Home-Milled Whole Wheat Bread Mix

This recipe is one that my mom gave me that I've made a couple of ingredient modifications to, then made into a mix to save on dish washing, wheat grinder/ mill cleaning, and time.

I grind several batches of wheat, grinding some rice after every other batch to keep the moist wheat flour from clogging the mill.  I just use the ground rice in with my wheat flour.

Since home-milled wheat turns rancid within 72 hours of grinding (the oils are removed from shelf stable flour bought from the store), I freeze my mixes in freezer ziplocs.  One mix fits in a quart freezer ziploc.  If you are using shelf stable store bought flour, you might consider omitting the yeast from the mix so that your mixes do not have to be frozen.

Whole Wheat Bread Mix
4 2/3 c. whole wheat flour (you will need 1/4 c.-1/2 c. additional flour for shaping and final kneading)
2 t. salt
2 T. coconut oil (you will need approximately 2 T. additional oil for oiling your bread after baking)
4 t. dry milk
3 1/2 t. yeast

If you choose to store your mix in the freezer, you may want to warm your dry mix in the oven (I only turn my knob for the oven until it clicks... way lower than the 150 degrees) or on your counter top for 30-45 minutes, until your ingredients reach at least room temperature.  I have very predictable results when I take the time to do that.

I have a 2 lb. bread machine, and this mix over fills my bread machine by just a little bit during the final rise during the dough cycle.  I have never left it in to bake, but I think it would probably fall because it expands just a little too much, but not so much that it makes a mess. 

I add:
1 3/4 c. warm water
1/4 c. honey

to the bread machine first, then add the warmed dry mix.  I run it through the dough cycle in my bread machine, knead it on the counter top in flour until it's elastic-y and no longer sticky (I like to use wax paper on the counter or a flexible cutting board...it makes clean-up much easier).  Then I shape it into whatever I want.  It makes two regular loaves, a batch of 15-16 rolls (approximately 2 oz. each), or a huge batch of pull-apart bread (pictured).  It also makes great sandwich rolls.  Bread takes 30-45 minutes to rise in my oven (again I only turn on the oven knob until it clicks...way lower than 150 degrees), everything else I've made only takes 30 minutes.  I leave my dough in the oven, turn it up to 350 degrees, and bake for 30 minutes, or until the top of the bread/rolls is a LIGHT golden brown.  Wheat bread gets especially crunchy if over cooked.  If you choose to allow your dough to rise at room temperature, it may take a little longer.  Your dough just needs to be doubled in size before baking.

I immediately oil the top of my bread with coconut oil, then allow to cool at least 15 minutes before cutting or serving.  If it is served too soon it turns doughy and tastes yeasty.

The bread from this recipe tastes fresh for approximately three days...much longer than most home made breads.

VARIATION: Cinnamon Rolls: Rolls dough into a rectangle in shaping stage.  Spread butter or coconut oil in a thin layer, sprinkle cinnamon, drizzle some honey liberally over the surface of your dough.  Roll tightly into a long tube.  Use a string or knife to cut into rolls.  Place dough in a coconut oiled 2 quart baking dish.  Allow to rise 30 minutes or until doubled in size.  Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes.  Remove, oil with coconut oil, then drizzle with honey and sprinkle with additional cinnamon.

No-Bake Cookies...Perfect for Summer!

Chocolate-Peanut Butter No-Bake Cookie Balls
1 cup peanut butter (I use Adams  100% Natural Crunchy)
1 1/4 cup raisins
1 teaspoon real salt
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
4 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 cup agave nectar
1 cup oats

Powder:
1/4 cup oats or oat flour
3 tablespoons sucanat

If you have a food processor, this can all be done by adding peanut butter, raisins, salt, vanilla extract, cocoa powder, nectar and 1 cup oats into food processor bowl and processing.  I do not have a food processor, so I blend the 1 cup oats, salt, and cocoa powder in a blender until it's a flour-like texture.  I then pour the flour mixture into a Kitchen-Aid mixer with the remaining ingredients, and stir until everything is well blended (I have also just mixed everything in the mixer without using the blender, and it still tastes delicious, it just doesn't have a smooth texture and the oats are a little chewy).  The powder is made by putting 1/4 cup oats and sucanat in a blender and blending until it's a fine powder.

