I am going to write this last pantry challenge post - and then STP.
I am boring myself :-)
I am going to continue the 'eat out of my hoard' project however - I have a long way to go..... but between my change in the way I shop... and the current usage.... I have cut my grocery bill by almost half and am enjoying the SPACE in my refrigerator! I haven't used the 2nd fridge in the garage in a couple of weeks. We still need it for drinks in the summer and overflow produce BUT I won't be using it for overbuying!
I will toss in a random note here or there about my creations but not dedicate space to the actual project.
Okay - so....
I made meatball soup with some homemade meatballs which had been hanging around the freezer.... but with the back and forth about whether I would be at my daughter's home or not with the new baby.... some of it ended up in the crockpot too long and some ended up back in the freezer. The meatballs were actually porcupines and totally fell apart in the soup. So the soup ended up with a heft amount of ground beef and rice.... but is labelled ALMOST Meatball so I remember where it came from :-) I used up a couple of freezer containers of broth and some red beans to make it
I roasted a butternut squash and added onion & butter.
One night was frozen hamburgers from a box I bought last summer to have on hand for random guests..... I added oven fries.. and my husband used the 2 random pieces of individually wrapped fake cheese we found in the fridge.
I made an apple pie thing using a refrigerator pie crust & home canned pie filling. I still have a few jars of home canned goods from 2014 [still sealed but I want them gone]
A batch of breakfast cookies (I located some chocolate chips in the pantry - still have 1 bag chips and 1 half bag m& ms for cookies another day)
And one night was asian-inspired... a bag of frozen fried rice.... a bag of frozen stir-fry vegetables .... and some sauteed chicken bites....
Most dinners served with cut vegetables.....
I am spending a few days with my daughter and have left a couple of individual containers for my husband to warm up.... and cut veggies.... we will see what is here when I come home!
Showing posts with label homemaking. Show all posts
Showing posts with label homemaking. Show all posts
Thursday, February 4, 2016
Friday, July 31, 2015
Day 230 Canning before vacay 2
So.... the next morning I actually canned the hot dog relish
(The relish really looked pretty in the pan!)
and the dill hamburger slices..
Both new recipes to try this year...
I roasted a mother lode of beets for at least one new recipe
Kickin' Pickled Beets
I substituted hot banana peppers for the jalapenos and used the 5 in my fridge (instead of the 2 called for in the recipe!) I am not sure about my quantity of beets - I THINK that I have more - so more beets can handle more peppers. If I am right :-)
I have way more beets than I thought! So I switched gears midstream. I was close to running out of brine - which is vinegar and spices..... and I did like the ginger pickled beets from a few weeks ago.... so I pulled that recipe and made up THAT brine - adding it to the remaining brine with hot peppers.... and cut ginger to add to the individual jars. I have no idea what I've done :-) I am sure about the brine - which is the "food safety' component.... but we shall see in a few weeks what I think about my gingery beets with a little hot spice kicked in... sounds reasonable to me!
cut the rest of the cukes into spears for the half-pints and random chunks for the leftover jar..... used the leftover basic brine and spices to put together 6 jars of kosher dills. The brine leftover from my sweet-hot beets.. I used with the rest of the cukes to make up a pint and a half of mystery pickles!
The last pro-active thing I did for the veggie prep is to strip the tomato plants. I didn't want too many to ripen and kill off the plants while I was gone (the kids won't remember to pick them!) So I pulled all the tomatoes, especially the green ones!
In order to pickle the green cherry tomatoes... I had to puncture their tough little skins so the pickling liquid could get in and flavor them.. I first thought to use a fork - but the fork was too big for most of them so I remembered my little corn holder thingie...
It was kind of fun.. though it does look like Bunnicula got to them!
I did a sweet & spicy recipe with most of them
I like the thought of this recipe 4 Ways to Pickle Green Tomatoes... because it looks EASY! But only did one flavor with the tomatoes left when the sweet and spicy brine ran out. I really didn't have time to mess with all the flavor decisions at this point! Do I did DILL, of course!
And... still.... tomatoes and peppers!
I cleaned and chopped these and put one bag tomatoes & one bag for the peppers in the freezer to deal with later! Whew!! No more canning for a week or two!
......but the pear tree should be ready for me when I get home........ it's been a year since I started canning and I do indeed have pear recipes from last year that worked!
and the dill hamburger slices..
Both new recipes to try this year...
I roasted a mother lode of beets for at least one new recipe
Kickin' Pickled Beets
I substituted hot banana peppers for the jalapenos and used the 5 in my fridge (instead of the 2 called for in the recipe!) I am not sure about my quantity of beets - I THINK that I have more - so more beets can handle more peppers. If I am right :-)
I have way more beets than I thought! So I switched gears midstream. I was close to running out of brine - which is vinegar and spices..... and I did like the ginger pickled beets from a few weeks ago.... so I pulled that recipe and made up THAT brine - adding it to the remaining brine with hot peppers.... and cut ginger to add to the individual jars. I have no idea what I've done :-) I am sure about the brine - which is the "food safety' component.... but we shall see in a few weeks what I think about my gingery beets with a little hot spice kicked in... sounds reasonable to me!
cut the rest of the cukes into spears for the half-pints and random chunks for the leftover jar..... used the leftover basic brine and spices to put together 6 jars of kosher dills. The brine leftover from my sweet-hot beets.. I used with the rest of the cukes to make up a pint and a half of mystery pickles!
The last pro-active thing I did for the veggie prep is to strip the tomato plants. I didn't want too many to ripen and kill off the plants while I was gone (the kids won't remember to pick them!) So I pulled all the tomatoes, especially the green ones!
In order to pickle the green cherry tomatoes... I had to puncture their tough little skins so the pickling liquid could get in and flavor them.. I first thought to use a fork - but the fork was too big for most of them so I remembered my little corn holder thingie...
It was kind of fun.. though it does look like Bunnicula got to them!
I did a sweet & spicy recipe with most of them
I like the thought of this recipe 4 Ways to Pickle Green Tomatoes... because it looks EASY! But only did one flavor with the tomatoes left when the sweet and spicy brine ran out. I really didn't have time to mess with all the flavor decisions at this point! Do I did DILL, of course!
And... still.... tomatoes and peppers!
I cleaned and chopped these and put one bag tomatoes & one bag for the peppers in the freezer to deal with later! Whew!! No more canning for a week or two!
......but the pear tree should be ready for me when I get home........ it's been a year since I started canning and I do indeed have pear recipes from last year that worked!
Thursday, July 30, 2015
Day 229 Canning before vacay 1
This week will be NUTS as I continue to process and preserve the produce in the house, My number 2 son and girlfriend are staying in the house and caring for the pets and they will use NO vegetables! So.... I need to put them up so they won't die before I get back.
I ran out of sugar which limits my choices and eliminates JAM altogether.... so I will focus first upon the million carrots and jalapenos in the fridge
I had reserved the brine from last year's cowboy candy ... seriously - I ran out of jalapenos at the end of the season last year and had a couple of cups of the sweet brine leftover so I went ahead and canned THAT! So now I will open them up, heat the brine.. add more jalapenos (2 cups sliced and unseeded) and get a few half-pints put together. I like them but they are too hot for me.... but I WAS thinking.... they might be good as a chopped relish in egg salad or something.
The rest of the jalapenos & carrots went into second batches of dill carrots
and Mexican pickled carrots. Those are big hits already and I anticipate running out of them this year.
Once I ran errands and got more sugar, I used up the last of the prepared plums. I had enough for a batch of Cherry-Plum Jam (using a bag of frozen cherries from the store)
AND I made Jalapeno jelly with the rest of the peppers - a big FAIL! Well maybe not..... It didn't gel... so it is jalapeno SYRUP. I'm not sure what I will be able to do with it. I mean - you use the jelly over cream cheese as an appetizer with crackers anyway - so I guess syrup will work the same as jam but not be near as attractive. Maybe I can stir in a little clear gelatin when I open the jar to make it a better consistency. Or maybe one of my readers has a suggestion? I have 6 beautiful half-pint jars of jalapeno syrup that no longer qualify as potential Christmas gifts unless I figure out something to do with it!
