Progress in the midst of some chaos

What a week. 
Truly, Progress in the midst of some chaos.....

Grandma Mary Ellen's old Stove

Before I left for UBAM National Convention we decided I needed to move my "office" work space back into the house.  Last year I moved out to a storage shed, and while it has been working fine, it was not good for working in the evenings or weekends and leaving the kiddo in the house.  Since I returned we have been purging and redoing a few things so I can make the transition back into the house, but this time have a real space, not the kitchen table or a small corner in the bedroom where I can keep Hubs up all night. 

I have turned a 8x8 corner of the family room into "command central" as Hubs calls it.  Pictures of that will be forth coming as it is fully completed.  BUT the purging, while LONG over due, has taken a LONG time to accomplish, and this is just ONE ROOM.  We have donated, hauled off, and otherwise disposed of more than two pick up loads of stuff, I der-say much of it junk.  While doing all of this we have redone the floor in the family and dinning room, which was very much needed.  The living room will happen AFTER I recover from this purge.  it wasn't until the dinning room and family got new flooring that it was plainly seen and decided that the living room was in desperate need as well.  Maybe late fall I will take a weekend and we will do the living room.

Callie Cat and Duke have been totally wandering around like we have flipped our lids.

Before

After

The "Workman" Cabinet did get a cleaning and is now on a weekly schedule for Lemon Oil to nourish the wood a little more.  Here it is resting in a new, and I think, better location.

 Through all this upheaval and sorting, and yes there have been some tense moments, I know God is beside us and guiding us.  It's been a tough and tight spring and early summer, but I see God's hand in so much.  He see's our every need, and I know He provides for us.  God is so good. 

I will catch up more later, and I do love getting comments from my gentle friends, but for now it's back to work, but I am leaving you with this:

Introducing 3in30: Version 2015

The 3 in 30.....

What is it? 

Sometimes the easiest way to accomplish needed tasks and goals are to take them in small bits and work to accomplish them, one bit by one bit at a time.

The 3 in 30 is simply picking three goals and working on completing them in thirty days.  For example, de-cluttering a counter top, going through and organizing a computer file system, dusting the cobwebs away from every room might be the three goals you set before yourself.  They don't need to be earth shattering goals.  Just three things you want to accomplish during a given month.

**I use to do this with another blog--as you may recall-- but they don't seem to be doing it any longer....  I need the accountability!  *grin*

Why do it?

Well, simply it breaks down tasks into bite size chunks.  Maybe your goal is to organize your home.  Well that sounds great until you roll up your sleeves and attempt to do it.   When you break it up into smaller manageable slots of time its easier to reach the end because you don't get overwhelmed.  You can pick organizing your cabinets, pantry, bookshelves, or whatever you goal is.  Try it, see if it doesn't help you.

Care to join me?

It costs nothing, and no harm will come to just give it an honest try.  Each Friday post on your blog, twitter feed, Facebook wall, or whatever giving us an update.  If you blog, post your update and link up right here including posting a link to the link up post on your blog!  Accountability is a large part of the battle!

So here is my 3in30 for January 2015

1) Organize my computer desk area; its become a catch all and totally not user friendly currently.
2) Organize my sewing area.  Over November and December it got a bit out of hand.  It needs to be tidied up a but, well ok, a lot!
3) Go through clothes and get ready to donate or toss all those unneeded.

Frugal living "revisited"

Frugal....  When I was young we just called it cheap.  Yes, I'm cheap... sometimes... but frugal is more than that.  Frugal is doing the best you can for the least amount of impact upon your families wallet and, I will also include, the environment. 

Canning... 

Yes I can a lot of things.  I grow a lot of things and save seeds as well.  This all leads to a more frugal lifestyle.  Not only does it mean I save money (caution....don't go into canning the first year or two thinking you will save money) but I also lessen our "carbon footprint" as a family.  I will tell you which things I believe are essential, some that are still on my wish list, and great add-ons for when you come into some money, or Great-Aunt Betsy gives you a big check and tells you to buy something for yourself! 

MUST HAVE!

Water bath Canner.  You can use a big pot, the oven, or something similar but the best and safest method in our home is the good old canner.  Doing the other methods have often resulted in broken jars and wasted time....  ALL OF WHICH causes more frustration than you can shake a stick at. 

If you are canning in the dead of summer when the veggies are coming on fast and furious, this can lead to nothing but heartache. I would make sure to invest in a fan to cool your kitchen....

For Mother's Day,  your birthday, or just because, ask for a canner.  If all else fails, buy one yourself.  Its a MUST have.  I even water bath can my jam and jelly, though technically you wouldn't have to.  My grandmother rarely did, she used paraffin to seal the jars, glasses, etc, but I prefer a longer term storage solution for those gorgeous jars I just loving cared for. 

 

Pressure Canner....  Some things MUST be pressured canned.  Unless you are trying to plan the demise of the neighbor that stays up until 4 am next door, blasting loud music every night while reeving his straight piped Harley.....  But even then...  yeah, safer to pressure can if you are doing something that MUST be prepared this way.  Like green beans, meats, soups, sauces....  Now, you could just buy the pressure canner if you have the funds and know you will use it...I have used my old pressure canner for a water bath canner as well.  You can do this successfully--though I prefer to have separate myself-- if you could only buy one.


