Pennies From Heaven

2 recipes - whole wheat pancakes and "Best Bread"

About a week ago, I visited a local Mennonite bulk food store and picked up 50 lbs. each of soft and hard wheat. I've only made bread with the hard wheat, but wanted to make yummy things like pancakes, waffles, muffins and so forth with the soft wheat. My almost 15-year old son is starting to eat me out of house and home, so I know it'll be better for him to fill up on more whole foods than a bunch of junk food.

I knew a neighbor that grinds her own wheat would have an easy pancake recipe and it turned out the best whole wheat pancakes. I got to try out my new Presto griddle, too. I can't believe that I've been married almost 20 years and have never used a griddle . . . it made the cooking so easy! I picked it up for $14 a few weeks ago combining a sale price and a 30% off coupon at Kohl's. Here's the recipe my neighbor shared with me: 

2-1/2 to 3 cups freshly ground flour
2 tsp. baking soda
2 heaping tsp baking powder
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup oil or butter
2 eggs
2 cups buttermilk (or 2 Tbl vinegar and enough milk to make 2 cups)

I cooked these on my griddle on 325 F. I ended up making a double batch and froze a bunch for the week.

Then it was time to make bread for the week. I use the Bread Basket Cookbook from MarmeeDear because her recipes are adapted to the use of a Bosch mixer. Our favorite recipe is her one for "Best Bread" - I need to branch out and make some other goodies from this cookbook (which is only $7.99 plus shipping - a bargain for such a specialized cookbook!

5 cups very warm water (around 110 degrees, but no hotter than 120 or you'll kill the yeast)
2/3 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter, melted
3/4 cup oil (I use olive oil, but vegetable oil is good as well).
2/3 cup dry milk powder
3 cups freshly milled whole wheat flour (I start off with 6 cups)
1-1/2 Tbsp sea salt (can use regular salt)
4 Tbsp yeast
Unbleached All-Purpose flour

Add ingredients to the mixing bowl in the order above. Start mixing on speed 1 and increase to speed 2 as you hear the motor working harder. Add the unbleached flour until the sides begin to clean from sides of bowl. Watch closely to get just enough flour for a soft, workable dough. Too much flour will result in a heavy, tough dough. (I gauge when my dough is ready by the stickiness of the dough. Too sticky and I add a bit more flour until it is sticky, but would still be easy to handle.

Knead for 6 minutes on speed 2. Let dough rest in bowl for 45 minutes (1st rise). Turn mixer on momentarily to deflate dough after rest time has elapsed. Turn dough onto a clean oiled surface (or a piece of parchment paper) and form loaves.  Put into greased loaf pans. (I usually get 6 loaves using 4 x 8 pans.) With kitchen shears or a knife, cut a large 'gash' down the length, through the middle of the loaf about 1 inch deep. Let rise for 35 minutes. Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes or until golden brown. Let stand in pans for 10 minutes after removing from oven. Remove from pans carefully and cool on wire racks. Cool completely before slicing.

Now that my cooking is done, I'm going to finish up the baby blanket that I started. I think I'll be done today or tomorrow and will post a picture when done!

A rant!

Many on here know my youngest dd is adopted and is special needs, she has many issues steming from child abuse as an infant--for years I have advocated for her--I have had to scream, kick and sometime throw a fit to get a doctor to hear me and get her the services she needs--Well I have also spent 7 years yelling at docs and trying to tell them something was wrong with dd's back--One said it was scoliosis and just watch it, well I have been watching it get worse over the years and no one would hear me--the last doc we had would not do anything because dd is on 'public' insurance do to  being adopted thru foster care--should this matter--no, but to her it did, she made a VERY rude comment--I swtiched docs immediatly--I told this new lady about the other lady doc and ask for some X-rays--she gladly did the x-rays because after examination she knew something was wrong--well, she and I were correct--dd has serious scoliosis--hers is not making the 'typical S' shape her spine is twisting--at her c-10 vertebrae it is 13 degrees and her lower back is at 20!!!! --20!!!--normal is 2 to 5 degrees!!!--I am beyond angry--I told them 7 years ago something was wrong!--She is now to old for a brace and we are looking at having to have a rod put in her back to straighten her spine--I am waiting for the appointment for the orthopedic doctor--have doctors gotten so cold to their patients and forgotten their oath of do no harm that we let children suffer?--What harm would have been done by doing some simple x-rays to see what was going on?--Now we ar faced with surgery!--back surgery at that--she is only 13!--*Sigh*--

