white bread loaf (makes 2 loafs)

Ingredients:
3 cups bread flour
1/4 cup shortning
1/4 cup sugar
1 1/2 Tbsp quick rise yeast
2 cups warm water aprox 110 degrees
1 cup of bread flour
1/2 cup of bread flour
1 tsp salt
1 cup bread flour (if needed)
butter

Directions:

1. Combine the first 2 ingredients, cut the shortning into small pieces then add to flour, usig a plastic spreader. You can also make this bread in a stand mixer. for the first part use paddle attachment, at low speed (stir or speed 2). I have added a picture of the plastic spreader, they cost aprox 2-3 dollars.

2. Add the sugar, yeast and water, and mix well. Make sure the water is warm, if the water is cold the proffing will take a lot longer and if the water is hot then it will kill the yeast.  Mix with spreader or speed 2 of stand mixer,paddle attachment.

3. Add another cup of flour, continue mixing same way. Add the 1/2 cup flour and salt.

**note: if salt goes in direct contact with yeast it will affect the proofing; thus, never mix yeast and salt at the same time. **

4. If using the stand mixer, then switch to bread hook attachment. Otherwise flip the dough out of the bowl and onto a clean floured surface. Knead for 8-10 minutes adding flour as needed. dough should feel like a baby's bottom.soft no lumps  and not stick. clean the bowl and grease with shortning.  After your done kneading the dough roll it into a ball and place it back into the greased bowl.

5. Cover the bowl with a dry cloth and place in a warm spot to allow it to rise until double the size, aprox.1 1/2 hours. One way that seems to work for me all the time, is in the oven. Make sure the oven is off, place the bowl cover close the oven door and turn the light on. The light will give it enough heat for riseing.
6. Punch dough down. Divide in half. Shape into loaves, and place into two well Greased  9x5 inch loaf pans (grease with shortning). Allow to rise for 30-60 minutes, or until dough has risen 1 inch above pans.
7.Bake at 400 degrees F (preheated oven) for aprox. 30. When done, take the loaf out and wipe the top of the loaf with butter, thiw will keep it soft. Let it cool completely before cutting.

Cranberry and white chocolate shortbread

Ingredients:
1 3/4 cups    All-purpose Flour
1/2 cup        Corn starch
1/2 tsp         Salt
1 cup           Unsalted butter, room temperature
1 tsp            Pure vanilla extract
1/2 cup        Dried cranberries
1/2 cup        White chocolate chips

** Icing sugar for dusting(optional)**

Directions:
1. preheat the oven to 300 F. Line a 9"x 13" baking pan with parchment paper so that  it overhangs ends for easy removal. You can use a baking sheet pan, just use 1/3 of the pan.
2. In a large bowl, combine the flour with corn startch and salt.
3. Using a mixer or stand mixer with paddle attachment, beat butter soft and cream. Add the icing sugar and beat for another 1-2 minutes.
4. Stir in the flour mixture, then cranberries and chocolate chips.Using floured fingers( or an extra parchment paper, pat evenly in a prepared pan. Using a fork prock the surface all over.
5. Bake in preheated oven 40-50 minutes or until deep gold around the edges. Let it stand in the pan on a wire rack for 30 minutes. Using the parchment paper, lift out of the pan. Slice into bars while still warm. Cool completely. Dust with icing sugar if desired.

Tim Horton's cranberry/blueberry Bran muffins

Here's a recipe I found that is a copy-cat recipe of the beloved Tim Horton's cranberry/blueberry muffins! They are pretty healthy too

1/4 cup oil
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/4 cup molasses
2 eggs
1 cup milk
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups wheat bran (I didn't have any, so I used blended oatmeal)
1/2 cup blueberries
1/2 cup cranberries (do not use dried,  use frozen or fresh only, dried has a diffrent flavour and will take away from the muffin moister making it more dry.) also, I used a bit more fruit than it called for.

1.Cream oil and sugar.
2.Add molasses and eggs and beat.
3.Add milk then bran.
4.Combine flour, baking powder, soda& salt.
5.Add to liquid ingredients then add fruit.

6.line your muffin pan with muffin cups or spray with cooking spray. Fill the cups to the top with batter, looks like it will over spil, but wont.Bake at 400 degrees for about 18-20 minutes.

**Makes 12 large muffins**

Tourtier Pie

Ingredients

·   1 lb ground pork

·   1 lb ground beef

·   1 medium onion, chopped

·   1 medium Potato

·   Water

·   One Clove

·   1 piece of white bread

·   A dash of Salt and pepper

·   1 recipe of double pie crust

Directions:

1. In a large pan place beef , pork onion,  clove salt and pepper, cover with water and bring to a boil. Once boiling turn down the heat and simmer until water disappears.

2. Bake the white bread at 350 F until dry, then crush into crumbs. Boil the potato and mash it (do not add any milk or butter) 

3. Once the water is completely gone remove the clove, and add the mashed potato and bread crumbs.

Place in a 9inch pie shell and cover .  can be frozen for a later date.

4. Brush with eggwash or milk and Bake in a preheated oven at 350 F for 45 minutes.

** makes one 9inch pie or aprox 6 - 5inch pan