One of a Baker's Dozen

02/01/2019

Of all the questions I get about making bread, the questions I answer most are usually about yeast. Here is a great article for those of you who are afraid of yeast or have questions in which to use.

When confronted with a selection of different yeasts to choose from, how do you decide which yeast to use? It depends on the recipe – and your expectations.

07/16/2018

Look what is on sale for Prime Day today!!!! These are not the exact ones I have, but the pictures and reviews look like they hold up well!

Gonex Clothing Compression Cubes set -Extensible Storage Mesh BagsGonex Packing Cubes feature breathable, mesh-top panels that offer not only important ventilation, but also at-a-glance viewing for easily identifying what's inside. It allows you to easily store and organize your clothing that mak...

07/10/2018

Summer!! It’s such a busy, fun time of year. If you are like me, we are spending lots of time with family and friends, away from home. Living out of a suitcase, even for a weekend can be chaos. A few years back, I found these cool pods from Eddie Bauer. I LOVE, love them! Each kid gets their own pod to keep their stuff in. No need to dig through anyone else‘s pile of clothes, looking for their own, or bring five million bags. If they need to look through their own pod, it isn’t that deep, so they can find what they need. I can usually fit enough clothes for my boys for around 4-5 days. The best part is if they ask where something is, I say “Go look in your pod!”
These specific pods have a mesh netting compartment for socks and un**es, and a zipper pouch In the middle, making it convenient for toothbrush, toothpaste, or medication.
I have purchased other brands from Amazon, but they don’t have the stiff sides and the clothes don’t stay folded as well. In my opinion they are harder to keep organized. (Link in the comments, no I’m not getting paid).

What are your your best packing or camping tricks?

06/26/2018

Oh Summer! I have a love/dislike relationship with summer! It’s so filled with so many great, fun things, but also fighting children and SO. MANY. MESSES! My oldest loves to craft and bake. Many times, I cannot even think of cleaning up another project, so I veto the many projects she is wants to make. Sometimes, I’m a nice mom and we make a mess together and clean it up together. This last week we finally pulled out the Russian piping tips! Oh boy are they fun! We used the Wilton piping recipe (not the greatest tasting recipe, but ok for piping). We’ve been watching tutorials for weeks and got some good tips. What fun things are you doing this summer (the less mess the better)? I can use some good ideas!

04/30/2018

I will be teaching a bread class in June. I have taught this same class several times in the past. I tend to go into the chemistry a little too much, so I’m trying to see what common questions you all have. So, What questions do you have about bread making?

04/19/2018

Rolls, rolls, rolls! I just love rolls! This week after I got all my bread done, I was craving rolls. It was a super cold, windy day (someone’s pool ended up in our back yard, in pieces). Cold, windy days call for soup and rolls! I have tried so many ways to shape rolls, but this is my favorite. They make the perfect sandwhich! Just unroll and stick a piece of turkey in there and eat! I use the Lion house recipe. These are quick to roll out, cut up, roll up, rise, and bake! What is your favorite way to shape rolls?

01/01/2018

🎊🎉 Happy New Year!!
I’ll be honest, I rarely stay up to ring in the new year! As a mom of four kiddos, sleep is high up on my priority list. We do try to do something fun to celebrate the old and the excitement of the new. We are usually sugared out on all the treats from Christmas, so a few years ago, our family decided to do a new tradition. We take our kids to the grocery store and let them choose any fruit or vegetable they want. Then, we have that as our treats for our New Years Eve party. It’s fun to see what the kids choose! Some are more adventurous, others stay with their favorites. This year we were prepared to try a dragon fruit, but the produce man said they weren’t very tasty and weren’t worth the $8. Maybe one day we will try one! Some of our choices have been; mangos, jicama, pomegranates, nectarines, pineapple, kiwi, peppers, tangelos, raspberries, new varieties of apples, and coconut. It’s a fun way to try new things and our kids look forward to it every year.
This year we ended up with orange pepper, nectarine, pineapple, mango, raspberries and blueberries.

Do you have any fun New Years Eve traditions? What is your favorite fruit or veggie?

11/08/2017

Here are some great tips on cooking with essential oils!I admit, that though I have been using essential oils for years, I have never added them to anything I have baked or cooked. How about you? Any recipes you love to enhance with essential oils?

