Using Cloth Wipes - Easy DIY cloth wipe dispenser

When Benjamin was born we decided I would stop working to stay home full time. Our first money saving choice was to use cloth diapers. In recent weeks I decided to use cloth wipes.
Now, I'm not that crunchy mama you can hear from across the play room floor talking about how much fluff mail she received this week. But... I do like the idea of saving money and the environmental benefits are a bonus. We will still use disposable wipes when we are out of the house.

Here's how I set up my cloth wipes for easy use!



Find a left over wipes dispenser from your disposable wipes. Now you can fold the cloth wipes so they come out just like a disposable.

1. Place the first wipe down flat. Place the second wipe so it covers half of the first.

2. Fold the first wipe back over the second wipe

3. Lay the third wipe over the folded side.

4. Fold the second wipe back over the third wipe.

Continue folding like this from side to side until your stack of wipes is complete.

Place the stack of wipes in the container and feed the lose end through the cover.
I purchased a spray bottle for water at the dollar store. I like my wipes to be moist. You can add olive oil or another oil of your choosing to the water.
Happy cloth wiping! (sounds fun eh?)

 

 

Benjamin's 1st Birthday! (Construction Themed Birthday)

 I put a lot of thought in to how we would celebrate Benjamin's birthday. I wanted to keep it small... but then how big is a one year old's world anyway? So, that's when I thought "What the heck? Let's do 'er up big!". (remembering big also has a budget)

I saw a picture of a cake on Facebook which inspired a construction theme. The decorations were purchased at the dollar store. I spent a few evenings tracing, stenciling and coloring with a large permanent marker --- and wa-lah!

Main living room wall

More homemade construction signs!

Bristol Board with caution tape

The Cake!  Daddy did such a great job decorating.

I was thrilled with how easy this cake is to make. I used a fluted tube pan. The tractors were purchased at the dollar store. Chocolate cookie crumbs over the side - professional steam rolled by Daddy along the cutting board, of course. It's so precious and will hopefully go down in history as one of Mommy's best birthday cakes when 'the kid(s)' grow up.

Birthday boy! Ben

Ben sported a new suit from his Oma and Opa (Grandma & Grandpa on Daddy's side)

Food!!!

  I over think food any time I am entertaining more than two people. One year old children drink milk and every parent has a different idea of what is "good for them" in terms of solids. So I let go of the rules of what should be and went for birthday party food! 

• Egg Salad Sandwiches
• Tuna Salad Sandwiches
• Cheese Cubes
• Rainbow Jello cups (how-to blog post coming!)
• Fruit tray
• Hot Dip with chips (for the adults)
• Homemade lemon cupcakes
• THE cake
• Puree organic fruit bags
• Meatballs in the slow cooker (not pictured)

Birthday Party Food - What worked for me

Bad News first - Jello cups were not a hit! Maybe too sweet for one year old children?

Every thing else went really well. Sandwiches were snapped up - easy for the kids to take a bite of and filling. The meatballs were also a hit - something hot and comforting.

The best food item for the kids were the squeeze fruit bags! I think every child had one... especially at that "going to melt down moment" the Mom's grabbed them to keep blood sugar levels up!

Happy Birthday Benjamin!

Mother's Day Picnic Dinner

Yesterday was my first Mother's Day. After a fun lunch out at East Side Mario's we didn't need much for dinner. Benjamin, our son, napped late and we needed an activity to wear him out by bedtime.

Naturally, we decided to take him outside in the fresh air. It was dinner time so I packed a picnic... Tuna sandwiches, banana slices, pretzels, graham crackers, and chips. We walked about 5 minutes to the local high school and sat in the sun. Benjamin loved every moment. I was shocked that a (almost) one year old ate straight-up tuna sandwiches and not a blade of grass within arms reach.

It was a cheap, fun, and heartwarming way to spend time together. It just happen to be on Mother's Day.

My Dates

Selfie

Ben and I

Meatloaf (Just 5 ingredients!)

Meatloaf is a classic comfort food. The best thing about meatloaf is you can prepare it ahead of time. Freezing suggestion at the end of the recipe.

