Homemade Hot Dog Buns

I'm not buying much bread these days. I've received a few loaves of sandwich bread from a local food pantry but other than those I've been making our bread. It saves me a lot of money since I found flour for $1.50 a bag. We were given some free hot dogs so I tried my hand at making some hot dog buns. This is my second attempt. The first ones looked like a hockey puck! :-) These looked a little closer to what we're used to. Next time I'll make them a bit larger but all in all they turned out fine. I individually wrapped them in Seran wrap and froze them. I just pop them in the microwave for 30 seconds and they're ready to use.

Homemade Hot Dog Buns

1 cup milk
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup butter
2 1/2 cups white flour
2 cups whole wheat flour  (recipe called for just white flour)
1 tbsp instant yeast
2 tbsp white sugar
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 egg

 

Note: I put all the ingredients in my breadmaker and used the 'dough cycle'.  Afterwards I shaped them and let them rise again for nearly an hour. Then baked as usual. If you don't have a breadmaker then you can use the instructions below.

Heat milk, water and butter until very warm.

In a large bowl mix 1 3/4 cups flour, yeast, sugar and salt.

Mix milk mixture into the flour mix and then mix in the egg.

Stir in remaining flour 1/2 cup at a time beating well after each addition.

When the dough has pulled together, turn it out into a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic.

With rolling pin roll and shape each piece into a 6x4" rectangle. Starting with the longer side roll up tightly and pinch edges and ends to seal.
Place on greased baking sheet and let rise 20 to 25 min.
Bake at 400 degrees for 10 to 12 min until golden brown.

Do you make any kind of bread other than for sandwiches?

Frugal Friday: Homemade Mayonnaise Recipe

Is it my imagination or have grocery prices jumped BIG TIME?   I went into a grocery store the other day to purchase a jar of mayonnaise and was shocked that the sticker price was over $5.00. 

It has been a huge challenge to stay within my $200.00 a month budget for groceries/toiletries/household expenses so I'm trying to find ways to substitute items that are rising in cost for something less expensive. So when I saw the $5.00 sticker on mayo I decided to try my hand at homemade mayo. I tried it once before but the olive oil I used had a strong flavor that transferred over to the taste of the mayo. I threw the batch out.. it was that bad. 

 

I used a recipe a friend suggested from Elton Brown. I read you could use a hand blender instead of a whisk so I started out placing the mixture into a cup and slowly began adding the oil. You're supposed to add the oil in a small steady stream. If you add the oil too fast then it will 'break' and separate. The mayo was coming together nicely but my hand blender started getting hot. I tried letting it cool down but then I got impatient and added the oil too fast. It ended up separating. I'll share below how I fixed it. 

 

Mayonnaise

Recipe courtesy Alton Brown from Food Network

• 1 egg yolk*
• 1/2 teaspoon fine salt
• 1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
• 2 pinches sugar
• 2 teaspoons fresh squeezed lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
• 1 cup oil, safflower or corn (I used extra virgin olive oil from Costco)

Directions

In a glass bowl, whisk together egg yolk and dry ingredients. Combine lemon juice and vinegar in a separate bowl then thoroughly whisk half into the yolk mixture. Start whisking briskly, then start adding the oil a few drops at a time until the liquid seems to thicken and lighten a bit, (which means you've got an emulsion on your hands). Once you reach that point you can relax your arm a little (but just a little) and increase the oil flow to a constant (albeit thin) stream. Once half of the oil is in add the rest of the lemon juice mixture.
Continue whisking until all of the oil is incorporated. Leave at room temperature for 1 to 2 hours then refrigerate for up to 1 week.

 *RAW EGG WARNING

Food Network Kitchens suggest caution in consuming raw and lightly cooked eggs due to the slight risk of salmonella or other food-borne illness. To reduce this risk, we recommend you use only fresh, properly refrigerated, clean grade A or AA eggs with intact shells, and avoid contact between the yolks or whites and the shell.

Broken Mayonnaise and HOW TO FIX IT!

Fixing 'broken' mayo is very simple. Just take a single egg yolk and place it in a bowl. Briskly whisk the egg yolk while you add the 'broken' mayo slowly. Continue adding the entire batch of broken mayo into the egg yolk slowly. That's it. The mayo will turn out yellow but taste great. We normally only eat Best Food mayo and I've never liked 'off  brands'. This mayo passed the test. 

