Homemade Sandwich Bread

Hello one & all...one of my greatest challenges as a "from-scratch" cook has been trying to find a bread recipe that will slice well for sandwiches. My husband loves homemade bread but does not want slabs on either side of his filling...he wants nice, normal sized slices. Well, I am happy to report that I have finally found one! Perfect texture and, if you wait till fully cooled, slices perfectly.

Sandwich Bread

2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast
4 tsp vital wheat gluten (you can find this in most baking departments, I'm sure. Found mine at Molasses Hill Bulk Foods in Alexander)
2 TBSP dry milk
1 1/2 tsp salt
3 cups flour (white, wheat or blend...I have tried 1/2 and 1/2 and all WW. Both really nice...)
3 TBSP sugar
2 TBSP olive oil
1 1/4 cups warm water

Mix dry ingredients, add water and oil. Mix well and knead till elastic; adding a bit of flour as needed so it does not stick to you! (Meaning you can poke it and the hole will pretty much fill back in! Around 4-6 minutes.) Cover and let rise for about 1 hour. Form dough into a loaf and place in a buttered loaf pan. Cover and let rise until it looks pretty. Bake at 375 for 20-25 minutes or till it is as brown as you like it. Remove from the pan to cool and do not slice till fully cooled. (Better even to bag when cool and slice the next day...)

Make and enjoy! Blessings, Eve

Seasoned Salt

Hello one & all...another one of those simple items you can make yourself for just a fraction of the cost.

Seasoned Salt

8 TBSP salt
2 TBSP pepper
2 TBSP paprika
1/2 TBSP onion powder
1/2 TBSP garlic powder

Mix all ingredients with a whisk. Store in an airtigth container. (Old pickle jars are great for this type of thing!)

Make & Enjoy! Blessings, Eve

Easter Popcorn

Hello one & all...been totally "stealing" other blogger ideas for fun and easy treats this week. This recipe is for a white chocolate, Easter popcorn. We will be making and taking to an egg hunt/lunch tomorrow.

Candied Popcorn for Easter

8-10 cups popped popcorn
1 cup peanuts

1 cup butter
2 cups brown sugar
1/2 cup corn syrup
1 tsp salt
2 tsp vanilla
1 tsp baking soda

1 cup Easter M&M's
1 cup white chocolate chips
sprinkles

Preheat the oven to 250 degrees. Spread the popcorn and the peanuts out on a sheet pan lined with parchment. In a large pot add butter, sugar and corn syrup. Heat over medium till melted and bubbly. Meanwhile, combine the vanilla and baking soda in a small bowl. Remove the pot from the heat; add vanilla and baking soda mixture until well combined. Immediately pour caramel onto the popcorn. Stir well with a heatproof utensil. Bake in oven for 30-40 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes. When you remove from the oven, immediately sprinkle with the M&M's over popcorn. Melt the white chocolate in the microwave and drizzle over popcorn mixture. While the chocolate is soft, sprinkle everything with spring sprinkles. Let the popcorn and chocolate set up and cool. Break popcorn into chunks and serve.

Make & enjoy! Blessings, Eve

Cheep, Cheep, Cheap?

Hello one & all...seems to me that we pay for convenience so often that a lot of the time we don't even realize we are doing it. Take egg coloring, for example. It costs pennies to make your own...and has the added benefit of exposing your child to primary and secondary colors. Super easy, bright colors. Doesn't get any cheaper - perfect!

Egg Color

1 TBSP white vinegar
1/2 cup lukewarm water
20 drops food coloring (we used 16- cuz', yeah, I am that cheap!- and they turned out great!)

Use coffee cups (resist stains better than plastic) and mix them up. Can make cool colors like teal and purple too! The longer you leave the eggs, the darker and richer the colors...

Make and Enjoy! Blessings, Eve

Mini Social Website

Hello one & all...just been to a "new to me" discount website and found a great deal on organic, paraben free bubble bath and sunscreen for the kiddos. My two youngest have super sensitive skin and I find that the organic products do not bother them as much - especially in winter when their skin is already dry! Organics are expensive though and I often have to turn to Ivory soap which seems to be less irritating than a lot of others but still not what we need. Just purchased two bottles of organic, natural bubblebath/body/hairwash from the Mini Social. With code LUCKYKIDS you can get $10 off any order $10 or more in honor of Earth Week.

https://www.theminisocial.com/myaccount.php?invitation=118139

Let me know if you find any great deals! Blessings, Eve

Free Tuna

Hello one & all...just a quick note to tell you that there is free tuna at Tops this week with a doubled printable coupon. If link does not work, copy and paste to print! Blessingss, Eve Starkist Coupon

Healthier Macaroni Salad

Hello one & all...been living life and have thought often about posting. This, obviously, is the first time I have made the jump from thought to action in a very long time! Joined Weight Watchers a couple months back and have dropped 11 pounds to date. Also, amped up a workout routine and, in total, have dropped a whole jeans size. Feeling and looking better than I have in a long time. All this focus on health and activity has changed to way we view food around here. I just try to tweak things in a healthier way...presenting "healthed up" macaroni salad. Passed the kids and husband test quite nicely... Classic Macaroni Salad 8 oz. uncooked macaroni (I used Barilla Plus but white or whole grain could be substituted) 1/8 tsp salt (for cooking water) 1/2 cup reduced-calorie mayonnaise (I use Aldi's) 1 Tbsp cider vinegar 1 tsp mustard (I used plain ole yellow) 1/2 tsp garlic powder 1 cup celery chopped 1/4 cup onion, finely diced 1 Tbsp dry parsley or 2 TBSP fresh 1/8 tsp black pepper 1/4 tsp salt or to taste Cook macaroni in salted water till tender firm and rinse with cold water. Drain and transfer to a large bowl. Meanwhile. in a medium bowl, whisk together mayo, vinegar, mustard, and garlic powder. Stir mixture into macaroni. Fold in celery, onion and parsley. Season with salt and pepper. ***I mixed cold ingredients about 1/2 hour before serving. Might be a bit dry if mixed too soon. This was very flavorful and guests were surprised to learn that the salad was made with lite mayo...a success! Make and enjoy... Blessings, Eve