Tag Archives: Frugality

Homemade Bread Shortcut: Pre-Mixed Ingredient Packets

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by Texas Homesteader ~ 

Recently I learned that bread machines have apparently changed for the better. Now I find I really love the convenience. So I tweaked RancherMan’s favorite Honey/Oatmeal Sandwich Bread recipe to make a 2-Lb Loaf for a Bread Machine. I use that bread machine to whip up hot, fresh homemade bread for him several times a week.

Since I’m baking bread so often I went looking for ways to shorten my bread-baking tasks. Let me tell ya, whether using a bread machine or mixing & baking it up the old fashioned way, these shortcuts make homemade bread a breeze!

I've made my own bread machine packets to simplify bread-baking day. My own, inexpensive convenience item made in a flash. #TexasHomesteader

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Homestead Hack: No-Mess Way To Measure Honey

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by Texas Homesteader ~
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I’m consuming a couple of tablespoons of honey containing ragweed pollen daily to help combat my allergies. But it takes so long using the honey dipper to drizzle 2 tablespoons worth each day. And I was making such a mess trying to spoon it from the jar instead. So I tried pouring it gently from the jar.

Ugh, MESSY!

Luckily I’ve found an awesome solution. Come check out this Homestead Hack.

I needed a way to measure small amounts of honey each day without making a mess. I decided a vintage syrup dispenser fit the bill nicely. #TexasHomesteader

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5 Frugal Things – Decluttering, Beverage, Food Waste, Coupon & Gifts

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by Texas Homesteader ~
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Ya know, frugality is really an easy thing to accomplish. And you can even set it & leave it on cruise control too. It just takes keeping an open mind for ways during your typical day to save some money.

Soon it’s not even something you strive for, it’s just part of your everyday life. And it’s often an eco-friendly move too.

Come see 5 Frugal Things I did this week to save money and the environment.

Frugality can be eco friendly too. Decluttering, coupons, gifting, etc. Come see 5 frugal things we did to save money this week #TexasHomesteader

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How I Make Cheap ‘Oat Flour’ With Whole Oats

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by Texas Homesteader ~
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I’ve experimented with sandwich bread recipes for several years. I prefer whole-wheat bread for the health aspect as well as the heartier feel of it. But I’ve not been pleased with bread made completely with whole wheat flour. It’s just too dry for our tastes. So I started mixing different ratios of all purpose and whole wheat flour for RancherMan’s Sandwich Bread to get the best of both worlds.

But whole wheat flour is expensive in our area. And I figured oatmeal’s healthy, right?? So I decided to offset a portion of whole wheat flour with whole oats ground into flour when I make my Oatmeal Sandwich Bread. or my Honey/Oat Bread Machine Recipe. We loved it. It still had the hearty feel that whole wheat offers, but cheaper! You’re not gonna believe how easy this is.

I grind whole oats into 'oat flour' and include it as a healthy ingredient in my homemade bread. The same hearty feel as whole wheat. #TexasHomesteader

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2-Lb Oatmeal Bread Recipe For A Bread Machine

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by Texas Homesteader ~
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I’ve had several bread machines over the years. The bread was tasty of course, but I always got rid of them. They were just so big, heavy & bulky. It just wasn’t worth it.

But during a recent visit with my dad, he mentioned that he wanted to get rid of his bread machine to clear the space on his counter top for another appliance. He said if I didn’t take it, he was tossing it in the trash. I couldn’t stand the waste so I figured I’d take it home. If I found I still hated bread machines I’d make sure to get it to someone who could use it.

But bread machines are apparently different now and I find I really love it! I’ve even tweaked my own Oatmeal Sandwich Bread recipe to make a 2-lb bread-maker loaf.

Bread Machine recipe for a delicious 2-lb loaf of homemade oatmeal bread. Use your bread machine to simplify bread-baking day! #TexasHomesteader

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Soap Grows On Trees! Using Soapberries For A Natural Shampoo

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by Texas Homesteader ~

I have a super-smart friend from whom I always learn oh-so-much. Recently we were at a luncheon together & she mentioned that she uses soapberries for shampoo – no conditioner required.

She puts dried soapberries in water and lets them sit for about 6 weeks before she removes the berries. Then she adds a bit of baking soda and uses it to clean her hair.

Well color me intrigued! I found a Soapberry Tree on our property several years ago. So I decided to give it a try.

Using Soapberries for a natural shampoo is easy on your hair and easy on your budget. It's true - soap really DOES grow on trees! #TexasHomesteader

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3 Rainwater Catchment Systems Used At Our Homestead

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by Texas Homesteader ~
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The heat & humidity here in Texas during a typical summer can create some gardening challenges. And in our area of NE Texas, we’ve been in drought conditions for several years in a row. It can feel like an expensive losing battle to keep your garden watered.

But I don’t pay for treated water to irrigate my gardens. They’re all watered with harvested rainwater. Come see three rainwater harvesting systems that work best for us.

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The Home-Gardener’s Sweetener – STEVIA!

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by Texas Homesteader ~

Several years ago our daughter mentioned casually that she was growing Stevia. Wait, Stevia? You mean, the sweetener? You can GROW THAT!!?? I had no idea!

Excitedly I sat out to find a place to purchase the plant. I found it at a local discount warehouse-type store and brought it home. I plunked it into my landscaping bed as part of my edible landscape. It’s a pretty enough plant, so why not?

I’ve had this plant for a couple of years and it always comes back in the spring. But now that I’m growing my own zero-calorie sweetener, what should I do with it?

Stevia is a plant you can grow in your edible landscape. Harvest the leaves to make your very own home-grown sweetener. #TexasHomesteader

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5 Frugal Things – Bread, Tea, Chicken, Storm & Hummingbird

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by Texas Homesteader~

Occasionally I’ll share a short list of 5 Frugal Things I’ve done recently to save time, money and/or the environment. The beauty is that often these 5 frugal things check off all of those categories.

It’s been a while so I thought I’d share a quick list of 5 frugal things I did this week.

Come see 5 Frugal Things we did this week to save some cold, hard cash. It's easy to save money throughout the week if you keep your eyes open. #TexasHomesteader Continue reading →

BBQ Rub & Beer-Based Mop Sauce Recipe

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by Texas Homesteader ~

Every year RancherMan & I host a fun family gathering we’ve always called ‘RanchFest‘. It’s actually celebrated on the anniversary of the date we purchased this little piece of paradise. But we consider it a mini-family reunion.

Back when the kids were young (but before we actually lived here) we’d bring our kids and my siblings would bring theirs. We’d have a big celebration & bonfire. Oh how much fun it was to get together, and the kids loved hanging out with their cousins.

But they’re all grown and most have children of their own now. So every year at RanchFest we get together to relive those fun times. This year we’ll be serving pulled-pork sandwiches using meat from the wild hogs RancherMan’s harvested. He’ll smoke the meat, but we needed a BBQ Rub & Mop Sauce. And he certainly found a good one!

A delicious beer/coffee based BBQ mop sauce and dry rub recipe for smoked meat on the grill. Super easy to whip up in a flash. #TexasHomesteader

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