Gifts from your food storage pantry

Neighborhood Gift Idea #1: Homemade Bread

Option One!  Make bread and wrap it up!

EZ White Bread
1 1/8 cups warm water
1 3/4 – 2 tsp active dry yeast
2 Tblsp sugar (you can use a little more sugar if you like your dough a little sweeter)
3 cups flour
1 Tblsp vital wheat gluten (remember you don’t need as much gluten if you’re not using whole wheat flour)
1 tsp salt
2 Tblsp nonfat dry milk
1 1/2 Tblsp butter/margarine or oil
1/4 cup potato flakes
(you don’t really need vinegar for white bread, remember the dough enhancers are primarily needed for whole wheat bread)
Add the ingredients in the order listed into a mixer bowl (like a kitchen-aid) with a dough hook attachment and mix on low for 10-12 minutes. Or mix it on the dough cycle in your bread machine.
After all the mixing is complete, if the dough still seems too gooey and you are unable to handle it, add 1 Tblsp flour at a time, and mix after each addition until the dough is manageable with your hands.
Let rise 45 mins -1 hour, punch down and use to make bread, cinnamon rolls, cookie sheet pizza, rolls, or anything else you can think of! Let rise after you have made your creation and bake according to the direction of the recipe you are making.
If you are making it into bread, form into a loaf at this time, place in a loaf pan, let rise in a warm place 45 min -1 hour and bake 375 degrees for 20-25 minutes until golden brown and sounds hollow when lightly tapped.
If you are making this recipe in a bread machine. Follow your bread machine’s directions and add the ingredients in the order listed in their recommendations. (only one loaf will fit in a bread maker)

OPTION TWO: GIVE IT AS A MIX

I fully understand that you’re probably busy (I know I am!) so if you don’t want to spend your afternoon baking your heart out. Spend just an hour or so mixing your heart out! This bread also makes a GREAT mix! I found this jar at the Dollar Tree and it holds enough mix for ONE loaf of bread. Just mix the ingredients together and put in a jar or bag and attach the recipe card and you’re done! Get a big assembly line going and get your family to help!

MIX:

1/3 c. brown sugar
2 3/4 c. whole wheat flour
1/4 c. wheat gluten
1 t. salt
2 T. powdered milk
1/4 c. potato flakes

Neighborhood Gift Idea #2: Cranberry Orange Bread   FOOD STORAGE CRANBERRY ORANGE BREAD 2 c. flour (try using at least 1/4 c. whole wheat flour) 1 c. sugar 1 1/2 t. baking powder 1 t. salt 1/2 t. baking soda 3/4 c. orange juice 2 T. veg. oil (or bean puree) 1 T. grated orange peel 1 egg, well beaten (1 T. dry egg powder +2 T. water) 1 1/2 C. fresh or frozen cranberries (chopped) 1/2 c. chopped nuts (optional) Preheat oven to 350. Grease pan. Mix dry ingredients in medium bowl. Stir in OJ, peel, oil and egg. Mix til well blended. Stir in cranberries and nuts. Spread evenly in pan. Bake til toothpick comes out clean (about 55 minutes for a 9×5 pan). Cool on rack 15 minutes remove from pan; cool completely. Glaze. If you want to bake it in a Bundt pan, double the recipe and cook about 10 minutes longer. Orange Glaze 1 lb. powdered sugar 1/4 c. OJ 1 t. grated orange peel 2 T. softened butter (or 1 stick for frosting)   Neighborhood Gift Idea #3: Cookie Tins   Chocolate Cake Mix Cookies 1 pkg. Devils Food Cake Mix ½ C. Butter or Margarine, Softened 1 tsp. Vanilla 2 Eggs (2 T. powdered eggs + 1/4 C. Water) ½ C. Chopped Nuts 1 C. Semi Sweet Chocolate Chips (or chip of your choice) Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Beat half of the dry mix, the butter, vanilla and eggs in large bowl on medium speed until smooth. Stir in remaining cake mix, the nuts and chocolate chips. Drop dough by rounded teaspoonfuls (about 2 inches apart) onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 10-12 minutes.