Pioneer Woman at Heart

One Flourishing, Frugal and Fun Family!

One family learning to live off the land, cut back on expenses, and to live a simpler and a more self-sufficient lifestyle.

Adopted Motto

"Eat it up,
Wear it out,
Make it do,
Or go without."
~A Pioneer Sampler, by Barbara Greenwood~

Showing posts with label Homemade Bread. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Homemade Bread. Show all posts

Wednesday, November 18, 2020

Full Day in the Kitchen

I have two kitchen tables.  We use both during tomato season then potato season.  They are perfect for feeding family during get togethers (which I miss dearly).  Anyway, my larger table has become he spot to drop stuff and not put it away.  Yesterday I cleared it off.  Everything went to their home.


New tablecloths were put down, and yes that one on the table behind it is a Christmas one.  I really want a Christmas cloth for the smaller table in blues.  The one I have works for now.




I also tried a new bread recipe.  First, I wanted to try it due to the lesser amounts of ingredients and it didn't require bread flour.  Second.  I needed bread to make a french toast breakfast.

The recipe for the bread is a 4 ingredient recipe, which makes 2 loaves.  It's online (Simple Amish White Bread Recipe, Donna Elick).  I used all organic ingredients.

I was skeptical at first.  It uses all-purpose flour and no eggs. I used the full 7 cups of flour, and felt it should have had a bit more, as the dough was very soft.  Well, the bread rose nicely and tasted good. Now, when I cannot locate bread flour, I have this recipe to fall back on.

Dinner was a bit of work, but I decided on Chicken Spaghetti and corn.

Guess what?  My car is finally back home. 

Wednesday, October 7, 2020

Random Tidbits ~ Question about freezing eggs


I finally had time to bake bread.  I literally messed it up the first time, and had to start over.  Sigh.  I am re-writing this recipe and filing it.  

I spent yesterday sorting all my recipes and sent an SOS to my 21 year old to bring home tab dividers.  Oh boy.  I can't lose another recipe again.

Updates on the cars.  My car is still here, but will be towed tonight to get a new engine.  The other car was delivered yesterday to the same guy for guess what?  A new intake.  Our 21 year old is working long days.  She's working almost 25-30 minutes from home right now (and long hours, which puts doggie daycare on me). We went to pick her up after my husband got home.

Speaking of her, she looked absolutely exhausted from wearing a mask on her all day shift.  Her checks were red, her eyes looked like different and she acted different.  I am so concerned with her wearing a mask that long.  It's horrible to see your kid look and feel that way. Just so you know, she works in a store that not only sells essentials, but furniture too and she is lifting heavy stuff.   

Our youngest daughter moved out, but is living with someone and looking for an apt.  She's going through a rough time and we believe trying to avoid memories with her boyfriend.  I just hope it all works out.

We started to call around to find supplies for the dog fencing.  Most of the stores do not have what we need.  We believe we have one person that can come help put it in if we do find supplies.  I definitely need it right now.  Romeo had the zoomies so bad the other day, he flipped one couch over and then put himself in time out in his kennel (sort of got a chuckle out of that, but man...).


The only reason his kennel was out, was due to company a long time ago and the kennels were not taken down (they are up for people like chimney sweep etc).  I had to laugh though. Although he does look sad or knew he did something he shouldn't have and was sorry ha ha!

Question:  Do you/have you stocked up your eggs by freezing them?  If so, please share details on freezing them.  My littles are laying a lot of little eggs right now.  Yes, I googled it, but zero of my homesteading books have info on this.  Would love your input.


Friday, November 10, 2017

Put up a Tree and Cleaning Starts

The garden is too wet, and now frozen.  I think if I even get the last tomato stakes out, I'll be happy. 

I woke up to a chilly 21°F this morning.

Yesterday, after a few chores, I went to drag out Christmas tree #4.  The day ended up with an all day date with this:

First, I noticed the study chair was needing a good cleaning (on my way to open cubbie to get the tree), so I thought I'd get two things done - the chair, then my dresser top, to where the ceramic tree would go.

I flipped the chair upside down and saw spider webs (Yikes!) so off I went to find the vacuum cleaner.  I ended up cleaning the entire desk, cubbie door, chair and my dresser top.  I then proceeded to pull drawers out and wipe them down and the inside of the dresser, which led me to more cleaning, and on and on it went.

However, Christmas tree #4 was put in place.  Whew!  I had to text Hubby that I needed another pair of rubber gloves.  I need them for today's continued wood work cleaning.

While all that was going on, I almost forgot I had bread rising.


Yikes.  Not the best load, but a loaf. The photo makes it look good, but it's lopsided, ha ha!  I really need to find a good whole wheat bread recipe. 

Another yikes - almost forgot to take the dogs out.  "Grad" daughter is home most mornings and she had an 8 hour work day.

