Nancy on the Home Front

Bread Tag Colors – What Do They Mean?

I’ve always noticed the different colors of bread tag but never gave them much thought. Did you know that the colors of the tags indicate what day the bread was baked on? If you want to know what day your bread was actually baked on all you need to do it look at the bread tag color!

This is true, I even checked Snopes! According to Snopes, the bakeries are given two days off, Wednesday and Sunday. Here is the breakdown of bread tag colors:

The bread tag colors are actually for the store clerks as it makes it easier to rotate the bread stock. Bread is usually not kept on the shelf for longer than a couple of days.

It could be helpful to help you pick the freshest bread on the shelf without closely reading all the labels. For example if you go to the store on Wednesday to pick up some bread and you see loaves with yellow, blue and green tags you will want to buy the bread with the green tag as it was baked the day before!

The downside is that the code is not universal, and may vary from state to state or vary from company to company. Each sate has it’s own labeling rules and there isn’t a national standard enforced by the FDA, USDA or any other government agency.

You should be able to find various expiration dates on a loaf of bread.

Sell-By: This date tells the store how long to display the product for sale. You should buy the product before the date expires.

Best if Used By (or Before):

This date is recommended for best flavor or quality. It is not a purchase or safety date.

Use By:

This is the last date recommended for the use of the product while at peak quality. This date has been determined by the manufacturer of the product.

Closed or coded dates:

These are the packing number for use by the manufacturer.

Confused yet?

Should you remember the bread tag colors? It might help you to find the freshest loaf on the shelf. My solution for eating the freshest bread possible? Forget the bread tag colors and bake your own delicious homemade bread!

Protect Your Identity

Last year there were some major problems with identity breaches. hat can you do to protect your identity?

The first step is to determine whether or not you were affected.

Here in Vermont we can contact the Consumer Assistance Program, a joint venture between the Vermont Attorney General’s office and the University of Vermont. You can go to their website. I’m sure other states have similar websites. The Vermont site actually has a page with all of the security incidents that may have affected the consumer’s personal information. The list is quite extensive!

Monitor Your Credit.

Regularly check your credit card statements to make sure there are no erroneous charges. Get a copy of your credit report (It’s free) and make sure that it is an accurate representation of your credit and there are no new accounts opened in your name. There are three major credit bureaus and you should make it a practice to check your credit report every four months. I rotate between the various credit bureaus every four months. This is an important step to protect your identity.

Equifax

P.O. Box 740241
Atlanta, GA 30374
www.equifax.com

Experian

P.O. Box 2104
Allen, TX 75013
www.experian.com

Transunion

P.O. Box 2000
Chester, PA 19022
www.transunion.com

If your Data was affected, you may want to post a “Security Freeze” on your credit information with the three credit bureaus, Equifax, Transunion and Experian.

This does not freeze your existing credit cards or other credit tools, but it does lock down your information. Fees may apply.

File your annual federal and income tax return as soon as possible.

A known scam is to file tax returns before you do in order to get a refund you may be due.

We all may have a breach of our identity at one time or another but by keeping a close eye on your accounts and monitoring your credit reports you can limit the damage done. Keeping an eye on your finances is a good idea and requesting your free credit report is a good place to start.

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Amazing Overnight Waffles, Can’t Beat Them

You may remember my very popular post on Amazing Overnight Waffles. It’s a tried and true recipe that we’ve been making for years. My daughter’s now make the same recipe in their families on a regular basis. I should know not to mess with such a wonderful recipe, however I recently found a recipe for Raised Waffles in one of my cookbooks, Cold Weather Cookbook. The recipe was so similar with one addition a pinch of baking soda. I though maybe the addition of baking soda would help the waffles to rise even more.

Like the Amazing Overnight Waffles the batter is mixed up the night before and when you wake up in the morning the yeasty aroma of the batter will thrill your senses. However, after mixing up a batch of these Raised Waffles I was not impressed. It’s a good recipe, don’t get me wrong, but not any improvement over the original recipe for Amazing Overnight Waffles!

I’ll include the recipe below and you can try them for yourself and then let me know how you think they compare to my ever-popular Amazing Overnight Waffles!

Raised Waffles

Ingredients:

½ cup water
1 pkg. active dry yeast
1 tsp. sugar
2 cups lukewarm milk
½ cup butter, melted and cooled
1 tsp. salt
2 cups flour
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
Pinch of baking soda

Directions:

The night before prepare your batter. Combine the water, yeast, and sugar in a large mixing bowl. Let stand for 5 minutes for the yeast to dissolve. Add the milk, butter, salt and flour and stir until completely smooth. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let sit overnight at room temperature.