I roll my cookie balls in approximately 1/2 tablespoon size balls, then roll in the powder.  I place them on a cookie sheet and freeze.  Once they are frozen, I put in a freezer ziploc bag and eat them straight from the freezer.  Chocolate, peanut butter, and cold...what's not to love?

Happy Kitchen Hint: To easily wipe up that spot of food that has now dried on your counter, squeeze some soapy water from your dishrag onto the spot and leave for a couple of minutes.  It should easily wipe up when you return.

Asian Sesame Salad Dressing

The top reasons I revise recipes is to make them healthier, cheaper, faster, to use less dishes, less ingredients, or because I'm out of something the recipe calls for.

The following was revised to make it faster.  The original recipe called for toasting sesame seeds, processing in the food processor, yada, yada... too many dishes and too many steps, and I didn't have any sesame seeds.

The following recipes is just a matter of measuring ingredients together and shaking.

Asian Sesame Salad Dressing
4 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar
2 Tablespoons Tamari low-sodium soy sauce (and yes, this makes a HUGE difference in the healthfulness of the recipe, and the taste)
2 Tablespoon sesame oil
1 cup extra virgin olive oil
4 cloves garlic, crushed*
1/2 teaspoon powdered ginger

Mix all ingredients together.  Shake. 
*Easy way to crush garlic...lay blade of knife flat on peeled clove and smack flat side of the blade with hand. 

I didn't even miss the toasted sesame seeds!  I'm loving this dressing over a spinach salad with finely sliced granny apple slices, finely sliced red onion, craisins, peeled bite-size sections of orange, and finely diced orange bell pepper.  YUM!

Happy Kitchen Hint: To get the 'stink' out of your washrags and sponges, fill a small bucket or bowl halway with water and add 2 tablespoons white distilled vinegar.  Store the bowl or bucket under your sink and add your washrags at the end of the day.  On laundry day, dump the bowl or bucket (water and vinegar included) into the washer and wash as usual.

Bountiful Basket from Today

A few months ago, my mom invited me to participate in Bountiful Basket's cooperative effort to bring affordable fruits and vegetables to our area.  I didn't.  I was invited again by a friend, than again by a different friend.  With a huge sigh, I participated.  I was expecting to have to sign up for a repeat order (now I wish they had one so I didn't have to go in and order every week), I was expecting it to be a huge chunk of my time every week, and I was expecting to spend more than I wanted to.  I was so wrong!  I've been participating every week for a couple of months now and I LOVE it!

The variety is amazing, the quantity is great, the quality has been better than I expected, and even though I spend more on produce than I did before, I spend less on other stuff.  The variety gets me out of my comfort zone, makes me try new things, and keeps me from getting bored.  The quantity keeps me having to USE it at every meal, so we are eating so much healthier.  And the quality has surprised me!  I'm not saying that I don't have some waste, because I do.  I've had a bad batch of bananas that never did ripen.  I've had spinach that wilted too quickly and became chicken food.  However, with as much as bring in, I've been surprised at how little is thrown out.  Because I have to use it up so quickly, my meals are often made around the veggies so I don't have the opportunity to forget them, and I have less waste that way. 

I think my favorite part of participating is looking in my healthy fridge! 

Granola with Wholesome Sweeteners

I am currently compiling all of my favorite revised recipes, and I'll be sharing a few over the next few weeks.  This one is for granola.  I love to make this for ahead of time for those hurried mornings.  It's healthy and delicious!

Book Review: Sink Reflections

Book Review: Sink Reflections by Marla Cilley

FANTASTIC Book!!  I LOVED, loved this book.  I immediately went and washed and shined my sink as she suggested and I swear the rest of my kitchen almost cleaned itself.  It was amazing. 

Book Review: Unclutter Your Life in One Week

Book Review: Unclutter Your Life in One Week by Erin Rooney Doland

This was a great book for someone with severe disorganization and had some helpful tips that we could use.  The best one that we have implemented with immediate results, has been changing into our pajamas one hour before our desired bedtime.  This has helped us stay on track with our evening routine.  It helps us to stay focused and not get sidetracked by all of the things that still need to be done or that we want to get done.  We have also found that instead of going to bed with a million things on our minds, our thoughts have settled more, we're in bed 30 minutes before bedtime,we actually get to converse uninterrupted and have time for some scripture study.  Getting to bed on time really helps start the following day off on the right foot.

