Crazy4Canning

My husband and I aren't big Valentine's Day folks. We might go out to dinner sometime that week and I might get flowers, but nothing too big. You see, as lovely as flowers are and as yummy as chocolates are, I don't refuse them, but I believe they have a time and place. I don't want them just because MOST women get them, I want them to be special…like the pink roses I got over a week ago. BUT, DH is a romantic. He wants a special day to be special….so…..I really have to fight to get him to NOT spend money – like last year. Last year, monies were so tight around the Sweetheart's Holiday, we had a quiet dinner at home and let the holiday pass us by. I think I requested something depressing like a clean living room. Ummm...barely got it. He really wanted to get me something neat...but we just couldn't afford it. This year, with DH's new job, I got a surprise gift…early, in fact. Imagine my surprise a couple of weeks ago when he tells me to 'measure my foot, please and never-mind why.' So, I do, not knowing what he's up to. I was stymied - he NEVER chooses my shoes, for I'm such a picky shoe person. So, earlier this week, a big box comes in the mail. When he gets home, he nonchalantly announces, "Oh, this is your Valentine's Gift. Here. You can open it now." I open the box and squeal like a girl…I have a pair of ADULT size galoshes that look like lady-bugs! I've been wanting a pair of rubber boots for the garden and was going to go buy a pair at Bi-Mart for $8…but ….the colors there were really ugly…. green… brown… black… hunter colors. Nothing wrong with them, they were perfectly servicable, just not pretty. Sigh. I so wanted something pretty. My dear husband also remembered that every time I've been in the Target garden section for the past few years during gardening season, I've commented on the fact, "Why don't they have adult size ladybug or alligator rubber boots?! They should sell them here, too!" According to him, I would whine about it…not true. Lamenting, yes….great lamenting. Great sighing, huge disappointment – why do the children get to have all the fun? After all, they are SO DARN CUTE! What touched me the most is that he remembered. He took some of his hard-earned money and spent it on something he knew that I needed but also in a way that put a smile on my face. I know it's a silly thing, but it made me feel special. You can bet I was jumping up and down, laughing like a little kid, touched that he remembered. Now, if only it would rain! P.S. If I wiggle my toes in the boots, it makes the eyes move up and down. P.P.S. for a pic of the boots, go here http://www.westernchief.com/product_info.php/products_id/230

Absolutely, Christy! Hooray for you! Pop on in to the Chat as you need...there's usually someone around to help.

I'm preaching to the choir on that one. I've been so busy the past couple of weeks with my DH sick and some family stuff, my house is once again a wreck. Guess what I'm doing today?

Glad you were blessed!

Girl Next Door, The most recent version of the BBB (Ball Blue Book) is dated 2006 and has a cheesecake with berries on the front cover. You can buy them all over. You shouldn't pay over $6 or $7. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Melanie, If you bend the gasket and you see little cracks in it, it's old and time to throw it away. The same with the overpressure valve in the top of the canning lid, should yours have one. I refurbished 3 canners last summer of the old vintage style and LOVE them. I personally like them better than the larger Mirros...but that's just me ....I'm a kind of vintage style gal. I have used the larger ones and they are SWEET....just a little big for me. However, IF I get a different stove or my dream kitchen...well...AA canners here I come!

WOW - nice score on the nightie! I exchanged a blouse my MIL gave me for the holidays for a nightgown for my mom. I asked her if she was worth $1.37...she said, "Well, most days I am!" It was all I had to pay for the gown after the exchange.

Oh wow...vinyl mini blinds as stakes....we've taken out two in the kitchen and next week are pitching the 2 in the front room. I'm afraid I've got enough for a FARM here, not my little garden spaces.

We were given the WestBend Stir Crazy popcorn popper as a wedding gift. It does make tasty popcorn - movie theatre tasting! The thing I like best is that you can invert the top and use it as a bowl. http://www.shopping.com/-electric+popcorn+poppers

There's nothing wrong with a woman 'rinsing' as my grandma would say...'rinsing' strips all the accumulated build-up and lets our beautiful color shine through. BTW, it wasn't until she was 86 that she admitted that this 'rinsing' was actually Miss Clairol color. We redheads tend to show white hairs early on...so we need to 'rinse' regularly .....and floss to, for that matter.

