Bread again

So here is the recipe for homemade bread I got the other night...the secret is the liquid lecithin (available at health food stores). It replaces the oil in the bread and has a great shelf life so it's perfect for food storage. Plus it's made from soy...

10 1/2 white bread flour
1/2 cup sugar
1 tablespoon salt
3 rounded tablespoons saf-instant yeast
3 tablespoons liquid lecithin (squeeze directly into bowl...do not measure...too sticky!)
4 cups hot tap water

Mix dry ingredients. Add lecithin and water. Mix for 1 minute and check consistency. If dough is too dry, add more water. If dough is too moist, add more flour. (Should be a little sticky). Mix for 5 minutes. Do not add water or flour to the dough after it has finished mixing. Spray counter and pans with PAM. Shape loaves and cover with a dish towel. Let raise 25 minutes. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes. This recipe makes four loaves of bread.

For whole wheat bread, use the same recipe but add one cup of warm applesauce as part of the hot tap water. Mix for ten minutes. Fresh ground flour from hard white wheat is best.
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This can be used for just about anything. With that said, even if it's the perfect recipe, it won't keep me from experimenting because I have a weakness for yummy artisan bread and I love trying new things. I found this great web community for amateur artisan bakers and bread enthusiasts:

THE FRESH LOAF

Enjoy!

Bread, glorious bread!

So last night I went to a breadmaking class and I'm recommitted now to making bread from scratch. I've always enjoyed it; I guess I've just been a little sidetracked lately. It will be easier one I'm in my new kitchen too and have all my stuff out of storage! The lady who taught the class gave out a great recipe that can be used for anything...loaves, rolls, buns, pizza, breadsticks, dessert breads, etc. Here is her website:

Pantry Secrets

This would be a great class for your ward's enrichment, or just for a group of people who enjoy cooking or who want to learn to use your wheat better!

Wasatch Wildflower Festival

Last Saturday we went up to Alta to see the wildflowers. They had street music, kids crafts, and guided walks to see the flowers. It was a beautiful day...so nice to get out of this basement! We all had a great time & also had a fun picnic.

I think my favorite is still the "Indian Paintbrush"

although I really liked Penstamen too

Another week down...

Another one bites the dust...anything memorable happen this week? Here are a few random things we've kept busy with:

I had to (I mean I was blessed to) sing a solo in Relief Society yesterday. For once I actually did it without getting nervous! I think it went well...I really liked the song (from EFY 1999) called "I Will Not Be Still." I really love Kenneth Cope's music in general - I'm putting a sampling of his music on here for a while to brighten your day...

We do a monthly dinner with Mark's family on the second Sundays and I really enjoy getting together with everyone...not to mention who doesn't love a potluck meal? I made a fruit salad that tastes like a creamsicle...so yummy! Here is the recipe:

ORANGE CREAM FRUIT SALAD

1 (3.5 ounce) package instant vanilla pudding mix
1 1/2 cups milk
1/3 cup frozen orange juice concentrate, thawed
3/4 cup sour cream
1 (20 ounce) can pineapple tidbits, drained
1 (11 ounce) can mandarin orange segments
1 apple - cored and sliced
1 pear - cored and diced
1 peach - peeled and diced

In a medium mixing bowl, combine pudding mix, milk, and orange juice concentrate. Beat with an electric mixer on medium speed for 2 minutes. Mix in sour cream. Gently mix in fruits. Cover, and refrigerate for 2 hours.

I've spent a few days at the dentist in the last week...once with all my kids for cleanings, and once just Holly and me for some follow-up. Can I just say that mothers deserve medals for taking their kids places like that? My dentist is great (he's my uncle, so of course we love him) but it's just hard to sit in the chair and hope your kids behave while your teeth are being cleaned and you can't say anything! I hoped my seven-year-old would step up to the plate and be a good helper. No such luck. I don't want to go into detail about this one, I'm just glad it's over!!!

We've been going to the library each week for the kids' summer reading clubs. They each have a 45 minute class where they read stories, sing songs, and do a craft. It's a nice mid-week distraction and helps us meet our reading goals for the summer. Josh's latest favorites for reading are the Magic School Bus chapter books and I'm excited he's learning something worthwhile and enjoying it!

Oh! We also sold our tent trailer last week. We are sad to see it go - we had some awesome trips in it - but it needed a little work and we needed a little more space so hopefully not too far down the road we can upgrade. Poor Holly started crying when we told her we were selling it. At least we have lots of fun memories!

We finished off the summer baseball season - Whew! Josh had coach-pitch games on Mondays and Wednesdays and Holly had T-ball games on Tuesdays and Thursdays so we were kept hoppin' for the past month trying to get to all of them. Why do we do this to ourselves? The kids enjoyed their teams and did a great job!

Friday we had cousin Becca come play for the day and we ended up heading to the pool...finally a few hours of rest and relaxation! Well, not exactly, but we had fun and enjoyed the sun!

As far as the house goes...they finally backfilled the yard, Mark and Lance got a good start on the deck, they are preparing for concrete, tile is partway done, light fixtures start today, and cabinets should be installed in a day or two. It's moving right along...wahoo! Now if we can just get the interest rates to cooperate when we have to close; they've been all over the place lately.

Tonight for family night we are going swimming at Grandma Stum's pool and to pick raspberries at my dad's. Yum!

House Pics

I have not been nearly as diligent at posting pictures as I should have been...but here is the progress on the house. The outside is nearly all the way done...they just have to stain the front door, add some dirt to the yard & pour front steps and driveway and Mark is still working on the deck in the back. In case you can't tell the color is "coastal sage" and we really like how it turned out.
Mark & Bryant spent ALL DAY putting in the wood floor in the dining area & entry Saturday...lots of hard work but I really love it!

July so far

The other night we helped cut down a tree in Bryant's backyard...

then had our scripture study & popsicles

I wasn't very camera savvy on the fourth of July, but we had a fun day! We slept over at Grandpa Horton's the night before, went to the parade in Provo the next morning (as always), then headed up Provo canyon for a BBQ, fishing, and bike ride at Vivian Park. This might become our new tradition since it was so much fun. Later on we watched the fireworks done by PG city. A great Independence Day!