indy gal preps

Apple Slices! We were gifted 2 bushels of apples-3 kinds so I am canning them,out of clear jel so just the slices which will be drained and then thickened when I want to make pies.

How would you keep these from being slippery? I'm afraid I would fall and break my neck!

I had a ball jar break in the freezer-yes I did leave enough head space-and it was elderberry juice-what a mess to clean up! No more freezing in jars for me!

I like this show-wish they would say how and when you can get on it-I have a family mystery to solve.

My Dad was a cattleman so we always had plenty of beef.also pork and chickens.Huge gardens,so lots of veggies.Noodles,pies and bread pudding,cornstarch pudding,almost everything.I did not grow up during the depression but heard my older sisters talk about how they only lived on soup beans and listening to Kate Smith on the radio.My parents didn't move to a farm until after the war.I had it good in the 50's.

Canned 16 pints of carrots and 1 quart and 4 pints of salsa with the last of my tomatoes.

Pressure canned 7 pints of chili and 7 pints of sweet n sour chicken-4 qts chili-today will do 7 qts of chicken stew just waiting for the dishwasher to finish jars then I will stereilize in boiling water,wanted to do zucchini relish but can't find any large ones at farmers market.Mine did not do any good this year,must be no one else's did either.The chicken I'm using is thighs as they were on sale for 87cents this week,left the bone in for flavor,will remove and cut up before eating.

I got some of that spray foam that expands to fill the holes around my plumbing,had to do it a little bit at a time as the hole was so big it kept pulling itself down. Has worked fine so far(did it last fall).I don't want anything in the house that doesn't belong.

Defrosted and cleaned and cleaned out the outdated foods from the deep freeze,now I have room to put more back in there.

Getting dental work done-next plant fall garden-next after outside cleanup is done going to stay in and SEW.Daughter and I want to get an etsy account up by oct. for Christmas sales-yes that time of year is getting here fast!

I planted blueberries in my front foundation planting last year and am waiting to see how they do - my husband also doesn't like me to plant more stuff in the yard,he hates to trim around them. I am planting edibles in with the flower beds,and this year want to install some raised beds for veggies-already have a big raised bed of strawberries.I have a very steep hill on the west side of the house and have been planning what sort of ground cover and flowers to put there.I put landscape fabric and some soil there last fall but didn't get it finished do to having a bad back and the weather turning bad,so lots to do this spring.

Trying to use whats in my freezer-its going to need cleaned soon-so today its a beef roast(which we haven't had in a while) mashed potatoes(which need to be used up) and green beans with bacon bits from storage.

My girls got very discuraged when taking sewing in school,they made things they did not like and would never use,so I would have her make a scarf and hat for herself.The hats I do for charity are just single crochet in the back loops only(this makes ribs and is the same on every row.I start with baby yarn for babys and 24 sc.40 sc for adults.,and just continue until it fits around the head,then slip stitch it together and take a needle and gather the top together tightly and tie off several times.A scarf can be made to match.I do not like the crocheted dish cloths,I think they are too thick and cumbersome,I knit the ones I make out of cotton yarn-not acrilic it does not absorb water. Also I would have her sit beside me so she can do exactly what you do,if she is left handed have her sit across from you,I taught this way when teaching at a craft store-Also let her pick the color yarn she likes.

I do the same-buy wrapping for birthdays for the year found a masculine stripe yesterday.

Looking to save money on our cable bill-it seems to go up every month.Anyone here have direct-tv? What can you tell me about it? Seems to have a lot of good bundles till the end of the month.What happens if we move before the 2 year contract expires?

Thought yams were a good deal at Kroger for 58 cents but went to walmart and they are 25CENTS! Can these be dried? If so,do I need to blanch them first?

Adding my wishes for a safe and calm Thanksgiving.Just got my turkey in the cider brine.

Forgot to say I beat the sugar and shortening first till it dissolves,Then-add the cooled mixture and beat well.

I also use the last one,but you need to really beat the shortening and sugar till really fluffy and the sugar dissolves.Just rub a bit in your fingers and you can tell when its not gritty anymore and you also need to use a stand mixer as it takes a while.

I went in my living room the other morning,very dark,didn't turn on the light and sat on my black cat,she really scrambled to get out of there! Poor Kitty!

I have done this for years-just not in the crockpot,but will now try that instead of a big pot.I always do this with the turkey bones,just cover with water and simmer for hours,no seasoning,cool,put in freezer containers and freeze.You can use this for soup or gravy,anywhere you would use broth.

I talked to some people a couple years ago from south africa and they could not believe the size of restaurent servings here. Twice the size of what they were used to,there meat is used in something not the centerpiece of the meal or plate.I have been doing this a couple times a week to cut down since meat is so expensive.Think casseroles,soups and such.

When you have people over why not have them bring a dish or two to share?

I just barely cover apple peels & cores with water and boil down till mushy then put in a strainer and use the liquid to make apple jelly adding more water if necessary for the amount needed for recipe,most take 4 cups liquid.

NO NO NO! Do not wash the interfacing! just cut it 1/4" smaller so it won't be in the seams then press it on,PRESS do not Iron/This means put the iron up and down up and down over the whole surface not putting the iron down and running it over it.