Kitchen Duty

The past few days I have decided to get a little creative in my kitchen. I have taken on a couple new projects and it has been so fun!

Project #1: Homemade bread
Project #2: Freezer Jam. One batch with sugar and one batch sugar free.

I have never made my own bread before. I have bought the already prepared mixes and thrown it into my breadmaker and done that, but never on my own. I got a new recepie from a friend of mine and decided to give it a try. It was so easy and so worth it! It was delicious!

Here is the delicious Wheat Bread recipe:

3 c. water
1/2 c. honey
1 tbsp saf-instant yeast
*grease 1/2 c. measuring cup before putting honey in (this allows the honey to slip right out). mircrowave honey and water for 1 minute. sprinkle yeast on top and allow to sit while you prepare the following.

Mix in a Kitchen Aid:
7 c. flour
1 tbsp salt
1 tbsp dough enhancer
1/4 tsp dough enhancer

add:
1/4 c. oil
water/honey/yeast mixture

Mix for 7 minutes on medium-low
Oil hands and counter tops and punch dough down.
Divide into 3 loafs (I did 2 and that worked fine)
Let rise 1 1/2 hours
Bake at 350 for 35 min.

*Special note: Watch your mixer carefully. My friend that gave me the recipe, wasn't paying attention and her mixer went off the counter and broke!

I have never made freezer jam either. But my Grandpa brought me a huge bag of peaches from his tree so I decided to put them to good use and give this freezer jam a try. I made a peach-strawberry batch with the whole 4 cups of sugar (yes, 4 cups) and then did another batch of plain strawberry sugar free. Most people say the sugar free is bitter tasting - but I actually liked it better than the one with sugar.

For 2 days my kitchen was a complete disaster. Food was everywhere, my floors were sticky, Jack kept himself busy playing in the sink, so water was everywhere. But it was well worth it. It was fun to try some new things and everything turned out really good.

So above is a picture of my kitchen looking like a total disaster. And below is a picture of what it normally looks like. And honestly, my kitchen is "almost" this clean all the time. I can't stand a messy kitchen!
I know alot of you keep asking for pics of our new house. I will get some up soon, I promise. For now - here is my kitchen.

More kitchen projects this week (or next): Canning. I am going out to my Grandpas to pick more peaches and will can whatever I get from him. After that I am going to attempt the salsa. I am not too worried about the peaches but the salsa requires a little bit more work. I have had some help and directions from some friends so I think I will take on the challenge. Wish me luck!