Overnight (or not) coffee cake

This is a long time - go to - recipe that is both very yummy and frugal!  I especially enjoy the flexibility of this recipe because it can be mixed up the night before so all I have to do is bake it in the morning or it is equally as yummy mixing in up and baking it right up.  This recipe is always well received and is a great one to use during the holidays.

I have shared this recipe before, but it is worth posting again.  This coffee cake can also be baked in muffins and I'm sure the delivery people, mail carriers and bus drivers would all appreciate a muffin this busy time of the year!  We gave them to our snow plow driver one very snowy winter and they enjoyed them.

 

Overnight (or not) Coffee Cake
Mix together in a large bowl:
2 cups flour
1 cup white sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp cloves
1/2 tsp nutmeg

Stir in:
1 cup sour milk (1 tsp vinegar or lemon juice with the milk)
3/4 cup oil
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla

Crumb topping:
Cut the following together with a pastry cutter or with two knives until well blended.
2/3 cup flour
1/4 cup butter or margarine
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamon

Mix and refrigerate overnight in a 9*13 GREASED baking pan. Top with crunch topping in the morning. Bake at 350 for 30-40 minutes until tooth pick in center comes out clean. You can also just bake it right away without refrigeration. If I am going to make it the night before I prepare the crumb topping and just store it separate till morning. ENJOY!!

Have a BLESSED day,
 BE a BLESSING!
Heather

My favorite way to us browning bananas.....Chocolate Banana Muffins (or cake)

I'm all for regular old banana bread, but I am a CHOCOLATE girl at heart and have a husband that loves chocolate, too.  So when I came across this recipe for Chocolate Banana Muffins a few years ago it quickly became a family favorite.  I whipped up a double batch today (one for us and one to share).  Easy, Yummy, and CHOCOLATY Banana!!


This recipe will make a dozen large muffins or if you double the batch it will make a 9x13 cake. Today I actually trippled the recipe and made a dozen muffins and a cake. The muffins freeze really well for quickk grab and go snacks or to pack in lunches.   ENJOY!!

 Chocolate Banana Muffins

1-1 /2 C flour
1 C sugar
1/4 C baking cocoa
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp baking powder
1 1/3 C mashed ripe bananas (2 to 3 medium)
1/3 C vegetable oil (I used olive oil)
1 egg
1 C miniature semi-sweet chocolate chips (optional.... I don't usually add them)

In a large bowl, combine the first six ingredients. In a small bowl, combine bananas, oil, and egg; stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. Fold in chocolate chips. Fill greased or paper-lined muffin cups three-fourths full. Bake at 350-degrees

Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING! Heather

I'm going to let you in on one of my favorite SECRETS!

 Cooking with Venison!
We are a deer hunting family! I had NEVER eaten deer or even really known anyone that hunted till I met my hubby..... wow, has my world changed!

Anyway, cooking with venison is something that I struggled with at first..... I just couldn't get used to it and I thought it always tasted gamy..... well, not any more!!!! I learned the SECRET!

Secret to fantastic (you will never know it is venison) meat:
VINEGAR!!!!!!!!!! The acid totally takes away the game flavor! Period.... no more!
When I brown ground meat I simply add it while browning (I don't measure, but about 2 TBL per pound). When I make a roast I just always add vinegar to the cooking juices and I cook it in the crock pot.

I have also started canning deer meat.... talk about NO game flavor and a jar full of yummy!  I will have to post on that later!!


****Linking with

Have a BLESSED day,
BE a BLESSING!
Heather

Choosing Simplicity..... Homemade Liquid Dishwasher Soap

I just whipped up another batch of  dishwasher soap this week and it got me thinking about the fact that my second all time most  read post here on this blog is about the homemade liquid dishwasher soap I use.  Isn't it funny what posts become the most popular??  I never would have thought dishwasher soap!  LOL!

I started using homemade liquid dishwasher soap back in 2009 and I enjoy being both frugal and environmentally kind.  I had used a homemade powder dishwasher soap for a long time before that.  I prefer the liquid kind.  We have "hard" well water and I must use a rinse aid (either vinegar or purchased kind) and I have to hand wash our drinking glasses every now and them because no matter what kind of dishwasher soap I use (home made or purchased) a film develops.  This recipe is a keeper in my book, so thought I would post about it again (since it has been a while).

This batch that I made this week will last me about 4 months.  Note that I marked the jug with the date... I like to keep track of usage data... it is the nerd in me!   I run my dishwasher at least once a day and a few days a week it gets ran twice a day.  For a cost of $3 I would say that this is very cost effective!

