Homemade hamburger buns

I have wanted to  make hamburger buns for a long, long time so I finally did. I found a recipe on FindingJoyinMyKitchen.blogspot.com and gave it a try. Well I liked them so much that I don't think I will ever buy buns again. As a matter of fact I have made them three times already and they have only gotten better. The recipe calls for white whole wheat but I have used my own stone ground whole wheat and they were still fantastic. I have not used just plain old white flour but if you do, let me know how the turn out. Enjoy!



homemade whole wheat hamburger buns tasty

100% Whole Wheat Hamburger Rolls
1 1/2 T yeast
1 C + 1 T warm water
1/3 C oil
1/4 C sugar
1 tsp. salt
3 C White Whole Wheat Flour

Begin by dissolving the yeast in the water. Let sit for 3-5 minutes until yeast is foamy.

Add in the oil, sugar and salt.

Then, add in the flour, 1 C at a time {I did this in my kitchen aid} stirring until incorporated.

Knead the dough for 3-5 minutes, until the dough is well formed and easy to work with. Add additional flour as needed to get the dough to become workable.

Divide the dough into 9-12 sections and roll into balls. {9 if you'd like larger rolls, 12 if you'd like smaller ones}.
I have found that we liked the size of them when we rolled them into 9 rolls.
Place the rolls on a lightly greased cookie sheet. Cover with a tea towel.
Set in a warm place and allow the dough to rise/rest for ~20 minutes.
I smooshed them down at the 10 minute mark to get a more flat bun look and feel. 

Then, bake at 425* for 8-10 minutes until lightly browned. DO NOT OVER BAKE.
Cool on a wire cooling rack for 5ish minutes.

I bet that if you make these you won't buy buns again either.

It must be Valentines day

and here are the crafts to prove it. The candy pops will be given to friends and the art will hang in the entry. Then it will be time to start on Easter. There is never a dull moment is there.

Oh what do you do in the wintertime...

when all the world is white? Do you build snowforts and snowmen? So do I.

Blizzard of 2013



It's up to the windows

On Friday February 8th, we were the proud recipients of 26 inches of snow. I find it so amazing how panicked everyone in the local and state government gets when the weather turns bad. We endured a travel ban for 24 hours and when made to listen to the stupid advice of local media personalities. Stay off the roads if you don't need to travel, you should stock up on essential food items and water, have an alternative heat source. You don't say. Is this the first winter they have spent in New England? I mean really, if you are stupid enough to only have a days worth of food and you think it's cool to drive in blowing driving snow, you deserve everything you get. We got home, stayed home, had plenty to eat and wood to heat the house. I even made sure we had plenty of hot chocolate mix on hand. We never lost power so we watch movies, ate popcorn and watched the snow blow all around.




The drift in front of the front door

The next morning reality set in when we were up and out shoveling at 7am so Anique could get to work on time. For those of you who paid attention, yes we were on the roads during the travel ban. Funny how life goes on when the government does it's best to stop everything. Well, the drifts of snow where crazy deep and 12 ft of driveway covered by 26 inches of snow, plus the berm that the plow trucks left at the end of the driveway, ugh!, took about 2 hours to clean up completely. When you add in the help we gave to the neighbor to clear her berm and driveway, we were shoveling for about 3 hours. That is a lot of shoveling. We however persevered and finished the job.

Anique after shoveling her way down to the end of the driveway

The end of the driveway the street is just on the other side


 

The food storage schedule

I have spent some time going through a couple of different lists to come up with our master supply list. I think there will be some adjusting as time goes by but it is a starting point. You can start at the beginning or jump in at any week that makes the most sense for your family. I suppose the most important thing to start with is to figure out how much of what your family needs, then find a place or a couple of places to put all of the stuff. We have shelves in the basement and family room and I am starting to store things under the beds. I will be very happy when under the beds is full. I have a weekly break down of what to buy or collect each week. This could be done biweekly or monthly depending on what is better for you. I have also spent some of these weeks going through what I have and getting rid of stuff that has expired or we no longer use. So that when I get new stuff it has a place to go. I have not spent wildly (of course I can't afford wild spending but someday it would be fun to do it once), only about $40 - $60 a month. I expect that as the stockpile grows the amount will probably go down, unless the price of food goes up. So without further ado here is my master plan/buy list.

