One thing about cold weather is that you get caught up on a lot of stuff in the house (not that our house could use some cleaning and straightening up). And in between times, I’ve been making extra bread, rolls, and other baked goods. It seems that when it gets cold our primal instincts force us to make lots of food! Or it’s just a good excuse…

I picked up a couple of on-sale 5-pound bags of flour before Christmas and opened one to make some bread. Did you know that nearly all commercial flour now contains malted barley flour? I’ve become a label reader because it seems like every company is getting sneaky about what they put into our food. The first bag I noticed was Gold Medal unbleached. Then it was the whole wheat. Even Dakota Maid was guilty! Talk about depressing. I guess it’s because barley is cheaper than wheat.

Then there’s the seed catalogs. Did any of you notice the price of seeds and plants in a lot of catalogs this year? The worst were Burpee and Henry Field, who offered a seedless grape vine for an “on sale” price of $97.99. One Vine! Wow, I guess I won’t be buying! Luckily, many others like Baker Creek, Pinetree, and Fedco are still fair on their pricing.

With it being so cold, Spencer doesn’t go out and help with chores and Hondo jumps up on the hay bales in between pens to keep his bum and paws warm. Smart dogs!

Hondo-sled

Will and I also want to wish each and every one of you Happy New Year!– Jackie

31 COMMENTS

  1. Everybody,

    HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU TOO! We’ve been so busy with our severely sub-zero weather that I didn’t even blog last Wed.! I hear warmer weather is forcasted. Above Zero, too!

  2. Zelda

    I’m glad to hear what they had to say about adding the malted barley to the wheat. My point is, my ancestors and I have been baking bread for generations and have never had trouble with our bread rising with plain old flour; no barley added. I know barley is natural but when I want to add barley to my flour, I’ll add it. When I buy “whole wheat flour” I want WHOLE WHEAT FLOUR. Period. End of story.

  4. Cindy,

    Yep, I also got my Stark catalog and was surprised to see that they had (I guess) bought out Miller Nursery. We buy nearly all our fruit trees from Fedco Trees and St. Lawrence Nurseries as they are about the only ones that carry fruit trees grafted on standard, very hardy rootstock. And I’ve wasted a lot of money in the past buying from warmer-weather commercial nurseries who graft onto less hardy (like zone 5 hardy!) rootstock or sell dwarf or semi-dwarf trees that are not dependably hardy here in Zone 3.
    Yep, those old beavers sure knew what they were talking about. Brrr. Our highs have been -20 the last few days!

    Jackie

  5. Experiencing Minnesota type cold here now after a nasty blizzard yesterday here in NW Indiana…bread is baking and stew is simmering…haven’t known this sort of cold since we left MN!! wow! But hubby and I remembered how to dress,( originally from the Melrose~St.Cloud area) dug out the ultra cold weather clothing to clear the driveway and wait for the plow…which hasn’t come yet…schools are closed again tomorrow here…as are southern Indiana colleges…we just don’t DO cold like this down here!! But it was fun to go out and play in the snow!!
    Keep warm, love the dogs…

  6. Malted barley flour in the wheat flour – I’ve used King Arthur white (which is unbleached), white whole wheat and whole wheat for years. The bag of white I bought last year which is in my freezer, the bag I bought today and the bag of bread flour I’ve been using all list malted barley flour as an ingredient and the bags say it is “a natural yeast food”. I emailed them to ask why they add it. Here’s the response: “We have added malted barley flour to our flours for many years now. It is added to control the amylase action, which is where starches are converted to sugars. The amount added is very small and varies from mill run to mill run based on the grain.” The person who responded did not say what happened or what baking problems they found or were reported that caused them to make this decision but I will ask. Hope this helps.

  8. Dear Jackie

    Thanks for answering my question regarding pole beans. You mentioned lack of sourcing for Cherokee trail of tears – HERITAGE HARVEST SEED – they are out if Carmen MB – web site is http://WWW.heritageharvestseed.com

    They have seed varieties that date back to 1805 and even 1775.

    I will order and try the Cherokee variety and some of their tonaroe varieties

  9. Jackie, When you find a friend or neighbor that has a grape vine that you would like to have, get a few cuttings from them in the fall. Stick the cuttings in the ground, and the next spring they will be rooted. That is how I got all of my grape vines after the initial nursery bought plants. Mine started producing on the second year.

