My "new-to-me" bread machine came home yesterday and I have made 3 loaves of really nice light wheat bread! I used the dough setting and baked them in the oven, and they are a wonderful texture. Here's the recipe:
1 cup warm water (I use tap water from the hot side of the spikot)
2 tsp sugar
1 package yeast (I buy this in bulk, and used 1 1/4 tbsp)
1/4 cup vegetable oil
2 1/2 cups bread flour
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1 1/2 tsp salt
Though it flies in the face of conventional wisdom, combine the water, sugar, and yeast in the bread machine and let it sit for 10 minutes. This allows the yeast to feed on the sugar. Then add the other ingredients. Set bread machine for dough cycle if baking in the oven, or light crust white bread if baking in bread machine. Brush tops with butter or margarine and bake in oven for 45-50 minutes at 350 degrees. (Note: Usually I have read you can tell if your bread is finished cooking by thumping it. If it sounds hollow its done. This bread does not sound hollow.)
I have small foil bread pans, so I took the dough out of the machine and pinched it in half. Then, holding one half, I folded the edges under, turned the dough, and folded again so that I could shape the dough. Because I did not knead the dough, there were not big air bubbles in the bread. Then for the third loaf I used the full amount of dough in one pan and it worked well.
My other "experiment" this weekend was to use the Magic Mix to make chocolate pudding. It was easy and tasty. Here's the recipe:
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup Magic Mix
2-3 tbsp cocoa
2 cups water
1 tsp vanilla
In a medium size sauce pan, combine sugar, MM, cocoa, and water. Stir over medum heat constantly until the mix is disolved and begins to bubble. Remove from heat and beat in vanilla.
I found that I could start with a whisk, but had to go to a different utensil to get all the edges of the pan. Definitely stay with it because it will thicken and scorch if you don't. Pour into serving bowls, cover with plastic wrap on top of the mixture, and chill.
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Magic Mix
One of my favorite food storage sites Everyday Food Storage has a basic white sauce/cream sauce recipe called Magic Mix [(MM) scroll down a bit on the page for the recipe and video]. I have read about it several times, but just recently decided to make up a batch. The recipe calls for 3 ingredients and has to be stored in the refrigerator. Tonight I made a cheese sauce with it for a chicken, broccoli, cauliflower, and carrot one pot meal. I think I am going to like this stuff! It is very true that you have to add flavor to it. Next time I will make it with broth instead of water, add more onion powder or celery seed, etc depending on what recipe I am using. Crystal (creator of the EFS website) has some really great how-to videos, and a multitude of recipes for using MM.
This site has all kinds of great recipes for using things like powdered milk and beans in recipes. Many of them are not even recognizable in the finished product, for those of you with picky eaters :) I especially am intrigued by the idea of cooking and puree-ing yellow squash and using it in cheese sauce for mac and cheese! She also has a recipe for pecan pie that uses beans. I haven't tried that yet. I am working my way up to dried beans, LOL!
Youngest daughter called today. She has a boyfriend at school now, so she is not so anxious to come home. She is also getting to do some dessert baking at school this week. This is a great thing because her goal is to be a pastry chef. I am glad she is starting out with something of interest. I don't think the transition is quite complete, but she is making progress. I am so proud of her.
Today is Ash Wednesday. I really wanted to go to church today but have had a terrible sinus headache since early this morning. Mostly its been a sleepy day, but I did wash up the pots and pans and run the dishwasher. The oldest daughter is coming to visit for a few days. I am looking forward to that.
Check out the EFS and see if there is not something there to pique your interest. There is also a Facebook page that allows for conversation with others. Worth your time :)
This site has all kinds of great recipes for using things like powdered milk and beans in recipes. Many of them are not even recognizable in the finished product, for those of you with picky eaters :) I especially am intrigued by the idea of cooking and puree-ing yellow squash and using it in cheese sauce for mac and cheese! She also has a recipe for pecan pie that uses beans. I haven't tried that yet. I am working my way up to dried beans, LOL!
Youngest daughter called today. She has a boyfriend at school now, so she is not so anxious to come home. She is also getting to do some dessert baking at school this week. This is a great thing because her goal is to be a pastry chef. I am glad she is starting out with something of interest. I don't think the transition is quite complete, but she is making progress. I am so proud of her.
Today is Ash Wednesday. I really wanted to go to church today but have had a terrible sinus headache since early this morning. Mostly its been a sleepy day, but I did wash up the pots and pans and run the dishwasher. The oldest daughter is coming to visit for a few days. I am looking forward to that.
