Homemaker

Whew!

From the responses so far, I feel a little less worried that you all will think I'm way out there in extreme loopyland!

This post will probably shock most of you, but considering the situation we are in, I feel we need to get radical in how we feed our families.

If you read reports of the extreme things people have had to do in times of great crisis in order to survive, you won't think my experiment is too bad.

I was thinking about ways to stretch my food dollar and reduce waste, while at the same time provide optimal nutrition. I have posted before how I make extra nutrient -packed chicken broth for soups and gravies.

Following the instructions in the book, Nourishing Traditions, I simmer the chicken bones for three days after I have picked off most of the meat. I add a shot of vinegar to the water to help draw out the minerals from the bones. At the end of the three days I strain off the broth. The bones become very soft because the minerals have leached into the water.

I had been using the bones with the small amount of meat as a suppliment for my dog and sometimes chickens. Bones have been used for centuries as a human supplement and in animal feed. You can still buy bonemeal for human consumption. Asian cultures consume salted fish bones as a crunchy snack or in soup. I even found some recipes online for them.

I got to thinking about using my chicken bones for my family. When food becomes scarce, and the government bans the sale of vitamin/mineral supplements we will need to go back to the old way of doing things.

So anyway, I took some of my bones, ground them up in the food processor into a paste. I mixed it into meatlaf and served it to my family. They ate it. My son asked me what the crunchy bits were, (should have ground it a bit more. ) I told him it must be the seeds in the whole grain breadcrumbs I used in the mixture. My husband liked the bits and said it reminded him of the little crunchy bits in my salmon patties, ( the bones that come in canned salmon.)

I know this sounds barbaric to our westernized ears, but it's really not.

Now, just to warn you, I would not feel comfortable doing this with conventionally raised chicken. I use organically raised birds or the ones I raised. I would be concerned about the lead or arsenic in commercial feed that may be in the bones.

Let me know your thoughts on this and if you have other strange ideas to help feed and nourish our loved ones in the difficult time we may have ahead.

Remember, not only do we need to be fed, but what we eat needs to nourish us.

Wow, Karelle,

It's great to have you join us.

I just know that Mrs. S is going to be even better now with you here...the one who taught Darlene everything she knows!

And if you manage to sneak in a few stories now and then about our founder, we will be eagerly reading them!!

I wonder,

Is skip dipping like dumpster diving? My apartment complex where I grew up had trash dumpsters and I loved finding treasures in them!

Well Useit up...

You've got your inspiration, the picture in your mind. Get everything out of that pantry and make it happen!

Holler at us if you get stuck.

We surely do appreciate your sacrifice, Josephine!

Well, to save money and get my food preps organized better, I have been snatching the empty shallow boxes that the canned food comes in at Walmart. Sometimes I have to empty out partial flats so I can get the box. I am always careful to organize and place any cans I move into the proper space they belong so I don't make more work for others or cause the store to forbid box gathering.

I was thinking, as I looked at them , that they would work great for kids when they are doing a messy craft. You could put the paper in and all the messy glitter and glue, etc. would be contained in the box.

We bought a new washer yesterday. I've been hand washing for two weeks!They wanted $60 for delivery and 10 to take away the old washer!

I am so thankful that we could take it with us. My step-Dad works at the dump, so I'd rather pay him some of that money to haul it away for us.

So canned Nerd,

You don't think that having the rings on, and the weight supported by their resting on the threads on the sides of the jar ,would in any way protect the lids from the pressure?

Everything I read warning you to take the rings off said it was to prevent rust.

If I wash and dry the rings I'm assuming it would be safe to put them back on. Who wouldn't want to wash them anyway? They can sometimes get covered with oils from the food. Yuck!

I think I will start doing this. It does seem that it would take some of the pressure off the seals when you stack.

Hi!

I'm in central Virginia, Roanoke area. Welcome to Mrs S!

Canned Nerd,

The problem with the wire rack in the water bath canner you referred to... did it rust?

Mine did. I couldn't figure out what I did wrong since I was careful to dry it after I used it each time.

It would be good to know that it wasn't my fault, but just cheap metal. Why do they do that? I would have still bought the set even if they had to charge a few dollars more for a decent rack.

Pixie,

Here's how I fixed it.

I searched on YouTube and came accross a guy who makes instructional videos. Several, I could watch for free to narrow down what the problem was. For only 9 something I downloaded a video that showed me how to disassemble the washer and install the new part and put it back together. The actual work time, minus searching for my tools and running back and forth to look at the video, was a half hour. It was so easy!!

Google "appliance repair videos" The guys name is Angel, and that's what he is. He saved me tons of money and frustration.

Well, an unexpected surprise last night is forcing me to pinch the penny by learning how to repair my own washing machine.

The motor coupler is cracked. I know I can fix it if I can figure out the right way to disassemble it.

Of course, I'll need to put it back together also!

I guess I'm hand washing for the next week or so while I wait for the parts . Better go up and check out that pioneer laundry thread.

I found bags of hershey kisses in the candy cane and mint truffle flavors for 50 cents a bag. The original price was about 5 dollars. I snatched up 6 bags and sealed them up in small portions in my food sealer.

I can't have them this year because I'm on a sugar fast, but you never know when they might come in handy.

The bag said they expire in Nov. 09, but they probably want people to go out and buy fresh for next christmas.

You can't even buy a candybar for 50 cents anymore!

You really would rather have your husband get you a load of manure dumped in your yard than jewelry for your anniversary!