AND THEN....... I got my CSA box with more carrots - quite a few beets... lots of cucumbers and tomatoes, jalapenos and onions. And another eggplant that I need to give away FAST!
And on the same day, a friend asked me to come pick tomatoes from HIS garden. I did promise him last year I'd help... so on I go bearing a few jars of pickles in trade.
In case you are wondering, I usually do 2-3 things per session.... depending on when I am home. So I sorted out the produce and pulled a few recipes for salsa and pickles that I wanted to try so that I would be ready the next day I was at home.
And on THAT day....
Prepping cucumbers for hamburger slices and hot dog relish was on my list..... both needed to sit overnight in the fridge so once I did all the chopping and slicing for those......
I moved on to Blender Salsa! I based it on this recipe: Canned Salsa (Medium Hot) and tweaked it enough that I should write my own recipe!
Everything goes in the blender so I don't need to do much chopping and NO skinning of the tomatoes.. I was very liberal in my interpretation of what to use. I skipped the tomato sauce and added a tablespoon of chili powder. The canned tomato paste I use basically as a thickener. While I am sure about the quantity of peppers and onions I used... I am not at all sure what types I used.. I basically used what I had. The peppers are a mix of jalapeno, sweet bell, and banana peppers of unknown heat :-)
They do look pretty :-) There are no safe "rules" for processing quarts of salsa so while the seals are good, I am putting them in the extra fridge to use first.
And there is still more but I'll post it tomorrow!
I ran out of sugar which limits my choices and eliminates JAM altogether.... so I will focus first upon the million carrots and jalapenos in the fridge
I had reserved the brine from last year's cowboy candy ... seriously - I ran out of jalapenos at the end of the season last year and had a couple of cups of the sweet brine leftover so I went ahead and canned THAT! So now I will open them up, heat the brine.. add more jalapenos (2 cups sliced and unseeded) and get a few half-pints put together. I like them but they are too hot for me.... but I WAS thinking.... they might be good as a chopped relish in egg salad or something.
The rest of the jalapenos & carrots went into second batches of dill carrots
and Mexican pickled carrots. Those are big hits already and I anticipate running out of them this year.
Once I ran errands and got more sugar, I used up the last of the prepared plums. I had enough for a batch of Cherry-Plum Jam (using a bag of frozen cherries from the store)
AND I made Jalapeno jelly with the rest of the peppers - a big FAIL! Well maybe not..... It didn't gel... so it is jalapeno SYRUP. I'm not sure what I will be able to do with it. I mean - you use the jelly over cream cheese as an appetizer with crackers anyway - so I guess syrup will work the same as jam but not be near as attractive. Maybe I can stir in a little clear gelatin when I open the jar to make it a better consistency. Or maybe one of my readers has a suggestion? I have 6 beautiful half-pint jars of jalapeno syrup that no longer qualify as potential Christmas gifts unless I figure out something to do with it!
AND THEN....... I got my CSA box with more carrots - quite a few beets... lots of cucumbers and tomatoes, jalapenos and onions. And another eggplant that I need to give away FAST!
And on the same day, a friend asked me to come pick tomatoes from HIS garden. I did promise him last year I'd help... so on I go bearing a few jars of pickles in trade.
In case you are wondering, I usually do 2-3 things per session.... depending on when I am home. So I sorted out the produce and pulled a few recipes for salsa and pickles that I wanted to try so that I would be ready the next day I was at home.
And on THAT day....
Prepping cucumbers for hamburger slices and hot dog relish was on my list..... both needed to sit overnight in the fridge so once I did all the chopping and slicing for those......
I moved on to Blender Salsa! I based it on this recipe: Canned Salsa (Medium Hot) and tweaked it enough that I should write my own recipe!
Everything goes in the blender so I don't need to do much chopping and NO skinning of the tomatoes.. I was very liberal in my interpretation of what to use. I skipped the tomato sauce and added a tablespoon of chili powder. The canned tomato paste I use basically as a thickener. While I am sure about the quantity of peppers and onions I used... I am not at all sure what types I used.. I basically used what I had. The peppers are a mix of jalapeno, sweet bell, and banana peppers of unknown heat :-)
They do look pretty :-) There are no safe "rules" for processing quarts of salsa so while the seals are good, I am putting them in the extra fridge to use first.
And there is still more but I'll post it tomorrow!
Thursday, July 23, 2015
Day 222 - Canning Adventures July 2015
BUT..... enough for
Spiced Plum jam - http://www.simplebites.net/for-the-love-of-small-batch-canning-recipe-spiced-plum-jam/
Forgot to take a photo but you can imagine!
Asian plum sauce from The Complete Book of Small-Batch Preserving by Ellie Topp & Margaret Howard
A little salty but I think I will like it to jazz up my chicken occasionally. I will probably cut back on soy / salt and increase hot peppers if I make it again.
Basic tomatoes / peppers with a little lemon juice
Plum Jam with Lime and Ginger
Another batch of plum jam..... I appear to be into lime and ginger this year!
Spicy Kosher Dill... Based on this recipe Kosher Dill Pickles but I added the same amount of dried hot pepper as dill seed. I do usually have to adjust the spices in the jar since my preference is half-pints as opposed to the pints usually specified. Oh - and I usually stick a slice of jalapeno in my jar so I can tell at a glance if it is spicy!
I had a pack of three sweet peppers in the fridge and I forgot why :-) So I saw this recipe and figured I'd give it a go. I'll report back in a couple of weeks once they cure. You can see the one "leftover piece" pint above with the dills.
Multi-colored Ginger Pickled Pepper from the same book as the Plum Sauce: The Complete Book of Small-Batch Preserving. I like this one because it has some unusual recipes.
A lot of stuff this week! And more next week as I wind up the plums and use up what's still in the fridge and what will come in my next CSA box.
Wednesday, July 22, 2015
Day 221 - WIP Wednesday July 2015
It's booked! An upcoming potential business trip is no longer potential! We are going to Hawaii... and in our usual fashion.... business trip morphs into vacation .... so now I am going to remain in crafting limbo for a few more weeks...
I can't exactly dig into a new project.... so I am prepping crafts to take with me (does anyone else do that?), winding up projects I have in process and setting up projects to jump into when I get home.
So... more cutting....
......for hexies to take with me on the plane.. (can I take needle and snips on the plane?) [Research says YES as long as the blade is less than 4 inches long]
..... for the reverse side of the grandgirls' Christmas quilts (Princess and the Pea)
And I've continued to stitch on the ROADS quilt for the boys. This is something I can work on until I run out of what I cut. I will get back on it after the trip:
The photo below gives you an idea of how these blocks will come together.
I'll share more next week as I assemble them!
There are new classes at my quilt shop - a jewel box and a double pinwheel. I have a hard time NOT jumping in to do what my peers are doing.... I got the fabric for the jewel box because I have a similar pattern in a book I already own
But nixed on the double pinwheel. I do LOVE pinwheels so will make my own scrappy one with a free internet pattern... or just do some half square triangles and play by myself!
I also came home with the fabric for an advanced class this fall... a Virginia sampler where all the blocks have something to do with Virginia. I'm NOT looking forward to it... It IS advanced with paper piecing and an exactitude I don't care for - but I do have to keep the learning going... and this is what is offered. I LOVE the fabric though so I will enjoy that part.
And finishing the top for a wedding gift -
I apologize for the lighting here - it's a pretty lighthouse panel that I created blocks to go between. Nothing fancy - BUT I planned and created it myself so I'm kind of proud of it :-) The sandcastle fabric on the side will be the back... This project can go in the "need to be sandwiched and quilted" pile for after my trip (to Hawaii!! stay tuned!)
So - there you go for this week..... what are you up to?
I can't exactly dig into a new project.... so I am prepping crafts to take with me (does anyone else do that?), winding up projects I have in process and setting up projects to jump into when I get home.
So... more cutting....
......for hexies to take with me on the plane.. (can I take needle and snips on the plane?) [Research says YES as long as the blade is less than 4 inches long]
..... for the reverse side of the grandgirls' Christmas quilts (Princess and the Pea)
And I've continued to stitch on the ROADS quilt for the boys. This is something I can work on until I run out of what I cut. I will get back on it after the trip:
The photo below gives you an idea of how these blocks will come together.