Home Canning Kit....  This will save you more time and heartache.  Otherwise you may find you need "mommy juice" by the bucket while canning.  I have burned myself more than once not having a jar lifter and this kit has one of those, the needed funnel --yes a funnel for the jar is a MUST because few of us are careful-- and something I still want to get, a magnetic jar lid lifter.  The jar lid lifter is not a MUST, but I think it could quickly become a real strong want.  It will be on my list this year.  It has been a wish for the past couple years and I just haven't broke down and bought one yet.  Buy the kit,  it's cheaper and frankly, a well spent $12.

Jars....  You can't can without them.  I have begged, borrowed, and bought brand spanking new jars, as well as jars at used stores.....  Unless you can get your jars for free or really cheap, buy new.  As much as I abhor nearly all things Wal-Mart, you can get a decent box of jars there generally under $10 a dozen (pints).  Lets say someone at a garage sale has some and they are charging 25 cents a jar, unless your lucky and it includes the rings, you are only getting part of what's needed.  You need rings and lids.  These can run you around $4 a dozen.  When you buy rings/lids make sure it includes both rings and lids. 

For used jars you might end up paying about $7-8 dollars a dozen.  This price break down is based on pint sized jars.  Used jars might have nicks in the top of the jar so check that out before buying.  The true cost savings is in inheriting Aunt B's canning jars, or in saving your jars for the next year.   Its really just preference, used verses new I guess.  Some of my jars are a decade or more old and wonderful!  If you happened upon an estate sale and could score several dozen canning jars for a few dollars, go for it.  If you are just canning a handful of things, maybe buy new jars.  My used jar search continues every year....   I almost always buy new because you can only search so long, and I seem to always need pints or jam jars. 

(A note to local friends and family:  If you return jars and rings to me, I am more than happy to refill them for you when I can again!  Sometimes I might even have that yummy jam already waiting for you.   Please be kind and return canning jars!)

Blue Book...   If there is such a thing as a canning bible, this is it.  Its my go to canning book.  I have other favorites but if I need to make sure something is the right time or pressure, this book will tell me.  I have one from a few years ago and should probably update it soon but I would be slacking if I didn't recommend every home canner having one.

WANTS!  And boy howdy, does my wish list get big.....  even a few things I would like to add this year....

• Canning Bubble Popper and Measurer--I have been using a butter knife  *grin*
• Canning Lid Rack (I had so I know how missed this can be! Though it isn't essential)
• Food Press
•  Magnetic Lid Wand
• Dissolvable Labels for the jars.
• A portable propane stove for canning.  Of course a summer kitchen would be AWESOME!  A dream of any home food preparer.   

Canning can be a frugal way to go for your family but its by no means free or nearly so as it was for our great-grandmothers.  Good healthy food can be pricey, and growing it yourself can be costly in many areas.  Sit down and figure out how much time you devote, the cost of seed, water, etc.,  and the cost of the raw product if you do buy it and the other needed ingredients... go into it knowing what the monetary cost might be.

The biggest benefit and why I consider canning frugal living are the intangible things.  Things that can't be quantified with dollars and cents.  Healthier food for my family; the satisfaction felt when looking at my shelves full of homemade food; better for the earth that God gave us; independence and self sufficiency felt; and a sense of accomplishment, a job well done.  I wont even go into all the rich learning experiences that are provided when you produce your own food.  Let's just say that its ripe with experiences that money can't buy.  This is frugal living. 

Of course later I will discuss making other products for your family that don't involve canning.  Even what I learned while trying to learn extreme couponing.....  and I will discuss the need for a well stocked pantry of foods your family will eat, this is different than a well stocked pantry of MRE's and dehydrated foods prepared for the Zombie invasion. 

For your Valentine

Softhearted Sweetheart Chocolate Cakes

Ingredients

1 cup unsalted butter, cut into pieces (1/2 pound)

8 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped or 1-1/3 cups semisweet chocolate pieces

4 eggs

4 egg yolks

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/8 teaspoon salt

Whipped cream (optional)

Raspberry Sauce and/or fresh raspberries

Directions:

1. Lightly butter eight 8-ounce ramekins or 1-cup souffle dishes (I had neither of these dishes, what I did have was a texas muffin tin so I used it instead and I think it worked very well); line bottoms with parchment or wax paper. Place the prepared ramekins on a shallow baking pan or on a large cookie sheet. Set aside.

2. In a heavy-bottomed, medium saucepan, melt butter and chocolate over low heat, stirring constantly. Remove from heat; cool slightly. (Or, in a mixing bowl, combine the butter and chocolate. Place mixing bowl over a pot of simmering water and melt butter and chocolate, stirring occasionally. Remove bowl from the simmering water pot; set aside to cool slightly.)

3. In a large mixing bowl, beat eggs and egg yolks with an electric mixer on high speed for 5 minutes or until thick and lemon-colored. Mix a large dollop of the beaten eggs into the butter-chocolate mixture. Gently fold until combined. Add butter-chocolate mixture to remaining beaten egg mixture and fold. After a few folds, sprinkle in sugar, flour, vanilla, and salt. Continue to fold until the mixture is combined.

