Around Mom's Kitchen Table

Homemade Laundry Soap Update

2012-02-10T15:23:00.000-06:00

In January 2010, I wrote about making and using homemade laundry soap. Today, after two years, I am still making my own laundry soap, and find that it does a great job in cleaning my clothes. In fact, today, I made a new batch.

There is difference, though. I no longer make liquid laundry soap. Instead, I make powder laundry soap. After using the powder for about a year, now, I think it cleans better than, the liquid did, and the clothes smell fresher, too. And it is much, much easier to to use than the liquid was. So, here is my new laundry soap recipe:

Powdered Laundry Soap

3 cups 20 Mule Team Boron
3 cups Arm & Hammer Baking soda (buy in the laundry section)
2 bars of Ivory soap

Boron and baking soda are very fine and can adversely affect breathing, so this needs to be mixed carefully.

Mix the boron and soda into a 3/4 gallon or gallon plastic container.

In a separate bowl, shred the soap into small flakes. I used to use a food processor for this, but find I get a finer shred scraping the soap with the edge of a paring knife. Power the shreds as much as possible by running your fingers through the soap. Alternatively, you can use a mortar and pestle to powder the soap. It is not necessary to get it as finely powdered as the boron and soda, but it should be find enough that it quickly melts in water.

Add the soap to the mixture in the plastic jar, screw the lid on tight, and shake until well mixed.

If desired, you can replace some or all of the Ivory with a fragranced soap like Yardley's Honey and Rose or Yardley's Lavender. Just be sure you use about 6 ounces of soap total.

As with all powdered soaps, you should occasionally clean your washing machine by running it empty with two cups of white vinegar in the water.

For best results:
Use 1 tablespooon per average wash, unless clothes are extremely dirty. Add to washer as machine fills with water.

If you desire to use a fabric softener, add 1/2 to 1 cup of white vinegar to the rinse water. Clothes will smell fresh and cottons will be soft.

Using 1 tablespoon for each wash, this recipe lasts for about four months for the two of us.

Ginsu Knives

2012-02-09T14:58:00.001-06:00

Do you remember the original commercials for Ginsu knives? I thought I had to have a set, and I loved them!

There is a large selection of them, these days, even knives in green or purple! If you would like to learn more about them, visit Ginsu Knives.

Quality knives, whichever brand you choose, make up an integral part of every kitchen. Since dull knives are dangerous, a cutlery set with a sharpening rod or sharpener of some kind, is an important consideration. Some people are more interested in having top of the line brands, and are willing to spend lots of money to get them, but a good set can be had for less than $100.

LEGOS: The Toy that Works for All Ages

2011-11-06T01:57:00.000-06:00

It's the time of year when many of us will begin trying to decide what to purchase children for Christmas. One toy that is not only educational, but fun for all ages is LEGO buildling blocks and kits. With everything from large blocks for toddlers to MindStorm robots for teens and adults, these blocks can fill out a Christmas list. Prices range from less than $10 to more than $1000, depending on what you want and where you get it.

If you want to know more about LEGOs and their attraction to adults and teens, check out my Squidoo lens, Legos for Teens and Grownups. While this is my highest ranked Lego lens, I have many others. You can reach them through links on My Lego Kit Lenses

By the way, my Squidoo lenses are starting to earn money each month--not much, yet, but it is growing almost monthly. If you like to write and are interested in making money online, click here to sign up for your FREE Squidoo Lensmaster account.

Enjoy preparing for your holidays!

Vent Free Wall Heaters: A Good Alternative

2011-09-17T02:53:00.000-05:00

Vent free wall heaters are a good alternative to central heat furnaces. They don't cost as much to run, and they will keep several rooms warm. Since they are up off the floor, people don't trip over them. I no longer have small children around the house, but one good point for these types of heaters is that small children can't fall into them.

After such a hot summer, I am concerned that this winter will be unusually cold. Last year was cold enough in Missouri. My son has started putting in a good bit of firewood, but with asthma, I really need an alternative to a fireplace.

For many years our extended family has used vent free propane heaters, and have always had good luck with them. They are clean burning, so you don't have to worry about carbon monoxide building up in the house.

If you are interested in learning more, click on this vent free wall heaters link.

Kitchenaid Pasta Attachments

2010-12-05T02:56:00.001-06:00

I have been thinking about going back to basics recently. Don't get me wrong, I have no desire to wash clothes in an iron pot over a campfire. At the same time, it is time to cut back and start doing more for ourselves. With the economy the way it is, I just want to start making more stuff at home. That includes using my Kitchenaid to make homemade pasta.

I don't have the pasta attachment for my Kitchenaid, as yet. (Are you listening, Santa?) Until then, I will have to use my trusty rolling pin. Hopefully, that won't be too long, since my hands really bother me if I put much pressure on them. That is the whole reason I have a Kitchenaid stand mixer to start with. I love to bake, especially cookies and breads. These doughs are too dense to mix with a regular mixer--it burns up the motor. With the stand mixer, I can mix up a batch of bread and knead it without pain.

If you are interested in making homemade pasta, visit Kitchenaid Pasta Attachments & Recipes for recipes and how-to videos.

Do you have the Kitchenaid pasta attachment? If so, please comment and let me know how you like it.

