The Urban Homemaker Blog

Author: The Urban Homemaker

  • Winter Wonderland in Paonia, Colorado

    Last week I talked about how we had been having 1-3 inches of snow every few days for about 3 weeks. Now I know you think heavy snow is normal for Colorado, but that is really only true in the mountain areas. Most of the state is semi-arid plains so we get very little precipitation including snow in the plains areas, normally.

    The very next day, we had about 10 more inches of snow! Our property along the road is bordered by large blue spruces that captured much of the fallen snow because it was so cold. To me the trees are at their most beautiful when snow frosted.

    My daughters Laura and Mary realized they needed to “plow” the heavy snow off the trampoline before it gave way to the weight. Sadie, the dog, mostly wanted to help by playing joyfully in the deep snow, but paused long enough to pose for this picture with Laura.

    Laura, my photographer daughter walked around the neighborhood and got some more pictures the next day. This is a picture of Mt Lamborn, near our home. It dominates the local area.

    Around the corner from us is a beautiful log home with a split rail fence in front. Laura capatured the snow depth before it could melt off. It has been so cold, I am not sure if it is melted off yet or not.

    Around another corner of a long country road in the other direction are some huge hay bails to feed the livestock. We live on one acre so we don’t have any hay or outdoor animals, yet.

    What has winter been like around your town lately?  Could you use some Chili Chasing Chili Recipes to get warmed up.  I have gathered all my Chili Recipes together in one place.

  • How do you use your Bosch Universal?

    Here are some ways I use my Bosch Universal other than kneading bread. (This does not include the use of optional attachments.)

    Read all the comments below for countless other way to make use of your Bosch Universal Plus in your kitchen including making playdough!

    You can use a Bosch to:

    • Make your own healthy salad dressings
    • Puree tomatoes
    • Make cookies ( use batter whips, cookie paddles, or dough hook)
    • Mash potatoes
    • Puree cooked beans, lentils and split peas for soups, sauces, and dips.
    • Make bread crumbs
    • Crack Grain
    • Chop up nuts
    • Mix meat loaves (use batter whips or cookie paddles)
    • Prepare pesto
    • Prepare hummus
    • Prepare salsa
    • Mix cakes and quick breads
    • Whip cream fast and easy
    • Beat egg whites to the stiff peaks stage for meringues, etc. (Quick and easy)

  • Bread Baking Problems and Solutions

    Bread Baking Problems and Solutions – Here are pictures of bread baked by me in our 8″ bread pans. It makes excellent sandwiches that hold together. I used Marilyn’s Famous Whole Wheat Bread Recipe.

    Q. How do I get my bread to be suitable for making sandwiches?

    A. There are three basic principles for making bread good enough for sandwiches.

    1. Add 1/3 to ½ cup vital wheat gluten to a 2 loaf batch of bread. Make sure the gluten is fully developed. Vital gluten makes the bread softer, moister and it rises better.

    2. Make sure you don’t add too much flour – this leads to dry, crumbly bread when it cools. The dough should be smooth and elastic and a tiny bit tacky, not dry when shaping your loaves.

    3.Don’t over rise the bread – coarse texture leads to crumbly bread.

    Q. Is it really cheaper to make homemade bread?

    A. Cost isn’t the only factor to consider when determining if bread baking is a good thing for your family. Consider the wonderful aroma in your home from home baking, and the superior nutritional value. I am glad that my homemade bread contains ingredients that I recogzine and I know how to pronounce them. Home baked bread has superior taste, and the fact that home made bread is very easy to incorporate into my routine is an added bonus. It is an added benefit to bless friends and neighbors with home baked bread.

    Q. What is sponging and is it necessary?

    A. Sponging is the process of allowing the yeast, water and a portion of the flour to be mixed together for about 15 minutes to activate the yeast. You could consider sponging a short, first rising. All yeast bread baking is flexible, however, and you can skip sponging and allow the bread to rise once or twice before baking. Be sure to get all the air bubbles out of the dough before shaping the loaves. Bread can rise just once in the pans before baking if you are running out of time. Conversely, bread can rise multiple times before shaping, rising, and the baking. Each rising period will improve flavor and texture. Be flexible and allow baking to fit around your schedule.