  11. Love that picture of Hondo waiting for a ride! A very happy new year to you, Will, and David!

  12. Just received the same Burpee catalog and had to laugh at the prices. Good grief! At first glance, I thought I’d been looking at patented varieties. I’ll definitely do a thorough inventory of my seed collection before ordering this year… and maybe try to organize a seed exchange with family and coworkers. I’ve ordered through Pinetree and Baker Creek before and will check them out again. It’s good to “hear” your voice through your writing, Jackie. Best wishes to you and Will for the new year. Stay warm!

  14. I think they put the malted barley flour in as a dough conditioner. It is a 100% natural ingredient, it’s nothing more than a powdered version of the stuff man has been making into beer for millennia.

    Since flour here only contains pure wheat I add 1/4 tsp. malted barley flour to my 1 pound loves. We feel it gives it a deeper flavor, higher rise, and bread with it added lasts longer. Don’t try more than that though, or you’ll end up with gummy bread.

  15. I agree, seed prices are ridiculous!!! And the number of seeds per pack keeps getting smaller. Last year I had ordered a new bean variety and there were only 18 seeds in the whole pack!

    I did manage to score some rare popbean seeds from the government seed bank, but there were only 10 seeds per packet. I’m hoping I can add them to the list of seeds I’m selling, after I take a few years to expand my supply.

    Thanks for the tip on the flour, I wonder if that’s why my bread won’t turn out right anymore?

  16. Happy New Year! I always love coming into a house from the cold weather
    with the warm, cozy, homey, great food smells that only winter brings. I
    must second the King Arthur Flour, have been to their VT location–it is more
    expensive though. Stay warm and safe.

  17. I checked a couple of bags of flour. Gold Medal and Dollar General generic. The Gold Medal, as you said, had the malted barley flour but the Dollar General did not. I normall use unbleached but these were the regular since that is all the store had.

    HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

  18. You have definitely spoiled Spencer. A Lab that won’t go out in the cold??? Ridiculous!

    :-) ;-) :-)

    Happy New Year!!!!!

    KK

  20. I dont have the new Territorial catalogue yet but they were much cheeper than the other companies I use on herbs and flowers last year. Irish eyes had a good selection on short season tomatoes at a reasonable price last year. Happy. New Year.

  21. Jackie, Happy New Years to you, Will and David! I would also like to take this time to thank you, as I reflect on this past year, for all the insight, knowledge and hope you share. It has made such a difference on our little “homestead”. Many blessings on you and yours in the new year!

  22. Company’s just do what ever makes them more money. I think that is why people have so many more health issues. Yes it is time for all of us to get into the seed saving business. Happy New Year to you and your family. I love that dog…he is smart and good looking

  25. HAPPPPPYYYYYY NNNNNNEEEEWWWWWWW YYYYYYYEEEEEEEAAAARRRR!!! I figure I would yell it since sound doesn’t travel as well in extreme cold! :-) I hope you and yours have a wonderful 2014 and seed/plant prices come down for all.

  26. Just to let you all know that King Arthur Flour doesn’t add bromine to their flour as do many other flours. They are located in Maine and the company is 200 years old. It is now owned by the employees. Bromine is a poison and interferes with the function of the thyroid. Check it out. Their flour produces better baked goods too. My local grocery store carries their flours but you can order their products on line.

  27. Happy New Years Jackie, Will and David. I checked my two remaining bags of flour and they are all wheat. I guess we will have to get out the grain mill and grind our own flour. My diet doesn’t allow me to have many chemicals, so what’s one more thing to do from scratch Thank you for your time and advice.

  29. For making bread I use Bob’s Red Mill 100% whole wheat flour. It is stone ground from hard red wheat. That is the only ingredient in the package.

    You can mail order if it isn’t available locally. They have a LOT of other grain products. I highly recommend them.

    http://www.bobsredmill.com/

  31. Jackie, Did you know that Stark brothers now carries Miller Nursery? Where do you recommend buying fruit trees , shrubs etc? Your dogs are so funny!! I can feel in the cold that the beavers are so right!! I hope they forcast a nice spring and summer!!! No more extremely cold.

Comments are closed.