Whole Wheat Organic Bread Made Easy(er)

Whole Wheat Organic Bread Made Easy(er)

Before we begin, I must let you know that I got the basics for my recipe from:

http://www.kingarthurflour.com/recipes/potato-wheat-bread-recipe

I did alter the recipe in a few ways that made vast improvements, but if you would rather trust the flour company, that's ok. They also have you do a lot of extra steps that I found completely unnecessary to a delicious loaf.

Bread baking. Doesn't seem like it should be too hard. I mean 100 years ago, everybody was doing it. There has to be a way to simplify the baking of bread so that the average person doesn't really mind baking some up once in a while. Bread machines are great, but I'd rather spend my money on a day at the spa or something and use my hands. My goal with this blog entry was to simplify the process of bread baking so that anyone can do it, and not feel overwhelmed.

And another thing that bugs me: what are all the ingredients in store bought bread? 

Here's an example.

Bleached flour? Abcorbic Acid? Calcium Peroxide? High Fructose Corn Syrup? 

Good Heavens!

Now I do know some things on there, and I know others have a purpose for preserving and vitamins, but come on! I'm not even going to try to google all of those to figure it out. 

Bread should be simple. Flour. Yeast. Water. Sugar (to activate the yeast). Why is it so complicated when I look at this label?

I'm all about simple. I'm all about knowing what the heck I'm eating every day. And I am all about easy. I found a recipe that wasn't hard and altered it a little after baking bread several times to make a loaf of organic whole wheat bread that is so tasty and I feel good about eating. All the ingredients I use are organic, except the salt and yeast.

These are the ingredients in this bread recipe, I forgot the honey in the pic though. Oops.

Whole wheat flour 3 and 1/2 cups

1 cup warm water

Honey 2 Tablespoons

Yeast 2 and 1/2 teaspoons

Salt 1/8 teaspoon

Butter 4 Tablespoons 

1 medium sized potato

Milk 1/2 cup

That's it! Simple. I love it!

The first step is to peel and slice a medium sized potato. The potato brings moisture and really adds a nice flavor. Then you cover it in hot water and boil it on the stove until they are cooked very thoroughly. That usually takes around 20 min. 

While that is happening, I take 1 cup of warm water, and 2 and 1/2 teaspoons of rapid rise yeast and dissolve the yeast completely in the warm water. Let it sit and stir your potatoes.

Once the potato is cooked well, mash it up very well with a fork so that it is smooth, like mashed potatoes. The recipe recommends that you blend it but I have found if you mush it very well and put a little elbow grease into it, you don't have to clean a blender. Yay!

It should look like this:

Then take 1/2 a cup of warm milk, 4 tablespoons of warm butter, 1/8 teaspoons of salt, and 2 tablespoons of honey all together, with the yeast water and the mashed potatoes.

Instead of butter I use an organic spread made out of coconut oil and that works just as well, butter adds a little more flavor, so it's up to you.

Then you add 3 cups of whole wheat organic flour. 

This can be pricey, but I find I usually spend about $2.50 on a loaf of bread, which is easy to do on store bought bread anyway.

Knead the dough for a few minutes until it is well mixed. I just knead it right in the bowl. You may have to add another 1/4 to 1/2 cup to the bottom of the bowl while you knead to made sure the dough is formed but very slightly sticky still.  

Then I just throw the bowl into a sink full of hot water to rise. 

Well don't throw it, set it gently. Like this:

Let it sit there until it is about doubled in size, that usually takes me about an hour. Time to do other chores. Goody.

It will look like this:

Then I just take it out of the bowl and place it in a greased 9 x 5 bread pan. Then I put fresh hot water in the sink and let it set in there to rise again. 

See?

Be careful to not fill the sink too full so that no water gets into the pan. I usually have it in the hot water another hour, yours may take a little longer. It will almost double in size again, and be about 1/2 inch above the pan and look like this:

Preheat the oven at 350 degrees. Then once the bread has risen, I put it in for 40 minutes. Bake until you can poke it with a fork and the fork comes out clean.

I usually just set mine on the windowsill (how country of me!) or on top of the oven to cool. If you want to use a wire rack like in my first picture, go for it.

