Learn how to make a simple beer bread recipe at home.  This is a great starter bread recipe because it doesn't have yeast and only has four ingredients.  You can also make beer bread variations by adding different things to your recipe. Beer bread is one of the easiest kinds of breads to make.  You don't have to proof the yeast or knead the bread, so it's a great recipe for beginners. Homemade bread can take hours to make.  You have to proof the yeast, make the dough, let it rise, shape it, and let it rise again before you even bake it. With this easy beer bread recipe, just mix four ingredients, pour into a pan, bake, and you have delicious bread. Beer bread doesn't have yeast, so it's not as light and fluffy as other types of breads.  It has a lighter and fluffier texture than a quick bread and has a thick crust that shouldn't get too hard. Beer Bread Recipe With Variations What Goes Well With Beer Bread? Beer bread tastes great on its own, but I

Working at home with kids isn't an ideal situation, but it can be done.  Here are some tips to make it easier for both you and your kids. Recently, there has been a rapid increase in the amount of parents working at home. At the same time, kids across the nation are on extended spring breaks or are transitioning to at-home online learning. This presents a challenge for parents everywhere, as they have to balance their work, their child's career, and their normal home life. Thankfully, there are no shortage of tips to help you manage everything you need to while minimizing stress. Although my kids are now 12, 14, and 18, I started working from home when my youngest was a baby.  I worked part time to supplement our income for fun money.  I started getting serious about working from home and started working full time when my kids were 2, 4, and 8. Some days are a struggle, I'm not going to lie, but it's worth it for us.  It's the best choice for our family

How to make a one bowl basic banana bread recipe.  This delicious banana bread takes about 5 minutes to make for a delicious snack, dessert, or breakfast. There are few things that all five of us will eat, but banana bread is one of them.  The kids will all eat bananas, so I get them often for their snacks or even as a side dish for dinner. When bananas start to turn brown, I turn them into banana bread.  This one bowl basic banana bread recipe is our go to recipe.  It's so easy, the kids can even make it themselves. This quick bread freezes well, so I'll buy over ripe bananas cheap and make two or more batches to keep in the freezer. This recipe tastes amazing on its own, or you can make a quick change by adding nuts or even chocolate chips.  My kids like chocolate chip banana bread.  We like to use mini chocolate chips so each bite has chocolatey goodness.

How to make homemade butter with a Kitchenaid mixer.  This also makes buttermilk that can be used for pancakes or biscuits. Although we are just over two weeks into January, we haven't really started back into our routines.  My kids haven't had much school work, and the bad weather means that Caleb's therapy has been cancelled several times.  David just started college yesterday, so we had a two week break after Christmas. That means that we've had two glorious weeks where we didn't have much to do.  We played board games, watched an entire season of The Big Bang Theory, and I got through my almost full DVR. I also had time to tackle my "want to do" list.  These are things that don't need to be done; I just want to do them or try them.  One of the things that I wanted to do was make homemade butter and buttermilk. As I've talked about before, we are homesteading on a 12 acre farm.  We have livestock, an orchard, and grow a big garden. 

How to make DIY reusable wipes from flannel cloth.  Use these wipes for baby wipes, for cleaning, or to make disinfecting wipes.  We're trying to reduce the amount of waste that we produce.  I do buy paper towels, but we only use them for really gross messes or oily messes.  Otherwise, we use these DIY reusable wipes. I am not proficient with a sewing machine, but luckily my daughter is.  She is 12-years-old and loves sewing.  Lately, she's been making skirts and some items that I need for the home, like these cloths. These are so simple, even a beginner can make them.  We don't have a serger, so these are made only with a sewing machine, although you could hand sew them if you wanted to. They are just the right size for cleaning up small messes.  When you're done, just toss in the washer with your regular laundry and reuse them. I use them for cleaning.  I have several in the cupboard for general cleaning, but I also have some sitting in a jar to use as

Save time and money with make ahead freezer meals.  These 49 freezer friendly meals can be made now and freeze leftovers or make them just for the freezer. I am fortunate that I have a stand up freezer.  I save a lot of money by stocking up on meat and other foods when it's on sale and freezing it for later. I also use my freezer to prepare make ahead freezer meals.  I either make a meal just for the freezer or, more often, I double what we are having for dinner and freeze leftovers for later. These 49 make ahead freezer meals aren't specifically for the freezer, but they all freeze well.  If you have a small family, you can make one batch and freeze leftovers for another meal. We have five in the family, so I usually double these recipes and freeze an entire meal.  For soups, I make one batch and freeze leftovers in smaller containers for lunches. This list of freezer meals has casseroles, pasta dishes, main dishes, sides, and even breakfasts.