4. Quickly divide the batter evenly among prepared ramekins. Bake in a 350 degree F oven for 9 to 10 minutes or until cakes feel firm to the touch on top edges, but still soft in the center when pressed with a fingertip. Remove from oven; set ramekins on a wire rack. Let cakes cool completely in ramekins.

5. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. When cakes are cool, use a small metal spatula to loosen edge of cakes from side of ramekin and unmold onto the parchment-lined baking sheet. The centers of the cakes are supposed to be soft. (If not using immediately, wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate until ready to use.)

6. When ready to serve, place cakes on a microwaveable serving plate. Heat in a microwave oven on 100 percent power for 1-1/2 to 2 minutes or until warm. (Center of cake will slightly pop up.) Serve with whipped cream and garnish with a splash of Raspberry Sauce and/or fresh raspberries, if you like. Makes 8 servings.

Raspberry Sauce

Yield: 2/3 cup

Ingredients

10 ounce package frozen and thawed red raspberries in syrup (I used frozen raspberries from a garden, they were not in a syrup)

Directions

In a blender container or food processor bowl, cover and blend or process one 10-ounce package frozen and thawed red raspberries in syrup until pureed. Use a fine sieve to sieve berry mixture. Cover and refrigerate the sauce till ready to use. Makes 2/3 cup.

I want to find a way to make a really good syrup for the next time I do this. But it was very rich, while time consuming it was very easy, just several steps. I will make it again. Thank you Pinterest! :-)

2012

Laundry Day

Since early fall I have been out of homemade soap.  I have been putting off making it.  Why?  Oh I have literally no idea.  It only takes about a half hour of my time and its literally pennies a load.

The recipe can vary from source to source.  One person told me she uses 1 bar of Felsnaptha and 6-8 cups of borax and washing soda.   My recipe is a little different and this time when I made it I varied it a bit more, I am bad when it comes to following a recipe.  Additionally, I use a regular food shredder rather than a fine grater because of a hand injury which would prevent fine grating.  After grating I chop as well.

Kim's Laundry Suds Soap Recipe

Ingredients:
1 bar of Fels-Naptha or Zote soap
1 cup of Boarx
1 cup of Washing Soda
1 cup of Baking Soda
1 cup Laundry Crystals --Optional

Directions:
Place borax, washing soda, and baking soda in a large bucket or bowl.  Grate the bar of soap (with a food grater--fine if you can) and add it to the powder mix in the bucket.  Add the optional laundry crystals if you like.  Mix well with a large wooden spoon.

For use in laundry, add 1 Tbsp for a regular load of laundry (2-3 Tbsp if dirty or large) --if desired and using cool water dissolve the laundry soap first in a pint of warm water.  

Hubs only complaint with this laundry soap has been lack of scent.  The crystals take care of that problem!

You will buy a box of each of the powders and it will make several batches.  The Fels-Naptha runs around a dollar a bar.  I figure each batch cost about $3 and will wash about 70-75 loads. 
I say thats pretty good.

Real food journey

What a great week we are having.  Seriously.

I haven't bought pop in over a week.  Yeah kind of craving that, but living through it.  Now I am cutting down on coffee stand purchases!  Oh boy....

I cooked a turkey over new years and boiled the bones for broth.  From that broth I made two additional full meals and several quick grab meals that can be put in the freezer.

I decided to make completely 100% homemade soup again, and this time really let the spices and herbs simmer.  And I did....  I think the broth for the soup simmered for a good six hours before I  began to add vegetables and I let that cook an additional two hours in the crock pot before I added the noodles.  I still need to work on how many noodles I add.  I tend to like a more brothie soup with less noodles, but many people love a full thick and chunky soup with a hearty amount of noodles.  For just me I would have added a much smaller amount.  Trial and error, as we explore real food.

With the soup I served homemade biscuits which I slathered in a garlic butter I made.  OH YUM!  So delicious.  We are garlic lovers though.

Kim's Egg Noodles

My noodles are really simple and do not require a pre-dry period.  I use a pasta roller (manual) and the recipe is unbleached white or wheat flour (I used unbleached white this day).  I generally get two healthy cups of flour, two eggs, water, and salt and pepper.  I placed the flour on my board and make a well for the eggs, water, seasoning mixture.  I then get a small bowl and put the eggs in it, water (this can vary depending on how much flour--so adjust as needed) with the salt and pepper and whip the liquid.  I then place it in the "well" in the mound of flour and mix together. 

I make sure my rollers on the machine are lightly floured and commence the stretching of the dough and once that is complete (according to instructions and desired thickness) I run the strength dough through the noodle cutter and immediately place the noodles into the bubbling broth.  Separate the noodles as you are putting them in the broth.  Enjoy.

Ready for the Zombies......

**Post may contain affiliate links.  If you click and buy I do make a very small profit.


Can I throw TP and Ketchup at them?  Maybe a box of Mac and Cheese?

My cluttered pantry

Having a well stocked pantry can mean the difference between making it through a rough patch or not making it through.  Your pantry doesn't need to take up an entire room.  Even apartment dwellers can have a pantry full of extra "stores" for the rough patches.  Yes, you can!   I am gonna tell you how!

I wish I could include better pictures here, but with getting ready to move our pantry is neglected and much of it in storage.  I looked for old pictures... they show very little.  In our home we have been blessed with being able to have a large pantry area.  That being said, you don't need a large area to stock up.  In fact you can do it, with some creativity, in a small one bedroom apartment or studio; and I have done it in a small space.  I speak from experience!

