Thursday, July 4, 2013

Little Susie Homemaker

Remember me saying that we bought few convenience foods at market, or that time when I admitted to becoming a bit crunchy?  If not, click here or here and you can read exactly what I had to say.  Well, since I'm not currently working outside of the home, I have a bit of time on my hands, and I've used that time to sometimes be a Little Susie Homemaker.  June Cleaver better watch out!!  Not exactly, June looked put together while managing her humble abode.  Most times I'm wearing pajama pants, my hair has been washed (but not dried) and is in a pony tail, and I'm generally sporting a few spit up stains.  Don't judge!!  If you've never looked this way, you don't have children...or maybe you have some sort of alien super child that never spits up and gives you plenty of time for hair and makeup.

Anyhoo...appearances aside, I sometimes like to pretend to slave away in the kitchen over a hot burning stove while somehow managing to take care of a baby and have a tidy house.  Notice I did say pretend.  Usually, it goes something like this..."Crap!  We need (fill in the blank)!!  Stevie's going to start screaming in a minute...I better be quick!!"  I throw together whatever it is, wash up the few dishes, tell Stevie to hold her horses, fluff a few couch cushions, make the bed, dry a couple of tears, and there we are smiling and looking very accomplished when Ben comes home from work.

Lately, I have to give credit to the bread maker for making me look awesome.  It's winter, we've been having soup for dinner quite a bit, and nothing goes better with soup than fresh bread.  Here's an easy peasy recipe I'm going to share with you.  You too can look like a Stepford Wife by making this delicious Honey Nut Wheat Bread!! :D  You'll be able to find the complete recipe at the bottom of this post.
 
First, grab your breadmaker.  If you don't have one of these handy dandy machines, I can't help you...lol


Handy dandy breadmaker

Next, add 1 1/3 cups of luke warm water.  I'm not sure how hot luke warm is, but I made it on the warmer end since I was taking pictures throughout the process.

Water

Then comes 1/3 cups of softened honey.  I was using Manuka Honey, which is kinda pricey and used around here for medicinal purposes.  I didn't feel like running to market for more, so this is what I used.


Manuka Honey

It's also creamed honey, so I needed to heat it to soften it.  You can easily use 'runny' honey, but I prefer creamed honey.

Unsoftened creamed honey

 Next comes 1 Tablespoon of soft butter or margarine.



Butter...still cold

 Add 2 teaspoons of salt

Salt

2 cups of wholemeal flour (wheat)


Wholemeal flour

2 cups of high grade flour (all purpose flour)

 
Also known as All Purpose Flour
 3 Tablespoons of dry milk powder

Milk Powder

4 teaspoons of bread machine yeast.  I have active yeast, and so I only add 3 teaspoons.  If I add more, it rises too much, and then the middle will collapse.


Active Yeast, not the kind for bread machines

This is what it looks like once it's all added to your bread machine.


A big ol' mess!!

Turn your machine on to the wholewheat setting, and let it go.  I know what you're thinking...what about the nuts!!  Yes, well, you wait a bit.  My machine beeps (about 30 minutes into the cycle), and that's when the nuts get added.  I also toasted my nuts before adding them.

2/3 cups of walnuts (crushed)

Uncrushed toasted walnuts

About 3 1/2 hours later.  You get this!!


Bread!!!


Yummy goodness!!

There you have it!!  My cheaters guide to looking like Little Susie Homemaker!  Here's the complete recipe:

Honey Nut Wheat Bread
1 1/3 c luke warm water
1/3 c softened honey
1 Tbsp soft butter/margarine
2 tsp salt
2 c wholemeal flour (wheat)
2 c high grade flour (all purpose)
3 Tbsp dry milk powder
4 tsp bread machine yeast (3 if using active yeast)
2/3 c chopped walnuts (added at beeps)

Add ingredients in the order listed.  Turn your machine on to the wheat bread setting.  Add walnuts at the beeps.