I'm so proud of you! My MIL smoked for many years. She chose hypnosis as her cure. For years now, every payday, she puts aside the money she would have spend on cigarettes, lighters, etc. At her anniversary point, she treats herself to something nice and usually whatever family is around to dinner - kind of a victory celebration! Keep it up! Your body does have the ability to regenerate - lung tissue, heart tissue, liver tissue. In a few years, it's possible to not even know you ever smoked.

Excellent reminder. We had a similar situation...only it was a great grand-daddy of a racoon come to burgle the outdoor kitty crunchies! LOL So glad everything turned out okay.

I believe that is correct, Arby. I've only ever used the weighted gauge in class, though. I perfer the gauge canners, myself. Give a shout in the shout box and let us know how you're doing. Good Luck!

I was in a craft store this week and found NEW stainless tatting shuttle in the box, with a bobbin. Now I just need to figure out how to use the thing.... ...in my spare time. I'll let you know how that goes.

Arby, You want to get as much oil off the meat as you can, so I pat them dry with a tea towel once they come out of the pan. If I have a surplus of paper towels I will use them, but last time I did, I ran through almost an entire roll! You can add broth, but remember that you will get a darker liquid surrounding the patties. I prefer the water because I can tell easier if spoilage happens. You will want to add salt, though, because remember that you are pre-cooking (searing the beef). Sometimes I've found that you just can't get it to taste right as you're cooking it if you don't add salt when processing. When doing a RAW pack of poultry, I don't add any liquid of any sort, I just let the meat cook in its own juices. Have fun! Do let us know how it goes! And - check out that national website! http://www.uga.edu/nchfp/how/can_home.html

I thought I had posted this earlier, but I guess it didn't take. Forgive me if it shows up twice and I look like a nutjob. I wrap newsprint around a jar or can suitable to my needs and crimp the bottom in place. The bottoms don't fall out because I press them down from inside and the vermiculite holds them in place. Here is a photo of a 'pot-maker' for newsprint. The bottom piece helps crimp the newspaper pot in place. http://www.richters.com/newdisplay.cgi?pag...tmaker_main.htm I have one of these and in a few minutes this weekend, I made a few dozen pots.

Arby, You are able to can ground beef. The BBB (Ball Blue Book) suggests patties as a means for this. You are instructed to 'sear' the patties. This not only seals in juices, but also 'sets' the patties in a shape. If you just toss hamburger into a jar, like any meat, it will take the form of said jar and be a bit difficult to get out. Believe me. Don't ask how I know... I encourage the use of WIDE MOUTH jars for canning meats, it's just easier to up-end the jar and give it a shake without using a spoon. When I canned the hamburger patties, I made them the size of the bottom of the jar and could fit 3-6 in a wide-mouth pint and 8-10 in a quart jar. I added 1 tsp of salt (for pints, 1 tbsp for qts), filled with water to I think 1/4" (check the BBB) and wiped the rims & band with a paper towel that had vinegar on it. Vinegar cuts oils like nobody's business. I did up a fair amount of these patties. Upon trying them, I was disappointed to find that the pressure canning had changed the texture just slightly. It had more of a...well....texture. I'm not sure how to describe it. I've found that I dont' care for it BUT it certainly beats MRE's in my book! I will eat these when I am extremely tired. I add a mushroom soup for gravy, some instant potatoes and home-canned green beans, maybe some fruit or stewed tomatoes. Dinner in less than 20 minutes! My husband doesn't seem to mind these and doesn't care about the texture. You will notice that after your jars have cooled, the hamburger has a bit more gelatinous 'material' around it than say beef chunks or chicken. It's normal. I just scrape it away. Some people use it in the skillet for re-heating. Good Luck!

My grandpa had a peach tree in the back yard and raspberry canes along a fence. He declared them to be his two favorite things in the whole world to eat in the summer. He was so proud when he got two TINY peaches the first year, then about the 4th year he got bushels! When he died, that tree was giving off about 3-5 boxes. We would get at least 6-8 crates of raspberries, too. Such memories! I can talk all day... I'm so thrilled for you!