Homemade Liquid Dishwasher Soap
(This makes 1 gallon. It costs me approximately $3 to make. I store it in 2 1/2 gallon jugs.)

Ingredients:
16 cups of water, divided
1 1/2 cups WASHING soda (this is NOT baking soda)
1 cup borax
1/2 cup Dr. Brenner's Pure Liquid Castile Soap (fragrance of your choice)

Directions:
1) Bring 8 cups of water to a boil. Remove from heat and stir in washing soda, borax and liquid castile soap until dissolved.
2) Stir in remaining 8 cups water and allow to cool.
3) Pour cooled dishwasher soap into containers of your choice. It will "gell" up over next 24 hours.

To use:
give dishwasher soap a good shake to make sure everything is mixed well and to make it easy to pour out. I only put a small amount ( approx 1 rounded TBL) in the closed soap dispenser. Experiment with the amount you will need... I have found that it takes very little of this soap.  This batch will last a long time!

 I hope you like it... Let me know if you try it. I enjoy making as many of our cleaning products as possible... I especially like this homemade multipurpose cleaner.  My 7 year old son is the chief bathroom cleaner and he sprays down the sink with this cleaner every day.... love that I don't have to worry about my child cleaning with harsh and dangerous chemicals!  Safe and effective and of course money saving!  :)


****Update*****  This batch I made in January lasted me SIX whole months!!  I run the dishwasher at least once a day and several times a week twice.  I posted about how frugal and happy I am with this Homemade Liquid Dishwasher Soap here.   *****

Have a BLESSED day,
BE a BLESSING!
Heather

Choosing Simplicity... Baking Cookie BARS!

Baking Cookies takes soooo long!  Cookie sheets in and out of the oven!  Ok, also, I'm not the worlds best cookie maker..... my attention deficit issues just can't handle it!  LOL!  But in the spirit of CHOOSING SIMPLICITY I give my cookie loving family cookie bars.  I know, not quiet the same, but better than nothing!

Last night I whipped up a batch of oatmeal cookie bars while the pizza dough was resting (15 minute quick rise).  These cookie bars are easy, yummy and a *little* healthy.  At least I like to pretend ... eases the guilty conscience .... that cookies with "good for you" ingredients are some how a little good for us!  Surely I'm not the only one out there that does that!!  :)

Here is the recipe for you.... I must be on an oatmeal kick because last night the pizza crust I made included oats and last week I made my favorite Oatmeal Spice Cake.  mmmm.... I must really be feeling bad about all the chocolate we consumed over the holidays!!

Oatmeal Cookie Bars

Ingredients:

1 cup butter

1 cup shortening (I use Coconut oil to replace shortening or you could use all butter)

2 cups packed brown sugar

1 cup white sugar

4 eggs

2 tsp vanilla

3 cups flour (I like to use "white whole wheat")

2 tsp baking soda

2 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp ground cloves

1 tsp salt

6 cups rolled oats

2 cups raisins or dried cranberries (optional)  (I like to use a blend of the two)

Directions:

1)  Blend together the butter, coconut oil (or shortening) and sugars until creamy and fluffy.  

2)  Mix in the eggs and vanilla

3)  In a separate bowl combine the flour, baking soda, spices and salt.  gradually mix into the creamed butter.

4)  add in the oats and optional raisins.

5) Spread batter into a greased jelly roll size cookie sheet (the kind with sides) and bake at 350 degrees for 25-35 minutes depending on how done you like your cookies.  ENJOY!!

*****  Just FYI.....  These cookie bars freeze really well and make a great addition to packed lunches or snacks on the go.  I just freeze individual bars in their own baggie for quick grab and go convenience.***

Oatmeal Spice Cake

Tonight we are going to meet with our monthly fellowship group.  We do a pitch in dinner and tonight I am taking an Oatmeal Spice Cake with Caramel Sauce Topping and a Chocolate Fudge Sheet Cake.  I am making a special variation of my  Oatmeal cake and mixed in apples and cranberries.... yummy!

It is an easy cake to mix up and always gets rave reviews.  Here is the recipe if you ever want to whip one up!



