Mmmmm....Delicious

Today I made a mouth-watering Roast with Mashed Spuds!! Crockpot meals are so easy and yummy. Thaw roast, put olive oil, salt, pepper and fresh garlic cloves (sliced in half if big), and then the roast on top, dash a bit more salt and pepper on the roast. Add some water depending how much broth you want to be left over after you've served the gravy with the meal. Cook on high for about 4 hrs & enjoy the aromas that waft through your house! How easy!! Boil 5 lbs potatoes for 20 mins with salted water, drain (& keep for another stew, potatoe bread, ect.) and put in a mixer (Bosch is THE best!) add 1 stick of butter, salt, white pepper and 1 cup of milk and mix til the right consistency. Serve before everyone comes, or it will be gone and they'll be asking for seconds before you're done serving!! :) Don't forget to make a volcano with the gravy in the potatoes-that's what we called it when my mommy did this for us!

To answer this question: For your cinnamon rolls, do you just use honey instead of white sugar? Would brown sugar be OK?

We don't use brown sugar, but we do eat lots of molasses! (full of b vitamins, calcium, potassium, magnesium!!) Brown sugar (I'm sure you know) is only sugar that a small amount of the molasses has been added back to it. I only put a minimum of honey in the dough so it slightly sweetens it, but won't burn. I add a mix of butter, honey and vanilla (maybe cream -whipped or not if we have it on hand) and pour or brush it on after the rolls are out of the oven.

Oh, I forgot...I put a teaspoon each of ground cinnamon and ground ginger in 2 cups of honey and use part of this for the icing.

And I've had to figure how much bread we eat each week and which were the best days to bake it. For me it's Tuesdays and Fridays, then there is no bread making on the weekend and I still have the day after if I get behind on things! This was the only way I could keep up!


Nothing else here. Amazingly enough, the snow has melted and it was such a bright sun shiny day!! :)

Yum, Yum, Yummy

If you're a fan of broccoli, I have a soup recipe to share.

Yummy Broccoli Soup
5 lb bag (80 oz) cut broccoli
2 roasted squash
*Clean seeds (roast coated in oil and salted for 10-15 mins at 200F degrees for appetizer) and place in an inch of water with 1 TBSP oil and cook til soft, about 30 mins at 400F degrees.
1 stick of butter
3 TBSP Real Salt (only do this amount if you have Sea Salt or Real Salt)
Black Pepper to taste

Put Broccoli in a 12-15 quart pan and cover with water and cook/boil til soft. (I usually forget about it and when I smell it, it's ready.) Add everything else and cook to make sure everything is mushy. Blend with a stick blender. Serve when cool.

The squash gives it a sweeter taste and smoother texture.




I will be starting more and more organizing and "purging" and cleaning. Hubby is working on the house again. There's so much to be done: tiling, carpeting, walling, bathrooming, and all the little things that make the work perfect.

We have the kitchen to tile, the living room to carpet upstairs and a bathroom and 2 bedrooms to put in downstairs. I, hopefully, will be posting the pictures. It's so exciting seeing all of our ideas and plans come together!! I am absolutely jumping up and down!! More importantly, I am glad to see God's hand in our life as door after door is opening for us!! ...more later.

Oatmeal Raisin Cookies - With A Glass of Milk

I must preface by saying that we have our sweetness levels reduced since we don't have many sweets. You may want to ice them or for the pumpkin recipe use a cream cheese frosting, just suggestions. It is mandatory to have these with milk. Swap out the raisins for chocolate chips even with the pumpkin.

2 cups whole wheat flour
2 cups oats
1.5 tsp baking pwd
1.25 TBSP cinnamon
1 cup honey
1/2 cup sour cream (or yogurt)
1 tsp vanilla
3 eggs
3/4 cup butter (1.5 sticks)
1 cup raisins (or up to 1/2 cup more if desired)

Sorta drop, but mush into a cookie shape (they don't fall down) on an UNGREASED cookie sheet. Bake at 375F degrees for 12-15 mins.

*Variation:
1/2 small can or 1/4 large can of Pumpkin substituted for the Sour Cream/Yogurt
add only 1 tsp each of cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger.