If you are tight on space, think creatively.  What's under your bed, besides dust bunnies?  They have something you can buy at the hardware store, discount center, even Ikea, that lifts the legs of beds.  They are commonly called "Bed Risers" and using them can give you enough space to scoot clear plastic containers underneath a bed full of caned goods, toilet paper, noodles, tomato sauce, juice, and more.   A full or queen size bed can easily provide food and other necessities for several weeks for the occupants of the bed.  The same with a twin bed.  Your bed skirt will hide much of it and no one will be the wiser, unless you proudly show off your savings account.  The savings account that will still work even if the ATM's are down.  The savings account that will enable you to still have food if you get stuck in your home for a week from a freak snow storm or mud slid that closes off your road to town. 

Look into the closets.  What's above the rods?  Is there a shelf?  Make sure its sturdy and add some lightweight items above your hang up clothes.  How about below?  Can a couple clear plastic containers fit there and then either use a shoe rack or put your shoes on top of them?  Look in your kitchen....  do you have very deep lower cabinets?  Consider using some pantry solution storage system there if you are so blessed.  The key is to use your space creatively.  Look at it with new eyes and try to gain storage space.  A empty closet that isn't need for clothes could easily be converted and have shelves installed (make sure you don't violate a lease!).  There is always a way to have a few weeks food storage for just in case.  If you can have more, bonus!

If you buy shelves, I am giving you some advice that I learned the hard way....  make sure you buy shelves that will hold the weight of what you will put on them.  I bought "cheap" shelves only to have them fail.  I ended up buying better shelves that have a weight rating of somewhere around 250-300 pounds per shelf.  I figured over kill would be better than the under powered fiasco I had before.  I bought plastic ones from Home Depot but you can also buy really nice metal ones that adjust or even make your own and make them perfectly for quart or pint sized jars.  One thing I want to do when we move is to add a chalk board shelf label (similar to what they have on this web site...http://www.shenandoahvalleyflowers.com/wp-content/uploads/DSC00168.jpg).  They have chalk board decals that stick but I bet I could also use chalk board paint on the front of my shelves in a new pantry area.  I am looking forward to what we will be able to do if we are so blessed. 

Now to some having a pantry is an effort to prepare for a coming apocalypse; Zombies, zealots of either political faction, or any religion, nuclear war, a comet bouncing off our atmosphere, invasion by Canada.....  well, just a lot of things really.  Some people with HUGE pantries are plain hoarders that call themselves "extreme couponers" (I envy their deals with double/triple coupons, I really do...), and then there are the folks like me that "stock up" and put up to save for a rainy day.  We know for 100% certain there will be a few paydays every year that are tighter than others.  We try to guard against shortened job hours, loss of income, raising food prices at certain times of the year.... and we just plain don't want to have to go to the store for everything we need.  I have literally been able to not go and buy groceries outside of perishable items like milk and produce for several weeks at a time.  After Bear was born I went three months with limited grocery store excursions.  It was NICE.  So your reason may be to have jars of peanut butter to throw at the zombies, or it might be to not have to leave the house and venture to a grocery store until roughly New Years, its all good. 

What to stock a pantry with?  If you asked my husband he would say I have a toilet paper fetish.   I like to keep a six month or so supply on hand.  I laughingly remind him that we grew up during the cold war and if the Soviet Union ever did invade, by jimmy, I was not using pine cones!  But on the same token, if you have to make a choice between milk and TP, what are you gonna pick?  Of course, milk for the babies.  Food pantries all over often say that things like personal care items are forgotten about but still very needed by people.  When you have to decide between food and shampoo, food will win every time, even though you still really need the shampoo so you can go to work and not be sent home because you have unkempt hair. 

Buy only what your family will honestly eat and enjoy. I can't stress this enough. It's been a  long held belief of mine that if you eat and enjoy spaghetti then when your favorite sauce goes on sale buy a few jars.  Instead of buying one or two, buy six.  If you use a lot of dry beans, rice, quinoa, corn meal, etc. when you buy a bag, buy two (or three).  Put the extra on the shelf (date the item) and place it into your rotation.  Newest at the back, oldest at the front.  You will build a pantry without going into debt for it.  Real pantries are not full or MRE's.....  Those are for survival.  You want a pantry that is used and enjoyed, not a bunker....  besides from what I've heard, MRE's are really only useful for killing zombies.

Before you know it you have stocked up.  Look for sales of items you really use, use store coupons and don't be afraid of store brands.  This is why coupons didn't help me much.  We don't buy a lot of sugar cereal, junk food, name brands, etc., although coupons do help me when I go a few times a year and buy personal care items.  I think the extreme couponers have hindered manufactures giving good deals; through their antics, and lets face it, down right hoarding in many circumstances, manufactures began to really limit amounts.  I am told that they might be starting to get better again, this would be nice because I need to stock up on more tooth brushes again.  For me, I could not justify the time, gas and headache that was needed to travel to all the big stores.  It was not conducive to simplifying my life. 