Another helpful tip was setting out clothes for the following day during our evening routine.  This is really time saving in the morning.  We've been doing this for Big Sis for quite a while to avoid meltdowns during our morning routines, but never thought of doing it for ourselves.  It's helpful to discover any surprises the night before, so we aren't chasing around looking for it in the morning.  It has shortened our morning routine just a bit more...always a blessing.

Children's Achievement Chart and Board

Achievement Charts (almost) eliminate nagging for regular morning and evening chores. Nagging and micro-managing is very time consuming and creates a hostile environment where both parent and child are unhappy. It was a place we were at much too often!  Thank goodness this works for us!

Establishing a Daily Schedule

We have found, especially with children, establishing a daily schedule is essential for productivity.  This not only gives parents sanity, it also creates stability for kids, so they are secure in knowing when things are happening.

First, we set meal times and bed times.  We then established a morning routine.  Once our meal times, bed times, and morning routine were predictable, we continued by instituting a bed time routine.  After much trial and error, this is what we found worked for us...

Meal Times and Bed Times Set:  Breakfast is between 7:15 A.M. and 7:45 A.M. (except Baby's is more like 5:30 A.M. or 6:00 AM), a very light snack is optional at 10:00 A.M., lunch is 12:00 P.M.- 12:30 P.M., snack at 3:15 P.M., dinner is between 5:00 P.M. and 6:00 P.M.  Bedtime for Baby is 7:00 P.M., bedtime for Big Sis is 8:00 P.M., bedtime for parents is a target of 10:00 P.M.

Tuesday... Folding a Tidy Fitted Bed Sheet

I had a fantastic roommate several years ago that showed me the proper way to fold a fitted bed sheet so that it was just as tidy as the flat sheets and I have been forever grateful when I look at my tidy linen closet. 
How I do it:

Saturday Cheap Beauty Secret #1

Cheap Secret #1:  Use baking soda as an exfoliant for oily skin.  It's super gentle so it doesn't irritate your pores, but it's very effective (I stole this one from Queen Latifah).

Enjoyed the efforts of Wednesday today...

While perusing for recipes yesterday for "Food Day", I checked in on Chocolate Covered Katie, and found a simple Chocolate Oatmeal recipe with wholesome sweeteners.  Chocolate has been my nemesis of late, so this was a great find!  Had some chocolate first thing this morning and haven't craved it all day.  Plus, no guilt...that's the best part.  My family was pleasantly surprised since we try to eliminate sugar from our every day meals, and that usually means eliminating chocolate as well.

Spent most of our day outdoors.  We ended up spending most of it relaxing (picnic on a blanket with egg salad sandwiches, coloring in color books on the blanket, reflecting some rays with our extreme winter whitness) and playing chalk-drawn hopscotch on the back patio.  We didn't get much work done, so we'll have to switch Friday chores with Saturday chores, but it was incredibly enjoyable.

Apple Yogurt Muffins

Amazing Apple Muffins

This is a modified Taste of Homes recipe (modified by Adria) with a modified Betty Crocker topping

Laundry Money Savers

I have been using this laundry detergent for over two years (http://www.yellowbrickhome.com/2011/03/16/diy-suds/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+YellowBrickHome+%28Yellow+Brick+Home%29) but with one very important (I think) additional step...using the blender.  After I grate the Fels Naptha and combine everything, if I don't blend it in my blender, the Fels Naptha separates from the Borax and Arm & Hammer Soda.  I have a regular five cup blender and I can only blend one cup of the mix at a time.  There's no formula for how long...just until it looks uniform.  I still only use one tablespoon of the finished laundry detergent (except on especially dirty laundry I use two).
My son has eczema and this laundry detergent doesn't irritate his sensitive skin.  HUGE savings from buying regular laundry detergent and even HUGER =) savings from having to by Dreft.
Another laundry money saver is using your dryer sheets twice!  Bounce dryer sheets can be used a minimum of 2x before having to use another.  I can use mine a third time on something that doesn't need much static protection, like jeans.  But a third use isn't feasible on almost anything else.  I've tried it on towels, shirts, sheets, and they all need a little more static protection than a third use provides.
Distilled white vinegar can be used in place of fabric softener!  I use 1/3 cup in a full load of laundry.  Vinegar can also be used as an anti-bacterial soak for stinky t-shirts, cloth diapers, or stinky towels.  Just starting to run a load until your washer drum is full of water, add the vinegar and detergent, let it soak for a couple of hours, then run the load like normal. 
If you have sensitive skin (or a sensitive nose or just don't like the toxins in bleach), you can still have bright whites!  Just add 1 cup hydrogen peroxide at the beginning of your wash in your bleach dispenser.  This can be used in combination with vinegar.  It's not as cheap as bleach, but it doesn't ever yellow your whites like bleach can when over-used, and it's so much better for you.
Shaking out your clothing after removing it from the washer, before placing it in the dryer, can help your clothes dry faster, saving money on drying time.  This is especially noticeable with jeans and towels.
That's all I can think of for now for laundry money savers!  I'll add more if I can think of them!