The weather is clearing and now we wait for the pears. I'll take pictures. Since we didn't go out while it rained the past 2 days, we had about 1.5 cups of raspberries today. Everyone had a goodly amount!
I'm posting patterns on my handwork site and have been busy with that and finishing lots of knitting. I am keeping myself from starting yet another project until I have finished quite a few. Busy, busy, busy! Prepared the taco and pizza meat and we had the leftover soup/stew with grilled cheese sandwiches. Correlating the shopping with the meal planning has been a challenge to keep meals going when "regular" ingredients are lacking.
We are truly blessed to have our needs provided by our Jehovah Jireh - our Provider! I am finding myself automatically going to the Lord for everything, in prayer AND thanksgiving! Days are more peaceful and organized. Now on to the tongue! I am learning and will have what I say!


"And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.
"For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.
"Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them."
Mark 11:22-24

What do you say that may be a curse, rather than a blessing?
I just can't do this, I don't know how to handle this, How will I ever get to this?

"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."
Phillipians 4:13

Read the previous verses also. God has given me the ability to handle everything that comes my way.

"Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established."
Proverb 16:3

If I go to the Lord first...I will have His help, strength, peace, joy and all good things! I CAN do ALL THINGS!!

Ok, just wanted to share how I've been blessed this past week! How have you been blessed? How can we rejoice together in what the LORD has done in our lives? Ok, last verse:

"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."
Phillipians 4:8

We are to not only speak what is right, but to also think. So dwell on these things, mull them over, mentally ruminate and your life will show fruit!

Turkey Recipe

Here's my answer to a recent comment:

My favourite Thanksgiving Turkey recipe is my mom's! When she cooks, that's my most favourite!!

I've never made turkey (whole) and I think I made a roast when dh went to work. Warms up better than the first time it's eaten.

When we ate more chicken, I'd make fajitas. Not really Thanksgiving food, but still yummy!! I think just making something you and yours like is the best part of celebrating together, no matter the day-or missed day!

I like to keep Thanksgiving meals for getting together with family, rather than making a mess at something I've not tried and don't have a reason to! I like all the memories associated with Thanksgiving...I'd like to keep it that way!! LOL

Well, I've been busy today. It's raining and overcast, but I have had a song in my heart and have enjoyed singing with the girls!
I just finished making a wonderful Potatoe and Hard-Boiled Egg Stew, the Bread is rising and since I didn't have bread, pancakes or any muffin type thing to have with eggs for b'fast, I made Oatmeal Raisin Cookies. If you consider the ingredients...they are the same for all of the above (except bread, but you could have raisin bread!). Again, no sugar, no white flour and you have good food you can have ANY time of the day!!

As I sip my freshly made herbal tea: chamomile, lavender (oh, yeah, totally calming!), spearmint, rose hips, fennel, dandelion leaf and red clover.

So, besides all this, I wrote out 3 (yes, three) patterns that I'll be posting sortly!!
(Yup, all this done while homeschooling and caring for the babies!)

Well, need to go feed the tribe and enjoy the constant sound of rain and cars driving through it!

Mmm...PIZZA!

I forget how much we enjoy eating pizza. I finally found a way to make it that has a whole lot more protein! I make the crust out of Naan Bread and roll it thin, sauce, toppings, bake and EAT!

I know that it is contrary to my heritage and being this close to Chicago, but I really like the thin crust NEW YORK style crust/pizza!

This pic is from the other time I made it. You can make personal size, medium, or one panfull size. This recipe makes enough for our family (of 8-well, 7 eating) for 2 meals!

Ok. This is the simple way, here it is all laid out:

Naan Bread
3 cups of flour (whole wheat)
1 tsp salt
1 tsp yeast
1 tsp honey
2 TBSP oil
4 TBSP Yogurt
3/4 cup warm water

Mix dry, then add wet, and lastly yogurt. Let rest for about 20 mins. Then I roll it and patch it onto a pizza pan (a cookie sheet works too)

Sauce
1 can (32 oz) tomato concentrate (it's the walmart brand and ONLY has tomato pulp-no salt!)
1 TBLS salt (still using Real Salt)
2 TBLS oregano
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper
1/3 large onion
1/2 head (several cloves) garlic

Toppings

*I cook hamburger with salt and onions-use what I need and freeze the rest for next time I make pizza...helps alot
-also cooking the onions with the hamburger, flavors it differently than if I put them as a topping. When I've added onions as a topping, my pizzas always came out watery!
*sliced black olives
*grated mozzarella cheese -I do this

These are the topping we like, keeping away from my favourite of pepperoni which have nitrites and other oddities. I had headaches for years when I ate white flour crusts and pepperoni!