Oatmeal Spice Cake with Carmel Sauce Topping
Cake Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups flour
1 cup oats
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp cloves
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup oil
1 cup water
2 eggs
2 TBL molasses

OPTIONAL:  3 cups diced apples or cranberries (or mixture of both)

Caramel Topping Ingredients:
1/4 cup BUTTER (not any substitutes)
2/3 cup brown sugar
3 TBL milk

Cake Directions:
1) mix together all "wet" ingredients (oil, water eggs and molasses) and set aside
2) in large bowl stir together all "dry" ingredients( flour, oats, sugars, baking soda, salt and spices)
3)  Thoroughly combine wet ingredients into dry ingredients.  Stir in optional fruit.
4) Bake in a greased 9x13 pan for 35-40 minutes or until cake tests done. 
5) Pour warm caramel sauce over warm cake!

Caramel Sauce Directions:
1) melt together the butter, sugar and milk.  Bring to simmer. 
2) Pour over warm cake

ENJOY!!!!

Have a BLESSED day,
BE a BLESSING!
Heather

Chocolate Fudge Sheet Cake with your choice of frosting: Chocolate or Peanutbutter

 This amazing  Chocolate Fudge Cake has become my standby recipe when baking for a large crowd.  It is easy and extremely yummy and I love the *surprise* ingredient..... cola!!  I first came across this recipe last year at Many Little Blessings.  I have since modified it to make it simpler to throw together, but the results are just as divine!

I whipped this up this evening to take with us for lunch at church tomorrow.  We are having dinner after church with the pastor's family  and a few others.  Tomorrow is a special day for our family.... we are pledging our membership at church!  This is a first for my husband and me..... we have never been members of a church before.  We are so blessed to be a part of this wonderful congregation..... a true family in Christ!

This cake will easily serve 30 people.  I made it with the chocolate frosting tonight, but the peanut butter frosting option is absolutely delish!  

 

 Chocolate Fudge Sheet Cake

Ingredients:
1/3 cup cocoa
2 cups white sugar
2 cups flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 cup milk
1 TBL white vinegar (don't worry you won't taste it.... it reacts with the baking soda to make it rise)
1 cup oil
1 cup cola flavored soda (or any dark soda.... I have even used root beer and dr pepper)
2 eggs

Directions:
1)  Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease a sheet cake/cookie sheet pan.
2)  In a large mixing bowl combine the first 5 ingredients (the dry ones).
3)  In a separate bowl whisk together the remaining 5 ingredients (the wet ones)
4)  Pour the liquid mixture together with the dry ingredients and stir until completely mixed.  Pour into prepared sheet pan.
5)  Bake for 20-25 minutes.  Frost with either the chocolate frosting or peanut butter below.  You can frost it while it is still hot or you can wait till it cools.... I love the flexibility of this cake!

Chocolate Frosting:

Ingredients:
1/2 cup buter
1/3 cup cocoa powder
1/3 cup cream or milk
3 1/2 -4 cups powdered sugar

Directions:
1) in a saucepan combine butter, milk and cocoa powder.  stir and cook till butter is melted.
2)Beat in powdered sugar

Peanut Butter frosting

Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup Peanut Butter
2 TBL milk
3-4 cups powdered sugar

Directions:
1)Melt together butter, peanut butter and milk
2) Beat in powdered sugar


Enjoy and I will admire your will power if you can just eat ONE piece of this cake!! 

Have a BLESSED day,
BE a BLESSING!
Heather

Refrigerator Dill Pickles

 The garden is really starting to produce!  Time to start "putting up" the harvest.  We love cucumbers, but you can only eat so many of them fresh out of the garden.  I have tried several times to can pickles but they have always turned out a mushy mess!  So this year I decided to give refrigerator pickles a try and we LOVE them!!!!!  I have made 2 gallons in the last 2 weeks and my kids eat them like candy.  They are a hit that will definitely become a "putting up the harvest" tradition.  These pickles will store well in the fridge for a couple of months.  I will keep making them and hopefully we will have pickles till thanksgiving! 

Refrigerator Dill Pickles
**** I combined 2 recipes and I don't measure exactly.... feel free to modify as you wish.

Ingredients:
washed and sliced cucumbers  (however many you have)
salt
ice
Onion slices
Pepper slices (banana or green)

To make the liquid:
1 cup white vinegar
2 cups water
1/2 - 1 tsp garlic powder (depending on how much garlic flavor you want)
1-2 tsp dry dill weed (we really like the dill flavor so I use 2 tsp).... I buy dry dill weed at rural king.... they have spices cheap!!
1-2 tsp salt (again, this depends on how salty you like your pickles)


Directions:
1)  Wash and slice cucumbers and put them in a PLASTIC bowl.  It is important that you don't touch  the pickles with anything metal... only plastic or glass!!!

