Frugal Canning

Rotating Your Food

2011-06-27T14:49:00.000-07:00

Rotating your food is the biggest challenge that a family working on preparedness can face. I have been guilty of not rotating and loosing viability of my food. Tsk tsk tsk I should know better. For me buying, canning and drying food became a hobby which lead to hoarding behavior. I have a large cache of food put away but I rarely eat any of it.
I read about a canner who only cans 2 jars of something the first time she can. Example is soup. When she tries a new recipe instead of making 2 gallons of it she makes enough for dinner and 3 jars to be canned. The family tries it out at dinner and then in the next month they also try the canned soup. Tastes can change with canning and some soups can better than others. If the soup is a success with the family then more can be made on a larger scale and canned up and put away. I love this idea because the food is being tested and eaten rather than canned and put away for some Days to Come event.
Now I hear you say, "but what a waste to only can 3 jars". Use the remaining space to can dry beans. Just fill the jar (same size jar as you are canning the soup in) with dry beans half way to the top. Fill with water leaving 1 1/2 inch head space and can along with the soup. A pint will be 75 minutes and a quart will be 90 minutes. Beans come out all cooked and ready to eat or to be added to another dish. We all have dry beans around and wouldn't it be nice to have your own beans canned instead of having to store up store bought beans in cans? So much cheaper too.
Let me know if you have any other ideas on rotation other than the obvious of dating every thing and incorporating it in your food shopping list.

Canning Spinach

2011-04-16T16:05:00.000-07:00

Spinach is an acquired taste but if you love it it is worth canning.

I was given two six gallon pails of New Zealand spinach. It is beautiful with large green leaves, very clean and was grown in a green house.

I was skeptical at first and concerned it would come out mushy. To my surprise it came out delicious. Here is the process:
Throughly clean the leaves. Watch for bugs and slugs. Trim off all the stems. Cut the spinach into smaller pieces. To do this I grabbed a large bunch and ran a knife over it. Some people like to cut it with a pizza cutter. Put the sliced leaves into a large pot of boiling water and blanch for 9 minutes. Fill jars to one inch from rim and add water from the blanching water to the one inch mark. Burp the jars for air bubbles and wipe off the rims. Put lids and rings on as directed and pressure cook for 75 minutes for pints.

The jars are very green and full of chlorophyll.

Earthquake and Tsunami

2011-03-13T19:54:00.000-07:00

I am glued to CNN watching the fallout of the worst earthquake to ever shake Japan and it's Tsunami. The pictures are haunting and unbelievable. Each clip is worse than the next.
I had to take time and reflect on what if it were happening to me? What can I do to prepare? You might be one of those who says nothing you can do will prepare for such devastation while others of you say I am going to do all I can to educate myself and prepare my home and family. I am one of the latter obviously.
1. Know the fault lines in your area. There are fault lines all over the world especially all over the U.S. I know there are fault lines in my area of Washington and the coast is a possible tsunami area.
2. If you live in a tsunami area know your prescribed evacuation route and have a plan.
3. Have a family emergency plan. Where will you meet? Who is your contact person?
4. Can you live without electricity, running water and sanitation?
5. How long could you go without needing a grocery store?
6. What if there weren't any gas stations?
7. What if the banks were closed and the ATM machines did not work?
8. Have I earthquake proofed my home to the best of my ability?
Check some of my older posts on how to prepare for an earthquake.

A Holiday Present

2010-12-01T18:38:00.000-08:00

In lieu of sending you each a box of homemade Christmas Cookies, I have researched some good recipes online. Just click on the site and you will find the recipes. Enjoy! Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays

http://www.joyofbaking.com/ChristmasCookies.html

great site with pictures of the cookies.

http://www.christmas-cookies.com/recipes/recipe574.lynnes-cowboy-cookies.html

cowboy cookies

http://www.christmas-cookies.com/recipes/nobakecookies.html?curl=nobake

no bake cookies

http://www.rd.com/home-garden/christmas-cookie-recipes-with-pictures/article113059.html

Readers Digest top nine cookies

http://www.foodnetwork.com/12-days-of-cookies/package/index.html

Foodnetwork’s cookie recipes

http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/food/holidays/best-christmas-cookie-recipes

Goodhousekeeping cookie recipes

http://allrecipes.com/Features/Countdowns/cookie.aspx

Allrecipes cookies

Happy Thanksgiving

2010-11-25T19:56:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving to all. Even if you are from a place that does not celebrate this special day, I hope you took a moment to give thanks for all you have.
I have debated whether to share this story and decided it is meant to be shared. A couple of days ago I went to the mail box to find a real letter. I can not tell you how long it has been since I received a real letter in the mail. I brought it in and sat down to check it out. Inside was a check and a letter telling me it was coming as a pay it forward gesture. I broke down in tears and just looked at the wonderful note telling me that the couple had received a similar surprise check at a time they most needed it from a complete stranger from the blog world. Now they were paying it forward and sending out checks.
I have not shared the fact that I have been unemployed for over a year now and am experiencing a financial meltdown that is the common thread in the news nightly. If I hadn't been such a Frugalista I would be in far greater dire straights. Now understand I am not complaining but sharing a personal story of thanksgiving. Blessings come when you lest expect it and I thank the angels who made it possible for me. One day I will be able to pay it forward as well.

Not Prepared

2010-11-17T20:51:00.000-08:00

Monday the wind blew up to 60 mph and the rain pelted down taking out electricity to many parts of Washington. I admit I went to bed early expecting the power to go out at my home. The wind blew so hard it was scary. We did not loose power on my street and were really lucky. I heard from some of my friends that lost power and was surprised how unprepared they found themselves. Can you imagine friends of mine being unprepared???

First one could not even find a flashlight that worked. She had given away her store of candles and an Aladdin Lamp with fuel a while back while trying to lighten her load of encumbrances (sorry for the pun!). She did have a kerosene lamp but did not have much fuel. Her house has a wood stove that had not been used in a long time and there was cut wood on the property. Today she admitted she wished she had not given some things away. It was a wake up call for her.

This year the news media is warning up of a very cold and snowy winter. This part of Washington does not generally have a lot of snow so it is time to evaluate and prepare for a winter challenge.

* Do you have a heat alternative to electric heat?
* Do you have plenty of blankets to keep the beds warm?
* Do you have light alternative and fuel to keep it going a few days?
* Do you have a cooking alternative to cook with?
* Do you have foods easy to prepare so you would not have to go to a store?

These are just a few questions to be thinking about.

My Mother was secretly disappointed we did not loose power. She was sitting in her home with a new led flashlight in her lap. She has a good size generator which has been hooked up so that it only has to be started, a few switches switched and her lights and refrigerator will we safe. She has a wood stove insert with a cord or so of dry wood some of which is dry in the garage. There is a sweet little stove that runs on a can of butane to cook her dinner and make a hot drink. She has been storing prepared foods. I would say her weak point would be the number of blankets she owns, however, last year I got her a sleeping bag so that would keep her warm.

Are you ready for a power outage of a few days to a week? Make a list and think of the holiday time as a good time to prepare the family and friends.

Winco Hits Lacey, WA

2010-11-11T14:13:00.000-08:00

A new grocery store has opened in my neck of the woods in Lacey, WA. Winco is a big box chain that advertises low prices.
Mom and I visited the store on their second day and were met with huge crowds. In fact you had to stand in a long line for a cart or go scrounge one up in the parking lot just to get in the store. Mom was unable to get a motorized go cart as they were all taken so we walked slowly through the maze of the store with a printed map handed out at the door.
I have to admit they had some good leaders to get people interested in shopping like bananas for .19, potatoes .68 for 10 lbs and Cheeto crackers .68 a box.
The fresh food aisles were not too impressive but I am willing to try it again next month to see if the sparsity was due to the large crowd. I did not see an organic section but did find the bulk item area. The meat section was large almost too large to take in. Meat is sold in large packages. We did get some boneless pork chops that were cut from a loin that were very tasty and inexpensive.
I am interested in whether you have shopped a Winco and what your experiences have been. I am thinking it would be good for some items like canned goods and packaged goods but fresh items and organic items will have to come from some place else.

Fall Back A Reminder to Set the Clocks Back Tonight

2010-11-06T14:08:00.000-07:00

Tonight is the night to set the clock back one hour. I really don't see how it saves any energy since you have to turn the lights on earlier. It is dark in the morning and dark at night. I think Arizona has the right idea by being the only state to refuse to adopt this program.

I saw these cartoons in Colorado Lady's website and just had to share them with you.

I have not posted for quite a while and want to thank everyone for their patience. Some folks have emailed me and I will get back to all of them today. Sometimes you just need a timeout. I appreciate each and everyone of you who reads my blogs and joins me for a minute once in a while. Hopefully I will be inspired again and get back on track.

Canning Beef

2010-09-06T14:13:00.000-07:00

A friend called to say she had purchased 1/2 a steer and wanted some help canning it. Joyce had not cooked with a pressure cooker before and needed to learn the steps and get comfortable with the process.

Most of the meat was turned into hamburger and stew meat by the butcher. What lovely red rich meat! It even smelled good.

We set up three pressure canners outside on propane stoves and went to work. The hamburger was cold packed into quart jars and cooked at 10 psi for 90 minutes. The stew meat was browned and packed in cooking liquid for 90 minutes at 10 psi. What beautiful jars when finished. The fat is rich and will either be scraped off or cooked into the meat for added flavor. The first day we finished about 1/2 of all the meat.

The only challenge we faced was the breeze. It seemed to interfere with the propane flame and we had to sit and watch the pressure cooker gauges to be sure they stayed true to 10 psi or a wee bit above that. Cooking outside can present this problem but by just adjusting the flame it can be corrected. So I am sure the steer is all canned by now and the family has enough beef to get them through the winter. They did freeze a few steaks and roasts as well. Yum yum.

New Gauges

2010-08-23T13:11:00.000-07:00

After having my gauges checked and finding out two needed to be replaced I went to the local canning store to find some new ones. They only carried Presto brand and I have All American canners. I went to the All American site and ordered them from Red Hill General Store and they were here in four days! Really good service.
I talked myself out of taking the Master Canning Class for the following reasons: I know how to can and when I have questions I go the USDA site for answers, the class cost $75 and you know how frugal I am the clincher for me was that they wanted 45 volunteer hours before you got your certification. The class was about an hour away so I would have had a lot of traveling to do for no return. My frugal decision was not to take the class at this time and focus on getting more paying canning jobs.
I am all set now with all my canners ready to go with correct calibrations.

P.S.
I just called both Presto and All American asking about gauge pressure checker machines (I am not sure what to call the gadget so bear with me here). I was told only Presto makes one and they only sell them to County Extension Offices. Since the County I live in does not have one we have to travel to another County or invite them to our County.
Both companies told me jostling or bumping them can throw off the needle so be careful. They both said the weight is fairly accurate and when the valve begins to shake the weight you are at that many pounds pressure. It is best to have the gauge and the valve reading at 10 pounds and not just rely on the gauge. I have asked both companies to supply more information and as soon as I hear from them I will pass it on.

Here is the answer from Presto

The gauge can be mailed to us and tested National Presto Ind.
3925 North Hastings Way
Eau Claire, WI 54701

Patti
NPI Customer Service

Shipments made to U.S. or Canada only

Emergency Preparedness Articles #5

2010-08-20T12:48:00.000-07:00

Egg recall grows to 380 million, hundreds may be sick - CNN.com

From my perspective, this could be a man-made plague. bj

http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/08/19/eggs.recall.salmonella/index.html?iref=NS1

How Does Salmonella Get Inside Eggs? - Yahoo! News

Another reason to raise your own ... FYI.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/livescience/20100818/sc_livescience/howdoessalmonellagetinsideeggs

More and more food borne illnesses will be occurring in the next few years. Time to study up and be prepared and educated.

Private Canning Classes

2010-08-19T17:39:00.000-07:00

Private canning classes are available in and around Olympia, WA. Learn to can and be comfortable with your equipment. Have a private or group class in your home. If interested please call me at 360-485-7696.

Do you know the difference between high acid and low acid foods and how they must be processed?
Are you afraid of your pressure canner?
Learn to put up the produce in your garden and have safer food for your family. The differences are remarkable.

I also can for others. You supply the produce and jars and I deliver yummy safely filled jars. Available on a limited basis for canning. Call me.

2010-08-17T13:01:00.000-07:00

I am working on a Frugal Fraulein Store which will include canning and emergency preparedness items. Please take a moment and review the items for sale and order them through this site. Thank you so very much.

Pressure Canning Gauge Check

2010-08-15T10:46:00.000-07:00

I drove to another county yesterday in 100 degree heat to get my gauges and some of my friends gauges checked. I was surprised to find that my newest All American had a bad gauge and needs replacement. The store that sponsored the gauge check did not have any more All American gauges to sell so I will either have to hunt one up some place else or do it online.
It was hard to get the gauge off the All American. We had to enlist the help of a strong guy who worked at the store. Seems the machine is really made to check Presto gauges and has to be modified with rubber stoppers to do other brands. I saw some ancient canners come in. One was that green from the 50's and was from Sears. One canner did not have a make name and they were unable to determine the type. Darn thing was really old but was right on the money when checked.
To check the gauges they hooked them up to a hand cranked pressure gauge machine and pumped them up to 10-11 pounds. Your gauge had to begin on zero (two of mine did not ) and go to within 2 marks of 10-11. So if it went to 13.5 it needed to be replaced.
I signed up to take the Master Canning Class so I will be learning more about canning and can really be more helpful. Stay tuned for more canning information.

The Little Darling is Back

2010-08-12T19:08:00.000-07:00

The little darling is back! The deer is back in my yard. Although my garden is not lush this season he is here anyhow. Well, I think it is a he. Whoever he is he is a loner. But why my yard??? Tonight I looked out and he was eating the apples off my tree. This morning it was my lilies out front. I can walk right up to him and tell him to leave and he just looks at me.
I remember last year someone offered to come over and shoot him. Hmmmm who was that? I am considering that option. Now don't think I don't get a kick out of seeing the little deer out there. I do mind when he threatens Mr. T the dog (sorry T I know you think you are a little man). The deer walks right up to Mister T who is trying his best to bark him away and tries to stomp him. That just can't be. Abby get your gun.

Emergency Preparedness Articles #5

2010-08-11T18:54:00.000-07:00

Emergency Preparedness Articles #4

2010-08-10T12:15:00.000-07:00

I am an advocate of storing food for your family. The reasons cross the board. Let's say you lost your job. Your savings will be gone in a short period of time. You will be unable to further max out your credit cards. What then? It is time for all of us to think about being self reliant. I will continue to share some interesting articles that might help and inspire you to store up some extra food. Do you have at least enough food to take your family through one month without going to the store? What if the stores were empty due to a transportation problem such as no fuel? Please think seriously about storing up some extra items while you can.

What if wheat was unaffordable? How many products do you eat that consume wheat?
On Monday [Aug. 2], wheat prices staged the most dramatic rise in more than 50 years. A bushel of wheat traded above $6—a 42 percent monthly increase—but possibly for good reason," from theTrumpet.com: link here

"HARVEST WHEAT PRICES A SURPRISE"
"The promise of a profitable year for Washington wheat farmers has become more likely because of events on the other side of the globe," By KEVIN MCCULLEN from the Tri-City [WA.] Herald in the Seattle Times: link here .

Why are the bees disapearing and what impact does that have on our crops? "‘Growing body of evidence’ links pesticides to bee decline"
In The Ecologist: link here

"Food: The Ultimate Secret Exposed"
From Alex Jones: link here

"How to Create a Food Storage Supply for You and your Spouse ... For as Little as $5 per Week
By Esther in Off The Grid News: link here

Does your family have a food storage plan? What good ideas do you have for food storage? Do you have good articles to share with other of like mind? Please leave comments by clicking on the comment button below. I am especially interested in folks from foreign countries who read the blog.