MEATLOAF

1 lb Lean ground beef
1 lb Ground Pork
1 box Dressing ("Stove Top")
3/4 cup Milk
1 Egg

Whisk milk and egg together. Add box of dressing and its seasoning package, if seperate, to mixture. Stir until bread is soaked.

Let mixture rest for a moment to soften the bread crumbs. Add ground beef and ground pork. Mix together with hands.

Press mixture into a pan or dish of your choosing - some people do proper loaves!
OPTIONAL SAUCE

1 cup ketchup
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 tsp yellow mustard

Mix all ingredients together. Spread lightly on top of meat loaf.

Bake meatloaf at 350 degrees fahrenheight for 45-60 minutes or until cooked to temperature according to a meat themometer.

Freezing Suggestion

Wrap pan tightly with plastic wrap. Wrap with aluminum foil.
Write baking instructions on foil for future reference.
Defrost before baking.

Homemade Bread (Dad's recipe)

For the purposes of this post I have listed proper teaspoon and tablespoon measurements. 
They are approximates. 

Bread doesn't have to be exact in recipe every time. Once you have made bread a few times you may feel comfortable using your every day small and large spoon to measure.

The whole process from start to finish is 4-5 hours. It's actually quite easy because you spend most of the time waiting for the dough to rise.

Let's begin!

Yields 4-5 loaves.

HOMEMADE BREAD
You will need a large mixing bowl. Preferably wide at the opening rather than deep. I use an 8 quart stainless steel bowl. I find mine a bit deep.

Ingredients

• 1/2 bag of Bread and Roll Mix
• Flour (I use all purpose but some people prefer bread flour)
• Dry Active Yeast (Look for the one labeled "bread machine")
• Brown Sugar
• White Sugar
• Table Salt
• Tap Water

Bread dough before rising

In mixing bowl pour 2 cups of warm water - not hot water as it may kill the yeast.

Stir in 1 teaspoon of white sugar - this helps the yeast rise.

From the Bread & Roll mix bag sprinkle 1 package of yeast over the water. Do not stir.
Sprinkle an additional 2 1/4 teaspoons of yeast.


Let yeast rise for 5-7 minutes allowing it to absorb the water. Lightly stir if not absorbed.

Add an additional 2 1/2 cups of warm water.
Stir in 3 packed tablespoons of brown sugar and 2 teaspoons of salt. 

With a wooden spoon, stir well 1/2 bag of Bread and Roll Mix. 

After first rise in my 8 quart bowl

Add flour one cup at a time, using wooden spoon until it is too difficult - then use your hands. 

Start with 5 cups of flour, although you may use as many as 7-10 cups total.
Flour should be mixed thoroughly by kneading the dough. When finished dough should not be too sticky on the inside.

Form dough in a ball and cover with a hand towel. Put bowl in a warm place such as the top of your fridge or under warm lights. Let dough rise for 60-90 minutes- until double in size.

Ready to rise for the second time

Spray bread pans with cooking spray. Once dough has risen knead dough for several minutes to remove all air. Shape and place three buns of dough side by side in greased pan. Sprinkle flour as needed if dough is sticky.

***It takes practice making smooth even loaves, but it doesn't change the flavour!***

Cover bread once again and put in warm place to rise 60-90 minutes - until double in size.

Risen in pans

When bread is almost risen preheat oven to 350 degree Fahrenheit.


Bake for approximately 30 minutes on middle rack, turning at the 15 minute mark for even browning.

Do not have the pans too close to the side of the oven!

If you're not sure when the bread is done, pop a loaf out of the pan and tap the bottom. It should sound hollow. The loaf will of course be a nice brown color.

Remove from pans immediately and cool on a rack.

Bread is best stored at room temperature. I bag and freeze my bread to be taken out as needed.

Enjoy!!!

Cooking

Creamy Turkey Soup

I am the annoying Facebook friend who posts what they ate for dinner... but not because I think you care what I did at 6:03pm. 

Because I actually love to cook!

I've decided to make this blog for my friends who genuinely enjoy cooking and sharing recipes! It will also serve as a library for myself because I always lose that piece of paper I scribbled the ingredients on.

See you soon!

Lasagna

Home made bread (Clayton's Special)