2)  Sprinkle liberally with salt and cover cucumber slices with ICE and let soak for 2-5 hours.  (this makes the cucumbers crispy)  I just leave this sitting on the counter for a few hours.

3)  Drain and rinse.  Drain and rinse again.

4)  Put slices in jars (you can use whatever you have).  Add in onion slices and peppers (optional).  You can also add garlic cloves instead of using garlic powder in the liquid.

5)  Fill jars with prepared liquid to cover cucumber slices.  If you need more liquid just mix up another batch.  It will save for later if you have too much.

6)  Let sit in fridge for 3 days and then EAT and ENJOY!!  The longer they sit the better they taste!!!  They will keep in fridge for a couple of months... not that any will last that long around here!!  LOL

Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING! Heather

It's OK to have some convience foods in your kitchen!!

Really, it is OK!! Big weight off the "cook from scratch" shoulders.

Perfection is a killer. We too often hold ourselves to unrealistic expectations. Yes, I want the BEST for my family. I want them to eat healthy and yummy food. However, ultimately what is BEST for them is having a CHEERFUL Mom!! When I get over stressed I'm not always so cheerful... in fact we had some extra stress this week and some things had to give.

There are days that convenience food is PERFECTLY perfect for our family. This week we had cold meat sandwiches and frozen pizza!! Yep, and they were yummy! Yesterday was a more "normal" day and I was able to get some yummy bacon, cheddar and veggie chowder in the crock pot. We sat at the table and ate a made from scratch, whole foods meal. Know what?? It was great food but the time together at the table is what matters most! Whether it is a frozen pizza, PB&J's, cereal or a made from scratch meal it is the FAMILY time that matters most!!

So, let me give you some encouragement.... it is OK to have some convenience foods in your life. Your kids NEED a smiling mom!

For the LOVE of FAMILY I want to help you be a smiling MOM! Download your FREE copy of my Simple Family Supper Menu Plan kit E-Book today!!!! It has everything you need: 4 weeks of menus, easy to prepare recipes and detailed shopping lists.


Have a BLESSED day,
BE a BLESSING!
Heather

Choosing Simplicity... Back up Coffee maker

Paradise = Morning Coffee!!

Back up comes in VERY handy when the coffee pot decides to be DONE! I knew that our coffee pot was on its last leg but I wasn't worried about replacing it just yet because we have a CHEAP extra one stored in the basement.

This week our well worked coffee pot decided to completely QUIT. My husband woke me up at 5 am in distress.... "The coffee pot is dead!". I calmly reminded him about the extra one and we didn't have to fumble our way through the day without our morning jump start!! Yeah, for the extra one!

We have now replaced the daily use coffee pot and the extra (mega CHEAP) one is back in its box to be used some other day. We also use this extra coffee pot when we have company and we need both regular and decaf.

Happy coffee drinking husband!!


Have a BLESSED day,
BE a BLESSING!
Heather


For the LOVE of FAMILY!!!!!!!!!!
Download your FREE Simple Family Supper E-book today.

Easy Chewy Peanut Butter Bars

Baking up a batch of these yummy treats!!! I have shared this recipe before, but it is worth repeating. ENJOY!~

Easy Chewy Peanut Butter Bars

Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter (NOT margarine) or 1/4 cup butter and 1/4 cup oil
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
2/3 cup white sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 cup flour
2 eggs, beaten
1 tsp vanilla

Directions:

1. Spray 9x13 baking pan with non-stick cooking spray. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees F.
   
2. melt butter and peanut butter in large glass bowl in microwave or in a sauce pan over low heat on stove
3. Remove from heat and add remaining ingredients.
4. Spread batter into prepared pan. Bake for 25-30 minutes until lightly browned and edges start to pull away from sides of pan.
5. ENJOY!!
   

Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING!
Heather

Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING!
Heather

What is for supper?? Eliminate this daily stress from your life! http://www.simplefamilysupper.com

Eating at home can save your life......

"The slow insidious displacement of home cooked and communally shared family meals by the industrial food system has fattened our nation and weakened our family ties. In 1900, 2 percent of meals were eaten outside the home. In 2010, 50 percent were eaten away from home and one in five breakfasts is from McDonald's. Most family meals happen about three times a week, last less than 20 minutes and are spent watching television or texting while each family member eats a different microwaved "food." More meals are eaten in the minivan than the kitchen."

***Read the complete article by Dr. Mark Hyman.

This is why I have such a passion for the family supper!!!! I know modern life is crazy and busy and that cooking skills are often limited. It is for these reasons that I created my Simple Family Supper menu plan kits. EASY meals, complete organization.... ENJOY and build your family life. I want you to experience GREAT family time without stress.

