Cream Cheese Braid

I know this is favorite month, but I missed so many dinner groups and I didn't get to try most of the delicious recipes you all brought, so I'm making one of our family's favorite breads.


Dough:
5 1/4 C Bread Flour
1/4 C Sugar
1/2 T Salt
1 1/2 T Instant Yeast rounded
1 1/2 T Liquid Lecithin
2 C Hot Tap Water

Mix dry ingredients. Add lecithin and water. Mix for one minute and check consistency. Dough should be very wet. Add more water if too dry. I usually add about another 1/3 C hot water. Mix for 5 minutes.
Split dough between two baking sheets. Roll out to fill sheet.

Have Filling ready:
4 oz softened cream cheese
1/2 C powdered sugar
1/2 t vanilla
May also add fruit or jam of your choice

Spread filling down middle of dough long ways leaving about 1/2 inch at top and bottom and a third on either side. Braid, carefully sealing edges.

Bake at 350 for 25 minutes.
Ice while warm

Icing:
2 C powdered sugar
1/4 C softened butter
1/2 t vanilla
2 T water or milk

BROWN SUGAR AND CINNAMON COFFEE CAKE

3/4 c. butter, softened
1 1/2 c. sugar
3 eggs
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
3 c. flour
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1 1/2 c. sour cream
Filling (recipe follows)

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease 12 cup bundt pan. In large mixing bowl, combine butter, sugar, eggs, and vanilla. Beat on medium speed for 2 minutes. Mix in flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt alternately with sour cream. Spread 1/3 of batter (about 2 cups) in pan and sprinkle with 1/3 of filling (about 6 tablespoons). Repeat twice.

Bake 60 minutes or until wooden toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. This is my best coffee cake recipe and the one that always gets the most compliments.

FILLING: Mix 1/2 cup packed brown sugar, 1/2 cup finely chopped walnuts and 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon. (no walnuts for me) - Jenna's house, March

Oven Omlet Brunch

Julie's house (April)

1/4 c butter
1-1 1/2 dozen eggs
1 cup sour cream
1 evap milk
pepper to taste
2 tsp salt
1/4 cup chopped onion
2 cups grated cheddar cheese
2 cups ham or bacon bits

Heat oven to 325. In oven melt butter in 9X13 glass pan. Coat pan with butter. Beat eggs and add remaining ingredients. Pour into dish with melted butter. Bake until set, about 35 minutes. Cut into squares. Serve hot. Serves 12-16.
(You can add vegetables like grated carrots or zucchini.)