Today I made a loaf of bread and a batch of hamburger and hot dog buns. I'm getting better at the buns, though next time I will double the time of the second dough rise. My hot dog and hamburger buns are flatter than I'd like.

Still the kids like the way they taste and will eat them up, so a little flatness isn't causing complaints.

I am also going to throw the makings of turkey soup in the crockpot tonight, just fill it up with turkey necks, an onion, a carrot, some celery leaves and inner stalks, garlic, salt, pepper and water and let it go all night. Then tomorrow strain it, pick all the meat off the bones to add back to the broth, add fresh carrots and celery and homemade whole wheat egg noodles, and have it ready for the kids when they come home from school for dinner, served with warm homemade bread. Yummy and cheap.

I am really glad I bought a pasta maker in my formerly less than frugal life. I didn't use it much then, but I sure use it a lot now.