Monday, January 27, 2014

My Favorite Bread and Roll Recipes - EASY!

Here are a few of my favorite bread recipes! They are EASY to make! I hope you enjoy them!


The Best Whole Wheat Bread Ever  


I made many whole wheat bread recipes and almost gave up on ever finding one that was light and soft, until my friend Kelly Wilde shared this one with me. I have never made another whole wheat bread recipe since! It is so light and soft that many people don’t believe it’s 100% whole wheat! Plain ingredients – no tofu or enhancers needed.

Ingredients:

3 cups hot water                            
1 TBS salt                                                
¼ cup oil                                          
1/3 cup honey
8-9 cups whole wheat flour (I like to use Hard White Wheat, but Hard Red or a mixture is good too!)
2 TBSP yeast
1 egg


Directions:

1. Stir water, salt, oil, honey and yeast together. Add 4 cups whole wheat flour and egg.
Mix in a mixer for 4-5 minutes.You can use a Bosch or Kitchen Aid type of mixer, or just use bowl and wooden spoon. This will be thin like a batter. Mix it well. This will help your bread have a nice texture, and it's easier than kneading it once all the four has been added in.


2. Add 2 cups whole wheat flour. Mix well. Add 2-3 more cups of flour. The dough has enough flour when it is still a little sticky...if using a Bosch, it will pull away from the sides of the bowl and not stick to the sides of the bowl any longer. That's the precise moment when you know you have enough flour added in. Remember that it is better to have a little less flour than too much! Too much flour makes a very stiff and dry bread! Knead or mix 10 minutes. 

3. Preheat oven to 325°.

4. Let the dough rise in the bowl until double. Punch down.  

5. Cut the dough into 3 pieces. Shape into loaves and put in pans that have been sprayed with non-stick spray. (See photots below)

6. Let the dough rise until double in pans. Bake 35 minutes at 325°. 

7. Let the bread sit in pans for 10 minutes after baking. Then take out and let it cool on a bread board or wire rack. Or eat immediately with butter and honey or homemade jam, and you will think you are in heaven. Once the loaf has mostly cooled down, you can bag it and freeze it if desired. It will be good in the freezer for a few months. 


I had just put the dough into the pans.


Now they have risen enough and are ready for the oven.

This is so beautiful to me. But if you let it rise much more than this, it will rise too much and then deflate, and you will have a sunken in bread. You can still eat it, but it will look funny and be a little dense. Still good though. With a little practice, you will learn when when your bread is ready for the oven.

Source: Original recipe came from my amazing friend Kelly Wilde about 20 years ago. : )

No Fail French Bread  

  

Ingredients:

2 TBSP yeast     
5 TBSP oil
2 ½ cups warm water                      
1 TBSP salt                           
2 TBSP sugar                                       
6 cups white flour (sometimes I substitute a cup of wheat flour. It makes the bread very beautiful.)

Directions:

1. Mix all ingredients together and knead in a mixer (like a Bosch or Kitchen Aid) for 10 minutes. You can do it by hand with a bowl and spoon, but just add half of the flour at first and stir for a while until the "batter" seems smooth. Then add in more flour and mix until it gets too difficult to stir by spoon. Dump it out onto a floured surface and knead in the remaining of the flour. I actually do not ever exactly measure the flour. I know I have enough flour when the dough is no longer really sticky, but be careful to not add too much. You do not want the dough to be stiff or dry. A little less flour is better than too much!

2. Let the dough rise in the bowl until doubled. Punch down. (I usually cover the dough with a damp kitchen towel to keep it from drying out.)

3. Divide and form into 2 french loaves. (Or you can braid it!) Cut top of loaves three times with a serrated knife. You can also brush with beaten egg white and sprinkle with sesame seeds.  

4. Let rise until double - 30 mins or so. Bake for 20 to 30 minutes at 400 °. (Shorter for a soft crust, longer for a thick and chewy crust.)  

Notes: 

*You can also put balls of this dough on a cookie sheet to make “Bread Bowls”. Once baked, cut out center of round loaf and  pour in a creamy soup. Make the Bread Bowls any size you want.
*People love to receive this as a gift, especially the braided bread below!

Here is how I form the loaves:

Then put it on a baking sheet and cut the top of the loaf, and let it rise.
 
Delicious!



