Simplicity Saturdays (LINK UP)

Welcome to Simplicity Saturdays.  A link up dedicated to simplicity, feel free to share a new quick recipe, tips on cleaning, books, or whatever you are doing to simplify!!!!

Be sure to link up with the inlinkz below and tell your friends!!!

I have a lovely button for Simplicity Saturdays on the right with the code under it, feel free to copy and paste this to your simplicity post.  And be sure to at least included a link back to here, can't wait to see everyone's entries!!! :)

When I start cleaning I always sing that little song on Calamity Jane...."a woman's touch".  So today the girls and I donned our vintage style aprons and are cleaning away.  I don't know why but when I want to deep clean I always rearrange my furniture.  So everything gets clean and a new look! :)

My little Helper

Cleaning away and very proud of it!!!

P.S. I am also excited to share that Joyful Mothering is starting a Homemaker's Challenge every Friday (looks like it's going to be lots of fun, and keep me on my toes!!! :) Click the button to check it out.

Whole Wheat Butter Scones

I took a basic traditional scone recipe and replaced all the white flour with whole wheat. We use the Montana Prairie gold wheat berries. 

I didn't use any white flour at all, I know a lot of recipes do half and half but I just wanted to use all whole wheat, and see how these would turn out.  These scones were good! They reminded me somewhat of cornbread because of using all wheat.  Hubby does not like cornbread so I was worried. He loved them, I think he had 3! :)

We drrrrrenched them in honey. Everytime I say drenched I roll my R's...it reminds me of Mrs. Margaret Harris in Anne of Avonlea, and I always laugh to myself. ;)

Whole Wheat Butter Scones

(Source: Group Recipes)

Ingredients:

• 1 3/4 cups Whole wheat flour
• 3 TBS sugarshopping li
• 1/2 TBS baking powder
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1 stick unsalted butter, chilled and cut into bits
• 2 eggs, beaten with
• 1/4 cup milk

Directions:

Mix together flour, sugar, powder, and salt. Cut in butter.  Add eggs and milk. Form into ball and flatten to a 10" circle. Cut into wedges. Bake at 450 degrees for 15-18 minutes.  400 degrees if using a convection oven.

Enjoy with jam or raw honey! :)

Spaghetti Pie, Herbed Focaccia, & Cinnamon Dessert Bread

Are you ready? This post has three recipes in it, but they are easy!!! And I think you are going to love them. Easy on the budget, time, and well maybe not your waistline.  We use whole wheat spaghetti, part skim mozzarella, farm beef, and olive oil so maybe it's okay. ;)

First I'll share the recipe for the  Spaghetti Pie, we make spaghetti  A LOT, and I like the little spin this recipe puts on something we usually make!!! I get recipes from Campbell's emailed to my inbox and this one caught my eye.

My oven is needing some work, so all of this was baked in my Oster Toaster oven, I am super thankful hubby got this for me as a gift several years ago, it has really been a life saver with the oven not working.  Mine is like the one below only retro red. :)

Family Spaghetti Pie

(Source: Campbell's Kitchen)

My version below:

1/2 pound ground beef (I had this already cooked in the freezer)

1 cup mild salsa (I was leery, but it made it sooo good!!!)

1-1/2 cups spaghetti sauce

2 Tablespoons brown sugar

Almost the whole package 13 oz.-whole wheat spaghetti pasta

1 egg, beaten

1 tablespoon butter, melted

1 cup ricotta cheese ( I didn't have this, still taste wonderful)

2 cups mozzarella cheese

• Cook the beef in a 10-inch skillet over medium-high heat until meat is well browned, stirring frequently to break up the meat. Pour off fat. Stir the picante sauce,pasta sauce, and brown sugar into the skillet and cook until it's hot and bubbling.
• Stir the spaghetti, egg and butter in a medium bowl. Spread the mixture on the bottom and up the side of greased 10-inch pie plate. Spread the ricotta cheese in the spaghetti shell. Top with the beef mixture.
• Bake at 350°F. for 30 minutes or until it's hot and bubbling. Sprinkle with the mozzarella cheese. Let stand for 5 minutes before serving. Cut into 6 wedges.

Herbed Focaccia

(Source: My Recipes)

Ingredients

• 1  (1/4-ounce) envelope active dry yeast
• 1  teaspoon  sugar
• 1  cup  warm water (100° to 110°)
• 2  to 3 cups bread flour
• 2  tablespoons  olive oil
• 1  teaspoon  salt

Dissolve yeast in sugar and water, then add, olive oil, salt and flour.  Knead dough and let rise in warm place for 30 minutes. shaping dough into a ball.. Roll dough into an 11- x 14-inch rectangle on a lightly greased baking sheet. I cover the entire ball of dough in oil and knead it in the oil a bit.  Then I start pressing it into the desired rectangle shape.  Press handle of a wooden spoon into dough to make indentations at 1-inch intervals. Drizzle dough evenly with 1 tablespoon olive oil; sprinkle evenly with 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning. Bake at 475° for 12 to 15 minutes or until golden brown.