Another Thankful Anniversary

2010-12-03T22:02:00.002-06:00

November 28 was our 35th wedding anniversary. Thinking back on the last 35 years, I realize that it was not an easy task to make it together this long. It took some commitment, and sometimes it took just plain stubborness to keep it together. Too many of my family and friends have not made it that many years, and I am saddened for them. I really don't know what I would do without my husband. He is my best friend, closest confidant, and strongest supporter. I am thankful we were able to work together to get through the rough times past, and I know we will make it through the rough times ahead.

At the same time, I grieve that people I love are having marrital problems. A while back, during one of my many surfing sprees online, I came across a man named T. Dub who offers words of wisdom for people who are having trouble in their relationships. I can't help but wonder if the people I love would follow his advice how much their strained relationships would mend and flourish.

Here is a video from T. W. Jackson on Magic of Making Up: First step to Stop Your Break Up.

T. W. Jackson has lots of helpful information at his Magic of Making Up site.

Staying Warm This Winter: Vent Free Wall Heaters

2010-10-27T00:43:00.000-05:00

Several years ago, my father-in-law purchased a ProCon vent free propane wall heater for his home. He had central heat, but due to the high cost of running the central heating unit from a propane tank, it had not been used for many years. The wall heater he had installed kept his entire house warm and comfortable. To maintain heat in the back rooms of the house, ceiling fans set on low helped circulate the warm air.

With electronic ignition, the heater starts right up, and the thermostat maintains a comfortable temperature. For those occasions when the electricity went out, the heater was lighted with an old-fashioned kitchen mamatch.

The heater was up off the floor where the smallest grandchildren and greatgrandchildren could not reach it, which was a relief to harried moms. If you are concerned about staying warm this winter, consider investing in a propane or natural gase vent free wall mounted heater.

Making Your Own Gift Baskets for the Holidays

2010-09-25T03:31:00.001-05:00

While there are tons of beautiful gift baskets available for this holiday season, both online and off-line, some people will prefer to make their own. Unfortunately, they may not know just what to do or how to put a holiday gift basket together. For great ideas for creating your own holiday baskets, check out 101 Gift Basket Ideas! There is even a free mini-course on how to put baskets together.

Early Christmas Shopping--Holiday Gift Baskets

2010-09-21T03:31:00.000-05:00

Every year, I plan to start shopping a little earlier--at least before December 1!. Every year, something comes up, and I start my shopping on or after December 1. As you can imagine, this can cause a great deal of stress for the holidays. This year, I am considering buying gift baskets for everyone on my list. There is such a wide assortment, that there should be something for everyone. There is a good selection of holiday gift basket for everyone on my list at Give a Holiday Gift Basket. If you are interested, check it out. You can even purchase gift baskets for your pets!

Phone Calls a Mother Dreads

2010-03-25T11:04:00.000-05:00

Three phrases no mother wants to hear when picking up the phone are:

"Mom, don't panic!"
"Mom, don't be mad."
"Mom, I have bad news."

Especially when followed by a dramatic pause. As a mom, you immediately imagine the worst. One of your children/grandchildren died, was in a terrible body-mangling accident, or is missing. Usually, experience tells you, it isn't that bad, but it could be, which is why the worst comes to mind.

Recently, my daughter called with the first of those sentences. My son had had a single car accident due to the road conditions caused by a recent, unseasonal snow storm. He had a bump on the head, his car was pretty much totalled, but overall he was ok. It could have been much worse, which is what I immediately thought when hearing those words.

Of course, I was worried until I knew for sure he was safe and warm, but not panicked. After all, I'm a mom. I have had children for a good many years. Not panicking, at least until after an emergency passes, is a mom thing to do.

Knowing both my children were in the blizzard, him sitting on the side of the road maybe hurt, and her and her husband driving to find him and make sure he didn't freeze to death, was nerve-wracking, since I was not able to go help due to the same storm keeping me trapped at home. At the same time, I raised them, and knew that they are competent adults and able to take care of most situations.

So, what could she have said to make it easier and keep my imagination at bay? I don't really know. I can't think of a way to easily and calmly say "Your son has been in an accident, and we don't know how bad, or if, he is hurt." I will continue to dread those calls, but at the same time, would rather know what is going on than be blissfully unaware.

Even though I was terribly concerned, and dismayed that I could not get out to help find my son, I was proud to know that my children care about each other. Enough to risk their own lives for each other. I have no doubt that my son would do the same for my daughter, were the situation reversed. This is comforting to a mom, knowing that eventually, when she isn't there anymore, they will have each other to depend on.

Best Vanilla Snow Ice Creams

2010-02-09T10:06:00.006-06:00

Guest Blog by Susan Elliott

The long snow season may have you climbing up the walls. Days spent trapped inside a house for long hours, may seem much more like house arrest than an opportunistic vacation. Kids become frantic, and there may be a lot of yelling and fighting. Games and television programs can temporarily help alleviate some of this stress, but nothing helps soothe restless children like homemade ice cream.

Making homemade snow ice cream is a project that everyone in the family can help with. Once children learn this simple recipe, you may have to keep a watchful eye on them. On more than one occasion I have caught my own children making their own individual portions of snow ice cream. My daughter has learned the following recipes so well that she will sneak outside with a coffee mug, collect snow, and have eaten her ice cream before I even know she’s even been outside.

Snow ice cream can be made and stored in the freezer for use at a later date. Snow may also be collected and stored in the freezer so snow ice cream can be made during the warmer months.