    Q. I have some yeast bread recipes that do not call for fresh milled flour. How do I adjust the recipe?

    A. I substitute cup for cup, whole grain hard wheat flour for all purpose flour in yeast bread recipes that appeal to me. The only adjustment I make is adding some vital gluten so the bread will not be too dense or heavy or dry.

    Q. Can I use my fresh ground flour for cookies, pancakes and muffins?

    A. Use freshly milled soft wheat flour or pastry wheat for any baked goods that do not contain yeast.
    Remember freshly milled pastry flour must be packed like brown sugar for accurate measurements. You can obtain more information about ingredients and how to use them.

    Q. My bread doesn’t rise very well.

    A. Whole grain bread will not rise as well as white bread, but if you have waited several hours and the bread hasn’t doubled in size, the problem most likely is the use of low protein wheat. Low protein means low gluten content. All wheat is not created equal, and premium wheat will have a higher protein content than less expensive wheat.

    Use 1 Tbsp. vital gluten per cup of flour as a starting place.

    Q. I have some older yeast and I don’t know if it is still good. What do I do?

    A. Proofing the yeast is a way to determine if your yeast is still good. If it isn’t, your bread may not rise well. If you suspect your yeast is out of date or old, here is how to proof (test) the yeast:

    Add 1 tsp. yeast, with 1/2 cup warm water (85°F) and 1 tsp. sugar. If the yeast isn’t bubbling up to the top of the cup within 10 minutes, replace the yeast.

    Be sure to store yeast cool and dry. Use moisture/vapor proof containers.

    The above information has been excerpted from A Beginner’s Guide to Baking Bread ebook by Marilyn Moll.
    Click Here to purchase this ebook for $9.95. You may also obtain this book complimentary with any purchase of $75.00 or more by request.

    This ebook Includes:

    * How to Select Ingredients
    * Selecting a Grain Mill
    * Selecting A Mixer
    * Step-by-Step Mixing Instructions
    * How to Develop the Gluten
    * Tips for the Best Bread
    * Lots of Bread and Roll Recipes
    * Troubleshooting Guide
    * The Two-Stage Process
    Item #6059 $9.95

    Step by step cinnamon Roll tutorial

  • Cold and Flu Remedies

    When we get sick around here with the latest cold or flu we drink peppermint tea, ginger tea, and eat Mommy’s Homemade Chicken Soup for colds and flus. The chicken soup recipe is basically my very popular, Chicken Barley Soup recipe with extra garlic, cayenne, and ginger to get the lymph glands flowing! I use fresh ginger and lemon juice for ginger tea and the soup. Here is how I make the teas and soup:

    Ginger Tea

    Chop up coarsely about 3-4 inch piece of fresh, peeled ginger. Simmer for 10-15 minutes in 3 cups of pure water or bring up to full pressure in a pressure cooker for 3-5 minutes and allow the pressure to come down naturally. Take 1/4 – 1/2 cup “ginger concentrate”, add hot water, honey, and a squeeze of lemon to taste. Drink lots!

    Peppermint Tea

    We make peppermint tea using the cut leaves, about 1-2 tsp leaves infused with each cup of water. Add lemon and honey to taste, if desired . Drink Lots. We also make lots of hot boiling water in our air pot so we can keep making hot fresh cups of tea all day without reheating the tea kettle. You can also buy peppermint tea in bag form, but when we are sick we go through so much peppermint tea that purchasing the leaves in bulk is much more cost effective. I store loose peppermint in canning jars. One quart jar of bulk peppermint leaves costs about $3.00 in a health food store and makes lots of tea.

    Chicken Soup for Colds and Flus
    An effective traditional home remedy for colds and flus. I make a large pot of this chicken soup when we get sick. Garlic, ginger, and cayenne stimulate the immune system. Use as many of the ingredients as you have.

