Tips on Gift Giving

We’ve all been there, agonizing over what to buy someone. Here are some ideas:

1. 1. Really think about the person you are buying for.  What colors do they like?  What style is there home?  Traditional? Modern?  Country?  What fashion sense do they have?  Conservative?  Trendy?  Hip?  Many times we buy things we like, and that’s great if the person you are buying for has the same tastes,  but remember this is not a gift for you. 
2. 2.    When you are with the person listen to things they may say that they like.  Make and mental note and when you can, write it down.   Nothing says you care like finding something the person has been wanting or has mentioned they like.  Be careful here,  I once mentioned that I liked the blue and white dishes at Cracker Barrel and I received them for gifts for several years.  Another time my friend bought me a dish in the same style as my Grandma’s dish that she made blackberry cobbler.  I had been looking for one.  She remembered that and found one.  How sweet is that.  
3. 3.  Does this person collect anything?  Is he or she in a club or a fan of  a team.  If you know they are a die hard fan of the Wildcats, head straight for Wildcat Warehouse.  Many collections have been started by someone giving  a special item and the person starts a collection (like my blue and white dishes).   
4. 4.  I know in these strained economic times that it’s hard to buy ahead, but if you can think ahead and purchase items when you come across something  you will save money in the long run and not be scrambling at the last minute.    
5. 5. Stay in your budget.  It really is the thought that counts.  When the gift is given with love they will know.

So to recap 1. Think about the person.  2. Listen for clues about their likes and dislikes.  3. Collections or team fan.  4.  Buy ahead if you can.  5.  Don’t buy something you can’t afford.  Give with love.  

 

It's a Mom's Life

This is probably familiar to most moms.  It seems to happen in my house a lot.  A few days ago I decided to address this with my family.  I mean how hard is it to replinish this situation.  I know it's  nothing in the grand scheme of things and I'll admit I laughed for 5 minutes after my youngest responded.  Scroll down to see what she did!  Go ahead and laugh with me.

Have a great day!

A Great Bread Recipe

 Sally Lund Bread is an English yeast bread that Todd’s Aunt made for all the family dinners.  About 25 years ago she gave me the recipe and I have been making it ever since.  The recipe makes 4 round loaves and they freeze very well.  It’s a long recipe but read it through,  it’s very easy, no kneading.  You can do it.

Sally Lund Bread

Makes 4 loaves.

In a large bowl mix together: 2/3 cup sugar

                                                    1 stick melted butter

                                                    2 cups scalded milk (heat the milk in a pan 

                                                      and take off the heat just before it boils)

When the temperature of the mixture is 115 degrees, sprinkle 1 and 1/2 tablespoons of yeast( this will be 1 and 1/2 packages of dry yeast, If you don’t buy bulk) on the mixture and stir, then let set 10 minutes.  Mixture should be bubbly.  Add 2 beaten eggs and stir well.

Add 6 to 6 1/2 cups of flour, 1 teaspoon of salt and 1 teaspoon of baking powder.  Add about half of the flour mixture at a time. Dough will be slightly sticky.  The amount of flour will depend on humidity so remember the dough should be slightly sticky.  Let rise until double. 

Punch down.  Grease 4 cake pans or pie pans or any combination of cake or pie pans.  The pie pans make a slightly smaller loaf so I usually use two pie pans and two cake pans.  Place a big spoon of dough in each pan leaving half of the dough in the big bowl.  Grease your hands, spread the dough like you would pizza dough on the bottom of each pan.  Top with 1  teaspoon of melted butter and spread with your hands.  Spoon remaining dough on top of each pan.  You can pick this dough up with your greased hands and shape into a circle and then lay on top of dough in pan and then spread out with your fingers again like pizza.  Top with 1 teaspoon of melted butter.  It this layer doesn’t spread all the way to the edge it is ok.    Do the same with each pan.  Let rise  until double 1 to 1  1/2 hours.  Do not over proof, you just want it to double.  It shouldn’t be high above the pan.  Perhaps just to the top of the pan.

Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes on the bottom rack and 5 minutes on the top rack.  Turn out on to wire racks.  I bake two loaves at a time.  Butter the tops of the loaves with  a pastry brush. as soon as you turn out onto racks.  If the bread sticks take a spatula and run under to lift out.

Cut the bread like a pie.  My kids used to call it triangle bread.  Each piece will open nice because you buttered between the layers.

The bread freezes great.  I place the loaves in freezer bags and include reheating instructions.  

To Reheat:  Thaw. Wrap bread in foil. Warm in a preheated 350 degree oven for 15 minutes.  Cut like a pie.  Do not microwave.

I have made 100’s of loaves over the last 25 years.   Enjoy!

The Gift of Grace

You’ve probably heard the definition of grace as undeserved favor.  I certainly agree with that.  I’ve experienced God’s grace in my life and know Jesus as my Savior.  I’m also very fortunate to have many friends who extend God’s grace to me as we walk through life together.   These  friends have taught me so much over the last year.  When you have a difficult pit along the way the Lord shows you who is there when the world isn’t as it should be.  He is there and has provided people with skin on to encourage and show his grace.   What a Gift!