Canning Cauliflower today

2010-08-08T11:16:00.000-07:00

Canning cauliflower today. I found there are little green worms in the cauliflower that I almost missed. Slippery little fellas. To get rid of them the solution is to soak the cauliflower in salted water for awhile. So now that step has been added to the process. I have also added some carrots to the cauliflower to give it some color.
Remember all the produce I am canning has come from a huge garden. I am canning for someone else. It is a challenge because I do not know what they like. I was given a free ride card and told to just get er done.
Canned cauliflower can be used for a yummy sandwich spread I had at a shower once. The cooked cauliflower is mashed and treated like you would tuna fish for a sandwich spread. Add mayonnaise, chopped onion and celery, and seasoning your family likes. I like some curry powder in mine. The mayo can be cut with sour cream or yogurt to lower the calories and mellow the taste. Try it you will be really surprised.

Cauliflower Pickles

2010-08-07T11:16:00.000-07:00

2 heads cauliflower
2 c. sm. white onions
1 c. pickling salt
1 c. sugar
3 c. white vinegar
2 tbsp. white mustard seeds
1 tbsp. celery seeds
1 sm. red hot pepper

Wash cauliflower, break into flowerets. Scald, cool, peel the onions. Mix vegetables with salt. Add just enough water to cover. Let stand 18 hours. Drain. Rinse in cold water. Drain. Dissolve sugar in vinegar. Add seeds, hot peppers. Bring to a boil. Add vegetables. Simmer 10 minutes or until barely tender. Pack vegetables in hot jars. Fill with boiling hot liquid. Seal.
Refrigerate or process in a boiling water bath for 10 minutes if storing on shelf.

I tried this recipe and the cauliflower heads I had were huge so I had to add more liquid to the mix. I ended up with 10 pints of the mix. I also added some cut up carrots for a bit of color and substituted the hot pepper with dried hot pepper flakes. It is not as flavorful as I wanted but with time it might get hotter. I found the recipe on Cooks.com

More Cabbage Capers

2010-08-05T20:53:00.000-07:00

This week Kale, cucumbers, cauliflower, pea pods were delivered to be canned. Remember I have no limitations on what I do with them. Make them yummy were my instructions.
First there was a bag of green beans but they had already gone past their prime. They had to go.
Next I looked at the pea pods. They are crisp and snappy and full of peas. I decided to can them whole and open the dried ones. I canned them in the pressure canner for 25 minutes and they came out great. There are now six quarts of canned pea pods.
Then I had to deal with the kale. I did not have any experience with kale but was told it is yummy with kielbasa. I found this recipe.

Ingredients

6 large potatoes, peeled and cubed
1/4 cup butter
10 cups water
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 1/2 pounds kale - rinsed, dried and chopped
1 pound kielbasa sausage, sliced into 1/2 inch pieces

Directions

Place the potatoes into a large stockpot, over medium high heat. Add butter and water, and bring to a boil. Cook potatoes until tender. Reserve liquid and mash potatoes in the pan until smooth. Return the potato water to the pot and stir in salt and pepper. Simmer for 20 minutes.
Stir in the fresh kale and sausage and simmer till kale is softened.

I added two cans of chicken stock to make the brine taste more rich. Canned it in quart jars for 90 minutes and voila something yummy. I put some of the leftover stock on my Mr. T's dinner and he loved it.

I hear there are more cabbages coming so I had better get things going. I have one more kale soup to make, then bread and butter pickles. All that tomorrow. I am not one to stay up all night canning alone. If I had a friend and a bottle of wine things would/could be different.

Pressure Canning Gauges

2010-08-04T14:49:00.000-07:00

I spoke with Karen from the Lewis County Extension Office today and she was very helpful. Gauges should be checked annually by a professional/experienced gauge checker. To check Presto gauges bring the entire lid so that the ring and the gauge can be examined. If any gauge is 2-3 pounds off it needs to be replaced. New gauges run about $20. It does not mean you can 2 pounds more than the recipe calls for. At two pounds off the canning will not bring the internal temperature up high enough to kill botulism and your canned goods will not be safe. To check All American gauges just bring the gauge. If you can not get them off bring the entire lid and you will be helped.

August 14 from 11-3 you can get your gauges checked for free at Sunbirds in Chehalis. If you are local you know where that is.

August 25th the Lewis County Extension Office will be checking gauges for a nominal fee.

I suggest you go to Sunbirds if at all possible because if you need a new gauge they have them available and will save you having to send away for one. REmember if you have an older canning pot it is essential to get it checked out. Read the next entry and read the older article posted last year for more specific information.

A Master Canning class will begin on August 23rd and will run till October. If you have the time to take this class it would be wonderful and you in turn will be able to help out your community.

Pressure Canner Gauge Safety Checks

2010-08-03T18:56:00.000-07:00

It is time again to get those pressure canner gauges checked and calibrated. The best place is through you county extension office. A Master Canner will be able to do the testing usually for a very minimal fee. To find your local office check http://www.csrees.usda.gov/Extension/ . Some counties do not have testing available and you may have to go to another local county for assistance.

I have written before how to find a good pressure canner while yard sailing. Do not think because it appears to be in good condition that it is. Get the darn thing tested. If you are cooking with a canner that has not been tested you run the risk of not getting the internal heat high enough and hence getting very sick or having lethal food.

Please review this article for more info on buying used pressure canners! http://frugalcanning.blogspot.com/2009/09/buyer-beware.html

Here are ten steps to consider that come from Miss Vickie a pressure canning goddess.

Can you identify the manufacturer AND the model number?
Is the manufacturer still in business, AND still selling replacement parts for the model you have?
Do you have, or can you still obtain an owners manual for it?
Is the bottom of the pressure cooker flat, and free of any signs of warping, dents or bumps?
Does the lid fit the bottom easily and is it free of warping, twists and distortion?
Are the handles well attached, free of cracks and nicks, or does the manufacturer still offer replacements?
Is the surface finish of the pressure cooker still shiny smooth and free of pitting, deep scratches or gouges?
Does the pressure regulator fit well, and without being loose or worn?
If the pressure cooker has a gauge have you had it tested for accuracy to make sure it is actually able to maintain pressure as indicated?
Is the cooker relatively clean, without signs of scorched stains or discoloration from drips coming from around the lid or valve fittings that may indicate the lid or cooker rim is warped or does not seal properly

Emergency Preparedness Articles #3

2010-08-03T17:51:00.000-07:00

I post these articles as I find them. You decide if they fit into your family's life style.

http://offthegridnews.com/2010/08/02/how-to-create-a-food-storage-supply-for-you-and-your-spouse-for-as-little-as-5-per-week/

http://thoughtexpedition.wordpress.com/2010/02/23/nasa-predicts-a-solar-flare-will-knock-out-all-electricity-in-2012/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DgQRAnPPnmo&videos=stC6uT9dNVI This one really bothered me.

Cabbage Caper will continue on Tuesday

2010-08-02T11:19:00.000-07:00

We had company visiting from back East and I have not had a chance to blog. I had a really good time going to the WA coastline and getting away from it all. Odd thing did happen. My company brought me a gift and it turned out to be a Cuisinart grinder/chopper. Odd because my food processor died during the cabbage caper and I had to go and get a new one! Now I have a large one and a small one!
What a manifestation!
I hear the garden has been producing big time and I will receive more goodies to can away with all week this evening. Am getting all my other errands done today so I will be free to be chained to the stove. Will report in tomorrow with the list of canning duties.
Oh one other tidbit. Last night I bought a box of ice cream sandwiches only to see on the internet today that it is national ice cream sandwich day! I must be tuned in to social conscientiousness. They did taste really good though.

Curried Relish

2010-07-26T11:17:00.000-07:00

Curried Relish

Here is the recipe I have been using with the cabbage from the garden. The amounts can be varied and it is a great recipe when there are lots of things that have come due in the garden that have to be used. You can change the amounts. The toughest part is grinding up all the veggies. The reward is letting it set for 3-4 hours and getting a chance to do something else while the recipe sets with salt.

Mince 6 cups zucchini
   4 cups cabbage
   1 cup green pepper
   3 cups carrots
   3 cups onions
   1/4 cup pickling salt
   2 cups salt
   3 cups distilled white vinegar
   1 teaspoon ground ginger
   1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric
   1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
   1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
   1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
(or use already prepared good curry powder 3 teaspoons)

In a large bowl or two bowls mix the minced veggies and salt with the pickling salt. Let sit covered for 3-4 hours to sweat. Drain the veggies discarding the liquid.. In a large saucepan, combine remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil over medium high heat. Pour over vegetables and stir. Cover and let stand for two hours. Wash 5 pint jars and keep hot until used in 275 degree oven. Prepared lids as directions call for. Turn veggies into a large pot and cover with the liquid. Bring to a boil stirring constantly. Boil 15 minutes. Ladle hot relish into 1 hot jar at a time leaving 1/4 inch head space. Release trapped air. Wipe rim of jar with a clean damp cloth and attach lid and ring. Process in a hot water bath for 15 minutes.

Use a good food processor to mince veggies.

Unbelievable

2010-07-24T12:07:00.001-07:00

Today I began by making cabbage, organic hamburger and brown rice mix. Without looking I got the pressure canner ready and put on the lid and torched it up to begin heating it. I came out again (remember I can outside with turkey fryer stoves) and looked at the gauge to see how it was doing. It was full of ear wig bugs!! They must have climbed inside the gauge through the small opening on the bottom during the night because it would have been warm still from yesterday's work. There was no way to get them out so they had to be sacrificed. I have never seen ear wigs in anyone's gauge before or heard of such a thing. Have you??????

Cabbage Capers Day Three

2010-07-23T11:53:00.000-07:00

Cabbage, cabbage, cabbage. I think it, dream it, make it and then there is more. Today I picked up more boxes of quart jars and some groceries and am making killer huge beef veggie soups. I have my two largest pots going with the base of the soup and I decided to put the shredded cabbage in late in the game so it doesn't cook too much before canning. The soup will have to be pressure canned. I will still have three red cabbages and one green cabbage left. I hear the garden even has more! One good thing is cabbage isn't fattening!

Cabbage Capers Continue

2010-07-22T13:50:00.000-07:00

Six more savoy cabbages and three purple cabbages were delivered today along with three 3 lb cauliflowers. All are huge and beautiful. Then there were two kinds of green beans: pole beans and wide beans. I did up the beans first and produced 10 pints of beans. That was the easy job. Then I made 3 batches of pickled Brussels sprouts and cauliflower. I had to go to two stores before I found enough sprouts. Next I have to find something different for the savoy and purple cabbages. I have a feeling there will be more coming and I will have to get really inventive or repeat some recipes. Nothing wrong with that I was just hoping to be really creative. Other options I have considered are corned beef and cabbage, sweet and sour soup and another pickled cauliflower recipe. I sure hope these folks like cabbage!!

cabbage Capers

2010-07-19T17:48:00.000-07:00

Been canning up a cabbage storm this week. A local gardener had a bumper crop this year of green cabbage, savory cabbage and purple cabbage. I was given the savory cabbage. Six of the largest heads I have ever seen that were perfect without any eaten spots by cabbage varmints.
I made three different recipes. The first was good old fashioned stuffed cabbage rolls. After rolling up 15 rolls per quart jar I realized that when the consumers opened the yummy jars they would be dumping out the contents into a sauce pan and the beautiful rolls would fall apart. Since holding them together with toothpicks did not seem like a good idea, the next batch I did differently. I shredded the blanched cabbage and folded it into the organic hamburger and brown rice mixture. I called it stuffed cabbage mix. I am pleased with the looks of the results. I do have to admit that the rolls look like brains once canned.
The third recipe was a curried relish I have made in the past. Yum yum curried relish is so good with meat dishes and it also really good with tuna fish. A time consuming process when the mixture is salted and sets for 3-4 hours. While I was grating the mixture, my food processor began to smoke and broke. I thought I was up the creek without a paddle but along came Mom who bought me a super delux processor as an early birthday present .Pictures coming.
I hope the family has some delicious dishes.

Garden Tour

2010-07-14T19:27:00.000-07:00

Last evening I went on a garden tour in rural Thurston County with a group of women. We visited three gardens of different age, size and focus. It was a cool evening with clear skies. We began at a garden in a rural area that is a couple of years old. The owners have three-four garden beds made out of treated wood. with a 5 foot deer fence. I asked about the height of the deer fence and they reported not having a challenge with the deer who walk around the garden. They reported to be the only home in the area without a dog and still do not have any problem with the deer eating their plants. While we were there there was a deer walking around ignoring our group of about 12.
This yard grows their potatoes in trash barrels and reported getting thirty pounds last summer. The corn in grown in hills with three corn stalks. Once the corn is established they plant their pole beans around the corn. They reported this method was very successful last summer and they are repeating it again this year although the hills are a bit farther apart. Seems last summer they had a jungle and the corn got 12 feet tall.
The next home was a well established garden of many years. The couple had two green houses and is well known for growing tomato starts. One green house had a tomato plant covered with red and green tomatoes and the wife said she was going to make a green tomato pie the next day for her grandson. They also used raised beds although the dirt has really sunk down low. The husband reported the dirt is at least four feet deep with rich rockless soil so there has been no need to add more soil to reach higher in the wooden beds. I spotted a raccoon and it seems they are tame (ish) and are fed regularly. Once or twice they have found their way into the kitchen looking for cat food.
The last stop was an industrious garden in a field. It was well laid out and some of the garden beds were being held up with old fire hose. The hose was woven between metal posts and two layers high holding in the soil. Where there were some gaps between the hoses the gardeners have planted marigolds to hold in the dirt. The garden area was very large about 200 feet long and 100 feet wide with different areas for different crops. I don't know if this couple has help but it was a huge undertaking.
We concluded the evening with some lovely snacks and home baked goodies. The dip was delicious. The cook said she had made Knorr vegetable dip and added corn, carrots, chard and green onion from her garden and some Parmesan cheese. It was delicious! I never thought of adding veggies to the dip before!

Update for July

2010-07-12T15:24:00.000-07:00

It has been a while since I posted. Family was here from Massachusetts and I was tied up driving Ms. Daisy and doing some tourist stuff. It gets old when you have been in a place for 27 years and company wants to see the sights yet again. I did not have to play guide the whole trip as my Mother's friend took over the role. So needless to say no canning and no gardening. I am so far behind on the garden boxes I am considering putting them to rest and focusing on a fall garden later in the summer. I hate to see them barren but sometimes you have to make decisions.
Hope all your gardens are flourishing and will be ready for canning season.

Preparedness Links #2

2010-07-10T16:00:00.000-07:00

One viewer wrote they did not want to be the last person if the world was coming to an end. I do not think the world is coming to an end. I do think preparedness is good at any time for any conditions. I bet if you asked someone from the Louisiana coastline if they thought the world was coming to an end they might have a different answer. If I lived there I would hope I had a plan for leaving the area.

Just check out these sites in the spirit they are offered. A spirit of learning new things.

Growing Herbs: How to Grow Lemon Thyme

http://herb-gardens.suite101.com/article.cfm/lemon_thyme

Troubled Times - TOC Hub

Check out the menu on the left side.

http://www.zetatalk.com/thubtoc.htm

PS-Survival -

This is an encyclopedia of about everything you want to know about survival.

http://ps-survival.com/PS/index.htm

Emergency Preparedness Articles #1

2010-07-07T12:27:00.000-07:00

Here is a list of some good articles on Preparedness that my friend Bettye had on her newsletter this week. It is time we all learn to be prepared and prepare. The weather is unusual, the oil spill has reached 5 states so far and will keep traveling, the earth is moving and has shifted on it's axis. I will attempt to keep passing on worthy articles and sites rather than rewrite them myself into an article.

