The Bread Beckers

Homemade Fettuccine made with freshly ground Kamut

Yesterday Keith watched the children while I was away taking my very first cooking class at the Bread Becker's!!

I have always wanted to participate in a cooking class, but distance created an obstacle from seeing that take place.

I told Keith I smiled like a kid with a new toy the whole first hour!

The class was on making your own homemade pasta from freshly ground grains using a pasta machine they offer called Pasta Master 2000. It also entailed cooking a couple of dishes using the brown rice pasta (already made) that they offer as well.  The brown rice pasta is a great alternative for those who cannot tolerate gluten.

Honestly, even though we eat plenty of pasta, it was not the subject matter that prompted me to go as much as the simple fact that this was the very next class available and I couldn't wait any longer! As the class ended, I have now added (much to the dismay of my husband's wallet) the pasta machine to my wish list. For two major reasons:

1- Homemade Pasta is Super Neat

~ you can make all kinds of shapes and sizes

~ easy

~ only 2 ingredients

~ would also make great gift ideas if you chose to dry it

2- Homemade Pasta is Super Tasty

~ they recommend that you use Kamut (possibly the type grain that Joseph stored during the 7 good years in Genesis) which is 30 percent higher in Vit. E than freshly ground whole wheat and has a lower gluten content with a buttery taste.

~ of course, like all the grains, it should be freshly ground to retain all the nutrients and it produces a very nice taste that doesn't seem "wheaty" at all.

I was impressed and though at this time in our life making our own pasta and getting a new machine is not
something that we will pursue, when the timing is right we will hopefully become spaghetti, fettuccine, linguine, ravioli, penne, lasagna making pros!

* A couple of neat tips I learned in the class:

1- The starchy water that you are left with after boiling pasta can be saved and used in bread making for a softer loaf.

2- You can add powdered spice mixes and powdered-dehydrated veggies (like spinach, carrots, tomatoes, etc...) into your flour before mixing and you have a beautiful, extra nutritious, colored pasta.

So thankful to be close to Bread Beckers,
Nichole

p.s. The class was excellent and Ashley did a fantastic job! It only cost me $6 and we were able to eat a little of everything that she cooked! Be sure to visit the Bread Beckers web site to see all their great products and check out the upcoming cooking classes.

Inside Pics

Some have asked that we send some pictures of the home we are staying in. It makes things seem more real when you can actually see where someone is living, even if you never get to visit. Although, we would love a visit!!

So, here we go...just a few.

Foyer

To the left you walk into living room and kitchen. To the right you can go into the study or head upstairs to all of our bedrooms.

Living Room

 It is much smaller than our last, but much cozier too.

Kitchen

 You really should be a fly on the wall when I am doing all our baking in here!

Study/School Room

If you notice...there is a great example of a wife trying to please her hunting husband! And there is another to match it on the opposite side of those double doors!

It really is beautiful up here. We have some new friends who live up the hill above us and the view from their kitchen and living room is fantastic! It looks as if we are nestled right in the mountains. Once the leaves begin to change, I am sure it will be breath-taking.  Also, the slightly cooler temperatures have been nice (although I may not be saying that come winter time)!



Thankful to be exactly where God wants us,

Nichole





Our New Home

We have now been in our new home for about 3 weeks. A lot has happened since the last time we posted. Through much prayer God has shown us that He had a new direction for our lives. Keith is no longer the pastor at Pleasant Valley Baptist Church and for now our family is under a special ministry at a fantastic church in North Georgia. They have taken us under their wings with the hopes of providing much needed rest and a rejuvination to launch us back out into the ministry...wherever and whatever that will be. Keith is in the process of looking for a job that will provide for our family while we are here. Although I pray it will not be one that takes him away too much, I know that this is a season where we may not have much of a choice.

The transition has been harder in some ways than I anticipated. Things are pretty different. A much, much, much larger church, living in very close contact with our neighbors, not much yard space, being under another's guidance and authority, ect....But, with that is the opportunity to be under some fantastic preaching (although I felt like I was under fantastic preaching with my husband), getting to know and build relationships with our oh so close neighbors, making the most of small spaces (which means getting rid of stuff we don't need- Yay!), and becoming teachable and moldable for God to make necessary changes in all of our lives.

The children miss our last home. Maleah has said, "Mama, I want to go home." Yesterday she asked, "Where is Brother Will?" and "I want to see Jakey!". She is very bossy for 21 mths.! I will have to say the other day she also asked me, "Where is God?" I had her repeat this 3 times because  I knew that I had not just heard a 21 mth. old ask this. Finally I said, "He is everywhere, Maleah." She then said, "Where is Jesus?" I said, "He is with God the Father in Heaven." In a raised and bossy voice she said, "I want to see Jesus!!". I told her, "Well, I think you need to see Jesus!". She amazes all of us. She has been a joy that has helped us all get through this time.

Wednesday I will be 30 weeks along in this pregnancy. The time has gone by so fast. It has been a struggle to decide to go natural versus having an epidural. A little over a month ago I had a terrible bout with a kidney stone and after that I just didn't think I could handle anymore pain. My confidence has built since then, and I have really prayed and pondered what is the best for me and the baby. I have decided to go natural. Is it because I like the pain or want to show that I am superwoman?? Nooooo.....trust me when I say I have been very tempted to try to make it as pain-free as I possibly could. It came down to the fact that it lessens my likelihood of a ceasarean for the simple reason that I am not confined to a bed and can get up and move around and try different positions, etc... I have also been reading up on the Bradley Method and hope to implement that. It will be here so soon and I have a feeling that other than feeding time, this little one will be in the arm's of another....if you know what I mean. Many anxious siblings awaiting his or her arrival.

School has started back for us as well. Keith has been home and been able to offer his expertise and I am loving him at home. It will be hard to let him go again. Joshua is eager to start and though we were going to wait to do anything formal, we want to take advantage of his willing spirit.

I know this has been lengthy, but I wanted to give an update on our family. I hope to post some pictures of the inside of the house now that we have it mostly organized and also get back to sharing here and there every couple of days or so.

Love grows best in little houses!

Nichole