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Monday 6 May 2013

How The Heck Does She Afford To Feed All Those Kids? - Bulk Bread Maker Mix



Morning All,

Sometimes people suck! No I haven't woken up on the wrong side of the bed but sometimes people are so rude when you might not fit the 2.4 kid average. If you choose to have one like some of my friends, you'll get the never ending "when are you having the next one?" or if you have a whole bunch like me, strangers and barely known acquaintances feel free to make judgement or ask questions like "how on earth can you afford to feed all those kids?" Sometimes it's curiosity, other times it's just a bit catty.

Sometimes I'm nice but more often I will respond in my usual smart alec way, a favorite response is "We only feed three of them each day but keep it on rotation so no one goes more than two days without food!" By the way, my Mum hates it when I talk like this when she is around, sorry Mum!

But for those of you who are just curious or are interested in some thrifty ways to feed a large group, I make a lot of diy mixes. I'm starting with my favorite and probably most versatile mix, the bread maker mix.

Recipe:
26 cups of Plain Flour
1 cup of Sugar
1 cup of Nonfat Dry Milk Powder
4 Tbs of Salt.

To make the dough
3&1/2 cups of Bread Mix
2 tsp of active Dried Yeast
1&1/2 tbs of Olive Oil
1&1/4 cups of warm water (make sure the water is just warm to the touch, if it's too hot you will kill the yeast and your dough won't rise.)

This has a shelf life of around 6-8 months I've never had it go bad but the only time I don't bake is over Summer.

Place it in the bread maker and set to dough or if you want a loaf, white bread loaf. When making dough once you shape it it must be covered in plastic wrap and left to rise to about double in size before baking.

If your making dough the average cook time is 20 mins or until golden brown, in a preheated oven at 180 degrees Celsius or 350F

And you can make a multitude of things like

Pizza, please give Julian's fresh vegetables from the garden a round of applause, each batch will make 2 deep dish crusts or 3 thin.


Scrolls, I fill these with whatever is on hand, just flatten it out to a rectangle add filling roll up and cut.

Suggestions:
Cream cheese & sweet chili sauce
Cheese and spinach
Left over pizza toppings
Ham and Chutney
Apple and sultana for a sweet version.



Not pictured but I also add 3/4 of a cup of Dried fruit cinnamon and make buns, add garlic or herbs and shape into a french roll or chocolate chips as a fun afternoon snack. Really it's up to you.



DIY Delight or Disaster? Oh this is a true delight, it saves me heaps. I generally don't make plain bread because, let's be honest, it's cheap enough but all the specialty loaves are usually very expensive and these loaves end up costing less than a dollar to make. Also while most of us love the idea of making and baking our own breads, it's a lot of work using this in the bead maker is as simple as set it and forget method. DELIGHT!


Thanks for reading,

Mel xo


Be Delighted Every Day, Follow Mellywood's Mansion!
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38 comments:

  1. Hmmm, that all seems so yummy! Kudos to you for being so creative with your recipes. I'm the youngest of seven and I can remember my Dad enduring wisecracks from his brothers and sisters about how many children he had - although they were from a family of twelve kids. Don't ever remember feeling hungry or anyway near and my mom couldn't cook a lick - bless her for trying. People can be so cruel and probably don't even realize what they're saying. You're the best!

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  2. I've pinned this ! Lol.. my mom taught me the finer (read "rude") way with my mouth ! You go, Mel that's a great answer to a stupid question ;-) {if you need any tips, dry dogfood is not that expensive and it is very filling!}

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  3. Why do people feel the need to comment on everything? Glad you can just let it roll off your shoulders like that. All your yummy creations sound great. Thanks for sharing this recipe.

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  4. What a funny and interesting post. I, obviously, fall into the 'when are you going to have more kids' camp. And, it always makes me feel incredibly guilty. Anyways, I love seeing your label being used in another clever way. Your recipe sounds so simple...and yields such delicious things. I am impressed with how much you bake or grow (from your garden). Your house must smell amazing when you are cooking for all those kids :)

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  5. Great money saver! Back in the 80's (when you were a twinkle in your Mum's eye, I'm sure) everything was going organic. I baked my family's bread and made a LOT of other homemade stuff. I used to make mixes like this too because there was no organic food line in the store and I could never have afforded it anyway. Nice to see some "kids" still doing this stuff!!

