I am so excited about the new “from-scratch” homemade wild yeast sourdough starter I started. It worked!! A living bread starter is a-growin’ in my kitchen, that I started myself. It’s on Day 5 now and it looks great. I’ll be able to bake with it in a couple days and will try to remember to get a pic of what I make. The question will be, “Can it raise a bread?”
Sourdough Starter Day 5
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Get FREE bonus gifts when you purchase Wusthof cutlery!
A great knife is the foundation of a good kitchen, and makes all the difference in its functionality. We love and highly recommend the Wusthof Classic line of forged knives. (The Culinar is also a forged series, with with a stainless steel handle.) Right now you can get FREE Bonus Gifts when you purchase Wusthof knives – starting with a Bamboo Cutting Board!
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Read what we have to say about knives and our recommendations in a previous blog post and on our Good for You-Naturally!™ Resources and Recommendations.
Tags: knives, offer, sale, wusthof
I may not be the sharpest knife in the block. But my block on my shoulders now is sharp about good knives and my block on the counter now holds quality knives – sharp and able to get the job done easily and effectively. I found this post buried in my unposted drafts – from Jan. 07! It’s about time I get this info out!
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Knives are far from my area of expertise. But a chef will tell you they are the most important kitchen tool. Perhaps they are right. As I note at the beginning of our Modern Maidservants page, to eat completely natural we wouldn’t need any tools but a knife.
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But I have spent my life with cheap knives that don’t hold an edge and are usually super dull. It wasn’t that long ago that I told my daughter I really didn’t see any need for expensive knives. But then I began looking at the reason I hated using mine so much. The edges were not only dull, but horribly knicked up, and the serrated blades were bent over. The proof came as I sliced a loaf a bread and ended up with a big pile of crumbs, and my daughter tried to dice chicken and ended up with shredded. Yes, it’d been too long since they’d been sharpened, but it hadn’t been that long, and they were losing an edge way too quickly. I knew it was time to do something.
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That began my research into knives. I found out that generally forged knives are higher quality than stamped, that high carbon stainless steel weds the best of carbon – great edge, with steel – no rust. I learned that Wustof and J.A. Henckels were the names to have, if you can afford them. I also learned that it is far better to buy 1 or 2 good quality knives, than have a “set” of poor quality ones. And that a good chef’s knife can easily cost double what I paid for the highest priced set I’d ever bought, but is worth it. Wusthof Classic
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I learned that Chicago Cutlery, whose cheap versions I’ve had in the past, makes a forged set that gets favorable reviews for the money. They are called Walnut Forged. That there is a line of stamped knives that ranks very well, and a 3-piece starter set costs about what I paid for my big so-so set. They are Forschener/Victorinox, the company that makes the Swiss Army Knife.
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I learned that my recommendations for which knives are most necessary, are pretty much the same as the expert chefs say, though I probably use my utility and paring more, and they all say the chef’s knife is the most used. Those 3 along with a serrated bread knife and a shorter serrated utility knife should be all you need, at least to get started. The only other knife you may prefer to have is a currently popular Santoku, Asian knife great for cutting vegetables. If you prepare a lot of meat, you may want along the way to add a boning, fillet, and/or carving knife also. But I’d say, get an electric knife for carving. You can use it on bread too if you like.
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Update: After about 2 years of use, I highly recommend the Wusthof Classic line of knives. I’ve been totally pleased with them. They are worth the money to have a great kitchen tool that you use day in and day out. If you can’t afford Classics, the Wusthof Gourmet
Back to Basics Toolkit or Homestead Blessings Video Series
from Vision Forum
Save 36-38% – Sale ends Aug. 15th
We love the Homestead Blessings videos. And for the next few days you can get a a great deal on either the video series, or 3 of their videos with 3 great books for the frugal family.
Homestead Blessings Video Series includes:
- The Art of Soapmaking
- The Art of Breadmaking
- The Art of Candlemaking
- The Art of Gardening
- The Art of Canning
- The Art of Herbs
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In the “Back to Basics” Toolkit, your family will learn:
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- How to grow organic vegetables, fruits, and herbs (New Release)
- How to can your own produce (New Release)
- How to cook simple, inexpensive, and tasty foods (New Release)
- How to prepare and freeze meals in bulk
- How to care for farm animals
- And much, much more!
Special Offers End August 15, 2009
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Clothes – that is.
This is a follow-up to 7 great reasons for hanging out your laundry – from our latest newsletter. If you’ve never hung out laundry – aren’t sure how to do it – or question, what about “stiff” clothes – read on.
Put a cup of white vinegar in the rinse cycle. This will help soften your clothes – and it also helps remove odors and detergent residue. No, your clothes won’t smell like vinegar.
Shake out each article before hanging. Make sure nothing is bunched up or twisted.
Hang most clothes upside-down, from the hem. Don’t use 2 clothespins per article of clothing. String them together (most things anyhow) with 1 clothespin holding the left end of 1 article and the right end of the next. This not only saves clothespins, but also time. And it keeps you from having marks on your shoulders. Some skirts, dresses and shorts do better hung from the top.
Hang pants from the hem also – 1 clothes pin in the center of each leg hem. You can also pull pockets out to help them dry faster.
Pair socks and hang both from one clothespin – either at the top or toe. (Don’t fold them over.)
Hang undergarments from one clothespin on the side. You don’t have to string them out for all to see. They’ll dry quickly and take up less room on the line hanging down from one clothespin.
