Thrifty-Living-Tips.com

Here is a nice little article on getting started homeschooling in a thrifty way: Thrifty Homeschooling Tips. If you click on the topics in the sidebar, you'll find articles on other thrifty topics such as decorating, travel, and so much more.

Homeschool Buyers Co-op

Have you heard about the Homeschool Buyers Co-op yet? It's really very cool. You can get deep discounts if enough homeschoolers participate. For example, I'm looking at the Digital Frog program as I think it may help with Science Olympiad. Right now it's discounted at 20%, but if enough people sign on before the deadline (tomorrow at midnight Eastern) it will be 50%. The great thing is that I can set it up now so that I only make the purchase if it gets down to 50%. Better than e-bay.

Click on What's New to see all the current offerings. Right now there are deals on Explode the Code, Bill Nye videos, Descartes Cove Math, and so very much more.

Will It Blend: Credit Cards

Recipe: French Bread

Simple Mixer French Bread Recipe

2 packages active dry yeast (or 4 1/2 tsp. of the bulk stuff)

2 1/2 cups warm water (105 to 115)

1 Tbsp. salt

1 Tbsp. olive oil

7 c. all-purpose flour (or bread flour)

I like to warm my mixing bowl first by running it under hot water in the sink.

Dissolve the yeast in the warm water in the warm mixer bowl. Add salt, butter, and flour. Attach the dough hook and mix for a minute or so until the ingredients are all blended. Then knead for for 3 minutes on speed 2. The dough will be sticky.

Put the dough in a greased bowl and turn it to lightly greas the dough all around. Cover with a clean tea towell and let it rise in a warm place until it's doubled in bulk. About an hour.

Punch down the dough and divide in half. Toll each half into a 12x15 rectangle. Roll the dough tightly from longest side, tapering the ends. Place on greased baking sheets. Cover again with clean tea towells. Let rise in a warm place until doubled in bulk. About an hour.

With a very sharp knife, either slice one long slice down the middle or 3-4 diagonl cuts on the top of each loaf.

Bake at 450 for 25 to 30 minutes. Remove from the baking sheets right away and put on your cooling racks.

Book Closeouts Sale and Discount

Book Closeouts is having a big sale. Plus, I have a discount code for you:

Code: BookSale-5
Password: bookcloseouts.com
Details: $5 off purchase of $35 or more.
Expires: Jul 31, 2009

$1 Sale.

Discounted Art Supples

Madison Art Shop. Up to 70% off retail.

Homeschool Freebies

Homeschool Freebie of the Day

Every weekday, Monday through Friday, we’ll post a new homeschooling “freebie” to this site. What kind of “freebies”? Stuff like: Unit Studies… Ebooks… Audio Programs… Games… Samples… Lesson Plans… classic books… and other quality resources! This is the REAL THING.

Many of these will be products that you would normally pay for on their regular websites… but here on the Homeschool Freebie of the Day site, they’re 100% free… at least for that one day! Just download your copy and enjoy! It’s as simple as that!

Cool!

Baby Genius Discount

Wendy's isn't the only fast food restaurant offering discunts to parents. Taco Bell is running a promotion with Baby Genius. If you enter the promotion (discount) code Taco Bell at checkout, you'll get a 20% discount and a free music download. This offer runs from 5/01/08 to 10/31/08.

Discount on Audio Books

Wendy's is currently offering free audio books with their Kid's Meals. You can get one of four Magic Tree House books with each meal. In addition, Wendy's has partnered with Random House to offer you 25% off of audio books online and free shipping. This offer is good until October 1, 2008 and is limited to one title per household.

If you go to www.listeninglibrary.com/wendys and use the promotion (discount) code wendys at checkout, you'll get the discount and free shipping.

Recipe: Basic White Bread

KitchenAid Basic White Bread
Source: Kitchen Aid Mixers and Attachments Book

1/2 cup milk
3 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons salt
3 tablespoons butter or margarine
2 packages active dry yeast
1 1/2 cups warm water, 105f - 115f
5-6 cups all purpose flour

Combine milk, sugar, salt and butter in small saucepan. Heat over low heat until butter melts and sugar dissolves. Cool to lukewarm.

Dissolve yeast in warm water in warmed bowl. Add lukewarm milk mixture and 4 1/2 cups flour.

Attach bowl and dough hook. Turn to speed 2 and mix 1 minute.

Continuing on Speed 2, add remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time, until dough clings to hook and cleans sides of bowl. Knead on Speed 2 for 2 minutes longer, or until dough is smooth and elastic. Dough will be slightly sticky to the touch.

Place in a greased bowl, turning to grease top. Cover; let rise in warm place, free from draft, until doubled in bulk, about 1 hour.

Punch dough down and divide in half,. Shape each half into a loaf and place in a greased 8 1/2 x 4 1/2 x 2 1/2 inch loaf pan. Cover; let rise in warm place free from draft, until doubled in bulk, about 1 hour.

