The Pioneer Woman
Plucky, funny, over the top
Especially check out this chickadee's discussion of debt and Mr. Ramsey, who we met long before he was this THANG.
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Teleios Dorema
Our new home away from home. It's like a vacation, even though we can't afford a vacay at present. Thanks, God.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Homemade Jams: lessons I've learned
A few weeks ago strawberries started appearing on our shelves here in Nashvegas grocery stores. Publix was first with the Florida strawberries, and then the California ones started coming in. Of course, later this summer, fellow Franklin Farmers Market vendors will bring theirs to market, and they will blow the others away, but one must take what is available at this time of year.
At one point, strawberries were a mere $5 for four pounds. Cash has been really strapped at our home due to extended unemployment, but we really wanted to say thank you to friends and family nonetheless, and offer the wonderful flavor of homemade jam to those around us as gifts.
So I started scrounging around the house, and found that I had more jelly jars than I had originally thought. Being a chandler, this wasn't entirely surprising, as I have used them off and on for products. I also had an extremely inexpensive source for pint jars because of some connections I have for my business.
All of this led to strawberry jam creation. I must say, it is easier than I thought, and so darn yummy. Just thinking about it makes me want to go to the kitchen and grab some out of the fridge. But I have a post to write, so that will have to wait for tomorrow morning.
All you really need are jars, lids and bands, fruit pectin (available at many grocery stores), and good quality fruit--fresh or frozen will work.
Here are some quick lessons learned:
1. Jam making is NOT an art. It is a SCIENCE. That is to say, it is like a bread recipe in many respects: read the recipe through, measure carefully, and don't do any creative tweaks unless you are willing to deal with something that may or may not turn into jam (there ARE solutions if it doesn't come out the first time).
2. Use fresh pectin. Go to a store where you are reasonably certain that it turns over quickly. Check sell-by dates if they are available.
3. Use the recipe as written. Follow the steps. Read them all through ahead of time, because once you get started you will be busy for a little while (it really doesn't take very long). Do not change the steps. The more you do them, the easier they will be. You will find plenty of recipes to get started inside the pectin package itself, or by surfing over to the Sure Jell site.
4. You can boiling water can jams and no pressure cooker is needed. That was a big one for me. Or you can make jams that you store in your freezer (the fastest and easiest, but I prefer shelf-stable jams).
5. Make nifty labels on your computer and include all the ingredients. That way giftees won't have to worry about any allergies or etc.
6. Be sure to sanitize your jars. My dishwasher has a sanitize cycle which I use shortly before I make jam.
7. Keep the jars warm. Differences in temperature can cause glass to break, and where's the fun in making jam only to lose it in a broken jar? Keeping the jars in hot water until used is a good way to do this.
8. Different sweeteners need different pectins. If you want to make no sugar added spreads, or spreads with splenda or etc., you will need different pectin. When you look on the store shelf, you will find this type clearly marked.
9. Different sweeteners will change the appearance of the jams. If the bright jewel colors of jam are important to you, white sugar is the best way to get this. A yummy batch with demerara cane sugar, for example, is more robustly colored (and just downright delicious, too!). Jams with splenda will look entirely different when finished than a sugar-based jam. (They're pretty good tasting, too!)
10. A canning funnel makes life tons easier. They were selling for a measly fifty cents at my local K-Roger, so it's not exactly a budget-buster.
11. If you plan to can in boiling water, you will need a container that holds enough water to get an inch to an inch and a half of water over the top of the jar.
12. Did I say read the directions thoroughly? They are not that challenging once you read them through.
13. A dab of butter will really cut down on bubbles/foaming.
14. Just because you are able to can things does NOT mean you can sell them. In our state (and hopefully in all the other ones!) there are domestic kitchen requirements that must be met. Our state agriculture department regularly runs domestic kitchen classes to review all the regulations, and you will have to meet regular inspections. This isn't an issue for me, because I don't sell mine, but I include it here for the significant number of folks who sometimes read my blog that are interested in agriculture and selling at farmers' markets.
Anyway, if you are a neophyte like I was, I hope this is helpful! I'll post some pics as well.