Food Storage and Emergency Preparedness
http://lds.about.com/od/preparednessfoodstorage/Food_Storage_and_Emergency_Preparedness.htm

Preparedness Fast Facts
http://www.redcross.org/portal/site/en/menuitem.86f46a12f382290517a8f210b80f78a0/?vgnextoid=92d51a53f1c37110VgnVCM1000003481a10aRCRD

An LDS Guide to Beginning Food Storage: How to Build a Three-Month Reserve for Emergency Preparedness
http://mormonism.suite101.com/article.cfm/an_lds_guide_to_beginning_food_storage

Honey that kills bacteria
http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Secret_Ingredient_In_Honey_That_Kills_Bacteria_999.html

How to Make Apple Cider Vinegar at Home
http://www.earthclinic.com/Remedies/how_to_make_apple_cider_vinegar.html

Yeast: The Basics Article - Allrecipes.com

http://allrecipes.com//HowTo/yeast-the-basics/Detail.aspx

6 of the Easiest Herbs to Grow

http://herb-gardens.suite101.com/article.cfm/6-of-the-easiest-herbs-to-grow

Strawberry Jam

2010-07-02T10:54:00.000-07:00

I bought two flats of newly picked sweet strawberries. Mom helped me hull them and I made two batches of jam. The jam filled 17 assorted used jam jars but came out foamy. I did add a pat of butter but it foamed up again. I am thinking I had the heat too high. Sure does taste good although it won't win any prizes for looks. Has anyone else had this problem?

Can and Lid Q & A

2010-06-29T17:29:00.000-07:00

I got some canning material from the 40’s and thought I would share what was said about canning lids and caps. The material has been updated when necessary. Check out the 1947 Blue Book that was only 35 cents!

1. Are caps affected by vinegar or any acid foods?

The cap is not affected by any acid foods or vinegar. The caps used to be a gold lacquer on the inside and now there is a white poly material. Yes, it is subject to releasing PBA when heated but a very minimal amount that is less than found in store canned goods.

2. Is it possible to reuse caps?

No. The cap’s seal is broken to open the jar. The composition is broken so it can not be reused. (I use some of them for leftovers in the refrigerator but do not can again with them. I always mark them with an X).

3. Can one brand of cap be used on any jar the same size?

Yes, caps are interchangeable for jars in the U.S.

4. Should the screw lids be tightened before processing the jars?

Yes. The lid holds the cap in place till the cap seals through the heating process.

5. Should the screws be tightened if loosened during the canning process?

No. It is best to remove the screws as they are no longer needed after canning. They should be removed when the jar is cooled and sealed or 24 hours after canning. Use the screw lids over and over again. If left on, juices that are on the threads of the screw band will cause the bands to stick to the jars or sometimes they will rust on and make opening the jar difficult.

6. Is it necessary to sterilize jars and lids before processing with hot water bath?

Yes Jars should be cleaned and sterilized due to the amount of bacteria evident today.

7. How can lids be unstuck if stuck together?

Lids placed in hot water will unstuck.

8. Does lid need to be dry?

No after cleaning lid can be wet.

9. Are lids purchased one year viable the next year.

Yes, if kept in cool dry area.

Attention: Kellogg's recall

2010-06-27T11:46:00.000-07:00

Frugal Living and Having Fun posted this article and I think it merits sharing with all of you. Please check your Kellogg's cereal. These recalls tell me again how important it is to be in control of your food as much as possible by not eating prepared foods. Cereal is a prepared food and one we often eat conscientiously. Again I encourage you to store foods that you have prepared and have a well stocked pantry!

Kellogg’s Recalls Many Boxes of CEREAL! PLEASE READ!!

Go HERE to READ FULL DETAILS!!
Kellogg Company Voluntarily Recalls Select Packages of Kellogg’s® Corn Pops®, Kellogg’s® Honey Smacks®, Kellogg’s® Froot Loops® and Kellogg’s® Apple Jacks®

Only products with the letters “KN” following the Better If Used Before Date are included in the recall.

Kellogg’s® Apple Jacks®
UPC 3800039136 – 17 ounce package with Better if Used Before Dates between APR 10 2011 and JUN 22 2011
UPC 3800039132 3 – 8.7 ounce packages with Better if Used Before Dates between JUN 03 2011 and JUN 22 2011

Kellogg’s® Corn Pops®
UPC 3800039109 – 12.5 ounce packages with Better if Used Before Dates between MAR 26 2011 and JUN 22 2011
UPC 3800039111 – 17.2 ounce packages with Better if Used Before Dates between MAR 26 2011 and JUN 22 2011
UPC 3800039116 – 9.2 ounce packages with Better if Used Before Dates between APR 05 2011 and JUN 22 2011

Kellogg’s® Froot Loops®
UPC 3800039118 – 12.2 ounce packages with Better if Used Before Dates between MAR 26 2011 and JUN 22 2011
UPC 3800039120 -17 ounce packages with Better if Used Before Dates between MAR 26 2011 and JUN 22 2011
UPC 3800039125 -8.7 ounce packages with Better if Used Before Dates between MAR 26 2011 and JUN 22 2011

Kellogg’s®Honey Smacks®
UPC 3800039103 – 15.3 ounce packages with Better if Used Before Dates between MAR 26 2011 and JUN 22 2011

If you have questions or you would like a replacement coupon, you may contact the Kellogg Consumer Response Center at 888-801-4163.

You should not eat the recalled products because they do not meet our quality standards.

CHECK YOUR STOCKPILES NOW!

Thanks,Maven of Savin

It Finally Feels Like Summer

2010-06-27T11:26:00.001-07:00

Summer is here finally in the Pacific Northwest. The weather is warming up and hopefully will inspire me to combat the weeds. I have been reluctant to go out there and take up arms due to the cool rainy weather. You would think I was used to it. Actually, I am. It is just an excuse to use not to get myself motivated.

This morning I let Mr. T out the front door and he went off like a streak of lightning. Usually that means Midnight the wonder cat from next door is sitting under my car. No, this morning there was a baby swallow from the Swooper Family on the ground. I scooped it up before Mr. T did any damage (I hope) and stuffed him back in the bird house. I am having second thoughts now and hope it really was from that family. I hope I have not caused mayhem in the birdhouse introducing an interloper. I will keep my eye out and keep Mr. T in.

You can just catch the little bird's head sticking out of the right hand window.

My pea pods are ready for picking and freezing. I love to have them on hand to put in stir fry during the winter. The haul today weighed about ….lbs.

Yesterday I went to visit a couple that have just bought their first house. They are so excited and I am for them as well. With the economy and the housing market as it is, they were able to buy a new $400,000 house for around $250,000. It is huge! I loved the fact that it had a good sized pantry in the kitchen. They are on their way to filling the pantry and storing extra food. If I have not stressed lately that I firmly believe in storing food let me reiterate. Food and water will soon be worth more than gold due to the earth changes that are occurring. What would you do if you lost your job, or if one of the freak storms hit your area? Buy storable foods like rice, sugar, powdered milk, oatmeal, wheat, beans and learn to cook from scratch and can so you can control the contents of your stored food. Remember store canned food is held in plastic lined cans so you are getting those chemicals in your food.

If you are in the Olympia, WA area I am available to come and teach you how to can safely, easily and frugally. Just email me. thefrugalfraulein@comcast.net

The P Word - Plastic

2010-06-17T13:32:00.001-07:00

More and more we are reading about the dangers of plastic in our lives. The word is becoming a red flag with a negative spin making it the new P word.

Plastic is everywhere in our lives from our toothbrushes to the souls of our feet. Our food is contained in plastic and our trash is collected in plastic containers. Plastic, plastic everywhere and not a container good to drink with.

So what exactly is plastic? Wikipedia tells us, “the common word plastic should not be confused with the technical adjective plastic which is applied to any material which undergoes a permanent change of shape when strained beyond a certain point.” Some metals are considered plastic when bent but are not bent if broken.

The word plastic comes from the Greek meaning capable of being shaped or molded. There are two kinds of plastics: thermoplastics and thermosetting polymers. Thermoplastics will melt when enough heat is applied and can be polyethylene, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride and polytetrafluorethylene. Thermosets can melt and take shape once: after they have solidified, they stay solid.

Too many big words. What is really important is that plastics are everywhere use.

In 1995 the Plastic Bottle Institute of the Society of the Plastics Industry (no I did not make this up) came up with a system to mark plastic according to plastic type in hopes of giving consumers more information to make choices with. Plastic containers are marked with a triangle with arrows and a number in the center of the triangle. The numbers correspond to the type of plastic. The numbering system is used to sort plastic when it is sorted to recycle.

1. Pet is commonly found in 2-liter soft drink bottles, water bottles, cooking oil bottles, peanut butter jars.

2. HDPE is found in detergent bottles and milk jugs.

3. PVC found in plastic pipes, outdoor furniture siding, floor tiles, shower curtains clamshell packaging.

4. LDPE found in dry cleaning bags, produce bags, trash can liners and food storage containers.

5. PP found in bottle caps, drinking straws, yogurt containers

6. PS found in packing peanuts, cups, plastic tableware, meat trays, take-away food clamshell containers.

7. There are also other types of plastics commonly found in certain kinds of food containers, Tupperware and Nalgene bottles.

I used to suggest that you look for water containers that were a number 7 and now I recommend you look for stainless steel that is not lined with plastic. We learn more and make changes.

I think I have a thing against plastic lately…the P word.

Am I Responsible for the BP Oil Spill?

2010-06-17T11:01:00.000-07:00

I wrote this article for Associated Content and they rejected it? Hmmmm

Am I Responsible for the BP Oil Spill?

How the BP Oil Spill Affects Me

Publish Date: 06/09/2010

The devastation being experienced on the southern coastline as seen on television makes me wonder when and where it will spread further. Will the giant plumes of crude oil and methane and it's after maths eventually travel around the tip of Florida from the Gulf of Mexico and begin to move up the Atlantic coastline? How will the problem affect me?

My heart goes out to all the folks in the area who are being directly affected. I have come to realize we will all be indirectly affected as soon prices rise. So is there anything I can personally do to help the situation?

We, each and every one of us, no matter our age are all partially responsible. We are the consumers of plastic. We buy the products that are created from the tar balls and crude oil that is now endangering the coast line and the waters of the southern states.

Plastic is a derivative petroleum. We use plastic all day long and don't stop to think where it came from. There is not a plastic moth weaving plastic bags, clothing tags and wrapping. Plastic is made from the oil coming out of the oil wells.

The history of plastic is relatively short and only about 150 years old. Plastic was first made in the late 1855's. Plastic was cellulose based meaning derived from plant cell walls and called Parkesine. Parkesine was later called celluloid. In the 1950's another form of plastic was made from petroleum. Petroleum based plastic have now become a common product in most every home on the planet.

The technological road from oil field to finished plastic product has numerous fascinating side trips. Here's the route taken in the petroleum-to-plastics process. Petroleum is drilled and transported to a refinery. Crude oil and natural gas are refined into ethane, propane, hundreds of other petrochemical products and, of course, fuel for vehicles. Ethane and propane are turned into ethylene and propylene using high-temperature furnaces. Catalyst is combined with ethylene or propylene in a reactor, resulting in a powdered material (polymer) resembling laundry detergent. Fluff is combined with additives in a continuous blender. Polymer is fed to an extruder where it is melted. Melted plastic is cooled then fed to a pelletizer that cuts the product into small pellets. Pellets are shipped to customers. Customers manufacture plastic products by using processes such as extrusion, injection molding, blow molding, etc.

So I ask you to stop and think how many times you touch plastic during the day. Right now I am typing on plastic keys and have a plastic mouse. I opened a new package of under ware today from a plastic package. My half and half for my coffee had a plastic spout and my coffee grinder and coffee maker are plastic. The oatmeal jar has a plastic lid. The organic greens I will have for lunch are in a plastic tub. My salad dressing has a plastic lid. The shrimp I am planning on having in my salad is in a plastic bag (I bought 3 bags thinking the price of shrimp will go up because so much of the shrimp we eat is from the affected area and will not be safe to eat or not available at all). I then will garden with my plastic hand tools and wheel barrel. Get the point? Now don't get me wrong. Plastic is not a bad thing. But is there an alternative that would not come from the oil industry making us less dependent on oil products?

I admit to being part of the problem all along. I buy plastic goods unconsciously and do not think I am adding to the problem. What moi? Yes, my name is The Frugal Fraulein and I am a plastic consumer.

What if each home did a 30 day plastic free test? The oil companies would certainly get a direct message that we are all part of the problem and that we are all willing to make changes in our daily habits.

How can we all begin to make choices that are plastic free? We must all stop being part of the problem. First we have to be conscience of what products we use. The spatula you reach for to flip the eggs might be plastic. The handle on the pan might be plastic. The wrapping around the napkins might be plastic then the there is the plastic bags the trash is held in. Library books are covered in plastic. We are surrounded by plastic.

A plastic ban would have to be a big movement. Many people could be involved from the producers of goods to the packagers, to the shippers to the stores right down the chain to the consumers.

What difference would it make if we just changed a few things in our daily routine? Let's come up with a list of suggestions.

1. Do not buy any more plastic items for 30 days.

2. Choose food items not packaged in plastic but packaged in paper and cellulose products.

3. Use paper bags for lunches and waxed paper or reusable cloth sandwich bags.

4. Use homemade toothpaste to replace plastic held toothpaste.

5. Get a toothbrush with a wooden handle and natural bristles.

6. Hmmm. Could you use real cash instead of plastic credit cards for 30 days?

7. Have a family meeting and ask everyone to go to their rooms and count 10 plastic items. I realized that even my earrings had plastic backings and to turn on the lights I had to touch a plastic wall plate.

8. Raise the consciousness of family, friends and co-workers and be an example to them by talking about plastic alternatives and reducing the amount of plastic you use.

9. There is a commercial that states a years worth of plastic water or beverage bottles would go around the earth how many times? Yikes get a stainless steel water container and don't be part of the problem.

10. How large is the plastic flotilla in the ocean?

11. How many animals, fish and birds are killed each year from plastic containers?

12. Lesser grade plastics are thought to cause cancer, illnesses and possibly death to humans and nonhumans and we still use it.

What are we thinking? Are we thinking? Obviously not. We are all part of the problem and it is up to each one of us to take small steps to change. What will you do?

Sources:

http://www.reachoutmichigan.org/funexperiments/quick/plastic.html http://www.wikepedia

Strawberry Fields Forever

2010-06-17T10:56:00.000-07:00

The local strawberry fields are open for the season. We have had a terribly rainy season so hopefully the strawberries will still thrive and not mold over.

I picked three berries yesterday from my own strawberry patch. They went directly into my mouth and were yummy. I am hoping to get enough ripened at the same time so I can make a batch of strawberry jam from my own berries. I have two garden boxes going with strawberries so I have my fingers crossed.

Strawberry Jam

I like the directions that Pick Your Own offers because they have lots of pictures and are very descriptive. Strawberry Jam is a great first canning project. It comes out well and even if it does not set well it will be good on toast.

Sealed jars can be stored in a cool, dry place for up to six months.

One of my favorite canning sites is Food in Jars. The writer teaches canning in the Philadelphia and offers some great recipes. Here is her web site and recipe for Strawberry Rhubarb Butter

link: http://www.foodinjars.com/2010/06/11/strawberry-rhubarb-butter-recipe/#more-922

Strawberry Rhubarb Butter
makes 2 pints or 4 half pints

4 cups chopped rhubarb
4 cups mashed strawberries
1 vanilla bean, split
1 1/2 cups sugar

Combine the rhubarb, berries, the split vanilla bean and a cup of the sugar in a large, non-reactive pot. Stir until the sugar has drawn some liquid out of the berries and then turn the heat onto medium low.

Cook over medium low heat, stirring regularly, until the pieces of rhubarb and strawberries have broken down. At this point, reduce the heat even further and let the butter simmer over very low heat.

When the butter has reduced to about half its original volume, taste it. Adjust the sugar to taste, adding up to another half cup. Cook until the sugar has dissolved into the butter. Remove the butter from the heat. Fish the vanilla bean pieces out and put them aside.

Fill your prepared jars, wipe the rims, apply lids and screw on bands. Process filled jars in a boiling water bath for 15 minutes (starting time when water returns to a boil).When time is up, remove jars from pot and let them cool on a towel-lined counter top. When jars are cool enough to handle, remove rings and check the seals.