And that's it! It seems time consuming with all the rising and baking times, but really I just start it in the morning and while the bread is rising go about my business. By cutting out some steps in the original recipe I found that baking this bread was much easier and had less clean up time. I also added more yeast than the original recipe because I found the bread rose better with just a little extra. 

Whole wheat bread is very dense, do not be disappointed if there is no large peak or your bread doesn't look like store bought bread. It isn't store bought, it's homemade! It will not be super tall nor will it be as airy as store bread. 

So good though. I love to toast two pieces and put a little coconut oil spread on it in the morning for my breakfast. And added bonus, it keeps you full longer because of the amount of fiber within it. 

Happy Baking! 

Beets and Sweets Oatmeal Baby Food Recipe

Beets and Sweets Oatmeal Baby Food Recipe

Healthy and tasty. The two words seem to contradict each other when it comes to food. When it's baby food, the contrast seems even more extreme. Delicious and nutritious? This just cannot happen. 

Well it did. 

I came along.

Here's another baby food recipe that I love to sample when I heat it up for my little one. It is very good for you, filled with vitamins and nutrition, yet somehow manages to taste good. 

Imagine that.

I recommend this baby food for ages 9 months and older.

Here is a quick reference for ages and introduction of food: 

http://www.babycenter.com/0_age-by-age-guide-to-feeding-your-baby_1400680.bc

Please always always read my disclaimer before trying any of my baby food recipes. 

Here's the link: http://justalittlehippie.blogspot.com/p/blog-page.html

I begin with an acorn squash. I cut it in half, remove the seeds, and place inside down in a pan with 3 cups of water.

This I bake at 400 degrees for an hour.
Go fold laundry or chase your kid around for a while.
I remove the squash from the oven and allow to cool. Keep the water they cooked in.
Read about health benefits of eating acorn squash here:
https://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/fruit/acorn-squash.html

Then in a medium saucepan on medium heat I put in a can of organic sliced peaches including the juice. Yes a can. If you have time to cut and peel about 4 peaches be my guest. I tried it and all I managed to do was create a sticky mess and cry tears of frustration into the sink.
Read about why we should eat peaches here: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/274620.php

I also take two medium sized beets, wash them, cut them up in small pieces, and place in the mixture. Beets are so good for us. And delicious. And most people have forgotten about them. Read all about the health benefits of eating beets here:
http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=49#healthbenefits
Remove all the delicious inside of the squash and also place in the pan.

I also slice up two large organic bananas and put that in.
Read about the health benefits of eating bananas here:
 http://www.livescience.com/45005-banana-nutrition-facts.html

Put in 1 teaspoon of cinnamon, 3 Tablespoons of Olive Oil, and 3 Tablespoons of Lemon Juice.
Again, please read my disclaimer for the reasons behind my ingredients.
http://justalittlehippie.blogspot.com/p/blog-page.html
Read about the health benefits of cinnamon here: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/266069.php

Also add about half of the squash water that is left. This is usually around 1/2 cup. Still keep the rest. Of course, if you are using breastmilk or whole milk (for the age of 12 months and older) I recommend that you do so here. Do not add at the same time as lemon juice however since that will cause your milk to separate. Or skip the lemon juice altogether.
Cover and let simmer. Stir frequently.

When everything is cooked thoroughly and mushy, usually after about 30 minutes, put in 1 cup of natural quick oats. You may have to add a little more squash water (breastmilk) to make sure that it does not burn and remains smooth. Stir frequently. Please note that since there is already oatmeal in the baby food there is no need to add any baby cereal to it.

When the oatmeal is done, it's time to blend! I use my blender but please use a food processor or any other fancy device you may have purchased.

And when it's all completed viola! You have some very tasty baby food that you child will love to nosh upon. And that you don't mind having to test the temperature of!
It really tastes so good, I have been known to take a bite or two in the morning.

This recipe makes about 6 cups of baby food.
Feel free to freeze some if your child doesn't have the gigantic appetite mine does. If you have added the lemon juice, this stays fresh 10 days. If you used breastmilk, it is only good for 5 days.