Bake at 400F for 30 minutes. Remove from pans immediately and cool on wire racks.

YouTube: Easy Crusty Hand Made Bread

Very easy. No need to knead.



Note to my friend Tammy: Lucas can eat this -- no sugar!

Recipe: Challah Bread

My children love this bread. They were appalled once when we took it to a friend's house and they sliced it. Too civil. We put it in the center of the dinner table and they tear it apart. Much more fun that way.

Again, I usually double the recipe. Just assume from here on out that any recipe for one loaf, I double or triple.

Challah Bread

aka Braided Bread

3/4 c. water (105 to 115 degrees)

1 1/2 tsp. yeast

1 egg

2 Tbsp. softened butter

2 Tbsp. sugar

1 1/2 tsp. salt

3 to 4 cups bread flour

1 egg yolk

1 Tbsp. cold water

1 Tbsp. poppy seed

1. Mix water and yeast. Set aside to poof for 5 minutes.

2. Combine egg, butter, sugar, and salt. Stir in yeast mixture. Gradually add in flour to form a soft dough.

3. Knead on low for 5 minutes with the kneading hook in the mixer.

4. Put the dough into a greased bowl and let rise to double it's size. About one hour.

5. Turn dough out onto floured surface and divide into 3 equal parts. Roll each piece into a 13-inch rope. Place ropes close together on greased cookie sheet and braid gently and loosely (do not stretch). Pinch ends to seal. Tuck ends under twist.

6. Cover and let rise in warm place until double. About 30 to 45 minutes.

7. Heat oven to 375.

8. Mix egg yolk and cold water. Brush over braid and sprinkle with poppy seeds. (Could substitute sesame seeds.)

9. Bake about 25 minutes or until golden brown.

Great bread to serve on Easter or Trinity Sunday.

Really delicious with Almond Butter (see recipe below).

Bread Machine Version:

Use just 3 1/4 flour. Measure ingredients carefully and place them into the bread machine pan in the order recommended by the manufacturer. Select dough/manual cycle. Remove dough and pick up the above directions at step 5.

Hand Kneaded Version:

Hand knead approximately 15 minutes instead of placing into the mixer.

Note: You can replace one cup of the white flour with whole wheat if you prefer a healthier bread.

Recipe: Sweet Almond Butter:

1/2 c. (1 stick) softened butter

2 Tbsp. finely chopped unblanched almonds

1 Tbsp. sugar

1/4 tsp. almond extract

Mix all ingredients together.

Recipe: Twisted Roasted Garlic Bread

I love roasted garlic and I love this recipe. I usually double it. It's a very soft bread. If you only like hard, crusty bread you'll want skip this recipe.

KitchenAid
Twisted Roasted Garlic Bread
with Pesto Variation

2 Tbsp. roasted garlic
1 1/4 tsp. yeast
1 c. water (105 to 115 degrees)
1 Tbsp. olive oil
2 Tbsp. sugar
1 tsp. salt
2 c. bread flour
1 c. whole-wheat flour

1. Mix water and yeast and set aside for 5 minutes to poof.
2. Combine oil, sugar, and salt. Stir in yeast mixture. Gradually add in flour to form a soft dough.
3. Knead on low for 3 minutes with the kneading hook in the mixer.
4. Put the dough into a greased bowl and let rise to double it's size. About one hour.
5. Turn dough out onto floured surface and divide into 2 equal parts. Roll each piece into a 13-inch rope. Place ropes close together on greased cookie sheet and twist gently and loosely (do not stretch). Pinch ends to seal. Tuck ends under twist.
6. Cover and let rise in warm place until double. About 30 minutes.
7. Heat oven to 375. Bake about 25 minutes or until golden brown.

Variation: Use prepared pesto instead of roasted garlic. Excellent with an Italian dinner.

Bread Machine Version:
Measure ingredients carefully and place them into the bread machine pan in the order recommended by the manufacturer. Select dough/manual cycle.
Remove dough and pick up the above directions at step 5.

Hand Kneaded Version:
Hand knead approximately 10 minutes instead of placing into the mixer.

Note: You can skip the whole-wheat flour and use all white if you prefer.

Cheap Shampoo

Proctor and Gamble raising their prices and what you can do about it.

Converting Bread Recipes, Part Three

Since I'm planning on sharing some of my favorite recipes over the next week or two I better share how to convert my KitchenAid bread making recipes to your bread machine or to hand kneading.

First . . .
Converting Mixer Bread Recipes to Hand Kneading
This is very simple. All you have to remember is that 1 minute of kneading in the mixer is equal to 12 minutes by hand. So, if the mixer recipe states 3 minutes of kneading, then you do it by hand for 36 minutes. Everything else in the recipe can remain the same.

Converting Mixer and Traditional Bread Recipes to a Bread Machine
With a bread machine baking, you simply put the ingredients into the machine as recommended in the owner's manual. With a traditional loaf you would just press the start (or similar) button.

