Whole Wheat Bread

Sometimes I bake my own bread.  I used to bake my own bread weekly, but since baby number two arrived, I usually I buy my bread at Trader Joes.  If I can't get to the store, and we've run out of bread, this whole wheat recipe is easy; even easier if you own a mixer. 

After waiting 7 years, I got the KitchenAid Professional 600 Series 6-Quart Stand Mixer in pearl metallic.  I use it for all my baking.  If you like to make bread, a mixer is your best friend, since it can do all the kneading for you!  Just never set your mixer above level 2 when working with dough or it can overheat your motor.

My beautiful, blue (my favorite color), stoneware loaf pans are also something I waited patiently for to help perfect my baking.  They are made by Le Creuset and they have never caused a burnt bottom on any loaf of bread.  Using metal loaf pans the first 30 years of my life, it was hit or miss if I would burn the bottom of my loaves; also hit or miss if my loaves would be baked evenly throughout.  These stoneware loaf pans have turned out a perfect set of beautiful loaves every time.  I highly recommend them!

Whole Wheat Bread Recipe
Makes 2 Loaves

2 1/4 c water
1 1/4 T dry yeast
1t honey to activate yeast
1T salt
1/3 c olive oil or melted butter
1/2 c honey
5-6 cups flour (whole wheat flour or a combination of kamut, barley, white etc)
1 1/4 c rolled oats

Combine yeast, 1t honey and 1/2 c of total water.  Let sit for 5 min.  Combine yeast, rest of water and all other ingredients in your mixer.  Only add as much flour until it cleans the sides of the bowl.  Knead dough 10 min.  Place in a greased bowl and rise about 1.5 hours.  Punch down and divide into 2 loaves. 

Roll with rolling pin into a flat rectangle and roll up, cinnamon roll style, into a loaf. 

Tuck edges under. 

Place in greased loaf pans and rise again for about 40 min in a warmed oven.

I just turn the oven on for a minute or two and then turn it off to make it warm.   After loaves are risen to the desired size, remove bread from warm oven.  Preheat oven to 350 and bake them for 30-45 min.  They will be golden brown all over.

Eat immediately with butter or wrap up and use for the week.  Double wrap loaves and freeze them if needed.  This recipe really doesn't take much time and the end result of delicious bread is so satisfying.  I see it as an art project that feeds my soul and then feeds my husband and son's bellies.  It's a win win project.

Do you have any good bread recipes?

Mom's Oatmeal Pancakes

My little family and I eat these fabulous pancakes almost every week.  They're simple, delicious and very filling.  These little beauties are who I have to thank for keeping me in my weekly food budget.  Thanks guys. 

Mom's Oatmeal Pancakes

1 1/2 cups quick oats (I use old fashioned and they work fine)
2c buttermilk (I use 1 cup milk and 1 cup yogurt)
1 t salt
2 eggs
1 t baking soda
1 T maple syrup (or any sweetener)
1 t cinnamon
1/2 t nutmeg
3/4 c whole wheat flour (or 1 c white flour)

Soak oats in buttermilk a short time (3 min or longer)
Add all other ingredients to oat mixture.  Mix well.
Fry on greased frying pan or griddle.  Makes about 18 cakes.
 I will serve them with maple syrup and a smoothie or some chopped fruit, and that's it!  It's a fast and hearty supper that both my husband and 2 yr old love.  Did you say supper? 

Yep.  We have these for supper.  I never make anything as complicated as pancakes for breakfast.  Breakfast at our house is a chopped apple and a slice of cheese, or a granola bar, or a bowl of cereal.  We save our breakfast food favorites for our suppers; breakfast burritos, scrambled eggs and toast, etc.  We love breakfast food, and eating it for supper instead of breakfast is good time management for me, and excellent food budget management.  Try it and see!  What are some breakfast-for-supper meals that you make for your family?

Stacy's Chicken Tortilla Soup

Photo credit: allrecipes.com

I have an amazing friend, Stacy.  Everyone needs a Stacy in their lives;  a woman who genuinely loves being a wife and mother and homemaker, and can teach you her tricks;  a friend who will bring you food when you have a baby, show you how to use a breast pump, bring you the best white noise machine to help your babies fall asleep, hostess parties and playdates for you with sincere hospitality, and will share her delicious, fast, supper recipes with you.  That is my Stacy.  If you don't have a Stacy, be a Stacy to your friends!  So here is her soup!  It tastes great and is thrifty for the food budget.  We've been having it once a week around here with rave reviews.

Chicken Tortilla Soup

32 oz. boxed chicken broth
The white meat from a Rotisserie Chicken - shredded up (it equates to about 2 cups of cut up cooked chicken breasts)
1 cup salsa (I used Trader Joes Salsa Authentica)
1 cup frozen corn
1 cup black beans (optional)
Ground Cumin (to your liking - I used about 1/2 tsp.)
Tortilla Chips (3/4 c crushed and more for topping)
Shredded Sharp Cheddar Cheese for topping

Combine chicken broth, chicken, salsa, corn, and cumin in a large pot on the stove and bring to a slow boil.  Add in 3/4 c crushed tortilla chips   Turn heat down to low and simmer until the tortilla chips have softened and the soup has thickened up a bit.  Serve with tortilla chips and cheddar cheese.