If you want to braid it, divide one half of the dough into 3 equal pieces, and roll out each piece with your hands into a long skinny "snake". Pinch the ends together, or start braiding it however you can. I often have to rebraid it because I get messed up a bit, like in the picture below. I eventually got it right. : ) Pinch the ends together and tuck them under and try to make it pretty. Even if it's not perfect, it will still look pretty and taste delicious!



30 Minute Rolls  


These are very quick to make, and perfect for making hamburger and hot dog rolls, cinnamon rolls, and quick dinner rolls when you only have a few minutes. You’ll be amazed at how light and fluffy these are. It takes me about 45 minutes to make them, and I cook them slower at 375° until done. Makes a huge batch, about 48 rolls, so I use half of the dough to make cinnamon rolls. See the recipe below for help in making cinnamon rolls. Yesterday I  added 2 cups of  leftover cooked oatmeal to the batter and  added enough flour to make the dough not sticky. They were even better than the original recipe! The best rolls I have ever made! This is my favorite recipe of all time!)

Mix and rest 10 minutes:
3 ½ cups warm water                          
¾ cup sugar (1/2 cup honey)
1 cup oil                                                
6 TBSP Yeast (Less yeast may be used, but rising time will be longer)

Add:
1 TBSP Salt                                          
3 eggs (can use egg powder and water)
10 ½ cups flour (wheat flour turns out really light and fluffy)

Mix in mixer or knead. Shape into rolls. Raise 10 minutes. Bake at 425° for 10-12 minutes or until done. 

How to Make Yummy Cinnamon Rolls


1. Start with the 30 Minute Roll Recipe (listed above)
Note: This recipe makes about 50 cinnamon rolls! You might want to half the recipe!

2. Here’s How to “Shape into Rolls”
Cut dough in half. Roll out one of the sections into a rectangle about ¼ inch thick (or so!) Spread soft or melted butter over the dough. Spread a mixture of brown sugar and cinnamon over the butter. Roll up. Cut into 1 inch sections and place on cookie sheet. Let rise for about 10 minutes or so. Repeat with other section of dough, or just make them into dinner rolls.

*I prefer to bake them at 375 degrees until they are starting to lightly brown and dough is done in the middle. Take out of oven and let cool for about 5 minutes or so. Spread on or drizzle on the frosting.

Photo Tutorial:


Start off by shaping the dough roughly into a rectangle.

Roll out the dough about 1/4" thick. This will take practice.

Spread soft or melted butter over dough. 

Put cinnamon sugar on the dough.

Spread it out smoothly - feel free to use your hands.

Roll up the dough.

Cut into 1 inch slices.

Place them neatly on a cookie sheet and let them rise. This is a "jelly roll pan", which is half of a sheet cake. You can put them on smaller pans that just hold 12 cinnamon rolls.

Bake them in the oven and look how beautiful they are!

Oh. My. Yumminess!

Spread on your cream cheese frosting.

I wish you could smell these and taste them! YUM!!!!


3. Here’s How to Make the Frosting
Okay, I have to admit that I never measure! But here is an estimate….Soften about 8 oz of cream cheese and 3 tablespoon of butter in a large plastic bowl. Add 3-4 cups powdered sugar, 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract, and a few (maybe 4??) tablespoons of milk. Mix with hand mixer…you may need to add more milk or powdered sugar to get the right consistency you like. I like it kinda thin like a cake batter, not thick like cake icing.

4. Enjoy!


Eat immediately with a glass of milk and enjoy! They are good for a few days, but you will want to warm them up for about 8 seconds in the microwave!

Wednesday, January 22, 2014

What Should I Store?



Here is a list of suggested amounts of Basic Food Storage for one adult for one year:

Grains - 400 lbs

Legumes - 60 lbs

Powdered Milk - 16 lbs (This gives you approx. one cup of milk per day.)

Cooking Oil - 10 quarts

Sugar or Honey - 60 lbs

Salt - 8 lbs (This is 5 regular salt containers from the store or 1#10 can.)

These items will sustain your life and give you the nutrients you will need to survive, if this is all you had to eat. Canned vegetables, fruits, and other things you normally eat will add variety and comfort to you in times of emergency or need. 

These are the items recommended by the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in a letter dated January 20, 2002. They suggested a year supply of these items for your family, but I have broken it down to a one month supply for one person to make it not seem so overwhelming.

This is a 1 Month Basic Emergency Supply for One Person and Why You Need It!