Week 1: 2 48oz bottle of oil / toilet paper
Week 2: 50 lbs of wheat / toothpaste
Week 3: 4 lbs Macaroni and 4 lbs Spaghetti / laundry soap
Week 4: 6 cans meat or fish / dish soap
Week 5: 1 28oz jar peanut butter / matches
Week 6: 5 lbs honey / candles
Week 7: 25 lbs sugar / shampoo
Week 8: 15 lbs dry milk / first aid kit
Week 9: 8 cans fruit, 8 cans veg, 8 cans beans or soup
Week 10: 6 cans meat or fish / bar soap
Week 11: 25 lbs rice / bleach
Week 12: 1 lb yeast / extra pair of warm work gloves
Week 13: 10 lbs dry beans / duct tape (not the decorative, craft type)
Week 14: 6 cans evaporated milk / garbage bags
Week 15: 2 3 lbs shortening or lard / paper towels
Week 16: 6 cans fruit/ razors & saving cream
Week 17: 50 lbs wheat / plastic wrap
Week 18: 10 cans tomatoes /  garden seeds
Week 19: 15 lbs oats / batteries
Week 20: 1 lb baking powder, 1 lb baking soda, 5 lbs salt / sewing kit
Week 21: 2 lbs yeast / water containers
Week 22: 2 48 oz bottle or oil / 72 hr kit bedding
Week 23: 15 lbs oats / 72 hr kit pocket knife
Week 24: 2 3 lbs cans shortening or coconut oil / school supplies
Week 25: 25 lbs of flour / school supplies
Week 26: 8 cans fruit, 8 cans veg, 8 cans beans / newspaper (think recycling)
Week 27: 25 lbs rice / deodorant
Week 28: 1 gal vinegar / luggable loo
Week 29: 10 lbs dry beans / scotch pads - sos pads
Week 30: 5 cans cream of chicken, 5 can cream of mushroom / can opener (manul)
Week 31: 5 lbs brown sugar / ziploc bags
Week 32: 10 lbs oats / tylenol, advil, asprin
Week 33: 6 cans meat or fish / counter mount apple peeler, canning supplies
Week 34: 25 lbs of sugar / 72 hr kit rain coat or poncho
Week 35: 50 lbs wheat / rope
Week 36: 6 cans meat or fish / 72 hr kit paper and pen
Week 37:1 lb yeast / hand sanitizer
Week 38: 5 cans cream of chicken, 5 cans cream of mushroom / feminine hygene
Week 39: 2 48 oz bottle of oil / axe and sharpener
Week 40: 50 lbs wheat / radio w/batteries
Week 41: 8 cans fruit, 8 cans of veg, 8 cans beans / paper plates, cups
Week 42: 1 lb yeast / lotion
Week 43: 8 cans fruit, 8 cans veg, 8 cans beans / canning supplies
Week 44: 2 3lb cans shortening / disinfectant cleaner
Week 45: 28 oz jar peanut butter / plastic sheeting
Week 46: 15 lbs dry milk / clothesline and clothes pins
Week 47: 15 gals water / tarps
Week 48: 10 lbs dry beans / emergency light sticks
Week 49: 2 48 oz bottle of oil / toilet paper
Week 50: 28  oz jar peanut butter / toothpaste
Week 51: 6 cans evaporated milk / laundry soap supplies
Week 52: 5 cans cream of chicken, 5 cans cream of mushroom / matches

This list will change as time goes by and supplies are collected but it's a start.
Happy prepping!!

Yes, I'm still here...

Where ever would I go? I haven't blogged because I have been living life or at least dealing with it. Christmas was lovely and simple. Christmas evening brought a dead refrigerator and below freezing temps to the area, which was a blessing because the back porch became the refrigerator/freezer. Dan and I went out on the 26th and purchased a new fridge and a new dishwasher. Oh did I mention that we have been doing dishes by hand for many, many, many months. We picked up and hauled this massive fridge into the house during a snowstorm. Yeah that was fun. But, we have a working refrigerator that is totally cool, or as Kiah would say "it's totes cool". During all of this the car needed some major work and a new drive shaft. Is that one word? So that took time and money of which we have none now. Why does it always seem that when one thing breaks everything breaks?

So here we are at the start of another new year (of course by the time I actually post this it will be valentine's day), and the beginning of new resolutions. I have no plans of listing any of my new goals or family goals or any such silliness. We will be continuing our prep plans but that is all I'm givin' you. I will instead just wrap last year up and maybe give you a little insight of what is on the list for this year.

Dan- Spent most of last year traveling and working crazy long hours. He has been home for a few months which is totes weird. Has installed a dishwasher and refrigerator, worked on many little needs to be done projects at home. For which I am very grateful.

Stefanie- has been called to work in the nursery at church (again). Will miss working with the activity day girls. Has continued to homeschool four girls, lead projects to completion and failed at blogging. Has expanded her tutoring business (if you know of anyone who needs reading help let me know). Is expanding into teaching moms and kids (girls ages 10-12, will work with other ages) basic sewing skills. Thinking about doing a more widely based homemaking course and not just sewing.

Micah- going to school and working at the bank. Beyond that you will have to ask him.

Anique- working, serving in the library at church (my other favorite calling), helping at home and with homeschooling, coming up with way cool hair styles for her sisters. Cooking way yummy treats that we swear we won't eat and then eat them all. Preparing to put papers in to serve a mission for the Lord. We will let you know when we know.

Kiah- serving as the first counselor in the beehive class presidency, finding a whole new confidence, working on perfecting her cooking skills, becoming a decorator and master childcare provider.

Tessa- makes doll clothes (all of the time), loves to craft, is very excited to turn 12 and enter the young women's program at church. Has finish her Faith in God requirements and is trying to do it over again for fun. Reads everything and loves the library.

Kali- growing her hair out for locks of love. Loves piano, activity days, friends, pink, sparkly and treats. Has read every book on her reading list and is working on next years reading list.

Toran- learning to read, making lapbooks, has spent a lot of time playing and discovering the world outside.

Things we are looking forward to:
Summer science with the O's
Homeschool conference in April
birthdays
girls camp (both Kiah and Tessa will go this year)
global warming (also known as summer)