There are new classes at my quilt shop - a jewel box and a double pinwheel. I have a hard time NOT jumping in to do what my peers are doing.... I got the fabric for the jewel box because I have a similar pattern in a book I already own
But nixed on the double pinwheel. I do LOVE pinwheels so will make my own scrappy one with a free internet pattern... or just do some half square triangles and play by myself!
I also came home with the fabric for an advanced class this fall... a Virginia sampler where all the blocks have something to do with Virginia. I'm NOT looking forward to it... It IS advanced with paper piecing and an exactitude I don't care for - but I do have to keep the learning going... and this is what is offered. I LOVE the fabric though so I will enjoy that part.
And finishing the top for a wedding gift -
I apologize for the lighting here - it's a pretty lighthouse panel that I created blocks to go between. Nothing fancy - BUT I planned and created it myself so I'm kind of proud of it :-) The sandcastle fabric on the side will be the back... This project can go in the "need to be sandwiched and quilted" pile for after my trip (to Hawaii!! stay tuned!)
So - there you go for this week..... what are you up to?
Thursday, July 16, 2015
Day 215 - Canning Adventures - July 2015
Beets!! Again! Oh my goodness will they ever be done? I am almost grateful for the batch that died in my fridge over the week my grands were here
Not my fave - but great to learn on because we don't care for them as a cooked veggie. I remember loving pickled beets growing up but have gotten so out of eating pickles and beets since my husband doesn't like any of them. This learning project of mine is a great exercise because I am rediscovering things I like to eat that I have slowly given up over the years as too much trouble for ONE. I need to keep remembering that "I" am the "ONE" and I deserve my best efforts :-)
Anyway - back to beets.... I tried the PHAT beets I made a couple of weeks ago - and they were okay EXCEPT.... rosemary. I was a little heavy handed with it and that did not go well (in my opinion). I like rosemary - but I have to remember that whatever spices I choose to use in a pickle - are going to be shut up in the jar like a genii in a bottle and just gain strength over the time it is bottled up!
Anyway - they are salvageable by opening the jar, removing the rosemary and diluting the liquid with water. This, of course, is as you are ready to eat them - you must leave them in the fridge after opening!
So - I tried a new recipe for a basic pickled beet and onion... well.. I merged two recipes actually...
I took a Basic Pickled Beets Recipe and changed up the spices to match a Spicy Pickled Beets Recipe Mostly it doubled the cinnamon and cloves and added allspice... spices I can handle better than rosemary..... I think!
SO MANY!! That quart jar in the back is the remainders! I think I put up more than a case of half-pints (my preferred size for gift giving and personal use) and then just got tired! Two batches in the canner and one left over to process later....
Sometimes these recipes are hard to figure..... I mean - truly I have no idea how many pounds of beets I have! So I SEARCH pounds beets = cups chopped ... or whatever parameter is in my recipe. And I factor in that this recipe makes However many pint jars (which = twice as many half-pints). It's a ballpark amount at best.
As long as I am EXACT in my ACID... (ie vinegar, water, lemon juice).... I feel free to play with spices and produce!
*********************
I also learned this week that a new cucumber I have been receiving in my CSA box... dies really fast! With all the excitement in the last few weeks, sometimes produce might sit a week in the fridge before I can get to it. These new yellow - supposedly burpless - cucumbers.... won't last a week. I had to throw out quite a few when I got back to them!
I used what I had to make another batch of kosher dill spears.. since I have so many dill lovers... most in half-pints.... with a pint jar of the remainder odd pieces of cuke and brine... and, of course, that lone remaining beet jar to be sealed..
A friend did approach me and ask for a favor this week... apparently she has a plum tree that hangs over her driveway.... the plums are starting to fall. Would I mind too much coming and taking the plums? Hmm.... not at all!! Look out next week for PLUM adventures since I have never done anything with plums besides eating them!
And that is it for this week.... still keeping notes on the print-outs of the recipes I used so I can begin to compile my personal faves.....
What would YOU do with a bunch of plums?
Not my fave - but great to learn on because we don't care for them as a cooked veggie. I remember loving pickled beets growing up but have gotten so out of eating pickles and beets since my husband doesn't like any of them. This learning project of mine is a great exercise because I am rediscovering things I like to eat that I have slowly given up over the years as too much trouble for ONE. I need to keep remembering that "I" am the "ONE" and I deserve my best efforts :-)
Anyway - back to beets.... I tried the PHAT beets I made a couple of weeks ago - and they were okay EXCEPT.... rosemary. I was a little heavy handed with it and that did not go well (in my opinion). I like rosemary - but I have to remember that whatever spices I choose to use in a pickle - are going to be shut up in the jar like a genii in a bottle and just gain strength over the time it is bottled up!
Anyway - they are salvageable by opening the jar, removing the rosemary and diluting the liquid with water. This, of course, is as you are ready to eat them - you must leave them in the fridge after opening!
So - I tried a new recipe for a basic pickled beet and onion... well.. I merged two recipes actually...
I took a Basic Pickled Beets Recipe and changed up the spices to match a Spicy Pickled Beets Recipe Mostly it doubled the cinnamon and cloves and added allspice... spices I can handle better than rosemary..... I think!
SO MANY!! That quart jar in the back is the remainders! I think I put up more than a case of half-pints (my preferred size for gift giving and personal use) and then just got tired! Two batches in the canner and one left over to process later....
Sometimes these recipes are hard to figure..... I mean - truly I have no idea how many pounds of beets I have! So I SEARCH pounds beets = cups chopped ... or whatever parameter is in my recipe. And I factor in that this recipe makes However many pint jars (which = twice as many half-pints). It's a ballpark amount at best.
As long as I am EXACT in my ACID... (ie vinegar, water, lemon juice).... I feel free to play with spices and produce!
*********************
I also learned this week that a new cucumber I have been receiving in my CSA box... dies really fast! With all the excitement in the last few weeks, sometimes produce might sit a week in the fridge before I can get to it. These new yellow - supposedly burpless - cucumbers.... won't last a week. I had to throw out quite a few when I got back to them!
I used what I had to make another batch of kosher dill spears.. since I have so many dill lovers... most in half-pints.... with a pint jar of the remainder odd pieces of cuke and brine... and, of course, that lone remaining beet jar to be sealed..
A friend did approach me and ask for a favor this week... apparently she has a plum tree that hangs over her driveway.... the plums are starting to fall. Would I mind too much coming and taking the plums? Hmm.... not at all!! Look out next week for PLUM adventures since I have never done anything with plums besides eating them!
And that is it for this week.... still keeping notes on the print-outs of the recipes I used so I can begin to compile my personal faves.....
What would YOU do with a bunch of plums?
Thursday, July 9, 2015
Day 208 June Canning Adventures
More carrots on the agenda this week so I am still hunting for recipes. I found a couple to try but settled first on one that uses jalapenos and cumin.
Mexican Pickled Carrots
which look so very pretty. I hope they are good. They are a complete departure from anything I've ever made!
Blueberries are still waiting to be processed so I went for another batch of the Blueberry Mojito Jam. I love the flavor - and it is so pretty
The lime and mint in it are a great twist! And good experience for me grating the limes to get the zest.... since lime zest is not available dried for me to buy! I did take the leftover limes and mint and tossed them in a pitcher of tea to enjoy to the end!
AND... for a finale this week I put up a quick Kosher dill pickle with my overflow of cucumbers. The hardest part was cutting spears that fit my half-pint jars that I typically use for canning.
It left a bunch of ends and weird shaped pieces..... but since I also had leftover brine.... I pulled a quart jar.... some garlic and a head of dill... tossed in the cuke pieces and leftover brine.... and stuffed in the fridge to eat later. In a week or two, they should be pretty good eating!
Not sure what is on next week's agenda..... but there are a couple of beets and carrots in the refrigerator waiting to see what comes in the next produce box!
Happy canning!
Mexican Pickled Carrots
which look so very pretty. I hope they are good. They are a complete departure from anything I've ever made!