Have a BLESSED day,
BE a BLESSING!
Heather

Using my secret weapon is key on days like today....

We are doing some home improvement projects in the kitchen and dining room right now..... wonderful projects that my handyman husband is blessing us with. Today we will be putting down bamboo hardwood!! Needless to say, not much cooking has been going on this week. We have been living on cold sandwiches and cereal for a week. However, I just can't handle it anymore and the secret weapon is coming out! CROCK POT!!!!

I can plug in that baby in the living room and tonight we will enjoy a HOT meal!! mmmm yummy!

Here is one of our favorite recipes:
It can be eaten served over rice instead of as a sandwich. This recipe is in the March edition of my Simple Family Supper menu plan kits.

Savory Chicken Sandwiches

***Efficient cooking*** Crock Pot or Stove top

Ingredients: 8 boneless skinless chicken breasts 1 envelope onion soup mix ½ tsp garlic powder ½ cup prepared Italian salad dressing 1 cup water

Directions: 1) Place Chicken in crock pot 2) Mix together remaining ingredients and pour on top of chicken. 3) Cover and cook on HIGH 5 hours or on LOW 7-9 hours 4) Remove Chicken and shred meat. Return to cooking juices. 5) Serve on buns. Label and freeze extra meat and cooking juices in a freezer bag.

Side Suggestions: baby carrots, baked beans, salad, fruit

Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING!
Heather
What is for supper?? Eliminate this daily stress from your life! http://www.simplefamilysupper.com

Sneaky cooking.... yes I do that!! :)

I admit it. I sneak things into our food all the time. Healthy things make it into my kids and husband all the time and they are unaware!! I LOVE it, and their bodies love it, too. My kids really enjoy my chili.... all because it doesn't seem like it has any beans. Anyone else want to sneak some beans into their kids?? :) (I will admit that now that the kids are older they realize that there are beans in my chili, but they don't mind at all.)

Here is my recipe. It is in the Money Wise Simple Family Supper menu plan kit. Enjoy!

Kids will love it CHILI

**Efficient Cooking: Brown up extra meat and Freeze Crock Pot or Stove Top

Ingredients: 1 pound browned ground meat 2 cans chili beans (use re-fried beans if you don’t have a blender) 1 can water 1 (46 ounce) can tomato juice or V-8 (here is another way to sneak in veggies) 1-2 tsp onion powder ½-1 tsp garlic powder Salt and pepper to taste Pasta of your choice (optional)

Crock Pot Directions: 1) Brown meat 2) Blend beans and 1 can of water in blender till smooth. Kids will love this chili because they won’t know that it has fiber and protein rich beans in it. The blending also reduces “bean affect”!!! If you don’t have a blender you can use refried beans instead. 3) Place all ingredients (except pasta) in crock pot. Cover and cook on low 8-10 hours or on high 3-5 hours. 4) During last 45 minutes add pasta and cover and cook till pasta is tender. Stove Top Directions: 1) Same as above 2) Place all ingredients (except pasta) in soup kettle. Cover and bring to boil on medium/low heat. 3) Once the chili has come to a boil add optional pasta. Simmer for 10 minutes or until pasta is tender.

Side Suggestions: Salad and cornbread. (cornbread mix is EASY, just follow directions on side of box)

Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING!
Heather
What is for supper?? Eliminate this daily stress from your life! http://www.simplefamilysupper.com

An EASY, yummy and budget friendly favorite meal in our house

Today for lunch (the kids are home for one last day of Christmas break) I made one of our favorite easy meals. My kids (not my husband) love brown rice so this is a meal I always make with brown rice when it is just the kids and I and make it with white when my husband will be eating it, too.

Anyway, it is easy, yummy and very budget friendly. It can also be modified in a hundred ways. Here is how I made it today:

"Sneaky style" beans and rice
Ingredients

• 5 cups cooked seasoned rice (When I cook the rice in my rice cooker I add some cumin, turmeric, onion powder, garlic and salt)
• 1 can chili beans blended till smooth... this is what makes it "sneaky".... no one feels like they are eating beans
• 1 (8oz) can tomato sauce
• 2 cups shredded cheese
  

Directions:
Cook the rice. When rice is cooked simply stir together the rice, blended beans and tomato sauce. Spread in a baking dish. Sprinkle with shredded cheese and either bake in oven till warm or use microwave.

EASY, YUMMY!! ENJOY!!



Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING!HeatherWhat is for supper?? Eliminate this daily stress from your life! http://www.simplefamilysupper.com

Celebration Bread Braid and EASY, wonderful fudge

My husband and oldest son went ICE fishing over the weekend.... NOT me! I like to stay WARM and I can think of no better way to stay nice and warm than baking in the kitchen. The wood stove has worked over time this December.... Indiana has had a very unusually cold month. Never has my husband been able to ice fish before Christmas
(the pond he fishes had 8 inches of clear ice already). They brought home a nice mess of fish for us to enjoy.

I busied myself in the kitchen this weekend baking up some goodies to give for Christmas gifts. I made several batches of Celebration Bread Braid and pounds of candy! Gotta LOVE this time of the year!!!! Celebration Bread Braid is one of my favorite gifts to give. Home made bread is such a treat and this one is very beautiful to look at, too. My favorite fudge recipe is both fantastically wonderful to eat and is also easy on the budget. ENJOY! You will find both recipes below.

Celebration Bread Braid

Ingredients:

• 2 packages (1/4 ounce each) active dry yeast
• 1 cup warm water (110° to 115°)
• 1/3 cup butter, softened
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 eggs
• 4-1/2 to 5 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 egg yolk
• 1 tablespoon cold water

Directions:

In a large mixing bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Add the butter, sugar, salt, eggs and 3 cups flour. Beat on medium speed for 3 minutes. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough.
Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour.
Punch dough down. Turn onto a lightly floured surface; divide into four pieces. Shape each piece into an 18-in. rope. Place ropes parallel to each other on a greased baking sheet. Beginning from the right side, braid dough by placing the first rope over the second rope, under the third and over the fourth. Repeat three or four times, beginning each time from the right side. Pinch ends to seal and tuck under.
Cover and let rise until doubled, about 45 minutes. Beat egg yolk and water; brush over braid. Bake at 350° for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from pan to a wire rack to cool. Yield: 1 loaf.



Pair up the Celebration Bread Braid with some Better Butter and you have a wonderful gift to share!

Better Butter
Set butter out and bring to room temperature. In blender whip together equal parts of butter and oil (I use canola). Whip till very creamy. Store in containers in the fridge... will stay soft and yummy!

Variations: Honey Butter.... simply add in some honey in replace of some oil.
Cinnamon Butter.... add in some brown sugar and cinnamon
Garlic and Herb.... add in some garlic powder and herbs


Amazing Fudge

Combine the following in a large bowl:
3 cups chocolate chips (semi-sweet is the best!)
½ lb. (2 sticks) butter, cut into chunks

In Sauce pan measure:
4 ½ cups sugar
¼ tsp. cream of tartar
1- 12 oz. can evaporated milk

Mix together and stir constantly over med-high burner. Keep stirring until it comes to a full bubbling boil- NOT a rolling boil. Time for 6 minutes. Remove from heat and pour over chips and butter in bowl. Add 1 tsp. vanilla, stir until chocolate is melted. Add nuts if desired. [Try dried cherries too- yumm-o!]
Pour into GREASED 9x13 pan and cool.
Cut into squares and serve. Keep refrigerated or at least in a cool place.
Warning: Very rich- you must have a glass of milk or a cup of coffee. Eating more than 3 pieces at a time is known to give you sugar overload.

Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING!
Heather
What is for supper?? Eliminate this daily stress from your life! http://www.simplefamilysupper.com

What can I do now that will help me later?? (and 2 easy chicken recipes)

Are you naturally organized?? Just plain born organized?? NOT me!! I have to WORK to be organized. I have learned so many, many great things from FlyLady (any other fly babies out there?). One of the best things I gleaned from her knowledge is to ask my self this question: "What can I do now that will help me later?". I might only have a couple of minutes, but there is usually something that I can do that will benefit me later.

Training my mind to think ahead rather than always struggling to catch up has been a hugely helpful shift. Now, don't get me wrong, I still have days that I feel the constant stress of feeling about 3 steps behind. However, compared to what I used to experience, the simple act of thinking ahead and putting some action in work has been a major help in my choosing simplicity! I am trying to teach my kids to look ahead and be organized. (getting everything ready the night before really cuts down on the morning rush out the door for school.)

Thinking ahead and putting some plans into action have really helped our evenings. The evenings in our home ( I consider evening to be from the time the kids get home at 3:30) are busy. There is snack time, homework and chores to be completed, supper to be had, and right now during basketball season our oldest has either practice or games 4 nights a week. BUSY! We are blessed to be in a carpool so I don't have to drive every night. However, evenings are still a hectic time. I know I am not alone in the business of evenings. I also really believe that my kids need down time to PLAY so I try to keep things as simple as possible.

