I'm patiently waiting for spring so I can begin to work our soil. Unfortunately Mr. Winter seems to be hanging in there. We are expecting snow again tonight. *sigh* I have onions volunteering from last year already coming up in my garden. I have a Maple tree trying to bud out and flowers that would just love to bloom if only it would stay warm long enough.
When spring finally arrives do you think it will be before or after summer?
Friday, April 18, 2008
Friday, February 22, 2008
Around the Corner
Its just around the corner and my household is very busy planning the gardens for this year. Since we have 5 total gardens this is a huge undertaking. I have requests for more tomatoes so that will be a major planting perhaps taking up the better half of at least one garden. Last year we planted 37 tomato plants and that wasn't nearly enough to get us through the winter season so this year we may double that. A lot of work but well worth our efforts when all is said and done.
My family loves to garden and with each new seed catalog arriving even my 6 year old is perusing the catalog asking about various veggies and whether or not she likes them.
We also have to triple the broccoli planting this year. Last year I planted 12 plants and they yielded very very well but I have a request for 36 plants this year. Guess we all know where I will be in the spring and summer months.
I am looking forward to a great season, once the snow has left the ground! At present we still have 3 feet of snow over the garden. Thus I will be starting our seedlings inside in the next few weeks and giving them a great head start.
Happy planning your garden!
My family loves to garden and with each new seed catalog arriving even my 6 year old is perusing the catalog asking about various veggies and whether or not she likes them.
We also have to triple the broccoli planting this year. Last year I planted 12 plants and they yielded very very well but I have a request for 36 plants this year. Guess we all know where I will be in the spring and summer months.
I am looking forward to a great season, once the snow has left the ground! At present we still have 3 feet of snow over the garden. Thus I will be starting our seedlings inside in the next few weeks and giving them a great head start.
Happy planning your garden!
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Homemade Bread
My family begs me to make homemade bread. I think I have spoiled them. So in honor of that I am sharing one of my family's favorite bread recipes.
Home Made Bread
To 4 cups of warm (not hot) water add 3 teaspoons (1 Tablespoon) of yeast. 1/4 cup sugar (more if you like it sweeter), 1/2 cup of instant potatoes (optional), 2/3 cup of instant milk. Let sit for a few minutes to soften yeast.
After sitting to soften add 1/4 to 2/3 cup of butter, oil or margarine to water mix and stir in 2 cups of flour. Add 1 Tablespoon of salt and continue stirring adding flour as needed until you have added between 8 and 12 cups of flour. After you have added about 6 cups of the flour you will need to turn the dough out on a counter or table and begin kneading it by hand. Gently fold the dough at one end, give it a quarter turn and again gently fold the dough adding flour as needed to keep it from sticking.
When your dough is a nice cohesive ball and looks stretchy gently place it in an oiled bowl and cover it with a clean towel.
Let it rise till it is about double (2 to 4 hours is usually sufficient). After it is done rising, gently dump it out of the bowl and shape it into bread loaves or rolls and place it in greased pans. Again cover with a towel and let rise a few more hours.
To bake, pre-heat your oven to 475 degrees. Place bread (or rolls) inside and immediately turn the oven down to 425 degrees. Set timer for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes turn oven down to 375 degrees and continue baking til done. (ovens vary. This can be anywhere from 40 minutes to an hour depending on your oven).
When your bread is nicely browned and done gently tip it out of the pan and spread some more butter (margarine) on top and let it cool.
In my house the crowd starts as soon as the bread is out of the oven...."can we have some yet?"....
Depending on your loaf pans this will make 2 to 3 loaves of bread.
Enjoy!
With some practice this will come as second nature to you. After you are more familiar with the process you can begin adding special treats like oatmeal or flaxseed to your dough or on top o f your dough.
Home Made Bread
To 4 cups of warm (not hot) water add 3 teaspoons (1 Tablespoon) of yeast. 1/4 cup sugar (more if you like it sweeter), 1/2 cup of instant potatoes (optional), 2/3 cup of instant milk. Let sit for a few minutes to soften yeast.
After sitting to soften add 1/4 to 2/3 cup of butter, oil or margarine to water mix and stir in 2 cups of flour. Add 1 Tablespoon of salt and continue stirring adding flour as needed until you have added between 8 and 12 cups of flour. After you have added about 6 cups of the flour you will need to turn the dough out on a counter or table and begin kneading it by hand. Gently fold the dough at one end, give it a quarter turn and again gently fold the dough adding flour as needed to keep it from sticking.
When your dough is a nice cohesive ball and looks stretchy gently place it in an oiled bowl and cover it with a clean towel.
Let it rise till it is about double (2 to 4 hours is usually sufficient). After it is done rising, gently dump it out of the bowl and shape it into bread loaves or rolls and place it in greased pans. Again cover with a towel and let rise a few more hours.
To bake, pre-heat your oven to 475 degrees. Place bread (or rolls) inside and immediately turn the oven down to 425 degrees. Set timer for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes turn oven down to 375 degrees and continue baking til done. (ovens vary. This can be anywhere from 40 minutes to an hour depending on your oven).
When your bread is nicely browned and done gently tip it out of the pan and spread some more butter (margarine) on top and let it cool.
In my house the crowd starts as soon as the bread is out of the oven...."can we have some yet?"....
Depending on your loaf pans this will make 2 to 3 loaves of bread.
Enjoy!
With some practice this will come as second nature to you. After you are more familiar with the process you can begin adding special treats like oatmeal or flaxseed to your dough or on top o f your dough.
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