TODAY ONLY! For our PYP Facebook friends in Utah or  Idaho:

DownEast Home has a weekly Facebook deal with a special discount in-store on a specific item, for one day only. This week’s Facebook deal is hot/cold thermos-type food containers for only $2.99! Limit is 6 per person per style.


I was able to find lots at my local store, and plenty of designs for both girls and boys. I really love the ones in the picture for school lunches – they have a separate little compartment on top with a metal foldable spoon! (They also have slightly smaller ones without the spoons.) Most of them have names printed on them, but I was able to find several without. Great deal since they retail in the big-name catalog for $19.50!

***Deal is good for TODAY only – Tuesday, July 10.***

One of my goals right now is to make as many things from scratch as possible, thus saving a substantial amount of money and at the same time having a healthier family.
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One thing that costs a lot over time when purchased from the store is BREAD. I’ve baked bread on and off over the years, but owning a breadmaker has definitely simplified the process. To make a simple process even more simple, I make my own mixes.
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For my wheat bread I grind my own flour from wheat using a very old Magic Mill – circa 1976 (I think I’m due for a new model!!). Then, as I’m putting a loaf in the breadmaker, I make a few mixes to go in the cupboard for later.
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Here is my favorite wheat bread recipe (breadmaker):
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Put into your breadmaker pan:
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1 1/4 C Warm Water
1 T canola oil
1 T white vinegar
1 t salt (it is important to keep your salt separate from your yeast, you can choose which goes in the mix and which is added in at bake time. If you add in the yeast at bake time, add it to the DRY ingredients)
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Add Mix and bake according to your breadmaker instructions.
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MIX:
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2 3/4 C whole wheat flour
1/3 C sugar
1/4 C wheat gluten
1/4 C potato flakes
1 T yeast
2 T powdered milk
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