Melt in Your Mouth Snow Ice Cream

Ingredients:

1 gallon of clean snow
4 cups of powdered milk
2 cups of sugar
2 tablespoons of vanilla

Mix one gallon of clean snow with four cups of powdered milk, two cups of sugar and two tablespoons of vanilla. Mix the ingredients until they are thoroughly incorporated. For this particular ice cream, the snow should still resemble its natural state. Serve the melt in your mouth snow ice cream immediately. Serves five.

Condensed Snow Ice Cream

Ingredients:

1 gallon of clean snow
1 can sweetened condensed milk
2 cans evaporated milk
½ cup sugar
2 tablespoons of vanilla

Mix one gallon of clean snow with one can of sweetened condensed milk and two cans of evaporated milk. Stir well. Add the sugar and the vanilla. Mix these ingredients until they are well incorporated. The snow should adhere to itself. Stir it until it looks like traditional homemade ice cream. If needed, add a little water to help the ice cream form. Serve the snow ice cream immediately. Serves five.

Variations

Place Oreo cookies into a gallon sized storage bag. Crush the cookies with a rolling pin. Add the crushed cookies to the ice cream mixture.

Add fresh or frozen strawberries to your ice cream for a fruity treat.

Replace vanilla extract with almond, lemon or coconut extracts

Final Laundry Soap Review

2010-01-22T19:40:00.002-06:00

In my last post, I discussed the homemade laundry soap I was trying. Just thought I would post a note to let you know that I gave some away to my daughter (don't know if she has tried it, yet), and have just about used up my supply. I will definitely be making more. This soap doesn't make me itch. The persistent rash I have had on my arms is gone. And to top off everything, the clothes actually get clean and smell great!

Over the weekend, I plan to make more so that we won't run out. After using this homemade variety, I do not ever plan to use store bought laundry soap again. It makes me wonder what other household products would be just as good, or better than, store bought products. One thing I have tried, and found to work wonderfully, is using a quarter cup of white vinegar with 3/4 cup of water instead of fabric softener in my wash. The clothes do not smell at all like vinegar, and they are much softer than when I do not use a softener at all. It has been a long time since I used fabric softener in my laundry (skin irritations), so I can't really tell if it is as soft or softer than store bought fabric softener. I do like it, though.

I have some recipes for other homemade household products. I think I will try them out, too.

Homemade Laundry Soap Report

2009-11-07T23:25:00.005-06:00

Well, a few days ago, I posted that I was trying a new homemade laundry soap. After I got it made up, life got in the way, and I didn't get to use it until today. This post is the report I promised.

Results:
I had to shake the bottle of laundry soap to get the semi-solids to dissolve back into the liquid, but the recipe mentioned that. My clothes are clean, with no soapy residue. The colors came out bright. They smell fresh and have a soft clean smell--not a heavy laundry perfume smell like you get sometimes with store bought laundry soap.

I have been wearing an outfit today that I washed using the homemade laundry soap. I am so allergic to everything that I have had to change my commercial laundry soap every three months or so to prevent rashes on my arms and back. Even clean clothes washed in commercial laundry soap make me itch. So far, clothes washed in the homemade laundry soap are comfortable, and I am not itching at all. Relief!

At the price, about 1 penny per load, this homemade soap is much more economical than the store bought kind. I believe I will continue to use this from now on. I have no allergic problems with Ivory brand soap or with baking soda, which are two of the main ingredients in the recipe.

To finish up the wash, I used a vinegar and water softener (1/4 cup vinegar to 1 cup of water) in the rinse cycle to soften the clothes.

I am totally impressed. Visit Making Homemade Laundry Soap for the recipe I used. Make sure you use at least a 3 quart pan when you melt the grated soap, though, or you will have a mess to clean up. You will need to shake the soap several times over the first few days to keep it from congealing into a white blob in the liquid, but eventually it does not need this. I used plastic 1 gallon juice bottles to store the soap.

For more homemade cleaning supplies, try Better Basics for the Home: Simple Solutions for Less Toxic Living. You will also find recipes for made at home shampoo, mouthwash, and other personal care products.

Bulk Cooking Saves Time

2009-11-07T11:30:00.000-06:00

Bulk Cooking Saves Time
Spending one or two days a month cooking up casseroles and pre-cooking meats, rice and pasta will save hours of kitchen preparation time through the month. To make this most effective, pre-cook 10 lbs. of hamburger, 10 lbs. of chicken breasts, 10 cups of rice, and 10 cups of macaroni or other pasta.

Store these as follows:
Hamburger: 1 cup (equivalent to 1/2 lb. uncooked)
Chicken in Bite Sized Pieces: 1 cup
Rice: 2 cups
Macaroni: 2 cups

Do not add salt or seasonings to any of the foods you pre-cook. Salt will prevent proper freezing. Add salt and seasonings when you use them to prepare meals.

For best results, use airtight freezer containers. Date and label each container and rotate them, using the oldest dated items first.

Freeze these foods in a freezer, not the freezer compartment of your refridgerator. The refridgerator freezer compartment does not keep foods as cold as the freezer does.

Money Saving Cleaning Tips

2009-11-04T22:23:00.000-06:00

As an asthmatic with numerous allergies, cleaning house is a real 'chore,' since I often cannot breathe while using commercial products. Recently, I found a recipe for homemade laundry detergent made from simple, inexpensive ingredients. It did not take long to cook up and has a fresh, clean smell. I am really looking forward to using it, starting tomorrow after it sets up into a gel. I will post here to let you know what I think of the mixture after using it tomorrow.

