Homeschooling A Houseful

making bread has been a huge part of my life as a mother... here’s the problem, don’t start making homemade bread, unless you plan on doing it forever!!! Once you eat homemade bread, it’s didficult to eat store brought breads!!! Even some of the nicest, most expensive, they just seem so dry and bland.  That being said, I can make all our bread for our family of 11 (currently in the house) in about 15 minutes! (Not including the rise and bake time) I usually make it on the weekend, and then again around Wednesday or Thursday each week. Whenever I make it, I incorporate it into our dinner that night. Usually making 3 or 4  loaves of bread and 1 pan of rolls- for dinner. You see if you don’t do that, you’ll end up eating all of it the first night, right!!! No one can resist hot, fresh, homemade bread- especially with melted butter!!! 💖 So here’s the recipe, I know you’re all dying to have!  This should make about 5 loaves of bread, or a mix of bread and r...

Wow, check out this link http://heavenlyhomemakers.com/how-to-bake-potatoes-in-a-crock-pot-without-foil Crockpot  baked potatoes, quick and easy. 3 simple steps. Step 1 scrub your potatoes Step 2 place in your crockpot Step 3 turn on low for 6-8 hours I don't cook with aluminum so I love this for the ease and also the health! Enjoy!

You know it seems every year as holidays come around I get all excited to make cookies, and goodies, with lots and lots of sugar, and white flour, and chocolate. Then of course we eat them, and eat them, and well eat some more. The next step in the process is a stomach ache and a headache and most likely we get SICK!!!! So if you are like me you are on the hunt for a few good healthier alternatives to the Holiday Junk Food! Here's a few ideas for a healthier alternative to the holidays that our family enjoys. Healthier Peanut Butter Cookies . A Holiday tip to make these special is to make them smaller and after they bake take them out and push 1 Hershey's kiss into the middle. Now I know Hershey's kisses are not on the healthier list. We can not afford to use the healthier chocolate chips so I just use the healthiest ones I can find and afford. I am sure there are healthier options for Hershey's kisses too. I guess we allow alittle cheating! I also make this supe...

I came across an amazing deal on Raspberries, and well since I am feeling very pregnant and even the thought of canning right now, doesn't sound fun.... it sounds like a nightmare!!!! I decided to make some freezer jam. I made some years ago, and we enjoyed it. I came across this recipe for Raw Berry Freezer Jam , at Passionate Homemaking. I just love the Passionate Homemaking Blog, she has some of the best recipes, and healthy non-chemical cleaning tips! You should check out her blog! UPDATE: I was looking at my blog and posts I never.... well....posted! I came across this one. Oh and we are loving this jam.....A++

In case you haven't notice, there are MANY people talking about their budgets lately. The economy, the price of everything, and how they will ever survive. Trust me, we have felt it too, being a family of almost 10.... it hurts! So I have decided to share a few tips and tricks that keep this houseful afloat! Homemade Laundry Detergent This really is easy! I was in the middle of washing, Mt. Washmore yesterday... and ran out of our first round of homemade soap. What did I do??? I made more!! I loaded the washer, started it with the last of what I had, and then made more within maybe 15-20 minutes. The kids always get a kick out of making our own laundry soap! There's something "fun" to a kid, about it. It's so easy, I usually have a few helpers. UPDATED~ 2 Cups of baking soda {see update below} 2 bars of Kirks Castile soap OR Fels Naptha Soap bars 2 cups of washing soda 2 cups of borax {all of which I have found at our local grocery stores... interesting, you use t...

Molly Green FRESH!!!! Cookbook download . This looks like a great recipe book, and it has some great tips, throughout the pages. Here's a small treat of what you will get. Bring smiles to your gang and guests with some of these palate-pleasing goodies: •Mango Lime Sorbet—fresh is best and nutritious too. •Something-Special Lemonade—with watermelon ice cubes. •Grilled Fruit Shish Kebabs With Chocolate Sauce—a perfect party idea! •Fresh Lemonade Popsicles—a fun-in-the-sun special treat. •Fruit Smoothie—suit yourself with variation ideas. •Yogurt, Fruit, & Granola Parfaits—fun to make and eat Go get yours free, here!

Papa Bear and I have been experimenting with the Peanut Butter cookie recipe we love! At the end of the recipe, you can see a few alterations we have made to them.