The number one way I plan ahead for the evenings is with supper. I have a menu plan (that alone is a HUGE help) and I usually start supper in the morning (by either using the crock pot or having everything ready to cook). This morning I had our supper in the crock pot by 9 am.... now all I will have to do is warm up some veggies, and cook rice. EASY! Choosing Simplicity. Tonight our son has a basketball game and our daughter is caroling with her school choir. My husband is going to the game and I am going with our daughter. We will all have to be out the door with full tummies.

We are having So Simple Salsa Chicken for supper. It is YUMMY and it is an "Efficient Cooking" recipe that will give me extra cooked chicken meat to use later. (another HUGE way to "think and work ahead". One of our favorite recipes to use the "Fast Track" chicken meat that we will have is in Buffalo Chicken Soup. Below you will find both recipes. These recipes come from the "MONEY WISE" Simple Family Supper menu. Enjoy!!

So Simple Salsa Chicken

**Efficient Cooking: Freeze remaining chicken and sauce and label Crock Pot or Stove Top

Ingredients: 3-6 lbs boneless, skinless chicken *amount depends on number of servings you will need for this meal and for the “Fast Track” meal. (if frozen increase cooking time) 1 (16 ounce) jar your choice chunky salsa 1 can diced tomatoes with or without chilies 2 cups shredded cheese Opt: reduced fat sour cream Rice (prepare according to package directions)

Crock Pot Directions: 1) Place chicken in crock pot. 2) Pour salsa and diced tomatoes over chicken 3) Cover and cook on Low 5-8 hours 4) Serve on rice and top individual servings with shredded cheese and sour cream Stove Top directions: Same as above except simmer in skillet for 30 minutes till chicken is no longer pink in middle of thickest chicken breast.

Side Suggestions: Rice (brown is the best health choice), steamed vegetables, salad

Buffalo Chicken Soup

Fast Track: Use frozen cooked salsa chicken from wk 3 Crock Pot or Stove Top

Ingredients: 4 cups low-fat milk 2 (10 ¾ oz) cans reduced sodium cream of chicken soup 1 can reduced sodium chicken broth 3 cups fast track shredded cooked chicken 1 cup reduced fat ranch dressing 1-8 Tbsp. hot sauce, according to your desire for heat! Optional: 1 cup small pasta of your choice

Crock Pot directions: 1) Combine milk and soup and broth in slow cooker until smooth. 2) Stir in fast track meat 3) Cover and cook on low for 3 ½ - 5 hours. 4) 30 minutes before serving stir in optional pasta, ranch dressing and hot sauce. **start with a small amount of hot sauce and then add more till it is the heat you want.** Stove Top: Same as above except mix and cook in large soup pot. Bring to boil on med/low heat and simmer for 15 minutes before adding pasta, ranch dressing hot sauce.

Side suggestions: dinner rolls, salad

Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING!
Heather
What is for supper?? Eliminate this daily stress from your life! http://www.simplefamilysupper.com

My blogging style plus an Easy, no knead, Oatmeal Bread recipe

I realize that I have slipped into the "magazine/Expert" style of blogging that is oh so very popular. Blogs look so professional and are written with magazine style articles. Please don't get me wrong, I enjoy a few magazines and I like to read experts in areas of interest. However, I think that my original blogging style is my favorite... a simple sharing of my life and our ways of Choosing Simplicity in a crazy and hectic world.

I am going to go back to that style and just share our way of life, our faith, our story. It will be more of a journal for us to look back at and will be a place of connection with like minded folks. I have passions and knowledge in some areas, but there are many out there that are much more experts than I. I don't want to have pretenses of being more than I am.

I want to welcome you to this little on-line corner. A small place of simplicity in a crazy, rushing world. I want to invite you to share your story with me, too. I want this place to be where we are real with each other. A place that I am just me, the God loving, family loving country gal that I am. A place without any pretense.

So with that being said, nothing is more "me" than cooking and baking! I absolutely LOVE it! I have a family that does love to eat, too. Below is one of my favorite easy (no yeast, no kneading) breads. In the cold months we eat a lot of stews and soups (cooked in the crock pot or on top the wood stove). Bread is a favorite with our soups. This one is quick, easy and nutritious. These pictures are of the counter in my kitchen. My grandmother (tour Tuesday post about her here) gave me these jars and they are filled with pantry staples that I use almost everyday. Simple food.