Blueberries are still waiting to be processed so I went for another batch of the Blueberry Mojito Jam. I love the flavor - and it is so pretty
The lime and mint in it are a great twist! And good experience for me grating the limes to get the zest.... since lime zest is not available dried for me to buy! I did take the leftover limes and mint and tossed them in a pitcher of tea to enjoy to the end!
AND... for a finale this week I put up a quick Kosher dill pickle with my overflow of cucumbers. The hardest part was cutting spears that fit my half-pint jars that I typically use for canning.
It left a bunch of ends and weird shaped pieces..... but since I also had leftover brine.... I pulled a quart jar.... some garlic and a head of dill... tossed in the cuke pieces and leftover brine.... and stuffed in the fridge to eat later. In a week or two, they should be pretty good eating!
Not sure what is on next week's agenda..... but there are a couple of beets and carrots in the refrigerator waiting to see what comes in the next produce box!
Happy canning!
Thursday, June 18, 2015
Day 187.. Summer Canning Adventures
It has surprised me how tickled I was to get my canner back out this spring! I retired it around Christmastime... and am back in the thick of produce overflow and the hunt for new and interesting recipes.
There is something immensely satisfying to me to see those pretty jars all lined up on the shelf. And I do love the sound of the POP when the jar seals :-)
Phat Beets.... winding up the prepared beets in the fridge ... I HAD to try this recipe! First off it uses cloves and allspice and cinnamon in the brine so will have a spicy flavor I love that fits in nicely with my Christmas giving.... and then fresh ginger and rosemary in the actual jars for more flavor and just plain pretty. Of course.... with all that, I just can't get past the NAME :-) I cannot WAIT to write PHAT BEETS on my label... just because. I will smile every time I see it :-)
There was a little leftover brine that I put in the fridge hoping for inspiration...I hate waste!
I got more baby beets in my produce box and will share that last recipe and some prep tips in my next week's adventure post.
**************
And I had so much fun with the first batch of blueberry jam (I had picked 2 quarts) that I went back to the farm and kind of went a little crazy. I came home with 2 GALLONS of berries. I just couldn't help myself.. the absolute ZEN of my and myself and the sunshine and the berries... well, it was a great way to spend a couple of hours (and $32 :-)
I thought about the natural pectin in apples and how I have trouble with store-bought products [honestly, I think it might be my stovetop]. Anyway I thought I'd hunt for a recipe that included apples. And I found it at Food.com
Blueberry Apple Jam - my yield 9 half pints The flavor is absolutely lovely. Apples and pears seem to add a mildness to other fruits that makes an exquisitely rich jam flavor. It's a great compliment to the berries..... or the berries are a great compliment to the apples? Doesn't matter.... it's sublime on an English muffin with a little butter.
I'm afraid my little half-pint jars all look alike in photos.... I like the half-pint size. First - for gift-giving... though I HAVE found a smaller size that I may use some of this year. Second.. I am the only one in my house who eats either jams OR pickles... and sparingly at that... so a half-pint lasts me a month or more whatever is in it! I do have some pint and quart jars that I will use for larger pickles and when I run out of half-pints.... and, yes.... for SALSA! THAT we eat by the truckload :-)
There is something immensely satisfying to me to see those pretty jars all lined up on the shelf. And I do love the sound of the POP when the jar seals :-)
Phat Beets.... winding up the prepared beets in the fridge ... I HAD to try this recipe! First off it uses cloves and allspice and cinnamon in the brine so will have a spicy flavor I love that fits in nicely with my Christmas giving.... and then fresh ginger and rosemary in the actual jars for more flavor and just plain pretty. Of course.... with all that, I just can't get past the NAME :-) I cannot WAIT to write PHAT BEETS on my label... just because. I will smile every time I see it :-)
There was a little leftover brine that I put in the fridge hoping for inspiration...I hate waste!
I got more baby beets in my produce box and will share that last recipe and some prep tips in my next week's adventure post.
**************
And I had so much fun with the first batch of blueberry jam (I had picked 2 quarts) that I went back to the farm and kind of went a little crazy. I came home with 2 GALLONS of berries. I just couldn't help myself.. the absolute ZEN of my and myself and the sunshine and the berries... well, it was a great way to spend a couple of hours (and $32 :-)
I thought about the natural pectin in apples and how I have trouble with store-bought products [honestly, I think it might be my stovetop]. Anyway I thought I'd hunt for a recipe that included apples. And I found it at Food.com
Blueberry Apple Jam - my yield 9 half pints The flavor is absolutely lovely. Apples and pears seem to add a mildness to other fruits that makes an exquisitely rich jam flavor. It's a great compliment to the berries..... or the berries are a great compliment to the apples? Doesn't matter.... it's sublime on an English muffin with a little butter.
I'm afraid my little half-pint jars all look alike in photos.... I like the half-pint size. First - for gift-giving... though I HAVE found a smaller size that I may use some of this year. Second.. I am the only one in my house who eats either jams OR pickles... and sparingly at that... so a half-pint lasts me a month or more whatever is in it! I do have some pint and quart jars that I will use for larger pickles and when I run out of half-pints.... and, yes.... for SALSA! THAT we eat by the truckload :-)
Monday, June 15, 2015
My CSA Produce Box
Some of my friends keep asking me what on earth this is...
New to my rural area, a local farmer decided to furnish this service. I knew what it was and JUMPED at the opportunity..
In a nutshell.... you pay a certain fee and you get random produce weekly. It's local.... fresher... somewhat organic.... in season... BETTER! In more urban areas, you can purchase by the week and sometimes even have it delivered to your door. In my case, I paid for several months up front and the farmer is just down the road. If we can get more people on board, maybe we can do it differently - but I am THRILLED.
For me, it works out to $24/week and includes eggs.... I am never quite sure what will be in my box but it definitely is forcing me to learn to prepare and to eat a lot more produce!
Before I share this week's box, I want to note that for the last month I have gotten bags and bags of lettuce! 3-4 bags per week and salads have been the mainstay of our diet!
This is my box for this week:
I do have to say - straight off that this is the first week it hasn't been overflowing - but that is due to the huge quantities of lettuce, beets and radishes we've been getting!
First I pulled out the LAST of the lettuce for the season.... 2 large ziplock bags... trimmed and a first wash. It is getting too hot for lettuce to be really good now - but I still have 3 heads in the fridge downstairs so I imagine we still have salads for another week or so....
AND the FIRST of the cucumbers.... and those are already of a number I will have to preserve! We will probably be able to eat half of those this week.. but I am thinking I need to find some of my cucumber pickle recipes from last year...
Carrots! I got a few last week so now I have about 20... again, some for eating and a new recipe for dill pickled carrots to try. We like them raw - or, when cooked, as an addition to the dish, not as the main item. Cooked carrots by themselves don't have much appeal here.. though we do enjoy them tossed in with other veggies.. roasted or sauteed.. or raw.
The last of the beets... babies... trimmed of greens because the bugs are busy with them now. I did discover this year that cooked beets are not a fave. I do have some roasted in the fridge and they are okay - but not something I crave..... BUT I do enjoy them pickled.. and have put up 2 types already and have a dill beets recipe waiting for these guys.
AND... Kimchi.... this is my third jar of it. I am working with jar # 1 trying to figure out how I will use it. The hubs is not particularly adventurous with his food so I am on my own with it for now. I love the spice of it but am not 100% how to use it. Cold - well, it's spicy wet cabbage - perhaps an acquired taste?
AND... the last photo :-)
Beautiful scallions..... I use these a lot chopped in eggs and stir-fries and salads... They also freeze well for later use.
Pretty little eggplants that I have no clue what to do with... well, that is not exactly true.. but I have had it exactly 3 times.... once as eggplant parmegiana [which I hated].... once in ratatouille [which I loathed].. and once thinly sliced and deep fried [which I liked but I am afraid I am definitely a devotee of deep fried crunchy coatings - so I think it had little to do with the eggplant itself]. I have been advised to try a stir fry...
Fresh local eggs..... yay!! And a bag of fresh dill for my canning adventures [beets and carrots] suggested above.
DEF more than the $24 cost to me.
The only real concerns for me at the moment are the Kimchi and eggplant. I will probably hunt for a local person to barter with because I am not fairly sure I will end up wasting those... and that is not something I want to do!