If ya would, please offer up a prayer or 2 for this situation and that we are led to a team of good doctors that truly care about their patients and not just the insurance card--

~Kris

Teachable moments

......they come often.  We must recognize them as they are fleeting....there lies three children birthed from the heart, stretched across a king size bed with books, paper and pencils in hand...questions that flood their minds. Clothes  being pressed for husband., they listen intently as we talk about everything, their curiosity about life peaked. Stories from the past...their muscles do not move...they want answers to life's questions...or do they?  Just time to spend with mom...spring break almost over and this time to never be again...so we talk and laugh discuss spring...dreams...world peace...politics...well, maybe not politics, but the joys of family.

Time skating with relatives...laughter...mom's feet and ankles ache but we persevere...hand in hand we skate...making memories forever.  The drive home is quiet...too tired and hungry to speak....banana cake and apples await us..and then our annual Friday Pizza night...the feelings of dough on our hands and children working along side to prepare this fun evening. Does it get better than that? 

Each day we think, does it get better than this?  No, because each day is a gift...to be alive even though the trials come.  Our home is thankful.  As age begins to creep upon oneself, life now becomes more important.  Those things we took for granted, now precious.  What happens...what changes lifes perspective? Answer isn't important, it's importance is that it did and does...morning dawns and we whisper prayers of thanksgiving to our heavenly Father....we rejoice because we breathe yet another day...day for memories...and yes, days of Lent Boxes...but gifts no less important...life lessons make way for the maturity and sorts.

We breathe, we are grateful.  The day closes and we are blessed.  The quietness as little ones sleep...the reflection once again of a day filled with trials, learning, laughter, joy and peace. 

Top of the mornin' to ya!

Well, I must say I do feel a bit more cheery this morning.  One main reason, my mother is coming to town today & staying the night with us.  That is always something to look forward to.

I've got the house just about all cleaned up.  I still need to vaccum the living room & mop the kitchen floor.  I'm just waiting because the men are off fishing & I know when they get home I would probably have to do the kitchen floor again.

I have a load of laundry I'm waiting on and I'm going to hang it out since the weather is nice & a bit windy today they should be dry pretty soon.  I also put a pork roast I'd been saving in the crockpot.  I have it out on the back porch cooking because I don't want to heat up the house and because it has sour kraut in it & I'd rather my air freshener be smelling up the house & not sour kraut!

So, after I hang the laundry out I'm going to read a book that I got from the library & relax with a cup or tea. 

Thanks so much for the kind comments & emails everyone has sent to me.  I knew you ladies would have some good advice & I was right!

Oh...let me share the recipe for the pork roast.  If you like sour kraut I bet you'll like this.  I love it!

Crockpot pork & kraut

1 pork roast

1 can sour kraut

2 apples (peeled & sliced)

2 T. brown sugar

salt, pepper, & garlic powder or fresh chopped garlic

1 - 2 cups water

In a crockpot place 1 pork roast.  Sprinkle it with salt, pepper & garlic powder or chopped garlic.  Then lay the sliced apples around & some on top. Then put the sour kraut (undrained).  Carefully add the water.  Then sprinkle it with the brown sugar.  Let cook all day. 

I'm serving it with mashed potatoes & probably green beans & homemade bread.

Happy Birthday to my Baby!!

We celebrated his birthday with quite a houseful.  He had three of his friends here, plus a few other friends and family..  had to pull out a second table to serve dinner.. but it was lots of fun!   

Here are a couple pictures of my boy and his special day.. 

Love you so much Mr. I !!   

Sunday's Share #4

Childhood friends - Meredith and Susie- growing up together.
I grew up with Susie's Mum and her Aunt.
Funny how history repeats itself.

I like her because she smiles at me and means it.  ~Anonymous


To join in with Sunday's Share, please visit

Chewy Molasses Cookies

These are yummy cookies, very rich in flavor, with molasses, and lots of spices. Yummy winter cookies.

To start, you need 1 stick (1/2 cup) soft butter and 1/4 c shortening.


And 1 cup Brown Sugar


Mix those until creamy.


