Snow Day = Clean out the Pantry Meal

Well who says you can't be creative when imprisoned in your home due to a winter storm?  Not me!  I began to revert to my childhood this afternoon when I would endlessly bug my mom on a rainy day,

"Moooooommmmm!  What can I do today?" 

"Clare, go draw me a picture."

(five minutes later)

"Ok, mom, here's the picture.  What next?"

After watching the Philadelphia Eagles lose (sigh for Jamar Chaney, former MSU Bulldog), I felt that childhood rainy day restlessness come upon me.  My instincts grabbed the phone to dial mom, then I remembered I'm 31 years old and should create my own ideas of entertainment (although I did take up 2 hours of her time on the phone later on).

I decided to conjure up a meal in the kitchen using what I had in stock.  Turkey/veggie burgers, homemade bread, and dill cream cheese were the winners.

By the way, you can really have fun with burgers.  I had onion, fresh garlic, and spinach for my burgers today, but there are endless possibilities...corn, beans, mushrooms.  Combine these ingredients with turkey meat, add a little salt and pepper, and there you have it.

Pour a dash of EVOO in a frying pan and cook for about 3-4 minutes on each side.  I spread my dill cream cheese (mixed low fat cream cheese and Pampered Chef's all purpose dill mix) on my homemade bread (whole wheat flour) and made a nice, healthy sandwich!

Homemade Bread

5 to 6 c. flour (whole wheat flour)
3 tbsp. sugar
2 tsp. salt
2 pkg. dry yeast
2 c. water
1/4 c. vegetable oil

In large bowl, combine 2 cups flour, sugar, salt and yeast. Blend well. In small saucepan, heat water and oil until very lukewarm. Add warm liquid to flour mixture. Blend until moistened, then beat with beater 3 minutes. Stir in 2 1/2 to 3 cups flour until dough pulls cleanly away from side of bowl.

Knead 10 minutes, adding a little flour at a time, if dough feels sticky. Grease lump of dough. Put in bowl to rise and cover with towel. Let rise until double, then punch down. Divide dough into 2 parts and shape into balls. Let rise on counter covered with inverted bowl for 15 minutes.

Shape into loaves and place in 2 greased pans. Let rise in warm place about 1 hour or until it has risen about 1 inch above pans. Bake at 375 degrees for 45 minutes or until loaf sounds hollow. Remove from pans and brush top with butter. Makes 2 loaves.

See what you can do with a snow day and a kitchen!