Check out the EFS and see if there is not something there to pique your interest. There is also a Facebook page that allows for conversation with others. Worth your time :)
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
A Working Wednesday
This has been a very productive week. We have really focused on getting things cleaned up. Much of the laundry is done (as in folded up and put away in drawers!), the couch has been cleaned off and the slipcover put back in place. And it has stayed that way nearly a week! Today I spent disinfecting the kitchen sink, counters, and stove top. Hubby volunteered to take on the pans that wont fit in the dishwasher, bless his heart. The living room is not cluttered with dishes because they go into the dishwasher when they are finished being used. And all the walls and ceiling have been dusted - no more cobwebs! Its simply amazing how much nicer things are, and we haven't finished getting any one room completely clean yet. I think we let the job get away from us and then got discouraged when the clean spaces got dirty before we got the rest of the job done.
I have also been mourning the loss of the bread machine. Something was dropped on it and broke the window in the top of the machine. Fortunately my brother has one that is not used at his house. He would rather have the storage space, so he is going to bring it to me. Hurray! I love fresh bread. Even better I have bread flour, and bulk yeast, and so it doesn't cost anything but a little electricity to have more bread. Now that we don't have to worry about food allergies any more with the kids out of the house, we have had a peanut butter and grape jelly sandwich every day for lunch!
When our oldest daughter left for school I had a hard time readjusting my cooking to accommodate 3 people. We always had a serving left of veggies or whatever the starch was. Now that the youngest has gone to school I am finding that two people eat significantly less than three. Our food is going to stretch much farther than I thought.
In the morning we are doing the massive refrigerator clean out. I want to get rid of all the mystery food and disinfect it. Since the trash will be picked up on Friday, nothing will stink too long in the trash cans! I am also going to tackle the issue of OTC medicines in various parts of the house, and disinfect the bathroom. Then its time to sew. Though I hate the thought of being inside when the weather is finally sunny and somewhat warmer, I need to get the maternity clothes ready to fit on the oldest girl. She's suddenly got a belly, and needs something to wear. :0) I would like to have several things already together except for hems.
Hubby and I took long walk around the neighborhood. It was good to be in the sunshine for a while. Of course we stirred up all the dogs in the neighborhood, but the exercise was nice. Its almost time for church (the Anglican Rosary service is tonight) and then we will come home and have some dinner. Tonight I think we are having chicken Rice-a-Roni with chicken nuggets, snap peas and carrots, and baked apples for dessert. I think it may be a movie night here too.
I have also been mourning the loss of the bread machine. Something was dropped on it and broke the window in the top of the machine. Fortunately my brother has one that is not used at his house. He would rather have the storage space, so he is going to bring it to me. Hurray! I love fresh bread. Even better I have bread flour, and bulk yeast, and so it doesn't cost anything but a little electricity to have more bread. Now that we don't have to worry about food allergies any more with the kids out of the house, we have had a peanut butter and grape jelly sandwich every day for lunch!
When our oldest daughter left for school I had a hard time readjusting my cooking to accommodate 3 people. We always had a serving left of veggies or whatever the starch was. Now that the youngest has gone to school I am finding that two people eat significantly less than three. Our food is going to stretch much farther than I thought.
In the morning we are doing the massive refrigerator clean out. I want to get rid of all the mystery food and disinfect it. Since the trash will be picked up on Friday, nothing will stink too long in the trash cans! I am also going to tackle the issue of OTC medicines in various parts of the house, and disinfect the bathroom. Then its time to sew. Though I hate the thought of being inside when the weather is finally sunny and somewhat warmer, I need to get the maternity clothes ready to fit on the oldest girl. She's suddenly got a belly, and needs something to wear. :0) I would like to have several things already together except for hems.
Hubby and I took long walk around the neighborhood. It was good to be in the sunshine for a while. Of course we stirred up all the dogs in the neighborhood, but the exercise was nice. Its almost time for church (the Anglican Rosary service is tonight) and then we will come home and have some dinner. Tonight I think we are having chicken Rice-a-Roni with chicken nuggets, snap peas and carrots, and baked apples for dessert. I think it may be a movie night here too.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Starting March
So much in one week! Lost a bone spur - yeah! It was painful. My plates are annoying and I never thought I would be buying denture adhesive before I was 50!! But slowly and surely my mouth is healing. Still can't chew much at all, but I did manage to tenderize a small piece of steak yesterday evening so I could eat it. It was luscious.
I am still grieving the loss of the bread machine but I am going to try some no-knead artisan bread and see how it works. If I like I think I will purchase the book Artisan Bread in Five Minutes A Day . I love the idea of NOT kneading bread.