But there you have it... my produce box....
the DOWNside:
1. Pay up front
2. You never know what you will get
3. You have to figure out how to use it
4. Sometimes you get something you don't like.
the UPside:
1. Paying up front means it is free now :-)
2. It is local - FRESH from the field... we are eating better food!
3. You never know what you will get... SURPRISE every week! (but since I typically shop sales, I face the same thing at the grocery store)
4. You have to figure out how to use it.... I do love learning and trying new things!
5. I can work with my supplier to voice my opinion on what I don't care for... OR I can canvas my neighbors for a barter.... I bet somebody will share other garden produce for my canning adventures... or chocolate for my husband.. or .. who knows?
I'm in! And loving having this available to me and my family!
New to my rural area, a local farmer decided to furnish this service. I knew what it was and JUMPED at the opportunity..
In a nutshell.... you pay a certain fee and you get random produce weekly. It's local.... fresher... somewhat organic.... in season... BETTER! In more urban areas, you can purchase by the week and sometimes even have it delivered to your door. In my case, I paid for several months up front and the farmer is just down the road. If we can get more people on board, maybe we can do it differently - but I am THRILLED.
For me, it works out to $24/week and includes eggs.... I am never quite sure what will be in my box but it definitely is forcing me to learn to prepare and to eat a lot more produce!
Before I share this week's box, I want to note that for the last month I have gotten bags and bags of lettuce! 3-4 bags per week and salads have been the mainstay of our diet!
This is my box for this week:
AND the FIRST of the cucumbers.... and those are already of a number I will have to preserve! We will probably be able to eat half of those this week.. but I am thinking I need to find some of my cucumber pickle recipes from last year...
The last of the beets... babies... trimmed of greens because the bugs are busy with them now. I did discover this year that cooked beets are not a fave. I do have some roasted in the fridge and they are okay - but not something I crave..... BUT I do enjoy them pickled.. and have put up 2 types already and have a dill beets recipe waiting for these guys.
AND... Kimchi.... this is my third jar of it. I am working with jar # 1 trying to figure out how I will use it. The hubs is not particularly adventurous with his food so I am on my own with it for now. I love the spice of it but am not 100% how to use it. Cold - well, it's spicy wet cabbage - perhaps an acquired taste?
AND... the last photo :-)
Beautiful scallions..... I use these a lot chopped in eggs and stir-fries and salads... They also freeze well for later use.
Pretty little eggplants that I have no clue what to do with... well, that is not exactly true.. but I have had it exactly 3 times.... once as eggplant parmegiana [which I hated].... once in ratatouille [which I loathed].. and once thinly sliced and deep fried [which I liked but I am afraid I am definitely a devotee of deep fried crunchy coatings - so I think it had little to do with the eggplant itself]. I have been advised to try a stir fry...
Fresh local eggs..... yay!! And a bag of fresh dill for my canning adventures [beets and carrots] suggested above.
DEF more than the $24 cost to me.
The only real concerns for me at the moment are the Kimchi and eggplant. I will probably hunt for a local person to barter with because I am not fairly sure I will end up wasting those... and that is not something I want to do!
But there you have it... my produce box....
the DOWNside:
1. Pay up front
2. You never know what you will get
3. You have to figure out how to use it
4. Sometimes you get something you don't like.
the UPside:
1. Paying up front means it is free now :-)
2. It is local - FRESH from the field... we are eating better food!
3. You never know what you will get... SURPRISE every week! (but since I typically shop sales, I face the same thing at the grocery store)
4. You have to figure out how to use it.... I do love learning and trying new things!
5. I can work with my supplier to voice my opinion on what I don't care for... OR I can canvas my neighbors for a barter.... I bet somebody will share other garden produce for my canning adventures... or chocolate for my husband.. or .. who knows?
I'm in! And loving having this available to me and my family!
Thursday, November 8, 2012
21 Days - Day 6 - Plan your Success!
The watchword for today is BE REALISTIC!
I have to admit - when I read the topic for the reading today from 21 Days to a More Disciplined Life , I thought of my "almost" mega-project... the photo scanning one I have been stewing over. But I KNOW that can't be done in 21 days... or I THINK I know that :-) I had 24 hours to commit to a project to complete in 21 days and ALMOST went with the photos... but wasn't sure about total quantity or follow-through. It didn't seem realistic... so I will keep on with the 30 min per week idea... which I haven't done this week either! But I digress.... ONE thing at a time!
Lasting change happens slowly. Just as a tiny rivulet of water created the Grand Canyon over time... our little habit changes create new and better lives!
Thing is... when we start out with too many changes, all of our enthusiasm and good intentions go by the wayside when the going gets tough!
Just like with anticipating problems (Day 5)... making sure that your new self-discipline FITS in your life is really important! It is so hard to scale back when we want so desperately to create a new habit... but if you really want your habit to stick... you have to have a reasonable expectation of yourself (and those around you!)
Barring doctor's orders, it is not reasonable to drastically change your diet immediately! You may have a few good days to begin but are almost certain to drop this project pretty quickly. Better to break it down into smaller chunks that you can handle. Start by doing something very small.... like adding a salad to your processed food dinner... OR replacing one meal a week with foods you learn to make from real ingredients.... and then build on that as time goes on.
It almost feels insulting to start so small.... kind of like you are setting the bar too low... but it is the small changes that are not TOO painful that will be permanent ones that you can build on! And if you look at the BIG picture, this one little change is a step on the road to the BIG goal.
Make your goals realistic and achievable (and break them up into parts you can manage successfully).
And never, ever give up!
Today's assignment:
1. Continue the small habit... bathroom mirror spritzed!(This one is getting a little tougher... hard to remember the good intentions before I run out to jump into my morning. I MIGHT have to tweak this to allow me to do it at a different time of day)
2. Continue with larger life change.... 15 minutes on the bike (added 8 pull-ups for upper body)
3. Step 6 of mega-project - stitched last panel onto the quilt... also plan to cut batting and pin strip in preparation for hem-stitching it to the back
4. Re-evaluate steps for mega-project... are they manageable?
I have kind of cheated on this one. I never actually did make 21 steps because I really don't know everything involved with finishing the quilt. I just know that there isn't too terribly much and it will take consistent effort to finish it up! I have worked on little bits each day. I think I will continue as I have just so long as I do some work each day with a focus on finishing by the end of the 21 days!
How is your 21-Day journey going? Especially your mega-project....
Read more at the inspiration site: www.serving joyfully.com
I have to admit - when I read the topic for the reading today from 21 Days to a More Disciplined Life , I thought of my "almost" mega-project... the photo scanning one I have been stewing over. But I KNOW that can't be done in 21 days... or I THINK I know that :-) I had 24 hours to commit to a project to complete in 21 days and ALMOST went with the photos... but wasn't sure about total quantity or follow-through. It didn't seem realistic... so I will keep on with the 30 min per week idea... which I haven't done this week either! But I digress.... ONE thing at a time!
Lasting change happens slowly. Just as a tiny rivulet of water created the Grand Canyon over time... our little habit changes create new and better lives!
Thing is... when we start out with too many changes, all of our enthusiasm and good intentions go by the wayside when the going gets tough!
Just like with anticipating problems (Day 5)... making sure that your new self-discipline FITS in your life is really important! It is so hard to scale back when we want so desperately to create a new habit... but if you really want your habit to stick... you have to have a reasonable expectation of yourself (and those around you!)
Barring doctor's orders, it is not reasonable to drastically change your diet immediately! You may have a few good days to begin but are almost certain to drop this project pretty quickly. Better to break it down into smaller chunks that you can handle. Start by doing something very small.... like adding a salad to your processed food dinner... OR replacing one meal a week with foods you learn to make from real ingredients.... and then build on that as time goes on.
It almost feels insulting to start so small.... kind of like you are setting the bar too low... but it is the small changes that are not TOO painful that will be permanent ones that you can build on! And if you look at the BIG picture, this one little change is a step on the road to the BIG goal.
Make your goals realistic and achievable (and break them up into parts you can manage successfully).
And never, ever give up!
