Friendship Bread
Recently my sister shared a friendship bread starter with me and I’ve quickly gotten to the point where there is no one left to share starter with. Friends don’t make eye contact when they see those baggies . . . . . .
So when it was baking day I decided to make a double batch of bread. I measured and calculated and found that after I divided the starter into the four bags I needed two of the bags for the double batch. So that only left me with two bags of starter (one I was able to give away- doubt I’ll be so lucky next time). We had some small sized aluminum bread pans from a previous project so the kids and I made three regular sized loaves and four mini loaves. Since it is friendship bread we gave away two mini-loaves and one regular loaf. We froze the rest.
We plan on doing the same thing when it’s baking day again (and then I believe I will freeze the starter and give myself a break for awhile . . . .). These little loaves will then be dressed up with ribbons and tags and given away at Christmas.
I believe the trick to making this a one-of-a-kind gift is the little additions you make to the friendship bread.
Here’s some that we’ve tried:
dried cherries
dried cranberries
raisins
chocolate chips
butterscotch chips
Chocolate and peanut butter chips.
We find the bread to be very delicious- it doesn’t last long around here.
So what does it come out to in cost? Calculating is a bit difficult since what you pour in also makes the starters (that you are suppose to give away) but by my calculations it costs $4.16 to make a double batch which will yield 2 regular sized loaves and six mini-loaves. This comes out to just over $1.00 for each regular loaf and 50 cents for each mini-loaf.
We’ll wrap the bread good and tight and store it in the freezer until closer to Christmas.
Dressing it up with ribbon from our ribbon stash and tags made from scrapbooking scraps . . . . . voila!
Who will we give these gifts to?
The Neighbors
Sunday School Teachers (along with small packages of trail mix)
Extended Family
And who knows?
By my calculations I’ll need 7 to 8 mini-loaves and 3-4 regular loaves. So if I make 2 double batches between now and Christmas that will yield a dozen mini-loaves and four regular loaves. That is a little bit more than I need but I’m sure I could find someone else to give to . . . . .
So- calculating some more- two more double batches will cost me $8.32.
I’d say that’s a pretty good deal.

A question for the expert bakers on HSB......

Does anyone make very large cinnamon rolls like some restaraunts sell?  I need to make some and am wondering how they do it?  I usually put 12 in a 9x13 pan, if I only put 6 in the same size pan will that do it?   Should I not roll them as tight?  Or just cut them bigger?

Next question:  Does anyone have a tip for making them stay fresh longer?  Mine seem pretty dry the second day.  It would seem like I might add too much flour, but I only add until the dough is not sticky and is workable.

Any other good cinnamon roll tips would be apprecitated..........

Thanks!  And Country Blessings, 

Marilyn~at Heritage Hill Homestead

Homespun Holidays
This theme has been floating around the web for awhile.
I like it.
It suits me.
So what will we be doing for the holidays this year?
Each year I wish to simplify a bit more than the year before.
I doubt the holidays will ever be as simple as I would like them to be but I’m okay with that.
There is nothing simple about having approximately 25 people in your house on Christmas Day.
One thing that can work against simplification for me— the tightwad budget. Sometime’s its more simple to purchase already made, precooked and pre-whatever, but this year that is not in the budget.
Yet- I am determined to work within my budget without chaos.
Last year my siblings and I all agreed that we did not need to continue a gift exchange- instead we make each other a little something handmade and by no means expensive. I have a wonderful sweet trail mix that I make and it is so well received that it has become the standard homemade gift- it’s so expected that everyone would be disappointed not to get their trail mix. I love it when a gift works itself out that way. I plan on doubling my recipe this year and packaging it up in smaller amounts to share with those “extra” people on our list- Sunday School teachers and such. Even with doubling the recipe, I have budgeted $25 for the mix- including the packaging. I’ve got some cellophane bags here at home that I’ve had for years--- which will be great for the smaller individual serving size packages- tied with festive ribbon and a tag. I’m on the hunt for cheap containers- I’ll be stopping by Goodwill to see if I can find some 25 cent tins or some such steal of a deal.
In our immediate family- Mr. Steady, the kiddos and I- we have a very special gift giving strategy.
For Mr. Steady’s family- the grandchildren all draw names between each other.  His family is large and this works for us. Mr. Steady and his siblings usually pool money together to purchase something his parents’ need- one year it was new carpet, other times it’s been needed home repairs (a roof, insulation etc.), a recliner, a set of dentures, paying for a fill-up of their propane tank . . . . . things they need but can’t or won’t purchase for themselves. Sometimes the money needed is a bit more than we budget for Christmas so we’ve learned to make it a year’s worth of giving- rolling into it what we would pay for gifts for each of their birthdays and their anniversary- thank goodness they don’t mind that we need to do it this way.

Of course, things never go as smoothly as we plan- either someone we didn’t expect gives us a gift and we feel a need to reciprocate or I misplace something I had purchased earlier in the year or fillintheblank. . . . . it’s Murphy’s Law you know.
But this year there is no stretch in the budget- no extra padding to cover a little extra here and a little more extra there. There is comfort in the fact that we are not the only ones facing the ever tightened budget belts.
There is also a bit of challenge in it. A challenge to myself to be extra careful and mindful.
I do like a challenge.

I Thank Thee

--Jane Crewdson (1860)

I am printing this one for my notebook, and I think we will use this for copywork in the coming weeks as well.

Blessings,

Catherine

Thank you to all that have served and are currently serving our country!  My Uncle, Daddy's brother, gave his life in WW2.  Since I never knew him it doesn't seem very real to me, but I know it was very real to his family at the time. 

On Monday evening, Golden Corral will provide a free meal to all veterans.  We have gone the past 3-4 years, but didn't know about it before that.  So if you have a Veteran in your family you might take note.  I have to pay for my meal, but hubby's is free.  It is a very nice gesture that they do each year!

Saturday we went to the auction I mentioned.  I got a few canning jars and a nice little table to go beside the bed.  Things went cheap, and I passed up a few things I would have like to have, but still even cheap isn't good if you don't really need it.

Sunday we missed church.  We met our daughter and family for breakfast.  They were only in the area for a short time.  We had a nice visit with them, probably won't see them over the holidays, so this was a nice surprise visit.  Some exciting news, or at least a possibility,  our granddaughter that will graduate this spring is thinking of going to college in our area!  That would be wonderful!  She is getting the paper work going now, so we will see.

Yesterday and today have been sooooooooo  gloomy and dreary outside.  They said the sun may come out tomorrow afternoon, I sure am ready.  I know I have said this before, but I have a hard time getting anything done without sunshine!!!

I did finish up the apples yesterday by making Caramel Apple Butter.  I intend to try homemade vinegar with the peelings, hope that happens tomorrow.  Today I made pies all morning, not much this afternoon sad to say.

That is about it for tonight..........

Country Blessings,

Marilyn~at Heritage Hill Homestead

God bless and keep you safe.