CoM

I recently came across 2 more bits of info on vacuum sealing jars.

#1 If you have one of those canistertype vacumm seal containers....you can vacuum seal any store bought jar that has the built in sealing lid inside the lid. For example a pickle jar...

Just fill the jar with dried food and put lid on..then place it into the larger canisterand vacuum seal the canister.

When the canister has sealed, release the pressure on it and the jar inside will have a good sel also. This is great as it frees up Mason jars for canning!!!

#2 My second discovery was finding this tool to remove lids from canning jars.. I am sure it will come in handy as some lids are very hard to remove. Amazon sells it as well as Miles Kimball

http://www.amazon.com/MILES-KIMBALL-Vacuum-Release-Opener/dp/B003XKRPES/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1311390551&sr=8-2

I was in Big Lots today & they had a cheap Oster, 19.00 that had the threads.. The base just unscrewed from the pitcher. I wouldn't buy one just for that but will look at garage sales, etc.

Who knew you could do this with an old blender!!

Just found this neat idea for an old blender. I just recently got rid of mine and bought a new one that will not work. Will have to find one at a garage sale, I guess.

It seems that in the old days when you bought a blender it also came with a mason jar. You could attach the jar instead of the pitcher and use it to make whip cream, peanut butter or grind spices right in the jar!

Check it out!

http://simplyrecipes.com/recipes/tip_blender_and_mason_jar/

Here is another series ( 23 short you tube parts), this one on the 1900 home where a family lives for 3 months as it was done in 1900.

I have posted this in the past but since I came across it again I thought I would post it again for those who may have never seen it.

This is a 6 episode series about 3 families who went back to live in the 1880's on a homestead and how they survived doing EVERYTHING as it was done back then.

It is now on youtube. Each of the 6 episodes has multiple parts. Each part automatically follows the last one..

I LOVE this series and am watching it for the 3rd time now.

Enjoy!

This youtube channel ( Moosegeek123) has other "house" series also. I have not yet watched any of them though.

Episode 1, Part 1 of Frontier House

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfUgTWJ4ngE&feature=youtube_gdata_player

http://refreshingnews9.blogspot.com/2010/0...fight-pain.html

13 Foods that Fight Pain

1. Cherries

Muraleedharan Nair, PhD, professor of natural products and chemistry at Michigan State University, found that tart cherry extract is ten times more effective than aspirin at relieving inflammation. Only two tablespoons of the concentrated juice need to be taken daily for effective results. Sweet cherries have also been found to be effective.

2. Blackberries 3. Raspberries 4. Blueberries and 5. Strawberries

Dr. Nair later found the same anti-pain compound in berries like blackberries, raspberries, blueberries and strawberries.

6. Celery and Celery Seeds

James Duke, Ph.D., author of The Green Pharmacy, found more than 20 anti-inflammatory compounds in celery and celery seeds, including a substance called apigenin, which is powerful in its anti-inflammatory action. Add celery seeds to soups, stews or as a salt substitute in many recipes.

7. Ginger

Ginger reduces pain-causing prostaglandin levels in the body and has been widely used in India to treat pain and inflammation. A study by Indian researchers found that when people who were suffering from muscular pain were given ginger, they all experienced improvement. The recommended dosage of ginger is between 500 and 1,000 milligrams per day. If you’re taking medications, check with your health practitioner for possible herb-drug interactions.

8. Turmeric

Turmeric (curcuma longa) is the yellow spice commonly used in Indian curries. In research it has been shown to be a more effective anti-inflammatory than steroid medications when dealing with acute inflammation. Its main therapeutic ingredient is curcumin. Research shows that curcumin suppresses pain through a similar mechanism as drugs like COX-1 and COX-2 inhibitors (without the harmful side effects). Choose a standardized extract with 1500 mg of curcumin content per day.

9. Salmon 10. Mackerel and 11. Herring

Many fatty fish like salmon, mackerel and herring also contain these valuable oils. Omega-3s convert in the body into hormone-like substances that decrease inflammation and pain. According to Dr. Alfred D. Steinberg, an arthritis expert at the National Institute of Health, fish oil is an anti-inflammatory agent. Fish oil acts directly on the immune system by suppressing 40 to 55 percent of the release of cytokines, compounds known to destroy joints. Many other studies also demonstrate that eating moderate amounts of fish or taking fish oil reduces pain and inflammation, particularly for arthritis sufferers.

12. Flax Seeds and Flax Oil

Freshly-ground flax seeds and cold-pressed flax oil, contain plentiful amounts of fatty acids known as Omega-3s. Do not cook with flax oil otherwise it will have the opposite effect-irritating the body’s tissues and causing pain.

13. Raw Walnuts and Walnut Oil

Raw walnuts and walnut oil also contain the same powerful Omega-3 fatty acids that fight pain and inflammation in the body.

When it comes to pain, food really is the best medicine.

Artichoke stuffing

This was a quick experiment one night when baking a chicken. My husband NEVER eats Stove Top stuffing. It came out so good we are trippling the recipe for our turkey this year. We usually do the stuffing from scratch but this saves time & is very good.

