Cooking With Your Storage-Homemade Wheat Bread

This past week I attended another class at Honeyville Grain.  It was all about bread making.  I don't think there is anything yummier than fresh bread out of the oven!! I have been trying for a few years (much to my family's amusement) to make a perfect loaf of bread, and I am always looking for better ways to make it.  After this class I made the lightest, softest bread that I have ever made.  Here are a few tips that I learned that may help you bake a better loaf of bread.

• Proof your yeast with the honey and warm (just warmer than warm) water for about 10 minutes.  A dark, warm environment, like a microwave, will help the yeast activate.  I pour these ingredients into my Bosch and put the lid on for 10 minutes.
• Fluff your flour before measuring it.  This way you don't end up with a brick of bread. :)
• Add your salt last after all the ingredients have had time to mix for a minute.
• Adding potato flakes (not potato pearls) protects the air bubbles from popping. I think this is what made my bread so soft and yummy!
• To make dough quick and easy just add all the ingredients to your bread maker and then just shape and bake when the dough cycle ends.  (I have a Bosch, but for those that don't have one this is a great alternative)

This is the recipe that Lisa, the Honeyville store manager, gave me.

Honeyville's Best Ever Whole Wheat Bread

1 1/4 C warm (just warmer than the warm water in your faucet, not hot)
1 T active dry yeast (Saf instant yeast is what was used in this recipe)
1/4 C honey
Proof the above  ingredients for about 10 minutes in a mixing bowl. I proof right in my Bosch bowl.  The yeast should be bubbly (like in the picture above), if not the yeast isn't working. Start over with the warm water and new yeast.

Then Add:
2 3/4 C whole wheat flour (add the last 3/4 C of flour as you are kneading and stop if the dough starts pulling away from the sides of the bowl.  That means you have enough flour.)
1/4 C vital wheat gluten
2 T Non-instant powdered milk (the powdered milk from the cannery or bakers dry milk from Honeyville Grain)
1 T oil
1 T white vinegar
1/4 C potato flakes
1 t salt

After proofing add in the rest of the ingredients, adding in the last 3/4 cup of flour slowly until the dough is not sticking to the walls of the mixer anymore.   Knead for 8 minutes on number 1 on the Bosch mixer.   (on the last minute of kneading I preheat my oven to 170° and turn it off when it reaches temp. This way the oven is just warm enough & not too hot for the dough to rise)


Take the dough out and shape into a loaf while tucking the edges under.  Place in greased loaf pan.  Place in warmed oven and let rise until double. (turning the oven light on will keep the oven warm and keep it a perfect raising temp)  Usually around 30-45 minutes.

When dough has risen a few inches above the top of the pan, turn your oven to 375° with the bread still in the oven.  You don't need to take out the bread while the oven preheats.  Bake for 20-30 minutes and put foil over the bread for the last 15 minutes.  If you tap on the bread and it sounds hollow, it is done.  I mist my bread with water when it comes out to keep the crust soft.  Let it cool for about 5 minutes and then remove to a cooling rack.  I keep it in a plastic bread bag when it has cooled. 


Just try not to eat the whole loaf while it's warm and layered with honey and butter.  I dare you!  I had to make a second loaf so my children could have sandwiches.

**This bread is also delicious baked in the Sun Oven!!  Make sure to preheat your sun oven for at least 20 minutes before baking.  I let the bread rise in my kitchen oven until the dough is just over the top of the pan.  I then mist the bread with water and bake about 30 minutes.  Baking time depends on how warm your sun oven is.  Misting the bread makes it brown in the sun oven, normally bread bakes without browning, so misting makes it brown.  

72-hour kit Goals:
Click HERE to view a wonderful handout on 72-hour kits from plentyofpicnics.blogspot.com  Use the + sign to make the text bigger.


Enjoy the journey!
Enjoy the blessings!
Feel the peace!

April Goals

April is here and it's time for new goals.  This month will be relatively easy.  It is case lot sale time and that makes it really easy to stock up on canned goods, etc.  Read the blog on Wednesday's to see the great deals at the grocery stores. See this week's deals HERE!

April Goals

3-Month Supply Goal:  Use your ingredient lists (made from all the recipes that you are including in your 3-month menu) to shop the case lot sales.  Buy at least one case of food for your storage.

Water Storage Goal:  Look for deals on water. (Smiths has a 24ct case of water for $2.50).  Also use this month as your water rotation month. Empty those large water containers and fill them with fresh water.

Financial Reserve Goal: Use some of your savings (from Feb. & March) to purchase a few cases of food from the case lot sales.