    6 cup chicken stock (homemade bone broth is best)
    2 cup diced chicken or turkey pieces, (optional)
    5 or more gloves garlic, crushed
    1/2 – 1 cup chopped onion
    1″ piece or larger of fresh ginger, peeled and minced
    2 cup carrot rounds
    1 cup celery, chopped
    1 cup rice or noodles, cooked
    1/3 cup flour
    1/8 – 1/4 tsp. cayenne (optional)
    1 tsp. thyme (optional)
    1 tsp. savory (optional)
    1 C. peas
    salt and pepper to taste

    Saute the onion and celery in 2 Tbsp olive oil until softened, add the garlic and ginger and saute another 1-2 minutes. Add the stock or broth, and the carrots and simmer until the carrots are tender – 15 to 20 minutes or 2- 3 minutes in a Duromatic at full pressure. Add salt and herbs. Mix 1/3 Cup flour with 1 cup cold water thoroughly so there are no lumps. Bring the soup to a boil, slowly add the water flour mixture while stirring constantly to lightly thicken the soup. Add cooked rice or noodles, and peas, adjust seasonings to taste. This soup is the perfect thing for helping to recover from colds and flus.

  • Cream of Chicken Soup

    I had several requests for this soup recipe mentioned in last week’s newsletter. This recipe is courtesy of my friend Belinda who said use some of this and some of that. I have done my best to write down what I actually did. It turned out great. My husband said, “You can make this again!”

    Cream of Chicken Soup

    1 cup finely chopped carrot – 2 medium
    1 cup finely chopped celery – 2 medium
    1 cup finely chopped onion
    ¼ Cup butter
    1-2 tsp fines herbs
    2 large chicken breasts or 4 small cut in bite sized pieces
    6 cups chicken broth (real if possible)
    2 cups heavy cream
    ½ cup butter
    2/3 cup flour
    1 can artichoke hearts, water packed
    salt and pepper to taste

    Saute carrots, celery, and onion (mira poix) in butter in a large stock pot for a couple minutes and add cut up chicken breast.

     

    Stir over medium high heat and add fine herbes and continue sauteing the veggies and chicken mixture for several minutes until chicken is no longer pink. Add broth. (The above pictures is when it is time to add the broth.) Simmer about 10 minutes or until veggies are soft. While veggies and chicken are simmering, melt ½ cup butter and stir in the flour in a separate small saucepan and stir for about one minute. Set aside.

    Add the cream to the soup, bring soup mixture to boiling, and while soup is boiling rapidly, gradually stir in the butter/flour mixture while whisking very quickly to thicken the soup. Drain artichoke hearts, dice the hearts into fourths or smaller pieces as desired, add to soup. Adjust seasonings by adding salt and pepper to taste. Add more milk or chicken broth if a thinner soup is desired. Enjoy with French Bread.

  • Enstrom’s Style Toffee

    This recipe was given to my daughter by an employee where she works in Grand Junction. Enstrom’s toffee is world renowned for being the best and manufactured in Grand Junction and shipped around the world. We are honored to have this recipe and share it with you!It will cost you about $7.50 for butter, sugar, chocolate and almonds to make this recipe. The finished recipe makes about three pounds of toffee, enough for several generous gifts.

    Enstrom’s Style Toffee

    • 2 3/4 Cup sugar
    • 1 pound salted butter
    • 1/2 tsp salt
    • 1 cup slivered almonds
    • 1 – 12 oz pkg milk chocolate chip
    • 3/4 cup whole almonds, chopped very, very finely in a blender- almost a powder

    Melt butter in a medium sized sauce pan – about 3 quart size over medium to medium high heat. Add the salt. When the butter is almost melted, add the sugar in quickly. Stir slowly, using a figure 8 motion with a wooden spoon. The sugar will not immediately dissolve or mix in, this is normal.

    When the sugar absorbs into the butter the mixture will look more homogeneous and smooth. This takes 5-10 minutes. Then add the slivered almonds. This is what it will look like when you add the almonds. A would call this the blonde stage.

    Continue to slowly stir the mixture in the saucepan for about another 10-15 minutes until the mixture reaches the hard crack stage. This is 290 ° F on a thermometer. (I use the instant read thermometer with a probe which I also use for bread.) You will notice that the sugar mixture is turning a darker more caramel color and it is almost starting to smell like burnt sugar. You can also drop a small amount of the mixture into iced water to test for the hard crack stage. Do not under cook. This picture shows how much darker the mixture becomes.

    If the mixture has reached 290 or hard crack, pour the mixture onto a large cookie sheet and allow it to spread out. Place the cookie sheet on a cooling rack NOT ON A COUNTER because the mixture is so hot it could warp your counter.

