ArmyOfFive4God

I wonder what the humidity is like in NZ?

https://www.vitaminshoppe.com I love the VS brand supps. Today through September 30, their house brand is BOGO 1/2 off, mix'n'match. I've been ordering from them for 5 or 6 years now, maybe more. Legit company & they have B&M stores, too. They usually run this in stores, too, but YMMV. I usually just order online, as I hate going into Knoxville.

I am subscribed to the Staples emails. I had an email waiting for me this morning for some whopping good deals. Things like 1 ream Hammermill paper, free after rebate & coupon. Staples brand case of 10 reams- $9.99 after coupon & rebate, pastels ream free after coupon & rebate, photo paper free after both, Scot TP $8.99 after coupon (12 rolls = 36 rolls), 10% off 1 item, etc. I loaded up. They also had the 3-pk hugenormous Puffs tissues for $3.99, paper towels 99¢ each & other GREAT deals. If you're signed up, check your email. If you're not, sign up at staples.com. I don't know if you'll get it by signing up now, but they send out some good stuff fairly regularly. Also sign up for a rewards program that suits you. Since we homeschool, I have a teachers reward card.

I LOVE your blog! I love blogs with pictures Love the jars. Lovelovelove!!

I typically get up around 6:30 each morning. Yesterday, I woke around 6 & today about 20 til. I felt really rested today when I woke up. Got my coffee & sat on the back porch for a bit. I came in & checked email & such, then decided I have an awful lot to can today. I don't have a lot of room in my freezer at the moment, so I've been canning most of my stock & beans. I'm out of cooked beans (or was until yesterday), & I'm tired of running out. I do have some dried, but I like quick & easy, too. I'm on a bean canning marathon. So I began. I have a small closed off kitchen; it tends to get HOT in there. Even with the ac running & a box fan directed in the kitchen, if I open the window, it allows the heat to escape. After I'd gotten all my pots filled with water & the stove cranked up, the heat began to build. Guys, I was canning by 20 til 7 this morning! I opened my window to the still darkness outside & it was the most pleasant sound of canning. This morning I canned to the sounds of the crickets & cicadas. I'm still canning, but it's getting light out. The sweet evening/morning sounds of the South are gone. I'll have to remember to rise early again soon & open my windows at dark, so I can can. What bliss are the SIMPLE things! Have a blessed day!

After reading a whole bunch & asking on another group, I had decided to go with the citric acid. I'm not overly concerned with colour, so much as knowing mangoes are low acid. I feel better knowing that I added more acid. The thing with the mango is that it was going to be darker anyway with the addition of cinnamon & nutmeg (which I added more of, as usual, LOL). I also added vanilla beans for the cooking time. The jars still turned out fairly bright, even brighter than the mango peach jam I did. Thank you, ladies!

Fantastic!

Today I did a 5 jars pintos, 2 jars of beef, 4 jars beef broth (all pints). After dinner, I have mango sauce to cook & can. In the past week or os, I've also done peach mango jam & chicken stock. Tomorrow- maybe peach butter & blackberry jam. Oh & beans- I have 2 crockpots of beans soaking.

ROFL!!! YES! LESS THAN 4 MONTHS!!!!! 0_o

I have some mango in the freezer & want to make the mango sauce from the UGA site. It calls for ascorbic acid. I have citric acid on hand. Can I use the citric in place of? The back of the bottle of citric I have says it can be used in canning (among other things). I bought the citric for cheese making. If so, would I use it measure for measure? http://nchfp.uga.edu/how/can_02/mango_sauce.html

Our local Ace Hardware has the Ball jars on sale 2/$14, 8/1-8/31. I also did a search for my Mum's zip, & it's the same as hers. If you have a local Ace, you might want to check the ad to see if they're on sale at your location. When I looked up my Mum's, some near her said local ad not available, so it might pay to call or visit yours &/or look further out.

Do you have it on tight enough? I don't use the 1-pc lids for canning, but I've never had an issue with them leaking unless I just didn't have it on tight enough :/

Here's my tutorial, including the name of the ebay seller I get my beans from in the comments.

We've done the one on the Fankhauser site. It is good. We also do water kefir "sodas," apple being our fave (reminds me of those Shasta sodas I used to drink as a kid).

Welcome back!

I agree with the food allergy problems listed above. Gluten is a big one, can be nasty & going gluten free can be such a lifesaver. I used to have migraines & weird headaches almost every day. I went gluten free & they've improved tremendously.

Pretty!!

Yeah. Bummed we can't make anything (my Mum was totally understanding, too). The good thing, though, since this HAD to happen- we got about twice as much for it than we would have gotten in scrap.

Definitely will not be there, now. The tranny on Hubba's truck went out *sigh* I was planning on coming down for a week & going to this & to the festival. Bugger.

1 for Rosary. 1 for Christy. 3 for me, hehe!!

If I could vote your post up, I would, but... well... I can't!!!

PBBBLLLTTT!!!!!

Is it disabled? I searched the forums for this & couldn't find it. But I get the following when I try. "Action failed: You have reached your quota of positive votes for the day"