That's it!



Olive Oil Popcorn

I recently read an article on prevention.com listing 7 deadly foods that should never cross your lips.  On that list was microwave popcorn! WHAAAAA?  I know.  Apparently it's deadly.  Here's what the article said:

"Olga Naidenko, PhD, a senior scientist for the Environmental Working Group, gives us the scoop:

The problem: Chemicals, including perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), in the lining of the bag, are part of a class of compounds that may be linked to infertility in humans, according to a recent study from UCLA. In animal testing, the chemicals cause liver, testicular, and pancreatic cancer. Studies show that microwaving causes the chemicals to vaporize—and migrate into your popcorn. "They stay in your body for years and accumulate there," says Naidenko, which is why researchers worry that levels in humans could approach the amounts causing cancers in laboratory animals. DuPont and other manufacturers have promised to phase out PFOA by 2015 under a voluntary EPA plan, but millions of bags of popcorn will be sold between now and then."

So, we need to make our own popcorn like our parents did when we were little!  Through some trial and error, I have come up with a pretty good fool-proof method of making yummy popcorn on the stove top.  I wanted to avoid the butter so I started experimenting with olive oil.  My little method is below.

You really don't need one of those fancy popcorn kettles to make your own popcorn on the stove top.  I just use my regular old pasta pot with the lid cocked.  Using nothing but olive oil, salt and corn kernels, I can make my very favorite popcorn in just a few minutes.  I know you won't believe me, but I like it better than movie theater popcorn.  Seriously.  And I definitely like it better than deadly-make-you-infertile-give-you-cancer-microwave-popcorn.

Here's how you do it!

Olive Oil Stove Top Popcorn

Place large pot on the stove on medium-high heat

Cover the bottom of the pot with olive oil (maybe like 1/8 cup?)

Cover the bottom of the pot with corn kernels (one layer insures that the popped corn shouldn't
overflow the capacity of the pot....but you may need a little trial and error here) 

Place lid on slightly ajar to allow for steam to escape so the corn won't be chewy

Wait for corn to pop.  When there is 2-3 seconds between pops, it's done.

Remove from heat and pour into a bowl immediately.

Salt to your liking. I find that sea salt sticks to dry popcorn very well compared to regular salt.

It's deeelish....and it won't kill you! Yay!

Powerhouse Smoothies

To stay in my monthly food budget, I usually serve breakfast for  supper once a week, plus, it's Joel and Luke's favorite thing for supper. I make oatmeal pancakes with smoothies, but not just any smoothies.  I make Powerhouse Smoothies.  The base of my smoothie is keifer instead of regular yogurt because it is one of the most nutritious probiotics available.  I add frozen mango, frozen berries and coconut milk.  To that I add three special powders that are almost completely masked by the berries, yogurt and coconut milk.  Spirulina powder, Ground Flax seed, and Slippery Elm Bark powder.  It's such a fantastic way to boost my family's nutrient intake without them even knowing it! 


I've listed the almost endless benefits these three little powders contain.  I add about 1 Tablespoon of Slippery Elm Bark powder, 1 Tablespoon of Ground Flax seed, and 1 teaspoon of Spirulina in one pitcher of smoothies which fills 3 good-sized glasses.  These powders can be found in the bulk herbs section of your local health food store ,or you can follow the links I created on each of their names above to purchase them online.  The online prices are pretty close to what I find in the store. 


Please keep in mind, I am in no way a medical professional and I am just sharing out of my family's own experience!  If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, always talk to your doctor before taking any supplements. I personally took all three of these supplements through my pregnancies with beautiful results of health and vigor!

Spirulina
-- Blue-green algae that grows on freshwater ponds. Spirulina is 55-70 percent protein by weight and considered my many to be the greatest plant source of usable protein and is rich in B vitamins and gammalinolenic acid (GLA).
--Potential immune system-enhancing, anti-cancer and cholesterol-lowering actions.
--May act to protect the liver, promote the growth of beneficial bacteria in your body, and fight viral infections such as herpes, HIV and the flu, notes the University of Maryland Medical Center website.
--Offers antihistamine effects
--May help in treating fibromyalgia, according to the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.
--Supports your immune system, treats allergic reactions and fights viral infections, notes the University of Maryland Medical Center website.
--Protects your liver from damage and cirrhosis
--Could have the potential to treat oral cancer, antibiotic-induced diarrhea and high cholesterol, says the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.
--Spirulina and other types of blue-green algae may possibly have some uses in suppressing appetite, treating attention deficit hyperactivity disorder -- ADHD -- and easing fatigue, notes the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.