I wanted, or was craving blueberry muffins today. They just sounded great! I looked up a recipe for blueberry muffins and started making them. Well then it occurred to me, that I don't have muffin tins anymore. They were aluminum, so I put them in the learning room to use with the younger A's....hmmm we we can make it a blueberry muffin cake, and we did. And it was GREAT!! 1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour {I just used regular whole wheat flour, and it was yummy} 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 3 bananas, mashed or fresh blueberries {I missed the "or" in the original recipe and used both, it turned out wonderful} 3/4 cup organic cane sugar and golden syrup {or any natural sweeteners you prefer} 1 egg, lightly beaten 1/3 cup butter or coconut oil, melted – or replace with half applesauce, as desired {or you can do it like I did with coconut cream.} Topping, optional: 2 Tbsp whole wheat flour 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1 tablespoon b...

The Nourishing Gourmet, posted a recipe for a Chocolate Milk "Frappe " This is an excellent alternative to Chocolate Milk. We had this for lunch today, and all the A's gave it 5 stars!!! Enjoy!

There's nothing like homemade refried beans... they are yummy, easy, and nutritious. {When homemade that is!!} I make mine in my crockpot. I fill it about half full of pinto beans, and then fill the rest with water. I don't know the exact measurements, we buy our pintos in bulk... so I just dump it in. somehow over my years, and years of cooking and baking, I have lost all my cooking technique learned in home EC. I cook by looking and measure in my way! Oh well. I did look up a recipe for refried beans and it said 1 pound of beans to 5 cups of water. Next I put the beans on high for about 1 hour. I get it good and hot and bubbly, then I turn it down to low and let is simmer. Usually I let them simmer a good 12 hours, either all day or all night. Make sure the first part of the cooking time you are close and able to watch the water level. After awhile you don't need to add too much more water. After they are cooked and soft, I turn it down to keep warm, until we are ready to...

I have been making homemade bread for my family, on and off {mostly on} for about 10 years or so. WOW I can't believe it's been that long! I found this recipe, sometime in the beginning of my bread making life!! This is one tried and true, gotta love it recipe! We use it for Cinnamon rolls, regular rolls and breadsticks too. We use to use it for our pizza until I found this recipe. 4 Cups very warm water 3/4 cup oil {though out of having not enough oil, I have used less. We have used olive oil, grapeseed oil, and coconut oil in this recipe} 3/4 cup raw unfiltered honey {or just honey, but raw is so much better for you} 3 T yeast 2T sea salt some flax, I have been adding this lately and I probably add around 4 Tablespoons or so. I just dump it in. a HEAPING 1/3 cup vital wheat gluten (I use a large HEAPING, this helps to make the dough more elastic and chewy} about 7-8 cups of flour. We have used, all whole wheat, or combined our whole wheat with oatmeal or oat flour {to make oa...

You lounge on the couch, in jammies and blankies and read The Real George Washington aloud. With yummy hot cocoa !! {photo is from tropical traditions site!} We also watched the George Washington Hero's DVD , and part of the a More Perfect Union . So it might have just been one chapter in the book! However very inspiring! Not only that but we did stop between sections to discuss and talk about it! That is what I love about homeschooling... if it's one of those days, where you have been stuck inside for two days, it's cold and you don't want to start moving.... well there are other ways to enjoy learning, and ditching the schedule for the day! April Showers can be gloomy and dim... but only if you make them. We thanked God for all the moisture, we have truly needed it. I was actually debating turning on a sprinkler the other day, as I noticed the grass was looking a bit yellow. I just couldn't bring myself to do it! Thank God I didn't have to, he did it for me.

Really it is that simple. It does take some time, but it's so worth it!! Homemade butter is like homemade bread, once you start making it, you can't stop!!! I have done this with both methods, these are the videos I used to learn how to make butter. I use my strainer with cheesecloth inside, then I rinse and use the cheese cloth to help squeeze the buttermilk out. I like the food processor method better, but when you go and break it, well you need an alternative!!! {no I didn't break it making butter, I broke it grating cheese, if you can believe it!!} Of course I won't mention I also broke one of my blenders!! {again, not making butter, blending a smoothie. I think the A who last washed dishes didn't attach it correctly, and I didn't check. I always check, except that one time.} Yeah I know, honestly that is what I get for trying to purchase the cheapest kitchen tools, they seriously don't last. Anyone have any suggestions on a good food processor or blende...

haven't tried yet, but let me explain! I have crazy week, the kids are in an extra class for a few more nights, and I am running low on steam!! So I am planning on making this either tomorrow or Saturday, I'll try to remember to tell you how it goes!! But until then, I didn't want to loose the recipe, so I thought, hay I'll post it on my blog, and never forget where I stuck it!!! recipe for artisan bread!!! Looks wonderful!!

