My Great Grandmothers Rye Bread Recipe. Very bold flavor from the molasses and I like the old school use of potato water in the recipe. I think the yeast really likes it too!

1 cup rye flour

3/4 cup molasses

2 cups potato water

2 tsp salt

1/4 cup shortening

1 pkg yeast

1/4 cup water

1/4 cup brown sugar

dissolve yeast in 1/4 cup water and 1/4 cup brown sugar

Dissolve molasses and shortening in hot potato water pour over rye flour and mix well

Cool to luke warm and add yeast mix and salt. add 5-6 cups white flour and need until bubbles form. let rise until doubled. punch down and divide into 2 loafs. let rise until doubled and bake at 375.

I finally decided to get around to making Capt’n Crunch French Toast. So so yummy, but very sweet. Not for those without a sweet tooth.

One of the secrets to making this recipe is using Texas toast. The thick bread makes for a soft gooey middle that contrasts with the crunchy exterior.

• 3 eggs
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 2 1/2 TBSP sugar
• 1/2 tsp vanilla
• 1/4 tsp cinnamon
• 3 cups capt’n crunch cereal
• 5 slices or so Texas toast

Pour you capt’n crunch cereal in a zip lock bag and crush up fine.

Mix together eggs, cream, sugar, vanilla and cinnamon in a bowl and whisk all together.

Dip Texas toast in batter then coat with the Capt’n Crunch crumbs.

Cook in some butter at about 325 degrees. You need to be careful that its not to hot because you can easily burn this recipe.

Turn when golden brown and enjoy with butter, syrup, fruit or whipped cream!

FIVE-SPICE BEET SOUP ~VEGAN~

Now is the time to make good on New Years resolutions. We all have our own things we would like to improve on in the New year. For many of us this includes changes in diet for many reasons. Health and weight loss is a common theme. It could also be a resolution to broaden your culinary horizons by trying new recipes or experience new cuisines.

Why start now?

Besides the obvious tradition of making resolutions for the New Year there is a good reason to get started now!

Lets face it beginning Thanksgiving our lives have been busy and hectic. The common routines of life have been disrupted and replaced with shopping, Holiday parties,and family celebrations. Many have had numerous vacation days free from work. Use these disruptions to your benefit now.

We are all adjusting to going back to a somewhat normal routine in our lives. That makes now the perfect time to make changes to how we eat that will be a part of our routine for the months to come.

What to do?

• Make your goals
• Plan, Plan, Plan
• Eat breakfast every morning
• Pack your lunch
• Learn some new recipes

By making and setting goals to lose weight or eating healthier you provide direction to what kind of changes of routine you should make.

Planning ahead helps you avoid pitfalls. We always want to have healthy food on hand and don’t skip meals. Lets avoid that temptation of pulling through that drive thru window. When hungry we will eat, so have something healthy around. Especially for snacking. Snacking is not all bad if you have good snacks around.

Breakfast is an important meal of the day. Even a small one helps you avoid hunger pains and over eating later.

Lunch…lets face it. If you don’t pack one you are much more likely to choose badly. Especially if your hungry (skipped breakfast maybe?)

Dinner is a big part of our daily routine and for many of us we eat the same things. Taco Tuesday, Spaghetti Thursday, etc. So find some new recipes now and include them in your weekly dining routine.

These are some simple changes that can be used to different degrees by everyone.

Set good routines now and they can be healthy habits for months to come!