Today's assignment:
1. Continue the small habit... bathroom mirror spritzed!(This one is getting a little tougher... hard to remember the good intentions before I run out to jump into my morning. I MIGHT have to tweak this to allow me to do it at a different time of day)
2. Continue with larger life change.... 15 minutes on the bike (added 8 pull-ups for upper body)
3. Step 6 of mega-project - stitched last panel onto the quilt... also plan to cut batting and pin strip in preparation for hem-stitching it to the back
4. Re-evaluate steps for mega-project... are they manageable?
I have kind of cheated on this one. I never actually did make 21 steps because I really don't know everything involved with finishing the quilt. I just know that there isn't too terribly much and it will take consistent effort to finish it up! I have worked on little bits each day. I think I will continue as I have just so long as I do some work each day with a focus on finishing by the end of the 21 days!
How is your 21-Day journey going? Especially your mega-project....
Read more at the inspiration site: www.serving joyfully.com
Sunday, November 4, 2012
21 Days to a More Disciplined Life Day 3.. More on habits!
Still talking about habits.... those things we do (or don't do) every day. Some of them make us feel good... some don't. My task today is to take a good look at my 'every day' and look for something SMALL that I can change that will have a big impact! Because often that is the case...
My favorite line in today's reading is " Remember, moving in the right direction – even at a microscopic rate – is always faster than standing still."
Little changes add up to MAJOR improvements... for me, I like to think of a brick house....built little brick by little brick.
The author (Crystal Paine 21 Days to a More Disciplined Life ) speaks of choosing to clean up the kitchen before she goes to bed to make her morning start a little brighter. A fantastic idea! I already clean up well after dinner. BUT since I am the FIRST one in my house to actually go to sleep..... the kitchen is almost never like I left it :-)
Tidying up my work space is something that is daunting to me always... maybe that. And exercising, well we all know there are roadblocks there.... Today's reading also warns against burn-out..... you know, when you start all excited about something and then do so much that everything loses its appeal.... and then you are worse off than when you started..
Moving on to the quilt.... I have a busy day today and would not ordinarily come home this evening and quilt. I THINK I avoid it in the evening because of lighting... but it's habit now so I don't actually remember.
*Tonight I will figure that out and hopefully SOLVE. If I can do it, I will do some hand quilting.. if not, I will deliver to you a REASON, a project I CAN work on, and a plan to finish the quilt anyway.
As to the second task, I stumbled and fumbled choosing a small action to implement for a week as yesterday's assignment and am a little confused as to what to do today.
The assignment appears to be about starting a new habit (but since I sort of started one yesterday and adding too much at one time seems to be counter to today's reading, I may misunderstand).
*I will read Days 2 & 3 again to determine my course of action, I will create a list of small habits (bricks for the life I want to build!) to work on.... and if I am to choose one, I will.
*And I will write (already DONE!) and clean my bathroom mirror!
******* Day 3 Recap
Started early but moving SLOWLY. We have colds here - the kind that don't knock you out but DO leave you kind of miserable and whiney for a couple of weeks. So I am grumpy :-(
I still need to re-read today's readings but I did decide on another habit that would make a HUGE difference in my life.
**15 minutes daily on the exercise bike.
For me, that would strengthen my troublesome knee.... it would assure that I put 15 minutes of regular exercise in my daily routine.... it is a recumbent bike so I can read or play games on my phone while I do it (also in front of the tv)... and I don't have to change clothes. It is an exercise that bypasses most of my exercise objections and doesn't lend itself to rationalization (note my treadmill rationalization yesterday!).
The stronger knee will allow / encourage me to train more and be stronger with less pain.
The exercise habit will lead to more exercise. The bike is an attachment to a total gym so maybe I will be encouraged to do a little more (later, much later... baby steps!)
The easy nature of the commitment will reduce my reluctance to engage. I HOPE it's a win-win. Certainly it won't be a LOSS.
Small commitment - HUGE impact.....
And .... (now that I am back home and have READ the readings again... is exactly the habit to choose today... small effort - BIG POSITIVE IMPACT... so I'm on board!
Friday, November 2, 2012
21 Days... Day 1 Getting Started!
Following the challenge laid out in http://www.servingjoyfully.com/ inspired by the Ebook 21 Days to a more Disciplined Life by Crystal Paine
A day behind...... I spent yesterday pondering the many potential projects for the Day 1 assignment.
I enjoy a challenge, I relish the thought of getting some chores out of my way... and I love the idea of helping myself learn to be a little more disciplined in my work.. whatever it may be. I learned a long time ago that I do not like the stress of last-minute or crisis work... whether it be cleaning, or errands, or finishing up a crocheted gift. While I can be spontaneous, like most people, I have a LOT to DO! And I have trouble both prioritizing and finding time to do things.
Something that really challenges me is getting a nice little pattern going accomplishing tasks... and then life happens.. I have to do something out of sequence, or schedules change, or well.. anything.. find a stray pup, prepare for a hurricane, have a car break down, come home from a vacation... (all of these [and more!] have happened to me in the last 2 weeks). These things are called LIFE.... they continue to disrupt my most diligent efforts.
But is it LIFE'S fault? I don't think so. I think it's me. I think that I should be in control - not of LIFE - but of ME! And I'm ready to give this a go. Worst case scenario? I get a few more things accomplished than if I didn't try!
So here we are... Day 1... ready to get out of my own way and stop some of the madness!
The assignment?
#1. Pick a small chore that has been bugging you - and DO it! The author suggests sewing on a button or tackling a pile of ironing... a "minutes" chore rather than a big one.
#2. Pick a LARGE chore or project to be completed in 21 days. Lay out the action in 21 steps and do Day 1
Okay - so you know me... I spent yesterday wandering around making lists. The 'little chore' list is humongous.... I mean, aren't there a thousand things that could be on this one? I've already sorted and tossed a pile of papers this morning and will be cutting more jalapenos up to freeze in a little while. BUT something that has been nagging at me for a few days is weeding my fall crop beds. With the heavy rains and vacation week, the weeds are getting pretty healthy. Today I will weed ONE raised bed. Just one.
The 'big chore' list is problematic. Already on my list to get back to is my photo scanning project.. but I don't know how to break that down into 21 parts to complete. I will commit to going back to my original resolution commitment of 30 min per week. At a minimum then.. with 8 more weeks in the year, I will have 4 more hours into the work and see where that gets me.
Decluttering is a big one too - but not one I can either break down OR see an end to :-) so I am going back to my 10 min per day specific room focus, eventually working my way through the house and yard and back again. I want this to be a life skill change so there won't be an end.
I thought of a few more ideas but have settled on my quilt.... remember? the one I keep saying I will finish one day? Mostly hand sewing left so I keep putting it off. I am going to take that one and go for it!
So... today's official work?
Weed one garden bed
Hem a long strip on the quilt
Those are 2 things added to my day that I know I can do and that will make me feel good even if I drop this project tomorrow (which I WON'T)
*********
Recap of Day 1:
So I did get the garden bed weeded - one of them :-) And discovered that the bok choy has some harvestable leaves that I enjoyed in my lunch salad.
I also wandered around hunting for other small jobs and got a lot of little oddments handled... some that make me smile.. this week's focus is the laundry room. I haven't done too much in there this week - but I found my (unfinished) rag quilt and dug that out. A month ago I did the snipping bits and needed to wash and babysit it through the dryer so that the vent didn't explode.... so I worked in the laundry room in 10-minute chunks as the quilt dried. Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately?), when finished, I found that there were spots I didn't snip... so I had to snip those and go through the process again. So I probably got my WEEK'S worth of laundry room focus done yesterday :-)
And then, I had to hunt down the instructions for finishing the quilt... okay I didn't NEED those today or tomorrow but will soon - and also to create the 21 steps. So a bit of shifting around and re-sorting and organizing.... and also (humbly) recognizing just exactly how many unfinished projects I have. I've been working with the crochet ones all year (along with new projects) and it is almost embarrassing. ALMOST... because I DO love working with yarn and fabric..... but I will definitely continue on the 'finish up' path as I continue to declutter / downsize!
It took a lot longer than I had anticipated to hand-hem the one long strip that was my task for my mega-project.. and I was NOT having fun... but I did get it done.
A day behind...... I spent yesterday pondering the many potential projects for the Day 1 assignment.