Our newest e-book is now available to view! This FREE "Cooking With Essential Oils" e-book features essential oils that are safe for consumption, a flavor guide for cooking with oils, essential oil recipes, and much more.http://media.doterra.com/us/en/ebooks/cooking-with-essential-oils.pdf

To download a "Cooking With Essential Oils" PowerPoint, class invites, infographic, and recipe cards, go here: https://www.doterra.com/US/en/class-kit-cooking-with-essential-oils

10/25/2017

I know we aren’t even to Halloween yet, but I’m a big fan of Thanksgiving! I come from a line of bread makers. Rolls are a big part of a successful Thanksgiving! I’m mentally preparing myself for all the rolls I will be making! It helps to practice ahead of time! I watch a video of how to shape them ,even though I’ve made hundreds of these (video in comments). I have to admit, I love making rolls!!! Especially when they turn out beautiful, with amazing flavor! My go to recipe is the Lion House Recipe! It is easy and so delicious!

Lion House Rolls

Servings: 2 to 2 1/2 dozen
Ingredients
2 cups warm water
2/3 cup instant nonfat dry milk
2 Tablespoons dry yeast
1/4 cup sugar
2 teaspoons salt
1/3 cup butter- plus more for brushing the rolls after baking.( I plan on using a stick for each batch)
1 egg
5-5 1/2 cups all purpose flour (bread flour can be used)

What is your specialty for Thanksgiving? Any tried and true recipes you always make?

10/09/2017

Happy Canadian Thanksgiving!!!

My mom is from Canada, so we always celebrate Canadian Thanksgiving. It makes it nice to celebrate before the holidays get crazy, plus who doesn't love Thanksgiving twice?! It is also great to not have to choose between families, or celebrate Thanksgiving in November with just our little family.
We always have it at a church. My mom does the turkey and ham, my sister Heidi is an excellent bread maker and always does the rolls (she cooks them at the church, so they are warm). My sister Amy did the potatoes this year and they were extra delicious, I heard it had something to do with garlic, butter, and season salt🥔. All the other siblings (we are a baker's dozen) and the older grandkids, bring the extras to fill in the dinner, a warm vegetable, vegetable trays, cranberries, stuffing, yams, drinks, etc. Plus, everyone brings a different kind of pie, so we end up with something everyone loves! Oh, and ice cream. All of my families parties include ice cream.

Do you have any unusal family traditions ?

10/02/2017

I absolutely love my Bosch, but I have a secret crush on this Kitchenaid! I have never loved any of the colors in the past, but look at this gorgeous copper mixer! Just imagine all the amazing cookies that could be made with this! ❤️https://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/kitchenaid-pro-line-stand-mixer-7-quart-copper/?cm_ven=remarketing&cm_cat=FB&cm_pla=placement&cm_ite=item

A gleaming copper finish brings warmth and richness to KitchenAid's largest, most powerful and quietest stand mixer ever. Designed for the avid home baker, this top-of-the-line machine combines a generous 7-qt. capacity with a full range of commer…

08/24/2017

Do you ever want bread sticks with your meal, but don't think you have time? This recipe is super fast, easy and delicious! I have made it with a mixer, as well as by hand, and both ways turn out delicious every time! The best part is, you don't have to let them rise very long (or at all)! This recipe makes about 2 dozen!

Easy Breadsticks
1.5 cups warm water (think baby bath water, warm)
1 TBS Yeast
1 TBS honey
1 tsp salt
3.5-4.5 cups flour

Dissolve water, yeast, and honey, let sit until bubbly . Mix in flour and salt. Knead until flour is blended in (Not stiff, but not too sticky to handle either). Shape into desired shape. Sometimes I just roll out the dough and cut it into strips, sometimes I take a ball and roll into a rope (Like below). Brush with melted butter. Can also sprinkle with garlic salt and Parmesan cheese. You can bake right away, but I prefer to let them sit and raise, about 10 minutes. Bake 425 degrees for 10 minutes.

*This recipe also makes delicious cinnamon twists! Just sprinkle on cinnamon and sugar instead of garlic. Drizzle with frosting!