of family.  It's so easy though that you don't have to wait for a special occasion to make it.  This version of meatloaf is vegetarian.  When my mom went vegetarian the thing she missed most was meatloaf, but this one is so good that meat eaters love it too and some can't even tell it's vegetarian.  Everyone is always asking for the recipe too so today's your day!  Make this for your next family dinner!

1 onion
1/2 cup butter
6-8 slices of bread
1 can of Worthington Vegeburger (or 1 pound of meat... I guess :)
4 eggs
1 cup cheese
Then a few shakes of garlic powder, sage, and parsley... just throw some in!

1/2 cup ketchup
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup brown sugar

 Start with 6-8 slices of bread

Cut into cubes

Melt one stick of butter in a skillet

Chop one onion and saute in the butter

When the onions become translucent, add the bread cubes.  

Continue to saute for a few more minutes.

I use vegetarian burger but you could also use meat (1 lb.)

Add 4 eggs to the burger. 

 

Add the bread mixture to the burger and stir.

Then add some other seasonings like garlic powder, parsley, or sage... I just sprinkle some in. 

1 cup cheese... stir. 

Put mixture into a greased 8x8 casserole dish and smooth the top.

Then make the topping, just remember 1/2 cup of ketchup, brown sugar, and water. 

Pour on the top and bake at 350 for 45-60 minutes. 

We usually bake a day or two before we plan to eat it, not sure why but it always tastes better when you reheat it a couple days later.  If you do it this way, bake for 45 minutes so it's not dry later. 

Enjoy!