I made a double batch of laundry detergent this week. We were down to the last dregs. This time I heated up the water before I added the grated soap and I think it worked better. I wound up fixing it in the hot water bath canner and that worked out well. Mom said several of her friends are interested in learning how to make it, so we are planning to make a morning of it one day soon.
I picked up the Angelfood, with the help of Mom. The freezer is stocked, the pantries are full, and all we need is milk. Its a fabulous feeling not to have to worry about that.
This week we are going to eat a big batch of chili and cornbread. Partly because its soft, partly because its filling, and partly because this end of February/beginning of March weather is so yucky that the chili will be comfort food. We may have chicken and dumplings again (for the same reasons). I want things that are easy to have extra servings of, easy to warm up individual portions, and keep me from messing up the kitchen. It is on the list of "things to do" this week - to really houseclean the kitchen. The fridge needs to be cleaned out and the floor mopped.
I have been investigating the purchase of a pressure cooker/canner. First of all, it would be great to fix food that quickly. Secondly, I would like to be able to cook and can some non-acidic foods.
Oh good news - Save a Lot had strawberries, grown in the USA, for 2 bucks a package! I am so happy to see them. I really need to plant my own. I have been eating oatmeal with brown sugar and french vanilla non-dairy creamer with fresh strawberries and its delicious!
Enough for now, the Oscars are on :)
I am still grieving the loss of the bread machine but I am going to try some no-knead artisan bread and see how it works. If I like I think I will purchase the book Artisan Bread in Five Minutes A Day . I love the idea of NOT kneading bread.
I made a double batch of laundry detergent this week. We were down to the last dregs. This time I heated up the water before I added the grated soap and I think it worked better. I wound up fixing it in the hot water bath canner and that worked out well. Mom said several of her friends are interested in learning how to make it, so we are planning to make a morning of it one day soon.
I picked up the Angelfood, with the help of Mom. The freezer is stocked, the pantries are full, and all we need is milk. Its a fabulous feeling not to have to worry about that.
This week we are going to eat a big batch of chili and cornbread. Partly because its soft, partly because its filling, and partly because this end of February/beginning of March weather is so yucky that the chili will be comfort food. We may have chicken and dumplings again (for the same reasons). I want things that are easy to have extra servings of, easy to warm up individual portions, and keep me from messing up the kitchen. It is on the list of "things to do" this week - to really houseclean the kitchen. The fridge needs to be cleaned out and the floor mopped.
I have been investigating the purchase of a pressure cooker/canner. First of all, it would be great to fix food that quickly. Secondly, I would like to be able to cook and can some non-acidic foods.
Oh good news - Save a Lot had strawberries, grown in the USA, for 2 bucks a package! I am so happy to see them. I really need to plant my own. I have been eating oatmeal with brown sugar and french vanilla non-dairy creamer with fresh strawberries and its delicious!
Enough for now, the Oscars are on :)
Monday, February 21, 2011
Empty Nest
Today we became "empty nest-ers". Our youngest daughter became a "college girl", and the oldest has been out on her own for just over a year (married, expecting a precious baby girl). Suddenly I have no children to be responsible for right this minute.
It feels kind of strange!
However other events in our lives are changing the finacial picture for us. Hubby is about to be laid off. I have only found part-time work and have no unemployment left. And now the Making Do slogan is a very real aspect of our budget. I have been stocking up a little at a time on canned goods, and boxed food (hamburger Helper, cake mix, pastas, etc). We do have a small freezer which already needs to be re-organized and a few "fishing" meals designed to get the oldest stuff out and used up. So, this week, as we clean our house without someone under foot moaning and groaning or refusing to help out, we will also be planning some major meals.
To that end I have just ordered Angelfood for February. We chose the $41 Bountiful Blessings Box and the $25 Sirloin Steak box. That, with the turkey we have frozen, 2 chickens, several bags of green beans, and atleast 3 bags of filling for fruit pies or cobbler, all mean we will not starve.
I have a sad event to share. The bread machine has died. It was located on the counter and I opened a cabinet door only to have a piece of corningware fall out and land on the glass viewing window of the breadmachine lid. I can report the corningwear came out much better from that tussle than the machine did. So now I am gathering recipes that do not require kneeding. Fortunately there are a lot of them out there. And we have all the bread making stuff, so we will have bread for sandwiches.