This butter will keep 6 to 9 months if stored in a cool, dark place. It is good to eat right away, though.

This one looks really good and I want to try it if my rhubarb keeps putting off good shoots.

Orange Rhubarb Butter
makes one pint (you can double the recipe, but you may have to increase cooking time)

4 cups chopped rhubarb
1 cup sugar
1 cup orange juice

Combine the three ingredients in a wide pan (I used a 5 1/2 quart Dutch oven) and bring to a simmer. Reduce the temperature to low and let it gently bubble, stirring every five minutes or so. If it’s sticking to the bottom of the pot badly, lower the heat a bit more. Cook like this for at least an hour, until butter has reduced in volume and has turned a deep, rosy color.

Prepare one pint or two half pint jars. When butter is sufficiently cooked down, ladle it into jars, leaving 1/2 inch headspace. Wipe rims, apply lids and screw on bands. Process in a boiling water canner for fifteen minutes.

When processing time has elapsed, remove jars from canner and place them on a towel-lined countertop. When jars have cooled enough to handle, remove the rings and test the seals by gently grasping the lids and lifting the jars. If the lids hold fast, your seals are good. If your jars do not seal, store product in refrigerator and consume within a month.

Rhodies and Foxglove

2010-06-12T15:54:00.000-07:00

My rhododendrons are up and flowering. I always think they are so beautiful in the Pacific Northwest. Probably because our soil is so acidy. Thought I would share a few photos of my three rhodie bushes,

Remember no part of the rhododendron plant is edible. In fact it has been reported that honey made from rhododendrons made humans sick. So don't think about canning anything made with parts of the rhododendron or its brother the azalea plant!

The foxglove are up and flowering too! I remember when I didn't have a single foxglove plant and now they come up everywhere. A warning about foxglove as well. They are not edible as they are in the digitalis family.

Home Canning is an alternative to BPA contaminated foods

2010-06-11T09:46:00.000-07:00

I have been looking into BPA in commercially canned foods lately. BPA has been found to be potentially very unhealthy and should be avoided. Because of this, home canning is becoming more and more popular and a good alternative to buying commercially canned foods.

I would like to share this article with you that comes from Organic Grace. Please read this and give a thought to canning your own produce this year. Remember I am available to give canning lessons in the Olympia, WA area. Of course I would go anywhere if my travel costs are covered. Email me for more information.

BPA In Cans

Foods in #7 plastic containers and the majority of canned foods are exposed to this toxic chemical. Bisphenol-A is a plastic and resin ingredient used to line metal food and drink cans, and it's a main building block for polycarbonate (PC) plastics. Even at low doses, Bisphenol A has been linked to cancer, birth defects, miscarriages, obesity, and insulin resistance, which can lead to Type II diabetes. Refer to the Environmental Working Group report on BPA for more information.

So, what can you do to avoid exposing yourself to this chemical? The EWG report linked above has some suggestions, but here are the top ways you can avoid it:

Avoid all type #7 (PC) plastics. The most common plastic items of this type are those hard water bottles and some baby bottles. As an alternative, look for stainless steel bottles that are not lined with a plastic coating. Klean Kanteen is a popular brand, and has been tested for leaching.
If you can buy fresh or bulk food instead of canned items, do. If you can't buy fresh or in bulk, look for food items in glass jars instead of cans or look for products from companies that don't use BPA. Some common brands are listed below along with their answers about whether they use BPA in their cans. If you use a brand that's not listed, please feel free to contact them directly to ask, then share your results here.
Children are very susceptible to this chemical, so eliminate their exposure to all canned products, especially canned formula.
Never microwave plastics, and don't wash plastic in the dishwasher. If you use plastic tupperware, consider replacing them with glass storage containers such as Pyrex.

Common Brands of Canned Foods and Company Responses

After all the surge in publicity and hearing from many companys, I come to the conclusion that BPA is used industry wide and unless the company consciously chooses to purchase otherwise, all cans have it. I am now only posting updates when we hear of a company that does NOT have BPA in thier cans.

Eden Foods (see below). Besides their basic canned beans, they also have canned rice and beans dishes that are great when cooked up with some fresh veggies. Companies that choose glass jars, which is clearly the healthiest, is also a good choice.

*****Native Forest Coconut has just confirmed that their coconut milk is now canned in BPA FREE cans. This is super good news!!!!! In addition, they say:
"Native Forest Organic mango chunks, papaya chunks and tropical fruit salad are now packed in non-BPA cans, as are most of our canned pineapple items.
Because we source organic pineapple from several suppliers in two countries, it will take us a little more time to complete this transition. We anticipate that all organic pineapple items will be packed in non-BPA cans in the first quarter of 2009.
We are currently in the process of converting all Native Forest items to non-BPA cans, but we are not there yet."

In addition! We hear that Ecofish brand tuna ect and Vital Choice are also BPA FREE....

http://www.ecofish.com

http://newsletter.vitalchoice.com/e_article001303243.cfm?x=b11,0,w

Oregon's Choice Gourmet says:Right now we have BPA free cans available in the 6 oz. lightly salted Albacore and come next canning season we will be phasing in BPA free cans for more of our products. Our goal is to have everything canned in the BPA free cans within two years.

I have just heard that Wild Planet canned tuna at Whole Foods is bpa-free. On the can it reads "Can Certified BPA Free."

Amy's: Not Safe

Company says they DO use BPA.

Bionaturae: Depends
Bionaturae carries tomato paste and strained tomatoes in jars, but the company says they DOuse BPA in cans. However, they are researching an alternative.

Eden: Depends
Company says they DO use BPA in tomato cans. However, organic bean cans do NOT contain BPA. Out of all the companies I have heard from, this company seems to really be conscious about it. Here is what they have to say about their beans:

Are Eden Beans packed in cans with enamel lining that contains bisphenol-A?
No.
Eden Organic Beans are packed in steel cans coated with a baked on
oleoresinous (a natural mixture of an oil and a resin extracted from
various plants, such as pine or balsam fir) c-enamel lining, that does
not contain bisphenol-A. These cans cost 14% more than the industry
standard cans, which do contain bisphenol-A.

Muir Glen: Not Safe
Company says they DO use BPA.

Trader Joe's: UPDATE!!!

Canned items in our stores WITH BPA lining in the cans would include: tomatoes, tomato sauce & paste, soups, chili, and stew.

Canned items in our stores that DO NOT have BPA lining in the cans include:
seafood (tuna, salmon, herring, sardines, etc.), chicken, turkey & beef and now beans and corn. All of our products and packaging are within food safety guidelines and regulations. However, we also wanted to inform you that we do not have any plastic packaging with BPA.

Westbrae Natural: Unclear
Company email response says "We do not test our packaging for Bisphenol A."

Santa Barbara Olives - We have just found out Santa Barbara Olives DOES use BPA

Wolfgang Puck: Not Safe
Company says they DO use BPA.

Progresso NOT SAFE

Lucini Italia Organics has 100% BPA-free foods packed in glass.
http://www.lucini.com

Lindsay Olives, the parent company is Bell-Carter Olive Co. They do use BPA in their cans and they consider it safe and within EU limits,
but their canners are "constantly looking into alternatives".

A customer wrote in and said; "I just called Earths Best Organic and asked whether they have BPA in
their cans (my daughter loves their Elmo Tomato Soup).
Unfortunately, they told me they do have BPA in their cans. I asked
them to take it out and submitted a request on the website.

COCA COLA is not only defending BPA as safe but is spending millions of dollars lobbying and publicizing it's safety to prevent regulations restricting it's use. Please call and voice your opinion.1-800-get-coke ext 2

Today 4/23/08 (a customer) spoke directly to the companies listed below and they
all said they use BPA as a chemical component in the lining of their
food cans:

Bush Brothers & Co (known for their Bush's Beans
brand)

Swanson division of Campbells

Campbell's

Libby's, Nestle,
Carnation (different divisions of the same co)

Con Agra (Ex:Rosarita brand
refried beans)
hope this helps.

S&W Organic said they
do have trace amounts of bp-A in their cans.

Thai Kitchen Coconut Milk HAS BPA and defends it. This makes me very sad!

Annie's
(the one with the bunny) is using BPA in the epoxy lining but says they are looking into alternatives.

Hansens makers of Blue Sky organic soda,
uses BPA in their soda lining. Although they say the FDA and the Plastic
industry claims its safe for beverages.

Whole Foods/ 365 Label says
"Unfortunately, at this time, it would be impossible to determine if the can you take home from the
store contains BPA. Cans are part of the commodity market, and from the time the item is produced in a facility to the time it is pushed through distribution channels and lands on the shelf, to the time it is purchased, manufacturers may change suppliers for this commodity item numerous times.
Therefore, our Private Label products may or may not contain BPA. We do have individuals working on packaging alternatives and solutions; however, at this time it would be impossible to track the specific can of
purchase."

This is a people driven list. Please call your favorite companies and ask - let them know you as a consumer wants BPA free food. Send me info and I will post it. I admit to being concerned about what they will replace the BPA with, as it won't be long term tested on humans either. Fresh is best!

The following brings up yet another BPA contamination issue - that of toothpaste tubes!

Subject: toothpaste tubes containing BPA
Discussion Thread
Customer
(Debra Kam) 02/20/2009 11:14 AM
I understand that BPA is present in the
lining of your toothpaste tubes --
can you tell me if you are planning to
change this and phase out the use of
BPA?
Response (Megan Dunn)
02/20/2009 11:26 AM
Hello Debra,

Thank you for your e-mail and for
asking about BPA (Bisphenol-A) in our
packaging. Our tube manufacturer uses a
food-grade liner in our tubes and
they have reported to us that there is a
trace amount of BPA in the liner
material. However, testing of this liner by
an independent laboratory
actually has found that the level is actually below
their detection limit.
Based on this information, we believe that our liners
are safe for use as
far as BPA levels are concerned.

If you would like to sign a petition asking Muir Glen to remove the BPA please go here:

http://www.thepoint.com/campaigns/campaign-0-108

BP

2010-06-09T11:05:00.000-07:00

I see the devastation being dumped on the southern coastline and wonder when it will spread further. My heart goes out to all the folks in the area who are being directly affected. We will all be indirectly affected soon as prices will rise for us all.

I had an interesting comment from Anne in Colorado that made me ponder. She said we are all partially responsible as we are the consumers of plastic which is a derivative of the oil. She is so correct. We use plastic all day long and don't stop to think where it came from. There is not a plastic moth weaving plastic bags, clothing tags and wrapping. Plastic is made from the oil coming out of the refineries.

So I ask you to stop and think how many times you touch plastic during the day. Right now I am typing on plastic keys and have a plastic mouse. I opened a new package of under ware today from a plastic package. My half and half for my coffee had a plastic spout and my coffee grinder and coffee maker are plastic. The organic greens I will have for lunch are in a plastic tub. My salad dressing has a plastic lid. The shrimp I am planning on having in my salad is in a plastic bag (I bought 3 bags thinking the price of shrimp will go up because so much of the shrimp we eat is from the affected area and will not be safe to eat or not available at all). I then will garden with my plastic hand tools and wheel barrel. Get the point. I have been part of the problem all along. I buy plastic goods unconsciously and do not think I am adding to the problem.

Anyone want to do a 30 plastic free test? It would surely give the oil companies a direct message other than not buying a certain brand of gasoline for our vehicles. How can we all begin to make choices that are plastic free? We have to stop being part of the problem. I am open to any ideas. This would have to be a big movement. Many people would have to be involved from the producers of goods to the packagers, to the shippers to the stores right down the chain to the consumers. What difference would it make if we just changed a few things in our daily routine? Let's come up with a list of suggestions.

2010-06-08T10:56:00.000-07:00

June 12th there will be a boycott BP occuring. Please avoic the following vendors: BP brands to boycott include Castrol, Arco, Aral, am/pm, Amoco, and Wild Bean Cafe, Safeway gas.

Canning Butter

2010-06-07T10:59:00.000-07:00

Now you can purchase canned butter from The Internet Grocer http://www.internet-grocer.net/butter.htm or make it yourself using the directions below.

1. Use any butter that is on sale. Lesser quality butter requires more shaking (see #5 below), but the results are the same as with the expensive brands.

2. Heat pint jars in a 250 degree oven for 20 minutes, without rings or seals. One pound of butter slightly more than fills one pint jar, so if you melt 11 pounds of butter, heat 12 pint jars. A roasting pan works well for holding the pint jars while in the oven.

3. While the jars are heating, melt butter slowly until it comes to a slow boil. Using a large spatula, stir the bottom of the pot often to keep the butter from scorching. Reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes at least: a good simmer time will lessen the amount of shaking required (see #5 below). Place the lids in a small pot and bring to a boil, leaving the lids in simmering water until needed.

4. Stirring the melted butter from the bottom to the top with a soup ladle or small pot with a handle, pour the melted butter carefully into heated jars through a canning jar funnel. Leave 3/4" of head space in the jar, which allows room for the shaking process.

5. Carefully wipe off the top of the jars, then get a hot lid from the simmering water, add the lid and ring and tighten securely. Lids will seal as they cool. Once a few lids "ping," shake while the jars are still warm, but cool enough to handle easily, because the butter will separate and become foamy on top and white on the bottom. In a few minutes, shake again, and repeat until the butter retains the same consistency throughout the jar.

6. At this point, while still slightly warm, put the jars into a refrigerator. While cooling and hardening, shake again, and the melted butter will then look like butter and become firm. This final shaking is very important! Check every 5 minutes and give the jars a little shake until they are hardened in the jar! Leave in the refrigerator for an hour.

7. Canned butter should store for 3 years or longer on a cool, dark shelf. [It does last a long time. We have just used up the last of the butter we canned in 1999, and it was fine after 5 years.] Canned butter does not "melt" again when opened, so it does not need to be refrigerated upon opening, provided it is used within a reasonable length of time.

A lovely glow seems to emanate from every jar. You will also be glowing with grateful satisfaction while placing this "sunshine in a jar" on your pantry shelves.

We have canned over 75 pints of butter in the past year. Miles loves it and will open a jar when I'm not looking! I buy butter on sale, then keep it frozen until I have enough for canning 2 or 3 batches of a dozen jars each

Now please read what the USDA says about “canning” butter and use your knowingness before embarking in this process. Remember there are canned butter products on the market.

Should I use directions for canning butter at home that I see on the Internet?
Indeed, there are some directions for 'canning' butter in circulation on the Internet. Most of what we have seen are not really canning, as they do not have Boiling Water or Pressure Canning processes applied to the filled jar. Jars are preheated, the butter is melted down and poured into the jars, and the lids are put on the jars. Some directions say to put the jars in the refrigerator as they re-harden, but to keep shaking them at regular intervals to keep the separating butter better mixed as it hardens. This is merely storing butter in canning jars, not ‘canning’. True home canning is when the food is heated enough to destroy or sufficiently acid enough to prevent growth of all spores of Clostridium botulinum (that causes botulism) and other pathogens during room temperature storage on the shelf.

Additionally, when you consider the economics of the process (energy costs involved with heating, cost of jars and lids, etc.), even if the butter is bought on sale, it may not be economically viable to prepare butter to store for years in this manner. Good quality butter is readily available at all times, if butter is needed for fresh use. If the concern is about emergency food supplies, there are dry forms of butter that can be purchased and stored, oils that can be used in an emergency, or commercially canned butter in tins (although we have only seen this for sale from other countries). Melted and re-hardened butter may not function the same as original butter in many types of baking anyway.

There are a few issues with the common directions circulating on the Internet at this time (Spring 2006):

1. Physical safety and food quality: In the provided directions, the jars are preheated in an oven (dry-heat), which is not recommended for canning jars. Manufacturers of canning jars do not recommend baking or oven canning in the jars. It is very risky with regard to causing jar breakage. There is no guarantee that the jars heated in this dry manner are sufficiently heated to sterilize them, as we do not have data on sterilizing jar surfaces by this dry-heating method.

