Monday Q&A | Bread Bags, Vacuums, Dough Hooks, and Skin Care

Every Monday, I answer a few of the questions that my readers send me. If you have a question you’d like me to answer in a future Q&A post, just leave me a comment here or email me (thefrugalgirl [at] gmail [dot] com) and put Q&A in the subject line. I look forward to hearing from you!

I had a question on how you store your bread. I have been making more bread in an attempt to transition to 100% homemade bread, I am inspired by you! But I was wondering how you store your bread when you bake 2-3 loaves at a time. Do you freeze one or two, if you do, what type of bag or container do you freeze it in?

Kristen B.

Yep, that’s exactly what I do…I bake three loaves at a time and freeze two.

Since most plastic storage bags aren’t long enough for bread loaves, I typically reuse commercial bread bags for freezing. I just shake them out after I use them and stuff them in a drawer to be used again. They can last a long time that way. I also sometimes use old cereal bags…I just squeeeze the air out, roll the end up tight, and secure it with a chip clip or clothespin.

Cereal bags probably wouldn’t be great for long term storage since it’s harder to get all the air out of them, but my loaves of bread are usually only in the freezer for a few days, so it works fine for me.

I was wondering if you could share some experience of vacuum cleaners with me, I have had a cheap bagged one that my neighbor gave me when they emigrated for around 9 years and its started to smell and lose suction quite a lot.

Seeing as though you have children and such I was wondering what your vacuum of choice is?

– L.H.

I wish I had something really helpful to say, but I don’t. I currently have a Kenmore vacuum, but I’ve owned probably at least 4 vacuums before this one (including a bagless type). I’ve had a hard time finding one that lasts for a long time, and that frustrates me.

I have had some success at making my vacuums live longer by cleaning the belt and filters, and by clearing clogs from the hoses (one time I found a glue stick in there, and boy, my vacuum worked a lot better after I pulled that out!) But I wouldn’t say I’ve found a vacuum I would heartily recommend.

I was blessed to receive a KitchenAid mixer from my husband for Christmas (second hand – even better!), and have begun baking bread regularly. Early success, followed by a few failures, but I’m back on track. You seem to use your mixer to mix the dough, but then knead by hand. I’ve been using the dough hook to do the kneading for me – am I missing out on something great by not kneading by hand?

-S.S.

I do this mostly because my mom did it that way. 😉 She tried the dough hook a few times, decided she ended up adding too much flour that way, and switched to finishing up the kneading by hand.

So honestly, I’ve never really even tried using the dough hook! I’m so used to kneading this way (my mom taught me when I was in my early teens), I’m kind of stuck in my ways now.

I’d say if the dough hook is working well for you, then by all means stick with that method. Just be sure not to add too much flour (that’s the most common error new bakers make.)

I have noticed your pictures of you and your skin looks so good and I was wondering if you use sunscreen. If so what kind? I was told to use sunscreen but they all break my face out.

-Julie

Oh, my skin is definitely not perfect…I’ve got moles, zits, and scars. 🙂

And I’m starting to get some wrinkles too. Fortunately, I do have somewhat oily skin, so hopefully the wrinkles won’t take over too soon. 😉

The makeup I use has a built-in sunscreen, I believe. Maybe you could find a hypo-allergenic, unscented sort?

Hopefully my readers will have some good advice for you. My skin doesn’t seem to be terribly sensitive, so I don’t really have the voice of experience that you need.

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Ok, people. Share your vacuum-cleaner and sunscreen advice!

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