As I shared last time, I have been recovering from oral surgery. The good news is I am getting used to the plate. The bad news is that I still can't chew. So I anticipate a menu of very soft foods this month. With the exception of the steak. If its not soft and tender it will take spin in the blender!! This diet of mashed potatoes, eggs, ice cream, oatmeal, and yogurt really really needs something in it I can chew. I may puree my honeydew melon so I can eat it too!
So next post will list the meals (Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner). This should help me get back on track. Also its time to make laundry detergent. Mom and her friend want to learn how to do itt, so we are all going to meet at her house and I am going to teach them the "recipe".
I have also been considering making bar soap. I love lye soap. It sounds so harsh but its really not. Its a lot of work, but I feel like making soap and candles would probably good survival skills.
It feels kind of strange!
However other events in our lives are changing the finacial picture for us. Hubby is about to be laid off. I have only found part-time work and have no unemployment left. And now the Making Do slogan is a very real aspect of our budget. I have been stocking up a little at a time on canned goods, and boxed food (hamburger Helper, cake mix, pastas, etc). We do have a small freezer which already needs to be re-organized and a few "fishing" meals designed to get the oldest stuff out and used up. So, this week, as we clean our house without someone under foot moaning and groaning or refusing to help out, we will also be planning some major meals.
To that end I have just ordered Angelfood for February. We chose the $41 Bountiful Blessings Box and the $25 Sirloin Steak box. That, with the turkey we have frozen, 2 chickens, several bags of green beans, and atleast 3 bags of filling for fruit pies or cobbler, all mean we will not starve.
I have a sad event to share. The bread machine has died. It was located on the counter and I opened a cabinet door only to have a piece of corningware fall out and land on the glass viewing window of the breadmachine lid. I can report the corningwear came out much better from that tussle than the machine did. So now I am gathering recipes that do not require kneeding. Fortunately there are a lot of them out there. And we have all the bread making stuff, so we will have bread for sandwiches.
As I shared last time, I have been recovering from oral surgery. The good news is I am getting used to the plate. The bad news is that I still can't chew. So I anticipate a menu of very soft foods this month. With the exception of the steak. If its not soft and tender it will take spin in the blender!! This diet of mashed potatoes, eggs, ice cream, oatmeal, and yogurt really really needs something in it I can chew. I may puree my honeydew melon so I can eat it too!
So next post will list the meals (Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner). This should help me get back on track. Also its time to make laundry detergent. Mom and her friend want to learn how to do itt, so we are all going to meet at her house and I am going to teach them the "recipe".
I have also been considering making bar soap. I love lye soap. It sounds so harsh but its really not. Its a lot of work, but I feel like making soap and candles would probably good survival skills.
Monday, February 14, 2011
Its been a while...
Oh there are many reasons I could give for not updating. Lets just stipulate that we all have life stuff happening and let it go :)
The end of February is beginning to tease a little spring like weather our way. I would be perfectly glad to have a few weeks of moderate temperatures and a little rain. Makes starting your garden much easier. This year I am moving to a completely backyard garden. Turns out travelling back and forth to the farm was not a realistic expectation. Now I am pondering what type of containers to use, and how easily they might be in the even that we have to move mid season.
Had some major dental work done a few days ago and am still sore and dealing with the on again off again pain. But I have been surfing around looking for new things to try to reduce the money out the door. I will up date this next week with more info.
Ordering day for AngelFood Ministries is approaching next weekend. Check out their site and consider ordering.
The end of February is beginning to tease a little spring like weather our way. I would be perfectly glad to have a few weeks of moderate temperatures and a little rain. Makes starting your garden much easier. This year I am moving to a completely backyard garden. Turns out travelling back and forth to the farm was not a realistic expectation. Now I am pondering what type of containers to use, and how easily they might be in the even that we have to move mid season.
Had some major dental work done a few days ago and am still sore and dealing with the on again off again pain. But I have been surfing around looking for new things to try to reduce the money out the door. I will up date this next week with more info.
Ordering day for AngelFood Ministries is approaching next weekend. Check out their site and consider ordering.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Its the End of Summer!
How did it get here so quickly? Today is the last day of summer. The garden is bare, except for the potatoes which need to be dug. Most of the food is put up (still have pumpkins to can). Time just seems to fly.
