Happy Cookies

Also called Omega-3 Cookies. These cookies have the ingredients to help decrease depression.  Besides that they are YUMMY!

2 1/2 c. ground walnuts

2/3 c. whole wheat pastry flour

1 tsp salt

1/3 c ground flax seed (I grind in small coffee grinder)

1/3 to 1 c. dried fruit or carob chips (or combo) opt

1/2 c. + 2 Tbl. maple syrup

2 tsp vanilla

Preheat oven to 350*

Mix ingredients in order given.  Drop by spoonfuls (I use small ice cream scoop) onto Pam sprayed cookie sheet. Flatten with a plastic fork (plastic will not stick to dough).  Dough will be sticky.

Bake 10-15 min.  Check often.  Bake until golden brown around the edges.  Eat them up and be happy!

Check out the Crunchy Granola Recipe in Heidi's Best Recipes.  It is our MOST favorite granola recipe.

 Granola Ingredients

New Zealand Earthquake

I have never experienced this kind of terror.  Certainly it must give us pause as we contemplate the solemnity of this event taking place in New Zealand.  

Check out this link from David Asscherick.  

http://www.ariseinstitute.com/news/posts/frontline-report-february-22-christchurch-earthquake.html

Bread Day

I love the aroma of freshly baked bread and I love the taste in just about the same degree as I love the aroma.  Be sure to check out Amy's Whole Wheat Bread on Heidi's Recipe page.  It is undoubtedly the best bread I have ever made.  Yum yum!  Be sure to block of some time for this bread event. 

Amy's Wheat Bread

This is undoubtedly the best bread I have ever made!  Thank you Amy for sharing it.  Heidi

Makes 5 large loaves


Combine in mixer:

• 6 c. hot water
• 12 c. hard white wheat flour (we freshly milled our wheat)

Let sit 30-60 minuets.


Add and mix very well:

• 1/2 c. oil
• 1 c. honey
• 2 T salt
• 1/2 c water

Add in this order and mix a few minutes:

• 2 c. flour
• 1/3 c. vital wheat gluten (opt)
• 2 T dough enhancer (opt) I have never used it and my bread it fantastic!
• 3 T instant yeast (Saf Instant) WinCo

Add more flour as needed---judge by stickiness of dough---some should stick to your finger, but not a lot.


Turn on auto knead or to the knead setting on your machine. Knead for 8-10 minutes. While kneading, spray large bowl and lid with cooking spray (i.e. Pam).


When kneading is complete, place dough in large oiled bowl, turning once to coat with oil. Let rise until doubled in size, about 1-2 hours. Alternatively, place in refrigerator overnight and proceed as follows in the morning.


Form dough into loaves and place in loaf pans coated with cooking spray; cover with cloth. Let rise until doubled in size, about 1-2 hours, longer if dough has been refrigerated.


Preheat oven to 350*. If desired, slash tops of loaves with very sharp knife just before baking.


Bake for 30-45 minutes. Check bottom of loaf for nice medium brown color. Remove from pans and place on cooling racks. Enjoy!

Gardening

Wow! Was I shocked at the increase  of  food prices at the grocery store this  last week.   The price increase might be weather related but it is more likely related to our current economic troubles here in the USA; and really all over the world.  I think it might be wise to get out our plow, shovel and rakes and start getting our soil ready for the garden.  Not a bad idea even if food

prices were not going up.  There is nothing like home grown fruits and vegetables from your own garden.  There is nothing like a tomato freshly picked from your own garden.  Some have never really tasted what a REAL tomato tastes like.

Gardening is more than just growing your own food.  Gardening also provides time in the great outdoors breathing the fresh air, taking in the sunshine and of course the exercise of shoveling, raking and plowing will invigorate you and bring health to your body. 

Now is the time to check into ordering your own seeds.  I have purchased from Heirloom Seed:  http://www.heirloomseeds.com/  This is a great site because you can harvest the seeds from your plants and grow them again year after year.  Many seeds you purchase at the local garden center, unless they say say they are Heirloom seeds, usually are hybrid seeds.  You cannot save these seeds and grow them again.  Keep that in mind when planning your garden.

Happy gardening!

Marcus, Our Youngest Gardener

The Old Popcorn Pot

It’s Saturday night long ago,

Out comes the popcorn pot.

Daddy twists the kitchen towel

For the kettle it is hot.

The corn starts a poppin’

And daddy starts his jig.

For he’s the pop corn man,

And with his towel, chases the kids.

The years have gone by

And times have changed.

The kids have grown and gone.

Silent and still sits the pot all stained.

The electric popper takes its place,

For every kernel pops.

No grime or grease to clean up,

It hardly takes a second thought.

Memories only linger now

When popcorns in the air,

Of merriment and pleasures long ago

To last throughout the years.

Heidi E Prewitt
 (About my father, Gene Munce, 1996)

Johnny's First Flight

See the old wooden leg 

Hangin' in the barn?

It used to be granpa's

But now he's gone.

The neighbor kids are there

Jenny and Heidi too.

Johnny's buggin' us all.

It's a real zoo!

Next thing we know

Johnny's flyin' through the air.

He meant to grab the wooden leg

But found his hand to be bare.

It must have been a thrill;

Johnny's first flight.

He landed on the wheel barrow

And gave us all a fright.

Heidi C Prewitt

July 26, 1998