Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Tasty Tuesdays: Homemade Bread



I had a really hard time trying to decide whether to make this a Tasty Tuesday or a Thrifty Thursday post, but since it's food Tuesday won out, but it's such a great deal.....ahhh I'm so torn!

Anyway, I love the smell of homemade bread, it makes the house feel warm and homey, it's delicious, and it's always fun to serve up a loaf of something beautiful that you created all yourself!
I roughly figured out the cost and it's surprisingly frugal!

Flour - $2.05
Eggs - $0.14
Yeast - $0.32
Sugar - $0.24
Salt - $0.17
Oil - $0.18
Water -Free, I know not really, but you know.
GRAND TOTAL - $2.96/4 loaves = $0.74/loaf!!!

Here is the recipe I use:
14 cups of flour
3 T of yeast
1 cup sugar
2 T Salt
2 eggs
1 cup oil
4 cups water

Dissolve 3 T of yeast in 1 cup of water and add pinch or two of sugar. Wait for it to foam (approx. 15-30 mins)
Add 1/2 your flour (7 Cups)
Add 2 T of salt
Add the rest of you 1 Cup of sugar
Mix well
Add your 2 eggs
Add 1 cup of oil
Add the rest of your flour gradually (7 cups)
Knead until smooth (approx 5-10) (Put flour on your counter)
Wash out your mixing bowl and place your smooth dough ball in it to rise
Let your bread rise for 2 hours, punching it down every 30 mins (4 times)
Separate into 4 balls
Make each ball into 6 ropes
Braid you bread (see tutorial)
Let the braided loaf rise for 1.5 hours on a greased pan
Brush bread with whisked egg for an crisp, shiny egg wash
Preheat oven to 350 degrees and cook for 30 mins

Here is the tutorial on how to braid it.
http://www.ehow.com/video_2341036_braid-six_strand-challah-bread-loaf.html
Let me know if you have any questions!!!!

I slice and then toast it and it makes delicious sandwiches or it makes wonderful bread for dinner just by itself, or add butter and garlic and bake! Since it makes 4 loaves, I usually freeze a couple, give one away, and then enjoy a fresh warm loaf that day! This goes really quick and is a favorite, but it makes great sized loaves!

If you are wanting freeze some, the best way I have found is by wrapping the loaf in tin foil first and then wrapping it with plastic wrap really well. When it comes time to thaw, I let it thaw wrapped for about 2-3 hours and then unwrap it so it doesn't get soggy.

I wanted to include a picture of my own loaf, but I turned on the camera and all there was was a ghostly pink screen, hmmmmm.....that's great!

Monday, February 22, 2010

Motherhood Mondays: Home Management

Do you treat the blessing of being able to stay home like you would a job outside the home? Do you have objectives for each day, maybe even a checklist, or planner that you use to stay focused?


I love being home, but some days it feels like 5:30PM rolls around super quickly and I look at the house and can't remember ANYTHING that I did that day.....then there are some days that the day drags on and again, I look around at total chaos and wonder what I did that day too.


The days I find that I accomplish the most are those days that I make a checklist or write down things that need to be done and check them off. I love lists, lists for chores, lists for menu items, lists for appointments, lists for lists! Yes, I'm obsessed!


I think my main reason for this post is to see if anyone has any fun ideas on how to stay more focused as a home manager. I know that at an outside job I wouldn't be listening to Moody radio all day, chatting on the computer, or watching some TV.....but again, that's why I'm blessed to stay home. I do try to regulate how much I'm watching the TV or are on the computer, but some days I walk around trying to think what to do next......not that there aren't TONS of things to do, but sometimes it's just overwhelming to do the same thing again or start something that I know will be interrupted in 2 minutes.


I am really looking forward to hearing some ideas, personal triumphs and flubs, and maybe even some fun tools that you use to clean, organize, or schedule your life!!!



Thursday, February 18, 2010

Thrifty and Nifty Thursdays!!!



Free Auntie Anne's Pretzels this Saturday from 10am-3pm!!!! Cinnamon or regular!!! Oh, we'll be there!!! http://www.auntieannes.com/fpd/FPD.html


Also, Frugal, Freebies, and Deals is listing a free portrait package from Olan Mills on their site with 3 free portrait sheets!!! Might be the perfect package to get a few Easter pics taken with the kid! I'm going to call and check it out!http://www.frugalfreebiesanddeals.com/2010/02/free-portrait-package-at-olan-mills.html

Money Saving Mom has some great free things this week like a free Fresco Taco from Taco Bell, Free coffee or tea from Borders, free AXE body gel, and a free download of Taxact


And finally, there is a free download of an etiquette book by Emily Post, I love reading anything free and this should have some helpful tips! It is a Kindle download, but there is a free Kindle for PC download so you can read it on your computer!
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000SN6I8W/ref=nosim/


Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Tasty Tuesdays: Roast Chicken

So I'm always excited when I try something new in our menu and it actually works! Not to brag but not only did it work, but it was a home run for my food-aholic husband! My experiment turned into one of the most moist and flavorful dishes I've ever made.

