Fall Flavors and Tasty Tuesday announcement!

There's something about dropping temperatures that draws me to get that kettle on the stove with savory soups a simmering.
I love the way they make my house smell cozy all day long.
When the weather turns brisk, soups are definitely one of my comfort foods.

Trying to decide on some of my favorite soups is an arduous task.
Chicken noodle/dumpling, taco, chili, baked potato, cream of broccoli and cheese and so many others top the list.
My mouth is watering just thinking about taking that hot french bread straight from the oven and dipping it into any of those favorites.

Another of our frugal favorites is Bean Soup and for the last few days, beans have been a staple.
Officially, five pounds of dried beans have been soaked, cooked, eaten and/or bagged and frozen for future use. Having them cooked and bagged allows me the ease of throwing them in whatever - whether it's a casserole, soup or side.
I have my seven bean soup recipe down to a science...dolloped with sour cream and sprinkled with cheese, this is a recipe that all my children devour.
But don't ask me for measurements.
I don't ever measure with soups. The fun is in the experimental process. :)

So what fall foods are you looking forward to? I can't wait to see them over the next few months here at Tasty Tuesday.
As always, please link to your direct URL recipe post and link back here so others can join in the fun.

BIG ANNOUNCEMENT!
I am in the process of moving my blog to Word Press. It will have the same great feel, just more versatility with an easier search option for these wonderful recipes. :)
This is the last Tuesday where you can find me at inpassionatepursuit.blogspot.com.
For next week, please make sure your URL link back to Tasty Tuesday reflects http://www.beautyandbedlam.com

So what are you sharing for Tasty Tuesday Parade of Foods?

Delicious Dirt Cake - Tasty Tuesday

I continue to marvel at how God reveals himself through the minuscule, seemingly "meaningless" things.
My daughter happened to mention that she wanted a dirt cake for her birthday months ago. Agreeing wholeheartedly with her, that thought went in one ear and out the other. (Am I the only one that happens too?)
Well, her first ever "friend" party had to be postponed, and dirt cake was the last thing on my mind, (I have enough dirt on my floor lest I create some unnecessarily), that was, until I arrived at a fabulous yard sale.

I glanced at this adorable pot, and the woman volunteered, "Oh, we never planted flowers in there, I just used it for dirt cake. Have you heard of that recipe?"

Had I ever? Well, I about hugged and squeezed off her little neck in excitement, graciously stole it from her for a mere $0.50, and skipped on home.
Entering the door, my daughter was beside herself because this meant that a real life friend party was actually coming to fruition.

I marvel at how the Lord ministered to me through a little old flower pot.
Isn't that so cool? I mean He knew for sure I would never pay retail for one this nice, so He let someone else do it for me. :)


How hard can a dirt cake be to make?
Not hard at all. It's so simple and has such great visual impact that I recommend it for every birthday party, except for the fact that my daughter requested a dirt cake made out of ice cream.
And every single recipe that I googled featured only pudding and cream cheese, so I improvised...which is what I am known for.

Now its official title is Dirt Soup, but I'll know for next time that the freezer is a good thing.
And yes, we still had candles.

And I don't think she minded the Dirt Soup one little bit, do you? :)
Posted at: Chatting at the Sky
Kimba's DIY
Dirt Cake

(this is the most common recipe that is posted...I will highlight how I changed it to suit my daughter's request).

Crush:

1 large package Oreo cookies in blender.

Cream together: (I completely skipped this step)

1/2 stick butter
8 oz. cream cheese
1 c. powdered sugar

Mix: (along with this mixture I added a half gallon of vanilla ice cream)

3 1/2 c. milk
2 pkg. French vanilla instant pudding
12 oz. Cool Whip

Add to cream mixture and mix well.

Place Cool Whip lid in bottom of clean 8-inch flour pot. (Umm, I missed this line...huge mistake. I tried sticking some gummies into close the hole after the fact...don't laugh. You are at Balancing Beauty AND Bedlam). Layer cookie mixture and creamed mixture alternately, ending with cookie mixture on top. Chill overnight. (I put it in the freezer only about an hour before serving it. With ice cream replacing the cream cheese, I needed to put it in for most of the day. It was absolutely delicious anyhow.)

