I came across these french bread rolls quite a while ago and have made them several times. They are very good! This last time I went to make them I decided I'd try to make it into a loaf because I didn't want to roll them out into several balls. Anyways after I shaped it into loaves (I froze one for later) and let it rise for the second time it looked like this, a flat wide blob of dough. Not really what I was going for. I have determined I need a baguette pan.
It tasted fine but it didn't have the same fluffy texture when made into rolls. So I decided to turn it into garlic toast. I LOVE garlic toast. I've found this garlic bread seasoning and have been putting it on my pasta and pizza, yummy! I did as the recipe suggested mixing some of the seasoning with softened butter. I stuck most of them in the freezer for later and then put the rest in a 400 degree oven for several minutes then turned it on broil. They turned out fantastic! They had a crisp Parmesan cheese thing going on. I don't have very many left as I have been eating them with the leftover spaghetti. Good thing I have another loaf in the freezer!
This isn't something I'm trying for the first time. I've been making it here and there for a few weeks. What is new about this time is that I tried it with part whole wheat flour and added vital wheat gluten to make sure it wasn't dense. I also put a loaf in the freezer for later. When I make the frozen loaf I'll let you know how it turns out.
If you've never made yeast bread it can be tricky but practice makes perfect or close to it anyways. I'm not going to give you a lesson in yeast and bread making. Here is a good tutorial that you can read if you're interested. If you start making yeast bread on a regular basis do not buy yeast at the regular grocery store. A small jar is about $7. Go to Costco and buy the big block of it. You get 2 lbs of yeast for $4-6. I can't remember how much I paid exactly but it was less than the grocery store and you get a ton more. So even if you end up not using all of it by the time it goes bad it's still far cheaper. Store it in your freezer to extend the life of it.
This is the recipe I have been using. I must admit I messed up when making it this time. I proofed the yeast first and you don't have to. Also I should have read through the comments again. Those that have used whole wheat flour added extra water. I did not.
It turned out just fine, though I prefer the all white flour version. Next time I'll use white wheat flour.
And by the way english muffin bread makes very good grilled cheese!
A while back I bought some paper towel-like wipes that were washable at Bed Bath and Beyond. (Unfortunately I no longer have the package and I can't find them on their website to show you.) I bought them thinking I would use them in place of paper towels. I ended up just using my regular kitchen cloths more. I rarely use paper towel anymore. I only use it for really dirty gross things.
Anyways I came across homemade disinfecting wipes and immediately thought of the paper towel wipes I had bought. So I bought the only Castille soap that Trader Joes had not realizing that it was peppermint scented. I made the wipes but I'm not crazy about the scent. I do like them though. It might just be me but after using them my hands feel softer.
I used a baby wipe container to hold the wipes and wrote all over it so I knew (and my husband if he ever used them) to remind myself they are reusable and to not throw away. I have an old container sitting on my counter that I throw the used ones in and any other dirty cloths in.
I will be getting some other scented castille soap for the next time i make it Maybe I will get the unscented version and use some of my citrus infused vinegar! I was at Whole Foods this week because I wanted to see the selection of castille soap they had. They only had a huge container of eucalyptus (I think). Amazingly Kroger had the best selection of castille soap in their natural foods section.
I do have some of the store bought wipes around so I'll be using those up along with my homemade version.
DIFFICULTY: Easy peasy!
WORTH THE TIME: Yes.
COST SAVINGS: I don't know but I'm sure it is way cheaper than buying store bought.
ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY: Yep. No chemicals used and I'm reusing a container I already had on hand.
RECOMMEND IT: YES, Just Try It Already!
TRY IT AGAIN: Yes, but next time I will a different scented Castille soap and use some of my citrus infused vinegar.
For a while now I have been using vinegar and water to clean my kitchen counters and miscellaneous things with. Recently I came across citrus infused vinegar and thought what a great idea! My youngest daughter LOVES clementines and would eat them, and any other fruit really, exclusively if I let her. Guess what I will be doing with all those peels now? Check back in a couple weeks to see how the orange infused vinegar turns out.
So this morning my oldest daughter wanted her usual toast for breakfast. For a while I've been making my own English Muffin Bread or a Wheat Flax Seed Meal Bread that she's been eating in the morning. (I'll create a post for each of those breads later on) I realize we are out of bread. So I decided I would make waffles for my girls. I looked in the pantry and see that I'm very low on syrup. Doh! So much for the waffle idea.
But wait! I remembered I pinned a homemade maple syrup recipe. Perfect opportunity to try it. I looked at the recipe and I had all the ingredients: sugar, brown sugar, honey, water, vanilla and maple flavorings (well I had imitation maple flavoring, close enough). I forgot to put the vanilla and maple in the photo, so sue me. The recipe seemed like it would make way more than we would be able to consume so I halved it.
Add the water, sugars and honey to a pot. Bring it to a boil. Cool 20 minutes and add your flavoring. Wait another 40 minutes for it to cool and then pour into your container(s).
I washed out my syrup container and poured it in using a mixing bowl with a spout. I had enough to fill the bottle and about 1/3-1/2 cup left over. This bottle is 27.6 fl oz.
Now, while I was simmering my syrup I was making the waffles. However, my waffles did not turn out. I did something wrong. So I will try again and have waffles for dinner instead. I did taste a bit of the syrup by itself and it tastes good!
DIFFICULTY: Easy peasy!
WORTH THE TIME: Yes. (as long as it tastes good on waffles and pancakes.)
COST SAVINGS: I dont' know but I'm sure it is way cheaper than buying store bought.
ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY: Yep. Instead of recycling that bottle I re-used it!
RECOMMEND IT: YES, Just Try It Already!
TRY IT AGAIN: Yes, but next time I will try with dark brown sugar and real maple extract.
If you have another syrup recipe for me to try just let me know and I'll put it on my Just Try It Already! list.
Welcome to my blog! I've thought for a long time about starting a blog I just couldn't figure out what in the world I would blog about. Obviously I've come up with something otherwise I wouldn't be here.
So what is Just Try It Already! about? Well several months ago, I don't know, six months maybe more, I heard people talking about this thing called Pinterest. I didn't know anything about it so I asked for an invite and well I can't stop pinning things! So many things I want to try. I've tried a few things since I started pinning but not nearly as many as I want to. I've always enjoyed trying new things. They don't always turn out but at least I can say I've tried it.
So that's what this blog is about - me trying out things I've pinned on Pinterest. Mostly make your own things (make your own onion soup mix, taco seasoning, make your own laundry or dishwasher detergent).
I think the main thing I want to get from this little adventure is to show my daughters that trying new things is GOOD! Just because they sell it in the store doesn't mean you can't make it yourself and it might take a little bit of your time and it might be a flop but at least you can say you've tried it. If in the end I save my family some money from making something myself, GREAT! If in the end I make an impact on the environment, that's GREAT too!
I'm new to this blog thing so bear with me as I figure it out. If you want to follow me, if not, that's fine to. I can't promise a post every day but hopefully at least once a week. I'm a mother of two young girls and also work part-time from home. I needed a hobby so here I am.
So, Just Try It Already!
~ Hayley
