Discover Great Grains and the Piggy Bank Too

Have you heard those old rumors about how good wheat is, or that wheat has it all? Wheat can be great, but I just discovered the Chinese Forbidden _________ … Oh, you have to wait a minute, because I have to go and get more paper and ink, the list for this article is so long …

What do the Squirrel Syndrome, Time Change and a List Have in Common?

I don’t know about you, but a few days ago when the news reporter said that summer was gone and fall is officially here, I almost choked. Good Grief, my to-do list for December is still not completed. That is last December, you realize.

If summer is officially over, that means it’s time for those fall reminders. Which brings up the question, what do the Squirrel Syndrome, time change and a list have in common?
If fall goes by as quickly as summer did, we could all be in deep trouble. When fall officially arrives, cold weather plays games as it comes and goes. About the time you get chilly you realize you had better do something. We, as people, become like the squirrels, scurrying about so that we can stash all kinds of things in our trees, only we call them closets. Well, if you follow that path, you could find yourself in a few situations you don’t want to be and don’t need to be. This could happen, if instead of well thought out planning and spending, your preparedness “supplies” are thrown together in a stash. This could bring temporary comfort, until the need arises for you to use whatever it is you have stashed, only to discover that it wasn’t what you needed. You got it because everyone else was scurrying and stashing, and it looked or sounded good when you saw it in their tree.

Not only should you be looking for Pumpkins, you should be looking toward being able to enjoy the cold weather and all that comes with it, such as power outages and no heat. “Enjoy it, you say? Well here she goes again. Barbara’s off on a tangent.”

Well the point is, wouldn’t you be able to enjoy a huge, cold storm, if you were inside, had heat and light and the windows were secure? That seems to be a no brainer, … except, when the storm comes if you have not done anything to keep you warm and snugly, then there is no enjoyment to be found anywhere in that stash in your closet or cupboard.

So now is the time to make that list and check it twice. (There is the list.) Start immediately to evaluate what the real needs might be. As you think of items that need to be replaced or acquired, write them down. Carry a small notebook all of the time to jot things down so that you can remember them. Once an item is jotted down doesn’t mean it’s an absolute purchase, it means you will check out all of the factors required before you purchase it.

Check out your area, especially if you have recently moved to a new climate or geographical area. Wherever you live, what kind of storms should you expect? How severe? How sturdy is your dwelling? What are the critical things that you need to acquire now so that you AND your household will make it through “a dark and stormy night – or days – or weeks”? Start now to gather those things one or two per payday or week. Place them together in the same place, where you can immediately find them, such as in a labeled box on an easily accessible shelf.

In what condition are your flashlights? How many do you have and how many do you really need? You should have at least one, that you know works, per household member. Remember the LED kind burn longer and brighter than the inexpensive “regular-plastic kind”.

What about thermals or extra sweat suits to keep you warm if there is not furnace heat available? How many pair of extra warm socks – not wool – does each of your family members have? Gloves? Warm hat? And so on …

What about a workable emergency- stove to be able to fix a warm meal or a pot of soup? The safety rule of thumb is that you cannot/should not use camping stoves in the house!
Do you live in an apartment, mobile home or house? Space or lack of will definitely affect the kinds of equipment you need to have on hand.

What do you have on hand to get you and yours through several days and/or nights of a total power outage? Seriously think about what that might mean and what areas it might include. I would wager if you start a serious list you will be surprised as to what you might have to deal with. I’ll give you a hint; it is a lot more than just trying to see in the dark. Consider the ages of you family members and what you might have to help them deal with if it is very dark for a long time. Think about how long three days of dark might seem to a very young child. And then think about what if they are cold in addition to that. And then think about more …
Now about that time change question, the time of year to change your clocks will soon be upon us. This is a good time to schedule a Saturday afternoon – or longer – to check your equipment, kits, supplies, etc., to make sure that everything is in working order, and of course, that you know where it all is. No, no, not that you know it is under the pile of tires and tarps, but that you have hauled it all out, straightened it up and really know where it is. I know, I know you’re thinking, Barbara is nagging again. You have to remember, Barbara knows the words to that song, “I told you so …”

Your homework assignment is to be a wise squirrel and choose your stash carefully. Check out what you have on hand – after you haul it out from under whatever. Then make a comprehensive list of needed items that will suit your circumstances.

Can you believe an entire article that didn’t mention chocolate? That’s because I slipped it in subliminally three paragraphs back.

What Won't Help Your Budget?