At one point, strawberries were a mere $5 for four pounds. Cash has been really strapped at our home due to extended unemployment, but we really wanted to say thank you to friends and family nonetheless, and offer the wonderful flavor of homemade jam to those around us as gifts.
So I started scrounging around the house, and found that I had more jelly jars than I had originally thought. Being a chandler, this wasn't entirely surprising, as I have used them off and on for products. I also had an extremely inexpensive source for pint jars because of some connections I have for my business.
All of this led to strawberry jam creation. I must say, it is easier than I thought, and so darn yummy. Just thinking about it makes me want to go to the kitchen and grab some out of the fridge. But I have a post to write, so that will have to wait for tomorrow morning.
All you really need are jars, lids and bands, fruit pectin (available at many grocery stores), and good quality fruit--fresh or frozen will work.
Here are some quick lessons learned:
1. Jam making is NOT an art. It is a SCIENCE. That is to say, it is like a bread recipe in many respects: read the recipe through, measure carefully, and don't do any creative tweaks unless you are willing to deal with something that may or may not turn into jam (there ARE solutions if it doesn't come out the first time).
2. Use fresh pectin. Go to a store where you are reasonably certain that it turns over quickly. Check sell-by dates if they are available.
3. Use the recipe as written. Follow the steps. Read them all through ahead of time, because once you get started you will be busy for a little while (it really doesn't take very long). Do not change the steps. The more you do them, the easier they will be. You will find plenty of recipes to get started inside the pectin package itself, or by surfing over to the Sure Jell site.
4. You can boiling water can jams and no pressure cooker is needed. That was a big one for me. Or you can make jams that you store in your freezer (the fastest and easiest, but I prefer shelf-stable jams).
5. Make nifty labels on your computer and include all the ingredients. That way giftees won't have to worry about any allergies or etc.
6. Be sure to sanitize your jars. My dishwasher has a sanitize cycle which I use shortly before I make jam.
7. Keep the jars warm. Differences in temperature can cause glass to break, and where's the fun in making jam only to lose it in a broken jar? Keeping the jars in hot water until used is a good way to do this.
8. Different sweeteners need different pectins. If you want to make no sugar added spreads, or spreads with splenda or etc., you will need different pectin. When you look on the store shelf, you will find this type clearly marked.
9. Different sweeteners will change the appearance of the jams. If the bright jewel colors of jam are important to you, white sugar is the best way to get this. A yummy batch with demerara cane sugar, for example, is more robustly colored (and just downright delicious, too!). Jams with splenda will look entirely different when finished than a sugar-based jam. (They're pretty good tasting, too!)
10. A canning funnel makes life tons easier. They were selling for a measly fifty cents at my local K-Roger, so it's not exactly a budget-buster.
11. If you plan to can in boiling water, you will need a container that holds enough water to get an inch to an inch and a half of water over the top of the jar.
12. Did I say read the directions thoroughly? They are not that challenging once you read them through.
13. A dab of butter will really cut down on bubbles/foaming.
14. Just because you are able to can things does NOT mean you can sell them. In our state (and hopefully in all the other ones!) there are domestic kitchen requirements that must be met. Our state agriculture department regularly runs domestic kitchen classes to review all the regulations, and you will have to meet regular inspections. This isn't an issue for me, because I don't sell mine, but I include it here for the significant number of folks who sometimes read my blog that are interested in agriculture and selling at farmers' markets.
Anyway, if you are a neophyte like I was, I hope this is helpful! I'll post some pics as well.
Friday, April 10, 2009
Saturday, April 4, 2009
What a wild ride
I think my hubs is employed now. What a weird situation. I'll post more after this goes on for a few weeks and it sinks in. Very strange. But I guess I said that already.
Friday, March 27, 2009
God's opinion of me
It has been said that God never gives us more than we can handle.
If that is so, I think God has entirely too high an opinion of us.
The contract was cancelled. Nine other folks are losing their opportunities as well. The manager that extended the offer is losing their job as well because of the cancellation of the project.
We really needed this job.
Spare Oom, I will miss you as well. It seemed like such a perfect match, and for whatever reason it didn't end up happening.
I'm way past oozing platitudes at this point. However, there must be something better for us out there. I hope God makes it plain, and doesn't wait any longer than is absolutely necessary.