Dusting was done, carpets swept, my dresser cleaned off.  Another spider trap is in place.  

Do you ever have to spend a day putting away the "didn't put it aways?"  You know, those items you just put down and tell yourself you'll put it away another time?  I have been diligent in keeping those areas clean, so it only took a few minutes to clean that up. 

If I had a plan for yesterday, it would have failed for sure, but I got much of my deep cleaning done.  I have more to clean.  Much more.  I'm making a list for the girls now. 

Saturday, July 29, 2017

Tidbits

I made a loaf of bread using the recipe Sam I Am shared at her blogspot - farmgirlsam.

How did it turn out?

Pretty darn good if I say so myself.  Thanks for the recipe!

Hubby and I were to be meeting up at 7am this morning, and riding the Triple Nickle Ride today.  Last night those plans changed.  It takes great concentration to ride a curvy, twisty road, with hills and surprises at the top.  He came home in pain from the dentist last night.  That's okay.  I think we'd rather go do that ride, and stay the night vs. ride the motorcycle back late, and so tired.  It's about a 60 mile ride, but first you have to get there.  Getting there takes about 3 hours. I had accounted for the loss of gardening time for this ride too, but taking advantage of being home now.

Guess who is driving now?  Youngest just went to the "Big City" and obtained her driver's permit.  Last one to learn to drive.

 

Friday, June 23, 2017

Random Tidbits ~ A Crockpot Summer


The rabbits are definitely an issue this year.  This is the worst year ever.  One had babies in my chicken run.  Big mistake.  The chickens killed them all.





Bread needed baked.  New recipe too.  The recipe is here. I turned to the internet for this recipe, and was quit pleased. In fact, Youngest Daughter saw the bread, made a sandwich, and raved about how soft and delicious it was.  Used 1 Tbsp. brown sugar vs. white sugar.  The recipe called for 2 cups of milk and room temperature. I had exactly 1 1/2 cups left in the house.  I made a 1/2 cup using dried milk to make up the difference.



Library books need returned and new ones picked up.  Ha.  Yeah, like I'm a gonna' get time to read 'em. I however am enticed by the Home and Health one - 501 recipes. I may have to add a few to my Christmas "wish" list.

I should have the kids monitor me when I multi-task.  I almost burned a frittata.  I set the timer, walked outside...should have never left the kitchen.  The other day I almost forgot the rice in the crockpot cabbage roll casserole.  Speaking of that dish, it was sort of a budget creation.

After my big birthday shin-dig, our daughter's grad party, and another daughter's expensive car repair, the budget has been pretty tight.  


I was pretty nifty thrifty with the cabbage roll dish.  I had two halves of cabbages leftover (red and green), I had a quart of home canned tomato sauce, home canned crushed tomatoes, homemade tomato condensed tomato soup in the freezer...and wa-la..dinner was made on a dime.  I used leftover ham vs. beef/pork.  Turned out Fan-tab-u-lous!  We discovered Parmesan cheese was better than mozzarella cheese.  And it's delicious without cheese.  This was the first time trying this type of recipe.  I may have to make cabbage rolls this fall when cabbage is in full harvest.  I do love my crockpot though.

Complaints were spouting from my vegetarian daughter (it had meat in it).  I told her I don't make special requests when I have to cook with what I have, and I reminded her I boiled eggs.  She's a big girl and needs to learn to cook.



The peas are flourishing and I must pick daily now.  


I made another batch of garlic scape and radish spread.  We absolutely love this stuff, and our vegetarian daughter (the one turning 18 today, and who hates most vegetables), loves it now too.  Hubby wants me to make a double batch so he can share it at work, but I'm running low on garlic scapes.  I may have a few more out in the garden.  As always, when Hubby loves a dish, says "you should serve this in our own restaurant."  Ha.  Yeah.  Like I want more work. 

Friday, March 17, 2017

Honey Oat Pan Rolls ~ From Pile to File

Last Thanksgiving was my first attempt at making homemade rolls by pre-freezing the dough.  It was somewhat of a fail.

I decided to experiment with other roll recipes.  I made Honey Oat Pan Rolls.  A recipe in my pile of "try its."  This is a "Taste of Home" recipe that was in my 2014 Country Woman magazine and is available online.  The rolls are made with part all-purpose flour, a bit of whole wheat, and oatmeal. Oh, and there is a bit of butter too.  I did not use the Einkorn, only because I am waiting on another delivery.

Wednesday, November 16, 2016

What's Cookin'?

My lunch yesterday, and this morning it's Hubby's breakfast.  It was one of those throw-it-together scrambles.  I had just enough chard in the garden to make it, and used another jalapeno to flavor it up.  My sweet potato stash is dwindling quicker than I want it to.

Thursday, November 10, 2016

Random Tidbits


I used a portion of a head of cabbage to make a carrot/cabbage/potato frittata (loaded with fresh chives).  I found 4 pea pods while gutting the garden, so not to waste them, they went in too.