Garnish with artificial flowers and serve with a garden trowel or, layer in a sand bucket. Place shovel in the middle or towards the side. Have gummy worms "crawling" out of the dirt. Make sure you end with cookie mixture.

I just found flowers that I had in my home instead of purchasing special ones. Yes, a wire cutter would have been nice for those long stems. I'll be on the look out though for some cute ones for next time. And yes, now my other daughter wants this next year.

So what have you been cooking up this week for Tasty Tuesday. Link up to your exact URL and please link back here so everyone can join in the fun.

Are coupons worth it?

A common question I receive from readers and friends is, "Are coupons really worth the hassle?"

Guess what, 92% of the time...they are not!
Yes, you heard it from the grocery guru's mouth.
92% of the time, the store is going to make money on you whether you cut a coupon or not.
Your miscellaneous coupons will not skyrocket you to grocery guru status.
But understanding that 92% of all items are priced to make money, while the other 8% of the store items are yours for the picking, will make a phenomenal difference in the way you view shopping.

You see, on any given week, 8% of the store has certain items that are "loss leader" products.
In layman's terms, these are the rock bottom prices.
The store needs to move those products out of the store because the manufacturers have new shipments that are coming to town.
I've talked about how sales are cyclical, typically every 10-12 weeks, and at the end of the cycle, stores have a choice -recoup a fraction of their money or lose out completely.
Obviously, they won't to recoup any amount they can, so they slash those items big time.
It's that 8% of the store that I focus on.
If you understand how to stock up on that 1/12 of the store where the prices are slashed, the grocery guru title will be yours for the taking.
I'm at the point now where I shop my own "store", excluding produce, and only replenish at the rock bottom prices. If you are just beginning a stockpile, you can be there as well in just three short months.
Continually I share that just because you might have a coupon, doesn't necessarily make it a good deal. In fact, there were plenty of coupons that I didn't use this week even though they would have been tripled.
I typically let about 50% of my coupons expire. I wait until the product hits their "loss leader" rock bottom price and then I stack on the double (or triple) coupons.

I know many of you have shared that you don't have double coupons in your area. Understanding the "loss leader" cycle at your grocery store, mixed with your single coupons, will still net you an incredible savings.
For those of you with triples this week, take advantage of them, there's no reason you can't become a grocery guru.

(I'm cracking myself up as I reread this. I sound all mathematically minded and I SO am not. :) But, it is interesting...More details on how this works in my "Grocery Guru" workshop.)

**********************************************
I just got home from my Sunday grocery trip.
Take a guess at what I paid for all of this (and you can't even see it all because it's stacked with a bunch hiding behind the yogurts).
One of the many common misconceptions include that couponing is only for processed foods.
Yes, I did get five Grands biscuits, two large boxes of General Mills cereal, three boxes of Chex mix bars, fruit gushers, Chex snack mix, Snyder yummy seasoned nibbles, Welch's jelly, Fiber One bars, and I admittedly splurged on Toaster Strudles.

But within your guestimate, include in your total - 18 Dannon yogurts, two pounds of grapes, two large bags of marked down fresh stir fry veggies, three bags of flour tortilla and ten boxes of Green Giant frozen veggies....

Any guesses?

ELEVEN DOLLARS!!

Yippee, yes, I do get excited at the check out and often do a happy shopping dance (in my head, of course).
Trips like that occur more often than not. I just stopped posting about them all the time because I thought you might get tired of my grocery pictures...hee hee :)

Coming home to this easy family dinner was the best part of my trip.
I pulled out the bagged chicken from this post, tossed it with some soy sauce and steamed the veggies. Serving it over the free rice that I purchased and stocked piled from a previous grocery run, our family of seven feasted on an incredibly healthy, quick dinner that even the skeptics would approve of...for under $3 (with left overs...)
Yes, this definitely Works for Me!

I've even gotten my oldest brother excited about this. I left a voice mail tempting him with a cart full of groceries for under $10.