Beat in an egg


Stir in 1/2 cup Molasses




Now add 1 tsp salt


Two teaspoons baking soda


1 teaspoon each of cinnamom...


Nutmeg


Allspice


and Ginger


Now mix together, adding 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour. Be sure to scrape the sides occasionally. Mix well.


Now if you use plastic wrap, cover the dough with the wrap, pressing against the dough. I don't buy it, so I am placing my dough in a smaller bowl with a lid. Put it in the fridge, and chill 1 - 2 hours.


While I was making the dough, Hickory was sitting on a little table, intently looking out the window.


Of course.


...

Now after an hour or two, heat your oven to 350 degrees.

Line your baking stone/sheet with parchment paper. And put some sugar in a small bowl. 1/2 a cup or so.

Then using a spoon or small scoop, scoop out about a rounded Tablespoon of dough, and roll it into a ball.


Roll the ball in the sugar to coat.


And place on the baking stone.


Bake the cookies for 9-10 minutes. They will crack slightly and still be somewhat soft.
Let them cool a couple minutes before removing from the paper, and let them cool completely. Using a couple sheets of parchment paper makes this job very easy. I just use one baking stone, and keep it in the oven. when one batch is done, I slide the paper and cookies onto a cooling rack, and using another rack, slide the next batch right onto the stone. While one batch is baking, I can be preparing the other. It cuts down the time that the oven is on.

When they are all done, you have these.

Enjoy!




***



Printable Version:

Chewy Molasses Cookies

1/2 c butter (soft)
1/4 c shortening
1 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1/2 c molasses
1 tsp salt
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp ginger
1 tsp allspice
1 tsp nutmeg
2 1/2 c all-purpose flour

Sugar for rolling

In a large mixing bowl, beat butter, shortening and brown sugar together until creamy.
Beat in egg and molasses.
Stir in salt, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, allspice and nutmeg.
Stir in flour.
Be sure to scrape the sides of bowl to mix well.
Cover dough with plastic wrap, or place in bowl with lid.
Put it in the fridge, and chill 1 - 2 hours.

Heat your oven to 350 degrees.
Line your baking stone/sheet with parchment paper.
Put some sugar in a small bowl. 1/2 a cup or so.
Then using a spoon or small scoop, scoop out about a rounded Tablespoon of dough, and roll it into a ball.
Roll the ball in the sugar to coat.
And place on the baking stone.
Bake the cookies for 9-10 minutes. They will crack slightly and still be somewhat soft.
Let them cool a couple minutes before removing from the paper, and let them cool completely. Using a couple sheets of parchment paper makes this job very easy. I just use one baking stone, and keep it in the oven. when one batch is done, I slide the paper and cookies onto a cooling rack, and using another rack, slide the next batch right onto the stone. While one batch is baking, I can be preparing the other. It cuts down the time that the oven is on.

Enjoy!

Conni is an army wife and homeschooling mom of three, living in North Carolina. You can find out more about her on her blog: MamaHen

It's Time!

Blessings!

   Well, after nearly 5 months of trying to settle into our new home and so many things happening in between...it's time to get back to my blog! I am going to make a concerted effort to get back to regular blogging now that life is slowing down. I have truly missed it and I've missed visiting with all of you. How thoughtless of me to ignore my blogging friendships and slip away without a word. Sooo, I ask forgiveness from all of you and I hope to be more diligent and consistent in the future:)

   Having said that...I want to share some wonderful and exciting news for us:)

   As you all know, we moved to Wisconsin back in October. You also know that in that move we had to leave behind our son and his little family:( It was one of the hardest things we have ever had to do but decisions like these are something that must be prayed about and sometimes the end result is to do things that are difficult and not what you want.

   Well...here's the new news...Matthew and his beautiful family ARE HERE!! Yep! They moved here near us. In fact, they have moved into an uncles house who is a long haul trucker. He offered his home to them not only to insure his home and cats are safe while he is on the road, but to help Matthew to get back on his feet again:)

   Matthew lost his job back in January and after really trying hard to find a new situation, things just weren't working. There were no jobs and no prospects. Even Kristina's parents were having trouble after her father also lost HIS job.

   It was a terribly difficult decision to make but after prayer and lots of discussion, they decided to give it a whirl! Matthew drove their things out (with a few little mishaps) and arrived here on the 9th. Then Kristina and Little Miss Shea arrived on an airplane the next afternoon to join him.