    After the toffee hardens, about 30 minutes, melt half the chocolate chips in a double boiler and spread over the toffee in a thin layer. Sprinkle with finely diced almonds. When this is cooled, flip the toffee over and repeat. Spread the other half of the chocolate chips, melted over the toffee and sprinkle with finely chopped almonds. When it is totally cooled, put portions into cellophane bags tied with a ribbon to use for gifts.

  • Fantastic Whole Wheat Rolls – Pictorial

    You might like to try this recipe for Fantastic Whole Wheat Rolls with a step-by-step pictorial tutorial. The recipe comes from my book Fast and Healthy Menus for Busy Moms.

    The roll-making tutorial was posted by Melody who says “I also want to add- this was only the second time I made rolls in my whole life- it is EASY anyone can do it!”

    Here is the recipe:
    Fantastic Whole Wheat Rolls

    2 1/2 cups warm water

    1/3 cup honey

    1/2 cup dry powdered milk

    2 Tbsp yeast

    2 eggs

    1 cup unbleached bread flour (optional- can use all whole wheat)

    1/4 cup gluten

    6-7 cups whole wheat flour

    2 tsp. salt

    1/4 cup melted butter or olive oil

    Fast and Healthy Menus for Busy Moms is also available as an instantly downloadable ebook.

  • Mrs America’s Old Fashioned Sugar Cookies – 1956

    This post and recipe is for lovers of anything vintage. Last year, our local paper carried a story about a vintage Nebraska Cookie Cutter purchased in an antique shop that included Mrs. Carl Dietemeyer’s Old-Fashioned Sugar Cookie recipe tucked inside the box. Apparently Mrs. Dietemeyer was crowned Mrs. America 1956, after her husband and son entered her into the local contest sponsored by the American Gas Association. After winning the local competition, she then moved on to the national competition held in Daytona Beach.

    According to this fascinating article, “Mrs America credits her husband’s writing ability with her winning the award for the best dinner menu. For example her roast beef dinner became “Cornhusker Roasted Beef accompanied by Seaside Ambrosia” and so on.

    After being crowned Mrs America 1956, her other prizes included a complete set of state-of-the art kitchen and laundry appliances, a new car, and a six-week trip to Europe with her husband to meet with European housewives and discuss domestic arts.

    We made this recipe last year and found this sugar cookie recipe was superior to our tried and true sugar cookie recipe and MUCH EASIER to roll out. If you need something fun to do with your children, bake Mrs. Dietemeyer’s cookies.

    Ingredients:

    • 3 cups sifted all purpose flour
    • 1/2 tsp salt
    • 1 cup butter
    • 1 1/2 cups sugar
    • 2 eggs, well-beaten
    • 1 tsp vanilla
    • 1/4 tsp almond extract
    • 1/2 tsp baking soda
    • 3 Tbsp sour cream

    Preheat oven to 400. Sift flour and salt together. Cream butter; add sugar gradually. Add eggs and flavorings; mix thoroughly.

    Dissolve baking soda in sour cream; add alternately with dry ingredients to creamed mixture. Chill dough for two hours. Roll 1/8-inch thick on lightly floured board and cut with a floured cokie cutter. Place on lightly greased cookie sheets. Sprinkle with sugar. Bake 7 minutes.

    This recipe was Mrs America’s mother’s recipe. It is very vintage and very good.

  • 10 Fun and Frugal Things to Do Before Christmas

    1. Read one Christmas, holiday, or winter-themed book each day for the week leading up to Christmas. You could wrap the books up, in tissue and have one child unwrap one book per day starting around December 17th. The same books can be re-wrapped from year to year. This tradition can be expanded by borrowing library books or purchasing Christmas books at thrift stores.

    Our favorite Christmas stories are The Night Before Christmas, The Legend of the Candy Cane, The Story of Holly & Ivy, The Real 12 Days of Christmas- The story behind the Song and A Little House Christmas Volume 11 which contains the Christmas stories from the original books by Laura Ingalls Wilder. My favorite Little House Picture Books with wintery and Christmas Themes are Christmas in the Big Woods, Sugar Snow, and Winter Days in the Big Woods. I think any of these books are available in the library.

