Winter Is Here!

Yes, you read it right, winter is here! Today it was so cold and rainy. I can't believe how much it has rained lately. The road by our house is being re-done and they are just getting ready to reseal it. They haven't been able to do much for the last couple of days because of the rain, so the road has turned into a pot-hole filled mud pit. I really thought the car was going to get stuck as I was driving this morning.

Today was the perfect weather for one of my favourite meals. Stew. Not just any stew, though, my Dad's stew. My Dad is not known for his cooking abilities, but one thing he can make is stew. He usually makes it with venison, but I had to settle for making it with beef. I think the reason I loved his stew so much was because he only added potatoes and carrots to it and no other scary vegetables or onions. Mine doesn't turn out quite as good as his, but it's still pretty good. I think it lacks one ingredient when I make it - my Dad's love!

Beef stew and homemade bread - Yummy!

A couple months ago I decided to start making bread instead of buying it. It's so much cheaper that way and tastes so much better. I had a fresh loaf coming out of the oven at dinner time, so we ate that with our stew. This is my husband's favourite bread that I make. I thought I would share the recipe for anyone who is interested. This makes one loaf as there are only two of us that eat bread in this house.

Honey-Wheat Bread
1 1/2 cups warm water
2 Tablespoons honey
1 Tablespoon yeast
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 cup whole wheat flour
2 2/3 cups white flour

Combine water and honey. Stir until honey is dissolved. Spinkle yeast over water and let set for five minutes. Stir. Stir in the whole wheat flour. Stir in 2 cups of white flour and salt. Beat in one cup of flour in at a time. Pour mixture on a bed of flour on the counter. Kneed 8 minutes, adding remaining flour when needed.

Put in an oiled bowl, cover, and let rise until doubled (about 1 hour).

Put in greased loaf pan and let rise again for 40 minutes. Bake at 375 (F) for 35 - 40 minutes.

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Oh, and in case you're wondering what Abby was doing while I was getting dinner ready, she was lying on her stomach. She usually screams when we put her on her stomach, but the nurse has been encouraging us to keep at it. She usually only lasts for 5 minutes because she cries so much. Tonight she cried for about 3 minutes, and then she figured out how to get her thumb in her mouth. So, she laid on her stomach, sucking her thumb and looking at her teddy bears for about an hour while I got dinner ready.

Tomorrow night we are having a baby sitting night at the church. My husband and I have offered to watch the children so the parents can have a night out together. Should be pretty crazy!