Quick (no yeast) Oatmeal Bread
Ingredients:
2 cups whole wheat flour
2 cups rolled oats
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1/2 cup molasses, honey or brown sugar
2 T oil
1 2/3 cup buttermilk or sour milk (to make sour milk put 1 TBL lemon juice or vinegar in measuring cup and then add milk to measure 1 2/3 cup)

Directions:
Mix together the dry ingredients. Add remaining ingredients. Mix well. Pour batter into a well greased 9x5" loaf pan. Let stand for 20 minutes and then bake for 60 minutes at 325 degrees. Remove from pan while still hot. ENJOY!


Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING!
Heather
What is for supper?? Eliminate this daily stress from your life! http://www.simplefamilysupper.com

Choosing Simplicity.... Fresh Baked Goodies recipe list

I am a summer loving gal. Since it is not summer (and can't be outside enjoying the sunshine) I BAKE! I can not tell you how much I LOVE summer. However, I CHOOSE to enjoy each season by focusing on what I like best about it. In the fall and winter I LOVE to bake. Choosing to enjoy the warmth of the kitchen and the wonderful joy I find in creating goodies helps the cold months to pass enjoyably.

I thought that I would put together a list of some favorite recipes from former posts. Enjoy some baking time!

A few favorite recipes:

• Comfort food: Best ever corn bread

• Starting the morning off with a healthy Peanut Butter Granola
• More love of peanut butter with these easy chewy peanut butter bars
• 'Tiss the season for FUDGE and this one is easy and frugal: favorite fudge
• Pumpkin pancakes are a hit at our house and they freeze well, too!
• This coffee cake is one of the yummiest (and frugal) coffee cakes I have ever had. I make it several times a year.
• No eggs? No milk?? No oil?? No problem! This delicious depression era chocolate cake doesn't need those ingredients.
• Got some over ripe bananas? Banana poppy seed muffins to the rescue.
• Need an easy bread to accompany your meal? This Italian Flat Bread is a snap to make.
  

Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING!
Heather
What is for supper?? Eliminate this daily stress from your life! http://www.simplefamilysupper.com

Choosing Simplicity.... Hospitality and generosity on a budget

Is it possible to be both frugal and practice generosity and hospitality?? To stay on budget and still prepare a meal for a friend? YES!!! I believe 100% that as Christians we are called to practice hospitality and sharing. Tomorrow I share about a very passionate subject of mine: that God created us to NEED friendships. God has called us to love one another. A meal is a wonderful way to show and express love and care. I also know that God is our provider and if he is calling for us to be generous (which he is) then He WILL supply all of our needs!!! You can not out give God.... He will always make a way!!! .

How to be both Hospitable, Generous and Frugal:

1. Make big batches of food. If I am taking a meal to someone I will just make double of what I am making for our family. If you are having quests over just make double to serve.
   
2. Stock up on loss leaders so that you have a supply in your pantry to prepare from.
3. Give a treat. If you don't want to make a complete meal a loaf of home made bread is a BIG treat for most people. Also, dropping of a desert always shows love. You can also invite friends over for desert and cards... this is one of our winter time favorites.
4. Never turn down help. If you invite friends over and they ask what they can bring have them bring a side or a desert. I NEVER mind taking something when we are invited and it really helps cut down on cost.
   
5. Keep the meals simple. I can not say this enough. BEING with others is the important thing... not impressing them with what you serve. Hospitality is OTHERS focused... entertaining is ME focused. Use the same frugal recipes you use with your own family.
6. Give a gift from your garden. I don't know of anyone that will turn down fresh produce... unless they have a garden in full swing!
7. Give a gift from you pantry.... Do you can? Do you freeze? A homemade loaf of bread and homemade jam is a real treat!
   
8. Remember it is the HEART and ATTITUDE that God looks at!!!! A gift in love is what God desires.... He calls us to be cheerful givers. Don't give out of DUTY!

In our crazy, busy and frazzled modern world an evening of hospitality or sharing is a BIG way to show the love of Christ to others. It means a lot. Think about the last time someone had you over for dinner or dropped off a treat for you. How did it make you feel?? I know it made you feel loved and cared for. Extending our love by having others in our home is a powerful way to bless them! Be encouraged... you can practice hospitality and generosity without breaking the bank.

I believe in keeping things simple!!! Give my sample menu a try... they are easy to double, have some friends over and practice hospitality! www.simplefamilysupper.com

Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING!
Heather