THE LEANING TREE HOMESTEAD

Baking Breads

I have been contemplating living simple and what exactly it means to me for a few months now.  The way things are right now with the economy and all is making me think even harder on it.    I envy (yes I know its a sin) those who bake their own bread, make cake mixes and brownies from scratch,  and the list could go on.  I want to do all the stuff I before mentioned, but have NO IDEA where to start. 

I am a little saddened today. Its days like this that makes me miss my grandmothers. My Me-Maw died when I was in the 5th grade.  So I was to young to really "care" about cooking my own stuff.  She was the epitimy(sp?) of living simple. She kept and reused everything. She made everything from scratch.  I can remember staying at her house in the summer for weeks on end..lol. I think I practically lived there. I wish, oh how I wish,  that I had been able to glean some of the knowledge from her about cooking.  My Ma-Maw just died almost 3 years ago.  She was not around a whole lot until I was on up in my young preteen years, like aroung 11-12.  She lived over seas for a while.  But when she finally settled down back home, she only lived a bout 3 miles from us on a cattle ranch with her husband at the time, the only grandpa I ever knew.  Again, I practically lived at her house over the summer and most weekends. Yet, I still was to young to care to glean the knowledge from her. I can remember her cellar being pakced with jellies, jars and jars of stuff from the garden.  I miss my dear grandmothers.  Oh how I wish I could just sit with them for just a while longer.  As for my mom, I love her to pieces. She has some of the knowledge from my grandmothers(both).  I will try to glean some of her knowledge.

All that said, I want to bake my own breads, mix my own cake mixes, etc.  I have not idea where to start. I know this is asking alot, but could any of you please share any advice, recipes, instructions with me? I would SO GREATLY appreciate it!!!

SMILES!!!!