Depression Era Teachings: Laundry and rinse loads

I continue to learn new lessons on frugality from my little 91 year old Alice.

Alice has taught me to use her 'rinse cycle' for clothes that are not dirty (per say).  An example would be her nightgowns. Instead of running her nightgowns through an entire full wash cycle she'll have me run them through the rinse cycle. Her pants (just worn inside around the house) and sheets are another example.

I'm glad to learn about this frugal tip. I can see how it will help keep water and electricity costs down.

Do you have any frugal ideas that you've learned from an older woman?

The Joy found in Serving (in our new Home)!

• 
  It's been over a month since my husband and I accepted a job as a caregiver to a 90 (just turned 91) year old woman named Alice. The opportunity came suddenly but as time has gone on I marvel at how perfectly suited this situation is for our current needs and smile knowing that God handpicked it for not only Alice but my husband and myself. To be honest with you I panicked the week before we were scheduled to move. I kept thinking.. what if I can't make Alice happy.. what if she doesn't like me...?   My husband reminded me that the Scriptures never command us to make someone happy.. only to serve and love them. I married a smart man!
  
  So, here we are a month later and I can honestly say that my fears were unfounded. God has exceeded my expectations in the gift He has given me in Alice.  She has not only opened her home to us but her heart. She has made us feel welcome and like we're part of her family.  She doesn't treat me like an employee but as her friend.  I'm finding great joy in serving her and making her comfortable. Honestly, it's been easy to fall in love with her. It blesses me so much when I ask her if there is anything else I can do for her and she simply says, "Nope. I'm happy."
  
  I'm a planner.. sometimes to my discredit. This past year I thought through a multitude of possibilities of where we might live next. I imagined us living in everything from a motorhome to my mother's house. Moving into Alice's home and caring for her was no where in the plans.  I wasted a lot of time in 'over thinking mode' when I could have been using those moments worshiping God and serving others. It won't be time wasted though if I can learn from it. I find that recently when I begin trying to micro-manage my future I suddenly remember how amazingly God orchestrated this move and immediately I am reminded that God does a much better job of  taking care of my future than I do. I am learning to 'rest' in His sovereign hands.
  
  

  

  Alice and I are settling into a routine and our days are beginning to establish a hum.. a rhythm. I'm learning her needs and how to make her comfortable. Before I moved in I set up a housekeeping schedule for her home. The first Monday after we moved here I pulled out my schedule and began cleaning. Alice said, 'what are you doing? Why don't you sit down and relax? Nothing needs to be cleaned.'  Alice has kept a very neat and clean home but she is teaching me (slow as it may be on my part) that a person doesn't always need to be busy. I could learn a lot from Alice... and I'm sure I have much more to learn.
  
  I'm also learning some new lessons in frugality that Alice is teaching me. I'm learning how to clean less and thereby use less water, cleansers and electricity.. to wash less loads of laundry each week and to use less lights and water. These are great lessons that will help stretch our income if we're ever given the opportunity to live in our own home again.
  
  I am continuing to learn deeper lessons in loving God and others. There is joy in serving.
  Jesus came to serve... and not to be served. He gave His life as a ransom for many. I don't serve perfectly. I've had moments where I'm tempted to put my own needs first. I've struggled at times with the changes my life has taken over the past few years as my husband's disability has kept us closer to home and more isolated.   But.. in spite of these  lapses of giving into my selfish nature I am finding a renewed love for the One who was the ultimate servant as I learn to follow Him in serving others and putting their needs ahead of my own.
  
  I have so much more to learn.
  
  Are you learning the joy of serving others?  Is there a widow in your family that needs your help? Or possibly an elderly neighbor?

My favorite recipe sites

I used to collect cookbooks until we began downsizing.  Once we started downsizing I realized they took up too much space. Plus, I realized that I was using my own personal cookbooks and online recipes more than the cookbooks.

I have 2 favorite recipe sites online that I probably use at least 4 times a week. These sites have replaced most of my cookbooks.

