Loving Life

Baby Boy is getting sooo fun! He loves to laugh!

Above: Just relaxing... I can't believe his sweet spirit. He was just hanging out!

Below:This one cracks me up...looks like he's punching. Kuper teaches him boxing moves, so I guess he's learning. 

And for a little goodness in the kitchen, I am making another round of gingerale.

When making gingerale you need whey. After your yogurt "drains", let it sit and waa laa! You have cream cheese that is so, so delicious:)

Hippie Days

Sometimes I feel like a hippie... and I love it!

The highlight of my day today was pulling weeds in the yard with Kruz on my hip. It was a great workout! With baby in the sling, gingerale fermenting in the kitchen and a bowl full of compost... it was a "hippie" kind of day.

I've finally got the nerve up to try making gingerale. Thanks to Melissa and Cindy who have educated and inspired me, I will hope to have found a new way to keep our family healthy. It will be ready tomorrow so I hope I can get my kids to drink it!

I had to dress it up a little with a cloth top since it was going to sit on my kitchen counter for 2 days:) My gingerale is so cute now! hee hee... I know, it's goofy.

Melissa, my yogurt turned into great cream cheese!! It feels rewarding to try new things. Thanks for all of your help!!

A Heavenly Loaf

I have been experimenting with making sourdough bread lately and think I've

found a recipe that works for us:) Here it is for those of you who were wondering.

I have to say thank you to Heather, at Mountain Home Quilts for her inspiration to start making our own bread.

Check out her Etsy shop for beautiful quilts!

Bread Recipe:

2 1/2 c whole wheat flour

3 c. white bread flour

2 1/2 t sea salt

2 1/2 t dry yeast

1 c. warm milk

2 T agave nectar

2 T butter, softened

1/2 c warm water

1 1/4 c. sourdough starter

1 egg

Directions:

In a large bowl, combine 1 c. whole wheat flour, 1 c. bread flour, salt, and yeast. Stir in milk and butter. Add starter, agave, and water. Gradually mix in the rest of the flours ( 2 c. bread flour and 1 1/2 c. whole wheat flour.

Turn dough onto clean, floured surface and knead for 8-10 minutes. Place a greased bowl and cover with damp dish cloth. *I like to use coconut oil to grease my bowls. Use your fingers to rub it on- if you have excess, just use as a hand lotion:)

Let rise for one hour in a warm place.

My first picture above is the end of this rising process. It should double in size.

Punch down your dough and let rest for 15 minutes. Shape into loaves. Place on greased baking sheet (above picture). Let rise 1 hour. I warmed my oven today for this process and let it rise in the oven. It worked much better! Just turn the oven on low and then turn it off- you should be able to touch the inside of the oven.

Brush tops with egg wash (1 egg, beaten) and bake at 375 degrees for 30 minutes. *I use my finger to brush the egg on.

Ready for the oven.

The finished product!

Baker, Baker, Bread Maker!

It's very rewarding to see my son light up when "his" bread comes out of the oven.

He is so proud of himself and really enjoys that first taste test:)

Sourdough Starter Recipe:

2 cups whole wheat flour

2 t. sugar

2 1/4 t. active-dry yeast

2 cups warm water

Mix the flour, sugar, and yeast in a clean, 2 qt. capacity glass bowl.

Gradually stir in the water and mix until it forms a thick paste and do not worry about lumps. Cover with a dish cloth such as this one from Evelyn Fields

and let sit in a warm, draft free place.

Once the starter is bubbling, feed it daily with flour and water while removing a cup of starter. You're just replacing it. I have been using 1 cup of flour and 1/2 cup water... still working on this one though.

Kneading Fun

Homemade bread has become a favorite in the Bankston house.

The boys helped me knead whole wheat bread this afternoon and had a great time.

I tried out Red Mill's ground flaxseed to make more of a "sandwhich" bread. Substituting a half cup flaxseed meal for a half cup of whole wheat seamed to be a perfect recipe:)

Little Kruz is almost 3 months old!

Still sweet, still perfect.

He is such sunshine in our lives.

I love this one with the drool on his lip.

Domestic Bliss

It's days like these that I don't want to forget.

My time working, cleaning, and cooking was joyful.

I even made it through the grocery store without a wimper or whine from either baby or toddler! This in itself made my day:)

This evening is perfect...while the children are cozy in their beds, fresh baked bread is on the counter (it smells incredible!), I'm sipping red wine and watching project runway.

Pure Bliss.

Thank you Heather for passing on your bread recipe!

This came home in Kades folder last week:)

Love it.

For Friends

A Masterpiece: For Carter.

From left: Kuper, Kade, and Carter

(on the chalkboard) :)

Koops enjoys learning to draw.

Thanks to my blogger friend, Mountain Home Quilts, I made this sourdough starter today.

Looking forward to sharing delicious bread with friends.

Video: For Miss Evelyn Belle

Love You Evy!!