True. Thanks for that. When my SIL told her boy that I would be coming by and he squealed with joy. She asked him why, he said, "I love her. She always smells so nice."

It's the only way you can tackle such a big job - a little at a time! My parents moved 2 main times when I was a child, a house we had been in for 6 years and one we were in for almost 10. Right now, you wouldn't be surprised at how much STUFF we found. I tell you, totes are the way to go. I label mine with an index card & Sharpie. I tape the card on one end of the tote with packing tape. It stays put. My mom is compulsive enough to number EVERY SINGLE box into a notebook and detail the contents. Many thoughts, prayers, and lots of STRENGTH for this move....You Can Do It!

The General is indeed inspecting order, Order On the Shelves! So cute, thanks for sharing!

I'm so happy and proud with you! Such things are what memories are made of!

This was written in response to a friend asking me for advice on how to get organized. At first, I had to laugh...then reality hit....I can do this. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ It hit me around the end of the year how truly messy my house was. For many reasons, things have gotten stacked, shoved, piled, mounded, and shuffled to where I couldn't tell up from down, right from left, let alone in some cases, what was clean or dirty. This is such a far cry from how I wanted things to look, from how things have looked and it bugs the life out of me whenever clutter takes control. True, we have a lot of stuff. Stuff I can't let go of, stuff that is a touchstone on memory, belonged to a loved one, or that is just necessary for daily living or my profession. Part of the clutter is compounded by living in an old house that has nothing built-in or planned well so we're working around dysfunctional furniture and the like. I know it won't always be like this, but I still find myself looking around with my eyeballs bugging out of my head going "YIKES!" The only way I've been able to reflect on this and not get caught up in the phrenetic energy of "Oh my messy house!!!" is to tackle a piece at a time. Everything I touch has to have a place or be put somewhere for sorting. If it's a bill, it goes into a "to be paid" pile or into a box for filing. If it's junk mail, it goes into the recycling or shredding. If it's something of my husband's, it goes into a tote for him to sort. Yes, this can lead to rows of totes for various purposes like the way our living room is now. BUT, the totes are smaller pieces of the overall puzzle that can be dealt with in smaller chunks of time – 20 minutes here, after dinner there, etc. It CAN be manageable in small chunks. I tend to come home from work wound up. SO, I select a task and hyper-focus on that for twenty minutes. If the sink needs cleaning, I clean it. If the dishwasher needs unloading, I do it, then quickly fill it and wipe down the counters. I'll take a tote to the basement and empty it into the pantry, closet, or laundry storage. Done! Small tasks in a short about of time, then I rest. Grab a cup of tea, love on a kitty, read the mail, but only for a short time, then back to another task. Yes, it takes determination, follow-through, and true grit to ruthlessly pick through some things and realize, "Hey, I've not used this in 3 years, do I REALLY need it?" When the answer comes back as "No" or "Oh…that's where that went." I really reflect and have to remind myself the difference between a 'want' and a 'need'. Needs are those things that are essential to everyday living – sheets, blankets, socks, underwear, groceries. Wants are those things that are nice to have but not necessary. A bowl or lamp from a garage sale, pet shampoo for the pet you no longer have, shirts you no longer wear. Always ask, "Do I need this?" Chances are there's a resounding "NO". So - PITCH IT. Recycle it, donate it, put it in the bag and get rid of it, get it out of your house! This will take more follow-through on your part. It's not enough to put those items in a bag or box. You will have to get rid of those boxes, bags, etc. of 'unwanted' things. Find a charity, a friend with a kid smaller than yours, etc. Such a good feeling comes when purging. It's addictive. Really. You'll grow to love it. There is a balance, though. I can't keep a surgically clean house, it's impossible because we don't live in a sterile environment. We have kitties - they LOVE to find things to get into, my knitting being one. My husband is constantly bringing things home from one job site to another. Mostly though, my balance lies in the fact that I do not have obsessive compulsive disorder and REFUSE to let my things rule my life. If a friend or family member calls or needs something, I don't have trouble leaving the dishes or laundry and focusing on their needs. Work and dirt will always be there. People and relationships will not. It's important that you take to time to watch your son skateboard for the first time down the driveway, read to the one with the scratchy throat or play dominoes on the dining floor. You're making a memory. Your kids, grandkids, nieces, or nephews won't remember the dirty dishes in the sink but they will remember you playing with them and making memories. Remember, though, clutter is like the ocean – you can't turn your back on it – even for an instant and it will sneak up on you and suck you under like a tsunami. I don't want my epitaph to read: "Here lies a Crazy Canning Lady, friends of -------, who had too much stuff." Such a sad testimony. I'd rather mine would read, "Her house always looked 'lived in' but she knew the meaning of friendship and would leave dirty dishes in the sink for a friend." Copyright 2009