If you want to try it for yourself, visit Making Homemade Laundry Soap.

According to Crystal Miller's figuring, this money saving laundry soap recipe costs approximately 1¢ per load to use. At this point, the only recommendation I have is to make sure you follow directions on the size of the container you mix the laundry soap in. Otherwise, you will have a foaming mess to clean up.

At my house, even with just the two of us, now that the children are grown and moved away, laundry is a major expense. This recipe should help make that expense more managable.

Halloween Treats

2009-10-28T17:03:00.000-05:00

Halloween treats for parties take a little time to make, but if done ahead you can give your guests a shuddering good time. A search of the Internet lead me to these delicious recipes.

Spider Cupcakes

Eye-Popping Soup

Brittle Meringue Bones

Awful Arachnids

Have fun!

Making Pancakes at Home: Cut Back in Spending

2009-09-18T16:53:00.005-05:00

We used to go out on Saturday morning to eat pancakes at IHOP. However, with the economy in the mess it is in, we are trying to cut back in spending and cutting corners where possible. A quick search of the Internet gave me a list of pancake recipes to try at home. The pancake recipes listed here are those that most appealed to me. I plan to try them soon.

Pancakes, drenched in syrup, sprinkled with powerdered sugar, or served with jelly and jam, are delicious and comforting.

Since others are cutting back, too, I thought I would share the results of my search with you. Cooking homemade pancakes at home is one way we can save money, cut back in spending, and eat well, too.

If you really like them, you might post a note on the site where they are located to let the author know. Enjoy!

Blueberry Pancakes

Chocolate Chip Pancakes

Cinnamon Banana Pancakes

Good Old Fashioned Pancakes

Lemon Apricot Pancakes

Pumpkin Pancakes

Strawberry Pancakes

Wheat Griddle Cakes Recipe

Thoughts on Small Kitchen Appliances

2009-09-16T06:43:00.003-05:00

Small kitchen appliances are more than just countertop decorations. They are tools that help us get our kitchen work done quickly and efficiently. For my kitchen, I prefer using red appliances that match my decor, specifically Kitchen Aid brands. The article below has some excellent advice for purchasing new kitchen tools for your home.

Small Kitchen Appliances That Make Life Easier
By Elaine Martel

Looking for a way to add a little style, efficiency and functionality in your kitchen? Why not replace your old, large, outdated kitchen appliances with new smaller, sleeker kitchen appliances. No matter if you an amateur chef, a connoisseur, health nut or a just youngster helping out in the kitchen, there are small kitchen appliances that can help you prepare simple or gourmet meals. Don't have time to spend a lot of time cleaning after you cook? With today's new technological appliances, clean up is minimal and fast.

Small kitchen appliances can save you time by making food preparation easy and enjoyable. Remember when the only way to get mashed potatoes was to use a hand masher? All those lumps! Well, now hand mixers have spatula attachments so you can scrape the sides of the bowl as you go for lump free and creamier potatoes.

People are also very health conscious today and are looking for ways to get the required vitamins and minerals they need to maintain a healthy body. Well, Juicers are a splendid way to prepare fruits and vegetables and get the daily requirement of nutrients recommended for a healthy body. Just add your favorite fruits and/or vegetables to the juicer and you are on your way to a healthier you inside and out. Turn your favorite fruits and vegetables into delicious vitamin - rich pulp free juices in minutes with a Fruit and Vegetable Juice Extractor.

Crock Pots allow you to prepare your meals with minimal preparation time. This new appliance combines thirty years of reliability with the latest technology, allowing you to set the temperature level and cooking time. Consequently when you are ready to sit down for a delicious dinner, you do not have to worry about your dinner being over-cooked or under-cooked meal. You can just eat and enjoy.

The Espresso Machines are a favorite with coffee lovers because they combine elegance with durability. You can become an espresso expert in minutes. This appliance makes perfect espressos, cappuccinos and lattes every time. They are compact and efficient and will look great on your counter.

Don't have time to go touring all over town to find just the right appliance that suits your needs; order your new appliances via the internet. It is the perfect way for people just like you that have busy schedules to purchase your kitchen appliances.

All these above mentioned small kitchen appliances as well as others listed on the internet would make a perfect wedding or shower gift for the special person in your life.

Elaine Martel would like to welcome you to http://whatsonyourcounter.com where you get quality products at competitive prices.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Elaine_Martel
http://EzineArticles.com/?Small-Kitchen-Appliances-That-Make-Life-Easier&id=2763267

If you are interested in red kitchen appliances, visit Mom's Kitchen Store where a large selection of red products has been collected for your convenience!

Slow Cooker Tips

2009-08-20T12:07:00.004-05:00

The crock pot, or slow cooker, is a wonderful time saving kitchen appliance. Using this appliance takes only a few minutes of preparation time, and the meal cooks while you are away at work or play. There are a few slow cooker tips that will help ensure satisfaction with your slow cooker appliance.

If you prepare your food the night before, keep vegetables and meats separated to prevent possible bacterial contamination.

Do not use the crock or insert in the oven or on the stove top unless the manufacturer certifies it for that use.

Left over food should be transferred to another container before storing in the refrigerator. The crock can crack or break if moved from one temperature extreme to another.

Do not take the crock from the refrigerator and place in the cooking unit. Even if the crock does not crack due to temperature differences, the food will take much longer to cook. Also, the extra time it takes to get the food to cooking temperature may allow bacterial growth to occur.