(I filled the bottom of a plate with olive oil and an amazing blend of Italian seasonings from my mother-in-law, owner of Jazz Cafe in Ozark, Mo)

Then today I was thinking about how easy and fun the Italian bread was and decided "Why, I could make a cinnamon dessert bread with the same dough and it would be like those cinnamon bread sticks you get when you order pizza (ONLY BETTER)! :)   WOW, they were amazing, hot and fresh from my little toaster oven, ha ha ha! :) My recipe below.

Maries's Italian Cinnamon Dessert Bread

Ingredients

• 1  Tablespoon active dry yeast
• 1  Tablespoon sugar
• 1  cup  warm water (100° to 110°)
• 2  to 3 cups bread flour
• 2  tablespoons  olive oil
• 1  teaspoon  salt
• 
  
• Topping: 
• 2 Tablespoons butter
• 3 Tablespoons sugar
• 1 to 2 tsp. cinnamon
• 
  

Directions:

I  dissolved the yeast and sugar in water, then add oil, salt, and flour. Knead dough and let rise for only 30 minutes. I love that it only had to rise for 30 minutes.  After it is done rising I like to knead my dough in a couple tablespoons of oil that I will bake the pan on, stretch out to a 11 x 14 rectangle. As I did this in my toaster oven it makes the perfect rectangle. Then take the end of a wooden spoon and  press into the dough every 1 inch.  

Melt the butter and brush over the bread dough, mix together your sugar and cinnamon and sprinkle evenly over butter. Bake at 450 for about 15 minutes.  Make this better: While this is baking mix up some powdered sugar and a little milk for dipping!!! :) Hope you enjoy, we did! :)

Old Fashioned Gingerbread Scones w/Lavender

This summer I started baking with lavender.  It was new to me, something I had never baked with as a teenager, it has taken me long enough to start using it, and now that I am, I'm hooked!

From using it in cakes, cookies, scones, or my evening tea, lavender is sure to soothe.

If you are new to baking with lavender you will want to make sure and purchase culinary lavender that is safe for baking, like the lavender below.

One of my favorite websites, the bulk herb store sells it as well, for a very good price (they ship fast too!!!)

They include some wonderful information about lavender as well!!!

I found this recipe on a website full of lavender recipes, Hood River Lavender

Old Fashioned Gingerbread Scones w/Lavender

(Source: Hood River Lavender)

Mix together : 

     2 cups all-purpose flour “organic”

     2 tsp baking powder

      ¼ tsp soda

       ½ tsp salt

       1 tsp cinnamon

        1 tsp fresh grated ginger

            1/8 tsp cloves ( I didn't have cloves)

                1 Tbsp culinary lavender “Signature Blend” ground (I just used 1 Tablespoon of lavender buds)

Add:

                                                   7 Tbsp cold unsalted butter, cut up

Mix together with pastry blender,

until mixture looks like fine granules.

Stir in with fork:              ½ tsp vanilla

To form a smooth,          1/3 cup milk

Rather soft dough.          1/3 cup molasses

                                                                          ½ cup raisins ( I didn't have raisins either)

Preheat oven 375’.

Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and give 10-12 kneads.  Cut dough in half. Knead each half into a ball, turn smooth side up, and place on ungreased cookie sheet.  Pat each piece of dough into a 5” circle, and cut into wedges (6-8 each); leave sides touching. Bake 10 minutes – being careful not to over bake. Sprinkle with Lavender sugar. Break apart after cooled.

*Lavender Sugar: *1 cup coarse organic granulated sugar, 1 Tbsp culinary lavender “Signature Blend”. Grind together in coffee grinder, and store overnight. Serve with applesauce, honey, slice of cheddar cheese, and/or whipping cream J Enjoy!

NOTE: I did not have lavender sugar so I covered the top with raw sugar and sprinkled on a few lavender buds.

Speaking of lavender scones, I used my scone pictures to make a new button today, I have three new buttons designed now and are on the right, feel free to grab one before you leave. I will be posting soon information on easily making your own blog buttons.

Biscuits for my Biscuit

I'm always posting recipes for the humans in my family, so today I thought I'd share a treat for Fido as well.

We have two dogs, both adopted! And they are just another member of our family, love them to pieces.

(Biscuit enjoying the snow)

Biscuit is amazing, I'm not sure what breed he is, I think he is around 9 years old, and he is soooo sweet.  He loves to show affection by placing his paw in your hand or on your lap. And thunderstorms terrify him like no other.  He always sleeps on a blanket in the living room, but on nights it storms you will find him cuddled up by our bed.  And the minute, I mean the minute, it quits he humbly goes back into the living on his blanket.  That dog is something else.

(Biscuit showing affection to Daddy)

And our newest little member is Maci, she is a schnauzer.  And hubby's little side kick. She is like one of the kids.  Always waiting anxiously by the door until Daddy gets home. :) She's worse than the kids, ha ha ha.

(Maci loving the snow)

Treats are expensive and I want to be able to give them treats, so I searched for a healthy dog treat that I would have the ingredients for, my version below (as I did not have all the ingredients it called for).