Guess what? I am taking him on a brother/sister date tomorrow to show him how it's done.
He loves a deal, and I'm even sharing my coupons.
As any true couponer knows...that's the ultimate sacrifice.

Easy meal planning tips - 4 meals in 4 minutes

Welcome to another edition of Tasty Tuesday Parade of Foods.

I spontaneously decided to jump into the world of vlogging today, and I'd love for you to come along and laugh right at me. :)
I'm showing you how easy it is to make "4 meals in 4 minutes - Homemade Gourmet lingo" (even though I only got through two of them).
The concept of easy meal planning by separating, seasoning and putting together a simple freezer meal as soon as you get home from the store has been such a time savor.
Thinking ahead with quick and easy crock pot meals saves me stress during my crazy busy fall scheduling.
It helps eliminates the "brain freeze" I feel most nights at 5:00 pm when the family is asking, "what's for dinner?" and I am sure that I just fed them last night. :)
I have lots of tips and ideas on bulk cooking, baking and meal planning with friends under my Balancing Meal Time Mountain section.



Since I am a very atypical blogger and would much rather talk off the top of my head any day than write a big old blog post, thanks for coming along with me for this first "Meal planning" vlog.

I may start doing this once a month for some of my more specific tutorial type posts.
As we were getting ready to leave for football practice, I called my son to videotape for me.
He had the camera pointed at me and said, "Hurry, we need to go."
I then told him I had to think of what to say, and he requested that I do that first before I call him to spontaneously videotape. :)

If you're interested in having me come speak to your group, feel free to hit the "contact me" section.
Posted at: We are that Family



I can't wait to see what you are cooking up for Tasty Tuesday.
As always, please link up to your direct recipe/tip post, and then link back to Balancing Beauty and Bedlam.
Many people have NOT been doing this and it just makes it easier for everyone to join in the fun if we play by this simple request.

Help for the domestically challenged...

When Calgon fails you, have you ever tried this?
(Just make sure it's in your closet, away from anyone of the human species -
just you and the Lord...He'll understand. :)

Since it's been one of those days for me, please share the floor during this week's Tasty Tuesday. I would LOVE if you could impart some wisdom for those that are searching to make their house a home?

So much of what I have learned in my role as a "Domestic Engineer" has come from wise women who have come before me. Surrounding myself with women who encourage me in this role has been a lifeline.
I still have many areas with which I am struggling, but I seek out and learn from those more skilled, and then share my strengths with what I know. I love to see that it truly is the "little things that are the big things" in making our house a home.
So please tell us one of your best "domestic diva" tips in the comments, and let's learn from each other.
How fun it will be to have a whole section of comments with tried and true nuggets.

So what have you been cooking up for Tasty Tuesday?
Please link to your exact recipe URL and also link back to www.beautyandbedlam.com

How to save money on meat

This past weekend, Lysa Terkeurst gave me the privilege of speaking at her 'Becoming More than a Good Bible Study Girl' conference.
You all know how I love to find deals, so it was only appropriate that I shared from my "Becoming a Grocery Guru" workshop. I ran out of time and only briefly mentioned ways to save money on meats.

We all know that some of the most obvious ways to save money on meats are to eat less of them, add more grains and beans to your diet etc. etc. But what if your family mantra declares "Meat is King" and serving a delicious Asian Citrus Salad on couscous is just not an option?

The #1 way that my family saves money on meats is by looking for the wonderful yellow tags that indicate it's being marked down due to a "quick sale."
This means that the sell/freeze by date is within a day or two and they want to move it on out.
I have enjoyed my shopping experience so much more by getting to know the management.
Ask your butcher/meat manager when they mark the meats down.
Quite often, they have a regular routine.
The store I shop at initiates their first mark down by 8am, the second mark down by 3:00pm, and if anything is left by the time they go home at 7:00 - whew, you get a steal and I recommend you snatch it all up. That's what I did last night.