Organizing Mayhem

My daily task list on my "Week At A Glance" sheet includes a time for daily planning and this is where I pull it all together for easy reference throughout the day.

Beautiful Day To Be Outdoors!

Have I mentioned that I have a household binder? It was inspired by a pin off Pinterest http://abowlfulloflemons.blogspot.com/2011/01/weekly-challenge-1-home-management.html (LOVE this blog), but mine is MUCH smaller since I utilize the filing cabinet quite a bit.  I have been the recipient of some jokes for my household binder, but I just grin right along with them because they have no idea what they're missing!

Filing Simplified

We have a new HOUSEHOLD filing method that works fantastic for eliminating the infamous "paper shuffle."  Before adopting Betty Meyer's household filing system, I had the ever-growing pile of papers that we needed for one reason or another, but that would get moved from one place to the next as I 'cleaned' an area, or got tired of the paper clutter in the area it was currently in, to be set aside until it was needed.  BUT by the time we got around to doing whatever needed to be done with those papers, more were added to the pile, so it was never GONE.  I came up with a 'winner' of an idea for containing this clutter pile in a basket.  The problem was that my pile got so big that it literally went from a bowl sized basket to a full-sized laundry basket!  This new household filing method eliminates the need for counter top paper piles, and makes them so easily accessible that I have been amazed at how tidy our counter tops have stayed.

The method requires a filing cabinet, OR a filing cube (found at Walmart or Target for around $10), OR a portable filing cabinet (around $15-$20 at Walmart or Target), OR an oversized envelope with dividers.  We have all four that serve different purposes, but we use the front portion of the filing cabinet for our household filing.

Parmesan Spinach Eggs for Breakfast!

Parmesan Spinach Eggs

Equipment Needed:  Skillet, spatula, wire whisk, bowl, knife, cutting board, cheese grater.

Ingredients: 2 tablespoons oil, 2 cups fresh shredded spinach, 1/4 cup real grated Parmesan cheese (nothing in a can, jar, or other), 2 tablespoons milk, 4 eggs, salt and pepper to taste.  Be sure to shred your spinach and grate your cheese before you continue.  Otherwise you won't have enough time to add everything when needed.

Today is Food Day Continued...

Making cheese...

I must confess that this is not my recipe.  I use Peggy B.'s cheese recipe as related to me by my sister.  And the flavor is the "Classic Ranch Dressing" recipe from "The Diet Rebel's Cookbok," authored by Jillayne Clements and Michelle Stewart.  However, this IS me showing you how I do it!

Today is Food Day!

This morning I'm making butter, cheese, and breakfast.  We get raw cows milk almost every Wednesday, so the milk I haven't done anything with yet (shame on me) is going to be turned into butter and cheese so that it doesn't go to waste, but we're ready for fresh milk.

I start with a gallon of whole raw cows milk.  This can also be done with store bought heavy whipping cream.

Putting it all together...

Overview:
Monday: Organizing and Cleaning
Tuesday: Stock and Laundry
Wednesday: Food
Thursday: Planning and Finances
Friday: Animals and Outdoors
Saturday: Personal Care and Fun Stuff!
Sunday: A Day of Rest

Sunday is the Sabbath...

Sunday was sanctified and set aside as a day to rest from our labors and dedicate our thoughts and actions to the Lord.

Sunday
Attend church
Sunday Activity Jar

Our Sunday Activity Jar is similar to our Saturday Activity Jar.  We can all participate in the activities as a family and they are all appropriate for the Sabbath.

