FLOUR

Recently I thought about this letter I wrote to Better Homes & Gardens Magazine.  I wrote it in the last year or so after I found an old copy of BH&G while in the midst of decluttering our house.  I decided to share the letter because it does pertain to baking and convenience.  I hope you enjoy.

     "While in college, I had the privilege of visiting Better Homes and Gardens magazine offices in Des Moines, IA.  During that visit I received a copy of the October 1975 issue which had remained packed away all these years until recently.  While cleaning and going through items in our basement, I found the magazine and inside was an article entitled “Cooking Fundamentals,” by Doris Eby and Sally P. Torpey.  The article highlights cooking basics and includes baking; specifically a recipe for a Quick Bread Mix that can be used to make batter for pancakes, biscuits and muffins.

     I made the mix and have since baked two batches of muffins.  The second one is pictured and includes a mixture of blueberries and raspberries I had in my freezer.  I must say I am pleased with the results and would recommend this process to anyone.  I would think busy moms today would still benefit from this make-ahead/short-cut process.  Thank you BH&G for your many good recipes then and now."

 Blueberry/Raspberry Muffins packaged for a friend.

Quick Bread Mix

10 cups all-purpose flour

1/3 cup baking powder

¼ cup sugar

1 tablespoon salt

2 cups shortening that does not require refrigeration

In large mixing bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt.  With pastry blender, cut in shortening till mixture resembles coarse crumbs.  Store in covered container up to 6 weeks at room temperature.  To use: Spoon mix lightly into measuring cup; level off with straight-edged knife.  (For longer storage, place in freezer.  Allow measured amount to come to room temperature before using.) Follow chart and directions for shortcut recipes.

	Milk	Egg	Mix	Sugar
Pancakes	1 1/3 cups	1	2 cups	none
Biscuits	½ cup	None	2 cups	none
Muffins	1 cup	1	3 cups	3 tablespoons

Pancakes: In a bowl, combine eggs and milk.  Add mix; beat smooth.  Bake on hot, lightly greased griddle.  Makes ten pancakes.

Biscuits: Place mix in bowl; make a well.  Add milk all at once.  Stir with fork just till dough follows fork around bowl.  On lightly floured surface, knead dough 10 to 12 strokes.  Roll or pat to ½-inch

thickness.  Cut dough with floured biscuit cutter.  Bake on ungreased baking sheet in 450 degree oven for 10 to 12 minutes.  Makes 10 biscuits.

Muffins: Combine mix and sugar.  Mix egg and milk; add all at once to dry ingredients.  Stir to moisten.  Fill greased muffin pans 2/3 full.  Bake in 400 degree oven 20 to 25 minutes.  Makes 12.

& FLOWER

I have been lucky with my orchids so far this winter.  Of course we had some unusually warm days in December.  My orchids have not been in this window very long, but fortunately the top one has decided to put out a new shoot.  When this top orchid does bloom, it is white on the outside and pink on the inside.  It has bloomed every year in February.

This bottom orchid suffered through a dry spell before coming inside. (Hence the chopped off leaves.  I was cruel!)  But apparently it is none the worse for wear because you can see it has produced the stem with buds that are developing.  As you can probably guess, these orchid blooms will be purple and they are also small flowers.  This orchid also blooms in February.

I am sharing these because I want everyone to know raising an orchid is indeed possible!  I used to not believe it and thought I would never be able to wait long enough to see it bloom.  I am sure I could probably do more to enhance their beauty, but I am really happy at their progress.  I have eight orchids in all, having just separated one pot into three different plants.  All of my orchids are of the Phalaenopsis variety and were on sale after their blooms had died.  Since then I have repotted all of them.  I water them about every week to ten days in winter.  They should be watered well and drained well.  They cannot sit in water.  Mine get fertilized in spring and summer when they are on my porch with the rest of my potted plants.  The most important thing to remember is to provide an environment for them that is as close to their native one as possible.