It is thick so I advise you to thin on a bowl to bowl basis with a little breastmilk or whole milk when feeding your child. Again, refer to my disclaimer:

  http://justalittlehippie.blogspot.com/p/blog-page.html

A little side note:
Beets stain clothes! Always always ALWAYS use a bib! And if your child has some particularly purplish poops the next day that is completely normal. What baby food companies have done to baby food that have beets in them to remove some of the color and keep our poops brown I do not want to know. Do these baby foods even have beets in them? I don't know. But these are real beets and they stain clothes as well as poop. FYI.

And here's my sweet girl reading a book while enjoying her morning beets and sweets. 

What a cutie! (We are teething, please forgive the drool, how embarrassing!)

Beets and Sweets Oatmeal Baby Food

2 Medium Beets

2 Large Bananas

1 Acorn Squash

1 Can Organic Sliced Peaches in 100% juice, with the juice

3 T. Olive Oil

3 T. Lemon Juice

1 t. Cinnamon

3 c. Water 

1 c. Quick Oats

Bake the acorn squash face down in 3 cups of water in a pan at 400 degrees for an hour. Let cool. Keep water squash cooked in. In a medium saucepan place 1 can of sliced peaches, including juice, 2 washed and sliced beets, 2 bananas, the squash removed from it's shell, olive oil, lemon juice, cinnamon, and 1/2 cup squash water. Cover, let simmer, and stir frequently until beets are soft, about 30 min. Add quick oats and stir until cooked. You may need to add more squash water (breastmilk), about another 1/2 - 1 cup. Blend or process until smooth. Allow to cool before feeding to your baby. Stays fresh for 10 days, may freeze and stay fresh for 3 months. 

Enjoy! 

Owl Always Love You

Owl Always Love You Hand Art 

I love handprint art. Love it. I think it's a thoughtful and creative way to capture the small size of your child's hands and feet. They are only small once and for such a short time. Why not keep little reminders of their tinyness around for always? 

Spellcheck does not agree with me that tinyness is a word. Well it is now! 

I decided to try my hand at an art project with my 13 month old. She is a wiggly little thing, running around the house, and I already marvel at how much she has grown in just the last month. I want to remember this time forever. I want to have little memories lying around the house so even when she is old and moved away, I will alway remember how fun and little and mischievous she was. Here are some simple instructions so that you too, can craft some simple treasures. 

I am not a very good artist. 

Whew! I admitted it. 

Least of all am I a painter. 

So I started with simple items. If you are a better artist than me, feel free to use better tools and ingredients. 

I started with a piece of pastel purple paper that I had on hand from a previous project. I don't recommend construction paper, but use whatever you want is my opinion. 

I had 5 colors of acrylic craft paint: brown, yellow, pink, white, and green. 

I used a small paintbrush I had already. 

I used a black sharpie and a silver sharpie. 

That's it. 

Here we go. 

I love owls. I think they're just so pretty, cute, and a symbol of wisdom. So well, I googled hand art owls. There are so many out there. Try it. I was overwhelmed. Again, I am not an artist. Crafty, but not an artist. I modified the many images I found and just tried. Worked out pretty well, so I shared the end result with you! 

I started using the brown to paint a branch. Well, more of a curve and a line, but I tried to make a branch. 

Then I added some little twigs to my branch. Small curves, but they'll do as twigs. 

Here comes the tricky part. Getting the handprint. Not easy with any child, let alone a 1 year old. 

I waited for the branch to dry thoroughly. 

Then I managed to actually get a semi decent handprint upside down on the branch. 

I used the pink paint. 

She moved her thumb a little, but I just considered it artistic liberty and moved on. 

Next came the eyes with the white paint. Two circles. Anyone can paint two circles.

Almost anyone. 

A little funny shaped, but let's move on. 

I placed a dot of yellow paint under the eyes for a beak and some small dots of yellow paint at the bottom of the hand for some little owl feet. 

Looks ok so far, wait for those to dry thoroughly as well. 

While waiting, I added some so called leaves to my twigs with the green paint. Really I just touched the brush to the page.

Also, once the paint was dry, I used the black Sharpie to "draw" some pupils on my owl's eyes. 

