Oh Yea, I'm Making My Own Flour!

I have been lusting over the Kitchen Aid Grain Mill attachment ever since it in the  Williams Sonoma catalog.  I kept thinking how cool it would be to be able to make my own flour for my bread.

Well, my husband surprised me with it for our wedding anniversary last week.  He also went to Whole Foods and got me the grain I would need.

Some people might not find this romantic, and yes he does benefit from the gift, but anyone who knows me understands how awesome a gift it was.

Isn't it pretty?

I was so excited attaching it to my mixer, opening the bag of grains and starting the machine.  Instantly the flour started to come out and I was amazed. FLOUR!  I was making flour!  It was so incredibly easy! I was now going to make my bread using the flour I created.  Insane I know. But this made me really happy.

I was really nervous to use my flour.  It does have a different texture, not as soft as the flour you buy in the store.  My bread however came out wonderful.  My husband said it has a heartier texture to it and he loved it.

I really didn't change anything in the amount of ingredients too much.  I added a little more moisture as it seemed like the flour drank it in right away, but other than that I didn't change anything.

I did read that if you don't grind the flour and use it right away then put it in a paper bag, close it and leave it on the counter for 2 weeks.  The flour, if not use right away, goes into a storage phase that makes it unsteady.  And who wants a loaf of bread that doesn't turn out right after all that work.

Make sure to use a hard grain for bread flour, for all purpose flour use a mix of hard and soft grains, for baking use soft grains.  Store the grains in a glass jar to keep the air out.

I really love baking my own bread.  I know what goes into it and there are no preservatives in it, besides the fact that it tastes way better than any store bought.  Now however I really know what is in it, even in the flour.  Oh how I have turned a corner.

My husband always says, "Little House On The Prairie Called"..... well now I really have become Laura Engals!

Till Next Blog.......

Strawberry Picking Time!

This is one of my favorite times of year.  It's strawberry picking time.  And it's happening at the perfect time in our house since we just ran out of the strawberry jam I made last season.

If you are in the Tampa Bay Area, or will be visiting, the place to go is Ergle's Christmas Tree Farm.  Yes they do more than trees.

The grow their strawberries using Natural and Healthy Growing practices. They offer strawberries that are hydroponically grown so there is also no bending over to pick them.

The berries are $2.99 a pound, which if you have been buying Organic in the stores you know this is a deal!  And they will have them thru June!

They provide the buckets and you just go and pick.  They are the sweetest strawberries we have ever had.  Perfect for eating, my homemade jam, or the yummy strawberry ice cream I will be making!

Once you get them home soak them in 1 part white vinegar to 10 parts water for a few minutes and it will clean them and kill any mold and keep them for so much longer in the fridge.  Make sure to store them in a colander so they have air circulating around them.
 

3325 Trieman Blvd
Dade City, FL 33523 352-583-3647

Definitely worth the drive!

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Not Organic, But Ridiculous!

This is not about Organic living, but I felt the need to vent anyway.

I had a very sweet friend who sent my daughter some outfits.  Among them was an item that I said NO WAY to when I saw it and the more I think about it the more it made me mad.

She sent a pair of Levi's shorts.  They are actually "Shorty Shorts".  She sent them in a bigger size, 8, since my 3 year old is already in a size 5.

OK I am not a prude, but this is absurd!  Why on earth are they making "shorty shorts" for children???  Even if my daughter wasn't able to wear them till 8, Really???  An eight year old wearing shorts that go right under her butt?  So when she would be able to wear them, which will probably be around 6, I am supposed to allow my CHILD, not adult daughter, to wear these?

We are already dealing with little girls going into puberty WAY to early from all the hormones in our foods, do we really need to celebrate that by dressing them like this as small children?

I for one will not, I don't want to see it on her at 6, 8 or quite frankly at all while she lives under my roof.

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Beware Of This Item!

I had to get locks for our fence gates today so I went down to my local Ace Hardware and picked up a couple.  I bought Ace brand padlocks with the number combination on them.  No big deal right?

When I got home and started to read the directions on how to set the lock I was stunned when I glanced at the warning on the package......

WHAT????  So I have to wash hands after handling or I can get cancer?  And if my very curious 3 year old gets her hands on than it can cause reproductive harm?  Are you Serious?

Let's just say that I will be taking these back tomorrow and will be letting the know exactly why!

I never thought to check something so simple.  Goes to show you that you really do need to check anything that comes into your house.

Till Next Blog......

So Great To Hear This From A Doctor

After my daughter battling her ear ache for a couple days the pain had subsided but I found her saying "What?" a lot.  So rather to be safe than sorry I took her in to her pediatrician.

I told her that I had been using the coconut/garlic oil mixture I had made.  She checked her ears and said there was no infection!  She said there was a little fluid causing the muffled hearing but that she would be fine.  She said that the oil I used did a great job.

I almost fell over!  Was this a member of the medical profession telling me that the non-drug method I chose worked?

Yes I did walk out of there damn proud, and yes I will keep finding natural ways to take care of everything I can!!!

Just wanted to send out an update!

Till Next Blog......