On Sundays, whole rotisserie chickens are on sale for $4.99 (reg. $6.99).
At 7:00pm, if there are any left, an additional $3 is taken off and I splurge for a whopping $1.99 of moist, already cooked, seasoned chicken.
If I snag more than one, I pick off the chicken, bag it up in quart size servings, and I'm ready for instant casseroles or freezer meals .
These pre-marinated pork tenderloins are regularly $8.99 (18 oz). I got there in time for the third mark down and was thrilled to purchase these for only $2.99, as well as free range ground chicken for $1.99.
Don't just assume your store does not do this - ask! They may not, but they also may make an exception. You wouldn't believe all the deals I get on all types of foods just by asking politely.

Some of you have what I call a "flinch factor." Purchasing marked down meats might not be an option for you since you only like the freshest of the fresh, and I completely respect that.
Coupled with buying marked down meats, our family also buys the freshest of meats by purchasing an entire cow (with other three other families).
It doesn't get more fresh than that - from the range to the freezer in less than a week.
Twice a year, we order 1/4 of a cow, and it is always delicious.
It's free range, no hormones and averages about $2/lb for every cut of meat imaginable from Fillet Mignon to soup stock. Since it's location specific, ask a local farmer or butcher if they can recommend a place for you. It's really worth it. In the Piedmont Triad area, we order from Mitchell Meats and they do everything right at their meat packing plant.

Some of the other ways I save are by taking advantage of holiday deals.
Purchasing ground turkey after Thanksgiving always leads to a great deal. Our local Fresh Market grinds their left over turkeys after the holidays and sells their free range, high quality ground turkey at only $0.99/lb.
I stock up on ham before and/or right after Easter and Christmas holidays.

I'm also not afraid of buying the cheaper cuts of meat and letting the crock pot tenderize it til it's melt in the mouth good.

Stretch your ground beef by mixing it with ground turkey. It's not only healthier, but more cost effective. Other ways I stretch my meat are by adding bread crumbs, potato flakes, oatmeal and....
TVP.

What in the world is TVP?
Below I am mixing it with my meatloaf mixture. Yes, I know it might look like dog food, but it's a healthy low cost alternative that is wonderfully versatile. It stands for Textured Vegetable Protein, and it's a meat alternative made from soy flour. It comes in chunks and flakes (I only use the flakes) and I slide it into my ground beef quite often.
It is sold in a dehydrated form but easily reconstitues when mixed with beef.
You can find it sold in any health food store or food chains that carry a "bulk food" aisle.

Here I am stealing all the fun on Tasty Tuesday....there are many more ways that I save on meat.
Why don't you throw out some of your tried and true tips in the comments and see if we can conquer this price war together.
(Posted at Happy Housewife and Works for me Wednesday)

Thanks for sharing at Tasty Tuesday. As always link back to your direct recipe URL, and as a courtesy, please link back to Balancing Beauty and Bedlam.

Baked Oatmeal - Tasty Tuesday

For decades, women have shouted from the rooftops, "Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. " Yet, some how in the hustle and bustle of early morning activities, it's also the hardest for me to implement on a regular basis.
I have nightmares that my children will reminisce about their mom's special cooking which yielded early morning Eggo cinnamon waffles in the van...no syrup, since that would be a mess...but flavored because they can eat them like a snack. ;)

I know how important it is to get solid nutrients in our morning tummy and whole grains are a win-win in our household. There are so many health benefits to oatmeal, not to mention it's a wonderfully frugal breakfast alternative.

I have multiple recipes for baked oatmeal, and many of them taste like a sugary breakfast cake.
This is not one of them. It's intent is a wholegrain, healthy baked oatmeal breakfast that most of my children really love (4 out of 5 aint bad ;).
I have been preparing this since 1996, and have modified it over the years by adding seasonal fruit.
You can mix this up the night before and pop it in the oven first thing in the morning.
Baked Oatmeal

5 cups rolled oats (not instant...rolled and steel cut are where the health benefits abound)
2 cups milk
4 large eggs
3/4 cup honey
1 TB Baking Powder
1 Tsp. Cinnamon
1 pinch of salt
1 Tsp. Vanilla Extract
1/2 cup raisins (optional)
Seasonal fruit ( I have enjoyed strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, peaches, apples etc).