My machine has a 30 minute time delay before it starts kneading.  It then beeps once everything is combined.  If your machine does not have this delay, add your nuts when machine has just started kneading and has everything combined.

I hope you enjoy this recipe.  I'm always anxious for other recipes to try, so feel free to share any of yours!! 



Monday, June 24, 2013

The Cost of Grocery Shopping

"Do y'all have ______?" is a question I get asked ALL.THE.TIME.  I'm no longer shocked by what fills in the blank.  I've been asked if we have tomatoes, sea food (ummmm...we're an island country), McDonald's, doctor's offices, etc.  Yes, we have all of the above, and no we do not sell edible bugs at our local super market.  The second question I'm asked, usually as a follow up to my response, is "How much does it cost?"  Well let me tell you....it can cost quite a bit.

This post is for those curious about prices, and for those thinking about coming to New Zealand.  New Zealand is a beautiful country with a smaller population.  We're at the bottom of the world (as Ben says), and in some ways, we pay for it.  The price of goods and services aren't as cheap as they are in the States.

Here is a sample price list from some of our recent trips to market:
3.79 liters (l) = 1 U.S. gallon 
1 kilogram (Kg) = 2.2 pounds (lb)
1 pound (lb) = 16 ounces (oz) = 453 grams (gm)
1 cup (c) = 8 U.S. fl. ounces (oz) = approximately 237 milliliters (ml)


Milk 2L - $2.97
Milk 3L - $4.45
Yogurt (Plain Unsweetened) 600gm - $2.99
Sour Cream 250gm - $2.29
Cream 300ml - $2.17
Mild Cheddar Cheese 1Kg block - $8.99

Broccoli - $1.99/bunch
Fancy Green Lettuce - $2.99/head
Iceburg Lettuce - $1.69/head (on sale)
Cabbage Half - $1.69
Onions (Brown) - $1.99/Kg
Carrots - $1.99/Kg
Potatoes - $2.49/Kg
Tomatoes - $6.99/Kg (out of season)
Lemons - $5.99/Kg (out of season)
Asparagus - $2.99/bunch
Garlic - $22.99/Kg
Capsicum/Bell Pepper - $2.99-$3.49 each
Baby Spinach 130gm bag - $4.29

Raw Sugar 1.2Kg - $2.99
High Grade Flour 5Kg - $6.99
Wholemeal Flour 1.5Kg - $2.49
Cornflour (Corn Starch) 300gm - $1.42

Eggs Size 6 or 7 - $3.50 - $4.50/dozen
Wholemeal Bread 600gm Loaf - $2.00
Canned Tomatoes - $0.99 - $2.00
Mayonnaise 405gm - $4.89

Coca Cola 2.25L - $2.79
Coca Cola 2L - $3.71
Snack Crackers 175gm - $2.29-$2.89
Granola/Nut Bars 6 count - $3.49
Chips 150gm - $1.49
Keri Apple Based Orange Juice 3L - $3.99

Rotisserie Chicken (Size 14 1.35-1.50Kg) - $11.90
Deli Sliced Ham - $9.90/Kg

Beef Mince (Ground Beef) Prime - $14.00/Kg
Beef Mince (Ground Beef) Standard - $10.00/Kg
Pork Shoulder Roast - $12.99/Kg
Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast - $19.99/Kg
Whole Size 14 (1.35-1.50Kg) Chicken - $10.00 - $12.00

These are prices from some of our recent shopping trips.  Prices vary from store to store, you can often find specials, and prices differ depending on rather the item is in season or not.  If you want to find out more about the prices of groceries, here is a link you might find handy. 

To save money (and eat healthier), we often stock up on meats while they are on sale, we make quite a bit instead of buying convenience meals, and we shop/eat seasonally.  We've also started meal planning and a grocery price book.  I'll let you know how that goes...lol  Any suggestions or tips to help me stay on track?
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