Healthy Habits Wednesday

   Regularity it not underrated.  My Grampa Orv had his morning routine of prune juice and exercises that rolled his intestines about.  He also drank lots of water.  Some of my first words were "cool water," he taught me to ask for that.  I've always preferred home for my evacuation, but as I've aged, I've learned to honor the urge whenever it comes.  An apple a day is a marvelous healthful adage.  Uncle Sam cereal, bran muffins, and General Foods orange cappuccino instant coffee work splendidly for me when things get a little tight.  It is those daily habits that best support healthful living.  My current favorite is my morning elixir that also supports heart health.  It's two tablespoons of ground flax seeds stirred into a glass of juice.  Don't forget to drink lots of healthful water too.  Remember, regularity is not underrated.

Fresh Food Tuesday

     My granddaughter, Megan, wants my recipe for my family dinner homemade rolls.  Fresh bread is a favorite fresh food.  Usually I make the dough in the bread machine then form the rolls and let them have their final rise on my baking stone.  I decided to write the directions here for her, the main purpose of my blog is GrandMuM wisdoms for my precious grandones. 

Granty's Basic Bread Dough

Add to bread machine in this order:

   1 1/4 cup warm water, about 110 degrees

   1 tablespoon butter

   1 1/2 teaspoons yeast

   1/4 cup brown sugar (or white sugar)

   1 1/2 tablespoons powdered milk ( use milk instead of water if you don't have powdered milk)

   1 teaspoon salt

   3 1/2 cups flour (white or whole wheat or a combination)

   1/4 cup oat bran

Set it for the dough or manual mode and press start---this will take a couple of hours

To make rolls---form about 8 balls, place them on a greased pan or baking stone (a little cornmeal on the baking stone will help to keep from sticking).  Cover gently with plastic wrap or a towel.  Let them rise in a warm place for about an hour.  Bake at 350 for about 15 to 20 minutes.

To made pizza dough---roll out and shape pizza, use an greased cookie sheet or a baking stone, add toppings, bake about 400 for 12 to 18 minutes

To make pull apart---melt one stick of butter, add about 1 cup of brown sugar and 2 teaspoons of cinnamon.  Break the bread dough into little balls, roll them in the mixture, and add them to a bundt pan (it's round with a hole in the middle, you could use 2 bread loaf pans).  Let it rise in a warm spot for an hour, or I make it the night before and let it rise on the cool counter overnight so it's ready to bake in the morning.  Bake at 350 for 30 to 45 minutes.

GrandMuMMing Monday

     Listening.  As a first grade teacher for many years, I was so aware that each day my little students wanted no more than to have all of me.  Someone to listen.  And their world view is rather interesting and inspiring, I might add.  Anyway, listening is the GranMuMMing activity that begins now at about a year and a half when the precious ones begin to talk.  Listening feeds self esteem in a most powerful way.  The old adage, "Seek first to understand rather than to be understood."  Listening is an an exhausting activity, I wonder which part of the heart it is working?