I enjoy a challenge, I relish the thought of getting some chores out of my way... and I love the idea of helping myself learn to be a little more disciplined in my work.. whatever it may be. I learned a long time ago that I do not like the stress of last-minute or crisis work... whether it be cleaning, or errands, or finishing up a crocheted gift. While I can be spontaneous, like most people, I have a LOT to DO! And I have trouble both prioritizing and finding time to do things.
Something that really challenges me is getting a nice little pattern going accomplishing tasks... and then life happens.. I have to do something out of sequence, or schedules change, or well.. anything.. find a stray pup, prepare for a hurricane, have a car break down, come home from a vacation... (all of these [and more!] have happened to me in the last 2 weeks). These things are called LIFE.... they continue to disrupt my most diligent efforts.
But is it LIFE'S fault? I don't think so. I think it's me. I think that I should be in control - not of LIFE - but of ME! And I'm ready to give this a go. Worst case scenario? I get a few more things accomplished than if I didn't try!
So here we are... Day 1... ready to get out of my own way and stop some of the madness!
The assignment?
#1. Pick a small chore that has been bugging you - and DO it! The author suggests sewing on a button or tackling a pile of ironing... a "minutes" chore rather than a big one.
#2. Pick a LARGE chore or project to be completed in 21 days. Lay out the action in 21 steps and do Day 1
Okay - so you know me... I spent yesterday wandering around making lists. The 'little chore' list is humongous.... I mean, aren't there a thousand things that could be on this one? I've already sorted and tossed a pile of papers this morning and will be cutting more jalapenos up to freeze in a little while. BUT something that has been nagging at me for a few days is weeding my fall crop beds. With the heavy rains and vacation week, the weeds are getting pretty healthy. Today I will weed ONE raised bed. Just one.
The 'big chore' list is problematic. Already on my list to get back to is my photo scanning project.. but I don't know how to break that down into 21 parts to complete. I will commit to going back to my original resolution commitment of 30 min per week. At a minimum then.. with 8 more weeks in the year, I will have 4 more hours into the work and see where that gets me.
Decluttering is a big one too - but not one I can either break down OR see an end to :-) so I am going back to my 10 min per day specific room focus, eventually working my way through the house and yard and back again. I want this to be a life skill change so there won't be an end.
I thought of a few more ideas but have settled on my quilt.... remember? the one I keep saying I will finish one day? Mostly hand sewing left so I keep putting it off. I am going to take that one and go for it!
So... today's official work?
Weed one garden bed
Hem a long strip on the quilt
Those are 2 things added to my day that I know I can do and that will make me feel good even if I drop this project tomorrow (which I WON'T)
*********
Recap of Day 1:
So I did get the garden bed weeded - one of them :-) And discovered that the bok choy has some harvestable leaves that I enjoyed in my lunch salad.
I also wandered around hunting for other small jobs and got a lot of little oddments handled... some that make me smile.. this week's focus is the laundry room. I haven't done too much in there this week - but I found my (unfinished) rag quilt and dug that out. A month ago I did the snipping bits and needed to wash and babysit it through the dryer so that the vent didn't explode.... so I worked in the laundry room in 10-minute chunks as the quilt dried. Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately?), when finished, I found that there were spots I didn't snip... so I had to snip those and go through the process again. So I probably got my WEEK'S worth of laundry room focus done yesterday :-)
And then, I had to hunt down the instructions for finishing the quilt... okay I didn't NEED those today or tomorrow but will soon - and also to create the 21 steps. So a bit of shifting around and re-sorting and organizing.... and also (humbly) recognizing just exactly how many unfinished projects I have. I've been working with the crochet ones all year (along with new projects) and it is almost embarrassing. ALMOST... because I DO love working with yarn and fabric..... but I will definitely continue on the 'finish up' path as I continue to declutter / downsize!
It took a lot longer than I had anticipated to hand-hem the one long strip that was my task for my mega-project.. and I was NOT having fun... but I did get it done.
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Bread Adventures - Lavash plus Sticky Caramel Rolls
Baking along with Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day by Jeff Hertzberg and Zoe Francois.
I have to apologize that it is taking so long to get through it but baking is a foreign p[roject to me and I have not had the time to devote to it. Plus, as you probably know, I am fairly frugal so we eat what I cook...... I have to have an occasion to share OR we have to have eaten up what I already made... so it takes a little longer for me to move on to the next bread!
Trying lavash was a unique experience for me. Like many of the breads in this book, I've never had it... I've never SEEN it... so I am going by description, following instructions!
To make this Armenian bread, you can use one of several types of dough from the book - I typically use the light wheat dough, though I really like the European Peasant dough as well.
The bread was soft and chewy - though obviously by the photo below, I should have left it to brown a little longer
But the taste was good.... my taste-testers tore it up and polished it off! I suppose I might make it again but it is not enough like a bread we enjoy with our meals for me to repeat often. I think it is a preference though.... I can see where it could be used well like a tortilla or wrap!
Ahh........ The Sticky Pecan Caramel Rolls....... (simply Sticky Caramel for us) I jumped ahead a little for this one! When I made the Challah the other day, I had dough leftover and thought I'd look ahead at the enriched breads section and see what I could make with it. Someday maybe I will be able to do this without a book - but not yet!
Anyway - What fun! Another baking success story!!
No pecans per my husband's request.... but lots of butter as you can see! Overbrowned on one side but absolutely delicious!
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Pantry Clean-Out
Kitchen skills do not come easily to me but my practice in the last year have helped me tremendously! My personal family situation is this: ONE husband who likes relatively plain foods and two mostly grown sons who prefer to forage. The boys generally graze - they don't usually come to a regular dinner. They will subsist on Chef Boy-ar-dee or whatever FAST thing I have in pantry or freezer that resembles pizza.... or submarine type meats and cheeses. I am somewhat constrained (a situation of my own making, perhaps - but it is my situation nonetheless)
What this means is that NEW recipes MUST be enough for only TWO or preservable .... in case my hubby doesn't like it and I have to eat it all... So new recipes have to be really healthy too because I don't want to get stuck with something that is high calorie / marginal nutrition (in my opinion)
In 2011:
I spent a few months cleaning out my pantry... okay, I confess... WORKing on cleaning out my pantry.. which had the side benefit of teaching me how to use some items that I don't remember HOW got INTO my pantry.
I began to TRY to plan menus. (really not hard..... I usually plan a soup, a casserole and a sandwich type meal... the rest of the week is variable - usually leftovers or one eat-out night)
I eliminated a lot of chemicals and learned to make some of my own "FAST food".
I added more fruits and veggies to our life.
Sooooooo now it is 2012... and time to work on it again :-)
PANTRY Challenge for January!
How many meals can I get for us out of my pantry and freezer? THAT is my challenge for the month.... and.... I bet I can save a lot on groceries!
Below are 4 dinners for this week which will leave food for grazing and/or leftovers. All I need to pick up for them is broccoli & hamburger buns for this first week of dinners!
Week 1 meal plan:
I have hoppin' john casserole and ham left from New Years Day. I will freeze half of both in small 2-person size containers. (and make broth from the ham bone to use with beans later)
From the pantry:
Lipton Cheesy Pasta with Broccoli with or without ham.
Alfredo sauce with whole wheat spaghetti with salad
From the freezer:
Ground beef (picked up on clearance) to make hamburgers, oven fries and cur veggies
And date night out on Friday with a gift card! Not a bad plan :-)
My area cleaning is going well (okay 4 days into the month :-) But I find that I spend some of my cleaning time wanting to write about it... I am having to be strict with myself about FOCUS! I am not a person who is particularly skilled at managing her environment. We are pretty clean, but cluttered. I'm not much of a decorator.... pretty utilitarian.. looking for more ease of household cleaning.
The good news is that I am THRILLED with the progress I can make in only 15 minutes. EXCEPT for my greasy stovetop - which took 15 minutes all by itself and a learning curve about getting rid of grease! I found that all grease is not created equal. Gentle cleanser (Barkeeper's Friend) took care of some. Apparently it merely softened up some other :-( I pulled off the knobs and put them in a tub of hot sudsy water & my DISH grease cutter... and connected the dots..... and used straight Dawn on the stove face. This was brilliant! Worked like a charm - which is awesome because my shoulders and back still ache like the dickens and all that scrubbing wasn't helping!