Hello again. I am really concerned that there may be a whole bunch of you out there in blog land struggling with trying to stretch your budgets. And now the publicity and propaganda is really starting to spread about the miracle that will save your grocery money - the coupon.

For your own good, or rather your budget's good, please don't get sucked into this campaign. For that is exactly what it is! It is a campaign by the grocery manufacturers to convince you that the coupon really does help you. It really doesn't!

My research into couponing and refunding inside the grocery industry is why I was on all of the talk shows a few years ago. Coupons are a deceiving marketing tool created by the grocery industry. They will become a hot ticket item every time the economy goes down the drain to the point where you and I are crying all the way to the check out.

The more a "coupon queen" claims to be able to save, the more will have to have been spent on brand name products.

The rage right now is supposedly saving with coupons and a sale. This will only last so long and the grocery stores will be hurting and put a stop to it. In the meantime the market - or zip code areas - where it is being promoted will be used as a "drop or dump" for more coupons, which in turn convince you to buy only specific brand name products.

Would you find it interesting to know that those of us who live in less expensive neighborhoods-and thus zip codes - do not receive coupons in the mail, nor in our newspaper inserts.

Coupons are not a sound shopping concept! Right now they are once again becoming a raging fad because of the economy.

And yes, I will probabbly get a lot of emails to the contrary. That's OK. I just want you to think again and be frugal with your budgets in a way that will help, not hinder.

Did I Fall Off the Face of the Earth?

Hi - I seems like forever since I have had the opportunity to blog. I so admire the many of you who can blog every day, let alone several times a day. Sometimes life gets in the way of blogs ... and all the reasons that we need support and a framework of friends around us and a blog world to sound off in once in awhile.
May I take two seconds today to remind you, as I have once again been reminded, that it helps if we have a few things on hand to deal with the surprises that are handed us. I am in no way an expert in the medical world, but recently, as in the last few years and again in the last few months, I have become an expert in taking care of surgical wounds. The reason I bring this up is that sometimes we take for granted that the "supplies are downstairs - or upstairs, or in the closet- in the box." That's where we expect them to be. That is where we think they should be. And sometimes - all of a sudden - we find ourselves in the middle of having to care for someone in a situation that requires patience with the patients. And at the same time we need those supplies so that we don't have to leave those patients at a critical time.
That means the sermon for the day is - get a handle on what you need to be dealing with; whether that be allergy attacks, asthma attacks, constant mini-surgeries or the events surrounding a new baby, or dealing with an ill, older relative. What supplies SHOULD you have on hand - right now?
We (Larry) had another surgery - minor this time. But I had neglected to check up on how many Telfa pads, Q-tips, non-stick tape, Peroxide and all the other fun things required. aAnd when was the major lack of these things discovered? Smack in the middle of the first day home - when they were needed and it was most difficult to get away.
Was it a major disaster ? No. Was it an inconvenience? Yes. Did it cause a "whole bunch of frustration"? Yes. Well compound what was a realtively simple experience by a severe storm or whatever you want to conjour up, and just maybe this blog will work as a reminder and a wake up call. That is if you don't smack the snooze alarm and say you don't need to hear this.









}

It's September and the Canning Season Has Just Begun

Should you think that you can relax and put the guilt away for another year, think again. First, put the guilt away period, not for just a year. Hopefully, you are about to find enthusiasm, good reasons and support for an idea that some might consider too old fashioned. Or you can check a few paragraphs down for more readily available excuses that allow the vision of canned peaches and pears to remain in the 1900’s Home Economic text books...

In spite of what rumor or rationalization might have you believe, the home preservation season does not end when the calendar hits August 31st and school starts. In fact, as that song says, “We’ve only just begun . . .”, because the “season” can last well into November. There are a lot of apple sales in December. If the price is right, apples easily store well in a cool place until January or February. Remember the applesauce, jelly and your favorite pie filling. If you have an eye out for bargains and become well acquainted with a produce manager or two, you can find deals year round. Okay, okay there might be something else on your calendar besides canning. I’m just showing you a few opportunities you might have missed :).

So read on, because here come the enthusiasm and rationale you need to plunge in feet first. Well, maybe not quite literally, even though it might be grapes growing over the fence in your back yard.

The down spiraling economy has been a boon to all kinds of trends in home preservation. More people are trying to learn and many more are re-learning home preservation skills in order to try and combat some of those skyrocketing prices. Another tremendous reason is that you know what is in that bottle or package, eliminating the 1000 required additives for commercial products.