Course the normal stuff is happening. School has started for the oldest married daughter. Youngest will be heading out soon to start her culinary career. Just like the turn of the seasons, the life cycle is moving right along. The married daughter will be having our first grandchild sometime in May. As my Aunt says, "Its a good thing she is a multi- tasker!" as she will be doing finals, presenting her Honor's Thesis, performing her Senior Recital, graduating from college and having a baby all in the same month! :)
We can't know yet if its a boy or a girl, but I am quilt planning like crazy for this little one. In the meantime, in the last month I have bound 2 quilts, a table runner, a wall hanging, and pieced the younger daughters new quilt. When I have nothing to bind I have been crocheting too. Its almost like the nesting instinct when you are about to go into labor, I just feel like I have to be creative non-stop. I am not sure where this is coming from. Previously I would have told you I hate piecing and binding, but now I am wishing for something to bind every evening. So I am getting out my Double Wedding Ring quilt, which my Mom made for me, and I am going to work on that. It should be good for a couple of weeks of binding as it has a scalloped edge. I have some Christmas stuff in the works too, so its a busy needlework time.
We have had such a nice month food-wise. With the double order of Angelfood last month we haven't hardly had to go to the grocery store except for milk and lettuce. This month we are doing the bigger box option and it will be nearly the same. I forsee purchasing some meat this time, because I am hungry for some things that usually don't appear in the menu. But still, we are keeping our grocery bill much lower than it was a year ago this time, and more than 50% lower than 2 years ago this time. So I feel like we are making progress.
Last weekend was the Daughters of The King women's retreat. We always hold it at the Cathedral Domain, a wonderful camp on the top of a mountain. Everything is so real there. The air is cleaner, the grass and trees are deep green, the food is amazing, and the company is comforting. Spending time occasionally with women who have true hearts for Jesus is like quenching a deep thirst. Very satisfying. I am trying to be a better daughter, following through on my commitment to a life of prayer and service, but I fall miserably short most of the time.
We ran out of dishwasher soap the other day. Fortunately I had found a recipe online for making your own at home! Its one tablespoon of Borax and one tablespoon of baking soda per load. You can also use white vinegar in the "jet dry" rinse container. Its amazing how well it works. I happened to have Borax because I make my own clothes washing detergent (which also works really well). So now I have a plastic container made up of just dishwasher soap. I am going to the Dollar Tree and get another set of measuring spoons so that the ones I cook with are not always needing to be washed because they are being used to measure detergent!
Course the normal stuff is happening. School has started for the oldest married daughter. Youngest will be heading out soon to start her culinary career. Just like the turn of the seasons, the life cycle is moving right along. The married daughter will be having our first grandchild sometime in May. As my Aunt says, "Its a good thing she is a multi- tasker!" as she will be doing finals, presenting her Honor's Thesis, performing her Senior Recital, graduating from college and having a baby all in the same month! :)
We can't know yet if its a boy or a girl, but I am quilt planning like crazy for this little one. In the meantime, in the last month I have bound 2 quilts, a table runner, a wall hanging, and pieced the younger daughters new quilt. When I have nothing to bind I have been crocheting too. Its almost like the nesting instinct when you are about to go into labor, I just feel like I have to be creative non-stop. I am not sure where this is coming from. Previously I would have told you I hate piecing and binding, but now I am wishing for something to bind every evening. So I am getting out my Double Wedding Ring quilt, which my Mom made for me, and I am going to work on that. It should be good for a couple of weeks of binding as it has a scalloped edge. I have some Christmas stuff in the works too, so its a busy needlework time.
We have had such a nice month food-wise. With the double order of Angelfood last month we haven't hardly had to go to the grocery store except for milk and lettuce. This month we are doing the bigger box option and it will be nearly the same. I forsee purchasing some meat this time, because I am hungry for some things that usually don't appear in the menu. But still, we are keeping our grocery bill much lower than it was a year ago this time, and more than 50% lower than 2 years ago this time. So I feel like we are making progress.
Last weekend was the Daughters of The King women's retreat. We always hold it at the Cathedral Domain, a wonderful camp on the top of a mountain. Everything is so real there. The air is cleaner, the grass and trees are deep green, the food is amazing, and the company is comforting. Spending time occasionally with women who have true hearts for Jesus is like quenching a deep thirst. Very satisfying. I am trying to be a better daughter, following through on my commitment to a life of prayer and service, but I fall miserably short most of the time.
We ran out of dishwasher soap the other day. Fortunately I had found a recipe online for making your own at home! Its one tablespoon of Borax and one tablespoon of baking soda per load. You can also use white vinegar in the "jet dry" rinse container. Its amazing how well it works. I happened to have Borax because I make my own clothes washing detergent (which also works really well). So now I have a plastic container made up of just dishwasher soap. I am going to the Dollar Tree and get another set of measuring spoons so that the ones I cook with are not always needing to be washed because they are being used to measure detergent!
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