Green Like Grandma.....

I will admit that my generation has been a bit hard on those before them. We tote around “green” initiatives and homesteading practices as if we’d invented them. But the truth is that while grandma might not always bring cloth bags to the grocery store and she doesn’t drive a Prius, we could learn plenty about being “green” from those who’ve gone before us.

Rewind about 70 years and you’ll see life was quite different on the home front. Backyard chickens were standard and planting a victory garden was seen as a patriotic duty. People made do with what they had or went without, simple as that. Many resources were donated to the war effort and so families lived conservatively in order to help those on the front lines. Canning, hand washed laundry, home brewing, homemade cleaners, etc. were common and most items were made to be reused (like pens, razors, handkerchiefs, plates, cups, etc). People often walked or biked to where they were going as well.

In the 1950s things started to change. Suburban life saw an explosion and convenience became king. We saw the invention of the supermarket, fast food, the TV dinner and disposable everything. Livestock and large gardens began to be replaced by industrial farming methods.

The back to the land movement in the 60s/70s was a wonderful reminder of time honored methods used during/before the Great Depression/World War II. But the movement focused on the country homestead and those looking to get back to the simple life were told they’d only find it away from suburbia; while those in the city fully retired from the old ways of doing things. This trend continued and today we have the big box store, drive thru almost everything, and glow in the dark food (I wish I was kidding about that one, but I’m not).  

Now we find hippies have become boomers, and generation Y-ers have become hipsters. And often we get caught up playing the blame game when it comes to environmental responsibility. But the reality is that while technology and modern marketing have brought us many environmentally friendly things, the greenest items or practices are recycled from the past. They are the exact things our grandparents and great-grandparents did or used on a regular basis.

So yes, grandpa might not own a shirt made of organic cotton and great-grandma might not have solar panels on her home, but that doesn’t mean they couldn’t teach us a thing or two about sustainable or simple living. So if you’re looking for more information about homesteading you might want to sit down with grandma for tea rather than turn to Google. You could end up learning how to be “green” like grandma.

      

Whole Wheat Irish Soda Bread

I don’t know if it’s the small percentage of Irish in me, but I cannot wait to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day this year. I’m sure you’re ready to celebrate too so here’s my version of whole wheat Irish soda bread. Made a few loaves the other night to give away to family for their St. Patty’s Day feast and was happy with the results. So don a green apron, put on the Irish Rovers (everyone under 35 just said “who?”) and bake some loaves to accompany that corned beef and cabbage or potato and leek soup.

You might be wondering why I chose to make whole wheat soda bread. Yes, you don’t have to use whole wheat flour, but I was looking to make something primarily whole grain. I will probably have to make a white flour version of this too since my husband has a wheat allergy and consuming too much of this bread would make his eye lids swell till he looks like the Hunchback of Notre Dame (love you honey!). Anyway, here’s the recipe.

Preheat your oven to 420 degrees. Combine 4 cups whole wheat flour, 1 cup all purpose or bread flour, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1 teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon garlic salt, and ½ cup oats or mix of whole grains. Instead of just oats I used Bob’s Red Mill five grain rolled whole grain hot cereal mix, which is a combination of whole grain oats, wheat, rye, barley, triticale and flax.

Mix all dry ingredients together. Now add 2 1/3 cups buttermilk or prepared cultured buttermilk (the dry version of buttermilk in the baking aisle). Slowly mix the buttermilk into the dry mixture.

Mix ingredients thoroughly by hand until combined. Don’t worry about kneading the bread. Just separate the dough once it's mixed into two round pieces and place on a parchment lined baking sheet. Slice an X on top of each round for that signature soda bread look. Bake for about 35-40 minutes.

This is a pretty dense bread and if it’s not to your liking I challenge you to fiddle with the recipe, maybe substitute a different flour or add a tablespoon of sugar if you like your bread to be a bit sweet. Some people add currants or nuts. Add whatever you and those you love enjoy. 

So there you have it, simple soda bread just in time for St. Patrick’s Day. Best of luck to you and yours! 

If you're still wondering who the Irish Rovers are, here is their song "The Unicorn." 

Homemade Vanilla Extract....

Pure vanilla extract packs the perfect punch in homemade goodies from cookies to cakes, but it can also pack a punch to your wallet. So why not make your own? It’s pretty easy and the supply list is short. All you need is vodka, vanilla beans, a knife, and possibly some glass jars if you don’t plan on using the vodka bottle.

My husband and I made a batch this past Saturday and I think it took less than five minutes, though it will still need to steep for a bit. All you have to do is figure the amount of vodka and vanilla beans you need. Three beans for every one cup of vodka is a good ratio. Once you’ve figured how much you’d like to make, slice each bean down the middle, splitting it open to expose the seeds. Then place the beans back into the vodka bottle or into a smaller glass bottle with the vodka. Seal.

Now is the hard part. It takes months for the vanilla to steep. They say at least three months, though six months is best. So place it in a dark cupboard and wait. Give it a good shake occasionally and then place it back in the cupboard. In six months you’ll have the most amazing vanilla extract, and plenty of it. Once it has finished steeping pour the extract through a coffee filter and funnel it into a smaller bottle or multiple bottles (use dark glass jars). Use it in cakes, homemade ice cream, cookies, etc. Homemade vanilla also makes a great gift so maybe decorate a few bottles with ribbon or labels and give them away at Christmas.

Now don’t throw away those beans just yet! Add more vodka and start the process all over again! Most beans can be used twice. Nice huh? If you plan on making a lot of extract, don’t buy the beans a couple at a time from the grocery store (way too much moolah). Do yourself a favor and buy them in bulk. We bought Bourbon Madagascar beans from a spice seller on Amazon.com for about $11(with free shipping). And my husband picked up the vodka on clearance at Save Mart for $5. So we made six cups of vanilla extract for $16. Compare that to prices in the store where you’ll pay at least $10 for a few ounces and you see, the savings can really add up.

So, there you have it. Homemade vanilla extract is both easy and worth the wait. Enjoy!

Here's an updated photo. As you can tell, I have borrowed from the jar from time to time.