Mix together and pour into a 9x13 baking pan.
Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes or until golden brown.
We serve with milk and a bit of syrup (optional)
This reheats well.

One of my goals this school year is to plan my breakfasts more effectively.
I'll share as I master this. :) If I don't share...well, that's your answer.

So what are you cooking up for Tasty Tuesday?
I can't wait to be inspired.

Creative Party Ideas - Coffee Bar

I am quite sure that one of my love languages comes in a hot, brown liquid form.

So when my niece offered a coffee bar at her wedding reception, I think I could have hung out there all night long.
My son and nephew definitely came into their own as they graduated to Hazelnut Lattes, but my poor, sweet mother....

was desperately trying to figure out the "Starbucks" type lingo.
Do you remember the first time you ever tried to order a fancy coffee?
Come on, think back...it really did seem like a foreign language, didn't it? So when my mom took her first sip, was not happy, and then whispered, "why doesn't mine taste like yours?" it was awfully cute.
The gentleman barista could tell we were in deep contemplation as he came to the rescue, and fixed it up just right. Nothing that a shot of hazelnut and whip cream couldn't fix.
All was good in coffee world again. :)
Not only did they offer a coffee bar, but the creative party favor idea that complemented the coffee bar perfectly was a "Create your own blend" coffee table.

On the end of the tables were large canisters of instant decaf and/or regular coffee.
You chose your bag, filled it with the black coffee and then picked your choice of powdered flavorings.

Every guest left with their own perfect blend of coffee to enjoy days later.
I chose cookies and cream (at the request of our children), and can't wait to enjoy it in my special teacup. :)
As I sip my morning coffee, I will spend time praying for the newlyweds and all the beautiful, yet challenging, transitions that come with those first months of marriage.

Again another fabulously unique, yet frugal way to make any type of party extra special.
Try a coffee bar and coffee blend party favors...I know they will be a huge hit!
So what unique things are you cooking up for Tasty Tuesday? (Posted at Kimba's DIY)

As always, link directly to your specific recipe post URL so guests can find it at a later date, and then please link back directly to my blog somewhere in your post.

Make a splash with drinking water

I live with guilt.
Water drinking guilt, that is.
I know I don't drink the recommended "8x8." That's the fancy rule name. Did you know that the average person should drink a minimum of 8 - 8 ounce glasses of water every single day.
Yes.you.should.
And I don't. That's why I have water drinking guilt.

But when my sister in law told me how she served fruit water in a beautiful glass drinking pitcher, I realized what a difference this small addition would make to my whole attitude about drinking water.
And it did. Not only is it so refreshing, but I no longer feel like it's something I have to do.
It makes me feel all special like to have fruit in my water.
And we're talking not just a slice of lemon.

Come on, try it.
Add just a little of whatever fruit is in season and let it chill for awhile.
The same fruit stayed just fine over the course of a few days, and we just kept refilling and chilling the water.
And don't worry if you don't have a real fancy glass serving pitcher. I want one with those neat spickets on the side so that the fruit doesn't come out, but I don't need it.
(Yes, I know...I had to slip that "want vs. need" in there somewhere, didn't I?)
So, of course, these will do just fine. ;)
What wonderful recipe or kitchen tip do you have to share this week for Tasty Tuesday?
*As always, please link to your direct post (not blog URL) and include a link back to Balancing Beauty and Bedlam. I can't wait to be inspired. :)

What in the world is a tablescape?

When I threw out my "30 days of intentional living" idea, many of you said, "count me in."
As I ponder and think through what my goals are for that month, I am the first to understand that encouraging you on a "ten minute a day challenge" doesn't come lightly.
I am going to do it "real time" this September.
Day in and day out...just ten minutes a day...balancing beauty and bedlam...together.
As a home school mom, September is a crazy month. I go back to real life schedules, and yet I don't want my "best intentions" to be put into procrastination mode. We'll brainstorm ideas revolving around family, finances, friends, and home. (I couldn't think of another word to finish my alliteration. :)
Simple decorating ideas that embrace a "welcoming home" mentality is one aspect on which I want to focus.
I claim no decorator titles, but with a desire to create a haven, yet sticking to a frugal budget, there are some things that can be done in just ten minutes to go from mundane to magical.

