Easy, Homemade Artisan Bread...only 4 ingredients!

I like my carbs, but honestly who the heck doesn't?! I thought I was a master at the Atkins diet during college, and then I started working in the bakery at a local Panera. I was toast. Since my days of being known as the "bakery princess" at work, I have developed a taste for a good, hearty bread. And none of that white, processed Wonder crap. I'm talking good bread, the kind served at fancy Italian restaurants with oil to dip it in. Oh yeah. It really is that good.
Go on, scroll down to see what's in this deliciousness.

Since we started to get our financial act together, I have been eagerly reading and researching ways to stretch our money and minimize excess in our apartment. One way is by evaluating products we buy to see if any easier homemade version can help our monthly food budget. A really good friend has recently peeked my interest in baking homemade bread. So when she let me borrow this book, it opened my eyes to see HOW easy it is to bake tasty, non-processed bread in our home.

The book features ALL kinds of bread, but all with the same basic ingredients (salt, yeast, flour, and water). This particular recipe is for a light, whole wheat bread, but in this book are all kinds of bread recipes from pizza dough to French baguettes.

Ingredients

3 cups of lukewarm water

1 1/2 tablespoons granulated yeast

1 1/2 tablespoons Kosher salt

1 cup whole wheat flour

5 1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour

What To Do

1// Mix the yeast and salt with the water in 5-quart bowl.

2// Mix in the remaining dry ingredients using a spoon. Do not knead, but you may need to use your hands to incorporate the last bit of flour.

3// Cover (not airtight) with foil, and allow dough to rise at room temperature for two hours.

4// The dough can be used immediately or stored in your fridge for up 14 days. The dough is easier to handle after it has been chilled for awhile.

5// On baking day: Dust your hands and surface of the dough with flour and cut off a 1-pound (grapefruit-size) piece. Dust the dough with more flour and shape into a ball.

6// Preheat the oven to 450. Place an empty broiler tray (or we used a cake pan) on the very bottom oven shelf so it will not interfere with the bread.

7// Sprinkle flour on baking pan and place loaf on baking pan. Sprinkle loaf with flour and score the loaf.

8// Place pan in the oven. Add cup of hot tap water to the broiler tray and close the oven door. Bake for about 35 minutes.

9// Allow to cool before slicing and eating

Thick, crusty bread hot from your own oven. And any time you want some fresh bread throughout the week, just slice off another hunk of dough waiting in your fridge!

Are any of you into baking? What are some of your favorite recipes? I love new tasty ideas to try!

         

15 Things Running Has Taught Me

Happy National Running Day! I thoroughly enjoy this day falls 2 days before national doughnut day...which is the real reason I run ;-) #themoreyouknow
It was about this time last year I started running and have stuck with it since then. Sometimes I am still amazed I have stuck with it, because my track record of exercise and I has not been that great. But here I am; already on my second pair of running shoes and marking October 18 on my calendar for the Detroit half marathon.
Last year I started out slow. Now I am little less slow.
So here's a little love to something that has helped me love myself better and taught me a lot the last 365 days...

1. Self-confidence  2. A reason to use all those work-out pants and tops I've bought over the years 3. An opportunity to stretch myself physically and work hard for a goal that matters to me 4. The ability to memorize all types of music, from musical soundtracks to hip hop... 5. More acceptance of my body and physical appearance than I've ever had in my entire life 6. 'Me time'...Teaching me the importance of self-care and that it's not selfish to take care of my health and body as much as I would my soul and spiritual life 7. A way to take of my body that I actually enjoy 8. A stronger body 9. A lot of practice at healthy, positive self-talk 10. The importance of chasing dreams (even if they feel impossible at times) and working hard for goals that matter to me 11. To NEVER give up on myself 12. All kinds of new information to help me reach my full potential

13. Why and how the food I eat matters 14. How to prioritize taking care of myself 15. I can do anything I set my mind to with hard work


Any of you into running? Do you have any tips or tricks to keep you focused on your fitness goals?

Happy running!

5 Quick Tips for Cash-Based Grocery Shopping

The first time and I went grocery shopping was the week we got home from our honeymoon. This was well before we were living on budget and before we got to know our friend Dave. We just went up and down the aisles happily tossing in whatever we wanted. When we got to the check-out counter we spent around $300. For two people. We happily charged the bill because we were happily in love newlyweds blah blah blah blah.

Fast forward almost three years later. We are no longer using credit cards, will pay off my car by fall, and then its onto my school loans. One of the greatest lessons I have learned in getting our financial act together is the importance of using cash. All the time. Especially at the grocery store.

So what's the big deal with shopping with cash? I learned through Financial Peace University that studies have been done that show when you actually make purchases with cash it activates pain receptors in your brain. Bottom line? Your brain actually feels something when you use cash...somehow it hurts more. Crazy, right?!

We strictly now use only cash, NO debit cards even (we don't even carry them on us!). If we don't have enough cash, it doesn't get bagged and waits for a later grocery trip. Here's a couple things that have really helped us stay focused and using only cash for grocery shopping:

1. Bring only the amount of cash for groceries into the store
I only bring my wallet with my when I grocery shop. In it, is one white envelope labeled "groceries." I have that amount of cash to purchase groceries enough to last us about two weeks. In not bringing any other cash with me I am not tempted to move money around. Not to mention it is a good reminder of sticking to the budget.

2. If you don't have enough cash, don't bag it!!!
I know it sounds simple, but actually this can be a hard one and especially was at the beginning. As the groceries are being rang up I am holding the cash in my hands to remind me of what I can spend. Under no circumstances do I get it unless there is the money. I have gotten pretty comfortable at asking the cashier to take things off merely because we don't have money for it.

3. Find the best grocery store to get the most from your cash
There is a Kroger right by us, so I usually get our produce and certain brands we like from there. But about a year ago, I discovered Aldi. Oh how do I love this place! It is a grocery store with significantly lower prices than your average grocery store. A few things that makes it stand out besides the prices are you have to bring your own bags and pay a quarter for a cart and get it back when you return it. Since shopping at Aldi, it has really helped our grocery budget a lot! I actually get thrilled to pieces when I come home and show Jim the bill, and how much I was able to get. Look and see if an Aldi is near you today.

4. Meal Plan & Grocery List in Advance
Throughout the week I am adding items we need as they come up, and finalizing the meal plan. Going grocery shopping with a focused, itemized list is another way I stay focused with our cash budget.

5. Meal Plan Around Deals
This one I am still working on but from the research I've done it helps save money too. Before grocery shopping, look to see what is on sale and then build a meal plan around that. It takes more time, but can make a difference at the checkout counter.

Now when I come home from grocery shopping I typically do a little happy dance, proud of the saving skills we're learning and using.

   

So what are your tips and tricks for grocery shopping? Do you stick to a cash budget?

Happy shopping:)