I tried this recipe from The Nourishing Gourmet , and it was wonderful. If you'd like a photo, check hers out!! See around here, when the food's finished, it's eaten so fast, there's no thought of a photo!!! We also purchased this wonderful artisan whole wheat bread, with no yucky additives or sugars, from Costco. It was wonderful!! I LOVE Costco!! We doubled the recipe, from on her post. We used spinach, No nitrate/nitrite bacon, and about 8 hard boiled eggs. I also threw in some grape tomatoes. Then I made the ranch dressing, found in this free whole foods cookbook . It's called the Pantry Principles by Kathryn Louis, it's on her Kitchen and homemaking blog, Kate's Kitchen. Scroll down a bit, on the right sidebar. You can print it for free or purchase it for cheap! Enjoy, I know we did!! That one's being added to our list of meal ideas!

What's for dinner tonight?? Don't you LOVE that questions!??! My best response, so far to that all but loved question.... food {said in a melancholy way!} Then the next question I always hear... What kind of food?? {this is the best part!! Said in a "Mom kind of way"} The EDIBLE kind!!!! The A's HATE it!!! Now what does all that have to do with Chicken Bone Stock??? Well nothing really, I just thought I'd start with it, it makes for a good introduction... I just ran across this post , about making Chicken Broth Stock in your crockpot. {I love my crockpots} and this site it's called Naturally Knocked Up. Not that I need help in the being knocked up area!! However she still has tons of great natural insights! I am making this tonight, letting it simmer tomorrow, and then well see how it is!! The only reason I thought I'd try this, is we had Chicken for dinner {yes the EDIBLE kind!!} I currently purchase store bought, organic, range free chicken broth, ...

Last Friday, we decided to try to make some Whole Wheat Snicker doodles. I have always loved Snicker doodles, what's not to love??? Papa Bear and a few of the A's have always hated them, so I received mixed reviews when I suggested we make them! Papa Bear came home from work that night, and I showed him the cookies, and said do you like Snicker doodles? Papa Bear's response, No not really, but I like Peanut Butter Cookies!! {I believe there was a HINT HINT added there!!} Well he broke down, and started craving something sweet and yummy!!! He ate one and said, WOW those are pretty good. He ate another and said, Yeah those are good!!! {Okay maybe not his exact words, but it was close!!} So here's the recipe I used, I found it on All Recipes. It's called Whole Wheat Snicker doodles II Here's the original recipe. I will add the changes I made to them after the recipe. Original Recipe Yield 5 dozen Ingredients 1 1/2 cups white sugar 1 cup butter, softened 1 egg ...

Sorry no pictures, every time we make this, I eat it all up!!! I forget to shoot a picture before. Sorry too many things to remember at meal times!! Strawberries, we usually use 2 cartons FRESH only Red onion, we usually use one, and slice thin Spinach, ofcourse organic. NEVER eat non organic lettuces.... seriously your leafy greens suck up all the water and things around them... all greens need to be organic. Slice strawberries, we like them sliced vertical {long ways} Slice onion and wash spinach. Now for the best dressing ever! 4 T honey 2T oil, we use to use olive oil, but are now in love with grapeseed. 2T rice vinegar 3T balsamic vinegar 1t poppy seeds, Papa Bear dislikes poppy seeds, so we leave them out when he's home. Mix, stir, whisk or shake!! drizzle over salad when you are ready to eat, not early. Then toss. this dressing doesn't seem like a lot, but it is. The last of our salad is dripping in it. So if you are making a smaller salad, maybe you should cut it all in...

I just love reading this blog, Kate's Kitchen . She also has a wonderful homeschool website, see my sidebar Milestone Academy. I use, and have recommended everyone get the principle pantry, it comes from this wonderful lady! If you like beans. Or if you want to learn more about them, and how to cook them. Check out her post on how to soak and cook beans .

This is an old post from my family private blog... sorry if you have seen this before! Made YUMMY HEALTHY PEANUT BUTTER COOKIES! This recipe comes from the Amazing Wheat Book by LeArta Moulton ( It's a great book, we use it all the time) !!!!With a few updates, and variations at the bottom!!!! 1/2 C veggie oil (we use olive or grapeseed) 1 C Honey (we use 1/2 ish cup honey, and 1/2 ish cup raw cane sugar if you use only honey, they taste great, but don't hold a shape) 1/2 C peanut butter 1 egg, beaten 1 T. sour cream 1 tsp. bkg soda 1 1/2 C whole wheat flour cream oil and honey/sugar. Add peanut butter, egg and mix well. Add sour cream, soda, and flour and beat well. Form into balls, (sometimes we roll them in additional cane sugar!!) about the size of a larger bouncy ball (she said marble, but we like them alittle bigger) place on greased cookie sheet. Press with a fork. Bake at 350 for 10 mins. Don't overcook, or they are nasty! We ALWAYS atleast double this, they are so ...