Violet

Worked on Christmas gifts, plus got a shirt that I am appliquing today. Cost $2 for the t shirt. Having fun with it. Those are my money saving things today.

Nonstick skillet.

I know I add it to the pan of hot broth I have ready to fill the jars with. I don't use oil, though, to brown my meat.

Just be sure you acidify them if canning. Just like you do tomatoes, Asian pears must have added acid.

You old Farmer book should just be looked at for historical reasons, not for canning any longer. Guess the old Farmer needs to be put out to pasture.

No, never add bacon or fats to things unless the safe, tested recipe states. Otherwise, you are asking for botulism. Cabbage is no recommended for canning. It gets really strong and awful by itself. Maybe OK to add just a bit in a soup, but not alone.

Some folks want to add bacon to green beans, too. This is a total unsafe thing to do. Fat surrounds food particles and will allow botulism to survive even pressure canning. You know how oil coats foods.

Unless you find something safe in a current Ball Blue Book or the University of Georgia site, or other safe sites or books, then consider it something that should not be canned.

Making note to myself to get bleach tablets. How awesome !! Thanks for the info.

Yes, just regular Jello sugar free powder. You can store in jars or containers. Freeze if you want to. I see no need to vacuum seal the jars.

This is the one I like the best. No reason to not bake as cupcakes. I use all purpose flour.

DINETTE CAKE FROM BETTY CROCKER

Read more about it at www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,166,144176-255202,00.html

Content Copyright © 2012 Cooks.com - All rights reserved.

1 1/2 c. cake flour or 1 1/4 c. all-purpose flour

1 c. sugar

1 1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. salt

3/4 c. milk

1/3 c. shortening

1 egg

1 tsp. vanilla

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour square pan, 8 x 8 x 2 inches or 9 x 9 x 2 inches. Measure all ingredients into large mixer bowl. Blend 1/2 minute on low speed, scraping bowl constantly. Beat 3 minutes high speed scraping bowl occasionally. Pour into pan.Bake 35 to 40 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool on cooling rack. If desired frost cake with your favorite icing or make it into a strawberry shortcake.

You are welcome. Sure better than any other homemade fries I have eaten. So nice to have them ready to fix in a jiffy now.

Sweet potatoe are too expensive right now so I hope near Thanksgiving they will go on sale and I can make sweet potatoe fries.

I went thrift shopping, too. Got a pretty burgandy velour zip top to wear to work this winter. Our office gets cold ! It will look nice with black pants. Got a brand new Guess brand hoodie with the tags on from Macy's for my grandson for his birthday. It was $13, but I got 40% off. Figured not that bad for brand new. Got him a lightly worn red hoodie for $2. I got a woven Christmas tablecloth, all cotton, that I will cut up for holiday tea towels. It is Martha Stewart brand. I can cut quite a few out of it, for $6. Got some Chrismas oven mitts and hot pads for 99 cents each. Bought a pair of black Levi jeans for my grandson for $2. Had a teeny worn spot on top of one of the pockets. I put Fray Check on it, then stitched it by hand and you cannot even tell. Got brand new lavender cotton knit jammies with pink embroidered roses on it. Tags still on. Regular $30, paid $6. Will be a Christmas gift for my dd. So pretty ! Also got some new Christmas hand towels for 99 cents each. All those things will be great gifts ! Oh, and a brand new tshirt for my husband and one for me, too. Each were $1.20 .

Then, a store had shave gel for 99 cents a can. I picked out the cans that said 20% more in them. Got 10 of them. Got a coupon for bbq sauce, save $1 on two. Had them on sale for 79 cents, so 29 cents each. Even though it was only 2, that is more than I had ! I got the bottles of sauce with coupons for 50 cents off 2. I can go back and get more and pay 54 cents each that way. Had candy bars 2/$1, and had save 50 cents on two. So, 25 cent candy bars, limit 4. Not much, but a cheap treat.

Took some bars of soap we did not really like. Grated them and mixed with borax and washing soda and made a big bucket of dry laundry soap. Had the washing soda and borax already, too.

