Dinner side dish ideas was a recent request.
Simple Broccoli Casserole is a pretty frequent side around here and one my kids enjoy….yes they like broccoli.
I topped this one with some sourdough discard crackers.
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To make:
Cook frozen broccoli. You could steam it, but honestly I just boil it until tender.
Butter an oven safe dish : I like a cast iron skillet.
Fill tender cooked broccoli into buttered dish.
Sprinkle cheese over broccoli.
Top cheesy broccoli with crackers.
Dollop butter around the top and bake in a 350 oven till brown.
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Depending on the saltiness of your crackers and butter you may want to add some salt to the cooked broccoli.
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#simplesides #sidedish #sidedishrecipes #broccoli #castironcooking #casserole #easysidedish #healthyfood #veggies #cookingram #fromscratch #sourdoughdiscard
How potatoes can remind us that spring is coming?
These potatoes were planted last year, and we are still enjoying them at the end of January.
We didn’t can any of them either: just a very basic root cellar(ish) type food storage situation.
It’s cold, cloudy and not my favorite season, but it’s time to start seeds and think about garden planning.
Because enjoying the fruits of the garden harvest when it is absolutely nasty outside is just one reminder of
why we garden and preserve the harvest.
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#springiscoming #foodstorage #foodpreservation #rootcellar #gardenplanning #rootcrops #homesteading #homesteadersofkentucky #backyardhomestead #slowliving #eatwhatyougrow #simplemeals #povreels #wearethehomemakers #homemakersbliss #iamcountryside #growyourown
How potatoes can remind us that spring is coming.
These potatoes were planted last year, and we are still enjoying them at the end of January.
We didn’t can any of them either: just a very basic root cellar(ish) type food storage situation.
It’s cold, cloudy and not my favorite season, but it’s time to start seeds and think about garden planning.
Because enjoying the fruits of the garden harvest when it is absolutely nasty outside is just one reminder of
why we garden and preserve the harvest.
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#springiscoming #foodstorage #foodpreservation #rootcellar #gardenplanning #rootcrops #homesteading #homesteadersofkentucky #backyardhomestead #slowliving #eatwhatyougrow #simplemeals #povreels #wearethehomemakers #homemakersbliss #iamcountryside #growyourown
Have you ever used the snowball trick when baking?
Learn to Bake : Cutting in the Fat (Part Two)
Use the snowball trick to help determine if you have adequately distributed the solid fats throughout the flour when making quick breads.
The flour should have a sandy like texture, but should stick together like a snowball.
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Again this baking method will be used on quick bread type recipes like biscuits, pie crusts, and in this case tortillas.
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#bakingtips #bakinghacks #learningtobake #quickbread #pastry #homebaking #kitchenskills #mamabakes #homesteading #biscuits
Homemade Tortillas: We are working through replacing store-bought items with from scratch items at home.
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Is this a super authentic recipe? Absolutely not.
I don’t currently have any lard, which is more traditional, or I would have tried that instead.
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But if you are like me and keep coconut oil on hand give this recipe a try.
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2 1/2 cups All Purpose Flour
1 Tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup solid refined coconut oil
2 Tablespoons butter
3/4 Cup warm water
To make cut the fats (coconut oil and butter) into the combined flour/salt/baking powder mixture.
Add approximately 3/4 cup warm water. Knead together. May require an additional couple tablespoons of water to come together.
Let the dough rest and then portion into balls. 12-16 depending on desired size.
Roll dough balls very thin.
Cook on warm cast iron skillet.
Dough will start to bubble when ready to flip.
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#homemadetortillas #cookingfromscratch #pantrycooking #tacotuesday #fromscratchcooking #budgetmeals
Measuring ingredients is an important step in the baking process. When most Americans bake we use volume measurements instead of the weight measurements popular in other countries.
The vessel used to measure can make a difference though.
Liquid (wet) measuring cups are intended to be used for measuring liquids ingredients like water,milk,oil etc.
Dry measuring cups are meant for things like flour, oats, and sugar.
Do I ever use the “wrong” vessels for measuring: Yep!
For the most accurate measurements when baking use the correct cup, but don’t let this stop you from baking if you don’t have both.