Use a thermometer when cooking meat and poultry to ensure the temperature is high enough to keep your food safe. Poultry should reach 180 degrees F, beef and pork should reach 160 to 170 degrees F, and meatloaf should reach 165 degrees F.

Fill your crock or slow cooker to at least 1/2 full. If less than 1/2 full, the pot cannot cook properly.

Never put your crock in the freezer.

Wash a new ceramic crock with warm sudsy water before first use to remove manufacturing oils.

When removing stuck on food, let the crock soak briefly in warm, sudsy water, then scrub with a nylon or plastic scrubbie. Never use a metal scrubbie or steel wool on your crock.

I hope these slow cooker tips are helpful for you. Do you have crock pot or slow cooker tips that are not listed? If so, please use the comments link to let us know what they are.

Baking Homemade Bread - Not As Hard As it Sounds

2009-08-19T16:37:00.002-05:00

In a world of instant mixes, frozen dinners, and fast food, the simple pleasure of baking bread has almost been forgotten. From early childhood, I have pleasant and cherished memories of my mother and grandmothers baking yeast breads and batter breads-hearty breads for meals, sweat breads for desserts. Baking bread, much like sewing, crochet, and knitting, is fast becoming a lost art, but the truth is that baking batter breads doesn't take much longer than a bread mix.

Hmm, fresh yeast bread! The aroma fills the entire house, causing all within to follow the fragrance to the kitchen in hopes of getting a slice of hot, buttered, yeast bread. For as long as I can remember, the smell of bread baking has been a comforting sign of home.

There are so many things that come to my mind when I think about bread: my grandmother's old stories of times when bread and cheese, or worse, bread and water, were all that was available to eat; the five loaves Jesus blessed and fed to 5,000 men (the women and children were not counted); the unleavened bread of remembrance for the body the Christ sacrificed that the world might have peace with God; the buttered bread toasting in the oven on a cold winter morning; the first time I punched down the yeast dough, then baked the loaf and served it to my new husband. . . So many things come to mind that I can spend an entire, serene morning just thinking while enjoying the scent of rising and baking bread. Even batter breads (breads leavened with baking powder or a combination of baking soda and buttermilk rather than yeast), such as the cornbread my mom served with hot brown (pinto) beans, lend a sense of home and belonging.

Grocery stores have long sold boxes of cake mixes on their shelves (I confess that I occasionally use one of them.). For some time, now, they have also sold different types of bread mixes, biscuit mixes, cornbread mixes, and frozen yeast breads and rolls. While these are usually ok, they just don't have give your home the ambience of handmade, fresh breads. Nor do the pre-made, brown-in-the-oven varieties.

Think you don't have time to bake bread? While it is true that yeast breads take some time, after all, they need to rise, many bread recipes don't take much, if any, longer than using a mix. For instance, to use a cornbread mix, you open the package and pour it into a bowl, add egg, oil, and milk. To make cornbread from scratch, you measure cornbread, flour, salt, and baking powder into the bowl, and then add egg, oil, and milk. While it might, maybe, take two extra minutes to measure four items, the taste difference is incredible! Another example would be homemade biscuits. To make biscuits from scratch, measure flour, salt, and baking powder into the bowl, add oil and milk. Depending on the biscuit mix you buy, you can open the package and pour it into the bowl, or open the container and measure the appropriate amount into the bowl, then add oil and milk. Not much difference, is there?

It doesn't even take too much longer than "whampum" biscuits (store-bought refrigerator biscuits in a roll can). Even with those, you have to open them and put them in the pan. Frozen biscuits might be faster, but again, the difference in taste is definitely noticeable.

I have memorized three bread recipes: the yeast bread I use for both pizza crust and table bread, the cornbread my mother taught me to make, and the biscuits my husband loves. The following three quick bread recipes, with full instructions, will help you recapture the aromatic art of baking bread.

Yeast Bread

Can be used to make 2 loaves or to divide and use as the crust for two pizzas.
2 cups warm water
2 tablespoons dry baker's yeast
4 tbsp. oil
2 tsp. sugar
2 tsp. salt
5 cups flour

In a 2 cup measuring cup, add the yeast to the warm water and mix well. Add the sugar, salt and oil. Stir liquid and let sit for 5 minutes. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Grease two pans (loaf pans or pizza pans, depending on which you are making) with 1 tablespoon of oil for each.

Pour yeast liquid into a mixing bowl. Add half the flour and stir gently with a fork until moistened, then add the rest of the flour. Stir with fork until dough forms ball around fork (about 25 stirs). Flour hands and knead dough until smooth and elastic. Divide dough into two balls.

For bread loaves, roll each ball into an 18" X 9" rectangle. Starting at the small end, roll dough into a log shape. Pinch edges together, and tuck ends under. Place into oiled pan, cover and let rise for 30 minutes. Bake for 20 minutes or until golden.

For pizza crust, press each ball into a 12" to 14" oiled pizza pan. Make sure that the dough is distributed evenly. Top each with ½ cup pizza sauce and your favorite toppings. Bake for 20 minutes until toppings are done and bottom is lightly browned. After 10 minutes, I trade places with the two pans, moving the one on top to bottom, and the one on bottom to the top. This prevents one being overdone and the other underdone. Allow to sit for 5 minutes before slicing.

