I just got a bread maker – as I have mentioned. I love it. So now I am making homemade bread all the time in place of store bought sandwich bread. My bread maker’s recipe for wheat bread was too dense and wheaty, if you know what I mean. So I modified it and wanted to share. This makes a 2lb loaf of wheat bread that tastes like honey wheat store bought bread.
1 2/3 cups water (75-85 degrees F)
2 tablespoons butter or margarine
1/3 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
2 teaspoons salt
2 1/3 cups wheat flour
2 1/3 cups bread flour
3 teaspoons bread machine yeast (just quick rise yeast)
Add ingredients in order listed. Make small indent in flour and add yeast. Do not let yeast come in contact with liquid ingredients. Bake on 2lb wheat bread setting in your machine.
If you have a bread machine recipe that you love, please share. I also have a delicious French bread recipe, but I am sure it is probably a fairly common one.
Monday, April 14, 2008
Happy Cooking
“She gets up while it is still dark;
she provides food for her family…”
Proverbs 31: 15(a)
Well, I won’t lie and say that I wake while it is still dark, especially in the summers here, that would be VERY early. But I have been waking up and preparing healthy and filling meals for my family every morning. Again, this is all part of my desire to serve the Lord by serving my family. I am not into organic foods or totally eradicating all junk food (although we don’t purchase any – we may find ourselves eating out more than we like), I just want my family to eat healthily. I have found that menu planning all 3 meals a day has given me a purpose in my kitchen. Each week I make a menu that includes breakfast, lunch and dinner.
This is what my menu looks like for this week
Monday:
B) Homemade quiche
L) Grilled cheese sandwiches
D) Chili and Cornbread
Tuesday:
B) Cereal (We have church these mornings and it is too hectic to cook)
L) Peanut butter and honey sandwiches
D) Brats and baked beans
Wednesday
B) Old Fashioned Oatmeal
L) Deli Style Sandwiches
D) Cheeseburgers and potatoes
Thursday
B) Breakfast Casserole
L) Hot ham and cheese sandwiches
D) Pork Chops and Broccoli
Friday
B) French Toast and Sausage
L) Deli Style Sandwiches
D) Mushroom Chicken and Corn on the Cob
Saturday
B) Old Fashioned Oatmeal
L) Peanut butter and honey sandwiches
D) Leftovers (I have a dinner to attend for some friends so won’t be home to cook)
Sunday
B) Pancakes and Sausage (Jeff cooks breakfast on Sundays)
L) Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
D) Pot Roast and Mashed Potatoes
Having the menu for a week or two in advance saves money and manages my time.
Okay and the entire point of this blog was to share a yummy recipe I found on the internet (I don’t remember where). It is fast to prep and oh so good.
Quick Quiche
4 eggs
1 cup half and half
½ cup real mayonnaise
2 tablespoons flour
1/3 cup minced onions
Salt and garlic powder
8 oz shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1 package frozen chopped spinach
1 (9 inch) unbaked (frozen) pie shell
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Hand whip eggs, half and half, mayonnaise, and flour in a medium mixing bowl. Add remaining ingredients. Pour into an unbaked 9-inch, deep pie crust. Bake 45 minutes to 1 hour or until the top is golden brown. (I put mine on a cookie sheet to prevent a mess in case something spills)
It takes no time to make and just a bit to cook, but it is worth the wait. Happy Cooking!
she provides food for her family…”
Proverbs 31: 15(a)
Well, I won’t lie and say that I wake while it is still dark, especially in the summers here, that would be VERY early. But I have been waking up and preparing healthy and filling meals for my family every morning. Again, this is all part of my desire to serve the Lord by serving my family. I am not into organic foods or totally eradicating all junk food (although we don’t purchase any – we may find ourselves eating out more than we like), I just want my family to eat healthily. I have found that menu planning all 3 meals a day has given me a purpose in my kitchen. Each week I make a menu that includes breakfast, lunch and dinner.
This is what my menu looks like for this week
Monday:
B) Homemade quiche
L) Grilled cheese sandwiches
D) Chili and Cornbread
Tuesday:
B) Cereal (We have church these mornings and it is too hectic to cook)
L) Peanut butter and honey sandwiches
D) Brats and baked beans
Wednesday
B) Old Fashioned Oatmeal
L) Deli Style Sandwiches
D) Cheeseburgers and potatoes
Thursday
B) Breakfast Casserole
L) Hot ham and cheese sandwiches
D) Pork Chops and Broccoli
Friday
B) French Toast and Sausage
L) Deli Style Sandwiches
D) Mushroom Chicken and Corn on the Cob
Saturday
B) Old Fashioned Oatmeal
L) Peanut butter and honey sandwiches
D) Leftovers (I have a dinner to attend for some friends so won’t be home to cook)
Sunday
B) Pancakes and Sausage (Jeff cooks breakfast on Sundays)
L) Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
D) Pot Roast and Mashed Potatoes
Having the menu for a week or two in advance saves money and manages my time.