Grains - 34 lbs
Wheat, white rice, brown rice, oatmeal, corn (for making cornmeal), popcorn, cream of wheat, white flour, pasta, grits, millet, barley, 6-grain cereal, 9-grain cereal, quinoa, spelt, buckwheat, kamut, amaranth, etc. are all part of this category. Choose a variety of grains that your family likes or that you would like to start cooking with. Variety is the key to a good food storage supply!

Legumes - 5 pounds
Legumes are beans and peas. Pinto beans, red beans, lima beans, green split peas, lentils, kidney beans, black beans, soy beans, white beans…and the list goes on. Beans are extremely nutritious and contain a protein content of 20-25%, except soy beans, which contain as much as 40% protein. That is more than some meats!!! When you combine a grain with a legume, your meal will provide a complete protein, which is necessary in good nutrition (especially if meat is not available). Examples of meals that are a complete protein are Beans and Rice, Chili and Cornbread, Bean Soup and Wheat Bread, and Corn Tortilla Chips with Refried Beans.

Powdered Milk - 1.5 lbs
This only gives you one cup of milk a day, so you will want more for children or nursing mothers, or to use in cooking. Milk contains calcium and is also a good source of vitamin A. For my family, I personally plan for 50-60 lbs of powdered milk per person. This gives me plenty to bake and cook with, and drink! (Yes, there are some powdered milks out there that taste good enough to drink!) That would be about 4-5 lbs of milk as a one month supply for one person.

Cooking Oil - 1 Quart
Oil (fat) is absolutely necessary in our diet to supply energy and to provide us with the important fat soluble vitamins A, D, E and K, and the essential fatty acid, lanolic acid. Most Americans eat entirely too much fat on a daily basis, but a little is absolutely necessary for good health. 

Sugar or Honey - 5 lbs
Don’t forget the sweets! If you have sweeteners, you are able to do so much more with basic food items! Honey, white sugar, brown sugar, powdered sugar, molasses, and corn syrup are included in sweeteners. You can even count a little jelly and jam here too!

Salt - 1 salt container (26 oz)
Salt is important in flavoring almost all foods. Iodized salt is recommended. Sea Salt and Kosher Salt are also available. I believe that variety is the spice of life!! Consider storing other spices that really add some zip to basic foods – pepper, cinnamon, chili powder, taco seasoning, Italian spices, garlic, etc.

Sprouting Seeds - 1/2 - 1 pound
You can sprout almost any edible grain, nut, bean or seed. Sprouting increases the nutritional value of foods. It is a good way to increase the amounts of vitamins and minerals we intake if our diet is limited to a few foods, and especially if fresh fruits and vegetables are not available. Alfalfa is the most popular. *Note: This item is not listed in the letter, but it is worth considering if all you have stored are dried foods.

Water - 14 gallons emergency supply per person
Don’t forget to store water! This is part of the very basics! You should have at least 14 gallons of water per person as a two week emergency supply. It is suggested that you drink 2 quarts a day and save the other 2 quarts for food preparation and cleaning. It would be better to store more than 14 gallons per person, but make sure you have at least that much! See my post on WATER STORAGE


People often ask what's next after the basics listed above!
Here is a suggestion according to the counsel we have been given by church leaders, in my own words and understanding. You will most likely have different needs and opinions according to your family circumstances, but hopefully this will help spark some ideas that will help you on your way to better preparedness.

3 MONTH SUPPLY
It is actually recommended that you first have a 3 month supply of food that you are accustomed to eating every day. This could/should include a 3 month supply of the foods listed above, plus other canned goods and items that you normally eat. You want to have on your shelves a well rounded 3 month supply of food. (For me, that means it has to have some chocolate! Chocolate pudding, hot chocolate, chocolate chips, chocolate cake mix, brownie mix, cocoa powder, etc. DON'T forget your chocolate! Ha ha!) Then start working on a more complete one year supply. Growing a garden and canning the produce is the best and least expensive way to get a lot of good food in your pantry!

