Christy

Ooh. rookkaas or smoke cheese, is so tasty. How did it go?

Was in Amsterdam all day yesterday. It ran late and I had a take away from the famous Nam Kee.

Rice with eggplants, pork, red bell pepper and other veggies. Took the leftovers home from the office and son dug straight in

The old PC has a jiggly weight as well. Do they need to be replaced from time to time?

Shipping and import tax to Europe are now close to a total of 130$.

Looking forward to hear more about the three piece thing that ...

It's near midnight here and I can't think straight.

Workdays of 12 hours in Amsterdam and I need my head together.

Hugs and will re-read all of this cos golly, it is important to get it right at once.

Nice links, checking them out now.

Thank you xx

Ow lalaaaaaaaaaaaaa look at this ladies. Feast yer eyes.

Can anyone recommend a certain canner?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1/280-0111779-4330373?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=pressure%20canner&sprefix=pressure+can%2Caps

Exactly that they don't need a gasket ring is why I looked at them GCA. Thinking long term and spare parts.

I'll look into an old gas stove back in Germany. Can't see much else happening.

Second hand importing still means tax sadly. Maybe less and I'm a bit afraid to buy a second hand PC. Never know if it's good and I might not be able to find spare parts or a way to test it.

Got it not-Arby-anymore-Sassenach

Hmm funds may hamper my plans. It'd be a pity not to use the great secondhand but new to me kitchen.

It'd be used for cooking yes but this year the garden ought to produce enough to can can can.

Now, where to PS on?

How silly the clerk didn't even think he'd be caught.

Seriously, what's wrong there?

Thank you for thinking along. I have a two flame smaller campingas burner but it doesn't get that high.

Things need a lot of time fora large canner to build enough heat.

https://www.buurtlink.nl/buurten/schilderswijk-1/marktplaats/campingasstel-campingchef

Similar but without the lower part. It stands alone bottom near the table.

Propane is easy to buy there cos it's still rural.

I can't really afford a new shiny lovely Pressure Canner now but a girl can but dream eh?

If an answer can be found, it'd be here.

At the BOL I have an electric two-plate device. It cooks pretty fast.

Scored a kitchen on FB recently and this "new" kitchen will be installed this year. But it has a glass top plate to cook on.

Waterbath canning is no problem. Either on the plate or in the humongous washkettle in the washhouse. It holds about 90liter so I'm fine there with waterbath canning.

Pressure canning is another matter.

It seems PCs can't be used on a flat top glass stove. Okay, how about the small electric plate?

Anyone?

Thank you all. xx

Tonight we had rice and stirfried veggies (son) and ravioli with spinach and cream cheese, red pesto on top (me).

I made a new recipe, pineapple salsa. Had a piece of pineapple in the fridge and saw a recipe online.

It was yummy.

Oh how wonderful that there's a little one on the way. Congratulations.

With Skype and such we are not completely deprived of our loved ones far away now.

Those new knittingskills will come in handy

How great to see you all here. How are you all doing?

Let the dogs loose on him.

(((Cat))) (((CGA)))

Oh Ann So great to see you.

Aw bless, he enjoys your company or just complimented you on your driving skills.

Can't lose

Hello forum.

I've been AWOL for quite a while. Things are just... well they're okay now but it's been pretty bad.

Been thinking a lot about this place, some of you.

Hope you don't tar and feather me now

Hugs Christy

Hmmm...I'm thinking elderberries & vodka are the simplest way for me. Just set it on one of my shelves, in sight. Thanks!

Keep like most herbal remedies in the dark please. Sunlight may destroy medicinal properties.

That's why traditionally brown or green bottles were used for medicinal drinks.

Dried berries go straight into the bottle. And yes, they get a good squeeze after straining them out.

All the goodness goes into the vodka.

A great drink is elderberry syrup with water, mint leafs and a slice of lemon in a jug. Great for sore throats and you get your medicine at the same time.

Honey has a lower sugar content. Than sugar that is

The sugar is there to stabilise it and make it drinkable.

It's a narrow margin to make sure it doesn't spoil. That's why I prefer sugar over honey that can vary in sugar percentage.

For DS I make tincture but I don't drink alcohol.

If you don't mind alcohol, Just throw a cup of berries in a bottle or 2/3 full vodka. Keep in a dark place and shake daily.

After 6 weeks strain the berries out and the tincture is ready.

Not sure why but DS sleeps and awful lot when he has flu

CG, if I may be so bold..

I'd use sugar over honey because of the length of time it needs to be stored.

Also I'd never bring it to the boil. On account of the ingredients being destroyed.

Learned it that way and with the little i know about herbal remedies, not boiling might be better.

The ginger is a good idea. It is anti-bacterial as well and warming. Will add that to the next batch.

Thanks for the recipe.

The first half year of working on our BOL, there was nowhere to live in. The mayor kindly lend me a roadworkers trailer. About as long as 2 meter perhaps. I tried to sleep in the tent outside but the first month was too cold. It froze at night and I came down with bronchitis real quick.

While sleeping in the trailer it was just as hard cos of lack of space. Nearly as cold lying on the floor in minus 5C.

Please don't think caravan or something fancy. Just a wooden shed on wheels with (that was luxury) a woodstove in the corner.

Living rough is not something I'd gladly do again. And this was not even so rough. Bucket of water from the neighbours daily, solar shower, Trangia stove to cook on, so not bad in comparison to the people in tent cities.

But no, I'd not survive a winter that way.