Amy’s Italian Bread

I enjoy a good loaf of homemade bread, and most people do! This recipe was shared with me by my friend ‘Amy’. She and her husband do the cooking for our Church Conference, Youth Convention & Family Camp. She makes all of her breads whether it’s Italian Bread, Dinner Rolls or Sweet Rolls.

My husband fell in love with her Italian Bread, so she shared the recipe with me. It’s an easy bread recipe and worth the time and work involved.

NOTE: I ONLY MADE 1/2 of this recipe and it made 2 nice loaves!! To see video demonstration go to ‘Delicious by Debbie’ on Facebook or YouTube.

Amy’s Italian Bread

(I made 1/2 of this recipe)

3 cups warm water

3 Tbsp Olive Oil

1 Tbsp. Salt

2 Tbsp. Yeast

1/2 cup sugar

8 cups flour

1. Into the warm water add, yeast, olive oil, salt & sugar.

2. Mix & let sit until yeast foams

3. Pour into mixing bowl and add flour slowly

4. You want the dough to be soft but not sticky

5. Place in greased/sprayed bowl, cover with clean cloth & let rise in a warm place until double in size.

6. Place dough onto a floured board ( counter) and knead several times.

7. Divide into 4 equal pieces

8. Roll each piece into a loaf and place on parchment lined baking sheet.

9. Cover & allow to rise until double in size

10. Cut slashes across loaves

11. Bake at 350 degrees until golden brown. ( mine took about 25 minutes)

12. Optional: After baking, and while still hot, brush with melted butter (I added garlic powder, Parmesan cheese & Italian seasoning to my butter)

13. Last but not least….slice & enjoy❤️

Amy’s Italian Bread

I enjoy a good loaf of homemade bread, and most people do! This recipe was shared with me by my friend ‘Amy’. She and her husband do the cooking for our Church Conference, Youth Convention & Family Camp. She makes all of her breads whether it’s Italian Bread, Dinner Rolls or Sweet Rolls.

My husband fell in love with her Italian Bread, so she shared the recipe with me. It’s an easy bread recipe and worth the time and work involved.

NOTE: I ONLY MADE 1/2 of this recipe and it made 2 nice loaves!! To see video demonstration go to ‘Delicious by Debbie’ on Facebook or YouTube.

Amy’s Italian Bread

(I made 1/2 of this recipe)

3 cups warm water

3 Tbsp Olive Oil

1 Tbsp. Salt

2 Tbsp. Yeast

1/2 cup sugar

8 cups flour

1. Into the warm water add, yeast, olive oil, salt & sugar.

2. Mix & let sit until yeast foams

3. Pour into mixing bowl and add flour slowly

4. You want the dough to be soft but not sticky

5. Place in greased/sprayed bowl, cover with clean cloth & let rise in a warm place until double in size.

6. Place dough onto a floured board ( counter) and knead several times.

7. Divide into 4 equal pieces

8. Roll each piece into a loaf and place on parchment lined baking sheet.

9. Cover & allow to rise until double in size

10. Cut slashes across loaves

11. Bake at 350 degrees until golden brown. ( mine took about 25 minutes)

12. Optional: After baking, and while still hot, brush with melted butter (I added garlic powder, Parmesan cheese & Italian seasoning to my butter)

13. Last but not least….slice & enjoy❤️

Homemade Cake Mixes

There are times that I simply don’t want to go to the grocery store to buy a cake mix! And besides, the price on a simple cake mix is ridiculous 🥺. So, I’ve come up with a mix for a Vanilla Cake mix, and a Chocolate Cake Mix. I think you’ll really like them. Make up several of each kind and have them on hand!

Homemade Cake Mixes

Vanilla Cake Mix:

2 1/4 cups all purpose flour

1 3/4 cups sugar

1 tsp. Salt

1 Tbsp Baking Powder

Mix ingredients together and place in ziplock quart bag or other container.

To make the cake:

Add:

1/2 cup oil

2 eggs

1 cup milk

3/4 cup water

2 Tbsp Vanilla flavoring

Bake in 2-8inch round pans or a 9×13 inch baking pan that has been greased. Bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes or until tester comes out clean.

Chocolate Cake Mix:

2 1/4 cups all purpose flour

1 3/4 cups sugar

1/4 tsp salt

1 1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 cup baking cocoa

Mix all ingredients together and place in ziplock qt bag or container of your choice.