Lord, please glorify Yourself during this dark time, and give us joy somehow. Help us be good representatives of You and give us the provision we desperately need. Thank you.
If that is so, I think God has entirely too high an opinion of us.
The contract was cancelled. Nine other folks are losing their opportunities as well. The manager that extended the offer is losing their job as well because of the cancellation of the project.
We really needed this job.
Spare Oom, I will miss you as well. It seemed like such a perfect match, and for whatever reason it didn't end up happening.
I'm way past oozing platitudes at this point. However, there must be something better for us out there. I hope God makes it plain, and doesn't wait any longer than is absolutely necessary.
Lord, please glorify Yourself during this dark time, and give us joy somehow. Help us be good representatives of You and give us the provision we desperately need. Thank you.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Spare Oom
This is what we decided to call the place where hubs will be hanging out while working out of town. If you're a C.S. Lewis fan, then you know of what we speak.
It's a blessing from God, that is all we can say.
Monday, March 23, 2009
Relief
Have you ever noticed that things have to get really really bad before God steps in? Hubs and I were really low and with no real options for things to improve markedly, and then last Thursday a huge need (namely, a job for hubs) was worked out. They interviewed him first and cancelled the other interviews. Lots more news about this later.
The sermon mentioned suffering in great detail, Hebrews 12 being the text. Fortunately the preacher du jour very emphatically reminded that suffering is not necessarily about a sin we've committed. Surely I knew that already, you ask? Well, so do you, but when three years of h e double hockey sticks have been beating on a person, perspective and truth tend to become obscured.
America is all about comfort and moving up. Pretty much EVERYONE, save the homeless perhaps, lives better than a great many countries. God isn't about that. He is about loving me and conforming me to his image. He doesn't value the stuff the advertisers (and your friends) tout. There's a much bigger, and way more satisfying, God-thing going on. I think we're seeing some glimpses of that. Maybe this time has been more like training and healing intensives. That's what it appears.
Please don't stop praying for us, and we'll do the same for you! You can always send me a PM with specifics we can pray for, if you are shy like me.
New challenges, and they will probably be challenging, but I am glad for them and also very relieved.
The sermon mentioned suffering in great detail, Hebrews 12 being the text. Fortunately the preacher du jour very emphatically reminded that suffering is not necessarily about a sin we've committed. Surely I knew that already, you ask? Well, so do you, but when three years of h e double hockey sticks have been beating on a person, perspective and truth tend to become obscured.
America is all about comfort and moving up. Pretty much EVERYONE, save the homeless perhaps, lives better than a great many countries. God isn't about that. He is about loving me and conforming me to his image. He doesn't value the stuff the advertisers (and your friends) tout. There's a much bigger, and way more satisfying, God-thing going on. I think we're seeing some glimpses of that. Maybe this time has been more like training and healing intensives. That's what it appears.
Please don't stop praying for us, and we'll do the same for you! You can always send me a PM with specifics we can pray for, if you are shy like me.
New challenges, and they will probably be challenging, but I am glad for them and also very relieved.
Friday, March 13, 2009
Thursday, March 12, 2009
I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for. When you call on me, when you come and pray to me, I'll listen. When you come looking for me, you'll find me. "Yes, when you get serious about finding me and want it more than anything else, I'll make sure you won't be disappointed." God's Decree. "I'll turn things around for you. I'll bring you back from all the countries into which I drove you"—God's Decree—"bring you home to the place from which I sent you off into exile. You can count on it.
from Jeremiah 29
from Jeremiah 29
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
If you are a female fan of the University of Tennessee
Then leave me a message here. I have leftover fabric from the apron I made for the Gardener and I will send you your very own UT hairband. This type of fabric is licensed and as such is verboten to sell, but I will enjoy sending you a hairband for free if you want. Don't post your address in the response, just make sure I know how to contact you directly via email and I'll send you your very own hairband!
Obviously, this offer is good only until I run out of fabric. If there is a run on these things, I'll take the earliest requesters.
Enjoy.
Obviously, this offer is good only until I run out of fabric. If there is a run on these things, I'll take the earliest requesters.
Enjoy.
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