2. The butter is not really being 'canned'; it is simply being melted and put in canning jars, and covered with lids. Due to some heat present from the hot melted butters and preheated jars, some degree of vacuum is pulled on the lids to develop a seal. It rarely is as strong a vacuum as you obtain in jars sealed through heat processing. The practice in these 'canned' butter directions is referred to as 'open-kettle' canning in our terminology, which is really no canning at all, since the jar (with product in it) is not being heat processed before storage.

3. Although mostly fat, butter is a low-acid food. Meat, vegetables, butter, cream, etc. are low-acid products that will support the outgrowth of C. botulinum and toxin formation in a sealed jar at room temperature. Low-acid products have to be pressure-canned by tested processes to be kept in a sealed jar at room temperature. It is not clear what the botulism risk is from such a high-fat product, but to store a low-acid moist food in a sealed jar at room temperature requires processing to destroy spores. A normal salted butter has about 16-17% water, some salt, protein, vitamins and minerals. Some butter-like spreads have varying amounts of water in them. We have no kind of database in the home canning/food processing arena to know what the microbiological concerns would be in a butter stored at room temperature in a sealed jar. In the absence of that, given that it is low-acid and that fats can protect spores from heat if they are in the product during a canning process, we cannot recommend storing butter produced by these methods under vacuum sealed conditions at room temperature.

4. Some other directions do call for 'canning' the filled jars of butter in a dry oven. This also is not 'canning'. There is not sufficient, research-based documentation to support that 'canning' any food in a dry oven as described on this web page or any page that proposes oven canning is even sufficient heating to destroy bacteria of concern, let alone enough to produce a proper seal with today's home canning lids.

In conclusion, with no testing having been conducted to validate these methods, we would NOT recommend or endorse them as a safe home-canning process, let alone for storing butter at room temperature for an extended period. We do know that the methods given for preheating empty jars, or even filled jars, in a dry oven are not recommended by the jar manufacturers or by us for any food. Aside from the physical safety and quality issues, and the fact that it is not canning at all, if there happened to be spores of certain bacteria in there, these procedures will not destroy those spores for safe room temperature storage.

Rain rain go away.....please

2010-06-06T20:31:00.000-07:00

Rain, rain, go away

Come again some other day

We want to go outside and play

Come again some other day

It is Junuary here in the Pacific Northwest. The slugs have eaten all my green beans and are getting as large as kittens...well almost. We need a series of warm dry days to get the garden going and get everything dried out.

Earthquakes

2010-06-03T13:37:00.000-07:00

Another reminder that where ever you live, there could be earthquakes! This is the U.S.G.A. map for the past few days. Have you made any preparations? Have you even thought about preparing for an emergency? Have you had a family meeting?

If you would like any information on earthquake preparedness or emergency preparedness please let me know and I will do my best to facilitate your questions.

22 Ways to Slash the Grocery Bill

2010-05-31T09:46:00.000-07:00

22 Ways to Slash the Grocery Bill

With our busy lives and harried schedules, it's easy to forget the basics of wise grocery shopping. Here is a quick collection of the best tips I know for slashing your grocery bill:

1. Don't shop hungry. Studies find you will spend at least 17 percent more.

2. Shop with a list. Use the store's weekly sale ads found in the newspaper or the store's website as a guide and build your menus from there.

3. Go for loss-leaders. These are the items that are deeply discounted in order to get you through the door.

4. Don't buy anything that is not a sale item.

5. Know your prices. Keep a written record of the regular per-unit prices of the items you buy most often so you'll know whether a "special" is really a bargain.

6. Buy in season. Fruits and vegetables will be the best quality and the lowest price when they are in season.

7. Shop with cash. Take only the amount of cash you have decided to spend on one grocery trip. If you come across a fabulous bargain and don't have enough cash, you can always return to the store to stock up.

8. Carry a calculator. Keep a running total of the items in your cart so you won't be embarrassed at the checkout.

9. Shop at larger stores. While their regular prices might be higher, a supermarket will have the best sales.

10. Find a bakery outlet. These kinds of thrift stores offer wonderful bargains if you can be highly disciplined.

11. Buy in bulk. But remember: If you can't use it before it goes bad, it's a bad deal no matter how good the bargain was.

12. Don't overbuy your storage space.

13. "On sale" without a coupon is sometimes cheaper than the regular price with a coupon.

14. Buy the smallest size or quantity that the coupon allows for the greatest percentage of savings.

15. Always check expiration dates on food items. If you have a choice, choose the date farthest into the future.

16. Consider generic and store brands. Many times, the product is identical to the brand name except for the lower price.

17. Shop solo. Distractions can be costly.

18. Look high and low. Expensive brand names are purposely positioned at eye level.

19. Avoid individual-size packages. Buy the big container and divide into smaller portions at home.

20. Learn sale cycles. Study sale flyers until you recognize predictable cycles. Buy enough when it's on sale to last until the next sale.

21. Look for "two for one." These days, scanners always ring up each individual item, so if the deal is "two for one" you will likely be able to buy one for half-price. Check the store's policy.

22. Keep moving! One study reveals that the typical shopper spends about $1.75 for every minute spent in the store. Know why you're there, get what you need and get out!

More Ideas!

23. Keep to the outer edges of the store. The prepared food is usually on the inner isles.

24. Learn your grocery store's habits. When do they usually put out marked down meats? Plan your shopping accordingly.

©Copyright 2010 Mary Hunt
Everyday Cheapskate is a Registered Trademark

Frugal Tips to Save on Trash Costs

2010-05-30T14:01:00.000-07:00

1. If you do not fill the trash bin weekly you are paying too much for trash service:

Call and request that your trash be picked up every other week.
Make arrangements with a neighbor who has a small amount of trash weekly to share one trash container and split the bill.
Stop automatic trash pick up and transport your trash to the landfill/trash compactor individually.

2. Do not:

Make little bundles of trash and go out after dark and deposit them in your neighbors trash barrels.
Make bundles and leave them at the grocery store or with other merchants
Do not discard them anywhere on the side of the road. Your trash is your responsibility and you should be accountable for its safe disposal and cost of disposal.
Recycle and be part of solution not part of the problem.

3. Watch what you buy:

Think about your purchasing habits. How much plastic do you consume? Is there another alternative to plastic packaging?
Buy brands that have less packaging, come in recyclable containers or buy in bulk. Ask for paper containers whenever possible like from the butcher and fruit aisles. Use reusable shopping bags.

4. Compost:

Recycle by composting.
Recycle food waste and yard debris and compostable paper.

Visit www.wheredoitakemy.org for database of reuse and recycling locations The Web site includes more than 130 categories to choose from.

Plastic Caps and Lids Not Recyclable

2010-05-30T12:28:00.000-07:00

How many times have you stood over the recycle bin and wondered if caps and lids from plastic containers are recyclable? Well, they are not.

Caps and lids are often made out of a different type of plastic and therefore must be separated to avoid cross contamination. Basically a hard plastic versus a softer plastic that is easier to break down through reheating.

The caps and lids are a terrible problem for the recycle center because they have to be sorted out and removed from the generic plastic recycle pile. Small lids can jam the sorting machines and have to be pulled out by hand which is hazardous. Dairy tub lids and detached metal lids are larger and flatter so the automated sorting equipment sends them to the paper and cardboard area where they cause contamination. To ad insult to injury, capped bottles can ex;lode when compacted which posed a danger to the workers.

What to do? Plastic lids should be throwrn away period.

Got a metal lid? A metal lid may be recycled only if it is still attached to the can and folded in on itself. Lids that are detached from cans often get incorrectly mixed with paper and cardboard during the sorting process. I know I have done this often with dog food can lids. I will amend my ways now.
Also do not flatten cans. The cans will be flattened during the sorting process. Again this has been part of my process and I still see commercials where some woman with OCD is cleaning and flattening her cans before throwing them away. Wrongo in the Congo. Just leave the lid attached and pushed back in the can and toss it in the recycle bin.

One other common question. What about the little plastic ring ar4ound the neck of the bottle? Go ahead and leave it on. It's so small it won't cause a contamination problem and it's usually fixed in place so it won't pop off and jam the equipment.

I read an article from our local recycling center and modified it a wee bit. Hope you think twice next time you have lids to throw away.

This weeks bargains!

2010-05-28T12:35:00.000-07:00

This little corner curio stand was only $1! I had to buy it although I don't have a corner at the moment to set it in.

Yes, I took the cover off the couch to find a water stain. I will have to scrub it out. I like to be without the polar fleece cover in the warm months.

This wall shelf was free from a neighbor that is moving and gave me a place to hang another handmade quilt from my Great Grandmother.

More holiday yard sales this weekend. I can hardly wait!

Oh My Aching Back

2010-05-28T10:42:00.000-07:00

Today was the day to fill the new garden boxes. I went to the dirt store and bought a yard of mushroom compost. There is a large mushroom factory locally so good compost is easy to get. One yard costs $19.50 which is up from $18 two years ago. For those of you that have never bought compost a yard fills the back of a large pick up truck. I don't know what it weighs but it is very heavy. The truck actually sways when they load it with a full load of a bulldozer.

I started out fresh. I had a new wheel on the wheel barrel and three different shoves to try out. I picked the shovel with the full size blade and went to work. It took 6 full loads of compost to fill a garden box and actually one more load could have been dumped in. I did the first garden box alone before the local teen age garden stud came to lend me a hand. I call him my garden boy toy. Gee I never thought I would be a Cougar but I think I qualify now. BT took the shovel away and said it was a one man job. I have to admit I worked faster than he did, had less company drive by, took less cell phone calls, had less breaks, drank less water and went to the loo less. But I have to admit I know I am really tired and am wondering how he is feeling!

We got 5 garden boxes filled in three hours and there is a wee bit left over in the truck. I will be out there tomorrow to top off all the boxes with the leftover compost IF I am able to move. My low back feels like I moved it all. BT did most of the heavy lifting and I did the spreading. In between loads I weeded around the yard. I know I accomplished a lot because there are piles of weeds everywhere which will have to be collected and swept up into my compost pile. Where do the weeds come from? I really try to keep up with them, they are not welcome, they are not wanted so why do they come back?

I am off to a hot hot bath with epsom salts. Hmmm, wonder where I could get a massage?

How to Begin Your Day

2010-05-28T10:25:00.000-07:00

I love the enthusiasm this little girl has in beginning your day.

passing of an artichoke

2010-05-21T12:51:00.000-07:00

There has been a stately artichoke plant in my garden for four years. Annually it would come to life and grow up to five feet tall and spawn many chokes. It was sort of like the old woman who lived in a shoe and had so many children she did not know what to do.

This year my friend did not come back to life. I believe one of the cold snaps we had did her in. I am really going to miss the old gal as I marveled at how such a plant could grow so majestically and create such yummy offspring. I loved picking the chokes and sharing them with neighbors. They would always be so surprised to see them and more surprised they came from my garden in the neighborhood. Most people around here don't seem to have them in their gardens.

So I will go and get another plant this week. I will plant it in another spot and allow the other spot to heal and build up it's nutrients again. Goodbye old choke, you will be missed.

More Foods Recalled

2010-05-18T12:48:00.000-07:00

Just read a long list of foods that have been recalled because they have an ingredient called hydrolized vegetable protein. Another word for a substance that has been processed chemically from corn. Here is the complete list : http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/HVPCP/

I have been reading the Omnivores Dilemma and highly recommend this book to each and every one of you. It goes along with the video Food Inc. I would say it will go on my top ten list of books that have changed my life and my thinking process. It is about an author's search for where food comes from. He went to the farmers and the feedlots and chemists and discovered how corn has become a huge commodity and is being used for all sorts of things that seem invisible in our food. Most of those items that have long names are really derivatives of corn. I am not saying corn is a bad thing read the book. I don't want the corn industry on my back for sure!

A point I do want to make is please create a storehouse of good food for your family. You could experience a natural disaster, loose your income or be faced with food call backs and find yourself without food for the family. One example is right now they are calling back bullion. I use it a lot in cooking and would miss it if it weren't on my shelf. I have been storing it for quite a while so my bullion has not been affected by the call back. Buy extra food each week and develop a years worth of storage. Sounds impossible but it is not and is worth more than any bank account or stock certificate that could be lost in an instant. I have taught classes on food storage over the years and lately can not find anyone interested. I shake my head and keep reading more and more reasons to be preparing. Preparing should be on the list of your goals and the whole family should be learning about it and its purpose.

I just read an article what was referred to as MSG's little brother HVP. Hydrolized Vegetable Protein, a flavor enhancer commonly used in processed foods. It turns out that the amino acid in HVP that is responsible for "enhancing" the taste of foods is glutamic acid. In its crystalline form, glutamic acid is more commonly known as monosodium glutamate, or MSG. Using HVP is a way for manufacturers to use glutamic acid to add flavor without using MSG -- and having to put those oft-avoided letters on the label. So here is another thing to watch out for.

Learn to can, put good food away in it's purest form, teach your family what is in the food they eat, educate them, have a family garden.

Recent massive snack recalls are turning attention to HVP, a "substitute" for MSG that's basically the same thing

By Sara Breselor

This week has seen a rash of foods recalled due to possible contamination with Salmonella Tennessee, ranging from selected flavors of Pringles to Herb-Ox bouillon to Quaker brand snack mix (see the complete list here). The common ingredient in all these products is hydrolyzed vegetable protein, or HVP, manufactured by Basic Food Flavors, in Nevada, where Salmonella bacteria were found on the processing equipment.
As the story unfolds, however, possible Salmonella contamination is not the only thing raising eyebrows about HVP, a flavor enhancer commonly used in processed foods. It turns out that the amino acid in HVP that is responsible for "enhancing" the taste of foods is glutamic acid. In its crystalline form, glutamic acid is more commonly known as monosodium glutamate, or MSG. Using HVP is a way for manufacturers to use glutamic acid to add flavor without using MSG -- and having to put those oft-avoided letters on the label.
Glutamic acid occurs naturally in many foods that are aged or fermented, like soy sauce and cheese. In 1908, a researcher named Kikunae Ikeda at Tokyo Imperial University discovered glutamic acid in a search to isolate the savory flavor of dashi, or kombu seaweed broth, a traditional and fundamental ingredient in Japanese cuisine. Ikeda named the taste of the isolated acid umami, and it's now recognized as one of the five basic tastes, along with sweet, salty, sour, and bitter. American chefs typically refer to the ineffable taste by its Japanese name, but it's sometimes described as being "savory" and "meaty," and is often most recognized as the aftertaste of mushrooms, ripe tomatoes, and, well, meat.
Ikeda’s isolation of the delicious umami taste led to the mass production of monosodium glutamate. MSG came under public scrutiny in 1968, when a Chinese-American physician wrote to the New England Journal of Medicine and described the symptoms of what he called Chinese Restaurant Syndrome -- including sweating, weakness, heart palpitations and headaches -- after eating Chinese food. The physician assumed that the symptoms were caused by MSG, and his theory became so well known that the additive was blamed for symptoms as far-ranging as numbness and chest pain, although studies have never shown a statistically relevant link.
In 1969, scientist John Olney coined the term "excitotoxin" for substances, chiefly glutamic acid, that overstimulated and destroyed brain cells in mice. In 1996, Dr. Russell Blaylock, a neurosurgeon, published "Excitotoxins: The Taste That Kills," a book that discussed a possible relationship between excitotoxins to neurological diseases in humans. Large-scale FDA, World Health Organization and United Nations studies have shown that normal consumption of glutamic acid is safe, but MSG continues to be shunned by many consumers. Of those, though, few recognize that HVP and MSG share the ingredient that Blaylock alleges is dangerous to health.
The FDA considers it misleading to put a "No MSG" label on foods containing glutamic acid, but the substance appears without calling attention to itself in food additives such as hydrolyzed plant protein, sodium caseinate, calcium caseinate, yeast extract, textured protein, autolyzed yeast and hydrolyzed oat flour.