Thursday, November 3, 2016

On the home front....

Although I don't have a photo of the soup, we recently enjoyed some crusty baked bread with some homemade potato leek soup.  Our leeks did not do well, but we found an organic source this fall. Leeks provide cardiovascular support, and we love the soup.   Homemade bread baking has resumed.


Two chairs now have a fresh coat of paint on them.  One more job off the to-do list.  Although, the wicker sofa remains to be painted.  We had a few days in the lower 70's.

Sunday, July 17, 2016

Random Tidbits

It's been a whirlwind of routine changes.  Hubby was switched to nights (temporarily) and is home sleeping all morning now.  I have to change my work load, and we have to be very very quiet. 

I have to take my laundry out the front door and around the house, so I don't wake him up, going in and out the door.  

Also, I have to have dinner done by 4pm.  That is impossible.  So....each dinner (done by 8pm now) is Hubby's next day meal to take to workAdjustments made.

This basket of goodies was from day two of picking green beans (and peas and cucumbers).  Today is day three.  I'm thrilled to be filling my freezer once again.  And of course we ate a lot at dinner the other night.  I also cooked peas one night.  Oh my gosh they smelled so good when I boiled them!  I have had to buy these in stores for two years now, and am so thankful for this bounty.

Wednesday, April 13, 2016

Sunshiny Day! Surprise Mail!

Tuesday I spent less time in the kitchen.  Kind of.  The sun was out and the temperature was nice, so out went the laundry.

Meanwhile, inside, I boiled eggs and baked a few loaves of white bread.  I figured I needed a break at dinner so it was egg salad, homemade bread, salad on the side and whatever fruit we had.  I love the smell of bread baking. 

Tuesday, March 22, 2016

Signs of Spring ~ Herb Bread


The daffodils and hyacinths are up and about to bloom.  No signs of tulips, except at my little garden alongside a log.  I hope to start bringing in fresh flowers soon. Once again the weather people were wrong.  The high 70's that were forecasted for early this week?  Not happening.  If we are lucky, we'll get up to maybe 60°F today, then drop to the 40's and 50's for a few weeks (or so they say).


Wednesday, December 2, 2015

Bread Baking ~ Library visit

Rainy days are good for bread baking.  I made my first Jalapeno Cheddar Artisan bread the other day.  Yum!  If you'd like to try the recipe it's from Candy at Lazy J Bar C Blogspot  Delicious!  I baked it to go along with ham bone soup for dinner. 

The weather continues to be wet and cold here.  I made a trip to the library and brought home these:

Friday, November 27, 2015

Food Dehydrator Uses ~ Making Homemade Bread ~ New Side Dishes

In the past several years, I knew that my dehydrator had a temperature for rising bread dough.  It was not large enough, height-wise.

 My new one however, is perfect for rising bread.

 I placed a small tray of water in the bottom, removed all my racks but the bottom one, and covered the dough with a damp cloth.  My dehydrator has a clear door on it, so I can see the results without opening it.

Wednesday, September 9, 2015

Sandwich Bread ~ Tidbits


Now that I am back to baking bread, I made a new sandwich bread recipe, that my Uncle told me about just a few days ago.

Saturday, August 22, 2015

Raisin Bread and other tidbits

I decided to bake my first cinnamon-raisin bread. Yes, that is today's big news story.  


This "pioneer" woman has not baked this tasty treat until yesterday.

Wednesday, July 15, 2015

The Porch Speaks ~ Baking Bread and other Tidbits

I thought I would take a few photos of this year's newest porch signs.  Hubby found a new hobby, ha ha!  Looks like I need to brush down spider webs too.

Friday, November 21, 2014

Carrot Sandwich Bread


I'm not really a fan of baking yeast rising breads when it's colder in my house, so I wanted to try this 1969 cookbook recipe for a sandwich bread.


Homemade Bread, By the Food Editors of Farm Journal © 1969.



The recipe caught my eye, because it uses carrots in the recipe.  My first choice in "shortening" in this recipe would be real lard, but I do not have access to any.  I used organic, non-hydrogenated shortening.  If I keep coming up with reasons for lard, Hubby may reconsider raising our own pigs too.

Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Steel Cut Oat Bread ~ Honey and a Dab of Ginger



Yesterday I made 2 loaves of homemade Steel Cut Oat Bread.  This was a first time recipe for me.  I have never used steel cut oats in a homemade bread before.

This is another "from pile to file" recipe....

Monday, April 28, 2014

Post Lady Delivers ~ Citrus Water and Other Misc ~ Preparing


I have some exciting news!  We got a letter from Son, who is at Parris Island, SC. He asked for us to send photos, especially of his dog.  I'll admit, he sounds homesick, but he's never been away from home before (other than short camping trips).