Homemaking on the Homestead

   I have been a roll lately..   getting lots done.   I have really gotten into my “to-do” lists.   I have things like master lists to follow, and I will jot down a few things here and there that need to be done, but never really had an on going to-do list.   Now my hubby is THE list man.   He always has so much to do and so many details to think about between work and home and he has lists going all the time.   So I followed his example and began making lists for myself.      At first I was a bit overwhelmed..   I saw all that I needed to do and thought..   oh my.. ignorance was/is bliss! LOL..    But then I became focused and started putting one foot in front of the other and it has become a challenge to me to see how much I can knock off the list each day!       Also it has been a nice cure for the lack of inspiration..   doing or action always produces enthusiasm to keep ...

I love making challah bread.   It is a traditional Jewish Sabbath bread that is braided.   I like to make it for special occasions and as a treat, my family loves it.   A couple of years ago I learned how to make a 6 braid challah loaf.   I think they are much prettier than the 3 braid.   I made some this afternoon and took some pictures to try and show how it is done.. I hope it makes sense!!   Challah Crystal Miller   1/3 cup warm water 2 T yeast 1 ½ cups warm water ¼ cup butter ¼ cup olive oil 1 T salt ½ cup cane juice crystals 4 eggs 5 to 6 cups whole wheat flour 2 to 3 cups white flour In a small measuring cup combine the 1/3 cup warm water and 2T yeast. Let that sit to foam up a little. In a large mixer bowl combine 1 ½ cups warm water, butter, olive oil, salt and cane juice crystals. Mix for a few minutes. Add eggs and mix well. Add yeast and water mixture. Add flour wheat and white flours starting with the sma...

  Ever had a time when you feel little to no inspiration? That is how I am feeling lately.. I think it is the weather (which sadly affects me more than I like!).. One rainy gloomy cold day after another can get to me.  On the bright side of this all the weather is improving!  And that helps. I also find during these times that it is so important for me to start my day in the Word and with prayer.  That helps so much.    My inspiration is lacking big time in the meal planning department. I have been having a problem with just coming up with interesting meals. So I pulled out a few cookbooks and spent some time surfing the web for some inspiration on this. I am slowly coming up with some new things to play around with in the kitchen.    However, for now here is what my menu looks like for the next few days..    Friday Crockpot Italian Chicken ~ I don’t have an official recipe for this I just toss in...

    We had a nice quiet Easter Sunday last week. The girls and I made an Easter dinner for the family. For dessert we made an angel food cake and topped it with fresh strawberries and real whip cream.. yum, yum!! I have always had a tough time making angel food cake with whole wheat flour.. it always comes out rather short in size. This time I sifted my flour and enjoyed the results quiet a bit. Not quite as healthy but better than white flour in my opinion.. (and also not NT.. but that is ok..  )   Here was my recipe:   Angel Food Cake 12 egg whites 1 ¼ cups powdered sugar or powdered sucanat 1 cup whole wheat pastry flour 1 ½ t cream of tartar ¼ t salt 2 t vanilla ( you can use 1 ½ t vanilla and ½ teaspoon of almond extract, but I like it better with all vanilla) 1 cup sugar   A tip on the egg whites first.. if you get any yolk in the whites at all you wont be able to whip th...

  After what has seemed like a looong, cold and wet winter we finally have had a few spring like days to bask in.   Sunday and Monday were in the 70’s and yesterday was in the 60’s with sunshine!   It has been so nice.   Today is more cloudy and transitioning back to the rain and cooler temps..   but hey…   I am just thankful for the few days we had!     On Sunday after church my girls and I (including my daughter Hannah and my grandbaby Elizabeth ) headed into the city to do some shopping and just be out and about in the warm weather.   We had such a fun day together.   Elizabeth is 6 months old now and growing and growing!    She also is such a good baby and loved all the attention from her grandma and aunts for the day.      On Monday Tobin and I spent the day in town running errands and enjoying our Starbuck’s coffee stop.   We are probably different than most Starbucks lovers b...

  Lately I have been doing some spring clutter clean out.   I don’t know how it happens, but try as I may to keep the “stuff” out of my house I still find I have it to purge.   Mostly it is things like outgrown clothing and books that we no longer need and toys, games, a few small household items, etc.   I typically take anything in good condition to my nearest Good Will drop site.   I am not into garage sales because I don’t like the hassle of them.      Well I had a large item that needed a new home and I did not want the hassle of selling it for most likely not enough money to make the whole process worth it.   I decided to try Freecycle.   I have been a member of my local Freecycle Yahoo Group for sometime but never have used them.   This morning I put my item on Freecycle and then went about doing some more cleaning and purging.   In about one hour I had 5 responses!   Hopefully one of them wil...