Biscuits

2 cups flour
1 tsp. salt
3 tsp. baking powder
¼ cup oil
¾ cup milk

Preheat oven to 420 degrees F. Measure the dry ingredients into a medium mixing bowl. In a glass, liquid measuring cup, measure ¼ cup of oil. Into the same cup, over the oil, pour in milk to the 1 cup mark (mixture will bubble). Pour all at once into the dry ingredients. Using a fork, stir until dough follows fork, then stir 10 more times. Flour your hands, and knead dough ten times. Roll or pat dough onto a cutting board or clean counter. Cut into squares or use a floured glass to cut round biscuits. If you are in a hurry, you do not have to roll the dough. Pat it out and tear off biscuit size pieces and put them into the pan. If you want the biscuits to be crispy, butter or oil the pan. Otherwise, just place then in the pan. If you prefer the sides to be crusty, place the biscuits 2" apart on the pan. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, until light golden brown.

Mom's Cornbread

2 cups cornmeal (yellow is best, for the color)
1 cup flour
3 tbsp. aluminum free baking powder
1 tsp. salt
1/4 cup oil
2 eggs, slightly beaten
Enough milk to make medium dough-should not be as thin as cake dough, but not as thick as cookie dough.

Pre-heat oven to 425 degrees F. Grease a 12" baking pan. The best pan to use in baking cornbread is an iron skillet. Pre-heat oiled pan. This allows the cornbread crust to crisp nicely.

Mix dry ingredients in mixing bowl. Add eggs and oil and stir to make a crumbly mixture. Add enough milk (start with 1 cup, and add a little more at a time until you have enough), to make a medium dough-dough will pour, but not very fast. Do not over-mix. Pour dough into iron skillet. Bake for 20 minutes. Delicious with bean soup of any kind, corn and ham chowders, or just crumbled into a large glass of milk for breakfast!

Whichever bread you prefer, the aroma of baking bread will bring your family running to the table. Spend a few extra minutes to create some special memories for your children, or even better, let them help measure the ingredients and roll out the dough! Bread making, once a common, daily activity, is not almost a forgotten art. Learn to bake bread, make some memories, and help a tradition that spans thousands of years to survive!

Oatmeal Cookies For Breakfast-A Nutritious Quick Breakfast?

2009-08-18T17:29:00.003-05:00

As adults with busy schedules, we often find ourselves in a hurry early in the morning. Sometimes, this means drinking a cup of coffee on the way to work. It could even mean a morning donut or other pastry from the drive-through bakery. Why not have a more nutritious quick breakfast?

While flour, at least the whole grain, unbleached kind of wheat flour, is good for you, the rest of the ingredients in your morning donuts and pastries are questionable. Grocery store breakfast bars, and even most dry cereals (for those who have time), have ingredients you do not want to put into your body. A good rule to follow is: If you cannot pronounce it, you probably should not eat it.

The following oatmeal cookie recipe has wholesome ingredients, less sugar than most, and heart healthy oatmeal. Old fashioned oats are a low glycemic food that enters the bloodstream more slowly than instant oats. Cinnamon is known to help control blood sugar. Local honey is helpful with allergies. The egg and milk provide some needed protein. Nothing in the ingredients is unpronounceable or unidentifiable-and most of us have these ingredients in our kitchens. We can even cut down on the amount of aluminum we ingest by purchasing baking powder without aluminum.

Oatmeal Breakfast Cookies or Bars

2 cups old fashioned oatmeal
1 3/4 cups flour (preferrably whole wheat flour)
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 egg
1/2 cup honey
1/2 cup oil
1/2 cup milk

Mix all dry ingredients together. In a separate bowl, mix egg, honey, oil, and milk. Mix all ingredients together. For cookies, place by tablespoonfuls on greased cookie sheet and bake for 10 minutes at 375 degrees F. For bars, spread dough in greased 9" X 13" baking dish. Bake at 375 degree F oven for 20 minutes or until done in center.

Makes 24 big cookies or 24 large bars.

While most cookies would not be appropriate for breakfast, these wholesome oatmeal cookies would be an excellent substitute for donuts or pastries. They don't take long to make, and keep well for several days in a sealed container. Two to four cookies in the morning are a hit with both adults and children, and provide a solid foundation for a busy day.

Two Delicious Lemon Cake Desserts

2009-08-17T23:03:00.001-05:00

Sunday dinners and holidays were always a special treat at my mother-in-law's house. She was famous throughout the county for her wonderful desserts. Here are two lemon cake recipes she enjoyed making. Sadly, we lost her in April 2008, but these and other recipes bring us sweet memories of her joy in serving her family nutritious meals and delicious desserts. Happy mealtimes bring a family together through memories shared. Build some memories for your family and try these wonderful lemony desserts today.

Lemon Meringue Cake
(makes 12-16 servings)

1 pkg. Duncan Hines Lemon Supreme Deluxe Cake Mix
1 regular-size package lemon pudding and pie filling
2 egg whites
1/4 cup sugar

Using 8 inch round cake pans, make and cool cake as directed on the label. Cook lemon pudding and pie filling as directed for pie filling. Cool 30 minutes according to the box instructions; stir several times. Beat egg whites until frothy; gradually add sugar; beat until stiff but not dry. Split each cake layer into 2 thin layers. Stack on cookie sheet or oven-proof plate, spread lemon pudding between layers and on top of cake. Spread meringue around sides of cake. Bake at 450 degrees F for about 5 minutes, until light brown. Cool to room temperature before serving. Store cake in the refrigerator.

