Trudy

The best freezer I ever owned was a huge chest type from Sears. It had 2 rows of sliding baskets and I put milk crates across the bottom. It was so easy to sort everything in baskets! I had a soft absorbent cotton mop that I used just for reaching the bottom when defrosting. I kept that one for twenty-something ? years. Then we bought a mobile home (less space) and went with an upright. NOT happy! It's great if you have all square boxes or stuff that stacks well. If not, it's kinda hard to stack whole chickens, turkey or anything odd shaped, and always have something from the 'pile' falling out and landing on your foot. I hope to one day have enough room for another chest freezer! (I do agree about the back strain though)

I just finished 'After The Storm', and it was good! Reading 'Deep Winter' series now.

I don't know why that wouldn't be just as good or even better, IF only my foodsaver were working! lol I really need to invest in a new one.

WOW what a house! Congrats to you and your family. Hope your move goes well.

Happy Birthday Stephanie! Hope your day was everything you wanted it to be.

This is my neighbor's century plant that she has been waiting 20 years to see it bloom! It's very interesting to me that it only blooms once in it's lifetime, and then it dies. I googled 'century plant' to read more about it, and found out that it is actually an agave plant from which agave nectar sweetner is made. I couldn't get a good shot of the whole plant because it is so tall, so I took one pic of the top and another of the bottom. I bet Miki has seen lots of them because they grow abundanty in Arizona!

Thanks Katz for posting this. I found the site about a month ago and intended to post about it. Things have been kinda hectic around my house lately, and I forgot to make the post. Already have my pics waiting, so I guess I'll go ahead while I'm reminded of it! I made the rice-y-roni and my family loved it. If you scroll about 1/3 of the way down, you will find the recipe on the far right. I always have to change things to suit me so I used some mini vermicelli instead of the broken spaghetti- it's just like the real rice a roni! You find it in wal-mart on the isle with the ramen noodles. (they also have the tiny abc noodles that I use in my dry soup mix) I used 1 C vermecilli 1 C converted rice (and in a snack bag I put) 2 T sodium free granulated chicken boullion 2 Tdry onions 2 t dry parsley and 1 t garlic powder.

So happy for you!

I've thought about asking the same question! I now have 756 and most of mine are freebies too. Cat is right - getting free books is addictive!

Hope you had a good birthday! And YES you are missed!

Has anyone tried the Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing Mix? I always buy that in the big jar at Sams because we use so much. I think that will be my next one to try! Or maybe the Shake and Bake or the cream soup mix? I want to try them all!!! I really like the fact that you can easily cut the amount of sodium in these mixes.

I love the Palouse Soup Mix.( I make the Ministroni Variation.) We also like the Beef Helper (Chili Tomato Mac).

How many of these mixes have YOU tried, and which ones are your favorites?

The link Jeepers posted is the one I was talking about.

I've been missing Christy too. I hope you feel better soon Christy!

I have opened probably 6-8 jars of this salsa that I put up last year, and it is barely spicy at all! It seems to have lost it's heat. Isn't that strange? Oh well, it's really good on my eggbeater omelet every morning...

Can you dry the frozen asian mix with water chesnuts and baby corn?

I got a free month of Prime when I bought my Kindle Fire. I didn't activate it because I was afraid I would forget to cancel it on time. The next time I went to Amazon the message came up telling me to cancel the account by March 3rd if I didn't want the $79 fee put on my credit card! I was kinda upset about it, but decided to try it out. It has saved me a bundle in shipping already, so I do plan to keep it now. I haven't learned how to borrow a book yet. I Was trying to borrow Dark Grid, but it charged me the 2.99 so I guess I didn't check it out right. Sorry I didn't see your question Dogmom4, but this is the first time I've had a chance to sit down today. I'm tired!

I just downloaded TMC's book 'Bystander'! I didn't know that it was available for Kindle. I'm into 'Dark Grid' right now, but I bet I can finish it fast! Congrats Carolyn. We are very proud of you!!!

Collards with rutabagas, Chicken Dumplin Casserole and Red Fruit Salad for desert. Yum!

Hey citygirl, I love pear mincemeat! I plan to make pear honey and pear mincemeat this week end. BTW, a couple spoonfulls of the mincemeat mixed in a bowl of oatmeal is very tasty! I put up 30 pints of pear preserves, 14 pints of pears in juice, 14 pints in light syrup, and 13 half pints of pear butter last week.

Thanks for an exelent recipe Virginia! I just took 5 quarts of chili beans out of the canner and they are really good. I did use pinto beans, because that is what I like the best. I didn't have onion and garlic powder, so I used dried minced garlic and onion. I guess that's ok??

My mom gave me an Oster Center with all the gadgets for a wedding gift almost 38 years ago, and I still use it almost every day! The best thing to chop onions, celery etc. It chops without turning to mush like some of the others I've tried. I still have the plastic jar containers, but I'm with Canned Nerd on the jar with the handle being my favorite. I also kept my moms for extra parts if I ever need them. I love my Oster!

5 pints of vegetable juice.

I roasted, peeled, and froze a large pan of jalapeanos. I can't wait to try them in salsa!