Throw together and cook in oven at 400F degrees for about 12 minutes. Lower temp, cook longer and get a crisper crust.

I have made a cornmeal crust and mixed beans and meat and added the cheese and olives and it was like a mex-pizza!!

Enjoying the cooler weather. It's between 62-65 degrees now, except for the next few days of being in the upper 60's and barely into the 70's! Wonderful cooking weather and even better to sit in the sun outside while the children play and (what else?) KNIT!

Need to go make bread, wake babies and prepare to go outside again!! (change the laundry, too)
Ciao for now!

You can't see me, I'm hiding behind my computer.

Blogger has been very disobedient! I have had trouble logging into anything Google related and today is the very, very first I've gotten this far!! So, since I haven't been online (I could visit other sites) too much I've been working and doing soooo much! In fact, we finish school before lunchtime as long as I get up early!! Yesterday I was up at 5:30A and was able to have a wonderful quiet time and read through Galatians. I am so encouraged that God is true!!
"Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you." James 4:8a

What else?! Yup, been knitting too. Usually when we go outside and also in the evenings. We're waiting on the last batch of raspberries for the season. Just about all done!


Hubby and I have been exercising alot. We walk approx. 3 miles at least 4 or 5 times per week. It is easy to make a track in the backyard and the children can play! I'm losing more weight by just adding Olive Oil (2 TBLS trying for twice per day) taken as "medicine" in orange juice. I FINALLY fit in my size 10 jeans!! I've gone from bigger than 14, then they fit, then 12 and now 10! I'm also eating more protein & vegetables and a lot less carbs and almost no cheese! We also figured that I've been eating at night since baby#5; eliminating that has helped also!!
I've stopped T-tapping. I think it helped to build my spine and strengthen all of me, but I needed more! I now do my stretching exercises I did while pregnant with #1 & #2 (when I lost ALL my weight 2 months postpardem!) and Hubby and I walk & occasionally I will lift weights with him. I don't have a problem lifting weights, I don't bulk up or look like a guy, I just get cut muscles and lose weight!

Next, school is going swimmingly! We are done before lunch & we accomplish so much! I also have Math, History and Science so that they are 3 times per week every other week - Math is a constant Monday/Wednesday/Friday. I'm using the Science & History for at least two and up to three times per lesson. It is full of information that I want to be sure they retain as well as seeing that they are working on their reading comprehension - that's not really taught, so I figured I'd do this to help them get ahead even more!! I must tell you that we had Sign Language on Tuesday when I just demonstrated and said 50 words (on a set of cards) and today we went through them by just showing the sign & #1 got 47 out of 50 correct!! (I'm not a prompter in any way, shape or form!) I enjoy teaching and seeing how the children really love to learn!!

Right now, I'm thawing hamburger to make chili. I finally made a batch of beans that were perfect - soft without being "refried" mushy! I have tomatos from the garden that I'll have the children pick when we go out here shortly. (They're all red now, this was taken about a week ago.)


I made some delicious pancakes the last few days. I'll share my recipe:

2 cups whole wheat flour
2 cups oats
4 tsp baking soda
1 tsp rounded cinnamon
1 tsp rounded ground ginger
1/2 - 1 tsp freshly ground nutmeg
1/2 - 1 tsp salt
4 TBLS butter or cocunut oil (it's cooler here, so it's turned solid)
4 TBLS honey
3 eggs
2 cups milk
1 cup raisins

Mix dry ingredients & add wet. Let sit so the oats begin to break down. Add raisins last.
Make sure everything is wet & bake on a greased pan stovetop. Ya know, like pancakes are made! Enjoy with a glass of creamy whole milk!

Hmmm...when I was offline I thinking up many things to blog about, now I'm not remembering too much now. Well, I best be off to make that chili & such. I already made the Scot Oat Cakes, they came out more like crackers this time!