Anyway - back for another 15 minutes in a bit because I am running errands tomorrow and don't know if I'll get to it. (the 2nd 15-minute stint took care of the rest of the outside of the stove, walls around the stove up to the ceiling and the cabinet & drawer fronts on the counter-bar.
Since I want to prepare to show (whether I sell or not), I decided to take photos for a personal file on my computer to help me see my progress & remind me what needs to be done. Share your tips and wish me luck!
What this means is that NEW recipes MUST be enough for only TWO or preservable .... in case my hubby doesn't like it and I have to eat it all... So new recipes have to be really healthy too because I don't want to get stuck with something that is high calorie / marginal nutrition (in my opinion)
In 2011:
I spent a few months cleaning out my pantry... okay, I confess... WORKing on cleaning out my pantry.. which had the side benefit of teaching me how to use some items that I don't remember HOW got INTO my pantry.
I began to TRY to plan menus. (really not hard..... I usually plan a soup, a casserole and a sandwich type meal... the rest of the week is variable - usually leftovers or one eat-out night)
I eliminated a lot of chemicals and learned to make some of my own "FAST food".
I added more fruits and veggies to our life.
Sooooooo now it is 2012... and time to work on it again :-)
PANTRY Challenge for January!
How many meals can I get for us out of my pantry and freezer? THAT is my challenge for the month.... and.... I bet I can save a lot on groceries!
Below are 4 dinners for this week which will leave food for grazing and/or leftovers. All I need to pick up for them is broccoli & hamburger buns for this first week of dinners!
Week 1 meal plan:
I have hoppin' john casserole and ham left from New Years Day. I will freeze half of both in small 2-person size containers. (and make broth from the ham bone to use with beans later)
From the pantry:
Lipton Cheesy Pasta with Broccoli with or without ham.
Alfredo sauce with whole wheat spaghetti with salad
From the freezer:
Ground beef (picked up on clearance) to make hamburgers, oven fries and cur veggies
And date night out on Friday with a gift card! Not a bad plan :-)
My area cleaning is going well (okay 4 days into the month :-) But I find that I spend some of my cleaning time wanting to write about it... I am having to be strict with myself about FOCUS! I am not a person who is particularly skilled at managing her environment. We are pretty clean, but cluttered. I'm not much of a decorator.... pretty utilitarian.. looking for more ease of household cleaning.
The good news is that I am THRILLED with the progress I can make in only 15 minutes. EXCEPT for my greasy stovetop - which took 15 minutes all by itself and a learning curve about getting rid of grease! I found that all grease is not created equal. Gentle cleanser (Barkeeper's Friend) took care of some. Apparently it merely softened up some other :-( I pulled off the knobs and put them in a tub of hot sudsy water & my DISH grease cutter... and connected the dots..... and used straight Dawn on the stove face. This was brilliant! Worked like a charm - which is awesome because my shoulders and back still ache like the dickens and all that scrubbing wasn't helping!
Anyway - back for another 15 minutes in a bit because I am running errands tomorrow and don't know if I'll get to it. (the 2nd 15-minute stint took care of the rest of the outside of the stove, walls around the stove up to the ceiling and the cabinet & drawer fronts on the counter-bar.
Since I want to prepare to show (whether I sell or not), I decided to take photos for a personal file on my computer to help me see my progress & remind me what needs to be done. Share your tips and wish me luck!
Monday, August 8, 2011
Weekly Menus
Oh my.... do I have trouble with this! I have the hardest time putting a meal on the table and I find that I harbor resentment that I have to do it. I definitely need to deal with my own feelings about this but I want to make it easier and more of a gift for my family.
It seems like everyone else has it under control..... women like to cook and put dinner on the table, right?
Wrong here :-( When in doubt... there's always hot dogs... My men are fine with that but I know that I am not doing a good job nutritionally for anybody!
Anyway - what I DO like is being a homemaker... which includes the dreaded 'dinner on the table'!
So, in the interest of simplicity and frugality, I have been looking for some kind of system that will work for us.
Per conventional advice, I tried to figure out our activities for the week... like which night could I make what.... but that started getting complicated... because it varies. Seriously, maybe it is my perfectionism... but ONE schedule change and the train went off the rails. And, around here, a change in schedule is the RULE, not the exception!
With the parameters that SOMETIMES the two teens join my husband and me for dinner... but I still need to think up, purchase and prepare a meal anyway.. here is my current attempt...
First I gathered information... what do we actually eat?
I asked the family for their favorites.... of COURSE the boys opted for burgers and dogs, pizza and mac 'n;cheese. My husband mentioned his favorite chicken and rice soup, taco bake and chicken stir fry. I love lasagna, Mexican chicken and chili.
I found that we repeat a lot of our meals - over and over. We usually have a burger / dog sort of night during the week and sometimes a pizza night. I usually make a soup of some sort each week and a one pot meal (but it's usually an ordeal finding recipes!). We usually have at least one night of eating out of the refrigerator - and sometimes we can't get together so some are eating out and others are culling from the larder. If we are not running a lot, or if there are not a lot of leftovers, I might try something different.
I think a rotating schedule would be good... like a rice soup one week and a bean soup the next.... lasagna one week, chicken pot pie the next...
So I tried a different approach..made a worksheet with 3 columns.... soup, one pot entree, sandwich, and alternate entree. That's 4 options plus leftovers. For 7 nights, that is a great head start for us.
For each entree, we will add 2 veggies and/or a salad.... sometimes a bread...and we will be good to go!
I did make an excel spreadsheet. I will cross off the different meals as we eat them, ensuring greater variety in what I serve my family. I can also do a better job of using what is in the pantry and freezer... and should have plenty of inspiration!
Let me know if you would like a copy of my worksheet... it is personalized to my family.. but may help you. Also - if you have EASY, quick meals, I'd love some ideas!
It seems like everyone else has it under control..... women like to cook and put dinner on the table, right?
Wrong here :-( When in doubt... there's always hot dogs... My men are fine with that but I know that I am not doing a good job nutritionally for anybody!
Anyway - what I DO like is being a homemaker... which includes the dreaded 'dinner on the table'!
So, in the interest of simplicity and frugality, I have been looking for some kind of system that will work for us.
Per conventional advice, I tried to figure out our activities for the week... like which night could I make what.... but that started getting complicated... because it varies. Seriously, maybe it is my perfectionism... but ONE schedule change and the train went off the rails. And, around here, a change in schedule is the RULE, not the exception!
With the parameters that SOMETIMES the two teens join my husband and me for dinner... but I still need to think up, purchase and prepare a meal anyway.. here is my current attempt...
First I gathered information... what do we actually eat?
I asked the family for their favorites.... of COURSE the boys opted for burgers and dogs, pizza and mac 'n;cheese. My husband mentioned his favorite chicken and rice soup, taco bake and chicken stir fry. I love lasagna, Mexican chicken and chili.
I found that we repeat a lot of our meals - over and over. We usually have a burger / dog sort of night during the week and sometimes a pizza night. I usually make a soup of some sort each week and a one pot meal (but it's usually an ordeal finding recipes!). We usually have at least one night of eating out of the refrigerator - and sometimes we can't get together so some are eating out and others are culling from the larder. If we are not running a lot, or if there are not a lot of leftovers, I might try something different.
I think a rotating schedule would be good... like a rice soup one week and a bean soup the next.... lasagna one week, chicken pot pie the next...
So I tried a different approach..made a worksheet with 3 columns.... soup, one pot entree, sandwich, and alternate entree. That's 4 options plus leftovers. For 7 nights, that is a great head start for us.
For each entree, we will add 2 veggies and/or a salad.... sometimes a bread...and we will be good to go!
I did make an excel spreadsheet. I will cross off the different meals as we eat them, ensuring greater variety in what I serve my family. I can also do a better job of using what is in the pantry and freezer... and should have plenty of inspiration!
Let me know if you would like a copy of my worksheet... it is personalized to my family.. but may help you. Also - if you have EASY, quick meals, I'd love some ideas!
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