Crunchy Sunflower Biscuits

(Source: Dailydrool.com)

2-1/4 cups whole wheat flour

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1 tsp salt 

2 eggs mixed with 1/4 cup milk

2 Tbsps butter or vegetable oil

1/4 cup unsulphered molasses (I used honey, I am out of molasses)

1/2 cup sunflower seeds

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix dry ingredients. Add melted butter (or oil),

molasses and egg mixture (save 1 Tbsp egg mixture). Knead together (add milk 

if too dry), let sit for 1/2 hour. Roll to 1/2 inch and cut into desired shapes with 

cookie cutter. Put on cookie sheet, "paint" on remaining egg mixture, and bake 

30 minutes. Let cool and store in tightly sealed container.

I didn't paint my biscuits, I just mixed everything together, my dough was still somewhat dry so I added 1-2 Tablespoons of water.

Last year I had purchased a little pack of dog bone cookie cutters like these:

 

Meaningful Mondays

Here we are again, our 3rd week of Meaningful Mondays, I was so elated about all who joined last week and hope you will again!!!

How are you making your Monday Meaningful?

Starting a new project, painting your kitchen, cooking a new meal, reading a new book........share it with the inklinkz tool below and be sure to include a link back here. My button is on the right with the link under it!!! :)

This monday I am going to do school, and then do Flylady's Weekly 1 hour home blessing, I have a lot of housework today and her methods always gets me back on track!!!

I was given a page out of an antique book several years ago and wanted to share the poem on the page.

Mother's Last Look

They're asleep,

So I'll keep

Very still, and peep:

Not too bright,

Candle-light

Is for them tonight.

Saturday

Makes them gay,

And they've had their play:

Sled and shout

Have, no doubt,

Tired them fairly out.

This poem really goes with our Saturday, we spent hours outside playing in the snow, building snow caterpillars and igloos!!!

Here is the igloo.

Chili on a Frigid Day

Close-Up on Bowl of Delicious Chili

So we are day 3 of being snowed in.  I have thoroughly enjoyed it, I have been able to make bread, beans, and chili.  Three things I regret not getting: milk, butter, and eggs. I know pretty sad!!!  But I was thinking of bare necessities, water and canned soups, the whole time thinking we would lose power and wouldn't be able to cook.  Last night was  negative 10 degrees, I am soooo thankful we still have power!!!

Yesterday I started a big pot of beans and before supper I turned that into a pot of chili.  I will share my new concoction below. :)

Snowed In Chili ~ 2011

1 pot of cooked pinto beans (with the broth it cooked in)

1 large can of crushed tomoatoes

3/4 cup brewed coffee (save some from breakfast) :)

1/4 cup and 2 Tablespoons packed brown sugar

1 Tablespoon chili powder

1/2 tsp. salt

sprinkle in some Emeril's essence seasoning

1/4 tsp. basil

1/2 tsp. Italian seasoning

1 Tablespoon Cocoa

sprinkle on some nutmeg

Bring to a boil and simmer for 30 minutes. Enjoy!!!!  

We enjoyed this with our snowed in neighbors who made the Cheez-It recipe we have here on the blog.....found here.

Making Bread

And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. ~ John 6:35

I think bread is very important, especially if Jesus is compared to the Bread of life................something very important and needed in life.  As I have mentioned before I love baking bread.

In preparation for the blizzard that was to come I baked up our bread in case we were to lose power. As we have not lost power today I am making more and thought I would share this easy, very economical bread recipe.

It is from my 1971 Betty Crocker ( I know I've mentioned it before but I adore this cookbook).

This is called Crusty White Bread

(but I make it wheat)

Source: Betty Crocker 1971

2 Tablespoons active dry yeast

2 cups warm water

2 Tablespoons sugar

1 Tablespoon salt

1/4 cup oil

6 to 6-1/2 cups flour

Dissolve yeast in warm water. For those new to making bread I always make my water the temperature you would for a baby's bottle. Stir in sugar, salt, oil and 3 cups of flour. In this recipe I used 2 cups white flour and 3-4 cups of fresh ground wheat flour. Knead dough. I use a really big bowl to mix bread in, so I knead my dough in the bowl, I don't even bother putting it on the table. Cover, let rise until double about 45 minutes.

Punch down dough, divide in half. Shape into loaves. I like to make them into round loaves, it is so quick and easy and doesn't require a bread pan. Let your loaves rise for about an hour. Bake @ 350 for 25-35 minutes.

The Blizzard

Before I share my blizzard pictures I would love to annouce that I am so elated to be a guest blogger over at Happily Domestic today. She has a wonderful new blog design....be sure to check it out!!!

My article here

I ventured out into the white fury.....

As I walked into the woods...

I spotted a red feathered friend...

As I approached him he flew away....so I stood still.

Not thinking of the fact that I wore a bright red head scarf.

He flew right back over to the tree in front of me.

Looking for a friend in the land of no one.

I bade him come closer....I sprinkled crushed corn all over the beautiful white snow. Ever since I've lived here I have tried to capture a photo of Mr. Cardinal...the thick falling snow made it ever so difficult to focus!!!

Here sits Mr. Cardinal in all his beauty........enjoying the treat I so gladly gave him.

I was about 15 feet away.

Good bye feathered friend....