This yummy, lo-carb, high-taste soup is tasty and can be enjoyed with or without tortilla chips...tho you might want to call it Mexican Soup then. I pulled everything from my pantry and home-canned items. A wonderful use of those jars of veggies! Ingredients: Stockpot 2 C tomato sauce 2 C crushed or diced tomatoes 1 C salsa 2 C corn (canned or frozen) 1 tsp basil 1 tsp oregano 1/2 onion 2 tsp garlic 2 C chicken broth 2 C veggie broth 2 cans kidney or black beans 2-3 chicken breasts 1 packet of taco or fajita seasoning (or 1/4 C) 1/2 Lime Fresh Cilantro Chop onion & garlic, toss into skillet with chicken breasts and half of seasoning. In large stockpot, combine all other ingredients except cilantro. Add chicken when done. If there is too much liquid, boil to desired 'soupiness'. Prep Time: Maybe 10 minutes (all in home canning or cans). Cooking Time: 40 - 60 min (you need to let all those lovely flavors blend!) Serve in bowls. Top with a bit of cheese, dab of sour cream and a few olives. Can serve with chips or bread. Nice whole grain bread is wonderful. Chips are too addictive with this! In a 1.5 C serving (what fits nicely in my big soup bowls), there is 1 (+-) carb. 15 grams of carbs, trace of fat in dairy..that's it! No lie. Yipee!

I'm all for saving a buck, but this is incredible! This recipe for homemade laundry soap makes approximately 4.5 gallons. 1 five gallon bucket 1 bar Fels Naptha Laundry Soap (Zote or Ivory can also be used) 1 cup Borax (blue green box) 1 cup Arm & Hammer Washing Soda (yellow box) 4 gallons of water + 1 qt Grate Fels Naphta bar into about 8 cups of water in a saucepan, leaving about 4" of room at the top. Melt soap into water. You will know this is happening when all the soap flakes are dissolved and steam is rolling off the soap. Meanwhile, boil 4 gallons of water. It is important that the water be boiling for the soap to set properly. Steaming tap water isn't going to do it. Once soap melts, add 1 C borax and 1 C of washing soda to melted soap and water. Stir until there is no more 'grit' and it becomes a gelatinous blobb. Pull from heat. BE CAREFUL HERE - soap can splash and burn and get into your eyes. Add 1 quart of water to bucket. Add soap mixture. Stir well. Add rest of water. Stir well. Cover bucket and let sit a minimum of 12 hours or overnight. Next day, you will have a gelatinous jiggly substance with liquid on the bottom. Break this up with a large spoon or knife. Trust me, you're NOT done yet. Using an immersion blender or drill w/ paint stirrer attachment, whip the soap until a full emulsion has occured, everything should be the same color, thickness and consistency of a salad dressing. Pour into clean milk jugs or recycled laundry soap containers. Give it a shake before using to make sure it's still together. Use 1/3 to 1/2 cup for regular loads, 2/3 - 1 C for large or heavily soiled loads. NOTES: This is low suds soap, so you won't get alot of suds but it DOES clean extraordinarily well, the FIRST time. No multiple washings here. No heavy perfumes. NO itchy or scratchy show either. I use dryer sheets for reducing static cling. This batch is considered to be a 'double' batch and can be halved with no problem. I use a 5 gallon bucket for mixing and it is just right. On preparing the soap, you just can't toss in the bar of soap and expect it to melt. You need to grate it or peel it with a veggie peeler. I've done both. They both take the same amount of time. Peeling is easier on the wrists. I DO NOT use my food processor, because I'm afraid, that while the soap is like a hard cheese (and okay for sending through the processor), I don't want to burn out the motor of my Cuisinart. If you have a food processor that you don't care about - go ahead. Let me know how it goes. I didn't like the Ivory soap. I don't remember why. If you're using the double batch system above, add 2 bars of Ivory, not one. I use the Fels Soap. Nice clean smell. Target does carry the pink Zote, but I thought it smelled like toilet cakes so no, I didn't buy any. So here's the cost analysis: I got all the supplies from our friendly neighborhood WINCO. Fels Naptha Soap (white paper wrapper) $1.12 a bar Arm & Hammer Washing Soda $3.12; (11 C in a box) .28 / batch Borax $3.25; (15 C per box) .22 / batch Water - a few pennies Cost for 1 batch of soap is $1.62 I get approximately 60 loads per double batch, so ecah laundry load costs me .03 PER LOAD. Now that's cheap soap! Photos will be coming soon!