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#learnbaking #howtobake #bakingtime #bakingclass #homemakingskills #bakingfromscratch #homeec #bakingbasics #homemaker #foodscience #homesteadkitchen
Learn to Bake Series Part Two: Kneading Bread Dough - Kneading dough is an important step when making yeast bread. Hand kneading the dough isn’t too difficult and takes about ten minutes to develop the gluten structure to pass the windowpane test. Happy Baking! #homemadebread #bakingfromscratch
Learn to Bake Series:
When learning to bake and read recipes there are terms and techniques that may be unfamiliar.
Let’s tackle those with the Learn to Bake Series.
First up, “cut in the fat.”
You will see this term with some quick breads and pastries like biscuits and pie crusts.
All this means is that you are going to distribute the solid fat throughout the flour.
You may have chunks of cold butter or other fat (lard/coconut oil/etc).
Break those chunks up and “smoosh” them into the flour.
Work quickly as not to melt the fat.
The finished product should resemble a sand like texture, but no large hunks remaining.
There are pastry blenders sold for this purpose, but I have found my hands work great.
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Happy baking friends!
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#learntobake
#bakingbiscuits
#homemadebiscuits
#homemadepiecrust
#homemakingskills
#bakingtips
#bakingfromscratch
#kitchenbasics
#bakingbasics
The depth of flavor of sourdough is delicious.I like the science behind the health benefits of sourdough, and the sustainability of having the yeast always available in my kitchen. Sometimes, though, I just want bread fast, and then comes the yeast bread.Sometimes I decide I want hamburgers for dinner, and commercial yeast allows me to get the buns baked in short period of time..We don’t have to be all sourdough or nothing.And you don’t have to be afraid of sourdough if you have only made commercial yeast bread..Both require far less ingredients than storebought bread.Both are delicious options.....#fromscratch #breadstagram #homecooking #bakingday #nourishedkitchen #makebread #sourdoughbaker #wildyeast #homemakerlife #kitchenrestock #whatweeat
Instant Dry Yeast Vs Active Dry Yeast
They are different.
When using active dry yeast the yeast needs to proof or bloom in warm liquid before adding all of the remaining baking ingredients.
Instant yeast does not require this step.
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Know which one you have in your kitchen to make sure your baked goods rise properly.
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#yeastbread
#bakingtime
#bakingclass
#howtobake
#homemakingtips
#bakingtips
#backtobasics
#homesteading
#iamcountryside
#homemadekitchen
#fromscratch
#fromscratchbaking
Simple baking with simple ingredients is possible.
Simple cooking in simple kitchens is possible.
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I’m all for trying a fancy, Pinterest recipe, but what I’m really a fan of is cooking that fills bellies.
Unique and special ingredients can be fun, but with the cost of groceries, I’m interested in ways to save instead of spend.
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If you missed it earlier this week I released my Simple Sandwhich Bread recipe, and saved the process to highlights.
This bread recipe simplifies bread making back to the basics. No special ingredients required.
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#bakingbread
#homebaking
#simpleingredients
#grocerysavings
#budgetfriendly
#learntobake
#homemadebread
#breadbaking
#breadmaking
#homemaker
Pantry Staples Sandwich Bread Recipe is here.
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With tons of different bread recipes available this is the why behind my particular sandwich bread recipe:
Simple Ingredients
Recipe Uses All Purpose Flour instead of Bread flour : nothing wrong with bread flour, but many people don’t always keep it on hand.
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Yeasted Recipe: I really like sourdough, but for this recipe I wanted a quick and simple recipe that anyone could make tonight, so no sourdough in this one. Just a simple packet of yeast will leaven this bread.
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No powdered milk or other specialty ingredients: my previous go-to sandwich bread recipe called for powdered milk. It made delicious bread, but that recipe was the only reason I was buying the powdered milk.
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One Loaf Recipe: fresh baked bread goes stale faster than storebought bread. I want the ability to make one loaf at a time, or easily multiply the recipe.
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I have been testing this bread recipe for weeks making sure I had the ratios just right.
I have tested it with both hand kneading and using my stand mixer.
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I’m happy to present my Simple Sandwich Bread
Ingredients:
3/4 Cup Warm Water
2 1/4 Teaspoons Yeast
1/3 Cup Milk
1/4 Cup Honey
2 Tablespoons Softened Butter (I use salted)
1 Teaspoon Salt
3 Cups Flour
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Combine and knead on low until dough windowpanes.