Then I used the silver Sharpie to write on my art project "Owl Always Love You."

I was so proud of myself! Turned out very cute and is hanging on my wall right now, always there to remind me how tiny my little girl's hands once were.

I placed my masterpiece in a simple white frame to keep it safe and sound!

This idea also makes a great gift, I made a second one that sits on my husband's desk at work, a Father's Day gift he will always cherish. 

Happy Crafting!

A Simple Baby Food Recipe

I want to start by saying I am by no means a pediatrician, a nutritionalist, or an expert. I just make observations and then, respond. You can read the nutritional needs of infants here at http://www.babycenter.com/baby-solid-feeding-basics. 
Please also read my baby food disclaimer page prior to using any of my recipes or ideas.  

http://justalittlehippie.blogspot.com/p/blog-page.html

Simple Carrot and Apple Oatmeal Baby Food

Both apples and carrots have numerous health benefits to eating them.
We should be eating them and babies should too!
Read about apple nutritional benefits here: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/267290.php
And read about carrot nutritional benefits  here: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/270191.php
Does anyone else love an overflow of information and interesting facts? I do, so I will include them in my posts. Read at your leisure. (With a baby, ha!)
I suggest this type of baby food for Six Month Olds. The combination of the carrots and apples make a sweet, yet extra healthy baby food that you don't mind taking a taste of! 

I start out with two organic apples, I buy them by the bag to help decrease cost. 
Cut the apple into small parts and remove both core and peel. 

Also slice into small pieces a full cup of organic carrots. 

I add them together, with about a cup of water unto a pot on the stove and cook both the apples and carrots thoroughly.  This usually takes me a half an hour. Stir frequently.
Add 2 Tablespoons Lemon Juice and 2 Tablespoons of Pure Organic Olive Oil.

When the carrots and apple are cooked, I add 3/4 of a cup of natural quick oats. You may have to add some more water (breastmilk) to ensure that the baby food does not burn and is smooth. Stir until the oatmeal is cooked. Please note that since there is already oatmeal in the baby food there is no need to add any baby cereal to it. 

After the food is very well cooked and mushy, I blend thoroughly with my blender, ensuring there are no chunks. You may also use a food processor. Or the fancy baby food maker of your choice!

This makes about 3 cups of baby food. 

And as you can see.... My baby loves it! So tasty! 

 YUM!

Simple Apple Carrot Baby Food Recipe

2 medium apples, cored, peeled, and sliced

1 c. sliced carrots

3/4 c. quick oats

1-2 c. water (breastmilk) 

2 T. lemon juice

2 T. olive oil 

In medium saucepan, combine apples, carrots, lemon juice, olive oil, and 1cup water. Cook thoroughly, stirring frequently. When carrots are soft, add quick oats and 1 cup water, depending on consistency. When oats are cooked, blend or food process until smooth. Cool completely before feeding your child. Stays fresh for a week. May freeze, I recommend no longer than 3 months. 

Tips on freezing baby food: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/270191.php

Good luck and Enjoy! 



Here's the deal. Most people want to live healthy. Some people want to take the extra step and eat organically, make some of their everyday items, and help the environment. Very few individuals really want to weave all their own clothes, live on a commune, and eat only what they grow. This blog is for those individuals in the middle ground. Those of us that recycle, make crafts, buy mostly organic when we can afford it, and help the earth by making a few changes in our lifestyle.
My name is Brittany. This blog will be a recording of the life I already lead, a diary of the crafts I make, and a log of any new healthy organic adventures I embark on. I believe in taking care of the earth, but still want people to take some of my trash away. I believe in biodegradable products, like diapers, since I didn't have the fortitude for cloth diapers but don't want to further pollute the earth. I believe in eating healthy and organically, but still want my Swedish fish and Doritos once in a while. I believe... Well, I'm getting carried away. I knit, bake healthy, craft, use remedies when I can, and try new natural ways of living life all the time. I want to share my ideas with other people just like me. The point is for those that try to better themselves but still love watching Real Housewives, this is a blog for you. For those of us that strive to be Just A Little Hippie.

My beautiful baby girl and I. Burp cloth at the ready.