   We are busy this week helping them to get settled into their new home, which is just in the village where we live! They are less than 1/2 a mile away:)

   And did I mention that Kristina is expecting in May? Yep...Little Miss Shea is going to be a big sister! Little Miss Shelby!! We are all so excited:) God is good.

   I know this was terribly difficult for Kristina, leaving her parents to make this move. I know it was terribly difficult for them to step back and let them do what they felt was best for their growing family. It's always difficult for us mom's to let go and just be there for them as they make their own decisions and feel so very blessed as we watch them grow and learn. Oh if only we could just give them a manual to follow to avoid all the pitfalls we experienced before them. But, just like stereo instructions...they wouldn't read it because they already know how it works :P

   So that's our news :) I'll be back! I have some pictures to share and want to just keep up with my dear friends here at the blogger:)

God be with thee!

Sister Lori

Featured Blogger ~ Herbs & Honey

This week's Featured Blogger is HerbsandHoney at Gather Around For Kitchen Blessings. 

Stop by and congratulate Herbs & Honey for being this week's Featured Blogger, and while you're there be sure to check out her great posts like Kitchen Blessings #1 and #2 and read how she likes to spice things up in Kitchen Blessings #3. 

This recipe for Homemade Pasta Dough sounds very tasty, and I think that just might be "what's for dinner" at my house tonight. 

Gather Around For Kitchen Blessings is a lovely blog and is full of encouragement, stop by for a visit today, you'll be glad you did! 

Please help me choose the next Featured Blogger.  If you have a blogger you'd like to nominate as our Featured Blogger of the Week, send me an email at senioreditor@homesteadblogger.com .  Keep in mind that Featured Bloggers must be at least 18 years of age and their blog must be encouraging, uplifting, and/or inspiring. 

Who knows, you may be our next featured blogger ! 

Blessings,

Catherine

Here we go again!

I haven't blogged much this week because we've been busy doing a mixture of stuff.  School, errands, farm things, etc.

I also haven't been much in the mood.  I still read others blogs & enjoy most of them.  I just don't like writing about bad things.  Unfortunately we're back to preparing for my husband to probably be unemployed.  I know many of you have went through this, but we have not.  He's always had a good job that pays well for us.  The problem mostly is many of the jobs they do have been going over to China.  It doesn't seem to matter that the quality of their work is not as good.  My husband's shop seems to keep fairly busy doing repairs on China's "cheap jobs."  However not busy enough to keep the company open.  ~For those of you who have read my blog for a while you may recall that my husband's boss was severely injured about a year ago when a tree fell on him.  Then they found out he had heart problems, etc.  He & his wife have decided that they are done with the business.  They have left it to their son who is trying, but it looks like April will be the deadline.  IF they have not picked up any big jobs that's it.

Will my husband find another job.  I believe he will & I also believe that the Lord will take care of us, but it's still scary.  They have talked about being slow before & they have layed off some people, but never my husband & never have they had a deadline.

So, I'm going to make sure that I take extra good care of our garden & preserve everything I can.  I also have 1 hog that will be butchered soon so that will add a lot to our food supply.  I know how to make just about everything from scratch cheaply so that's should help. ~Thankfully we have some saved money that could help us for a while if he has to go on unemployment.

What can go?  Satellite tv. (it's $77 a month anyway & we have a library close to get movies from)

The main thing we need to do is cut down our electric bill.  Louisiana is already in the 70's and 90's will be in about a month or so.  So air conditioning is a must.  But we'll be hanging out clothes out, keeping lights off, tv's off & such when not in use.  I also do plan on using a small amount of money to buy some tint or blinds for all the front windows.  The heat REALLY beats in on those so this will be a good investment.

Other things I can cut back on...I don't NEED Dr. Bronner's soap, I don't NEED Dove shampoo (even though it smells great & makes your hair super soft..lol) just little things like that will help too. 

Animal feed- This will be tough.  We feed out pigs good feed because we want good meat.  The chickens need laying feed if I want eggs.  I am thinking I could save a tad on chicken feed by letting them out during the day some & I also usually give them all our vegetable peels & scraps so that could suppliment some.  (Anyone know if they will still lay in their boxes if they are left to run around in the day?)

So if anyone has any more suggestions, please share them.  Thanks gals!