Dee

You're right Cricket. I wonder what, if anything, that post means. It makes you wonder, why now? This Aldi's is 50 miles away Annarchy but since we were going there to pick up tires, I made a big shopping trip out of it to hit Aldi's and Wal-Mart. Even our closest grocery store is 20 miles away, so I usually do big when I get somewhere. Glad you'll have one soon Snapshotmikki.

I use the brown jar of powdered yeast too, Ambergris. I keep it in the freezer, and it seems to last forever. This morning I'm baking a rhubarb/mulberry pie. We have mulberry trees all over the building site of the farm. DH hates them because the birds love them and poop pinkish, purple all over the cars, etc. Every year he cuts down every tree he can find. It's so funny because he can never get them all and I always get plenty to freeze. It took me years to learn that you don't need to stem. The stem softens up while cooking and you never know they're there. What a great find because now I actually freeze bags of them, where I used to make only jelly since it was strained down to juice only. So, here's a picture of the mulberries with stems attached. If you are lucky enough to have mulberries, mainly because there's no work to growing them, give them a try. I think you'll like them.

Well, guess what! It's from the same Betty Crocker cookbook I mentioned earlier. It cracked me up reading the top of the page where it says, "Grandmother's pride.....now easy for the bride." Does that date this book or what? Anyway, here it is. I reduced the size, so if you can't read it let me know and I'll put the larger picture up.

I've spent the last 2 hours dating and putting away all the things I bought yesterday. What a job BUT it's done again......for now. My question is: where do you store things to keep them out of sight? I have nothing in sight. If someone was to walk in right now my house looks normal. The tons of food and other supplies I bought yesterday is gone. One place I put things is in DH's bathtub. His bathroom has a tub/shower combination and for him to get his legs over the side of the tub was way harder than walking into my walk-in shower. So, I have 3 totes in there full of flour, sugar, soda, baking powder, oatmeal, etc. You get the idea. I have wrapped a dish towel tied around the faucet handle just in case someone thinks they might run water. I'm hoping the towel makes them look before turning it on. I have no idea why anyone would turn it on, but you never know! In my dining room I have a low table where I put plants. It has 3 rattan baskets underneath that are filled with canned veggies. Behind the couch is another tote of cereals, chips, cookies, etc. DH has no idea what's in it. Figures it just "more food". He doesn't have any idea where most things are, and I think would be surprised at all there is. He has no interest as the cupboards and freezer are always full of something he can find to eat. No need to look. Of course, I have a million other places, but I'm anxious to hear some of the things the rest of you do. Hearing other's ideas help all of us.

Sorry Jeepers.

Oh Annarchy, I've been gone all day and just now seeing this. You are in my prayers and thinking only good thoughts for you and DH.

I'm just home from a trip to Aldi's and Wal-Mart. Yikes, for the people on a Monday morning. Crazy! Anyway, Aldi's had spiral hams for $1.19 lb. I didn't want spiral, so I checked at Wal-Mart and they had Smithfield 1/2 hams, $1.98 lb. I bought one. I probably should have bought 2 but for Dh and myself 9 lbs. is quite a bit. I'll have enough for Easter and to slice and/or chunk up for the freezer. BUT yes, writing that out I should have bought a 2nd. At Aldi's I spent $102. That's a lot of money for things I didn't "need". I was there just add to my preps. Baking powder, soda, oils, spray oil, pickles, salad dressings, Spam(their brand), etc. Wal-Mart was another $83. No food (other than the ham) but tooth brushes, shampoo, that kind of stuff, pack of washcloths, tote, mouse traps (darn mice), etc. I'm glad it's done but almost $200 at those 2 places and then the price of the 4 new tires we went after adds up! Now to mark it all and put it away. First a nap and then to granddaughters track meet. Maybe I'll put it away tomorrow!

And city people think the country is boring. bird house adventure.mp4

For those of you wondering about my crust, here's the recipe from my Betty Crocker cookbook. I got the book from the mother of a guy I was engaged to. She gave it to me for Christmas, with the sarcastic comment that if I thought I was going to marry her son I'd better learn to cook. Fortunately, we never made it to the altar.  However, I should be thankful to her as I've used it, with the man I did marry, for 55 years now. So, here's the recipe from Betty Crocker (circa 1965). I made the custard pie after getting home from church this morning. I timed myself from beginning to putting it in the oven and it took 18 minutes.