The next morning heat your waffle iron according to the manufacturers directions. Beat the eggs with the baking soda and add to the batter, stirring until well mixed. Pour enough batter onto your waffle iron to cover it and cook until crisp and golden. Repeat this process until you have used up all the batter. Serve with hot maple syrup. Makes about six large waffles. Like the original Amazing Overnight Waffles, these waffles also freeze well to enjoy at a later date.

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The Blessings Jar

You may have seen the graphics on Facebook or Pinterest regarding a Blessing Jar or a Happiness Jar. Basically you write something down every day for a year that made you happy or was a blessing. At the end of the year you read about all the amazing things that happened. Last January first my husband and I decided to do just that. Start a Blessings Jar.

We had become discouraged, my husband had been out of work our house was on the market but we hadn’t had an offer yet and we wanted to focus on the blessings all around us and not the discouragements.

So for the last 365 days, every day we wrote down a blessing for that day. Some days were easier than others but we were able to focus on the blessings around us each and every day.

Often it would be something simple like being thankful for modern technology, which enables us to connect with each of our children from miles away. Other times it would be for something major, a freelance job or time spent with all of our family. Each day we were able to focus on something good.

It’s amazing when you do something for 365 days you find it becomes a habit. You wake up in the morning and wonder what blessing will you find in the day?

Will we continue this blessing jar? YES! We have emptied the jar and over the next couple of days we plan to read each card aloud and remember all the blessings in 2017. We will also start once again to write down a blessing each day for the New Year!

Have you ever tried keeping track of the blessings in your life or the things that make you happy? It is so easy to do. Find a large jar and set it in a prominent place where you will see it everyday. Cut up some small pieces of paper, just enough to write a sentence or two and get started. If you start today you will enjoy a wonderful year ahead thinking of all the blessings in your life!

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Fun Festive Appetizers

Are you planing on hosting a New Year’s party this year? Wondering what fun festive appetizers you can serve? I have gathered all my appetizer recipes in one spot. Now you can celebrate the New Year in style with these festive appetizers! Some of these appetizers can be made ahead while others are best made the day of your party.

Fun Festive Appetizers

Antipasto Kabobs

My husband and I love to entertain. However, when we have company I like to enjoy the company and not spend all my time in the kitchen! I am always looking for recipes that I can make ahead or at least reduce my time in the kitchen. I really don’t want to be spending time cooking in the kitchen when I could be enjoying our company. These antipasto kabobs are the perfect solution!

Brie Leek Tartlets

I love making appetizers using the frozen miniature phyllo tart shells. They come together in no time at all and make such a nice presentation. These little appetizers are always a hit every time I serve them!

Cherry Tomatoes Stuffed with Feta

I love appetizers that can be made ahead and just pulled out as the company arrives. This simple recipe makes 4-6 servings depending on appetites! They are the perfect fun festive appetizer to enjoy at your next gathering.

Maple Glazed Snack Mix

Similar to the regular Chex Mix but made with maple syrup – what’s not to love? Plus it’s a wonderful way to use up leftover cereal!

Snax Mix

This recipe was handed down from my mother-in-law and I make it every year at Christmas. Christmas just wouldn’t be Christmas without making my mother-in-law’s famous Snax Mix. Not only do we enjoy eating this ourselves but I usually make an extra batch to give away to friends and family.

Hot Feta Artichoke Dip

There are many variations of the hot artichoke dip, but this one is my favorite. It is easy to mix up; you can mix it up ahead of time and then pop it into the oven just before your company arrives. Every time I have made this dip it’s been a big hit. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

Homemade Crackers

I love making Homemade Crackers. I’ve tried several recipes before but this recipe is a real winner. My daughter shared this recipe for homemade goldfish crackers over a year ago. She is very good about cooking from scratch and making sure she knows exactly what her children are eating. These crackers are perfect for snacking or enjoying with a glass of wine. No matter how you enjoy them I can guarantee they won’t last long! They also are easy to make and you can whip up a batch in no time.

Veggie Nachos

Perhaps when you think of nachos you think of oozing cheese and lots of calories, but you can enjoy nachos and not have all the fat and calories! This is a quick fun festive appetizer or we often eat it for dinner. If you have left overs the next days the bean–corn mixture is wonderful added to a salad!

Blue Cheese and Artichoke Dip

I’ve mentioned before the wonderful cooks that are in my husband’s family. I love visiting my mother-in-law because she is always trying new recipes and passing them along. On one of our visits my mother-in-law gave me this Blue Cheese Artichoke Dip. It sounded delicious and even fairly healthy! The only ingredient that wasn’t completely good for you was the blue cheese! When we had company recently I decided to mix up a batch and see how it went over. It was a big hit and there wasn’t any left at the end of the evening. I served it with pita chips and baked tortilla chips. I’m sure you could also serve it with vegetables as well.