DO NOT BUY WHAT YOU WON'T USE.  I am telling you because I have been there and done it.....  I bought some foods that I knew we didn't eat but I wanted to have on hand for food donation, and they were on sale BIG TIME.  When the time came I forgot all about them.....  I recently had to throw out several cans of pork and beans and cream of mushroom soup, because they were past an expiration date for the pantry....  NEVER AGAIN.  Buy only what you will use.

If you need big plastic food storage buckets check with local bakeries.  I also know that stores locally like WINCO sells them and you can get them for under $7 for a 5 gallon bucket.  This are also kind of handy to have for your "emergency kit"; the handle makes it easy to carry and its water proof as well. 

If you need gallon jars, look at buying pickles and eating the pickles (lucky for me I have pickle loving family members).  Then you can wash the jar well, using a vinegar solution to help remove the pickle smell, or if you or so inclined a few drops of bleach will also do the trick.   Of course if you are blessed with a dishwasher, just a wash through it might do the trick. Then you can use the jars to store a myriad of items....  from beans to rice.....    I like storing flour, rice, etc. in gallon jars.  If you do have to throw something, a recycled jar thrown at zombies could really do some damage.  I've had a full  pint size jar fall on my head before, and it HURT.  Don't throw canning jars....  that's just plain rude!  *grin*

 

The key is to have it organized (as you can see here, I am still working on that.....  hey, I am being honest).  I have also found that you need to add cleaning and organizing a pantry to your monthly chore list.  Its not the dreaded task that you might think, if you keep on top of it. 

If you want to know more about root cellaring and putting up your own food that you grow and harvest, or that you buy locally I strongly urge you to buy or borrow, Root Cellaring.  I can't recommend this book enough.  It's written in an easy to understand way and practical as well.  Its not some high brow unattainable dream book, but really down to earth and has things each of us can most likely pick up, do, and implement.  I have enjoyed owning it and reading it to further my knowledge base in the home arts.

 

Links to some interesting web sites I have found with pantry helps and ideas....  or, better yet, follow me on pinterest!  I am not affiliated with these sites listed below, I just have discovered them on my searches for organization and wanderlust!

My Pantry Pinterest Board!
http://www.canorganizer.com/
http://www.containerstore.com/shop/kitchen/pantryOrganizers/shelfOrganizers

 Please share your experiences, thoughts, questions, and more with me.  Send me your pictures or blog links to add to my list of links if you blog about your pantry. 

Better for you No-Bakes

Better for you NO-BAKES

The secret ingredients

1/2 pure unsalted butter
1 cup of grade B maple syrup
1/4 cup of cacao powder
1/2 cup of non-homogenized milk (cream removed if you like)
1 tsp. of pure vanilla (we have made our own recently)
1/2 cup of peanut butter
2 1/2 to 3 cups of quick oats
1 cup of flaked coconut

Place first four ingredients in a sauce pan and place on medium heat stirring occasionally , allow to come to a rolling boil for 2 1/2 - 3 minutes (this seems to be based on humidity, elevation... just eyeball it).

While this is happening cut some parchment paper (or waxed paper though I like parchment) and place it on the counter.

Remove from heat and add the final four ingredients.

Mix well.

Use a large spoon, like a soup spoon, and place "mounds" of cookies unto the parchment paper to cool.

Enjoy.

This makes about 14-20 cookies depending on how big you make them.

The proof is in the enjoyment though.  They are a little on the soft side, but otherwise they did great!  So while they are not wheat free or diary free they are better for you!

Bear really enjoyed helping with making these, she enjoyed sampling them even more!

 

 

 

Links to Amazon are affiliate links.  Thank you for supporting my book habit!

 

 

Frugal is....

Making applesauce in 2012

Frugal....  When I was young we just called it cheap.  Yes, I'm cheap... sometimes... but frugal is more than that.  Frugal is doing the best you can for the least amount of impact upon your families wallet and, I will also include, the environment. 

Canning... 

Yes I can a lot of things.  I grow a lot of things and save seeds as well.  This all leads to a more frugal lifestyle.  Not only does it mean I save money (caution....don't go into canning the first year thinking you will save money) but I also lessen our "carbon footprint".  Here is a link to all things canning on Amazon (yes it is an affiliate link).  I will tell you which things I believe are essential, some that are still on my wish list, and great add-ons for when you come into some money, or Great-Aunt Betsy gives you a big check and tells you to buy something for yourself!  We can dream!

MUST HAVE!

Water bath Canner.  You can use a big pot, the oven, or something similar but the best and safest method in our home is the good old canner.  Doing the other methods have often resulted in broken jars, wasted time....  Which causes more frustration.  If you are canning in the dead of summer when the veggies are coming on, this can lead to nothing but heartache.  For Mother's Day, Birthday, or just because, ask for a canner.  If all else fails, buy one yourself.  Its a MUST have.  I even water bath can my jam and jelly, though technically you wouldn't have to.  My grandmother rarely did, she used paraffin to seal the jars, glasses, etc. 

Pressure Canner....  Some things MUST be pressured canned.  Unless you are trying to plan the demise of the neighbor that stays up until 4 am next door, blasting loud music every night while reeving his straight piped Harley.....  But even then...  yeah, safer to pressure can if you are doing something that MUST be prepared this way.  Like green beans, meats, soups, sauces....  Now, you could just buy the pressure canner if you have the funds and know you will use it...I have used my old pressure canner for a water bath canner as well.  You can do this successfully--though I prefer to have separate myself-- if you could only buy one. 