New Garden Boxes

2010-05-17T11:07:00.000-07:00

What was I thinking? I now have 5 new garden boxes to go along with the 19 I already have! Now I love to garden but this year I don't have much energy. I have to go and get a load of garden dirt mixed with compost to fill the boxes today. I hope that young man down the street is ready for some paid labor because I don't want to spread two yards of soil alone.

The first set of three boxes are made out of recycled wood from the Habitat for Humanity outlet. I paid $7 for all the 2x6's and I believe I purchased 20 pieces of wood in all. The wood was a painted deck so I put the worn paint on the outside to preserve the integrity of the soil.

We used the miter saw set up on the back of the truck for a staging area. We also used measuring tapes and a square. To put the boxes together we used a power drill and screws that I had.

The saw cut quickly and evenly and was easy to use. I got one a few years ago from my brother for a present. I was not sure what I was going to do with it but have used it a lot.

All the drill holes were predrilled so as not to split the old wood.

The first four four sides have now been drilled but need more support to hold up Two sets of pieces will be used to give more depth to the box.

Next rectangles of used plywood were added to the bottom of the corners of the box to give added stability. The corners to not allow the box to torque to the side.

Next a short piece of wood was added to each corner to tie together the corners and give added strength.

A piece of 2x4 is all that is needed for added strength and stability.

The three new super dupper boxes will go in this corner of the edible front yard.

Finished box ready to be moved to the site. Next is the soil.

Coupon Info

2010-05-16T14:46:00.000-07:00

You can save money even if you leave your coupons at home, saving on grocery shopping without coupons may take a little work and a little extra effort but it is worth it. Here are 40 ways to save money while shopping for groceries (without coupons) that you might not know about! I found this list online and thought I would share it with you. I did not write the list only corrected a few items.

1. Look for items that are close to the expiration date that you know that your family can use quickly such as milk, meats, crackers, frozen foods, and more. These almost expired items will either be marked down for quick sales or you can request that the items be reduced for you.

2. Many grocery stores have their own coupons and sales independent of national coupons. If you have forgotten the store coupon booklet, keep a running list in your head of all items that you need a coupon for and ask at the checkout if the cashier has the booklet. Most do keep the coupon booklet at the checkout counter. This may not work with every cashier but I have never been told no!

3. Grab the sales paper on the way into the store and head for the sales items. Make a meal plan with sales items and save lots of cash!

4. Stay away from processed foods and buy fresh foods. Processed foods such as cheese sticks and pizza rolls have gone up in price as of late.

5. Look for grocery carts sitting around the store as they place items that are either out of date, reduced, or the box smashed.

6. Ask where the bakery reduced items are located and load up on fresh breads, garlic bread, cakes, cupcakes, and more!

7. See a good sale on a huge bag of potatoes but know you can't use them all? Share with a friend or trade half of the bag for her tomatoes.

8. If you have a small family and can't use large containers of items that will go bad quickly, buy the cheaper priced large containers and split it up between neighbors. If everyone does this, you will get something else you could use too! Such as large containers of sour cream or cottage cheese.

9. Buy the larger sized packages of meat and then go home and freeze smaller portions in individual freezer bags. You will save money doing this.

10. If you see an item on sale for pennies, buy all you can afford to buy while it is on sale. Sure you don't need 49 sponges but it will save on buying one for full price when you do need it!

11. Buy off brand foods. Many do taste the same as brand

name.

12. Follow your list and do not buy anything on impulse. Sure that brownie chunk ice cream looks delicious but costs $6.77!!

13. Don't walk around without a plan. Go into the store with a plan of what you need and only buy that.

14. Try not to bring children with you and if you have to bring them, stay out of cereal and candy aisles.

15. Go plain. The more toppings and extras in foods, the more you pay for it. Buy plain yogurt and dress it up with your own fruit at home.

16. Buy ingredients to make your own food at home rather than buying convenience foods such as frozen pizzas. It is much more fun to buy the pizza crust (or make your own) and top it the way you want.

17. Don't buy anything but food at the grocery store unless there is a fantastic sale! You can find better deals on toilet paper, paper towels, dish detergent, laundry detergent, and other non-food items by shopping at the dollar store.

18. Going along with the tip above, never buy food at a convenience store! You will pay 3 times more for a frozen pizza or cereal there.

19. Look at the top and bottom of shelves for cheaper foods. Anything in your line of sight (middle of the shelf) will cost you more.

20. Shop before you get to the checkout line. Those items (candies, magazines, and more) are the most expensive and there to lure you in to spending even more money than you planned on.

21. Keep tabs on how much you are spending. Keep a running list of the cost so you aren't surprised with a $200 shopping trip receipt!

22. Eat before you go grocery shopping or you will be loading the cart with lots of stuff just because you are hungry.

23. Try one new food each week but no more. You don't want a lot of stuff that no one will eat! (The frozen stuffed potatoes in my freezer can attest to this!)

24. Don't buy more than your family can eat even if it is on sale. Milk won't last long so only buy what your family will use or drink.

25. If you are on a food budget of $50, don't buy large containers costing over $10 each. You need that money for food your family will eat this week.26. Don't let the store lure you with deals that aren't really sale prices. Saving a dime on ice cream toppings isn't a deal if you can't afford the ice cream this week, plus a dime savings isn't worth buying it. Wait

for a better sale.

27. Know the regular costs of food so you can see when a good deal is happening.

28. Know before you go. Always look through the cabinets so you know what you are out of and what you have enough of that week.

29. Get to know the cashiers and store workers. They will let you know of savings throughout the store.

30. If the store is out of sale item, get a raincheck.

31. Comparison shop with sales advertisements and some stores will reduce their prices to match other stores. Sometimes you need the sales paper to price match but at times you won't. This only works if the item is exactly the same.

32. Buy non-character foods. Never buy cereals or soups just because Dora the Explorer adorns the front. This will cost you greatly.

33. Shop outside the inner aisles. Not only is the more healthy but also where the freshest foods are.

34. If you see a damaged item, tell the manager and see if he can give you a deal on it. Cheerios in a dented box? $1.00 off possibly.

35. Buy the milk, sour cream, cottage cheese, and cheeses in the back of the case as they are the freshest ones and will last your family longer. Never pull the first milk in a row off as it will have the least time before curdling.

36. Looking for cooking apples or bananas? Ask for a discount on bruised produce!

37. Like green bananas? Ask for a discount if all of the bananas are very green.

38. When the cashier is weighing produce, make sure all other items are off of the scale or your price may go up!

39. Look for tags hanging on aisles...at times, there are tags for getting something for free when you buy an item. Buy juice boxes and get graham crackers free or buy a dozen cokes and get a pound of hamburger meat free.

40. Buy tea before sodas. Much cheaper and lasts a lot longer!

Yea, I have Albertson's double coupons today. I think I will stop at the store and get another newspaper and have six. It will mean I will save six dollars on groceries.

Yard sale score

2010-05-16T14:22:00.000-07:00

Found a yard sale of giant hanging plants for 2/$25 today as well as geraniums and asilliums (?) and dahlias for $1! Those are excellent prices. Mom and I bought a whole bunch and now our front yards are looking wonderful. Mom's house looks like an ad for Grandma's house.

I have so much weeding to do as it got away from me while I was gone. I don't suppose any of you want to come over for a weeding party do you?

Mona Lisa

2010-05-15T08:38:00.000-07:00

This struck me so funny I had to share. Has anyone else ever heard that this was a self portrait of Michaelangelo and he was divulging the fact that he was really a woman. In those days women could not be artists. Just wondering.

Bird Houses

2010-05-14T14:38:00.000-07:00

I added some spring birdhouses all of which have babies or bees living in them this season.

Got the lawn mowed and wacked and it smells so good out there. Now if I can manifest the weeds in the garden to disappear I will be really thrilled. After being away it will take me some time to get caught up.

Have a pea soup cooking with a large ham bone today so even the house smells green!

Went to a couple of yard sales and found a stainless steel water container for a buck.

Moved the furniture around to feel more summer like. I move the couch away from the heating element in the winter. Mister T does not like that because it inhibits his ability to see out the front bay window.

Even got dishes done and two loads of laundry done. That chat that Sharon and I had last night must have helped.

More on Coupons

2010-05-13T13:38:00.000-07:00

The other evening I attended an introduction to couponing by http://Madcoupons.webs.com sponsored by the local LDS Church. First I want to thank the ladies group for allowing me to attend and bring along my neighbor.

I learned some new things about coupons I would like to share with you.

1. Don't let the cashier pull the "one coupon per purchase" line on you. One coupon per purchase does not mean one coupon per transaction. Each item is considered a purchase. Ask them to ring them up individually if they do not get it.
2. Don't hesitate to call over the Manager if there is confusion on a coupon policy. Bring store coupon policies in your coupon book.
3. Some stores do take expired coupons.
4. Walmart will take coupons from other stores.

The gal saves up to 66% on her grocery bill weekly which is great. There has been a 27% rise in the use of coupons in the past two years.

More coupons can be purchased from local newspapers at a small cost. Sunday newspapers are the greatest source of coupons and papers can be purchased at dollar stores for $1 which is a great deal!

2010-05-11T11:26:00.000-07:00

These recipes are from the Everyday Cheapskate which is a newsletter that can be subscribed to for free (my favorite word).

Toothpaste

6 teaspoons baking soda
1/3 teaspoon salt
4 teaspoons glycerin
15 drops peppermint or wintergreen extract

Mix baking soda, salt, glycerin and mint extract together to form a paste. Store in a container you can get a toothbrush into. Glycerin is available in most pharmacies and health food stores like Sprouts and Whole Foods.

Shampoo

1/4 cup grated Castile soap
1/4 cup hot water
1/2 teaspoon olive oil
2 tablespoons glycerin
5 drops essential oil, any scent (optional for fragrance)

In a small bowl, stir the grated soap into the hot water until dissolved. Add the olive oil, glycerin and essential oil like lavender, peppermint or citrus. Store in an appropriate container with a lid.

Ant Bait

1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup baking yeast
1/2 cup molasses
3"x5" index cards

Mix sugar, yeast and molasses in a small bowl. Spread a thin layer of the mixture on index cards with knife or spatula. Place cards, syrup side up, in areas where ants are a problem. This application is safe and nontoxic.

White Glue

1 1/2 cups cold water
2 tablespoons corn syrup
1 teaspoon white vinegar
1/2 cup cornstarch

Mix 3/4 cup water, syrup and vinegar in small saucepan. Bring to a rolling boil. In separate small bowl, mix cornstarch and remaining 3/4 cup cold water. Add the cornstarch mixture slowly to the syrup and vinegar mixture. Stir constantly. Let stand overnight before using.

Back Again

2010-05-11T09:52:00.000-07:00

I drove the long 6 hour drive from Colfax, WA to Olympia yesterday and am home again. It was a wonderful trip and I met some really nice new people. We had good news that Barbara's cancer seems to be located only in her uterus and will be addressed with surgery.

The terrain is so different from the western side of the state that it is extraordinary. We went for a drive to a Butte called Steptoe Butte from which we had magnificent vistas complete with rainbows and rain storms. From this high vantage left behind from a glacier thousands of years ago, you can see hundreds of miles of patchwork farm country on which wheat, grains, legumes, soybeans grow abundantly.

My thanks to the Corridinni Family for including me as a member of the family. Congratulations to Dr. Emily French, DVM for graduating in the top 25 percent of the class with honors and for taking good care of Mister T.

10 Things to buy in bulk

2010-05-06T12:53:00.000-07:00

10 Things to buy in Bulk to save money

Some of this information was taken from an article at TipHero.com 10 Things to Buy in Bulk

1. Cooking oil

If you do a lot of frying, it definitely makes sense to buy cooking oil at a warehouse store.

Buying big at a typical grocery store means getting the 1-gallon (128-ounce) size of Mazola corn oil for $11.99. That works out to 9.4 cents per ounce, which is about 77% more than you'll pay per ounce if you opt for the 2.5-gallon (320-ounce) container of Mazola at Costco. It sells for $16.99, or about 5.3 cents per ounce. You save 4.1 cents per ounce.

If the money you save inspires you to eat more fried food, though, it may turn out to be no bargain for your health.

The most inexpensive place I have found cooking oil is the food coop. You have to bring your own container and measure it out and weight it for the price. I have bought olive oil and peanut oil that way. I use mostly olive oil in my home as I don’t fry too much. I do have some other oils for stir frying though like peanut, sechesuian and canola.

2. Toothbrushes

The American Dental Association says your toothbrush won't work as well if it's old and worn. Keeping new ones on hand is affordable if you buy them in bulk.

An Oral B CrossAction Pro-Health toothbrush will run you $4.49 at a Rite Aid Pharmacy, where you can also get a two-pack for $7.99 (about $4 each).

But Sam's Club sells a six-pack of the same toothbrushes for $13.88, or about $2.30 each. That's a savings of $2.19 (or just under 50%) off the drugstore price for an individual brush, which should give you something to smile about.

Coupon seem to be the best way for me to buy and store toothbrushes. I can usually get them no more than $1 each that way. I love to save the old ones for cleaning. Ok Mom, so I don’t use them much but I do use them. Sometimes I use them for crafting too.

3. Cereal

Breakfast is often called the most important meal of the day, so you don't want to economize by skipping it. But that doesn't mean you can't save some money by buying your cereal in bulk, especially if the brand is a tried-and-tested family favorite.

Why pay $5.59 for a 25.25-ounce box of Honey Nut Cheerios at a typical grocery store when you can get a 49-ounce box for $6.67 at Sam's Club? You'll save 8.5 cents per ounce, or 39%. And the cereal in the club-size box comes in two bags rather than one to prevent it from getting stale. Keeping it from getting soggy in the milk is up to you.

Of course, bulk buying can backfire. For an argument against buying cereal in bulk, check out "15 things not to buy in bulk."

I rarely buy cereal as I like oatmeal so much. When I buy it I always use coupons. Did you know you can substitute milk with juice for the liquid with cereal and it tastes good. I like cranberry or apple juice. Sometimes I use juices I have canned myself like blackberry watered down a bit. Yummy!

4. Antiseptic wipes

Nobody wants their home to be a breeding ground for germs, and antiseptic wipes offer a convenient way to fight bacteria by swabbing kitchen counters and bathroom surfaces.

If you take cleanliness to Adrian Monk-like extremes, though, you'll want to get a volume discount. At a Walgreens drugstore you can expect to pay $5.79 for an 80-count tub, which works out to 7.2 cents per wipe.

Costco recently offered three 110-count tubs of Lysol disinfecting wipes for $12.59 -- about 3.8 cents each. That's a savings of 3.4 cents per wipe.

I don’t use many wipes as I clean with vinegar and bleach. I prefer to use old rags or towels and wash them. Seems so wasteful to me.

5.Vitamins

Centrum Silver multivitamins promise to give people older than 50 the nutrients they need to protect their hearts, bones and vision. But to protect their bank accounts, they'll want to get the best possible deal, and that means buying at a warehouse club.

Centrum Silver costs $20.49 for a 220-count bottle at a Walgreens drugstore, which is a pretty good deal at 9.3 cents per vitamin pill.

At Sam's Club, a 270-count bottle costs $18.22, which works out to 6.7 cents per pill. That is a savings of 2.6 cents (about 28%) each, which should make those vitamins easier to swallow.

For an argument against buying vitamins in bulk, check out "15 things not to buy in bulk."

I buy my vitamins from Swanson’s an online catalog company unless they have the same thing at Costco. I wait for Swanson’s to have a discount offer and then do my ordering. I have always been satisfied. I buy vitamin D and homeopathics from them.

6. Soup

Many people believe buying organic food is better for the planet and for their health, but few would argue it's easier on their wallets.

Stocking up can help. A single 14-ounce can of Amy's organic minestrone or lentil soup will cost you $3.29 at a typical grocery store.

But Costco recently offered an eight-pack of 14-ounce cans (four minestrone and four lentil) for $11.99. You'd save about $1.79, or 54%, on each can. Suddenly eating organic seems more palatable.

I make my own soups and can them up or freeze them. I put in them ingredients that I know where they came from and do not add any preservatives. I think I am getting a better product and can control how much sodium is in them. If I have it home canned I have the same convenience as the store bought stuff.