A beautiful table is one place to begin. We can spend so much time on a Tasty Tuesday recipe, but forget to make that mealtime memorable. In ten minutes, we CAN add a little beauty to our meal time bedlam, even if it's created for the wonders of Chick-Fil-A.
For months, I just thought tablescape was a creative name some blogger coined. Who knew that it's a real designer definition?

A tablescape is an arrangement of items gathered into a grouping and placed on top of the table.
I hear you all snickering, "well, I have lots of things placed, stashed and stuffed on top of my table". I'm not talking about the junk mail, ladies...clear that off. :)
The sky is the limit with tablescapes and creativity sores when that imagination is set free.
Remember, ten minutes of intentionality...that's all.

I love tablescapes because they give you the opportunity to shop your home. Look around and see what kinds of items you can mix and match. A few ideas (that I got from Dummies.com ;)) might be:

• Photo frame, mirrors (I love)

• Fabrics, pretty napkins
  

• Flowers, foliage

• Fresh fruit or quality fakes
  

• Baskets, books, candles

• Tea trays (I find tons at yard sales), vases, or bowls

A tablescape can simply be an arrangement of your favorite items or a many centerpiece. think of a landscape painting, and that is a great analogy of tablescapes. They refer to the way things are laid out. I used to view them as something you only did on the dinner table, but they're wonderful to arrange on coffee tables, picnic tables, or any other occasional piece that lends itself to decorating — even mantels or shelves.

Some of the main ideas that I've seen suggested are very basic concepts.

• Gather interesting items of different textures together. I typically brainstorm ideas for my kitchen table and picnic table. Good items to have are books, decorative plates displayed on stands, bowls filled with fruit or other decorative items, vases, flowers, candles, and other accessories. These items are found in abundance at yard sales for pennies on the dollar. I love this simple idea for outdoors. Teal is one of my favorite colors. This shows how simplicity of style can really stand out when matched with a bold color.

  

Partylight

• Arrange items in staggering heights. The eye is drawn to varying heights. Stack a few books and put a decorative plate on, if needed. If you have a lamp on a table, use that as your tallest height, and work with other smaller items to fill in your tablescape. And yes, I have found 3 bird cages this summer at yard sales just waiting to be painted. Still wondering where they will go. :)
  
  BHG.com
  

• If you don't intend to use the table for anything else but display, plan away. Otherwise, take up no more than 1/3 of your table with a tablescape unless you This is my biggest problem when doing my kitchen table. I spread everything, every where. You want your tablescape to stay intact but make sure that people can still set down their plates and cups without bumping things over.
  

  

• Use your surfaces wisely. If you set up a gorgeous tablescape on your coffee table but no one has a place to put down their coffee, you've defeated the purpose. "Decorating is meant to enhance — not to hassle".

Do you have items that have been pushed to the back of your cabinets since your wedding day gift opening? Go grab them. You may be pleasantly surprised at what small little items you can add just to make your meal times that much more memorable this week.

So go surprise your family this week by turning the mundane into the magical. They'll definitely ask, "What's this for?"
They are your reason for creating a welcoming haven, aren't they? Sometimes I forget that.

Be on the look out for the start of "30 days of intentional living."
30 days/10 minutes a day...it's going to rock our little homes. :)

Posted at: Inspiring Room

Tasty Tuesday Parade of Foods

As I was writing on the topic "What in the world is a tablescape" (to be posted later this week), I came across the suggestion to use fruits and vegetables for decorative variety.
Do you think this was what they had in mind? :)
I can surely see the beauty in this bedlam, can't you?
Better Homes and Gardens at its finest!

So what interesting items have greeted you lately while getting ready to create your Tasty Tuesday masterpiece?

Considering I was out of town this past week, I am anxious to glean fresh ideas for my sorely lacking weekly meal plan. Somehow summer gets those "best intentions" all out of whack.
* Need help with budgeting those meal plans? Don't forget that new coupons have loaded on my sidebar.
Come back later today for my exciting announcement.

So what's been cooking in your kitchen?

