On my mind Friday

On my mind is an empty garden. The weather people are calling for the first frost of the season so we emptied the garden. Truly a sad time of year.

Todays post I return to shopping

Honestly until I saw the picture I couldn't remember what I was going to write about today. I took the picture 4 hours ago. Well yesterday I returned to shopping for the good deals. It was hot this summer, I was miserable, bored, no money etc etc etc.

Well winter is coming I have to get more food stocked up in this place. For real its bad enough that I have to get to work in the cold, snow and yuck but shopping is not all that fun. The streets are not plowed well in the park and pulling and pushing the grocery cart is not to easy.

Now I know gum will not keep us from starving during any sort of emergency but if something happens and Greg does not get his cigarettes (I know nasty habit no comments please) hopefully these will keep the nicotine monster at bay.

The Stride gum (the larger 3 pack packages were on clearance at work, plus the clearance sale with an additional 25% off, 3 $1 off 3 packs manufacturer coupons plus my employee discount 18 packs for $5.69

The other gum (I think its U2) was on sale at Rite Aid for 99 cents each. I used 5 $1.00 off 2 packs manufacturer coupons and basically got them buy one get one free.

Now next week I am hoping for some food stockpiling freebies.


Thanks for reading and may you be blessed, Laura

Apples

Apple Peel jelly

Single jar I am trying to show how beautiful this stuff is

11 quarts of apples in a very light syrup
Anyone who is part of the websites that I daily post "I am canning apples today" knows that I have been working on these gems for a week and a half. I am not done only abut half of the tree ids harvested.

this weeks menu ideas (9/26)

Monday - chili verde (new recipe) Greg is already finding faults with this one. No vegetables, no beans and its pale. I sneaked some of it and it tastes really good.

Tuesday - stuffed shells enchilada. And I found a recipe for homemade enchilada sauce.

Wednesday - whole baked chicken

Thursday - not sure thinking something with a beef & potato soup

Friday - new idea for recipe Mexican chicken using leftover chicken, leftover beans and some yellow rice in the cupboard

Saturday - something with the remaining beef roast. Oh how about some roast beef sandwiches with home made rolls?

Free E-Book

Just found a free E-book about stocking your pantry. Yes I have lots of experience stocking up on things - its always good to keep reading for new ideas. This one has a very nice list of the more complete sales cycles. I'm going to print it off once I get more ink or to the library (its only 10 pages if I read the info correctly).

http://www.scribd.com/doc/59136022/Yes-You-CAN-Have-a-Well-Stocked-Pantry?secret_password=l55tak5sbvmivow0y92

Happy reading and may you be blessed, Laura

Pioneer pockets

I was trying to gather the green beans and peas from the garden. It was really bothersome to pick a few and then have to find my bowl and drop them in it. So I was looking for my apron (it has huge pockets) but couldn’t so I found a Pioneer Pocket that a friend sent me a couple years ago. I had no idea when I received them what I would really use them for.

Check out how handy these are!!! I was able to gather the green beans from 2 of the plants instead of part of one plant. Pioneer pockets; cute and perfectly suited for the gardening needs

The "Help"

and no i don't mean the movie but today's actual kitchen help.



Simba chose to help by creating noise. He found an extra canning band and decided that it was pretty and made pretty sounds as he threw it around the box and on the floor. (Don't worry everything is washed before I use it)

Blessings and thank you for reading, Laura

Menu plan for Sept 18-24

Sunday - Chicken BBQ at church so we be eating that.
Monday - Rigatoni with creamy tomato sauce
Tuesady - Chili verde
Wednesday - German meatballs with sauerkraut
Thursday - French toast
Friday - Campfire hash
Saturday - no sure might be something real simple like hamburgers

Blessings, Laura

The hand

Sunday July 17, 2011

I am watching Body of Proof (Dana Delaney’s new show). She is tracking the killer of a steelworker. She asks her daughter (visiting the office for a school assignment) to look at the picture of the man’s hand. What does it say about him?
Who loved you?
What are your dreams?
Who’s grieving for you?