Originally written in May of 2008. When bad things happen all in succession, it makes me wonder – it makes me wonder many things - but also realize where my faith lies. It is so easy to focus on circumstance and forget about who our Abba is – that He is the ultimate Provider. Over the past two weeks, the front and back brakes have needed repairing on one of our cars, we paid thousands of dollars out of savings for our sidewalk construction bill and our washing machine died - just this week. Paying a huge bill alone would put most people in a foul mood for months. I was thankful we had the money to pay it and were given a break on the overall bill. When things like car repairs happen, it's an inconvenience, but not a show-stopper for life's happenings. However, I can't recall when we had to replace BOTH sets of brakes on any car at the same time, within the same week in addition to a HUGE bill. Earlier this week, when the laundry machine went south, I couldn't believe it. I got out the repair manual and with my husband, we diagnosed that the agitator needed the belt tightening, for it was barely moving the clothes around. All the electrical circuits were fine, it spun out, but the agitator wasn't moving. As the belt was being tightened, some bolts fell off the engine mount. Other screws were so old and rusty, they wouldn't come loose. As we worked, the engine swung back and forth and my husband, with his usual dry engineer's humor noted, "Hmmm. This shouldn't be happening." After a few more pokes and prods, he realized that the belt was driven by a transmission and that was toast….so we 'pronounced' the washer dead. As I thanked G-d for the use I got from the set, I remembered the day I bought them over eight years ago. It was my first washer and dryer 'ever' and I bought it with some tax money. I was so proud of this late model GE pair. Back then, the front loaders had just hit the market and I so wanted a set, but my budget was clearly set and there was no way I could buy a NEW set for over four times my budget. I remember shopping with my Mom. We looked and looked, and finally at a used appliance store, I found a gentleman who sold refurbished sets. After some discussion, I got an extended warranty, free delivery, and a great price. The hand of Adonnai moved on my behalf, and I was exceedingly grateful. I got a wonderful set of appliances that I desperately needed. This time, eight years later, my budget was only slightly larger. My husband and I went to some appliance shops and quickly discovered with great shock that only appliances worse than the ones we currently owned were available to purchase for our 'budget' price. We still realized that we might be able to find a used set, but loved the features of the newer energy efficient models. At the last minute, we called some used ads. Ironically, it was the stackable model of front-loader we were admiring in the used section of the appliance store that we couldn't afford. The man who we bought it from was an appliance repairman who refurbished it and sold it at our budget price. After cleaning the new one I realized why it was being sold so cheap. It had spots of mold around the door and in the bleach/ soap containers – the unit hadn't been stored properly. After a cleaning and some wash cycles, it disappeared. The unit runs fine! What a blessing! This experience had taught me a few things – no matter how small the desires of your heart, Adonnai hears them and delights in answering them. As I am churning out load after load of clean laundry, my heart is filled with joy and gratitude at the provision of Adonnai. All it takes is faith the size of a mustard seed and Hashem will take it, use it, and turn it to His glory, even if it is for the practical needs of laundry.