Home Canning Kit....  This will save you more time and heartache.  Otherwise you may find you need "mommy juice" by the bucket while canning.  I have burned myself more than once not having a jar lifter and this kit has one of those, the needed funnel --yes a funnel for the jar is a MUST because few of us are careful-- and something I still want to get, a magnetic jar lid lifter.  The jar lid lifter is not a MUST, but I think it could quickly become a real strong want.  It will be on my list this year.  It has been a wish for the past couple years and I just haven't broke down and bought one yet.  Buy the kit,  it's cheaper and frankly, a well spent $12.

Jars....  You can't can without them.  I have begged, borrowed, and bought brand spanking new jars, as well as jars at used stores.....  Unless you can get your jars for free or really cheap, buy new.  As much as I abhor nearly all things Wal-Mart, you can get a decent box of jars there generally under $10 a dozen (pints).  Lets say someone at a garage sale has some and they are charging 25 cents a jar, unless your lucky and it includes the rings, you are only getting part of what's needed.  You need rings and lids.  These can run you around $4 a dozen.  When you buy rings/lids make sure it includes both rings and lids.  For used jars you might end up paying about $7-8 dollars a dozen.  This price break down is based on pint sized jars.  Used jars might have nicks in the top of the jar so check that out before buying.  The true cost savings is in inheriting Aunt B's canning jars, or in saving your jars for the next year.   Its really just preference, used verses new.  If you happened upon an estate sale and could score several dozen canning jars for a few dollars, go for it.  If you are just canning a handful of things, maybe buy new jars.  My used jar search continues every year....   I almost always buy new because you can only search so long, and I seem to always need pints or jam jars. 

(A note to local friends and family:  If you return jars and rings to me, I am more than happy to refill them for you when I can again!  Sometimes I might even have that yummy jam already waiting for you.   Please be kind and return canning jars!)


Blue Book...   If there is such a thing as a canning bible, this is it.  Its my go to canning book.  I have other favorites but if I need to make sure something is the right time or pressure, this book will tell me.  I have one from a few years ago and should probably update it soon but I would be slacking if I didn't recommend every home canner having one.

WANTS!  And boy howdy, does my wish list get big.....  even a few things I would like to add this year....

• Canning Bubble Popper and Measurer--I have been using a butter knife  *grin*
• Stainless Steel Canning Ladle--I use a soup ladle but a dedicated one would be a nice thing to have.
• Canning Lid Rack (I had one but last year it broke, so I know how missed this can be! Though it isn't essential)
• Food Press
•  Magnetic Lid Wand
• Dissolvable Labels for the jars.
• A portable propane stove for canning.  Of course a summer kitchen would be AWESOME!  A dream of any home food preparer.   

Canning can be a frugal way to go for your family but its by no means free or nearly so as it was for our great-grandmothers.  Good healthy food can be pricey, and growing it yourself can be costly in many areas.  Sit down and figure out how much time you devote, the cost of seed, water, etc.,  and the cost of the raw product if you do buy it and the other needed ingredients and you will be surprised. 

The biggest benefit and why I consider canning frugal living are the intangible things.  Things that can't be quantified with dollars and cents.  Healthier food for your family; the satisfaction felt when looking at your shelves full of homemade food; better for the earth that God gave us; independence and self sufficiency felt; and a sense of accomplishment, a job well done.  I wont even go into all the rich learning experiences that are provided when you produce your own food.  Let's just say that its ripe with experiences that money can't buy.  This is frugal living. 

Of course later I will discuss making other products for your family that don't involve canning.  Even what I learned while trying to learn extreme couponing.....  and I will discuss the need for a well stocked pantry of foods your family will eat, this different than a well stocked pantry of MRE's and dehydrated foods prepared for the Zombie invasion. 

(Links are affiliate links--Thank you for helping to keep me in coffee and assisting in my book addiction!)

10 Days of REAL FOOD

WHAT REAL FOOD LOOKS LIKE

Well, our 10 official days are up.  I wish I could report 100% success, but I can't.  We have family visiting and Grandma (yes, she will be upset when I share this) insisted on providing some of the foods.  I tried very hard though and we didn't eat out at a fast food place at all.  So our spaghetti we had a couple nights ago was made with Grammies noodles, from a box. 

This brings up a point I want to make though.  Processed Food is different for each of us, or what we consider processed.  I entered into this pledge thinking that I needed to make everything by scratch.  I slowly discovered my idea of less processed or Real Food is different than others.  One lady assumed it meant we ate non-cooked and only raw fruits and vegetables.  Nope.  Others look purely for organic and non-wheat based products, but we didn't give up wheat.  My idea was to eat whole grains, make it myself, more local when possible and organic when possible and eating from the things I grow myself, first foremost.  We seceded in my goals. 

I had very bad cravings for the first four days.  Bear was VERY temperamental during this time as well.  She did find some candies in the car from a ladies tea I attended. I wondered at her attitude one day, it was like a light switch from happy to TEMPER and I discovered she found the bag of hard candy that I had forgotten about and she had eaten many pieces.  Less sugar is better for her and I imagine the grown ups as well.

