Friday, December 27, 2013

Michie's Savory Quick Bread


Old Timey Notions Blog recipie for delicious quick bread.

I am not a baker. I try, but it rarely works. However, I'm on a mission and I'm feeling excited. Now I don't know about you, but I love bread. Mmmmmm...bread....

Since I'm new to making it on my own, I thought quick bread would be a good place to start. After way too long scouring the internet I found a few recipes that had reasonably few ingredients and simple instructions. My first attempt (on Christmas of all days) was so, so bad. Here's a tip, kids, pay attention to the Tsp. vs Tbs. part of your ingredients...especially as it applies to baking soda. Blech! Mis-measuring aside, it was apparent this bread was going to be dry and taste like flour.

So on I searched. Hopping from site to site, sipping on a beer it occurred to me "hey~why not use beer instead of water?". I mean, seriously...why not? Next search: quick bread, beer. Soon I found this recipe that served as the based for mine. I made a few little adjustments and here is what I've come up with.

Michie's Savory Quick Bread

Ingredients

* 3 cups Organic Whole Wheat Flour
* 2 1/2 tsp. Baking Soda
* 1 tsp. salt
* 1/4 cup Melted Butter
* 12 oz. Beer of Your Choice
* Sprig of Rosemary roughly chopped (remove the stalk,you just want the leaves)
* 1/2 cup Parmesean Cheese (I used shaved)

Ingredients  * 3 cups Organic Whole Wheat Flour  * 3 tsp. Baking Soda  * 1 tsp. salt  * 1/4 cup Melted Butter  * 12 oz. Beer of Your Choice  * Sprig of Rosemary roughly chopped  * 1/2 cup Parmesean Cheese (I used shaved)

Directions

* Heat oven to 375 degrees

* In large bowl sift out flour (if you, like me, don't have a sifter just whisk the dickens out of it for a few minutes)

* Add baking soda and salt (whisk again to mix thoroughly)

* Add butter and beer slowly (the beer will foam up, hence the large bowl)

* Used your hands to combine the ingredients until there's not dry flour left

* Allow to sit for 5 minutes

* Form into a loaf shape using oiled hands and place onto clean cookie sheet (I covered mine to make it easier to remove later)

* Score an "X" on the top with a knife to prevent the crust from bursting

* Bake for 50-60 minutes (depending on how hot your oven runs)

* Allow to sit for 20 minutes before eating

Note: This isn't sandwich bread. It will have a consistency similar to cornbread (a little crumbly)

 Do you have a great recipe? Please share; I'd love to try it out!

 

Monday, December 23, 2013

Miss Michie's Toffee

Ingredients  * 1 cup butter  * 1 cup white granulated sugar  * 6 tablespoons water  * 1 cup toasted pecan bits  * Milk chocolate chips (you decide how much you want to use)  Directions  * Evenly place toasted pecan bits in the bottom of an 8x8 pyrex dish and set aside.  * Dice butter into small cubes and place in large pot  * Add sugar and butter  * Turn heat to high and stir continually (you don't want to scorch the bottom so don't stop stirring)  * Boil & stir for about 10 minutes until it's a golden amber color and has come together.  * Pour over pecans in dish  * Wait about 5 minutes and sprinkle chocolate over the top  * Wait another 3-5 minutes and use a knife to swirl chocolate evenly over the top  * Allow toffee to cool (this takes hoooooouuuuurs) and then break up into pieces  * Enjoy!!!
After sharing this treat at a party I received a pledge of undying friendship. It's that good.

I can't remember where I found this recipe, so I can not give credit to the original genius who came up with it. I can, however take credit for making a few tweaks to help the process be a bit simpler.

Ingredients

* 1 cup butter
* 1 cup white granulated sugar
* 6 tablespoons water
* 1 cup toasted pecan bits
* Milk chocolate chips (you decide how much you want to use)

Directions

* Evenly place toasted pecan bits in the bottom of an 8x8 pyrex dish and set aside.

* Dice butter into small cubes and place in large pot

* Add sugar and butter

* Turn heat to high and stir continually (you don't want to scorch the bottom so don't stop stirring)

* Boil & stir for about 10 minutes until it's a golden amber color and has come together.

* Pour over pecans in dish

* Wait about 5 minutes and sprinkle chocolate over the top

* Wait another 3-5 minutes and use a knife to swirl chocolate evenly over the top

* Allow toffee to cool (this takes hoooooouuuuurs) and then break up into pieces

* Enjoy!!!

****************************Notes*********************************
*I recommend keeping a moist sponge or towel nearby to wipe up and splatter or spills. If it cools before you clean it, it'll be there forever.

*This stuff triples in size as it boils, so use a much bigger pot than you think you need

*I can not stress enough, don't stop stirring!!!

Ingredients  * 1 cup butter  * 1 cup white granulated sugar  * 6 tablespoons water  * 1 cup toasted pecan bits  * Milk chocolate chips (you decide how much you want to use)  Directions  * Evenly place toasted pecan bits in the bottom of an 8x8 pyrex dish and set aside.  * Dice butter into small cubes and place in large pot  * Add sugar and butter  * Turn heat to high and stir continually (you don't want to scorch the bottom so don't stop stirring)  * Boil & stir for about 10 minutes until it's a golden amber color and has come together.  * Pour over pecans in dish  * Wait about 5 minutes and sprinkle chocolate over the top  * Wait another 3-5 minutes and use a knife to swirl chocolate evenly over the top  * Allow toffee to cool (this takes hoooooouuuuurs) and then break up into pieces  * Enjoy!!!

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Here We Go


As 2013 is coming to an end, I find myself missing something. So, I've taken an inventory and everything seems reasonably in check. Loving family? Check. Small group of good friends? Check. Fledgling life&style blog starting to flourish? Check. So what is it that feels like it's missing? As if sent by an angel, I recently read this article. I highly encourage you to read it too. It helped me realize: What's missing is my sense of purpose.


Somehow this year, I quickly lost sight of my priorities. Yes, I had a fun year, but...I clearly lost sight of some of my priorities. I had been on a mission to live a simpler life. A mission to make what I could with my own two hands and teach my children that stores and "things" aren't where we find our happiness. I have always been a woman of two minds. Yes, I love pretty things and I love shopping and make-up and all those wonderfully silly things. I also hope to live on a farm someday soon and truly enjoy cooking, being in nature and creating things with my hands.

This brings me to the purpose of this blog. I am no expert. In fact, I am a novice at just about everything I will write here. The purpose of this blog is to archive my endeavours to live a simple, full and creative life. If you choose to read and share too, all the better! I have so much to learn and try and (hopefully) share. There will be a bit of everything: herbal medicine, cooking, crafts, history, etc...

I am so excited to get started!