7. Herbs and Seasoning

I always buy them in bulk or grow them myself. I can’t bear to buy a bottle for $7 when I know I can reuse my own bottle and save $3-4 or more! In the past I would order things in pound packages from Frontier Herbs but I always ended up with way too much. It is a good thing if you can share with a group of friends or a large family. I now go to either the bulk grocery department (I watch to see how often the stuff rotates by walking by the aisle and keeping an eye on things), food coop (best prices) or the restaurant supply store or Costco. I save my old expensive containers and prefer to store goods in glass. Date your goods and if they are getting old make up a batch of something and use them up.

I like to grow my own basil, parsley, tarragon, sage, oregano, rosemary and buy dill,bay leaves, peppers, paprika, hot pepper sauce and garlic. I just don’t seem to be able to grow enough of the later ones. I also buy bullion in large containers and add it to lots of things for seasoning. Not very natural but it tastes good in rice, soups and gravy.

8. Toilet Paper.

Need I say more? I have not resorted to leaves, corn cobs or towels….yet. I hope to never see anyone I know personally coming out of a convenience store with one roll of toilet paper. What are those people thinking?

9. Rice and Flour

Both of these items I purchase in bulk. I buy rice in either 25 or 50 pound bags from the oriental food store or the food coop. I buy flour at the restaurant supply store. They are stored in plastic tubs and I have #10 jars in my pantry which I refill from the tubs or buckets. I have never had a problem with bugs and for the heck of it I do have some bay leaves thrown in.

10. Vanilla

Vanilla can be purchased much less expensively at the food coop and it is a very good variety. My favorite is a bottle brought back to me from Mexico. It is almost gone and I am not looking forward to using the last dribble of it. I prefer the real stuff and try to stay away from artificial additives and flavorings. I made vanilla once from some beans and vodka but it was expensive. Tasted really good though in coffee!!!

Canned Cheese

2010-05-03T09:54:00.000-07:00

Washington State University’s Agricultural Department makes a product that I have never seen elsewhere. They can the cheese called Cougar Gold made from the herd that the students care for. I have sampled two kinds: one is a smoked very sharp orange cheese that reminds me of the sharp cheese I grew up with that we got from Vermont or a very sharp Gouda and the other is a white cheese that is also sharp tasting. I plan on going over to the dairy store and checking out their line of cheeses later in the week. Canned cheese is an excellent addition to a food storage plan and last indefinitely as long as it is not opened. I don’t think the opened can would last very long because you are going to want to eat it at every meal. An unopened can can last 30 years and will be better with age!

This is the white cheese that is also sharp.

I had some of the smoked cheese crumbled on my fried eggs this morning and it is simply delicious! Each can holds 1 pound 20 ounces of a round of cheese. I believe the cheese costs $18 a can but I will check on the details when I make a visit. If you are able I would suggest you order a can or two and find the one you like the best then stockpile some up for when TSHTF. What a treat it would be to take hunting or have in the cabin. It is excellent to cook with or have on crackers. I especially like it grilled in a sandwich or Penne. You could create sandwiches better than any Barista or Café on the streets of Paris.

I love the fact that it comes with the name of the student who made the batch and the date it was canned for aging.

I have purchased canned butter and cheese that comes from New Zealand but I prefer this more local product. The Red Feather cheese is milder and less flavorful. Now that I am aspiring to be more of a Locavore, I am going to buy the WSU cheese. I will check to see what other products they may have canned that would be good for long term storage. Ordering and store hours can be found at http://www.wsu.edu/creamery/hours.htm I hear they also make homemade ice cream and you know I will have to sample that!!!!

I am taking a can of both back with me and will share them with Mom. I am looking forward to making some macaroni and cheese. Oh yum yum.

CAUTION: WSU only mails cheese during certain months so it is not affected by heat. They want to ensure you get the best product possible! :-)

I am not affiliated in any way with WSU and the cheese. I loved the product and wanted to pass on a recommendation. They are very helpful on the phone or internet and will answer all your questions.
Abby

Off Visiting

2010-05-03T09:39:00.000-07:00

I am in Colfax, Wa near Pullman, home of Western Washington State University visiting twins that are long time friends. One has a daughter that is graduating from Vet school. I have come to lend a hand for the graduation celebration.

While Mister T and I are here, the new Dr. Emily is going to check out Mister T’s healing and take out his stitches. He seems to be doing quite well although really wants to lick where the stitches are. He is a bit out of place here because there is a Collie puppy and an older Schnauzer. Mister T is very shy especially after his traumatic experience being bitten almost to death last week and is not leaving my lap for a moment. It is a bit trying but I think he might have a touch of PTSS. I think I would if I had gone through what he did. I am feeling blessed he made it through the event.

I have to admit that I am embarrassed. I wrote down the wrong date and showed up a week early! Can you imagine how I felt? It is an eight hour drive over so not one to repeat again next week. My friends were gracious enough to welcome me for an extended stay.

The lay of the land is so vastly different from the side of the Cascades that I am from. It is rolling hills of brown and green on which the farmers grow red wheat for bread and grass for animal feed. Right now there is a lot of tilling going on and every once in a while there is a storm of amber dirt where a farmer is tilling the land. It is amazing how they are able to drive the large cultivator/Tillers up and down the mounds and create such straight lines. I can just imagine this as ideal country for crop circles.

Canning Mayonnaise

2010-04-25T12:38:00.000-07:00

Don't get too excited. Here is an excellent article on canning-mayonnaise . Please go and read the comments. It appears canning mayonnaise is not going to work. Rural Revolution also did a good article not too long ago on canning mustard after buying mustard in large containers at Costco. It is also worth reading and keeping.

Vintage Additions to My Collection

2010-04-23T11:47:00.000-07:00

Mom has been in a cleaning out mood lately. Now I have received these pieces a couple of which are older than me and that is older than dirt because she received them as wedding gifts. That is well over half a century ago if you are wondering.

This is a typical 50's serving tray made out of aluminium. The name on the back was Kensington.

This platter went with a set of dishes and is not quite as old. It is a nice piece for serving meat. I have used it to serve a pot roast and vegetables.

Mom used to use this cut glass piece to serve celery stalks stuffed with cream cheese and green olives with pimentos. It is rather large and good for appetizers.

Lilacs

2010-04-23T11:38:00.000-07:00

My lilacs are out and booming today. The air is heavy with their heady sweet smell. This year I do not have as many flower heads. I just read that it is because I did not deadhead the blooms from last year. I was not aware that needed to be done. Seems like an awful lot of work and then what would you do with a lilac tree that is tall?

The milk glass vase was my Grandmother's and is one of my treasures. I think it is such a pretty color and now that vintage is all the rage I like to use it frequently for small flower arrangements.

I just love lilacs as does Mister T. Oh of course this is my Mister T statue. Mister T is healing well but is self conscience and does not want his picture taken till he heals up. I think he looks like he had a loosing fight with a stapler as many of the dog bites look like puncture wounds. His tail stump is healing and for a while last night I took his collar off so his neck could have a rest. He went right to licking the wounds so back on it went.

Importance of weighing this years produce

2010-04-23T09:45:00.000-07:00

last year's green bean harvest ready to be canned

I am going to participate in weighing my garden harvest this year in order to document how much I actually produced and what the value of what I produced is. Please read this short interesting article on how to measure your produce at http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2913710/weighing_your_garden_harvest.html?cat=32

I am going to use my kitchen scale that a picked up new and in the box at a yard sale last summer. I am thrilled I finally have a use for it. A couple of days ago I picked the first rhubarb of the season and weighed it. It was just less than one pound so I picked a couple more stalks to even it out. My neighbor, Maggie, picked some so now I have harvested 1.5 pounds. The plants were given to me a couple of seasons ago. The farmer's market was selling organic rhubarb for $4.25/lb and the grocery store had it for $3.50. So now I have an imaginary $8.50 to use for new plants.

Please read the article and think about doing this simple documentation this year. We all need to eat more home grown veggies and send the message to Monsanto (boo hiss) that we do not want genetically altered, chemically fertilized food on the shelves and in our bodies.

I watched Food Inc again the other night and I am working on consciously choosing to stop buying foods with corn products. I have not been able to give up my Doritos yet but I am working on making more things at home.

Epsom Salt

2010-04-20T16:15:00.001-07:00

Epsom salts have amazing health benefits - really! Here are 11 ways to use epsom salts, including a relaxing bath, a face scrub and a hair volumizer. It’s also a miracle cure, helping to get rid of splinters and reduce swelling of sprains and bruises. One ingredient really does fit all!

I always knew that soaking in a tub full of hot water with a few cups of Epsom Salts was good for relaxing muscles and drawing toxins from the body, Epsom Salts—made of the mineral magnesium sulfate—are also a sedative for the nervous system.

When magnesium sulfate is absorbed through the skin, such as in a bath, it draws toxins from the body, sedates the nervous system, reduces swelling, relaxes muscles, is a natural emollient, exfoliates, and much more.

11 Wonderful Ways to Use Epsom Salts

1. Relaxing and sedative bath: Soak in warm water and 2 cups of Epsom Salt.

2. Foot soak: Soothe aches, remove odors and soften rough skin with a foot soak. Add 1/2 cup of Epsom Salt to a large pan of warm water. Soak feet for as long as it feels right. Rinse and dry.

3. Soak sprains and bruises: Epsom Salt will reduce the swelling of sprains and bruises. Add 2 cups Epsom Salt to a warm bath, and soak.

4. Splinter remover: Soak in Epsom Salt, it will draw out the splinter.

5. Face cleaner: To clean your face at night, mix a half-teaspoon of Epsom Salt with your regular cleansing cream. Just massage into skin and rinse with cold water.

6. Homemade skin mask: Apply the mask to damp skin. For normal to oily skin, mix 1 tablespoon of cognac, 1 egg, 1/4 cup of non-fat dry milk, the juice of 1 lemon, and a half-teaspoon of Epsom Salt. For normal to dry skin, mix 1/4 cup of grated carrot, 1 1/2 teaspoons of mayonnaise and a half-teaspoon of Epsom Salt.

7. Skin exfoliator: Massage handfuls of Epsom Salt over your wet skin, starting with your feet and continuing up towards the face. Have a bath to rinse.

8. Remove excess oil from hair: Epsom salt soaks up excess oil from hair. Add 9 tablespoons of Epsom Salt to 1/2 cup of oily hair shampoo. Apply one tablespoon of the liquid to your hair when it is dry; rinse with cold water. Pour lemon juice or organic apple cider vinegar through the hair, leave on for 5-10 minutes, and then rinse.

9. Remove hairspray: Combine 1 gallon of water, 1 cup of lemon juice, and 1 cup Epsom Salt. Combine, cover and let set for 24 hours. The next day, pour the mixture into your dry hair and let it sit for 20 minutes. Then shampoo as normal.

10. Hair volumizer: Combine equal parts of deep conditioner and Epsom Salt. Warm in a pan. Work the warm mixture through your hair and leave on for 20 minutes. Rinse.

11. And Last but not least a recipe for your Own Spa formula!

The easy-to-find ingredients for this wonderful bathing mixture help to relieve soreness and aching joints and muscles. Soothing and relaxing, Healing salt crystals draw out impurities from your body and deodorize, too! With many of the healing properties of a seaside spa, this formula is perfect for the day after a strenuous workout, or for any time you need a little healing time-out. If you can’t get away to the beach, you can at least relax in a tub with these lovely crystals.

INGREDIENTS
1 cup borax
2 cups Epsom Salts
½ cup coarse sea salt
¼ cup baking soda
¼ cup white clay
½ cup dried lavender
10 drops lavender essential oil

1. In a large bowl, mix together the borax, salts, baking soda, and clay, then mix in the dried lavender, stirring with a wire whisk.

2. Scent the mixture with the oil, mixing well with the whisk. Cover the bowl with a towel and leave overnight to fix the scent.

3. In the morning, thoroughly mix again and package in jars, zip-seal or muslin bags, or envelopes.

To Use: Add ¼ to ½ cup healing salt crystals to a tubful of warm water.

90 Reasons Why the Use of the Word Bitch Must Stop

2010-04-18T16:43:00.001-07:00

The Word Bitch Maligns Women

Publish Date: 04/17/2010

An English teacher in a charter school in Washington D.C. found a list of 90 definitions for the word bitch written allegedly by a third grader. The list was printed on a website named http://andiamnotlying.com.

1) Dirty dumb ass bitches
2) Aint got no ass bitches
3) Dusty trick bitches
4) Fishy bitches
5) Don't know how to fight bitches
6) Got all that mouth but can't step bitches
7) Ugly looking bitch that think they all that
8) Can't keep a man bitch
9) Track wearing bitches
10) Bitches that be trying to steal your man
11) Hoochie looking bitches
12) Ain't got no damn sense bitches
13) Stupid bitches that act dumb
14) Bitches who can only get a dirty boy
15) Want to be jocking bitches
16) Bitches who think their man love them but get pregnant and be left alone
17) Bitches who think they better than me
18) Instigating bitches
19) Talking behind your back bitches
20) Loud mouth bitches
21) Pissy bitches
22) Stingy bitches
23) Funky looking bitches
24) Short hair bitches
25) Spanish bitches who think they all that cause of their hair
26) Bitches that be ignoring you when they know they can hear you
27) Staring in your face bitches
28) Big eyed looking bitches
29) Crazy bitches
30) Nappy tender headed bitches
31) Booty shorts wearing bitches
32) Coast-signing bitches
33) Dick riding bitches
34) Whipped bitches
35) Buck tooth bitches
36) Cheesy teeth bitches
37) Same wearing clothes each day bitches
38) Ghetto bitches
39) Hair dyeing bitches
40) Wearing shoes that be talking bitches
41) Bitches who think they hard
42) Bitches that think they get money
43) Bitches that go to a dirty school
44) (page missing)
45) (page missing)
46) (page missing)
47) (page missing)
48) (page missing)
49) (page missing)
50) (page missing)
51) (page missing)
52) (page missing)
53) (page missing)
54) (page missing)
55) (page missing)
56) (page missing)
57) (page missing)
58) (page missing)
59) Gay bitches
60) Stanky fishy coochie smelling bitches
61) Tomboy bitches
62) Stain on your pants bitches
63) Dry scalp dandruff bitches
64) Dirty hair bitches
65) Stealing bitches
66) Stinky feet bitches
67) Big gap bitches
68) Protecting their store bitches
69) Pajamas outside bitches
70) Ragly braid bitches
71) Stanky butt bitches
72) Greedy bitches
73) Slimy grimy bitches
74) Psycho bitches
75) Drug dealing bitches
76) Geekin' bitches
77) Suntanning bitches
78) Goofy looking bitches
79) Triflin' bitches
80) Skanky bitches
81) Mugging bitches
82) Sloppy bitches
83) Dirty fingernails bitches
84) Dirty sock wearing bitches
85) Uncreative bitches
86) White bitches that think black people poor
87) Conceited bitches
88) Tall bitches
89) Short bitches
90) Jealous bitches

What matters not is that the writing is beyond the usual scope of a third grader. Most likely this piece of literature was penned by an older child and probably was a group effort. What matters is the underlying issue: the use of the word bitch.

According to Wikipedia, the word bitch "In literal, non-slang use, bitch is a term for female canines, particularly amongst dogbreeders. It is also a common English profanity for a woman that typically carries denigrating or misogynistic overtones—such as resemblance to a dog. It is also used to characterize someone who is belligerent and unreasonable, or displays rudely intrusive or aggressive behavior.

Its original use as a vulgarism, documented to the fourteenth century, suggested high sexual desire in a woman, comparable to a bitch in heat. The range of meanings has expanded in modern usage. In a feminist context, it can indicate a strong or assertive woman, one who might make men feel threatened. When applied to a man, "bitch" is a derogatory term for a subordinate."

I maintain that the word bitch is representative of a long standing separation between men and women and the common belief supported by most religions that men are superior to women in some mysterious way. To think young children of any age could come up with such a list is despicable and evidence that this belief has even reached the impressionable minds of children.