I haven't noticed an increase of energy, but 10 days isn't really enough for that.  I would imagine as we continue on I will notice many other changes. 

My favorite meal was homemade  noodles that I made from scratch (the only way to make noodles IMHO).  I made them the same way as the noodles for the chicken noodle soup I made, but more noodlie...  *grin*  I also left out the carrots and instead of chicken used an organic beef broth, ground pepper, whole wheat flour noodles (made with my noodle recipe I will include here).  Hubs really liked the Spicy Black Bean and Quinoa dish.  The beef stew I made was well appreciated as well.  My chicken noodle soup, while liked, was to thick, so next time I will use less noodles.

Kim's Egg Noodles
3 cups of 100% wheat flour
1/2 teaspoon Sea Salt
2 eggs
1/2 c. water:  give or take ... base amount on consistency of dough.
 

The way my grandmother made them is on the bread board.  No bowls at all and mixed by hand.  She also hand rolled her noodles with a rolling pin, and THEN hand cut her noodles.  I'm a bit more lazy.  I use a pasta maker. 
 
I put all my ingredients in a bowl and use my bread hook to mix it up.  Then I divided it into equal sections and lightly floured each section.  On my pasta make I set the dial to 1.  Next I patted each section somewhat flat and commenced to roll it flat according to the directions for the pasta machine.  Mine is a manual brand.  Sometimes a bit more flour is needed to keep the dough from sticking as its rolled.  I like thicker noodles so I generally roll it 2-3 times, each pass through the roller getting narrower.  After it has went through the flattening process I switch it over and feed the strip of dough through the noodle cutter.  I use a bit of flour on the noodles after they are done so they don't stick together. 
 
I don't let my noodles dry.  Its really an unneeded process.  I put them directly into my broth where they cook and naturally thicken the soup or noodles.  You may find you need to add a bit more salt as your dish cooks.  Pepper is generally a nice addition for flavor. 

If you make more noodles than you need, you can put them in a bag or another container and freeze for future use.  Make sure they are well floured or the will stick together. 

The bread turned out really well with 100% whole wheat flour but I am not sure the gluten was a needed ingredient.  I will admit, I went through a 10# bag of whole wheat flour this week.  I am excited to have the time to grind my own and explore how differently it tastes using no other flour.  That has been my goal for sometime.

A few things to keep in mind for when you begin eating more Real Food. 

1. Your food budget will increase as you get use to this new way of eating.  That being said, I think it will level out and eventually as our diet and taste buds change (and I can already see that happening).
2. You will go through more dishes.
3. You will take longer to prepare your meals;  But the satisfaction will be worth the extra work. 
4. Your child may go to bed hungry and that's ok.  As long as you provide healthy food, they will eventually eat it.
5. Homemade peanut butter is easy, but dry.
6. Don't forget your sprouts for even one day, they will start to become a science experiment.
7. Little changes can help.  You don't need to give up everything overnight and cold turkey.
8. You have more time in many ways.  Sitting on the couch is boring.  Facebook is boring, you get to where you want to cook.
9. Eating at the table holds a greater appeal when you have worked hard to create a healthy meal.
10. Don't start many projects all at once.  When you start this try to focus on just this for a week or so.  Trust me!

Onward we go, eating healthier every day and discovering what works for us as a family.  It will be different for everyone.  What works for our family most likely will not work for yours.  I am 100% convinced that it isn't so much, for most of us, what we eat as much as it's the processing that it goes through before it hits our kitchen that causes the majority of our health issues. 

Wednesday Waunderings

Wednesday marked 4 days of eating virtually no processed foods.  I say virtually non because everyone seems to have a different idea of what processed means.  Its easy to do, I think we all can make the mistake of thinking anything touched by man outside of its natural form is processed.  Dr. Christopher (my favorite naturopath educator) once said, if you can't throw it out side and have it grow, its not good for your body....  I disagree with some of that, but he has a good basic premise.   My pastors wife introduced me to his "medicine" in 1993 and while I don't follow it, I have always seen a lot of sense in many of his teachings.  The western diet is full of processed and refined food. 

Wednesday I made 100% whole grain bread.  One day soon I will grind my own grain for the flour, but today I used Red Mill stone ground 100% whole wheat flour, this week time has been a premium.  Here is a video I made of my foray into real bread. 

 

 

I had picked up some silicone push up pops when I decided we were doing this pledge and today I used some apples and made pure apple juice in the juicer and then put the rich, yummy goodness, into the push ups.  I will let you know how they work for us. 

 

So far we are doing fine, over the hurdle of no more dishwasher, through day four of our pledge (6 more to go) and I am alive.  Tomorrow, homemade chicken soup for lunch I think.  Homemade noodles, carrots, celery and broth I made earlier this week.



Horrible day

Yesterday was horrible.  It really was and I have a headache.  I need caffeine, really, really bad.  Well specifically, a soda pop.  Yep, addicted.  This is telling me so, or else I slept wrong.  It might be both because I didn't sleep well.  I have a final today and one last assignment this week.  *sigh*

Bear and I are suffering, ok me...  I am suffering more than her little self.  Hubs isn't as "real foodie" as we are, YET.  A report where I summarize our week will be interesting. I think I might be expecting too much of myself in this process and to top it off our portable dishwasher that's like, oh maybe 30 years old or more, died yesterday.  I can't get it to get dishes clean so I spent time cleaning it to see if that would help and no dice.  The dirty dish out put is horrendous with cooking from scratch......  *sigh*

But this leads me to a funny story....

