Sunday's Blessings

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this week I loved the ...

smell of :  Thanksgiving in the air

sound of :  the Beatles while housecleaning

taste of :  homemade chili

sight of :  softly falling snow

feel of :  flannel sheets on the bed! 

things I am thankful for this week ...

-  great students

-  a project for a Christmas gift that turned out as planned!  Whoot!

-  my Mom is okay after a bad fall on the ice

Have a blessed Sunday and remember to give your loved ones a hug!

Saturday's Snaps

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Have a wonderful Saturday and remember to give your loved ones a hug!

Heating with Wood

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Oh my, how I wish we had a fireplace ... or a wood stove .... or even an outdoor furnace .... anything to be self-sufficient by burning wood and heating our home.  Our plans were to put in a wood stove this past summer but it just didn't work out.  My absence from home, really put a dent in our 'building/adapting our heat source' agenda.

Before my marriage to my dear hubby, I had a wood pellet fireplace installed in the basement of my home.  It was wonderful.  The heat that it expelled was amazing and oh so cozy.  It heated my 1200 square foot home with ease and was simple for this single woman to maintain, load and clean.  

Heating with wood has it's advantages.  Wood is a renewable fuel, it is widely available in our parts and in most of North America and in some cases, and for some it can save you money.  If you live in a forested, rural area and you own a chain saw, trailer and/or truck, you could process the wood yourself.  However, if you have to buy split wood and have it delivered, the savings will not be substantial.  This fuel cost calculator might help you determine if heating with wood would help you financially.  If you take into account all the time and energy need to cut, haul, split, stack your wood, savings drop substantially but if you consider the work as a 'personal weight reduction program' instead ..... well then you would be benefiting two ways from heating your home with wood.  You also become less dependent on fossil fuels and more self-reliant.

The disadvantages include but are not limited to; difficult and costly to obtain if you do not have access to free or cheap wood.  Wood is bulky and storage can be a problem.  Firewood must be seasoned for at least 3 months.  When burning wood in the home, fires must be properly prepared, tended and cleared.  Fires can be dangerous and many fireplaces leak smoke into the home.  Fireplaces are difficult to seal for air infiltration on the inside and for water leakage from the outside.  They also must be inspected regularly for tar and soot build-up.  

One has to remember that the type of wood burned, whether it be softwood or hardwood will determine the energy efficiency.  Softwoods burn quickly whereas hardwoods, like oak or maple, have less resin and burn longer and slower.   The amount of moisture in the wood determines its fuel value.  This is why firewood needs to be seasoned.  

Over the winter, we will look at installing a wood heating system in our home once again.  From all the information I have read, it seems shopping for one is best when done in the spring.  Retailers are more accommodating on prices when the season is over and they are looking at a dry spell over the summer.  Now what do we buy?  Do you have a wood burning stove/fireplace in your home?  Do you like it?  Do you have any advice for us?  We would appreciate any and all!  All these photos have been taken at our neighbor Dave's property.  He burns wood in his home and is ready for the long winter that will soon be upon us.  So lovingly and carefully chopped and stacked.

So for now I will dream of a wood stove, the beauty of  the natural wood fire, of the warm spot in the house to gather around on cold evenings.  I will dream of security knowing that we will be warm and comfortable if the power grid fails in the middle of winter and of being set free from our energy supplier who only cares about our money.  In time, I hope all my dreams come true.

I hope you have a great day and remember to give your loved ones a hug!

Thrifty Thursday

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It's Thrifty Thursday!

Last weekend my thrifty haul was made at the local libraries book sale!  Yippee!  This is what $5.00 buys you.

And the same day at the thrift store ..... .49 cents bought me a pie vent ceramic birdie.  Perfect for Thanksgiving pie baking time!

Happy thrifting this weekend and remember to give your loved ones a hug!