Lemon Pound Cake

1 package Duncan Hines Lemon Supreme Deluxe Cake Mix
1 Package lemon instant pudding mix (4 serving)
1 tbsp. lemon juice
1/2 cup Crisco oil
1 cup water
4 eggs
10 lemon drop candies

Blend all ingredients in large bowl, then beat at medium speed for 2 minutes. Bake in a greased and floured 10-inch tube pan at 350 degrees F for about 45-55 minutes, until center springs back when touched lightly. Cool right side up for about 25 minutes, then remove from pan.

Glaze: Blend 1 cup confectioner's sugar with either 2 tbsp. lemon juice. Drizzle over cake. Press lemon drops into the glaze at equal distances.

Linda Pogue is the webmaster of Mom's Red Kitchen where she regularly posts information about kitchen products, reviews cookbooks, and shares family recipes. For more wonderful dessert recipes, visit Gramma's Favorite Dessert Recipes.

Crock Pot Cooking

2009-08-16T11:19:00.007-05:00

Crock pot Cooking to the Rescue

My new job starts tomorrow morning. With two part-time jobs, homework, and my blogging to keep up with, time is going to be at a premium from this point on. To stretch my days just a bit, I am planning to do baking on the weekend (muffins for breakfast for the week using my Banana Blueberry Oatmeal Muffin recipe) and use my crock pot for cooking for weekday suppers.

My favorite crock pot recipes have just two or three ingredients. For instance, barbequed chicken: Place enough skinless chicken pieces in the crock pot to fill it half to three quarters full and cover with your favorite barbeque sauce. Reserve 1/2 cup of barbeque sauce to spoon over chicken when serving. Cover and cook on low for 8 hours.

Today, I found some really great crock pot tips. They are reprinted below.

Basic Slow Cooker Tips and Delectable Roast Beef Recipes
By David Urmann

Slow cookers or crock pots are countertop electrical cooking appliances that maintain a low temperature for several hours. This enables cooking stew or pot roast without the need to check on it from time to time.

Amateur cooks will find it very easy to handle and maintain. All you need to do is to fill it up, and then turn it on. After several hours, dinner can be served. However, when using the slow cooker, there are some things you need to consider. It is best to get one that has a removable liner, making it very easy to clean. If you already have one with a non-removable liner, you can just use a cooking bag; then, use cooking spray on the inner liner.

Make sure you only fill your slow cooker ½ up to 2/3 full. The food will not be cooked properly if filled to the brim. However, if the liquid and food level is a bit lower, it will cook quickly.

You will find that the food along the bottom part of the slow cooker are moister and become cooked faster. This is because they are continuously immersed inside the simmering liquid. Since fats have a tendency to melt and cook easily when heated for a long time, resulting to an unpleasant texture, it is best to trim the excess fat formed and remove the skin from poultry.

During the last 30 minutes of cooking time, you can remove the lid and cook it on high to thicken the juices and add more flavors. It is best to cook on High during the 1st hour of cooking so that the temperature would easily reach 140 degrees, ensuring food safety. When you are almost done with your cooking, you can turn the dial to Low.

Do not place frozen foods inside your slow cooker. It should be defrosted first before cooking it. This way the temperature would easily reach 140 degrees. It also protects the appliance from being damaged.

Use cheaper cuts of meat because this requires about 8 hours of low cooking. Aside from being able to save money, they have less fat, moist and they result to more tender meats.

Ground meat should be cooked inside a skillet prior to cooking it in the slow cooker. If you will be cooking seafood in a slow cooker, this should be added in the last hour of cooking; otherwise, it will become overcooked and it will showcase a rubbery texture. Take note, 1 hour on high setting is actually equal to 2 hours on low setting.

Only use small amounts of Tabasco sauce and cayenne pepper because they become bitter when they are cooked for a long time. It is best to add them during the end of your cooking time.

Make sure you only add tender vegetables such as mushrooms, tomatoes and zucchini on the last 45 mins. of cooking time. This way, you will not overcook them.

Dairy products, on the other hand, must be added only during the last 30 minutes of cooking time.

Prior to storage, take out cooked food from the slow cooker or liner. Since the slow cooker's liner is composed of thick material, cooked food will not be able to cool down quickly so as to prevent the growth of bacteria.

Only stir in spices during the last hour of cooking time. If you cook this for a long time, it will lose its flavor.

Carefully follow the layering instructions. Since vegetables are not cooked as easily as meat, you need to place them in the bottom of your slow cooker.

If you are using low temperature, do not lift the lid when you stir. This is because the heat will escape and extend the cooking time to 30 minutes more. You can check the cooking progress by spinning the cover so that the condensation would fall off, giving you a chance to look inside your slow cooker.

Here are some of the best Roast Beef Recipes you can cook with your slow cooker:

Roast Beef a la Mushroom Soup

Ingredients are 1 can of Cream of Mushroom Soup, small to medium shoulder or chuck of beef roast, 1 can of French Onion Soup, a dash of pepper and ½ can of water (for cleaning the soup can).

Procedure:

Place the first 3 ingredients inside your slow cooker. Mix the ingredients until thoroughly blended. Sprinkle a dash of pepper. Put the settings on Low and allow cooking for the entire night. The next day, remove the meat and prepare your gravy. If your gravy seems too thin, add about 1 to 2 tsp. of cornstarch with ¼ cups of cold water. Set the cooker on high. Stir in the mixture to thicken and serve.

