Homemade Yeast Rolls

4 cups warm water
1 Tbsp yeast (I know it seems like a lot)
3 Tbsp sugar
1 Tbsp salt
2 Tbsp shortening
Enough Flour to thicken till no longer sticky

Mix warm water and yeast till dissolved
Let it bubble a bit
Add sugar, salt, and shortening.
Mix well.
Slowly begin to add flour till it's no longer sticky.
Knead dough. Let it rise till at least twice it's original size (maybe a bit more)
Pinch off pieces and place on greased pan or in greased muffin pans.
Let it rise again.
Brush with melted butter.
Bake at 350 degrees for about 45 minutes.... until golden brown.
In the photo below I place two ball of dough about golfball size in each muffin cup.
Also... these are the "pre-baked" pictures.... they didn't last long enough to get the after picture! ;)

ENJOY!!!

Coffey Momma

Got an Ear Ache?

Got an Ear Ache? Try these home remedies :) (not a substitute for seeing a doctor)
1~ add a little thyme oil (JUST A DROP!!!) to about 2 oz of warm olive oil and add a couple drops in your ear twice a day. Thyme has natural infection fighting properties. :)

2~ eardrops -- about 4 drops Tea tree oil in 1/4 cup water. Tea tree oil is a natural antibiotic, antiviral, and antifungal so its good for LOTS of other stuff too! But, when you use these drops, shortly after you put them in there's even a cooling type feel in your ear that is just so relaxing.

3~Brew a bag of Lipton green tea while still warm place warm tea bag on ear as well as a dampened wash cloth that's been warmed in the microwave reheat as needed the steam and healing properties of the tea will really work the effects aren't immediate but within an hour your ears will feel much better.

4~ 2 drops of Lavender Oil in the infected ear twice a day

And this one is courtesay of a wonderful and trusted friend ~~
Tezza C ~~ A 50/50 mix of white distilled vinegar and rubbing alcohol will not only prevent, but it will cure ear infections. Swimmers use it all the time, and so does my family. Colloidal silver also works great on many things, but especially infections. It's safe for animals, and a lot easier to use than the vinegar/alcohol mix because it has no smell.

Don’t Waste Your Apples!! Craft ‘Em!

 

I always buy fresh apples for my kids, but sometimes they start to get a bit soft and not so fresh before they are all eaten up. Sooooo…. instead of just throwing them out, dry them! It’s so simple and there are so many crafty uses for them…. you can even snack on them.

Taking the apples, I just sliced them with a mandolin (about 1/4 inch thick)

Lining some cookie sheets with parchment paper, then placing the apples on the sheets.

I also took a wooden skewer and poked holes for hanging the dried apples and also in a select few I poked holes in a design (heart, star, etc..)

Also, in a bowl, pour some cinnamon, or cloves and coat some of the apple slices in it. It makes them smell great while they are drying and long after they are dried.

Set your oven to 150 degrees. Place cookie sheets in oven and leave them for roughly 6 to 8 hours. (sometimes a bit longer depending on your oven and the humidity in your home) Your house will smell amazing while doing this! 

After your apples are dried….. go crazy and use your imagination! I will be posting some of my apple crafts in the next few days.  ENJOY!

 

 

 

Clam Chowder

(This is great as is or you can use this as a base and add or remove ingredients as you want!!)

 

1 1/2 LARGE (15oz) canned clams in juice (more or less to taste)

1 large onion diced

1 – 2 lbs. bacon

4 cloves garlic crushed or diced small

3 – 4 large potatoes diced

roughly 1/2 gallon whole milk

flour

to taste:  dill, salt, pepper, oregano

 

Using strainer, separate clams from clam juice and set aside both.

In large pot brown bacon till crisp.

Remove bacon but leave bacon grease in pot.

Add onions to pot and cook till tender (not brown).

Add garlic. Cook for a few more minutes.

Add roughly 1/4 to 1/2 cup of flour and mix well ( amount depends on how thick you want your chowder)

Add clam juice and all remaining seasonings.

Add diced potatoes and milk.

Set stove on low to simmer.

Finely chop reserved bacon.

Add chopped bacon and clams.

Stir often and simmer.  Once it’s all hot it’s done but the longer it simmers the better it tastes! And it’s great for left overs the next day.

Oh ya….. don’t forget the oyster crackers!!  ENJOY!!!!!