    2. Pray for friends, neighbors, or relatives you have received Christmas Cards from or whom you will be sending cards to. A good time to do this is during devotions or Jesse Tree Devotions.

    3. Attend a Christmas Cantata, Parades of Lights, or Christmas Eve Service in your community. Check your local paper for details. Then drive around the neighborhoods to view Christmas lights and well decorated homes on your way home. In our area, the addresses of the best lit homes are organized by neighborhoods and listed in the newspaper. When you get home have hot chocolate and home made cookies.

    4. Have a family slumber party or movie marathon in the family room or living room. Pull out sleeping bags. blankets, afghans, pillows. Turn out the lights except for Christmas lights or candles. Enjoy popcorn or a snack with a Bible story, book or Christmas movie. Our favorite Christmas movies are The Nativity Story, Christmas with the Kranks, and The Christmas Story.

    5. Make package opening time special by allowing only one gift to be opened at a time. Start by having the children give out their gifts first.

    6. Set up a card table or coffee table to do a jigsaw puzzle together during the holidays. Work at it every now and then with family, relatives or neighbors until it’s done. Do a different puzzle every year. Inexpensive puzzles can be found in thrift stores.

    7. Bake rolled out sugar cookies cut into Christmas shapes and decorate. My children, now older, still enjoy making sugar cookies together every year without my help. OR make candy. Our favorites are fudge, peanut brittle, and toffee. OR make a Gingerbread House. Kits are inexpensive in craft stores. I usually buy one in the after Christmas sales for the next year.

    8. Cut your own Christmas tree. In Colorado you can buy a permit to go to a designated place in the forest to cut a tree for $8.00. My children absolutely insist on having a real, live tree preferably one they cut themselves with Dad every year. The oldest is now 23!

    9. With small children you can make a paper chain with colored construction paper to count the days until Christmas. Alternate green and red construction paper. Take a link off the chain each night before bed time.

    10. Hold a Holiday Open House or invite some friends or family over for dinner. My favorite company recipe is Beef Burgundy. Your event can be simple and casual. Have everyone bring a dish or appetizer to share. Enjoy the company and tell about favorite family traditions or memories.

    I think my favorite memory was the year we gave the two younger children a trampoline and rolled it down the road Christmas Eve from the neighbor’s house to our yard. The expressions of surprise and excitement from the children are priceless memories for the whole family.

    BONUS IDEA: Make a special Christmas breakfast with homemade Pecan Sticky Cinnamon Rolls. You won’t even need to get up early to do it. All the Christmas breakfast recipes and stress free instructions are complimentary.

    Remember to slow down, enjoy the season, take lots of pictures and enjoy the memories.

    New Contest: I would love for you to post some of your family’s most favorite holiday traditions or memories at my blog to encourage other families to build up memories and traditions. Three winners will get a copy of The Wise Woman’s Guide to Blessing Her Husband’s Vision and three winners will get a copy of Continuing Education for Moms- Volume 1 which contains over 12 hours of listening. If your favorite tradition or memory revolves around a recipe, be sure to include the recipe to be considered in the judging!

    You must also leave an email contact to be considered in this contest.

    Announcing the contest winners: 1-7-08

    The following ladies won a copy of Continuing Education for Moms – Volume 1 –  Tina in Alabama, Lydi, Lora, and Michelle Johnson.
    The following ladies won A Wise Woman’s Guide to Blessing Her Husband’s Vision by Doug Phillips:  Amanda Robinson, Donna Jackson and Debbie Sifford.

  • The Meaning of the Christmas Wreath

    “A Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2: 11

    Every Christmas wreath is more than just a decoration…it’s a special reminder of Jesus, the reason for our celebration. The circle of a Christmas wreath is a never-ending ring, a reminder of eternal love from our Lord and King. The Christmas wreath is a sign of welcome, inviting all to enter in…a reminder of Christ’s invitation for all to come to Him. The middle of a Christmas wreath is a bare and empty space, a reminder of what life would be without Christ’s love and grace. So each time you see a Christmas wreath hanging from a door, may your heart rejoice in the One that Christmas is truly for!

    CLICK HERE For instructions for making a simple Christmas wreath.