Roast Beef with Gravy

Ingredients are olive oil, 3 to 3 ½ pounds Boneless Rump Roast, 8 garlic slivers, salt and pepper. You will also need a meat thermometer. For the gravy, you will need some beef stock or red wine and corn starch.

Procedure:

One hour prior to cooking remove the roast from the refrigerator at put it in room temperature.

Using a sharp knife, you need to cut about eight small incisions around your roast. You will place one sliver of garlic on each incision. Place one tablespoon of olive oil around your roast and then sprinkle it with salt and pepper. Put your roast on the oven rack with the fatty side up and a drip pan over a rack under the roasting rack. This way, you will not be required to turn the roast.

Brown your roast at 375 F for 30 minutes. Then, put it on 225oF. It would still 2 to 3 hours to cook but if it starts to drip and is already brown externally, use your meat thermometer to check its temperature. After this, pull your roast from the oven once the temperature reaches 135 to 140oF. Place it on an aluminum foil for about 15 minutes and carve to serve.

For the gravy:

Take out the dripping pan from the oven. Place it on the stove top while it is on medium heat. Collect the drippings, add water, beef stock or red wine. This will loosen the drippings off the pan. Then, dissolve one tablespon of cornstarch with water and add this on the drip pan. Stir it quickly as the gravy thickens. You can also add some butter, salt and pepper. Aside from this, you can also add some fresh thyme.

For more information on Slow Cooker chicken stew recipe and Electric Steamers. Please visit our website.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=David_Urmann http://EzineArticles.com/?Basic-Slow-Cooker-Tips-and-Delectable-Roast-Beef-Recipes&id=2734590

Dark Chocolate is Good for Your Health

2009-08-15T10:10:00.006-05:00

Isn't it great that dark chocolate has so many health benefits? While not as sweet and creamy as milk chocolate, the darker version can help reduce your cholesterol and your blood pressure. At the bottom of this post, I have included links to some recipes for you to try.

Chocolate Can Be Good For Your Health
By Jimmy Law

Not many people realize that chocolate can be really good for your health. It is always under the classification of junk food that will only bring negative effects to your body.

This is because many people consume it in a large amount and have no idea of how much chocolate they consume everyday can cause weigh gain due to the sugar in it.

So, to eat chocolate in a healthy way, do not go for cheap chocolates that you can get in the stores. High quality chocolate should be your choice. High quality chocolate can be good for your health as it has not been refined that much. This keeps the ingredients in the chocolate that makes it healthy, especially antioxidants.

Therefore, it is advised to go for dark chocolate rather than milk chocolate. As milk chocolates are sort of watered down, its healthy ingredients are much lesser than dark chocolates.

Dark chocolate is better in helping you to lower your blood pressure, and in the meantime, functions as snacks rather than taking pills and medicine that could be nightmare for certain people. The benefits of eating dark chocolates are not only that.

Dark chocolate can be good for your health if you are having high cholesterol. It is proven that having the right proportion of chocolate each day can lower your cholesterol by ten points.

Lastly, you do not have to worry about being fat anymore while having your favorite chocolate. All you need to keep in mind is never over consume it. All things will have negative effect if you go over the border line.

Jimmy Law is a regular writer for chocolate related topics. He is also a writer for [http://www.buyrollingbackpack.com]jansport rolling backpack and [http://www.buycleanandrenew.com]braun clean and renew.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jimmy_Law http://EzineArticles.com/?Chocolate-Can-Be-Good-For-Your-Health&id=2731998

Links to Scrumptious Dark Chocolate Recipes:

Double Dark Chocolate Cupcakes with Peanut Butter Filling

John's Favorite Brownies

HERSHEY'S SPECIAL DARK Chocolate Layered Cheesecake

Tea for Pleasure and Medicinal Uses

2009-08-14T09:50:00.005-05:00

Originally, tea came from China. Now, the Island of Ceylone produces most of the tea in the world, though China, India are major producers, too. The are three basic classifications of tea: 1) black tea; 2) green tea; and 3) oolong tea. Black tea is considered by some to be the best quality tea. The dark color comes from oxidation. Black teas include Ceylon, Darjeeling, English Breakfast, and Lapsang and Souchong. Green teas are naturally green in color and have not been oxidized. The two main types of green teas are Basket Fired and Gunpowder. Oolong teas are paritially oxidized, which makes the leaves a combination of green and brown. The two types of Oolong teas are Formosa Oolong and Jasmine.

Tea has been traditionally used as both refreshment and as medicine. Teas have been used in home remedies for everything from insect bites, to blisters, to burns, to weight loss. Unfortunately, there are some teas that are highly toxic and should not be used without medical supervision. Toxic teas include: buckthorn, burdock, comfrey, foxglove, groundsel, hops, jimsonweed, kava-kava, mandrake, meliot, nutmeg, oliander, pokeweed, sassafras, senna, thorn apple, tonka bean, and woodruff. The physical effects of these teas run the gamut from causing diarrhea to causing liver problems to causing heart arrythmias to causing hemorrhage to causing cancer. Again, not teas you should ever use without a competent medical professional's supervision.

On the other side of that coin, many teas are relaxing, calming, and healthy for you. Tannins in green and black teas have been identified in helping prevent cancers due to the antioxidant polyphenols these teas contain. Camomile tea is great for relaxing nerves, and will help calm over-stimulated children. Black tea, with about half the caffeine of coffee, is a refreshing drink anytime of the day. Hmmm, think I'll go set up my electric kettle and make a fresh cup of my favorite, Earl Grey.

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