People with a metabolic condition called phenylketonuria (PKU) should avoid taking spirulina.

If you have an autoimmune disease, such as multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, or lupus, you should avoid spirulina. Theoretically, it could stimulate your immune system and make your condition worse.

Slippery Elm Bark Powder


Slippery Elm is a “mucilaginous herb that helps absorb toxins in the bowel. In fact, it is very soothing to the entire digestive system. It is useful especially for diarrhea, bowel weakness or as a mild nourishing food for sick children. Since the herb is slightly sweet, it is one that children will often take readily if it is mixed in some cereal, applesauce or fruit juice.”

--An herb from the inner part of the elm bark which is usually sold in a finely ground powder.
--Hails from the elm tree and masquerades under many names: American elm, Indian elm, red elm, moose elm, sweet elm, rock elm, and winged elm.
--It is a very safe and gentle herb and is allergen free(unless you are allergic to elm trees). Slippery Elm Bark herb can be taken by anyone; infants, pregnant women, and the elderly can all enjoy its benefits.
--The soothing properties of the bark benefit both the skin as well as the respiratory and digestive track.
--Contains sodium, potassium, calcium,  iron, selenium, iodine, copper, zinc, phosphorus, bromine, manganese, and vitamins E, F, K, and P
--It is excellent for those who are sick or have cancer or other destructive "wasting" diseases.
--Excellent for Digestive Problems such as indigestion, cramps, ulcers, colitis, gastritis, GI hyper acidity, kidney problems, diarrhea and constipation, wasting diseases, cancer
--It soothes nausea and is not likely to be thrown up

Ground Flax Seed


--Flax seeds are great hormone balancers with their high level of omega-3 fatty acids.
--Flax seed is one of the richest sources of omega-3 fatty acids and fiber, which is important for keeping the arteries clean, the heart functioning, and the immune system in good health. 
--Flax will improve your immune system
--Beneficial for healthy skin and hair


My 2 yr old absolutely loves these smoothies, as do Joel and I.  I think you'll love 'em too!

No-Bake Oatmeal Breakfast Bars

Fast, simple, and nutritious, these No-Bake Oatmeal Bars are a regular, on-the-run breakfast in our home.  Feel free to add raisins, nuts or dried cranberries to the mix!  It's important to me to have full bellies in the morning in the simplest way possible. 

No-Bake Oatmeal Bars
1/2 cup brown sugar (or Sucanat)
2/3 cup honey
2 Tablespoons butter
2 teaspoons vanilla
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 1/2 cups Rolled Oats (I've used Old Fashion Oats too--both work fine)
1/2 cup raisins or dried cranberries (optional)
1/2 cup nuts (optional)


Use cooking spray or butter to grease an 8x8 baking dish


Place the oats and optional raisins or nuts into a large bowl


In a medium sized sauce pan, melt brown sugar, honey, butter, vanilla and salt over medium heat.  Bring mixture to a boil and keep boiling for 60 second.  It will look like this:

Dump honey mixture over the oats and mix very thoroughly until all oats are moistened.


Grease hands and press oats firmly into the greased 8x8 baking dish.  Let oats cool at room temperature before cutting into bars.  Bars will be tender and chewy.  If you want firmer bars, boil the sugar mixture an additional 60 seconds.


These are a hit with the whole family! Yum!


Oatmeal and organic raisins are staple foods in our family.  The best price I've found is to buy them in bulk from Amazon with their Subscribe and Save discount.  I love having it delivered to my door, and I never run out! 

Easy Artisan Bread

Photo Credit:Amazon-Allison (San Francisco, CA) 

My Mother, Elizabeth, has taught me how to make the most wonderful loaf of Artisan bread.  This is a delicious and frugal alternative to store bought Artisan bread! The texture is what is so unique about this bread.  You just have to try it! All you need is a cast-iron dutch oven, flour, yeast, salt, water and cornmeal....and about 4 minutes of your time.  It's that easy!

EASY ARTISAN BREAD

3c flour
1/4 teaspoon yeast
1 1/4 teaspoon salt
cornmeal

In a large bowl mix flour, yeast and salt.  Add 1 and 5/8 cups water. Stir until just mixed. Dough will be sticky. Cover bowl of dough with a towel and let it sit overnight (12-18 hours) in a room at about 70 degrees.

Coat a towel with cornmeal or flour. Turn dough out onto the towel- it will be sticky--Sprinkle cornmeal or flour on top.  Cover with another towel.  Let rise 2 hours. When ready dough will have doubled and will not spring back when poked.

At least 1/2 hour before dough is ready, heat oven to 450 degrees. Put dutch oven in to heat.  When dough is ready, remove pot from oven. Turn dough into hot pot.  It may look a mess but that's ok.  Shake pan to distribute dough.  Cover with lid.  Bake 30.  Remove lid and bake longer if loaf needs more browning.  Cool on rack.

It's so delicious!  Enjoy!