Backwoods MamaJosée

Sourdough Bread Recipe: Making Bread (Day 3)

Sourdough Bread Recipe: Making Bread (Day 3)

Part 1: Sourdough Bread Recipe: First Feeding (Day 1)Part 2: Sourdough Bread Recipe: More Feeding (Day 2)This is a basic formula for making three loaves of sourdough bread using all-purpose flour. Use this recipe as a starting point for exploring the world of...

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Sourdough Bread Recipe: More Feeding (Day 2)

Sourdough Bread Recipe: More Feeding (Day 2)

Part 1: Sourdough Bread Recipe: First Feeding (Day 1)Part 3: Making Sourdough Bread: Baking Bread (Day 3)On the second day of making sourdough bread you will continue to feed and build up the starter. This recipe will make three loaves but if you want more than...

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Sourdough Bread Recipe: First Feeding (Day 1)

Sourdough Bread Recipe: First Feeding (Day 1)

Part 2: Making Sourdough Bread: More Feedings (Day 2)Part 3: Making Sourdough Bread: Baking Bread (Day 3)Sourdough bread is made by the fermentation of flour by yeast found in nature. The first thing you need to make sourdough bread is an established sourdough starter...

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Ice on the Lake

Ice on the Lake

My neighbours are constantly reassuring me that this winter has been unusually snowy and cold. I smile and nod. Perhaps after living here a decade I will find this weather chilly. I still maintain that we are having a beautiful and mild winter.Granted, it has been a...

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The Beach on a Winterly Day

The Beach on a Winterly Day

A stroll down to the beach on a winter's day led to the discovery of various ice formations along the water's edge. Unique ice structures encased sticks that had floated ashore and my eldest imagined them to be various object. Here he is testing out his new ice...

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How to Write a Weekly Meal Plan

How to Write a Weekly Meal Plan

Writing a weekly meal plan, especially if you've never done it before, can seem like a daunting task. Yes, it does take time to write one but the time spent is well worth the time and money you will save each week. If you know what you'll be cooking every day and you...

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Winter Solstice

Winter Solstice

We brought in our Christmas tree on the shortest day of the year. It is standing in the living room emanating a pleasant scent of fir. Tomorrow it will be dressed in lights and ribbons and it will shine and twinkle. It seems right to be bringing in this symbol of...

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Cross Country Skiing as a Family

Cross Country Skiing as a Family

There might not be much snow around our home, a few inches at best, but drive 5000 feet up into the mountains and it's like being in the North. Today we made the trek up the snowy mountain to go cross country skiing at the Nickle Plate Nordic Centre. Getting up the...

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Welcoming Winter

Welcoming Winter

Whose woods these are I think I know. His house is in the village though; He will not see me stopping here To watch his woods fill up with snow. Hanging birdseed ornaments.My little horse must think it queer To stop without a farmhouse...

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St. Lucia Buns (Without Saffron)

St. Lucia Buns (Without Saffron)

These St. Lucia buns are not authentically Swedish. For one I have no Swedish ancestry, but more importantly they don't contain saffron. It's not because I don't like saffron. I do! Saffron is fantastic in risotto and paella. To my surprise I even had just...

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Aromatherapy Rice Pack Tutorial

Aromatherapy Rice Pack Tutorial

Right before Teddy was born a friend gave me an aromatherapy rice pack. It got plenty of use the first few month after childbirth. In fact, I'm not sure how I managed without it after my first two births. I heated the pack in the microwave and used it for postpartum...

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Dawn on the Feast of St. Nicholas

Dawn on the Feast of St. Nicholas

It was dawn. Teddy woke up to nurse and wasn't settling back to sleep. I suspected that he was getting sick. There is a cold making the rounds in our home. Even I woke up with a sore throat and stuffy nose this morning. I picked up Teddy and we tiptoed into the...

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The Spirit of Advent

The Spirit of Advent

Advent has begun in our home. The Jesse tree is up and, unlike last year, I managed to make a wreath for our four Advent candles. Our children have noticed the changes around our home and have responded with curiosity and excitement. It makes me smile when I see my...

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Preparing for Advent 2012

Preparing for Advent 2012

The power cable for my laptop broke over the weekend. Until the new power cable arrives I am blogging from my husband's computer. Unfortunately I'm not able to upload pictures from my camera so the pictures in this post are from my archives.---Advent is a...

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Raising and Breeding Rabbits For Meat

Raising and Breeding Rabbits For Meat

Throughout North America there is a movement to relearn the forgotten skills of self-sufficiency. People from various walks of life are recognizing that our consumerist lifestyle has a negative impact on the planet and on our quality of life....

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Gathering Walnuts

Gathering Walnuts

On the eve of All Hallows we wandered the streets of our neighbourhood gathering treats. There are no street lights so it's very dark at night. At one point we walked along a path. We couldn't see much and I kept on tripping on rocks. On closer inspection I...

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