Be careful of her Homey, be very careful. She also has the picture of my turkeys and threatens me with them often!

Going along with Darlene's posts, how about making your own piecrusts. I used to make them with Crisco, but Betty (Betty Crocker) taught me how to make them with oil and, all of a sudden, it became so easy. Using the oil, it can be stirred right into the flour and none of that "cutting it into the flour". I've had a number of people tell me how good and flaky they are. When the kids were home, I made 6 at a time. They always needed something for bake sales or some such. I made them, put them each in a pie pan, in the freezer and froze. Once frozen I put a piece of waxed paper between each crust and stacked them in a box back into the freezer until I wanted one. Mine never lasted that long but I know they'll store for at least 3 months. With homemade you know there's nothing but flour, oil and water. I've never checked what's in store bought but I do know it's much cheaper to make your own.

Becca, some of my best friends are quilters. Amazing things they do, and the outcomes are amazing. They are always trying to get me to come back. You see, I did it for a while but hate it. I don't hate the quilting; I hate how patient and precise it has to be to look nice. If something can't be done quickly, I'm out of luck. My mother, I blame her LOL, because she was fast at everything and she'd say, "right or wrong, just get it done". That's my motto and quilting isn't a just get it done kind of thing. I hope you enjoy every minute of it. My friends love it. One friend loves the small, I mean like 1", squares. I can't imagine! Show us some pictures of your projects. I love looking at what others do!!!

Me too. LOL

DH isn't much for pasta. We probably have it 4 or 5 times a year. So, I buy commercially made pasta BUT, I do make homemade noodles. Tons of them through the years. He loves chicken or beef and noodles. I make a lot of soups in the winter and use my homemade noodles. I just leave mine on the counter to dry and turn them over 2 or 3 times in maybe 24 hours. I then put them in a large bag and into the freezer to use later. Oh yum, nothing better.

I've made crackers and you're right there's not much to it and yes, they're good!

Happy Brithday Hapygirl! I hope you're having a lovely day.

I can name all 4 grandparents. However, I never knew my paternal grandmother. She died when my dad was 16. I knew one great grandparent but can name 3 of them.

Do all or most of your grocery products have to be name brand? My mother taught me to only buy Starkist of Chicken of the Sea tuna. I'm 75 and still only buy those 2 brands. I know there are other name brands around the country but those are the only two here. I also only buy Campbell's Chicken Noodle Soup. Not sure why but as a little girl and sick it's the brand my mother bought and it's all I still buy and still eat it when I'm sick. There are probably other things that I can't think of right now but those two came to mind. A friend told me Aldi's Spam (a different name, of course) was good. I tried it and it really was. So, when I get coupons, I find most of the time, the product is usually still higher than the off brand. Hence, I seldom get the name brand that way either. I do watch the store ads for in store sales. It's where I save most of my money. How do you do it? Any hints or suggestions?

Has anyone read The Pact, by Jodi Picoult? Oh my, it's heartbreaking but so very good. I'm not quite 1/2 finished and I can't put it down. I usually don't read heartbreakers or love stories, but a friend recommended this one. It's not a new book, I think it's 1997 but it's good all the same. Keep reading!

Hope your day is perfect in every way.

This is enough for me to know I'll never have too much on hand but again I doubt I'll ever have enough either. I just keep trying. It's what we do. Food Storage Calculator – Provident Living Family Preparedness

I am so excited about all these hacks. You ladies are all so ingenious!!! I can't leave things out in the open that mice will get into (Living on a farm where we grow corn, it's hard to keep the darn things out) but I can see how all of these hack's work for other things. I love this!!!

This is so cool Midnightmom. It's so organized and you know where everything is and it's easy to get to. Thanks for sharing!!!

Welcome, Justmelome!

He takes his cows to his in-law's farm to feed all winter long, but I have in the back of my mind that if things go bad, he'll give us a cow or two a year for free pasture. Using a barter system.