Saturday, March 28, 2009

Bread Baking Fun



Our family had a friend stay for a week (last week) during his spring break from a local college. He was surprised to find out we make our own butter, bread, laundry detergent, and a plethora of other items.

One day he arrived back from an errand just as Emily had finished mixing up bread dough. Being the curious ever-seeking-learning-experiences college student that he is, he wanted to help finish making the bread. He was amazed that we mill our own wheat into flour, so we had to let him sample some wheat berries (the kernels before they are ground). Eating is believing.

Here he is after punching down the dough. Get ready to divide the large lump into thirds... "I do whaaaaaa?" Notice the three loaf pans below his right elbow.



Then the dough is pressed down into a rectangle, rolled up, sealed, and placed seam-side down into a bread pan. "Hey--I think I got the hang of this!" (Third loaf pictured).




Into the oven to rise (the second time), shaped into 3 lovely full-sized loaves. We let it rise in a slightly warmed oven...it speeds up the second rising. We just put the loaves in and turn the oven on to preheat. We turn the oven off after just one minute.


"Wow--making bread is a lot more fun than I thought it would be! Can't wait to make my very own PBJ using the bread 'we' made"...and that is the empirical 'we'...


~Joan




Friday, March 27, 2009

Perm Flop

Some have emailed asking about the success of "the perm". It was a near flop. Not a total flop--but really close. I guess I should have left the curling lotion on longer, but since this was the first time, I was afraid it would chemically burn her hair. The perm instructions said to unroll a curler to see if the hair was curly enough. Our test curl was perfect. I'm not sure why it wasn't a flag-wavin' success.

My question for you all is this...how soon can I try it again? I am willing to do all the re-rolling, applying, rinsing, etc. if it would = success. Any perm experience is appreciated.

~Joan

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Triples Today!

Here is my trip this afternoon to Harris Teeter. I paid $7.98 for all of this. A few things were more than I wanted to pay, but they are things we use that I can't get for less somewhere else.

Here is the breakdown...

I just realized one item did not make it into the picture (oats)...

Quaker quick oats 18 oz. $2.39 - $1.80 = $0.59
Dole pineapple x 6 $0.99 each = $5.94 - $0.55/2 x 3 = $0.17 each
Pillsbury reduced sugar cake mix 3 x 2.05 = $6.15 -$3.60 = $0.85 each
Tide travel pack $1.00 -$1.00 = FREE
Rhodes frozen rolls 3 x $1.79 = $5.37 - $5.37 = FREE
Totino pizza rolls $3.28 - $3.28 = FREE *
Hungry Jack biscuits $0.99 x 3 = $2.97 - $1.20 = $0.59 each *
Pillsbury crescent rolls $2.00 x 3 = $6.00 - $2.25 = $1.25 each *
Pillsbury pie crust $2.69 *

* these items, when purchased in a group of 10, netted a $4 additional savings.

Two of my girls shopped with me, so we got multiples of many things.

I'm thinking of rehauling my whole coupon filing system. Stay tuned...

~Joan