Recipes from Party in the Pantry Activity

Honey Oat Bread
3 cups all-purpose or bread flour
3/4 cup oats (either old-fashioned or quick)
2 1/2 tsp instant yeast
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 cup milk (almond or soy for vegan/dairy free)
1/4 cup lukewarm water
2 Tbsp butter or margarine
1/3 cup honey (agave for vegan) if you like sweeter bread, just add extra

1 1/2 to 2 Tbsp honey (or agave), warmed (can mix with a bit of butter)
1 1/2 to 2 Tbsp oats

In a large bowl, or the bowl of a standing mixer, combine the flour, oats, yeast, and salt.

In a small bowl, or two-cup measuring cup, warm the milk so that it's hot enough to melt the butter, but not boiling. Add the butter, stirring until melted, then stir in the water and honey.

Pour the milk mixture into the flour mixture, mixing until it just comes together to form a dough. Knead for 10 minutes, until the dough is smooth and elastic. If the dough is still very wet and sticky after 5 minutes of kneading, add more flour, 1 Tbsp at a time, until the dough is barely tacky. If the dough is too dry, add water, 1 teaspoon at a time, to soften it up.

Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover, and allow to rise until doubled (about 1 to 1 1/2 hours).

Once doubled, place the dough on a clean, dry work surface. If the dough is too sticky, lightly flour the surface before continuing. With your fingers, flatten the dough into a 9 by 12-inch rectangle. Tightly roll the dough, tucking the ends as needed, into a loaf. Place the shaped dough into a 9x5-inch loaf pan, cover with a clean towel, and allow to rise until doubled, about 1 to 1 1/2 hours.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place an empty loaf pan on the bottom rack of the oven and bring 2 cups of water to a boil.

When the loaf is doubled again, brush the top with the warmed honey and sprinkle with the oats.

Place the bread in the oven and pour boiling water into the empty loaf pan on the bottom rack of the oven. Bake for 40-50 minutes, until the bread is deep golden brown and the internal temperature is about 190 degrees.


Homemade Liquid Laundry Soap (Front or Top-Loading Machines)
4 cups hot tap water
1 fels-naptha or Ivory soap bar
1 cup washing soda
1/2 cup borax

Grate the bar of soap and add to saucepan with water. Stir over medium-low heat until soap dissolves and is melted.

Fill a 5 gallon bucket halfway with hot tap water. Add the melted soap, washing soda, and borax. Stir well until all powder is dissolved. Fill bucket to the top with more hot water. Stir, cover, and let sit overnight to thicken. It will get quite thick.

Stir again in the morning and mix it well. Dump half of the soap into a second 5 gallon bucket and fill both buckets to the top with water and stir well. Or don't dilute it at all and only use half the amount called for in each load.

Optional: add 10-15 drops of essential oil per 2 gallons. Add once the soap is cooled. Ideas: lavender, rosemary, or tea tree oil.

Top-Loading machine: 5/8 cup per load (approx. 180 loads)
Front-Loading machine: 1/4 cup per load (approx. 640 loads)


Powdered Laundry Detergent (Top-Loading Machine)
1 fels-naptha soap bar
1 cup washing soda
1/2 cup borax

Grate soap or break into pieces and process in a food processor until powdered. Mix all ingredients. For a light load, use 1 Tbsp. For a heavy or heavily soiled load, use 2 Tbsp. Yields 3 cups detergent (approx. 40 loads).

Stain Remover
2 parts hydrogen peroxide
1 part Dawn dish soap

Combine in a spray bottle and use on laundry stains (even ones that have been dried in the dryer).

Strawberry Freezer Jam
4 cups mashed strawberries
5 Tbsp instant pectin
1 3/4 cup sugar
1 tsp lemon juice

Mix sugar and pectin together so there are no lumps. Mash strawberries to desired consistency. Add sugar and lemon juice and mix for 3 minutes. Jam needs to refrigerate for 3 hours to reach desired consistency. place in containers and freeze for up to 2 years.


Peach Freezer Jam
4 cups mashed peaches
5 Tbsp sure-gel pectin
1 3/4 cups sugar
2 tsp lemon juice

Skin the peaches and mash to desired consistency. Follow directions on box of pectin.

Moderate Income Housing Information

Howard County Housing Accepting Applications for Moderate Income Housing Unit Program

ELLICOTT CITY, MD – Howard County Housing will begin accepting applications for the July enrollment period for the County’s Moderate Income Housing Unit (MIHU) program on Tuesday, July 1. The open enrollment period will end Thursday, July 31. 

The MIHU program is an inclusionary zoning program that requires developers of new housing in certain zoning districts to sell or rent a percentage of the new dwelling units to households of moderate income. The program offers quality new homes at reduced sale prices and rents to income eligible families. 

As part of the MIHU program, Housing will hold a free “MIHU Buyers and Renters Workshop” on July 15 at 6:00 p.m. at the Gateway Building, 6751 Columbia Gateway Drive in Columbia. The workshop is open to the public and will explain the program’s eligibility requirements and application process for prospective homebuyers and renters. Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Maryland and Delaware, Inc. will also be on hand to present information regarding the importance of credit scores for buying or renting a home. For more information or to register for the workshop, contact Howard County Housing’s Homeownership Division at 410-313-6318 and select option 4.

To purchase an MIHU home, persons must apply to Howard County Housing during an open enrollment period in order to be placed in the database and on the waiting list. The applicant’s household income may not exceed 80% of Howard County’s median income which, as of January 1, 2014, is $108,844 for a family of four. Applicants must also meet minimum credit score requirements and their household income must be sufficient to qualify for a home mortgage based on industry standards. Base sale prices for MIHUs can range from $136,000 for a condominium to $255,000 for a townhome.  Actual sale prices vary depending on the size and amenities of the unit. If you were not eligible in the past because of household income, Howard County Housing encourages you to check current eligibility limits.     

Available MIHU homeownership opportunities are at Ellicott Crossing, Gatherings at Ellicott Mills and Howard Square. Located on Rogers Avenue in Ellicott City, Ellicott Crossing boasts townhomes with three bedrooms, three baths, spacious kitchens and efficient gas heat in each home. The Beethoven and Hepburn models both offer more than 1,600 square feet of living space. Also located in Ellicott City, the Gatherings at Ellicott Mills is a new 55+ active adult community currently under construction on Route 40 and featuring two bedroom condo apartments and three bedroom villa townhomes. Howard Square, located off Route 1 in Elkridge, offers one-car garage townhomes with three bedrooms and over 1,500 square feet of living space on three finished levels.

To rent an MIHU unit, an applicant’s household income may not exceed 60% of the Howard County median income. MIHUs are rented on a first-come, first-serve basis, with rents ranging from $1,224 to $1,698, including utilities. MIHUs are interspersed throughout each community and residents enjoy all of the amenities of community life. Alta at Regency Crest, Ashbury Courts, Belmont Station, Mission Place, Orchard Meadows and Penniman Park are currently accepting MIHU rental applications. Prospective renters may apply directly to a participating rental community at any time during the year. Rental management addresses and phone numbers can be found on Housing’s website, www.howardcountymd.gov/housingmihu.htm. 

Open enrollment periods for the MIHU purchase program are held quarterly. Interested persons should call Howard County Housing’s Homeownership Division at 410-313-6318, selection option 4, or visit their MIHU website at www.howardcountymd.gov/housingmihu.htm.