It all started with a super cheap chicken from Save-a-Lot and my crock pot! I love crock pot cooking, there is nothing better than looking like you spent all day slaving over a hot stove but in actuality dumped a bunch of random items in and walked away. I also love the smells that cock pot cooking produces!

So I rolled up 4 balls of tin foil and set the my washed chicken on top of it. At the Howard House our favorite stand by seasonings are ranch and garlic powder, I covered the chicken in that and put the lid on......wasn't that easy? No liquid, no work, no nothin'! I let it cook for 8 hours and when I opened the lid, what came out was the most tender, juicy, melt in your mouth "rotisserie" chicken!

We ate the chicken that evening with mashed potatoes, salad, macaroni and cheese, and some garlic bread.....I felt like we were out for dinner. That night I striped the chicken down and portioned the chicken into smaller bags for use later. I was going to freeze some, but ended up making some other things sooner than I normally would.

First, I took the chicken and make it into a delicious Mexican casserole, with SW seasoning, Velveeta, tortillas, a can chicken soup, and some shredded cheese. This casserole is a family favorite and only used a fraction of my delicious chicken. This casserole freezes fantastic, so it's great to make a couple batches up and then get them out as needed.

Second, I took the chicken, added some fried rice and made some stir fry. This is one of Tom's favorite meals and again it makes a huge batch that we eat on for a few dinners and he also takes portions of it to work, CHEAP LUNCH!

Third, we had another meal of leftovers of roast chicken.....Grant loves just plain chicken, so he will eat this for lunch after lunch, after lunch after.........

I still have chicken to use in chicken salad, for sandwiches. I was thinking of making chicken pot pie or chicken and dumplings too, the possibilities are endless! All of this for a $4.59 chicken!!

Is there a recipe that your family's menu revolves around?? Any great deals that you just HAVE to share???


Saturday, February 13, 2010

Be Mine!

It seems crazy that it has already been over five years since I married the man of my dreams! We have experienced so much in that short time. The death of three grandparents and a father, graduation from OSU by both of us, graduation from medical school, starting of residency and relocating across country, and now moving back home. The birth of two precious little boys and all the normal family drama that comes along with life and an extra dose of family drama just for that extra push that will make a marriage thrive, if it doesn't crumble under the pressure.

June 12 ,2004

We have experienced so much in such a short time and have grown into such a happy family! We are so blessed by the Lord and pray that these few years of happiness will be the tone of our family for years to come. Through thick and thin we will be together with God's grace and mercy! Since I was in the hospital recovering from having Morgan the day after our 5 year anniversary, it is so nice to have another special day in the year to celecrate our love and life together!
December 2006 (7 Months pregnant with Grant)

Baby Grant 9 Months

9 Months Pregnant with Morgan

June 2009


Christmas 2009

Friday, February 12, 2010

Faith in Action Friday: When Plans Get Changed!

Did it EVER cross our minds that we would be leaving Michigan after being here less than a year???


Did we EVER think we would be switching to an Family Medicine Residency??

Did we EVER think we would be selling our FIRST home so quickly after working so hard at renovating it?

Did I ever think I would pack things back into a box that I had gotten out less than a week ago or have boxes that I NEVER got unpacked at all?

Uhm.......NO! Well that's kinda an understatement.

We are very excited that God opened this door for us and can't wait to see the benefits. We have been praying for some time about trying to get our priorities in line. We have always tried to keep God, then family, then others in that order, but because of the hours at work, the work the house needed, and our reliance on self, we had been getting things all wrong.

So, here we are, we are excited to see where God is leading us, how this change will affect our life in the long run, and what great things He has planned. We have taken a spot back in Tulsa at OSU and are excited to get started! In the meantime, Tom is continuing to rack up internship credit here, we are trying to finish up the house, and get things together.

God has a great plan and we are ready to follow. We have learned so much during the stressful time about God, our faith, each other, and about others around us. I am so thankful that God kicks our legs out from under us sometimes so that we totally rely on Him and it's been amazing!


Monday, February 8, 2010

Thrifty and Nifty TUESDAYS!

Tomorrow (2-9-10) Denny's is having it's annual FREE Original Grand Slam day! Just stop by your nearest location and get your free breakfast! No purchase or coupon is needed! Happy Eating!!