Here is my hand
Who loved/loves me – my parents, my husband, my cat Simba, my son, his girlfriend, my sister and her family, my brothers and their families, various Aunts, Uncles and cousins, my church family and I hope several of my various friends.
This list of people also answer the “who’s grieving for me”. In some sort of way I hope that the world in general misses me. But please don’t grieve to long for me. I’m try to live my life to the fullest so that I have no regrets but really the pain and bad times are done. I am with our Savior and full of happiness.

What are my dreams – I don’t know. I have some dreams like to start working for the local ministry group and learn to run a food pantry. I have deep caring feelings that draw me towards helping people. Right now things just seem to taking the path that God is leading me on – I just follow.

This hand (and its mate) has held her very newborn son (and since I know my Baby Bears will read this; you were 4 hours old the very first time) and then all thru the years of raising him, held the hands of 2 men when she married them, held the hands of several family and friends during their times of need and times of great joy. These hands worked hard doing several different sometimes dirty, greasy, yucky jobs. These hands work hard in the grocery store, garden and kitchen (not to mention her places of employment) to provide meals for her family. Look at the nails, nice and long nails on short fat fingers.  (Perhaps I should paint them and make them pretty)

So take a minute look at your hand and tell us what do they say about you?

Thank you for reading and May you be blessed, Laura

I remember

My thoughts and prayers are will all the families of the people that were killed on 9/11/2001.

On my mind

My friend Rhonda has her Friday post as On my mind. Today I have a large garden harvest on my mind. All my mixing bowls and my counter space is taken up with all the bounty.

2011 Summer post

Storm Damage July 21

Had a terrific storm this evening. Clouds rolled in and it got very dark and scary. I did try to sit out on the patio but even this storm watcher got scared. The lightening seemed to be very low and loud and I was hiding under a metal awning. I did gather some sense and decide to watch the storm from the inside of the front door instead of the patio. Of course my sidekick (Simba) was right there watching the storm.

The wind and rain were magnificent – I love a good storm. I was wishing that my camera would be able to capture the bands of rain as they fell in one direction but then have the wind grab them and throw everything in the opposite direction.

We had very little damage in the garden – the beans (all of the various types) did do some moving and blowing but nothing was damaged and we lost no produce.

I did notice 1 large branch in the backyard and assumed it fell from Miss Maple. Later Greg and I were sitting out back enjoying the break in humidity and temperature and were talking about Miss Maple. We decided to clean up the branch and we checked Miss Maple to see how badly she was damaged. We couldn’t find any damage on the old girl. Then we looked at the bark of the branch, it wasn’t from Miss Maple. The branch came from a tree at the middle of the back field – 50 feet away from Miss Maple.


We also noticed that another large part of another tree was broken and is hanging on to the rest of the tree. One thing I find amazing is how some trees can appear to be healthy and get damaged in storms but others that are obviously dead or sick get no apparent damage.

Garden surplus

Hum what to do with 6 cucumbers from the garden? Here is today’s recipe.
Recipe review
Like Grandma Used to Make page 47

Shaker Cucumber Salad
1 medium cucumber, halved lengthwise (I peeled mine)
¼ teaspoon salt
2 large green onion with tops, finely sliced
¼ cup thinly sliced radishes

Dressing
½ cup reduced fat sour cream
2 Tablespoon tarragon vinegar or white wine vinegar
1 Tablespoon finely chopped fresh dill or 1 teaspoon dried dill weed
1 teaspoon sugar
½ teaspoon prepared mustard or Dijon mustard
¼ teaspoon black pepper

Scoop seeds out of cucumber, discard. Thinly slice cucumber. Measure 2 cups. Sprinkle slices with salt; let stand for 20 minutes. Drain well.

In a small bowl, combine cucumber, green onions and radishes. In a separate bowl, whisk tighter all dressing ingredients. Pour over vegetables. Toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour. To serve, spoon salad onto shredded lettuce. Makes 4 side dish servings.

Results: Pretty good but for me too much vinegar (I used white wine vinegar) so I will cut back to 1 ½ Tablespoon.

Blessings, Laura