Okay and the entire point of this blog was to share a yummy recipe I found on the internet (I don’t remember where). It is fast to prep and oh so good.
Quick Quiche
4 eggs
1 cup half and half
½ cup real mayonnaise
2 tablespoons flour
1/3 cup minced onions
Salt and garlic powder
8 oz shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1 package frozen chopped spinach
1 (9 inch) unbaked (frozen) pie shell
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Hand whip eggs, half and half, mayonnaise, and flour in a medium mixing bowl. Add remaining ingredients. Pour into an unbaked 9-inch, deep pie crust. Bake 45 minutes to 1 hour or until the top is golden brown. (I put mine on a cookie sheet to prevent a mess in case something spills)
It takes no time to make and just a bit to cook, but it is worth the wait. Happy Cooking!
Friday, April 11, 2008
Want To Save Some Money?
I have spent a lot of time looking into simple changes that I could make around that house to save us a couple of bucks. I have found 3 that I wanted to share.
1. Make your own wipes!
½ Roll Bounty White Paper Towels
2 Cups Water
1 Tablespoon Baby Oil
2 Tablespoons Baby Shampoo/Wash
This is so easy and they really do work FABULOUS! First thing you will need is an airtight container that can hold ½ a roll of paper towels. Cut the roll of paper towels across the width. In your container pour the ingredients and stir until well blended. Place the paper towels in and close lid. Wait 10 -15 minutes and turn container upside down. Let absorb another 10 -15 minutes. They are done once all of the liquid is absorbed into the towels. Open your container and pull the cardboard roll out and tug the center towel out. Now your wipes will pull from the center to simplify use.
2. Make your own popcorn!
Popcorn is my favorite snack, and I have saved quite a bit of money making mine at home. It is fresh, yummy, and does not have all the junk that microwavable popcorn contains.
Kettle Corn
1/3 Cup Popcorn Kernels
2 Tablespoons Vegetable Oil
2 Tablespoons Sugar
1 Teaspoon Kosher Salt
(Not my pic, borrowed from a google search)
This recipe is delicious! Get out your big pot, the one you use for spaghetti and such. Place oil and 1 kernel of popcorn into your pot, cover and turn heat up to med-high heat. Once the kernel pops remove the lid and pour in your kernels. Leave the lid off and when the kernels are about to pop pour your sugar over the top. You will know because it will start to smell like popcorn and turn white. Immediately cover and gently shake. Once the popping slows and almost stops remove from heat. Immediately pour into a bowl and sprinkle the salt over the top, mix together well. This treat is yummy! And very fast, takes as much time as microwave popping. You will not want to go back.
3. Make your own cleaner!
Vinegar
Water
Baking Soda
So I posted about this earlier and said that once I tried out the recipes I would let you know what I liked the best.
Surface Cleaner:
In a spray bottle mix equal parts vinegar and water, THAT’S IT! If you have a spot that tough sprinkle baking soda on it, spray down and wipe off. It works for glass as well.
Toilets/Tubs:
I wet down the tub with water, shake in some baking soda. Then I soak a cloth in vinegar and scrub. Soap scum and grime come off almost effortlessly.
For the toilet I flush and sprinkle sides with 1 cup baking soda. I scrub with the brush and flush again. Then I pour in the vinegar and scrub and let it sit until the next use, or until I leave the bathroom. (Be careful to not pour in the baking soda and vinegar at the same time or you will have a mess)
*** A friend of mine suggests adding a couple of drops of essential oils to your cleaning solution to give a pleasant fragrance. I have not tried this yet, but I will get around to it. Also, if you are put off by the aroma of vinegar know that it disappears as soon as the area dries (almost immediately).
1. Make your own wipes!
½ Roll Bounty White Paper Towels
2 Cups Water
1 Tablespoon Baby Oil
2 Tablespoons Baby Shampoo/Wash
This is so easy and they really do work FABULOUS! First thing you will need is an airtight container that can hold ½ a roll of paper towels. Cut the roll of paper towels across the width. In your container pour the ingredients and stir until well blended. Place the paper towels in and close lid. Wait 10 -15 minutes and turn container upside down. Let absorb another 10 -15 minutes. They are done once all of the liquid is absorbed into the towels. Open your container and pull the cardboard roll out and tug the center towel out. Now your wipes will pull from the center to simplify use.
2. Make your own popcorn!
Popcorn is my favorite snack, and I have saved quite a bit of money making mine at home. It is fresh, yummy, and does not have all the junk that microwavable popcorn contains.
