Delicious Banana Bread

Ah, bread. I have developed an obsession with making bread. If someone offered me the chance to open my own bread shop, I would do it immediately. It has become one of my favorite parts of this "homesteading" and homemaking experience. It is just SO good. Besides banana bread, I have experimented with sourdough, beer bread, and German pretzel bites. I will have to share my recipes with you all, but first let's talk about this yummy loaf that could double as a dessert or a side dish.

First things first, you need the ingredients. A few of them will depend on your allergies.. I totally go for the walnuts, but if that's not your thing then please don't add them! I also mix a little of honey and lemon into the dough to add even more sweetness. My coworkers loved this! Also, you can experiment with adding dried fruits, cinnamon and other spices, but that's not really my type of thing. I love to keep it pretty simple.

Making Your Own French Fries

One of the best things you could ever do to promote independence and revolution against the modern world is to "do-it-yourself" as much as you possibly can. We have developed a culture where everything is convenient and easy. It's so easy to go to the grocery store and buy ready-made meals or go through a drive through. So what in order to promote a life of slow-living, I am going to go back to blogging weekly with a DIY tip aimed at people in their early 20's.

Today I want to share one of my favorite food-preps: making homemade french fries! This is so great. I want you to think of the prices you pay for the bags of french fries in the freezer sections at your local corporate versus a bag of potatoes and how long the bag would last you if cut the entire bag into fries. I can make mine last quite a while -- for now, it is just my husband and I. Obviously DIY was the best choice for us. The flavor is also so much better... you can add seasoning, just salt, or just leave them plain (my preference). The sky is the limit!

Homemade Beer Bread!

There is something special about homemade bread; it tastes delicious, smells heavenly, and gives you a sense of pride as you pull it out of the oven. One of the great things about making something with your own hands is that you can tailor it to suit your needs, wants, and to use what you have in your kitchen-- fast food joints aren't the only places where you can "have it your way".

Take beer bread, for example. Are you wanting to do a sweet dessert bread? Try a warm, delicious vanilla ale with brown sugar. Or, try a light beer and add in cheese, onions, and peppers and make a delicious side for your dinners {or spice up a sandwich!}. I am sharing with you the base recipe here for the bread, and I encourage you to add in your favorites and make it your own!

What every woman should get for her kitchen

picture from Pixabay.com

My generation is anything but kitchen savvy. Fast food, and the normalization of eating processed foods {aka, the easy way out}, has made real, traditional cooking almost obsolete. Most kitchens of my friends have the very basic kitchenware: forks, spoons, knives, plates, bowls, cups, maybe a mug or two, and a cookie sheet. The only appliances are toasters and microwaves. Even as a more "modern" couple, my husband and I have a deep fryer, big soup pans, a food processor, and more.

Even though I hate the idea of blogs that just make posts with boring lists, I've actually put some good thought into a list of things that I would like to put in my traditional kitchen with a touch of modern. My desire to embrace more homemade foods is the inspiration behind this article... it's actually for me, but I thought it would be a great idea to share with those women out there who also want to embrace a more traditional lifestyle.