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  6. I love your bin and your attitude for when people are rude. What a nice mix to have on hand, always, that you can make so many different things with. I love this!

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  7. Well you just never cease to amaze Mel !!!
    Don't know which I prefer - how you respond - or how versatile you are - but both traits are awesome!!!
    XOX

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  8. haha! You keep after those rude peeps! Being the youngest of 6, my mom can definitely relate! I "only" have 3 but one of them ate so much I'm counting him twice. I love big-batch cooking, and I've had to re-learn how to cook "small" since the kids are gone now. Those scrolls look awesome. Must try them!

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  9. My oldest sister has 6, all grown now, and ALL of them happy, successful, law abiding, but most of all, they have each other and they're all very close!! My sister wouldn't change it for the world, but I remember many a time being at her house while she was trying to get a meal on the table, and the key word was "bulk"! She would have been first in line for your bulk bread mix recipe, for sure!! Your recipes and hubby's veggies look delightful! ~ Amy

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  10. LOL I love you and your great family!...and your reply to the rude peeps out there. My daughter has 2 sets of twins - 4 year old boys and 6 month old girls. When we enter a store it's like a side show for others. Most are very nice but some just shake their heads. Those are the ones I'd like to smack!

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  11. Oh Mel I totally understand. If I had a dollar for every time someone asked "when are you having a third?" And when I say we're not, they ask further questions! "Why not? Don't you want a boy? Don't you want to give your husband a son?"

    So freakin' rude.

    That bread mix is genius and now I want to make some scrolls!

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  12. I read this earlier but didn't respond til I got over being mad. As you know, I'm one of six kids and got sick of people asking if we were Catholic. I guess they figured that was the only reason anyone would have so many. You also know my daughter has six kids and it's nobody's business why either. Still, it is a lot of kids to feed so I'm pinning this recipe to give it a try and share it with my daughter. Thanks!
    ps - You'll get tons of Mother's Day crafts and everyone will be jealous then!

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  13. Love it! I only have two (and we're pretty sure we're done there), but we were constantly plagued with "So, going to go for the boy now?" after we had two girls.

    I was like, "Pffft... Girls are pretty rad too. Thanks for your unsolicited B.S."

    But I am totally pinning this recipe because I'm a bread-maker addict! I use mine all of the time! Thank you! Exclamation!

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  14. Thank you for sharing! I've been looking for a good homemade multi-purpose mix like this.
    ~Kaitlin @ Life's Little Mischiefs

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  15. Mel! This is truly a delight and so is the label on your mix bin! I'm with Maureen...coming from a family of 7 kids, people always asked if we were Catholic, which really means "oh you can't use birth control". We were not Catholic. And now I want scrolls. Or pizza...Sam's favorites and yes..big round of applause for those fresh garden vegetables. Go Julian!

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  16. This is a great idea Mel. I love doing bulk mixes too. I usually only bring my breadmaker out in winter for pizza dough and sultana loaf. I don't think anyone will be asking me when and if I'm having anymore kids! LOL

    Anne xx

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  17. mmm, I love fresh bread! And all your additions to the recipe sound wonderful. Try not to let people's comments get to you- most people just don't realize that they may be coming across as rude. I'd probably be horrified if I knew how many people I've unknowingly offended!

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  18. Thank you for this money saving tip! I'm hosting a new linky party at http://hickorytrailblog.blogspot.com/2013/05/efforts-and-assets-linky-party-1.html

    I would love to have you!
    Angela

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  19. You're priceless Mel!! I know some people are probably just curious, but I swear there are some who just need a good slap upside the head. Your sharp wit would certainly do the job. Love it!! Fresh home baked bread and veggies from the garden. Yummm!

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  20. Mel, Great pot/share....I love what you say to people about putting this kids on a feeding rotation ;) I had a breadmaker back in the day, when I was first married...it broke years ago and I never replaced it. Seeing your bulk bread recipe makes me want to invest in a new one! Your deep dish pizza and veggies looks so yummy *clap,clap,clap* to Julian! Thanks for the great share! Pinning!!!

