Blessed

Have a blessed day dear friends and please remember that "God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8

                                                            Many Blessings to you all,
                                                                     ~~ Shine~~

Yummo

Well, I've wanted to do a post for quite a while on bread baking, so I suppose today's the day! For many years now I have been grinding my own wheat into our every day flour...for ALL our baking needs. I haven't bought store bought bread of any type for so long I don't remember. Initially, I started researching and realized the health benefits. So, I invested in an electric grinder, bought 50 lbs. of wheat and began my journey.

I make all our bread....of every sort.

Although we still love the health benefits from eating fresh ground whole wheat, we've truly come to love the taste.

Last night, my fifteen year old had a couple of buddies over, so that's three large teenage boys, my husband, my daughter and myself. I made a batch of dough, and out of that dough, I made a large batch of bread sticks, two large pizzas, and two loaves of bread.

The boys very very happy:)

Ignore that dirty oven:(

Almost all pizza devoured in a short amount of time:)))

 Although it is quite an investment up front, over the long run, making bread from scratch is very economical, and oh so yummy!!!! If you've never researched it, I would highly reccomend it, you'll probably be surprised what all you find out. Have a lovely evening sisters!!

Peace Doves

Every year we have these sweet dearies come visit us. They always come. Last year they came and had four sets of babies!

My sister said..."You are so blessed!....Doves are a sign of peace....Peace will alwayas be here!" I LOVE my doves....Peace Doves. They will always be very welcome here.

There's going to be a wedding!!!

Isn't it gorgeous? My son FINALLY formally proposed to his girlfriend of four years...and we're all delighted!

The date has been set for May 19, 2012!! Plenty of time to take lots of deep breaths and dream, dream, dream. We're so excited.....WE may not be able to contain ourselves for an ENTIRE year!!!!! Well, I guess I should just chill out...it'll be here before we know it!!

Longing

It's that time. The time of year I start thinking about beautiful linens, delicate china, chicken salad and scones!

It's such a natural ritual to have a spring tea...even my china cabinet seems to start beckoning me to open it up.  My china is speaking. Can you hear it? "Let me out!!"

I just so happened to come upon the most fantastic blessing ever. My dear friend wanted to part with her beloved Lemoges china collection and she just happened to want me to have it! I've never even seen true Lemoges before....now look! I have tons! And isn't it beautiful?

Soooo delicate. It is so fine it's almost translucent. The china I already had is very beautiful....just not quite
the same. Here's a picture of my old set and new set side by side.

They work beautifully together, don't you think?

Oh, my linens are also in need of some loving use:)

Beautiful antique linens. ~~Swoon~~ I don't mind that they are totally imperfect. Some have stains, some even have holes in them from all the loving hands that have held them.

Yep, it's time. Who wants to come over for tea? How many places should I set? What's on the menu? Come on over sweet friends.......it's tea time!

How Simple

 I found this today at a most lovely blog. Anita at Castles, Crowns, and Cottages has such a beautiful place to stop by and visit. She has lots to look at and ponder, but I thought this to be simply....adequate. Have a most blessed evening dear friends.~~~Shine~~~

Soup & Bread

Although today is exceptionally warm (55degrees!!), I still like to put a pot of soup on in my crock pot early in the mornings.

When we have a busy day, it is so good to know I don't have to worry about dinner. It's already done! My friend at With All My Heart...Deborah, posted about some amazing chili she puts in her crock pot, and I wanted to share this with her. So, while sharing with Deborah, I thought I'd share with you also!

 This soup is so good. I used to love Panera Bread's potato soup the best of any I'd tried, but when I found this recipe...well, I changed my mind. This is by far the best I've had, AND, I know everything that goes in it, and when it went in:) Hope you can try it and enjoy it as much as my family has.

 I'm also sharing a favorite bread recipe we love with our soup. This is by far the easiest bread I have ever baked. I love making homemade bread and I do it several times a week, but when I plan ahead, this is the easiest and goes well with all types of dishes.Lots of pictures for the bread also:)  Have a blessed day! Thanks again to Deborah for inspiring me to post up some yumminess!

                     Parmesean Potato Soup
8-med. potatoes
6 cups chicken broth
1 lg. onion, chopped
1 jar (7-oz) roasted sweet red peppers (drained & chopped)
1 sm. celery rib, chopped
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. seasoned salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
1/8 tsp. sage
1/3 cup AP flour
2 cups heavy cream, divided
1 cup parmesean cheese, divided
8 bacon strips, cooked and crumbled (may use turkey bacon:)
2 Tblsp. cilantro, chopped

*Combine first 9 ingredients in a large crock pot. Cover and cook on low for 5-6 hours till veggies are tender.
*Combine flour and 1 cup heavy cream. Add to slow cooker. Stir in 3/4 cup parmesean cheese, bacon, cilantro and remaining cream.
*Cover & cook 30 min. more. Sprinkle remaining cheese on individual bowls.
*Yields: 12 servings
*Note: I have varied this recipe many ways. I have left out the red peppers and cilantro. And I have used turkey bacon. It is STILL always yummy. The only thing I would recommend NOT doing is, DO NOT substitute any other type of milk for the heavy cream. That will definitely ruin your yumminess:)

Yummy bread to go along perfectly with soup

                                     Artsian Bread
3 Cups AP flour (I use half whole wheat & half unbleached bread flour)
1 tsp yeast
1 1/4 tsp. sea salt
2 cups water

Mix dry ingredients, then add water. Stir together till mixed. This will be a very loose dough. Cover bowl and let sit on counter at least 12 hours. Heat a dutch oven w/lid in a 500 degree oven.Turn dough out onto a floured surface and shape into a circle. Plop onto a piece of parchment paper or wax paper and set in your heated dutch oven. Bake @ 500 w/lid on for 30 min. Take lid off and bake another 5-15 min. till brown.
ENJOY!!