Crispy Cheese Crackers

Did you ever see a recipe in a magazine and think… “that looks yummy, I think I will make it?” Most of the time when I do this I have good luck and the recipe comes out just as pictured. I received the latest issue of Taste of Home and saw a recipe for Cheese Crispies. We had company coming for dinner in a few days and I decided I would make this appetizer. Unfortunately it didn’t come out quite as expected!

Cheese Toast

My sister-in-law is an amazing woman. Not only is she a successful business woman but she is a fabulous cook. Many of her recipes have become favorites of ours including her recipe for Cheese Toast. Thankfully the recipe only makes 12 pieces, although you could double it for larger crowds. It is so delicious you might be tempted to eat more than you should!

Spiced Nuts

Are you a fan of spiced nuts? How about candied nuts on top of a salad? Spiced and candied nuts made great gifts. They are also a delicious, portable snack. Did you know you could make them yourself? Here are a few recipes for a no-fail method for a crunchy treat that will take you minutes to make in your kitchen!

If you have a membership to a food club like Costco or BJ’s I would suggest stocking up on a large bag of nuts. My favorites are peanuts or pecans. You could also use almonds or cashews. You can make the nuts sweetened or spiced depending on whether you are using cinnamon and sugar or spices such as cayenne pepper and garlic salt. Try a few of the recipes, enjoy them as a family or give them away as gifts!

Wassail Weekend

One of my favorite events in Woodstock, Vermont is the Wassail Weekend. People come from far and wide to enjoy this special event. The highlight of the weekend is the Wassail Parade through the center of Woodstock. More than 50 horses and riders are dressed in holiday costumes and period dress from the early 19^th century. At the end of the parade Santa Claus himself puts in an appearance.

Woodstock, Vermont is often voted as the prettiest town, and with the twinkling Christmas lights and the historic decorated homes it is easy to see why. There is something magical about the parade, watching the horses and hearing the clomp of hooves and the clinking of harness straps as they clatter down the streets lined with people.

One of my favorites is the wagon pulled by three large draft horses. The two men sitting in the front with their top hats on and listening to the jingle of bells on the harnesses.

Another favorite is the Icelandic ponies. These sturdy little ponies wearing their winter coats and the young riders all wearing their Icelandic sweaters!

This year marked the 33rd anniversary of Wassail Weekend. The weekend has passed but mark your calendars for 2018. The Wassail Weekend takes place on the second weekend of December. There is a wide range of other activities to enjoy; from carol singing on the steps of the library to ornament making at Billing’s Farm There is something for everyone to enjoy. There is even a life-size gingerbread house at the Woodstock Inn.

Although there are many activities going on during the Wassail Weekend my favorite will always be the parade. Where else but in Vermont can you watch little ponies dressed up in their Christmas finery? You may have to wait awhile until the next Wassail Weekend, in the meantime enjoy these photos from this year’s parade!

Christmas Ice Cream Cake

It may be cold and snowy outside, at least where we live but it is a perfect time of year to enjoy this Christmas Ice Cream Cake. I was hoping to use Peppermint Stick Ice Cream but it seems to be getting harder and harder to find so instead I used Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream and I have to say it was very good! This Christmas Ice Cream Cake is good enough for company and simple enough to make for a weekend treat. You can use any type of ice cream you want so the recipe is very versatile. The cake is made ahead of time and put in your freezer. Before serving unmold onto a plate, cover with your whipped topping and it’s ready to serve! It’s quick to put together taking only about 15 minutes or so!

Christmas Ice Cream Cake

Ingredients:

2 packages (10 oz. each) of individual cream filled chocolate cakes (Devil Dogs, Little Debbie Devil Cremes)
3 cups of ice cream, softened, I used mint chocolate chip
12 Oreo cookies, crushed and divided
2 cups of whipped topping, I used Cool Whip

Directions:

Line a 9×5 loaf pan with plastic wrap. Place six chocolate cakes in the pan, completely covering the bottom. Spread ice cream over the cakes and sprinkles with half of the crushed Oreo crumbs. Press the remaining chocolate cakes on top. Cover and freeze for at least three hours.

Just before serving, remove from the freezer and invert onto a serving plate. Remove the pan and plastic wrap. Frost the top and sides of the cake with the whipped topping. Sprinkle with the remaining cookie crumbs and serve. Serves 8-10 people depending on the size of the servings.

This Christmas Ice Cream Cake was the perfect dessert to serve our company. I was able to make it ahead of time and frost just before serving. It was a big hit.

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Broccoli Soup with an Added Twist

Just tried this broccoli soup recipe and it’s a winner. The recipe is an adaptation from one of my favorite cookbooks, Cold Weather Cooking by Sarah Leah Chase. I’ve never had a failure with any one of her recipes, they are always so delicious. Adding mustard seeds to a broccoli soup was a new twist but they not only add a nice flavor but a little crunch as well. The flavor of this soup becomes more pronounced as the soup sits, so you may want to make the soup a day or so in advance for a stronger taste.

