Domestically Inclined: 2014

11/12/14

10/14/14

Book Giveaway!

Good evening all!

Blessed Homemaking's Blog has a Book. Giveaway!

Stop on by and enter for a chance to receive this

Book of encouragement for Homemaker's

Fall has arrived and school is on the brain! Time to crack open books and dig deep. Of course my favorite book to dig into is the Bible. There is so much buried treasure in the Bible just awaiting discovery.
I began attending a Ladies Hebrew study recently and it is so wonderful to get into what is considered "meat and potatoes" in the Bible. The first four verses of chapter one of the book of Hebrews is filled with an endless amount of doctrinal importance.
Doctrine seems to have been set aside in recent years for the purpose of gaining more "practical" application of these weightier issues. However, it is important to understand that they go hand in hand. I suppose it is the old nature that just wants to get the rules down first so we can figure out how to get around them.
Practically applying doctrinal issues to one's life is important. Case in point, I was just searching my blog for an old Pumpkin Biscotti recipe I knew I had posted on my blog years earlier. I rejoiced over finding the recipe but had I stopped there, being happy to have the knowledge in my possession, friends and family would not enjoy the benefit of the finished product. It is one thing to share a recipe, or knowledge, but another to share a batch of Pumpkin Biscotti, or application of that knowledge.
I can only share my knowledge online, but I can apply it in my life to those around me, and you are able to do the same to those around you. What if we all decided to dig deep for Doctrinal truths and share them? It's not that difficult, just open the Bible and read to learn. The world be a better place, and we could all be enjoying Pumpkin Biscotti!

Read Hebrews online

Pumpkin Biscotti Recipe

10/1/14

Apple Galette

A Taste of Fall.....

The cool, crisp air of Fall along with thunder clouds yesterday was a welcome change in season around here! The leaves are beginning to turn, the air is fresh, and the smells of soup and cider and spices fill the home. It was nice to be able to turn a recent apple Harvest into a few apple pies to share with the family. The pie on the left is an Apple pie that my daughter in law made, while I made the one on the right. I hope to talk her into sharing her recipe in the future, when she has a few minutes to spare from caring for our grandchildren. There is plenty of pie to go around, and a nice mix of flavor to enjoy with a cup of coffee or tea and some wonderful conversation.

We enjoy the flavor of many different apples, and the contrast of flavors and textures offered in the area are tremendous. Local apple orchards are a fun destination this time of year. The Fugi apple was the apple of my choice for this recipe, but others will work fine as well. The Fugi apple brought a crisp, tart finished flavor to the Apple Galette, a french farm style pie.

Domestically Inclined Apple Galette

French Apple Galette

For Dough place following ingredients in a food processor:

3 cups Whole Wheat Pastry Flour * 1/4 cup organic cane sugar * 1 cup butter (very cold)

Process in short bursts until mixture resembles coarse meal

Add 3/4 cup ice cold water

Process until incorporated then wrap dough in cling wrap and place in refrigerator while preparing filling.

Filling: Wash, core, peel, and slice about 12 apples. (keep slices in bowl with cold water and a teaspoon lemon juice or citric acid to prevent browning) *Pre heat oven to 425 Degrees Fahrenheit

*Remove dough from fridge and place between two sheets of waxed or parchment paper. Use rolling pin and roll out dough to desired shape. Move dough to deep dish pie plate, removing paper (Dough should extend a few inches beyond edge of dish.)

*Drain apple slices and stir in: 1/4 cup organic cane sugar, 1/4 cup raisins, 1 tablespoon almond extract, 1/4 cup melted butter. Place filling into crust.

*Fold the dough up over the filling around edges, and sprinkle filling with 1/2 cup dark brown sugar.

*Cover pie with aluminum foil just around the edges, not the top.

Place Apple Galette in hot oven at 425 for 40 minutes. Serve with a drizzle of honey, or ice cream.

Enjoy!

9/9/14

Luscious Lemon Loaf

It has been a while since I have visited my own blog! Recovery after thyroid removal two years ago has been slow, but thankfully I am doing better and slowly moving into the areas of life that have not had much attention. My health had to be my first priority for awhile, and then family and now beyond the circle of life into virtual world of friends again. It has been a difficult but amazing journey and now wonderful to be able to think past low thyroid brain fog and write again!

It is amazing how much of life can fall by the wayside in a few years time.

I have been enjoying being able to read and comprehend my Bible again, spend time with family, spend time in the garden and finally make my way back to the blogging world.

I picked up a bread machine this past summer at the thrift store and have been able to enjoy making bread with out fake ingredients. It has also been a blessing to be able to not turn the oven on in the summer to heat the whole house. I am still experimenting on a good recipe using whole wheat flour to use in my bread machine, but we all enjoyed the following last night. It was the second time I tried a quick bread in the machine and it was a hit. I prefer it without the glaze, but the Mister prefers something sweet now and then since I have taken most of the sugar out of the diet. Certainly not the sort of thing I should make often, but so nice to share with others over a cup of tea or coffee.

Enjoy!