How to make whole wheat bread - Tasty Tuesday

In the midst of my two week travel excursion, I just realized that my one year blogging anniversary has come and gone.
I thought it would be fun to re-visit my very first "foodie" post, written when five of you visited my blog, I didn't really concern myself with any kind of word choices, and I still had a $79 digital camera. :)
This post cracks me up because I read this again for the first time in a year and I realized that I never even posted a recipe... and I'm still not going to. ;)
There are so many great whole wheat recipes but all that I use are specifically for mixers, not hand kneading. For those of you who are new to bread baking, I have a really easy to use french bread recipe for beginners that I was thinking of doing as a post, along with a video tutorial. Let me know if that would be a helpful addition.

There is something about the sense of smell that creates powerful emotions.
It's a beautiful thing really.
Close your eyes and think of a favorite smell.
Is there a special memory tied to it?
Can you recall a specific event?
Maybe a Thanksgiving meal?
How about coffee brewing, brownies baking, bread rising?
(Notice my associations all go to food).
To me, the rousing aroma of freshly baked bread soothes my soul in a simple way.
It reminds me of days gone by, a simpler life, a time when families connected over the breaking of bread.
For most people, the thought of baking bread terrifies them.
"It takes too much time, it's so much effort,
and I can't even cook dinner for my family."
Please don't go running for the hills, it's easier than you think. This isn't a full scale tutorial...just some pictures to inspire you. Maybe this will be the week where you will rekindle your family's senses and soothe them with the sumptuous smell.

For you city folk...this is whole wheat grain.
Remember "for amber waves of grain"...it's really amber,
and that's not just because of a bad camera.
When those "granola-y" types say they are grinding their own grain, don't be too impressed.
I do as well, and it's as easy as plugging in the curling iron. Just pour the amber waves of grain into the hopper and....
VOILA!!! Freshly milled, highly nutritious whole wheat flour.
Did you know that all flour loses the majority of its vitamins within hours of milling it?
Isn't that a bummer since we buy it off the grocery shelves...oh well.
But have no fear....
you don't really think I would go without the good old white flour.
No way...I am not always that healthy. Yes, I buy in bulk(those bags are 25 lbs).
When I bake, I bake for an army and freeze extras.
After you have easily mixed all the ingredients together, the dough will look like this.
Like I said, definitely not a complete tutorial. You are going to cover it and let it rise for about 30-40 minutes.
Yeast is a living thing, so it breathes (rises) all on its own...so puffy...I love that.
But then the part I love even more - punching it down.
A great aggression getter outter. See how it leaves my fist print - it feels great!
I take it out of the bowl and flatten it all out. The kids love this part because it feels so squishy. Then I divide it equally between loaves, rolls etc and shape them.
I will let it rise one more time. There are quick rise ways of making bread, but I didn't have anywhere to be, so I opted for a 2nd rise.
Before....
AFTER (about 30-60 minutes depending on how hot your kitchen is)
Bake and TA-DAAA!! Can't you smell it?
Pass the butter, please..now the cinnamon and sugar (my fav).
It's typically a little lighter in color but I yelled to my son to turn the oven off.
He did (but the bread stayed in...oops)
Carrying through on my daily theme of balancing the beauty and bedlam, I need to be real here. I took a long sabbatical from my weekly bread making tradition. For years, I would make 4-6 loaves of bread every week. It was easy. I could do it in my sleep (although the bread never turns out the same...go figure). My sister in love and I organized an order with other ladies from our food co-op. Montana Wheat brought a semi all the way to NC back in Y2K. Well, I have a closet full of various grains (yikes, even lentils)...so I better get grinding and baking.

My husband is highly encouraging it...in a sweet kind of "the dry ice is only good for 10 years, honey" kind of way. I would love to share some of my bounty if any one is in the area. Come use my grinder and we'll break bread over some freshly brewed coffee and cinnamon rolls.
Bedlam I tell you...SHEER BEDLAM!
Thanks for revisiting my first ever food post written when Tasty Tuesday didn't even exist. This definitely "works for me."
I can't wait to see what's cooking in your kitchen this week.