Penumbra via photopin cc

Bear has been wanting to wash dishes by hand lately so I decided I would show her how its really done with sink loads of dishes.  I filled the sink on one side with warm soapy water, and on the other side I filled it with warm clear water.  I got her little bench/stool and explained the proper process for dish washing.  For me its always GLASSES, PLATES, BOWLS, PANS, followed by silver wear.  Its what works for me and its how I sort my dish washing chore (or did before I got married and had a dishwasher). 

Bear was all excited.  She really was.  She got an apron out and danced around the room (much to my dismay, I think next year we will be adding Little House books to the mix for read alouds). She asked if this would make her a pioneer and chattered about living like a pioneer, and me, well I didn't want to crash and burn her dreams. 

After about the first sink full, the fun wore off.  It was much quicker than I thought.  Maybe I shouldn't have gave in when we had so many dishes to do.  *grin*  At last, she exclaimed, "Mommy, if we ever become pioneers, we need to have a dishwasher for sure.  Doing dishes is not fun."  Oh kiddo, life chores are not always fun, but we can make them enjoyable.  We discussed how you do and clean up as you go and pioneers really knew about the need for this.  Plus they didn't cook multiple pot meals and everyone ate what they ate.  I think I restored her dream of becoming a pioneer. 

Dinner last night was something I wouldn't classify as a special food, something "real" I cook occasionally.  Chili and corn bread.  I used my recipe for cornbread that I always use (Moosewood Cookbook) and chili was pinto and black beans, beef from Stewart's in Yelm, homegrown tomatoes, organic tomato paste --just because it was in the pantry already, lots of garlic, seasonings, and a long time simmering.  I topped it off with cheddar cheese, natural sour cream (I only buy stuff with a couple ingredients...  *grin* so this was nothing new to our home as well), and onions.  It was a hit.

We are taking a mini break right now during finals week with Bear.  Still reading, but not getting down and dirty with a lot of stuff like work sheets.    I think when we start back up, the remainder of the year will be spent on traits and why they are good as well as growing and dirt for science.  Handwriting will be more copy work only, and practice in memorizing some verses and a poem.  It might seem rather lax to some but I have been pushing to hard in some areas and she has been balking so I am going to try to work it in another way.  And.... I guess we will have some pioneer stuff in there too.

Are you eating real food, or more real food with us?  Please, share your favorite foods with me and a link to there recipe.

   

Cattywampus

Bear doesn't have a lot of warm and fuzzy thoughts for smoothies yet.  I am at a loss.  I am skipping her smoothie today and tomorrow when neither of us have to be up early and out of the house before the sun is hardly up I will see how she does again and without carrots and spinach.  Maybe I will have to gradually add more.  If you have thoughts on it please, by all means, let me know!

 

 

In our homeschool this past week…

 

Kites.  We have been making paper kites!  We had a lot of wind on Friday and got to witness our weather station spinning so much that the rain gauge went cattywampus! (Hows that for a fun word to write!?)

 

Helpful homeschooling tips or advice to share…

Check Goodwill and other used stores for books!  We picked up a Real Science 4 Kids book that will save us some money.  We paid eighty-cents! 

 

Consistency.....  but also adaptability are keys.

 

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…

 

Entertaining aunts with chatter!

 

My favorite thing this past week was...

Playing badminton in the living room!

 

What’s working/not working for us…

I am seriously close to putting up all the toys and packing them away....  until she eats her smoothies! 

 

Questions/thoughts I have…

I am trying to get the Northwest Untest scheduled.  I would like a good baseline of where we are academically.

 

Things I’m working on…

To be quiet and listen.

 

Just 17 days until our Real Food Pledge!

 

How is your week?



19 days and counting

Yep, real food.  We think it exists everywhere, but you would be surprised.  I know I am addicted to carbohydrates and sadly I think Bear is addicted to anything sweet and processed.  Our new smoothie adventures are not being met with open arms in the child department.  The more days we start the day with one, the more she balks.  She had a stubborn streak....  Ok, yes, like her momma..... 

We bought a new to us Vita-Mix.  It works great; of course there is a learning curve....I am learning how to use it and what it can and can't do.  Its exciting!  I can tell you one thing, it can make things really smooth, but blackberry seeds will still be blackberry seeds.... 

I will start posting more about our smoothie adventures, but I make them generally about 7:00 am and I forget to grab cameras and notes that early. 

The big news is a count down really.  March 16, 2013 we will be doing  the Real Food pledge for 10 days.  The 100 Days of Real Food blog was shared with me (I had visited before but just briefly) and its fitting in very well with our need for making some changes, even little ones, in our diet and health.

Get ready to hear about it; what we eat, what we do to prepare, how we survive, and our thoughts before, during, and after the Pledge.  I know it will be an awakening for our family as we let the rubber meet the road in buying things produced  more sustainably, i.e., locally and healthier and less processed for us.  Less processed, its been a dream for a few years and in many ways we do pretty good, but we are still far from a nice happy medium.  The count down begins....  19 days and counting.....