We included: journal writing, letter writing, phonecalls to family, visiting family, scripture study, acting out a favorite parable, watching the scripture stories on DVD, making puppets of our favorite scripture character, and the list goes on...

On Saturdays...

God created man and woman on Saturday, so this our day to do whatever we want!  It's also our day for extra personal grooming such as haircuts, manicures, pedicures, facials, etc.  We also created a Saturday Activity Jar as a family, with a ton of suggestions for activities we can do as a family.  This way when our six year old wants to play Barbies and Dad wants to go play frisbee and Mom wants to paint the bathroom, we choose something from the jar to do together.

Fridays...

Friday is dedicated for caring for our animals and the outside of our home

Friday:

Outdoors
"Dust" House, walkway, shrubs, porch
Wash Car
Weeding
Mow Lawn
Remove Debirs (leaves, garbage, etc.)
Pest Control
Water Indoor Plants (I know this is indoors, but it just made sense to me to put it here)

Animals
Clean animal pens
Clean animal water bowls
Baths (as needed)

And Thursdays...

Thursdays are for planning.  Our Father in Heaven created the sun, moon, and their order (the calendar) on the fourth day, so this is the day for  our 'calendaring.'

Thursday:

Planning
Household Planning
Personal Planning (personal goals like scripture study, exercise, projects)
Events/ Birthdays
Schedules/ Appointments

Finances
Bill Paying
Budgeting
Filing

Wednesdays...

Wednesdays are our 'food' days.  This day is for anything related with food. Homemade, nutritious foods are important to us, so we have a whole day out of the week dedicated to planning, preparing, shopping, recipe finding, etc.  Not that we go shopping every week, but this would be the day to do it, when we are...

Wednesday:

Food
Recipe Gathering
Menu Planning
Grocery List
Food Prep (Bread Making, Granola Making, Yogurt Making, Cheese Making)
Food Storage

On Tuesdays...

Tuesday is Stock and Laundry Day.  We buy in bulk and have more user friendly sized containers that we refill, so those smaller containers are the ones we refill on Tuesdays.

Stock (refill)
Toilet Paper
Q-Tips
Cotton balls
Bathsoap
Handsoap
Shampoo
Laundry Detergent
Conditioner
Razors
Coconut OIl
Castile Soap
Towels
Washcloths
Vitamins

Laundry
Washing
Folding
Ironing
Mending
Coordinating Dad's clothes

So on Mondays...

We took a little twist on Betty's interpretation of how to do things, but we've clung to her basic ideas.  We're going to share how we do Mondays...

Monday is "Organizing/ Cleaning" day.  We have kept the organizing and cleaning order that Betty suggests just because it really works.  She suggests you do it in this order for visual motivating purposes (it LOOKS cleaner faster) and because if someone drops in, it looks cleaner to them too!

Monday:

Organize
Straighten the House
Dump Garbages
Elminate Clutter Piles (more on what to do with those piles in another post)

Clean
Dust every room (pictures, blinds, knick-knacks, wall hangings, etc.)
Vacuum/ Sweep/ Mop (in this order)
Wash mirrors
Clean Bathrooms (counters, sinks, tubs, showers, toilets)
Clean Kitchen (counters, sinks)
Wash windowsills, light switches, doorknobs
Wipe down spiderwebs
Wash windows (I have to admit this doesn't get done as often as it should...I've usually run out of energy by the time I get to this and would rather complete a project since the windows get dirty the first time the wind blows)

In The Beginning...

On the first day, God organized matter, divided the light from the dark (Genesis 1:1-5).  On the second day He separated the waters from the Heavens (Genesis 1:6-8).  On the third day He created organic life (seeds, plants, etc.) (Genesis 1:9-13).  On the fourth day was created the sun, moon, and it's timing (Genesis 1:14-19).  On the fifth day He created animal life (Genesis 1:20-23).  On the sixth day man was created (Genesis 1:26-27).  On the seventh day, He rested and sanctified the seventh day (Genesis 2: 1-3). 

Betty Meyers created "The Creation Plan," "A Seven-day Approach to Guilt-free Homemaking."  Her book is now out of print, but not outdated in its wisdom. 

We have recently reorganized our home to follow her ideas of following God's plan in His creating the earth to create harmony and organization within our home and implemented some of our own that go along!

This is our journey.