Oh, good. Finally you have done it ! Congratulations ! I know you have been working on this for some time. So, what kind of a doctor are you ?

I did some yellow potatoes and some Russet. Even the yellow ones are crispy and good. I like them better, but my dh likes the Russets. Now I will try making sweet potato fries, too.

That should work, but I did not seem to need the bleach. The dishwasher tabs have bleach in them.

This took quite a while to do, but they are fantastic. Like store bought fries. I used plain canola oil, not peanut oil. I found that large baking cooling racks worked the best for me. I laid down parchment on the counter underneath the racks.

Now I see 10 lb. of potatoes is $1.29. I paid $1.98. Oh well.... They are done and in the freezer. I also just boiled a big pot of water and used it for all the potatoes, not starting with cold water and potatoes. I used canning salt. The vinegar does not flavor, but makes them better. Once cooled I froze on cookie sheets. Then popped into ziploc bags in the freezer.

French Fries Perfected !

Ingredients

• 2 pounds russet potatoes (about 4 large), peeled and cut into 1/4-inch by 1/4-inch fries (keep potatoes stored in a bowl of water)
• 2 tablespoons distilled white vinegar
• Kosher salt
• 2 quarts peanut oil ( I used canola just fine)

Procedures

Place potatoes and vinegar in saucepan and add 2 quarts of water and 2 tablespoons of salt. Bring to a boil over high heat. Boil for 4 minutes. Potatoes should be fully tender, but not falling apart. Drain and spread on paper towel-lined rimmed baking sheet. Allow to dry for five minutes.

Meanwhile, heat oil in 5-quart Dutch oven or large wok over high heat to 400°F. Add 1/3 of fries to oil (oil temperature should drop to around 360°F). Cook for 2 min., agitating occasionally with wire mesh spider, then remove to second paper-towel lined rimmed baking sheet. Repeat with remaining potatoes (working in two more batches), allowing oil to return to 400°F after each addition. Allow potatoes to cool to room temperature, about30 minutes. Continue with step 3, or for best results, freeze potatoes at least over night, or up to 2 months.

If you want to eat right away.....

Return oil to 400°F over high heat. Fry half of potatoes until crisp and light golden brown, about 3 1/2 minutes, adjusting heat to maintain at around 360°F. Drain in a bowl lined with paper towels and season immediately with kosher salt. Cooked fries can be kept hot and crisp on a wire rack set on a sheet tray in a 200°F oven while second batch is cooked. Serve immediately.

Jori, at least you were now able to explain why and to help someone else. If we all do our part it adds up. Way to go Jori !! Proud of you !!

Just laziness to do it right... that and for some reason, people just do NOT want to follow directions. I still don't totally understand after all these years as to WHY !!!

The dishwasher tabs worked in mine when the expensive washer stuff didn't ! So, I won't waste my money on the washer stuff. It is basically oxiclean ( peroxide) with some fragrance added.

Ah, you guys are too sweet !!!

Glad you like that sauce recipe.

Mine stinks, too. I use a dishwasher tab in mine once in a while. It even cleaned the murky looking door. That was the only thing I found that worked on mine.

NO ! If you read the USDA guidelines that is for FRESH sausage, not hot dog type things..... it is fresh ground meats that are cooked, drained, then a liquid added to the jars.

They were $1.99 here last night. Ugh. I wish I had frozen more when they were cheaper. They work so well in baked goods.

Ahhh, you guys are so sweet ! Yes, that is why I do this, because I care about each of you very much ! This is like a family here. I am truly glad to know I have helped you out. I will continue to do so as long as the good Lord lets me.

I am really proud of all of you. I know how much work preserving foods is. Yet, you all do it day after day. Obviously, you all care about yourselves and your loved ones, too. Otherwise you would not can, freeze, dry, and pickle your foods. It is always fun to read what everyone is preserving.

Yes, you can use V8 instead.

It will thaw in the juicer, but will take longer, meaning more fuel costs for your stove.