Bread Making

I think I'm finally getting the hang of this bread making thing. I little while ago I set the lofty goal of baking my own bread everyday, then proceeded to make some pretty dismal loaves....5kg of flour later and I think I might be getting it right.

I'm using the recipie from Rhonda over at Down to Earth blog, (i'll add the link in later, not sure how to do it on my phone), with some changes. Firstly, I'm using more yeast that Rhonda. I started of with yeast that is not foil packed and in the stated amounts. The dough was heavy, difficult to kneading and slow to rise. The loaves were too dense, even the chooks weren't that into them.

So then I changed the yeast brand. It helped, but the loaves were still far to dense. So I increased the yeast amount to a while sachet, which I think is 7g. At this point I decided to add in a short cut as well. I have a bread maker, but I hate the shape of the loaf. However, my breadmaker has a dough option, so for the 1st kneading and rise I let the breadmaker do the work.

So far so good. My breadmaker also has a time delay option, so i can load the ingredients, pre-set the machine to be ready first thing in the morning and have fresh bread ready for school lunches in the morning.

Cool hey :)

On a cost comparison, bread can cost generally from $1.20 to $3.50 for a store bought loaf. I usually spend about $2.80 as I prefer to buy loaves I know my family will eat and I tend to buy several at a time, so I buy bread I know will freeze and thaw really well.
Home made bread doesn't keep very long, but then it is so scrummptious it tends not to last long anyway. The ingredients cost around $1.20 for a large loaf, that is a loaf that is white with no extra seeds etc. I know i can get flour cheaper, but have been reluctant to buy in bulk quantities until I'm sure I've got the hang of baking bread.

So on a cost basis, based on my normal buying habits, I'm saving $1.60 a loaf. Not much on one loaf but we go through two loaves a day so that is $3.20 a day. Or $22.40 a week. In the course of a year it is a potential saving of $1164.80.

My next experimenting will be in baking to freeze so that I can have a few loaves in reserve for times when we are running short, too just, kids are sick, I'm sick etc. I also want to play around with making rolls too.

Life is Good

Because it's all good :)

Life has been busy. Really busy. I'm in a happy place and plodding along.

I started a business which can be found here selling children's products and some mama items. I have some other business venture ideas up my sleeve...not sure if they'll come to fruition, but they are on my brainstorm map for sure.

My hope for The Treasure Tent is to have a decent income source so I can do the things that don't provide income (parenting, volunteer work, studying random units at uni). While this is my goal, I'm open to the timeframe in achieving it. It's hard work, damn hard work, establishing a business. I know this from starting a business with husband in the building industry. The running around, self-promotion, long hours and initially low/no pay. But I'm committed.

On the home front, my son turned 10 recently. 10!!!! A whole decade I've been a mummy! I'm so proud of him, and I know I'll continue to do so. From his various health issues (respiratory illness, epilepsy, hearing and speech impairments) as a toddler, to having to go to a specialist school, experiencing bullying as junior primary student, he has evolved into a young boy I am so immensely proud of. I look at him and see glimpses of the man he'll become .....and I'm getting goosebumps! He is going to be a great dad/citizen/husband when he grows up.

My other children are plodding along fine. My youngest continues to push boundaries, and although he is a trial, I see in him qualities I admire (innovation, persistence, strength). My girls are my babies. They are scrumptious and creative, they are sweet and they are lovely. They shine.

My sewing is going really well. Part of my business consists of my creations and it is so validating to sell things I have made. I got chooks, they were killed (by the dog), so Fort Knox a.k.a the chicken coop was constructed. I have 4 chooks now, only 1 layer, but the other 3 are young. The garden is sort of ok. Ok the vegie patch is dismal, but I have more fruit trees and they are growing lovely.

Life is good

Tech issues

I can't seem to get Blogger to play nice with Photobucket and post picture is the "Back to Basics" post at the right size. Bah

Back to Basics

(I had a great post all written up, then Blogger lost it, grrrr, so here we go again)

It's been a while (I know, I know, I think I said that before, at least I'm consistent), but I have been very busy! I Promise :)

In the Garden

Not much planting and harvesting to report.

The big news is that I've almost finished weeding out the vegie patch. Finally! It was infested with Couch and Buffalo grass. Unfortunately these nifty weeds push out runners which can re-grow from the tiny bits of runners that may snap off when you pull them up. I definitely didn't want to resort to chemicals, so I pulled and sifted through the dirt and I think I'm nearly there. I have tried the no-dig method, and although it was piled high, and it did work, I just don't have the money to buy the hay, manure ect, and besides, the dirt that is now there is rich and yummy.

There is one identified plant that I have left. I'm not sure what it is..

Any suggestions. I thought maybe Geranium, but it doesn't have that Geranium smell.

Stuntman helping to put the lattice on. Stuntman has been very intrigued by all the goings ons in the garden patch.

Planning for the Future

My husband hasn't been paid for 4 weeks now, this happens from time to time and it is just the nature of his work (building industry) and the downside of running a small business. So menu planning has had to centre around what is in the freezer/pantry. We are fortunate that both of these were well stocked.....they are looking quite bare now.

I've made up a shopping list for when we do get paid (please be this week, please be this week) and it's a massive one. On the upside, the pantry is nice and tidy and I had the opportunity to give our storage containers a clean. And the menu plan is looking good :)

Working for the Future

The hen house is done! And I'm proud to say it is almost all made from scrap/scavenged stuff. We needed to buy hinges and a latch for the gate and I went to the salvage yard ($2 each) for the nesting boxes (large plastic containers that my husband has trimmed down).

Next week Polly and Esther the Isa Browns will be joining our family!

A few weeks ago I ordered clothing labels and sizing tags....I'm getting things into place to sell some of my sewing. I don't have the time to do this on a large scale, but my first goal is to make a few items and advertise among my friends on Facebook and also on Etsy. My long term goal is to produce enough stock to have a stall at a fair next year. I have no illusions that this could bring in good money, it won't, but I'm hoping that I can produce/sell enough that my hobby pays for itself.

Building Community

Helping to organise a family games night at my church. Asked one of the ladies at church if I can come along to the bi-monthly craft evening at her place.

I've got my Girl Guides doing a "term of service". We are looking at Beyond Blue (youth mental health), Naragebup (local environment centre) and Breast Cancer Foundation. I've organised a guest speaker to talk on mental health and over the term we will look at the three organisations, do activities and raise awareness.

I went along to my local LETS group meeting.

Learn a new Skill

I managed to get hold of the book "Artisan Bread in 5 Minutes a Day" and what a great book!

So easy and simple and the results are wonderful. Nice crusty bread with a soft crumb (inside).

It's also been a great activity to do with my daughter. Here she is, showing off her first loaf!

I've also been playing around with making my own yoghurt. Very yummy.

Big thanks to Belinda for hosting this meme. :) Belinda is a wonderful inspiration.

My Creative Space

My Creative Space has been taken up with a urge to cook. Can't wait to try the method of bread making in this book "Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day". Looks easy.

Also in the pic is a potato ricer. I'm giving potato gnocchi a go this weekend. I've never even tasted potato gnocchi...but I soon will !

My Creative Space

In my creative space this week:
P.J's, lots of P.J's! I've started my Christmas gift sewing for my neice, nephews and my children and this year P.J's will be under the Christmas tree.

Handmade Beginnings by Anna Maria Horner. It's a delightful book and with so many pregnant people around me I've started making sweet little gifts.

Hope your all having a creative week :)

Neigh

Me: Your my beautiful princess girl.
Her: No I'm not. I'm a queen.
Me: hmm, ok, if your a queen, then what does that make me?
Her: (pause) A horse