Raisin Bread

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The dilemma of the bread machine and the controversy surrounding the question .... is the bread homemade if made with a machine?  I have made homemade bread both by hand and by using a bread machine.  Personally I don't believe it is cheating if you would prefer using a bread machine .... it is, in my eyes, still homemade ...... you are adding and/or omitting ingredients that you might not wish for your family to eat.  It is the healthy loaf you want for your family.  THAT is homemade and homemade with love ..... even if it was made with a bread machine.

I love my bread machine.  I bought it second hand from a thrift store almost two years ago and use it every couple of days.  It works perfectly, came with the original recipe book and was only $10.00!!  One of the best deals I have ever found.  I enjoy kneading my bread by hand as well but I find that after a while it really bothers the muscles in my back.  Kneading for a full 10 minutes can really do a number on it!  Hence the reason I use my bread machine.  Others have told me they like their bread machines for the sole reason that their lives are just too busy!!  I certainly can understand this and it is a valid reason.  Running with younger children from school to sporting events and then home to put dinner on the table does take time away from such tasks.  

Besides making the  basic white and wheat loaves, we all love, love, love the raisin bread recipe that came with the machine.  It is just delicious and I thought I would share it with you in case you are like us ..... use a bread machine, and love raisin bread!

My book provides instructions for a one pound loaf and and a one and a half pound loaf ( I always make the 1 1/2 pound loaf as our household can finish it off in two days).  Although the amount of ingredients needed will be different, the process will be the same for both size loaves.

One Pound Loaf                            INGREDIENTS                          One and Half Pound Loaf           

7 ounces (3//4 cup + 2 Tbsp)           Water, 90 - 100 F                          8 1/2 ounces (1 cup + 1 Tbsp)

2 cups                                              Bread Flour                                    2 2/3 cups

1 tablespoon                                     Dry Milk                                        2 tablespoons

1 tablespoon                                     Sugar                                             1 1/2 tablespoons

1 teaspoon                                        Salt                                                1 1/2 teaspoons

1/2 teaspoon                                     Cinnamon                                       1 teaspoon

1 tablespoon                                     Butter or Margarine                        2 tablespoons

1 1/2 teaspoons                                Active Dry Yeast                            2 teaspoons

--or--                                               --or--                                             --or--

1 teaspoon                                       Bread Machine/                              1 1/2 teaspoons

                                                        Fast Rise Yeast 

1/2 cup                                            Raisins                                            3/4 cup

1/4 cup                                            Chopped Nuts (optional)                 1/2 cup

FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS FOR BOTH RECIPES

BREAD SELECT SETTING TO USE: Basic/Specialty

1. Add liquid ingredients to pan
2. Add dry ingredients except yeast, to pan.  Tap pan to settle dry ingredients, then level ingredients,         pushing some of the mixture into the corners.  Place butter into corners of pan.
3. Make a well in center of dry ingredients; add yeast.  Lock pan into bread maker.
4. Program for BASIC/SPECIALTY and desired Bread Color.  Program TIMER if being used.  Close cover.  Start bread maker.  When done, turn off and remove bread from pan.  Cool on rack before slicing.

** If making a one pound loaf; use Light Bread Color setting to prevent over-browning of the smaller loaf.

*** SPECIAL TIP:  To make raisin bread overnight, follow Steps 1-3 above.  Then place raisins and nuts around the outside edge of pan, away from the yeast.  Do not add raisins to the water in pan as the raisins will absorb too much liquid and a poor loaf of bread will be obtained.  Continue with Step 4.

If you happen to make a double batch, remember to cool the bread completely before packing it in a freezer bag.  Remove all air from the bag before sealing .... I use the old straw in the corner trick.  When I need another loaf, I remove it from the freezer, let it thaw slowly and if the oven happens to be turned on to cook our dinner, I will toss it in to warm up the loaf and have warm slices with our meal.  

Whether you chose to use a bread machine or knead the loaf by hand, baking with wholesome ingredients for your family is something to be very proud of.  Your bread will be better than any from a supermarket ..... guaranteed.  I am sure your family would agree with me.  So use that bread machine and use it with your head held high.  You have just baked a loaf of fresh, homemade bread!  Doesn't it smell wonderful?!

Remember to give your loved ones a hug!