Lack of time seems to be one reason not to can that some people think is irrefutable. There are those whose lives are ruled by “hurry,” “no time,” and if it is not convenient or instantly finished, it’s not even an option to be put on a list. Time is not necessarily a factor. If it is important enough you will “creatively juggle” all of the other events and find or make time. A planned Saturday full of canning will more than pay off in the big picture. Time equates to money in the long run.

You can always learn the concept of “share and save” with friends and/or family. For a time we lived in Fountain Valley, CA. Fifteen or so families gleaned, picked, prepared and bottled together. Our children, who were old enough, worked with us. Because we had a large kitchen and most of the equipment, these work sessions were usually held in our home. This group of neighbors became extremely close. (You could say we had to be with that many in one kitchen area.)

Some may also say that it’s way too much work. Well it is work, but not difficult. It is time consuming, but the results and rewards are worth it.

If money matters, this is one of the ways the budget can be stretched significantly. Home preservation, even in small batches, can be an economical band-aid. For example, out of one load of peaches you can get “X” number of quarts or pints of canned or frozen peaches. Then by using the pits and skins you can get a sizeable batch of delicious jelly.

If taste and nutrition are important to you, this definitely is an option.

I have talked about home preservation before, but there are some reminders, hints and rules that you may need to hear again.

Because we live in a world of nano-seconds and instant everything, there are some who would attempt to apply shorter short-cuts, or lessen the processing time required, and so on. That does NOT work when you are dealing with proper processing, pressures and food products. Whether canning, freezing or drying proper preparation is a number one priority! All products must be cleaned; as in the dirt washed off, bugs removed and cut into the right sized pieces. (Ewwww, she talked about bugs! Yep, they are there, hidden and watching you.) (And no, it’s not the bugs you cut up, it’s the food!)

Spoiled or badly bruised produce does not improve or stabilize during the process of preservation, no matter how much sugar you add. That means you don’t buy it, no matter how tremendous the price is.

It seems as if the word proper is popping up quite often in this article. There is good reason for that. It is a key concept to remember and apply – properly.

Which brings us to methods and equipment – proper, of course.

The general rule of thumb is that all vegetables and meat must be processed in a pressure cooker. If your pressure cooker has been cuddling on a darkened shelf, comforted by soft cobwebs for the last few years, there are a few things that must be done before using it to can with! That is in addition to washing it, of course. You must make sure that it is in working order and will maintain a constant pressure and a tight seal. Most State University Extensions have a department that will check the pressure valve for accuracy and safety. If the gasket is dried out and no longer pliable, replace it. No exceptions! Get a current, reliable canning recipe/instruction book such as Kerr, Ball or the Extension booklets, with updated pressures and times.

The new steam canners are a great option to consider using instead of the old standby waterbath canner. Check out the newest combination steam canner/waterbath canner all-in-one. The steam canners do not use as much water and shorten the wait time to begin processing. The processing time must be still be adhered to. These canners are acceptable equipment fruit, jams and jellies.

DO NOT attempt to can in the oven. It is not a safe – or proper – processing procedure! You may have been told that you can “can” nuts in the oven. You may even know someone who has done this for years. Is this proof that you really can “can” in the oven? Absolutely Not! What they have been accomplishing is drawing a seal on a jar, not canning or bottling the nuts as a preservation process. Oven canning of produce is dangerous. Do not attempt it!
Proper containers are an important priority. Canning jars are for the canners,which means you must use the heavier, tempered glass that withstands the heat and pressure. Do not use regular glass jars, such as mayonnaise or jam jars.

Freezer containers and bags for freezing, that are designed for the protection of the product, should be used when home freezing is done. This means you don’t use baggies, bread wrappers or anything similar to cottage cheese cartons.

It is a tremendous waste of money, time, product and work to go to so much effort – even for a small batch, - just to lose it all because of improper packaging.
Canning is worth it. It does stretch the budget. It does bring about gratitude – not only for the volume of the finished product, but that the project is done --- for a while. And it does taste wonderful!

It is an ongoing learning process. I love it when the bottles sit on the counter and the light shines through making them beautiful works of art. And then when I find them again in the freezer or on the pantry shelf I rejoice with an automatic, “Thank You, Thank You”. All of the aches and tiredness, all of the groaning and complaining are swallowed up by the recognition of the blessings that have been bestowed - - once again.

And if any of those bugs wind up in a container, you just might be thankful for some high quality protein.