To make cake, add:

1/2 cup oil

3 eggs

1 1/3 cups water

1 tsp vanilla flavoring

Bake in 2-8inch round pans or a 9×13 inch baking pan that has been greased. Bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes or until tester comes out clean.

Parmesan & Garlic Roasted Sweet Potatoes

I’m always looking for different ways to fix veggies. This is an awesome way to fix sweet potatoes!

Parmesan & Garlic Roasted Sweet Potatoes

2-3 peeled Sweet Potatoes

2 Tbsp. Olive Oil

1 Tbsp. Minced Garlic

1/2 tsp. Italian Seasoning

1/2 tsp. Garlic Powder

1/4 cup Parmesan Cheese, grated

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees

2. Line baking pan with parchment paper or foil. If using foil, spray with cooking spray

3. Peel & cut sweet potatoes into approximately 1 inch cubes

4. In mixing bowl mix olive oil, minced garlic, Italian seasoning, garlic powder & Parmesan cheese. Stir until well blended.

5. Add sweet potato cubes to spices in Mixing bowl and mix until all are coated.

6. Pour onto prepared pan and bake for 25-30 minutes, stirring once when 1/2 way through baking time.

7. Enjoy!

Instant Pot 3-Cheese Mac & Cheese

I don’t use my Instant Pot real often but this is one recipe I do make fairly frequently. This is so easy, and so very cheesy and creamy. If you have Mac & Cheese lovers at your house, they are sure to love this!

Instant Pot 3-Cheese Mac & Cheese

1 pound box of macaroni-16 oz.

4 cups chicken broth

4 Tbsp butter

1/2 tsp black pepper

1/4 cup Parmesan Cheese

1 Tbsp prepared mustard

1/4-1/2 block of Cream Cheese

4 cups Shredded sharp cheddar cheese

1. Put broth, butter & macaroni in Instant Pot. Stir to get all macaroni covered with broth.

2. Seal and cook for 5 minutes.

3. Do a rapid release. Open and stir well.

4. Add cream cheese, Parmesan cheese, Cheddar Cheese, mustard & pepper.

5. Set Instant Pot on Sauté if cheese isn’t melting and stir as cheese melts. (I needed to add some milk so it wouldn’t be too dry)

Microwave Corn on the Cob

On a hot summer day, why heat up your kitchen by boiling a pot of water to cook corn on the cob? Why not try my easy way of doing it in the microwave?

I promise it will make your cooking easier. Your family will enjoy the fresh taste of corn on the cob!

Microwave Corn On The Cob

3 ears of corn

1. Rinse ears of corn and pull off top silk

2. Remove a layer of hush

3. Place all 3 ears of corn on microwave turntable

4. Cook for 7-8 minutes

5. Remove from microwave and cool for a few minutes

6. Cut bottom of cob off each ear

7. Hold ear of corn by the top, silk end, and twist husk off.

Chicken & Squash Casserole

1 box (6 oz) stuffing mix

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, melted

2 cups cooked cubed chicken breast

3 cups cubed squash (I used zucchini and yellow crookneck)

1 can (10.5 oz) Cream of Chicken Soup

1/2 cup Sour Cream

1/2 cup diced Onion

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and spray a 1-1/2 qt casserole dish or a 9×13 pan

2. Melt butter in the microwave

3. Add the stuffing mix to the butter, stir well. Reserve 1/2 cup for the topping

4. In a large bowl stir the soup, sour cream & onion together.

5. Add in the stuffing mix (except the 1/2 cup that reserved)

6. Add the chicken and stir well

7. Add the cubed squash

8. Pour into prepared pan and press down to smooth the top a bit.

9. Sprinkle the reserved stuffing on the top

10. Bake uncovered for 40-50 minutes or until golden brown and cooked through.

Honey Cinnamon Glazed Carrots

This recipe was posted on Facebook and YouTube Delicious by Debbie on Feb. 11, 2022 but several cannot seem to find it. The video is on Facebook and YouTube.

Even those folks who are not carrot lovers seem to enjoy carrots done this way! Give this simple recipe a try. If you don’t have an Instant Pot, just cook the carrots on the stove until they are done to your likeness. Then drain them and add the butter, honey & cinnamon!