 Food
All Recipes

I use their search engine to find a recipe. Once the the page comes up with the recipes, you'll see at the top a pull down link that says 'revelance'. Click on it and choose 'rating'. By doing so it will automatically arrange the recipes according to their rating. Below the top rated recipes you'll find helpful reviews.  I always read these to get ideas on how to improve the recipe or to find out what ingredients can be replaced.

Be sure to sign up as a member so that you can make a cookbook. This feature allows you to save the recipes. I love this feature because it saves me money (no more cookbooks or cooking magazines) and storing space since I don't have to print out the recipes. 

The Food site also has a feature where you can filter food items you have available. It will bring up available recipes for the items you have on hand.

Do you have any favorite recipe sites?

High electrical bills & Clotheslines

Happy Day! The sun was shining.. no fog.. with a slight breeze and temps in the 60's. I know that may seem hard to believe considering the weather back east.  I almost feel guilty telling you that I ran around most  of the day with a short sleeved shirt. Glorious!

The clothesline was one of the features I scoped out immediately when we first interviewed for our job as caregivers. Hanging clothes has been a long time practice that has always helped to save money.  Frankly, I find the practice quite therapeutic.

So with such a beautiful day upon us .. and laundry before me... I tried out Miss Alice's clothesline. I believe this is the first time I haven't strung my own clothesline. It's a nice one, too. Professional.

Living in someone's home we make every effort to conserve energy. I think it pleases Miss Alice that I am making an effort to stretch 'her' pennies and not just my own.

Hanging clothes is a simple task. There are few rules. I take a rag and clean the lines. You'll probably think my marbles are loose but I find a bit of satisfaction in organizing my laundry as I hang it. I like to hang 'like' items together. If I have 'unmentionables' in the load I will hang those on the back lines and place longer items on the rows in front to hide them. Never leave your clothes pins outside after dark or they won't last long and be sure to bring your clothes in before the night air falls or your clothes will be damp. If the clothing is wrinkled then I'll toss them in the dryer for 5 minutes. This practice will also take the stiffness out of the towels and underwear. Crunchy undies are not fun! :-)

No dryer sheet fragrance can compare to the fresh, crisp scent of air lined bed linens. It's one of God's free pleasures and man has yet to duplicate it.

Do you use a clothesline? Or do you prefer drying racks? Or just say 'forget the whole thing'! :-)

Simple Breadmaking

As I look back over today I'm feeling good about what I was able to accomplish.  Some days just flow.. very few interruptions and much accomplished. Today was one of those days. I was able to finish a variety of tasks which is always very fulfilling. Yet, I understand that it's necessary for my conformity (to be more like Jesus) that I not be allowed this luxury consistently. It's good to bow my will to the Father's and to learn to adapt to His schedule rather than mine.

I've been trying to find time to bake bread for quite a few days and finally today was the day. I find breadmaking much easier and less time consuming since I learned to use my bread machine's dough cycle to do the initial work of the kneeding and rising.  Once the dough cycle is finished I drop the dough into a greased loaf pan and let it rise in a warm oven for nearly an hour and then bake it to a golden brown.
In my quest to stretch my pennies (until they scream for mercy) .... I've learned I have to bake and cook ahead of time. If I wait until I'm out of an item then oftentimes I'll give in to the temptation to purchase the item instead.  I was blessed with some large hotdogs from a food pantry. My husband wanted a chili dog so I made whole wheat hot dog rolls today and froze them until the mood hits him.  I also made a loaf of whole wheat sandwich bread and gave half to my mother since she loves it for toast in the mornings.  We try not to eat a lot of bread but my husband still likes his occasional sandwich.

I've been blessed to find whole wheat flour and white flour for breadmaking at $1.50 (5#). I have not figured out how much each loaf costs but I would venture to say that it's much less than half as much as the store bought loaves since you rarely can find a healthy loaf of bread for less than $3.00. I found a bread slicer at a thrift store for less than $3.00 which slices a thin piece for sandwiches.

A few days ago I made whole wheat tortillas. I froze them for future meals. In the past I've always made white flour tortillas so this was the first time I tried my hand at a whole wheat recipe.

Here are a few of the bread type items I try to make at home instead of paying high prices at the grocery store:

- Tortillas

- Sandwich bread
- Hot dog buns
- Hamburger buns
- Pizza crust

Do you make your own bread items? Do you have a favorite recipe?