Long-Term Goal:Purchase food and supplies from the case lot sales.  Do you see a trend?:)  It is your choice as to what to purchase, but don't let the sales end without purchasing a few items. I love to get all my paper towel and toilet paper from Maceys grocery store.  I try to get at least 6 months worth (the next case lot sale will be in Sept. to restock)
 

Emergency Preparedness Goal:  April and October are our 72-hour kit months.  You will need to get yours out and go through them.  Eat the food near expiration and rotate warm and cold weather clothes.  If you don't have a 72-hour kit PLEASE have a basic kit with a backpack, water, and at least some granola bars.  Then work on expanding your kit.  Look on the side bar of the blog for more ideas to add to your kits. 

This is such a great time to catch up if you haven't been stocking your pantry!  Don't waste any more time, get those cases of food and start cooking with them!  

Enjoy the journey!
Enjoy the blessings!
Feel the peace!!

Earthquakes, Water, & Sanitation

As most of you heard, we had a 4.9 earthquake in northern Utah this week. I hope that you will all see this as a warning of a bigger earthquake and take this time to prepare yourselves. Click HERE to view the Utah Red Cross Be Ready Checklist.

 I strongly urge you all to have adequate water storage. Make it a priority! Think of how many times you turn on a faucet during the day. Many people 

 will be inconvenienced when there is no water. I like to have large spray bottles on hand for times that we won't have water. I will use one for water with soap in it and one with just water. The kids can spray their hands with the soapy water and then a few sprays with the water bottle. This will save water when everyone washes their hands.

How is everyone doing with the April goals? Have you planned a garden or found a container to plant a few plants in? I hope everyone took advantage of the case lot sales and stocked up on the food items that your family uses.

One of the other April goals is to gather cleaning supplies and in this category is also sanitation. I know, none of us want to think of this, but we really do need to prepare for times of toilets not flushing. On to the portable potty......
This awesome information found at: PreparednessNibblesAndBits.blogspot.com
During a disaster “just plan on losing your utilities.” It is important to have a Sanitation Kit because we don’t know when our disaster will be. The lack of proper sanitation can cause the spread of disease and even death.
Here’s some ideas for assembling your own Sanitation Kit:

SANITATION KIT:
“Luggable Loo*” - snap-on lid (fits 5 or 6 gallon buckets)
1 (5 or 6-gallon) bucket
Store the following inside your bucket until needed:

• Heavy Duty disposable garbage bags (you won’t want to deal with leaky bags
• 1 (12 oz.) “Super Sorb” (takes care of odors - available at janitorial supply stores)
• 1 container “Hi-Genic” (non-acid bowl and bathroom cleaner - available at janitorial supply stores)
• 1 bottle of hydrogen peroxide (natural disinfectant)
• 1 small bottle of vinegar
• 1 container baking soda
• 1 empty spray bottle
• 2 to 3 rolls toilet paper (with cardboard removed)
• 1 pkg. baby wipes
• Feminine hygiene supplies
• Disposable gloves
• Hand sanitizer
• Lotion (hand sanitizer will tend to dry out hands)
• Bonus: 2 emergency blankets (for your privacy screen if needed)

Directions: Empty contents of the bucket. Line the bucket with a heavy duty disposable garbage bag. Put 1 tablespoon “Super Sorb” into the garbage bag. Securely attach “Luggable Loo” lid. Keep lid closed when not in use. When bucket is 1/3 full, empty it by tying the bag up and disposing of it properly.
To dispose of waste:
Emergency Sewage Storage. “Keep on the premises at least one extra 10-gallon garbage can or other waterproof container with a tight fitting cover. This should be lined with paper and/or a plastic bag. And the lid should be fastened to the can to prevent its loss. Such a can may be used for the emergency storage of body wastes until the public sewage system can be put back into action, or until other arrangements can be made. Empty your emergency toilet into this storage can as often as necessary. A small amount of household disinfectant should be added after each use. If you live in an apartment, you may not have a large garbage can or room to keep one. In that case, two smaller covered pails or other containers will do just as well.” –http://www.pep-c.org/emergencysewagedisposal
Another option for disposing waste:
“When the plastic bag is filled to a point where you can carefully dispose of it, you will want a tight-fitting leak-proof container you can put the filled bags where insects and vermin cannot get at, or you may want to have a fairly deep hole (at least three to four feet deep) in your back yard where you can safely dispose of the bag, cover with a few inches of soil at each disposal and have a cover to keep vermin out and people from falling in….” –Sanitation, Part 1
For more detailed information regarding Sanitation check out:
http://www.pep-c.org/sanitation
Sanitation, Parts 1 & 2
*LUGGABLE LOOS are available at:
* Recreation Outlet, 3160 S. State Street, Salt Lake City, UT 84115 (Sells the lid separately for $7.99 ea. or the bucket and lid for $12.99.)
* Cabela’s ($9.99 - lid only/$14.99 lid and bucket)
* Target (available on-line only) has a bucket and lid for $14.99
* Rei ($18.00 - lid and bucket)
* Google “luggable loo” to find the best prices and locations for you.
*Emergency Essentials $15.95 bucket, lid, 2 enzyme packets. They also sell a pop up porta potty tent for $59.95 which can also be used for a shower
Click HERE to view the doodie bags that turn waste into gel for easier clean up.
Click HERE to view the bags that fit on your existing toilet.
NOTE: “Be Ready Utah” has an idea for an Emergency “Porta Potty” Kit which includes Kitty Litter: http://bereadyutah.gov/family/potty.html