I have a reel about this but in my stand mixer this takes about 10 minutes.
After kneading place in lightly oiled glass bowl and let dough rise until doubled. This should take 1-2 hours.
After doubling, punch down and roll into log shape and place in bread pan for second rise.
Bread should rise about 1/2 inch over bread pan.
Bake at 350
Now honestly, I’m terrible at timing (and everyone’s oven seems to be different)but I’d start checking at 30 minutes.
You want an internal bread temp of at least 190 F.
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#homemadebread
#bakingfromscratch
#howtobake
#breadmaking
#pantrystaples
#cookingfromscratch
#breadbaking
While bread has long been a staple food, commercial sliced bread is a new convenience.
According to a quick search, the first automatically sliced bread was commercial available in July 1928.
Isn’t it interesting that almost a hundred years later there is a new generation interested in baking and slicing their own bread at home. A whole generation that is choosing ingredient choice, flavorful options, and the experience of baking at home over the convenience of presliced.
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Now don’t get me wrong I’ve bought my fair share of storebought bread, but I’m also glad to have finally found my rhythm with homemade bread.
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#homebaking
#homebaker
#breadbaking
#breadmaking
#homemaking
#homemaker
#slowandsimpledays
#fromscratchbaking
#homemadebread
#homesteading
#inmykitchen
#simplemeals
#bakingfromscratch
#bakingbread
#bakingvideo
#bakingathome
Just normal dinner prep conversations. #familyfriendly #familyhumor #momlife #KneadingDough
Bread dough should pass the windowpane test.
This is a step bakers will often see in bread recipes.
So let’s take a look at what the windowpane test actually looks like when baking.
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Press dough between thumb and fingers to thin.
If dough will thin enough to see light without breaking it passes the windowpane test.
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This simple test is just one way to see if your dough has been adequately kneaded and is ready to rise.
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There are other signs to looks for but this test is a good one, especially for those new to bread making.
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#breadmaking
#breadbaking
#homemadebread
#windowpanetest
#homemaker
#breadbaker
#bakingfromhome
#bakingfromscratch
#beginnerbaker
#bakingclass
#breadstagram
I so enjoy it when the bread slides out of the pan like this. I butter my pampered chef stoneware and the bread removes well, but this little offset spatula helps get that smooth release. It’s not just good for icing cakes! #homemadebread #bakingtime
French toast is not only easy but an easy solution for using up bread that is about to go stale, or even bread that didn’t do just right.
Overproof your bread a little? It’s still good for making French toast.
You can get really elaborate with French toast but we keep it simple.
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##castiron #pamperedchef #breakfastideas #frenchtoast #frenchtoastrecipe
Egg in the Holes for a quick and simple breakfast. This easy egg breakfast is made with kitchen basics and comes in at an economical price. Not only is this breakfast recipe fast and simple, but it is also kid friendly.
My Sourdough Starter Tips
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1.Feed with whole wheat flour
2.1:1:1 ratio is MINIMUM
3.Use room temp to slightly above room temp water
4.Change starter to a fresh jar semi regularly
5.Figure out a time to feed that you will consistently remember
6.Dont overstress.Starter is actually pretty flexible
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#sourdoughbread #sourdoughstarter #sourdoughbaking #homemaker #homemaking #breadmaking
I know minimalism is trendy and valuable for so many homes.
But I’m just here to say that sometimes hoarding things away is helpful.
Case in point:
I laid my pie pan on top of my Dutch oven after washing.
The pie pan slide down in the Dutch oven and got stuck.
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After a few attempts that included heating the outside bowl and cooling the inside bowl, we decided we needed a suction cup to left the pie pan out.
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Our son’s toy arrow didn’t quite have enough suction.
Then my husband remembered that Garmin gps we used to keep in the car….you know back before everyone had smart phones.
Yes we still have ours and the suction cup to attach the Garmin to the front glass was strong enough to lift the pie pan out.
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Never a dull moment here.
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#motherhood #thisis30 #momlife #kitchenhacks #kitchenhumor #momstruggles #momhacks