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  21. I'm so sick of people's rude comments - I get them and I have 3! Anyway - thank you so much for this recipe!!!! And I love how versatile it is xxx

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  22. Good for you Mel! As a mum of 4 - I get comments too (sometimes from family!!) I would love a bread maker, your recipes look delish and such a great idea to keep a bulk supply!

    Big hugs, Estelle xx

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  23. Mel,
    I totally get it! I have 5 and one on the way. I have gotten, "Is this a day care, or are these all yours?" "Wow, you have your hands full", and my personal dis-favorite on most days and personal joke on others "God bless you". Hahaha. People can be mean. It is nice when you get enough kids that you rarely think about judging another person, because your too busy counting ;)
    Thanks for the recipes!
    with love!

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  24. What a fabulous idea! So creative. This would be perfect to link-up to my new series - "Create It Thursday." It's live now! http://www.lambertslately.com/2013/05/create-it-thursday-1.html

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  25. I sooo wish I had a bread maker! We used to have one when I was growing up and homemade bread is one of the best things on earth :) Love the doll too ;)

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  26. Love this!

    I would love for you to share and link up at my TGIF Link Party.
    http://apeekintomyparadise.blogspot.com/2013/05/tgif-link-party-2.html

    Hugs, Cathy

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  27. I do like the dog food comment but the rotation schedule seems to be the most logical cuz my dog doesn't like to share. Always looking for ways to cut down on the grocery bill. Cheers Mel!!

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  28. What a FABULOUS idea Mel!!! I sooo want to start making my own bread too!!

    Thanks so much for sharing this at The DIY Dreamer.. From Dream To Reality!

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  29. As a mom of 5, I totally hear ya on the rude comments! Love this recipe - pinned to try! Also following via GFC now! We can't wait to see what you share at tomorrow's All My Bloggy Friends!

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  30. Hi - can you please tell me if you mean all purpose flour or bread flour? I went to make this today and worried about which to use :)

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    1. Hi Erin, I use all purpose flour, sorry about that in Australia it's just called flour but if you used bread flour it will still work :)

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  31. Hi, I made the mix and attempted to make a few loafs, three times in the oven and once in the bread maker. They've all gone flat. Any ideas what I'm doing wrong? Thanks, Kelli

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    1. Hi Kelli,

      Sorry to hear that, hmm I have never had any trouble but that isn't helpful I guess I would ask how old your yeast is and where do you store it. Yeast is really fragile ingredient and the fact that it happened in the bread maker as well as the oven I suspect this may be the reason. Other than that I'm really not sure. I have been making this for years, literally 1000's of loaves my sister also uses it and hasn't had any problems. My suggestion would be to try new yeast, let me know how it goes?

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  32. Take five - success! It wasn't an issue with the yeast. I just bought it. I read back through your post and decided that my water was too warm. I made the bread again it turned out the way it was suppose to - soft and fluffy. Thanks for the recipe. I look forward to trying your muffin mix next.

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  33. that's fantastic Kelli, I'm so glad it worked, I went to bed thinking what else it could be, water too hot will kill the yeast. oh now you will have gorgeous fresh bread whenever :)

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  34. Do you think you could do half whole wheat and half white? I know what you mean, I dont have a lot of kids (at least I dont think, pregnant with #3) but I went to a funeral this weekend and at least 5 people (cousins and aunts and uncles) asked with huge eyes, "your done now right!" "this is the last one right!?!" and many were shocked when we said we didnt know, we dont have a planned number, we will just stop when we fell its time, and we already feel like there will be 1 more...guess they will have to be shocked again! Thanks for the recipe I cant wait to try!

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  35. Great post! I'm always so intimidated by anything with yeast in it! But this is a real time saver AND money saver! Thanks for linking it up to Let's Get Real!

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  36. I love the idea of making it all up ahead of time and then it's quick and easy. Totally works with the way, I have to run my kitchen. I have 4 kids and get comments, too. I sometimes hear ruder comments than how do I feed them. Sure, let's try to make my kids question their worth. That's really nice of you. Oh well........I can't change people. It takes all kinds to make the world go round. Thanks so much for sharing this with our readers at the "Let's Get Real" hop. I look forward to reading more.

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Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment, between housework and 5 kids, this is the only thing I get out of bed for ;)

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