Well, I'm going to see if blogger likes me & I can post this. I'm thinking about scheduling a time where my computer is connected when hubby doesn't need it. It will most certainly be after the children are in bed!! "Curious George" is almost over, so I better go.

Have a blessingfull week (or however long it is til I see ya again!)

And We're Back!

Sorry about that gap in blogging. My computer would NOT log into Bl.ogger, G.m.ail or even Go.ogl.e!! My computer super brother fixed everything-remotely!! My #1 was laughing, moving the mouse trying to mess him up! Extra big hugs to him!!

Ok, now to the blog...ya know, real life!!

I wanted to share my other cake/muffin-thing recipe. It was so good that when I ate the leftovers I was surprised it came out of my oven!! Ok, here goes...

2 cups flour

1 1/4 TBS baking pwd

1 1/2 tsp ground ginger

1 TBSP orange peel

1/4 cup butter or coconut oil

2 eggs

1/2 cup milk

1/2 cup yogurt (homemade)

1/2 orange juice

1/2 cup honey

Blend orange peel in the orange juice. Mix dry ingredients, add liquids, mix well til nothing is dry. Put in GREASED pan. Cook at 400F degrees for 20 mins. Watch/check your cake the last 2-5 mins depending on your oven temps.

It doesn't taste like ginger, but it does have a strong orange flavor that is just naturally wonderful!! Please enjoy with your favourite beverage!

I have also been contemplating whether or not to continue with the Thankful Thursday or Then Sings My Soul Saturday. I don't blog regularly (barring the week of clothes) and I missed Thursday & would like to spend all of tomorrow outside. If I do continue, it may end up being Thankful Everydays and Singing to the Lord!

Okie dokie, what else? Not much here. I plan, Lord willing, to knit more & write up patterns and therefore blog less. We'll see. Hope you're enjoying the last days of summer break. I have school to start & projects to plan to keep everyone happy, busy and learning without realizing it!! Maybe I'll let you know what I'm doing for school, once I get it going. I have some great ideas from my big sis & am so ready to start!

K, nuthing else here. Ciao.

Bread Making

I have Bosch Universal Mixer and an Ultramill Grain Mill. These are two of my best investments, even over a dishwasher. This is how I handle my bread making days (I will exclude the multitasking of making breakfast and caring for children).

Put Organic Red Wheat Berries in Grain Mill. Set in bedroom, turn on, come out, shut door. When pitch goes high (when no wheat is left to grind), open door, turn off, come out & shut door.

*all this is done so the effects of high decibel sound does not do damage to any of us.

Ok, so you see it's easy...fresh wheat is more desireable for all it's nutrients are intact for approx. 24 hours. You'll see and taste the difference!!

+Get out bosch, put in yeast, honey & warm water.

+Let yeast "burst"

+Add salt, oil and wheat (and other ingredients like oats, millet, nuts, etc.)

=add flour a few cups at a time, not all at once

+Knead with machine for about 3 minutes.

+Put into oil covered big bowl to let rise til almost falling out of pan (can take as little as 20 mins.)

+Punch down and let rise again

+Punch down and form into loaves & put in oiled ("Pam" can be used) loaf pans to let rise for no more than 25 mins

+Put in oven for 25-30 mins (depending on your oven) at 350 F.

+Take out & let cool before taking out of pans to cool the rest of the way before freezing or eating with honey!

So, it seems like a bit of work, but once you do this, it is so very easy & gratifies the body's cravings for good-for-you foods!!

Here's my recipe (It's what my mama taught me long, long ago)

4 TBLS Yeast

1.5 TBLS Salt

1/2 Cup Oil (Olive)

12-13 Cups Flour (8 cups wheat berries)

1/2 Cup Honey (I put in 1 to 1.5 cups to make the bread sweeter)

5 Cups Warm Water

That's the basic recipe for 4 loaves of bread. Also, I use Stainless Steel Breadpans.

I hope you are able to make bread & enjoy it! (Pay attention to your oven temperatures when cooking with honey. The bread will be darker in color than white flour and look almost burnt. There's a fine line between looking burnt and being burnt.)