April Goals & Homemade Cleaners

April is great so far and I hope you are all ready for a new month of goals. Today's warmer weather made me feel like organizing, cleaning out, and getting the garden started. We have 3 goals this month. They are:

1. Shop the case lot sales at Smiths or Maceys and stock up on items for your 3-month menu plan. Click HERE to view the case lot prices for each store.
2. Plan a garden, plant a garden or container, and learn how to sprout seeds/grains for nutritious sprouts.
3. Stock up on cleaning supplies. Whichever you prefer. I like to make some of my household cleaners so if you do too then stock up on vinegar, baking soda, ammonia, rubbing alcohol and bleach.

I found a very interesting post on container gardening with soda bottles and milk cartons. Click HERE to read and see the great pictures. And click HERE to see another post by the same ladies on milk carton gardening. If gardening seems too intimidating these ideas are simple and look like they will give you great results.

April is a great month to plant the cold weather plants like spinach, broccoli, cauliflower, peas, lettuce, onions, and cabbage.

Sprouting wheat is a great way to get to add nutritious nutrients to your food without having to buy vegetables. This is great if we had an emergency and fresh produce was not available. Click HERE to read my previous post on sprouting wheat. Sprouting is a great way to get your children involved with gardening too. Check Amazon.com for some great sprouting kits. To learn more on sprouting other seeds besides wheat, click HERE.

Cleaning supplies vary vastly from home to home so this area is going to be mostly personal preference. When I find a good deal on cleaning items I stock up and hope another sale comes before I run out. I don't like paying a lot of money for them. I also don't like the harmful smells and toxins that are in many cleaning supplies. I found some great "recipes" online that I use to clean with.

Laminate Floor Cleaner
1/3 part rubbing alcohol
1/3 part water
1/3 part white vinegar
I marked a spray bottle with the lines for each third and then I have floor cleaner that lasts a long time. I use a micro fiber mop that I can throw in the washer after I clean.

All -Purpose Cleaner
1/2 gallon water
1/2 C vinegar
1 C ammonia
1/4 baking soda
Add enough water to make 1 gallon. Shake well, use in spray bottle. I keep this in an old juice bottle labeled cleaner and pour into my spray bottle when needed.

Window Cleaner
1 pint rubbing alcohol
4 T ammonia
1 T liquid detergent
Add enough water to make a gallon. Add blue food coloring if you want it to look like the store's brand.

Aprils Goals:
Shop the case lot sales.
Garden, garden, garden!
Gather cleaning supplies.

Enjoy the journey!
Enjoy the blessings!
Feel the peace!

April is Here

Welcome to a new month, April is here! Next to December, April is one of my favorite months. This is the month of case lot sales, Conference, Easter, and maybe some warmer weather. This is the month to take inventory of your 3-month supply. There are many sales on canned goods that make it very easy to stock up for at least 6 months worth of food. If you need canned oranges or pears, or maybe tuna this is the month for you!

I want to give everyone a challenge this month. Make a list of ingredients from the recipes that you are going to use for a 3-month supply. (If you haven't already made one) These can be recipes that you use now or maybe some simpler recipes that you could make without a lot of prep. Which ever you choose, make a list of ingredients. Use this list to shop from and you will have stored food quicker than you thought. (Click Here if you need more info.)

Case lot sales start on April 7th and go for 2 weeks. This is a great opportunity to save a lot of money and get a lot of food. I will list the prices and deals as soon as they are available.

April's other goals are to gather seeds/sprouting supplies and to have cleaning supplies stored. Gardening is a wonderful way to become self-reliant. Being dependent on the grocery store for our food is not a safe insurance policy for food storage. Learn how to garden or plant something new this year. I have just gotten into gardening and am excited to plant more than I did last year.

Cleaning supplies are items that you will really want to have on hand if you aren't able to get them from the store. Disinfectants and sanitizers are a necessity when there is sickness around. In a disaster this becomes even more important as cleanliness will help to keep infection and disease from spreading. Storing ingredients to make your own household cleaners is a topic we will cover in later posts.

Watch the blog this month for case lot pricing and posts related to cleaning and gardening. This will be a really fun month and hopefully many of you will get a great start or add some great items to your storage.