Broccoli Soup with Mustard Seeds

Ingredients:

6 Tbsp. butter
2 medium onions, diced
2 large potatoes, peeled and diced
1 large bunch of broccoli, trimmed and chopped
6 cups of homemade chicken broth
1 cup of whipping cream
¼ cup golden mustard seeds
1 cup Parmesan cheese, freshly grated

Directions:

Melt the butter in a large stockpot over medium high heat. Add the onion and sauté until soft and translucent, about 10 minutes. Stir in the potatoes and broccoli, cover with the chicken broth, and season with salt and pepper. Simmer uncovered until the vegetables are very tender, about 30-40 minutes.

Add the cream and use an immersion blender to puree the soup. Stir in the mustard seeds and Parmesan cheese. If the soup seems too thick you may add a little milk. Serve hot! Makes 6-8 servings

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Winter Checklist

Sometimes I am amazed at how quickly the seasons change. It seems like just yesterday I was writing a fall checklist! Now with Christmas upon us, and January just around the corner, it’s time to prepare for winter. Have you begun your winter checklist?

Depending on where you live your winter preparations might look different from mine. Here in the northeast we usually get a lot of snow. You have to be prepared in case you just won’t be going out for a few days.

Hopefully all your fall chores are taken care of and your house is ready for winter. In preparing the house for winter you want to make sure you are preventing any heat loss. If you have drafty windows add some weather stripping around your windows and doorframes. If necessary you can cover the windows with plastic.

Make sure your snow blowers are in good working order and the snow shovels are in good shape. We have several snow shovels, one for our deck and another for the back steps.

Be prepared for severe storms and make sure you have plenty fo water and nonperishable food on hand. Ideally you need to have 1 gallon of water per person per day set aside.

In case you loose your power you should have a manual can opener. Nothing like having a good supply of nonperishable food and no way to open the cans!

Do you have a portable radio that runs on batteries? A flashlight with batteries is also helpful to add to your winter checklist. I remember as a child a big snowstorm we had and we lost our power. Luckily we had flashlights so we could spend time in the evening reading. Perhaps you have a generator. We installed a whole house generator after the last big storm we had. The generator is connected to our propane tank so the minute we loose power on comes the generator. Having a generator offers a great sense of peace.

Whether you have a generator or not it is a good idea to follow a winter checklist and make sure you and your home are prepared.

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3 Apps To Help You Enhance Your Gardening Skills

Whether you are planting wildflowers, spring or fall veggies, or designing an herb garden, it takes a little bit of skill. You have to understand what your plants need to thrive. You have to know how when and how to:

Prepare and protect the soil.
- How to add nutrients
- How to till the ground
- Do you need mulch?
- Do you use compost deposits?
Select the seeds
- Which seeds grow best in your climate?
- When should you plant them?
- How long should it take them to grow (click here for more details)

Determine the amount of sunshine the garden needs (direct sunlight or indirect sunlight)
How to prevent disease or damage done by insects
Which plants survive cool and cold temperatures?
How to rotate your plants in order to keep the soil healthy

There is help

Modern technology is the gardner’s best friend. There are tons of apps for smart-phones and androids that will help you plant and harvest a successful garden. These apps give you all the information you need to begin and continue your garden. If there is an issue with your plants, you can bet someone has already experienced the same issue.

Below we are going to share with you 3 of our top choices for the gardener. With these apps on your phone or tablet, your garden will be fail-proof.

Gardening Companion

The Gardening Companion App is free. Everything you need to know about your garden is literally at your fingertips. The app answers your questions about planting and issues that come up. It can be set up to remind you of when to maintain your garden. This is like having your own gardening assistant.

Gardening Compass

This app gives you all the information you need on any plant. If you want to identify a particular flower or plant, it can help you. If you want to know if that plant is compatible with your garden, it can tell you that too. The calendar reminds you of important tasks to do. It is easy to forget your gardens needs in our fast-paced world.

Permaculture

One issue you may face when designing your garden is that the apps are not very flexible. If you have an odd shaped garden, the apps cannot adjust their instruction for the shape. Permaculture solved that problem. This is a high-tech app let you create a virtual garden. You will be able to design the garden on screen and the app will tell you if you have placed a plant in a prime area or if it should be moved.

Gardening is a great way to bring beauty and satisfaction to your life. You may want a small flower garden to enjoy in your backyard or you may have a large plot that allows for fall vegetables to grow. You may have a raised garden or a portable herb garden. These apps adjust to your requirements and make the job of expert gardening your reality. Whether you have been a gardener for years or this is your first try, these apps are going to be your new best friend.