Pretzel Hugs

We make these all the time!  A big secret is after a holiday is over - load up on HUGS & M&Ms on clearance!

Ingredients:

• circle or square-shaped pretzels (use Gluten Free pretzels for Gluten Free)
• Hershey's Kisses Hugs
• M&Ms

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 250F degrees.
2. Line baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. Align pretzels on the sheet. Unwrap Hugs and place one on each pretzel. Stick in the oven until the hug begins to melt down. Mine takes about 4 minutes.
3. While the Hugs are melting in the oven, get your M&Ms ready because you will have to move quickly once they are out of the oven.
4. Remove pretzel hugs from oven and gently press an M&M down on each one. The Hug should flatten out when you press the M&M on it.  If it is not flattening out, place the pretzel hugs back in the oven for 30 more seconds.
5. Let the pretzel hugs cool completely and let the chocolate set for about 10 minutes in the refrigerator. These are a great make ahead treat: make them 1-3 days before you need them and store covered in the refrigerator.

Bread Machine Pizza Dough

Ingredients

• 2 c flour (I use King Aurthur Gluten Free Flour for Gluten free pizza dough)
• 1 Tbs butter, softened
• 1 Tbs sugar
• 1 tsp yeast
• 1 tsp salt
• ½ cups plus 2 Tbs water (105-110 degrees)
• Doubled (for 2 pizzas):
• 4 c flour
• 2 Tbs butter, softened
• 2 Tbs sugar
• 2 tsp yeast
• 2 tsp salt
• 1⅓ c water (105-110 degrees)

Instructions

1. Add all ingredients into your bread machine in the order recommended by the manufacturer. Make sure that the water is warm enough to proof the yeast (about 105-110 degrees).
2. Turn your bread machine to the dough setting and let 'er go! After a couple minutes check on your dough. Make sure that the ingredients are thoroughly combined and that the dough is not too wet or too dry. Depending on where you live and the flour you use there can be some variances in the dough. If it's too dry, add 1 tsp of water at a time. If the dough is too sticky, add 1 tsp of flour at a time.
3. After the bread machine is done (mine takes about 90 minutes on the dough cycle) - dump the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and work it until you achieve your desired shape.
4. Depending on the size of pizza pan or pizza stone you are using, you may not need all of the dough.
5. I like to lightly grease my pizza pan and dust with cornmeal. Make up your pizza and bake at 400-425 degrees for 18-25 minutes. You are looking for bubbly cheese and lightly browned crust. If you like a crunchier crust, brush some olive oil on the crust before baking.

Best Bread - HANDS DOWN!

BEST bread ever! 

Ingredients: 

1 1/4 cup warm milk (microwave for 1 minute)

2 T sugar

2 tsp yeast

2 T softened butter

1 tsp salt

1 egg

3 cups flour (my favorite gluten free flour substitute is King Authur Multi-purpose flour)  

Microwave the milk for one minute.

Dump all the ingredients into the bread machine. 

Set your bread machine to dough and let it do all the work. 

After an hour and a half...sprinkle out some flour and dump dough on top. 

Roll dough into a rectangle, about an inch thick. 

Use your handy dandy pizza cutter and cut into three equal pieces.  

Braid!  Fold ends under. 

Place on greased cookie sheet.  Set oven to 350 degrees F - let dough rise while oven is preheating.  Bake for 20-22 minutes, until golden brown. 

This bread is great for about 2-3 days.  It is good as toast or french toast.  Our entire family loves this bread.

Ritz Cracker Chicken

FOR THE CHICKEN:4 chicken breasts
1 sleeve Ritz crackers, crushed (I used Roasted Vegetable flavor)
¼ cup milk
1 large egg
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
Salt
Garlic pepper

FOR THE SAUCE:10 ounce can cream of chicken soup
¼ cup milk
2 tablespoons sour cream
2 tablespoons butter

Preheat oven to 400º.
Spray a baking pan with nonstick cooking spray.
Whisk together egg and ¼ cup milk.
Place crushed crumbs in a shallow dish and cheddar cheese in another.
Salt and pepper the chicken breasts, to taste.
Dip breasts into egg and milk mixture.
Cover breasts with shredded cheese using fingers to press cheese onto chicken.
Place breasts into crumbs; cover entirely.
Position chicken onto baking sheet; bake for 30 minutes or until breasts are fully cooked and centers no longer pink.
While chicken bakes, in a small saucepan, melt butter; add chicken soup, sour cream and milk. Whisk together until well-combined and warmed through. Serve sauce over chicken.