Basic recipe

1 box of Stove Top dressing mix (any flavor).

1/2 to 1 large onion

few cloves of garlic

1/2 - 1 can of artichoke hearts chopped

olive oil for sauteing

chicken broth

butter

Salt & pepper

1. Saute onion & garlic in olive oil.

2. Add drained & chopped artichokes ( plain canned type, not marinated )

3. Add stuffing mix.

4. Replace water in stuffing mix recipe with chicken broth.

5. Add butter & chicken broth and complete cooking instructions on box.

6. Salt & pepper to taste.

We trippled this recipe for a 12 pound turkey.

This is a blog I have been following about a family who is learning to homestead. Many of their entries include videos of the new skill they are learning.

Scroll down to entry dated Nov 11 entitled "Our Methods and Tools for Hand Washing Laundry (w/ videos)".

I can't wait! lol

I don't own a wringer but I do have a new mop bucket that has a wringer and I have used it during hurricanes.

http://pocketsofthefuture.com/blog/?cat=55

CoM

I, too, am growing my first stevia plants this year. Mine are about 2 ft tall. They bloomed a month or so ago. I was hoping to dry and grind the leaves to use in tea...I wonder if the flavor has something to do with HOW we dry them, or when.

You have to harvest the stevia BEFORE they flower.

I will experiment a little more with it and maybe just store it as a last resort. We do have bees & honey as well as a few hundred pounds of sugar stored.

I was so excited when I had first learned about the herb Stevia. It is a natural sweetner, 300 times sweeter than sugar. 1 teaspoon is equal to 1 c of sugar so says all the info I have read about it. It has no calories.

I bought a few plants and have just harvested my first batch. If you chew on a leaf you are amazed at how sweet it is.

I am a sugar addict and the thought of having a replacement that is healthy was very exciting to me.

I dried the leaves and ground them very fine and thought I would try it in my beloved iced tea.

OMG was it nasty! It had the same after taste that all artificial sweeteners have though not quite as bad. I was very disappointed.

If anyone has any suggestions please reply. I also have a question about baking with Stevia. Since 1 t = 1 c of sugar would I have to alter my recipes to account for that 1 c of extra bulk that will be missing? Or would it be better to make a liquid with the Stevia and use that as part of the liquid in the recipe?

Thanks

Here is some of our wood. We pile it in a large circle and have our outdoor firepit in the center. It's close and handy for the fire and also blocks some of the wind . It's not a great pic but you get the idea.

I ordered 165.00 worth of CVS brand pharmacy items from their online 30% sale . I paid 100.02 and saved 65.00 plus got free shipping ! This was a nice suppliment to our first aid/medical supplies.

Woo Hoo

I have:

ANDERSSON from Halland, Sweden (changed to SMITH here in US)

ANDREASSON from Vestfold, Norway

BODIN from Halsingland, Sweden

BURRILL from New York

DIAKOUMAKOUS from Karvellas, Laconia , Greece

DICOMES from Massachusettes

ERSSON from Halsingland, Sweden

LAMBOUDIS from Kaliaji, Mani, Greece

PLASS from New York

SEBEKOS from Marathea, Laconia, Greece

SHANTZ from Germany/New York

Here is a link for commercially canned ghee in the US. You have to click the "continue" button to get all info. I don't know the price on this yet but it may well be cheaper than canned butter from New Zealand.

http://www.purityfarms.com/index.html

God Bless,

CoM

If you do not want to can butter because it really isn't reccomended you can make Ghee (clarified butter) and just store it in jars. It last about a year.

http://www.wonderhowto.com/how-to/video/ho...-butter-205650/

http://www.wonderhowto.com/how-to/video/ho...-butter-241324/

There is now commercially canned butter available as well. I am not reccomending this site just posting this link to show what is available.

http://www.internet-grocer.net/butter.htm

arby:

https://www.greenbags.com/?cid=587776

is her site but I got mine for the same price at Bed, Bath & Beyond & saved shipping.

They claim you can use each bag up to 10 times but that you have to keep only one type of food in each bag and not put clips etc on them.

I started off trying to do that but ended up using any bag for any product and I saw no ill effects. I also now use a clip on some of them and it hasn't torn the bag.

We are well pleased with them.

I hung clothes on line, watered down just a little my thick ceasar salad dressing and used conatiners instead of Zip lock bags to store some stuff in fridge.

Those Debbie Meyer Green bags work great at preserving stuff, thus reducing waste.I bought the ones for vegetables/fruits but also use them to store home made bread in.

Just wash out good & dry well.

Two pinching penny tips:

#1 Walgreens Photo Dept refils most computer ink cartridges for 10.00. Sometimes you can even get it free as they have a very strict test on the refills. If it fails the test you get your cartridge back and it is still full of ink :-)(and worked fine)

#2 Use extra left over slats from vinyl mini blinds to make garden stakes. Just cut to desired length and cut a point on one end. Use marker to write on them.