Fold sheets and blankets, and any other really long items, over the line – big, heavy items over 2 lines, spread out between them. Put a clothespin at each end.
Don’t leave clothes out too long after they’re dried. 1) The sun could fade the colors. 2) Birds, trees or other sources could cause you to have to rewash – then you wouldn’t be saving time or money.
Are a few items, such as jeans or towels, still not quite as soft as you’d like? Throw them in the dryer on air only/fluff for about 5 minutes.
Enjoy your summer – while you’re hanging out!
Living Coram Deo – before the Face of God,
Lisa @ Me and My House
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Is a Bosch a bit beyond your capabilities for a Mother’s Day gift this year? How about some great videos for mom? Franklin Springs Family Media has some awesome choices that this mom loves!
Homestead Blessings
3 educational and entertaining DVD’s from the West Ladies and Franklin Springs Family Media teach:
The Art of Breadmaking
The Art of Candlemaking
The Art of Soapmaking
or Rejuvenate with Serene or The Family Meal Table
Bosch Plus with Blender
$30 Instant Rebate
Want to get mom what she really wants – and get a price break for dad? O.K. maybe she really wants a trip to Hawaii or something, but there aren’t too many moms that wouldn’t really like a nice all-in-one Kitchen Center, and Bosch is the best.
Heavy duty – mix up to 6 loaves of bread, make quadruple batches of cookies, or whip an egg white, or blend a smoothie. Reliable – you don’t hear about these needing repairs. I’ve got customers who have had theirs 2 or 3 decades and never a problem. They’re a great workhorse, handling the heavy jobs year after year.
I haven’t had customers ask these questions, but my distributor sent this along, stating she gets asked it quite frequently. Here’s her suggestions.
The mill canisters are NOT dishwasher safe. In fact, you really only need to use a dry cloth to wipe the canister. Never wash the filters. You only need to flick the filter to remove any residue flour. Remember, water and flour make paste!
For Me and My House ~ At Jesus’ feet,
Lisa @ Me and My House ~ Discipleship for Life!
1 Thessalonians 5:23
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Believe it or not, we’ve been discussing ways to save money on TP, on an elist I’m on. Some options that have been discussed: using a peri-bottle to "wash" the area, getting a bidet, getting new automatic TP dispensers that only portion out a set allotment. I’m only able to share my "privy" (excuse the pun) thoughts on the topic.
I only have heard of rich people (and Europeans) having a bidet. Actually, my mil has a friend with one, but I’ve never seen it, let alone used it!! :-0
I’m not too hip on the automatic bathroom things. I know how well the self-flushing toilets work -NOT! and self-turning on sinks – NOT! and self-dispensing paper towels – NOT! and the self- turning-on air dryers – NOT! I don’t think I’d trust self-dispensing toilet paper. Like the paper towels, you probably wouldn’t get what you need when you need it.
Nothing is any more frustrating at such a time as just wanting to get in and out of the restroom, then standing there waving your hands all over trying to get the things to work – or raising or lowering yourself trying to get the toilet to flush.
Or worse yet, a small child using the toilet and it flushes with a large splash while they are going, because it didn’t detect them there! Both of our youngest boys wouldn’t even go to the bathroom at those with automatic flush because it scared them so much.
Another drawback for these is the expense for such "convenience" – both upfront and in maintenance for fixing such "computerized" things. I know what it cost when my car needs a new computer chip. Far more than an old distributor cap. I think it’s not in the category of "frugal".
Now when Walmart and Menards want to add these new "automated" bathrooms out of their profits (so really I indirectly paid for them) I think about it a bit. When my state adds them to the Interstate rest areas, directly paid for by taxing me more, I just wish I could flush the toilet, turn on the sink and get a paper towel or push a BUTTON to turn on the air dryer.
Now the peri-bottle has promise as a good frugal idea. I know how well it works after having a baby and monthly. It could greatly cut down the amount of TP needed. (Or if you’re really adventurous/frugal/don’t mind being thought just a little odd – you pick which adjective, - you could go with cloth wipes after the peri-wash.)
Taking another rabbit trail —-
I used to get upset when my little ones would pull out a bunch of toilet paper to "play with". It was so "wasteful". Then I figured out what it really cost – less than a quarter per roll, and they rarely used a HALF roll, let a lone a whole. In fact it was probably far less than ONE-FOURTH roll. And it kept them entertained for hours!! Cheap entertainment!
Thinking about it again, perhaps TP is not an area we have to think of ways to be more frugal in, other than teaching our children to use the proper amount.
Just my thoughts. Not sure they are worth the time it took to type them.
For Me and My House ~ At Jesus’ feet,
Lisa @ Me and My House ~ Discipleship for Life!
1 Thessalonians 5:23
Order Christian & Home Ed Resources here
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The Redeeming the Time Journal – Menu Planning forms have been re-released today!
If 5 p.m. brings stress to your life as you try to figure our what’s for dinner, Freedom & Simplicity™ in the Kitchen is for you! This easy to use resource will help you put together menu plans from the foods you enjoy, easily, saving you time, money and stress.
See more or order at either the Redeeming the Time page or the Good for You-Naturally!™ exclusives page on our website.
Or recieve a Complimentary Sampler by subscribing to our free monthly newsletter.
For Me and My House ~ At Jesus’ feet,
Lisa @ Me and My House ~ Discipleship for Life!
Order Christian & Home Ed Resources here
Get future posts to this blog by email:
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