After the 3 Month Supply and Basics Foods from the List, THEN WHAT?
It really depends on you and how you cook, what you like, and what you already have stored on your shelves, but here's a few items that are next on my priority list:

Baking Powder
Baking Soda
Yeast
Vinegar
Bouillon (Chicken, Beef, Vegetable)
Powdered Eggs (Whole Eggs, Ova Easy Eggs, Egg Whites, Egg Mix, etc.)
Spices (Cinnamon, Taco Seasoning, Pepper, Chili Powder, Garlic, Cumin, etc.)
Freeze Dried Fruits and Vegetables (they last long and store well. taste good and look good)
Butter Powder (you can make white sauces and use in baking)
Dried Potatoes (dices, slices, hashbrowns, flakes, potato pearls, etc.)
Cheese Powder, Freeze Dried Cheese
Canned Tomatoes, Tomato Powder
Beef TVP, Bakon Crumbles TVP, Ham TVP (those are my favorites and you can do a lot with them)
Canned Beef, Chicken, Tuna, Salmon, etc. (canned from the store or freeze dried are all good)
Soup Bases and Dry Mixes
Dry Onions
Refried Beans (dried - they are the yummiest refried beans! Way better than canned ones from the store!)

Final Thought
And the list can go on and on. But if you have the basic foods listed in the original list above, canned goods and items you are used to eating, and the next priority items I just listed, you will have a good variety of food you can really cook with and enjoy. and it will be nutritious and sustain you and comfort you in a crisis or emergency situation. 

One time our crisis was a frozen well pump with a husband in the shower all soaped up when the water stopped. My water storage came to the rescue! Once it was an ice storm that knocked out power for 4 days. One time it was unemployment for a few months. I've had friends who have had health problems or accidents and couldn't work for a while, or unexpected expenses that drained the grocery budget, or a death in the family which changed the breadwinner. Life happens, but if we are prepared, we shall not fear...because we will have what we need, and we will have the blessings of being obedient to the counsel we have been given. May the Lord bless you all in your family preparedness efforts! 



Wednesday, January 15, 2014

SPECIALS: Awesome Sawyer Filtration System and Water Storage Kit

Here are 2 great deals on fabulous water storage and water filtration products from Thrive Life!

New Product that came out in December!

The Sawyer Mini Water Filtration System


The BEST filtration system! Filters 100,000 gallons! See video!
$22.99 Single 
$89.99 4-Pack
 Click HERE to read about and buy the single pack, and HERE to buy the 4-Pack.

You have to see this video about this product! It's AMAZING!!!!
______________________________________________________

55 Gallon Water Kit

Special Promo: $89.99 (Ends Monday January 20 at 5pm MST)
plus tax and $10.99 shipping
(You must contact me for this "unadvertised special" price. It is not available on the website)

It comes with:
  • 1 55 gallon drum (Food Grade/BPA Free)
  • 1 Water Pump with Adapter (Adjustable from 14.9" long to 37.4" long, 1" wide)
  • 2 Advanced Filters (attaches to pump, filters up to 100 gallons each)
  • 1 Bung Wrench Tool
Please let me know if you have any questions! I am happy to help you however I can with food storage or preparedness!
Melissa : )

Thursday, January 2, 2014

The Wondermill Electric Mill is My Favorite Grinder!

This is my favorite electric mill! I have owned and used several of the other popular electric grinders and this one will always be my favorite! 

It's that time of year again to think about what you need to get prepared! And I think you need to consider getting a Wondermill! This is my favorite grinder! I literally use it almost every day! Think of all of the yummy and wholesome breads, rolls, pancakes, muffins, cookies, etc you could make with your freshly ground whole wheat! YUM! I have some great recipes too that I will send you if you buy a mill! You can purchase your Wondermill straight from the BUY NOW button below if you have a Paypal account, or email or message me and I will help you get this ordered! You will love it!

The WonderMill Electric Grain Mill


World's #1 Rated Electric Grain Mill

The WonderMill Electric Grain Mill is the quietest and fastest grain mill available. You can create super-fine flour or coarse flour at temperatures that preserve nutrients, ensuring that you will always have the perfect flour for your food.

Many of The World's leading grain experts agree that The WonderMill is indeed the grain mill to own. With WonderMill's large 1250 watt motor, it is the MOST POWERFUL micronizing mill available. The WonderMill can grind over 100 pounds of flour per hour and has enough power to blast through clogging issues.

The WonderMill will grind wheat, corn, rice, legumes, beans, and other small grains like Quinoa and Amaranth. It will even grind many grains suitable for Gluten-Free Flours. Go to willitgrind.com to see a full list of what you can and can't grind with the WonderMill.

A limited lifetime warranty is included with every WonderMill.