If you are making something special like braided bread, french bread, etc., you would press the dough (or similar) button. Take out the dough and follow the instructions after the first rise -- usually this would include: punch it down, shape, and let rise again before putting into the oven.

Converting Bread Recipes, Part Two

Converting Old Fashioned Bread Recipes to the KitchenAid or Other Mixer

From the KitchenAid website:

Refer to your use and care manual for kneading time and speed guidelines. In general, 1 minute of kneading in the mixer is equal to 12 minutes by hand. Do not exceed Speed 2 when preparing yeast dough, as this may cause damage to the mixer. Always turn the stand mixer off before putting on and taking off attachments.

That's really all there is to it. Follow the recipe as is, except when it comes time to knead, you'll put your kneading hook on the mixer and spend much less time at the task of kneading.

Though 12 minutes seems like a lot to me. I'd say the ratio is more like 5 to 1. Usually, you knead with the mixer about 3 to 5 minutes.

You can also mix your ingredients in the electric mixer instead of by hand. I just use the kneading hook to save the extra step of using and washing the paddle attachment. Works fine.

Converting Bread Recipes, Part One

There are basically three ways to mix your bread dough: by hand, with a mixer, and with a bread machine.

Because of a medical condition, mixing by hand is difficult for me. I once owned a bread machine but hated the way the bread came out. I used it only for mixing the dough. More recently, I purchased a Kitchen Aid mixer and love it. This means converting my old recipes to fit my new mixer.

It's really very simple to do. You just need to keep in mind the differences between these methods. Each day for the next few days, I'll post about converting recipes one way or the other. For today:

Converting Bread Baking Recipes From Bread Machine to the Kitchen Aid
Bread machines tend to have the beginning steps backwards, depending on the model. They start with the liquid, followed by the dry ingredients, ending with the yeast. Then you set it to mix and bake.

To convert to a mixer recipe, first start with your liquid (remember: 105 to 115 degrees!), yeast, and sugar. Stir. I like to let it "poof" before going on. Poofing is just letting the mixture sit for 5 minutes. You'll see it bubble on top. That tells you the yeast is alive and working.

Now add in the salt and any other ingredients. Only add about 3/4 of your flour. Mix with the kneading hook on low, slowly adding the rest of the flour in 1/4 c. increments. The reason for this is that humidity has a lot to do with how much flour you need. You'll know you have enough flour when the dough starts looking stiff and pulls away from the side of the mixing bowl. Don't worry, after you bake bread with the mixer 2 or 3 times you'll be an expert at seeing when the dough is ready.

Knead on low for 3 minutes after it's all mixed. Your speed should be set to 1 or 2. Never, ever, knead on a speed higher than 2 on your Kitchen Aid Mixer.

Grease a big bowl (personally, I use an old plastic pitcher -- I'll post more about that another day) and place your dough into it. Roll the dough around so that it's greased also. This keeps it from drying out as it rises. Cover with a clean tea towel or plastic wrap. If you use plastic wrip spray with cooking spray.

Place in a warm place to rise until it's double in size. How long this takes will depend on how warm it is. Could be 30 to 60 minutes. Once doubled, punch it down. Shape into a loaf and place into a greased loaf pan or baking sheet. Cover with a clean tea towel and let rise until double.

Bake at 350 until brown and sounds hollow when tapped. Probably about 30 minutes.

Bread machine recipes are single loaf recipes. A great downfall, imo, of bread machines. Why heat up your oven for just one loaf. If you do a week's worth of loaves at one time you'll save energy. You can double or triple the bread machine recipe when you convert it.

Italian Spaghetti Sauce

My friend Lori writes:

I was excited to see the Tomato sauce recipe on your blog. You really got the recipe written down very well.

When you make your spaghetti sauce, start with a little olive oil in your pot. Add your garlic to saute until it turns a little brown but not burnt. Add your puree in. Then throw your herbs in like oregano, basil, and salt and cook for only about one hour. That's the way Mama Baldino does it. If you like meat sauce, add your ground beef in right after you brown the garlic and brown then continue as follows.

I misplaced the DVD I made at my mom's the day we canned, I wanted to put it on YouTube and when I find it I will and you will get a laugh or two.

Thanks again Lori!

The Right Temp

When I first tried to bake my own bread all those years ago, I failed again and again. The problem was the yeast.

The first thing you need to invest in if you'll be baking bread is a cooking thermometer. Your liquid, whether it be water or milk, should be at a temperature of 105 to 115. If the liquid is hotter or colder then it will kill the yeast.

I also fill my metal mixing bowl with hot water. I pour out the water and dry just before getting to work. This warms the bowl nicely for the yeast.

Catholic Spotlight Interview

I was interviewed on the Catholic Spotlight this week about homeschooling. Catholic Spotlight is an internet radio show sponsored by The Catholic Company that interviews top Catholic authors and artists. You can find my interview at http://catholicspotlight.com/97/cs63-maureen-wittmann-talks-catholic-homeschooling/. You can listen online or on your MP3 player.