Still updating

Just wanted to let you all know that I'm still working on the holiday season updating. For journaling purposes I want to keep it in chronological order, so you will have to go backwards to see the posts. Hope you all are enjoying a glimpse into our lives.

Have a blessed day,

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!!

As we usually do, we got Emily a couple of gifts and Delmar got me a couple of somethings...poor guy, he only got a card. However, one of the gifts he got me was really for both of us.

Emily received some candy, a book-Roses are Pink, Your Feet Really Stink and a Dora the Explorer earmuff and glove set that she has been eyeing at CVS.

My Valentine got me my FAVORITE candy-Ferrero Rocher and the movie Fireproof. He did good!!!

Today is a quiet day, nothing planned. Just spending time together with nowhere in particular to go. However, at this moment, I am enjoying a silent house and a little mom time. Daddy took Emily to go to see a basketball game that one of her classmates is playing.

Last night we were able to go out with some friends for dinner and a comedian. Emily enjoyed getting to play at Kyla and Lilly's house. They have seen so little of each other thru the winter, they got along really well.

Have a blessed day,

Facing Resistance

As you may know, I've begun baking my own bread. I began with a simple loaf of white "farmer" bread. A recipe that was in my bread machine cookbook. It was OK but not great. Next I went with an oatmeal recipe. I LOVED it, my mom LOVED it, my family did not. My grandiose idea of making healthy bread for my family has taken a nose dive. So, today I baked another white bread recipe. It is an Amish recipe and was so simple. And, I got to use my new baking pans that I bought at Beachy's last week. BONUS!!!

A few simple ingredients:

Proofed yeast:
Ready in the bread machine:

Risen and ready to bake:
A beautiful loaf of white bread:

I'll let you know if the family approves.

UPDATE: The family LOVED it. First thing hubby noticed when he walked into the kitchen was the loaf of WHITE bread.

Have a blessed day,

Open windows!!!

Big deal you say?!?!?!?!? Then it must not be February in the Midwest where you are right now. You can't imagine what a blessing it is to be able to have your windows open in February. Right now it is 62 degrees and tomorrow is supposed to be 65. We are supposed to get thunderstorms tonight but for now, I'm just enjoying the sunny, breezy, warm day...with my windows open.

Have a blessed day,

A Day in Amish Country

Today I was able to spend the day with my mom. We've been saying that we need to spend a day together since my babysitting job became temporarily part time back in June of last year...ok so we are a bit behind. Anyway, we decided to take a trip to Arthur and go to Beachy's. Now, I've heard of this Amish store quite a bit over the last couple of years but had never been. It is basically a bulk food store where you can buy practically everything under the sun! Some of my purchases included:*dehydrated marshmallows-the kind you find in packets of hot cocoa

*mini animal crackers-Emily loves these!

*ice cream sandwich cookies for making your own ice cream sandwiches

*dried cilantro-will be nice to have around

*a new book for Emily entitled "We Should Be Thankful" about a little Amish girl who learns to be thankful after having the mumps and not being able to play outside for weeks
*spice gumdrops for Delmar
*mustard pretzels for me :)

*steel cut oats in bulk-I've paid over $4 for a 1 pound bag of Red Bob's steel cut oats but these puppies were only $2.65 for 3 3/4 pounds!!!!! CRAZY!

Now, not everything was a great deal but it was worth the trip just to see all of the unique stuff. Of course they had the usual Amish fair, noodles, homemade bread, pies, etc.

My other purchase/investment was a set of new stainless steel bread pans. I'm so excited to be able to use them next week!

After shopping, we had a great lunch at Yoder's Kitchen-an Amish buffet. YUMO!

Thanks mom for a great day!

Have a blessed day,

Being Productive

I LOVE when I have been productive. As I type:

*My tea is brewing.

*I have high-fiber oatmeal chocolate chip pancakes for Mufin's (Emily) breakfast tomorrow cooling on a rack. (Wednesdays are pancake/waffle day.)

*I started a batch of whole wheat sourdough starter to make the Ultimate Amazing Bread that Candy from Keeping the Home makes (see link to her blog on my sidebar). *I have Oatmeal bread dough going in my bread maker. I only use my maker to do the dough. I then remove it into a regular loaf pan for the second rise and bake a traditionally shaped loaf. I just don't like the shape of the pan in my breadmarker nor do I like having a hole in my loaf from the mixer paddle.

*Dinner is planned and thawing. Today's menu is grilled pork steaks, tater tot bake and probably steamed cabbage. Dessert/snack will be fresh fruit. Sidenote: I got a great deal on meat at Cub Foods last weekend. Ended up being about $1.41 per MEAL! Woohoo!

I've been making my own bread again for a couple of weeks now. I'm just starting to have a need to know what is going into the food I am putting into my family's bodies and making an effort to make from scratch anything that I can.

I spoke with Bob and mom yesterday about plans for a garden this year. I told Bob that I want him to teach me how to can as my birthday gift. I'm not sure exactly what will be in the garden but I know that tomatoes, green beans and turnips will most likely make the list. I would also like to try growing dried beans.

Must scoot, bread will be ready any minute for transfer to pans.

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Later that day....

Ready for the rise: Heading to the oven:

MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM, can you smell it? Fresh baked bread. The loaves in the picture look a little dark and they are somewhat but they aren't burnt. The recipe that I am using has molasses in it so it is a darker bread. Now, this batch was kind of an experiment. The recipe calls for 3 cups of bread flour and I substituted 1 cup of whole wheat flour for 1 of the cups of bread flour. Haven't cut into it yet but we'll see how much of a difference it made texture wise. The last loaf I made was soft & fluffy. This one may be more dense. Have a blessed day,