I only wish there was a campaign being waged with as much enthusiasm as the enthusiasm that is used to keep this derogatory word alive and current. When women have arisen to stand up for themselves by demanding an equal vote or burning their bras or requesting equal pay they are laughed at, scorned and made fun of by the media, religion and the opposite sex. Worldwide there are even still laws supporting the fact that women are lesser than men and should be treated differently. Differences must stop and soon. Ones sex should not make one lesser.

I further maintain that all women worldwide should stand together and face the responsibility of being equal. Abolish birkas, separate seating for women in religious buildings, child weddings, child prostitution, child slavery, forced sterilization, beatings, verbal abuse, forced abortion. genital mutilation and other debauchery performed against the female species and take on the responsibility of self sufficiency. No more depending on men. Work on partnerships or be strong enough to go it alone.

This may be the most radical I have ever felt and all because of a list of meaning of the word bitch. I vow to never use the word again and when faced with the word I will go into my explanation of why it's use degrades women.

Sources:
http://andiamnotlying.com.
Wikepedia

Spring Edible Garden

2010-04-17T11:54:00.000-07:00

Some spring pictures from my front yard where the edible garden is. This little fellow is a new member of the household.

I am going to make the first rhubarb pie today!

My little pond is doing well and ready for some fish.

Tulips that come up every year from a long ago gift.

Update on the Mending Process.

2010-04-17T11:33:00.000-07:00

Many thanks to all of you who have sent love and blessings to us during this time. Mom is much better. She is able to get dressed and drive her car. Terry bought her a pair of white cotton gloves at a wedding store and she will be able to go to the Casino this coming week. She has promised to wear the gloves in an attempt to keep germs and bacteria away from the open cuts.

Mister T did his business outside yesterday which the Vet said would be a good sign.I have a pet heating pad which he absolutely loved yesterday. It is gaged to not get too warm.

It has been another message to me on how extraordinary my Mother really is. She is strong, does not complain when hurt and was protecting my emotions. She still has the third dog which is being kept in a separate yard from her dog and is caring for him this weekend while the owner goes away to see his family.

I am going to stop writing about this incident now and will report in after Mister T's surgery on Tuesday. He is going to loose his tail and those cute hang-ie things that swing when he runs so cutely (neutered). I have always said I would not do that to him but they have been chewed up and need to go. I have not been able to count the number of bites he sustained and now know he is a trooper too. I am confident the other side must have been available to him and he choose to stay with me. I will do whatever it takes to make his life meaningful and loving. I love both my Mother and Mister T.

My Brave Mother

2010-04-16T10:37:00.000-07:00

I can't say enough about how brave and courageous my Mother is. She got into the fray of three snarling, biting dogs to save the underdog who was about to be killed. She sustained many many bites and kept at it. She was on the ground cuddling Mister T and could not get up. She began to call out for help and stayed at it till I arrived from three houses away!

Today she got up and cut off her bandages then took a shower and got dressed - all alone! She had promised to wait for me to get there and decided she would do it herself. I can't believe how strong she is for 80.

So needless to say she is doing better. She is going to just have bandages on her thumbs today and let the air get to the other smaller wounds.

Mister T had a restless night and is still bleeding from his wounds. I had to put a collar on him so he could not lick his wounds which he is less than thrilled about. He had a hard time taking his meds and I guess I am going to have to be more of an alfa or pack leader. My heart is touched so much it is hard to be forceful.

I will keep reporting in and send my heartfelt thanks to those of you who are praying and sending well wishes. It means a lot to Mister T, Mom and I.

Dramatic Dog Drama

2010-04-15T16:29:00.000-07:00

Oh My God - dog drama yesterday! I left my mini dachshund with my mother's mini dachshund and a terrier yesterday and took Mom to the bank. When we came back I thought I would go home (three doors down), make a sandwich then walk back to get Mister T. I began to make a tuna sandwich (tuna I had canned of course) and I thought I heard something. I stepped out on the patio and I heard dogs barking and someone yelling. I took off grabbing the cell phone and ran down the street while calling 911 for help. I did not know what the problem was but that I was going to need help.
My Mom was down on the ground in the backyard, covered in blood, cradling something and yelling. Two dogs were all around her biting at something. She was holding Mr T and trying to protect him. I grabbed Mister T pulled off the other two dogs and ran for towels to put on Mom's hands. She was bitten over 20-30 times on both hands and arms and both thumbs had been punctured. Her face was bitten on one cheek.
The Fire Department came and helped me get the two dogs in two different places. The EMT's worked on Mom's hands and arms and the Firemen looked at Mister T. He had many bites and was bleeding profusely. I asked to have Mom taken to St. Peter's Hospital and called a neighbor to drive me to the Vet Hospital. Then the owner of the third dog arrived and I asked him to take me to the Vet Hospital and made arrangements to be picked up after the drop off to get to the hospital.
The Vet took Mister T out of my arms and said to go to the hospital to attend to Mom. I was covered in blood and looked like someone had put a screwdriver into my navel and I was leaking. When I got out of the truck at the hospital I was met by a man calling me by name. Seems he was the dog officer and was told I was on my way to the hospital and recognized me by the blood. Guess there aren't many people who get stabbed by a screwdriver in the belly button in the area.
Mom had to have her hands scrubbed, one thumb nail removed and was xrayed. No breaks and no broken teeth (seems dog bites some times have broken teeth especially with small dogs). She refused pain medication - can you imagine that??? We brought her home in the hospital gown because we did not want to put all the bloody clothes back on her.
She is much better today and still won't take pain meds. She is taking an antibiotic and has bandages that make her look like she has mittens on.
Mister T is in a world of hurt. He has many bites and puncture wounds. He will have to go back in next week to have his tail removed as there is too much of it gone to repair itself. I am to pick him up at 5 pm and baby him for a few days. I am so upset over what happened to Mom. I am amazed at how brave she is. I am so proud of her to try and save my baby. I am so upset I choose to leave the three dogs in one place unattended.
We do not know if Baba will have to be put down. The law in Washington is that the dog has to be in quarantine for four days before any decision is made. Terry wanted to put him down right away when he found out what happened to Mom and Mister T. We will see what happens.
Mom's dog, Tinker, seems fine and is being kept in the house under watch and is being let out only in the front yard and is being kept away from Baba.
I will appreciated any prayers for Mom and Mister T to help their healing and keep them out of pain. Needless to say it has been a rough 24 hours. I will write again when I am able to. Thanks for the prayers.

Healing

2010-04-13T11:43:00.000-07:00

I just read a blog article by a woman who broke her foot in several places. It reminded me of an experience I had a few years ago when I broke my foot. When I met with the foot specialist who was a surgeon he suggested I have surgery to repair the broken bones. I asked to heal it myself. He said he would give me a week and see how I had done. I returned, he x-rayed and to my glee he agreed to go along with my self healing.
I was a student of Ramtha The Enlightened One and had learned some rudimentary healing skills. I knew it was time to put them to the test. I agreed to go to Dr Visits regularly and be checked. I studied my x-rays and learned where the problems were, what their names were and what their purposes were. I got a physiology coloring book and drew the affected areas healed. I read about bone healing and what it takes for the body to heal broken bones. I began to take calcium and magnesium. Then the key was a visualization I did over and over again. The visualization included some little cartoon like painters. Each had a pail and a spackle trowel and were dressed in white. They would fill the broken areas on the x-rays until all filled up (representing complete healing).

This was my alternative

I accomplished my goal in six weeks and did not have any further problem with my foot. The Doctor was impressed and mentioned writing a paper on the documentation. He did not get around to it and I believe was a bit intimidated by associating himself with what he called New Age healing. I laughed and did agree his surgery business might be affected.

Here are my feet now!

Saving Ideas and Frugal Hacker

2010-04-13T09:34:00.000-07:00

I had a Dr. appointment yesterday and asked if the office sponsored any weight loss groups. The Dr said, "Oh, we have a great job on stretching a budget so there is money available all month for groceries!". I laughed.

First of all, that is not a class I need but a class I could certainly teach. Then my humor button was touched because I want to loose weight and eat less not eat more and and have more groceries available. Looks like I might be helping teach the class.

Here are some tips that might help you in the kitchen, with your budget or life in general:

Everyone, by law, is entitled to get a free copy of their credit report. This page on his site has some helpful links for doing just that. For all the talk about being responsible with credit, a copy of your own report is invaluable in understanding it. Let me know if anyone has accomplished the free credit score.
This master gardener has created a site to allow gardeners to buy, sell, swap or give away excess produce. It's free to use. Check it out: The Farmer's Garden. Nothing was available in my area yet but if we all begin to submit items and suggestions the site will grow and will be helpful. I am always looking for free things and scan lots of sites.
PriceYeti gives you a watch list to track your items across all online retail sites and then sends you notifications when their price drops. Great for discount deals. It's also very clean and usable. They're running a $300 launch promotional where they're giving away a tracked item for free, 2 weeks before Christmas
a 7-month update on my No-Shampoo experience. I didn't make the switch to save money, but it's undeniably cheaper - and my hair is happy. This gal uses water and baking soda to clean her hair and saves on hair products. She reports she has long thick hair and it is clean without dandruff. An interesting read and sure would be a money saver if it works for you.
It is a good time to go out and pick up pine cones for this winters projects. Let them dry out before storing them as mold can form and spread quickly. You may want to sprinkle salt over them to kill off any bugs. I no longer will use bug spray because it can kill the good guys. Another alternative is to spread them out on a warm day in the sun and hope the critters walk away.
This idea is a really good one. Bake meatloaf, casseroles, muffin etc in large muffin pans to create individual servings. Also freeze leftovers in the muffin pans then pull them out and place in a container in the freezer. This is a great idea if you help an older person by preparing meals. It will save on waste and create cute portion sized meals. I am going to do this idea tonight and prepare meatloaf in a popover pan (has a large size holes or cups).
Carry Insulated Shopping Bag in Your Car
Frugal and Green! Purchase one of those heavy duty insulated shopping bags and keep it in your car for when you're grocery shopping, especially in the summer. You will be surprised at how beneficial it will be and how often you'll be glad you have it handy. They are very inexpensive, fold flat, take up little storage space in your car when not in use and open to a generous size bag. I use mine for ice cream especially when I am shopping at multiple stores.
- Andrea shares the strangest little hack she ever came up: So, it was 95 degrees this week and the sun was beating down on my skylight (I know, I should have done something before this). Desperate times being what they are, I grabbed an accordion style baby gate, figured out the right size to safely secure it in the skylight, draped a folded sheet over it and locked it in place in my skylight. Instant sunblock for a free short term solution to a short term problem! Kids can not get to it and it is not moving anywhere until this heat passes.
- Briana provides instructions for frugal wasp/hornet traps.
- Linda tells how to make a doll blanket that is easy and quick to complete. She adds, "You can also use the squares to make pillows, tote bags, place mats all kinds of fun things!"
- Linda also posted instructions to make quick and easy barstool covers.
- There's a giveaway ending soon on my family blog, Life in a Shoe. Enter up to 4 times to win a free Thirsties Diaper Cover and their Fab Fitted Diaper in your choice of colors!
Most of these ideas came from the Frugal Hacks. If you have not subscribed to her website I highly recommend that you do. You will see me there once in a while as a guest author and contributor! Whoo Hoo.

The Swoopers are Back!

2010-04-11T17:29:00.000-07:00

The Swooper Family of Swallows has returned safely from parts unknown down south. I long to see them each year so I know they are safe from their southern exposure. There are about 6 of them that reside on my property and then have offspring.
I will capture them with my camera when I have a chance to show you. In the meantime if you have not already read this articles so you can learn more about Swallows: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2731323/time_for_return_of_the_swallows.html?cat=58

2010-04-07T21:09:00.000-07:00

I recently received an email telling me that my site was not acceptable to be included on a list of canning websites because I did not include enough canning information. If you are looking for canning information you will have to check the archives for right now. This time of year Canning Central is not open for canning. I have to use this time of year to eat my canned goods. There are so many in the pantry it would take me a year to get through all the jars!

So here are some of my articles from the past:

Introducing Frugal Canning

Canning Quick Breads

How to stretch a chicken

My Top Ten Canning Books

My Canning Quest and REvolution

Black Gold - Blackberries

The Blueberries Are Ripe!

Frugal Canning

Picked 10 Pounds of Plump Blueberries Today

I Have Been Incredibly Busy

Heat Canning Heat

My Friend Peggy Invited Me To

Time Bank Canning Class

Purple Fingers

Fall Canning Supplies

Ratatouille

Update On Fall Canning

Tuna Thursday

http://frugalcanning.blogspot.com/2009/09/q.html

http://frugalcanning.blogspot.com/2009/09/cherry-tomatoes-are-abundant-this-year.html

http://frugalcanning.blogspot.com/2009/09/green-beans-bad-to-beautiful.html

http://frugalcanning.blogspot.com/2009/09/canning-corn.html

http://frugalcanning.blogspot.com/2009/09/new-storage-unit.html

http://frugalcanning.blogspot.com/2009/09/fruit-flies.html

http://frugalcanning.blogspot.com/2009/09/asian-plum-sauce.html

http://frugalcanning.blogspot.com/2009/09/fall-garden-soup.html

http://frugalcanning.blogspot.com/2009/09/buyer-beware.html

http://frugalcanning.blogspot.com/2009/09/bread-and-butter-pickles.html

http://frugalcanning.blogspot.com/2009/09/used-jar-lids.html

http://frugalcanning.blogspot.com/2009/10/dilly-green-beans.html

http://frugalcanning.blogspot.com/2009/10/jar-rings.html

http://frugalcanning.blogspot.com/2009/10/canning-dry-goods.html

http://frugalcanning.blogspot.com/2009/11/canning-potatoes.html

http://frugalcanning.blogspot.com/2009/12/pickles-for-christmas.html

http://frugalcanning.blogspot.com/2009/12/frugal-pork-stretching.html

http://frugalcanning.blogspot.com/2010/03/bpa-and-canning-jar-lids.html

Gee, 35 articles must not be enough. Does this person sleep that critized my canning blog? Does her pantry look like mine? Can she go for months without going to the store by living off her pantry? Guess I got my knickers twisted didn’t I? I won’t share her blog address since she did not want to share mine.I know I am a canner with something to say and share whether she thinks so or not!
More canning articles to come my friends. Please let comments below so I know what you are thinking.

Two Fun Articles

2010-04-07T11:41:00.000-07:00

I love Easter Peeps. A High School classmate of mine B.J. Roche has a website named Fifty Shift at http://fiftyshift.com. This week she posted a slideshow of a fabulous contest held in the Washington DC area. The contest was to create art from Peeps. Go check out the top Finalists.

There is another article I highly recommend! I Changed My Name and It Changed My Life. Please read this one and tell me what you think. It is an article dear to my heart!

My Easter Bunny Creations

2010-04-06T19:08:00.000-07:00

Needle felting is becoming a new hobby. I made these charming little characters for Easter. There is chickie, roosta, bundy rabbit and a couple that were decorated with color.

To make these cutie patuties, felt wool roving onto styro foam eggs and finish off with felted pieces to make features. Use a multiple needle felter.

The candy dish is hammered aluminum which had a vintage easter basket effect.

Wisteria Cottage

2010-04-06T18:49:00.000-07:00

Saturday we stopped by Wisteria Cottage in Lacey, WA to see what they are showing for the spring season. Wisteria Cottage is located in the owner's garden shed beside the garden area and features vintage items, new cottage, country and shabby chic items as well as handcrafted garden art and birdhouses. I always seem to find something I have to have.

These cute salt and pepper shakers were only $3 and had to find their new home on my kitchen table. I love the fact I can tell the pepper from the salt so easily. I can't tell you how often I have put salt on something that didn't need it when I was reaching for pepper.

I am a sucker for bird houses and this one is the newest addition to the collection. The Swooper Family of Swallows should be here any day now. I saw a few in the neighborhood one day last week