Disinfecting your home without chemicals with this DIY homemade disinfectant spray recipe.  It has essential oils to kill germs naturally. Cold and flu season is upon us.  One major benefit to homeschooling is that my kids don't pick up as many germs.  We are still in public for shopping, karate, and scouts, so we are exposed to germs.   I started cleaning my home naturally more than 10 years ago.  In the winter though, I want to make sure the germs are gone.  I'm not taking chances because Caleb gets very sick each year.   When he was an infant and then again a year old, he had RSV and was hospitalized.  Each year after that, he would get pneumonia.  Now that he's older, he still gets sick, but thankfully it isn't as bad as it used to be.   Disinfecting spray was the last cleaner that I started making.  I thought that I needed to buy a commercial project if I wanted to really kill the germs.   Then I started doing some research.  You don'

Learn how to make common cooking substitutions so you can make your favorite dish even if you are out of one ingredient. I live in a rural area.  There are several dollar stores near me, but they don't have the best food selection.  I have one local chain grocery store close to me, but it's crazy expensive.  Their prices are about three to four times what Aldi and Walmart charge! If I am cooking and run out of an ingredient, I can't just run to Aldi or a decently priced grocery store because it will be an hour trip by the time I drive there and back. I've learned several common cooking substitutions that I can use so I cook what I had planned without going to the store. These cooking substitutions also help when I'm cooking for friends with food allergies.  I have friends who can't have milk or eggs, and I want to be able to make homemade foods that they can enjoy. Common Cooking Substitutions Please note that these should only be used when you are

This natural homemade all purpose cleaner recipes is easy to make and can be used on most surfaces in your home. When my oldest was a baby, I started using natural cleaners.  I wanted a more natural home for him, and I wanted to save money.  One of the first things I made was an all purpose cleaner. I've changed the recipe a few times over the last few years and improved it (I think so anyway) with each modification.   One thing that I like about making my own cleaners like this natural all purpose cleaner recipe is that I never run out.  I always have dish soap and vinegar to make a new batch.  If I don't have the essential oils, I can use one or the other until I get more or use different oils.   I'm crazy about this cleaner, but my husband is not.  He doesn't like the smell of vinegar.  It dissipates quickly, so it doesn't bother me.  I'd rather smell vinegar than smell chemical cleaners.  

Whether you're spring cleaning or doing your weekly cleaning, learn how to clean a house like a professional so your home stays clean all the time. Cleaning is very rarely anybody's favorite activity, especially if you live with a family or roommates. Not only can cleaning be difficult at times, but it can also be stress inducing as well. Perhaps you have thought of hiring professional cleaners at some point in your life, or you are thinking about it right now. Thankfully, you may not have to! Sometimes, all it takes is a few helpful cleaning tips to keep your house sparkling and yourself sane. Learn how to clean a house like a professional to get a clean home without spending a lot of money. How to Clean a House Like a Professional Declutter Your Home The less you have to clean, the easier it is to clean, right?   Even if you did hire a professional, you'd still have to declutter your home before they came over to clean. I declutter in two

Feel better naturally with this honey, lemon, and ginger tea recipe.  This is easy to make, and it can promote wellness when you are sick with a cough or cold. When I get sick, I don't automatically run to the medicine cabinet.  Most cold medications make me very drowsy, even if they are non-drowsy formulas.  While I welcome the sleep, I do still need to get work done and teach the kids each day. Luckily, there are several ways to feel better naturally without taking medication.  One natural cold remedy I like is a honey, lemon, and ginger tea recipe.  I feel better quickly and the effect lasts for several hours. This is even safe for kids, but never give a child under one honey.  If you do give this to a child, heat the water to help the honey dissolve, then let it cool before you give it to them.  My kids aren't fans of honey, but they will drink this because they know they will feel better.