Kettle Corn
1/3 Cup Popcorn Kernels
2 Tablespoons Vegetable Oil
2 Tablespoons Sugar
1 Teaspoon Kosher Salt
(Not my pic, borrowed from a google search)
This recipe is delicious! Get out your big pot, the one you use for spaghetti and such. Place oil and 1 kernel of popcorn into your pot, cover and turn heat up to med-high heat. Once the kernel pops remove the lid and pour in your kernels. Leave the lid off and when the kernels are about to pop pour your sugar over the top. You will know because it will start to smell like popcorn and turn white. Immediately cover and gently shake. Once the popping slows and almost stops remove from heat. Immediately pour into a bowl and sprinkle the salt over the top, mix together well. This treat is yummy! And very fast, takes as much time as microwave popping. You will not want to go back.
3. Make your own cleaner!
Vinegar
Water
Baking Soda
So I posted about this earlier and said that once I tried out the recipes I would let you know what I liked the best.
Surface Cleaner:
In a spray bottle mix equal parts vinegar and water, THAT’S IT! If you have a spot that tough sprinkle baking soda on it, spray down and wipe off. It works for glass as well.
Toilets/Tubs:
I wet down the tub with water, shake in some baking soda. Then I soak a cloth in vinegar and scrub. Soap scum and grime come off almost effortlessly.
For the toilet I flush and sprinkle sides with 1 cup baking soda. I scrub with the brush and flush again. Then I pour in the vinegar and scrub and let it sit until the next use, or until I leave the bathroom. (Be careful to not pour in the baking soda and vinegar at the same time or you will have a mess)
*** A friend of mine suggests adding a couple of drops of essential oils to your cleaning solution to give a pleasant fragrance. I have not tried this yet, but I will get around to it. Also, if you are put off by the aroma of vinegar know that it disappears as soon as the area dries (almost immediately).
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Why Serve with a Joyful Heart?
At times, staying home with kids and keeping up with your home can seem mundane and purposeless. The truth is that as women we are called to care for our husbands, our children, and our home. More importantly we are to do it as unto the Lord and with a joyful heart. Elizabeth George says in her book, A Woman After God’s Own Heart, that as the wife and mother we are the thermostat of our household. We are the ones who provide a warm and loving environment to foster fond memories and we are the ones who cool down heated situations. Isn’t that so true? There is the phrase, “If mama ain’t happy ain’t nobody happy!” Do we really want to be a source of sorrow and irritation to our families? I surely don’t.
As I look to God each morning to supply my joy and prepare my servant’s heart for the day I am always encouraged by his word. I want to go about my daily activities with purpose and joy; knowing that my actions and choices have an eternal impact in shaping my character and on family. This morning I found a few verses that I wanted to share:
“Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written:
‘He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor;
his righteousness endures forever.’
Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.
This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!”
2 Corinthians 9:6-14
As I look to God each morning to supply my joy and prepare my servant’s heart for the day I am always encouraged by his word. I want to go about my daily activities with purpose and joy; knowing that my actions and choices have an eternal impact in shaping my character and on family. This morning I found a few verses that I wanted to share:
“Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written:
‘He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor;
his righteousness endures forever.’
Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.
This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!”
2 Corinthians 9:6-14
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
A Peek of Spring
So the sun was out for a few days last week and now I am seeing people in capris and sandals. A bit ambitious (not that I don't love flip flops but it is still in the 40's people). Anyway, we played out with the neighbors for a few hours one day and I snapped a couple shots of Marcus and his first time on the grass. (And yes that is my dandelion ridden lawn.. I have some work ahead of me)
With my New Year's Resolution to be more domestic and to serve God by putting my priorities in order, I have found some new and wonderful things. The first being that I started making homemade bread in my new breadmaker that I have been wanting for months. It saves money and is delicious. Actually my entire daily routine has changed. I have made a schedule and a journal. I will have to post a blog about it later because I am digressing. Another thing that I have been blessed to do is take up sewing. I tried knitting (I desperately wanted a hobby - I had none!) but that is not for me. Very frustrating - so if you can knit you have my respect. A friend of mine offered me a sewing machine, it runs perfectly. So, with spring on the way I decided to do some gardening with Landon. And for my garden I wanted an apron.
My first sewing project turned out to be so much fun that I anticipate the next time my sewing machine and I get to be together again (we are having an affair). With the busyness of life it is far less often than I would like that I get to spend time with my new friend. 
Our tomatoes, carrots and snap peas are growing in their planters for now and when the weather lightens we will go and transplant them into our little garden. I have never gardened before, so hopefully my thumb is naturally a little green (my fingers are crossed for Landon's sake).
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