Choosing Voluntary Simplicity

How To Make Cake Flour

Shirley — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 14:04:03 +0000

Reader question... "I usually use all purpose flour for baking, but I have a few recipes where the flour ingredient is cake flour. I've been buying cake flour but that stuff is expensive. Can I substitute all purpose flour for the cake flour and will the results be as good? Or do I need to buy cake flour for these few recipes?" --Lisabette N.

Cobweb Houseleek (Sempervivum arachnoideum)

Shirley — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 14:25:58 +0000

These are cobweb houseleeks (sempervivum arachnoideum). The rosettes appear to have small spiderwebs on them, but the "webs" are actually a naturally growing part of these amazing little plants.

Ford China Company Antique Pitcher & Bowl

Shirley — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 13:04:37 +0000

This pitcher and bowl came from my father's family homestead... a house and land that had stayed in the family from 1780 until a few years ago. The house was full of family antiques that were immediately sold at auction by the new owner. I bought this pitcher and bowl.

There Are Only Two Ways To Live Your Life

Shirley — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 13:53:05 +0000

"There are only two ways to live your life..."

Solving the Natural Peanut Butter Oil Separation Problem

Shirley — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 13:28:28 +0000

Reader question... "I have been making a strong effort to eliminate processed foods from our diet and to eat more whole and healthy foods. One change we have made has been away from regular peanut butter to the peanuts only peanut butter. We like the taste but I'm finding it to be a real hassle the way the oil keeps separating. I have tried stirring and stirring and stirring but it never gets completely mixed up and when we get to the end of the jar I always find hardened peanut butter that didn't get mixed in. Also the peanut butter stays too greasy because it never gets completely mixed. I've read your posts where you mention using all natural peanut butter and I'm thinking you must have some solution to this problem." --Jeena

All-Over Basket Weave Knit Afghan

Shirley — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 13:18:42 +0000

I love the way simple knit and purl stitches combine in this pattern to look like real basket weaving. This basket weave stitch is a reversible stitch, and the back of the pattern looks exactly like the front, so there is no right or wrong side to the afghan. I added a simple garter stitch border on all four sides.

Keeping a Photograph… Purging the Item

Shirley — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 15:10:03 +0000

Reader question... "I read in a book about decluttering and purging that a photograph of an item is a good substitute for actually having the item in your possession. Would you share your thoughts about purging sentimental items and and what you think about the idea of keeping only the photograph and not the item." --Susannah H.

How Much Does It Cost to Feed YOUR Family?

Shirley — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 12:57:19 +0000

Have you seen the most recent government estimates (released October 2011) for how much it costs to feed a family these days? The figures in these charts represent the government's idea of the cost of a nutritious diet, with all meals and snacks prepared at home. I wonder how much of that "nutritious diet" involves processed food.

The Same Celery Plants, Year After Year

Shirley — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 12:40:43 +0000

Our extremely short summers and a celery plant's need for a lengthy growing season are not a good match. Perhaps that is why it is impossible to find celery seedlings or even celery seeds in this area in any of the usual places where seeds or plants are sold. One store owner even told me that "nobody wants to grow celery anymore." Perhaps not... but I do!

Lightning Cake — A Quick & Easy Yellow Cake Recipe

Shirley — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 13:11:25 +0000

I found this recipe in a 1942 Fannie Farmer cookbook for junior cooks... which probably explains why it is such an easy and foolproof recipe to make. This delicious, wonderfully light cake makes up quickly, and although it requires only two eggs, it tastes very much like a sponge cake.