Honey Wheat Bread

# 47 ✔ June 27, 2011

On Monday afternoon I decided I wanted to make some bread. I've never made bread before. Growing up my parents would make bread occasionally...but mostly in the bread maker. I don't have a bread maker and I have a half way decent mixer [I REALLY want a Kitchen Aid...my birthday is next month! lol]. I figured this couldn't be too hard to make...time consuming, yes, but not hard. I was surprisingly right. This was an easy task.

KK helping

Pouring the flour, he managed to get more on the floor than in the bowl a couple of times

Whenever my mom baked pie crust, bread, or anything doughy she would make this dough-monster by poking holes for the eyes and gave it a mouth and would chase us kids and tell us the dough-monster would eat us. We all would squeal in delight as we ran around the house and mom trailed after us. This was my attempt at the dough monster, although, I did not expect KK to try and fight back by punching and kicking it

The finished work. The loaves are not pretty, I admit that, but they do taste very good. The bread is great for sandwiches or as toast. This is a recipe that is going to be used a lot in our family

Let's Jam!

So Wal-Mart had a sale on Strawberries at $0.75/lb and I decided to buy 20 pounds. I knew I wanted to make jam but I had never made it before. I have always watched my mom make it growing up but I never took the time to actually learn. Now I can read the recipe...but having my mom teach me her tricks just made me feel more comfortable. So I asked me mommy-dearest to help. We had a great prodigious time. I LOVE my mom, she is the greatest person I know. I never appreciated her when I was younger as much as I do now. Making jam together was a wonderful bonding experience. The work load was a little easier with two people and it was a wonderful bonding experience.

KK is a great helper...washing the strawberries

KK trying to act cute because he wanted to eat the strawberries

I thought he was cute enough to eat one

REALLY wanted to eat this one

All cleaned, stemed, and cut. Ready to start jammin'

KK showing me how he would crush the strawberries

Me crushing them and IDK what KK's doing

Starting to look good!

Helping to stir

46 Jars total


Now this is just for me to help me remember what my mom told me and the techniques she used:

Start big pot of water boiling

Add 4 cups crushed strawberries and 7 cups sugar

some lemon juice (fresher looking)and a tiny bit of butter (to help with the foam)

rolling boil

add Certo (pectin)

rolling boil for 1 min

skim off foam

laddle even amounts of fruit into the warmed jars then pour

wipe of lip of jar

place hot lids on screw them on

place in hot water bath for 10 min

place on rack to cool

flip over after a half hour (X3) to get the fruit evenly throughout the cans

I really hope that I will be able to can more items. I would love to bulk up my food storage, plus canning will save money in the long run. And who loves to save money!? I DO

Oatmeal Cookie Recipe

So I was thinking of a "healthier" way of preparing oatmeal cookies. I wanted something sweet but with less sugar so I started experimenting this afternoon with an oatmeal cookie recipe that I already had. I'm sure this recipe needs some "tweeking" but both of the boys LOVED them and wanted more.

INGREDIENTS

2 cups uncooked old fashioned oats
1 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 cup packed light brown sugar
3/4 cup unsalted butter
1/4 granulated sugar (I omitted)
1 egg
1 tablespoon honey
1 teaspoon vanilla
6 oz dried fruit (bought at Aldi's)
1 big carrot shredded (about 1/4 cup)
3 cups shredded sweetened coconut, divided (I omitted; I had none)

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper, set aside. I just greased it with the vegetable spray. Combine oats, flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon in medium bowl.

2. Combine brown sugar, butter, and granulated sugar in large bowl; beat with electric mixer at medium speed until light and fluffy. Add egg, honey, and vanilla; beat until well blended. Gradually add flour mixture, about 1/2 cup at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in the dried fruit, carrots, and 1/2 cup coconut.

3. Spread remaining 2 1/2 cups coconut on plate. Drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls onto coconut; roll to coat. Drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls 2 inches apart onto prepared cookie sheets.

4. Bake 11-15 min. or until cookies are puffed and golden. DO NOT OVERBAKE. Cool 5 min on cookie sheets. Remove to wire racks. Cool completely.

Made about 40 cookies for me. I hope you enjoy...let me know how the recipe worked out for you and your family or if this recipe can be improved or made more healthier.