I was so excited when I learned how to vacuum seal stuff into canning jars but it always bugged me that the method required electricity. I found a system that didn't use electric but it made a hole in the lid and you had to cover it with a sticker and then you couldn't reuse the lids. Then one day I was flipping through my copy of Making the Best of Basics by James Talmage Stevens. There are a few ads scattered throughout the book and I found one that offered plans to make a Multi-Jar Non- electric Vacuum sealing Pump. James says he's been using his homemade unit for over 10 years and it works great, even does 5 gallon buckets! So I sent $13 off and got my instructions and a friend is busy making me one right now. If you too would like to order in the plans I will give you the ordering info here. "Get you copy of plans for this do it yourself project by remitting $10 check or money order + $3 postage to: Tom Halverson, 46962 269th Avenue, Laporte, MN 56461 You can e-mail him if you have other questions: sketches@paulbunyan.net
Now this uses an old piston style compressor from a car. He tells you exactly the ones to buy and even tells you how to test it before you buy it. I very much prefer to get equipment that doesn't need electric or gas to run so that in a crisis I could still use it without power if I had to. If you are not mechanically inclined make a copy of your plan and go find a friend who is! For a nominal fee they can make one for you and get to keep their copy of the plan. Our friend already has orders to make more of these so it will help him earn more $$ to support his family.
Hope you have a great day!
Cherlynn
brchbell@yahoo.com
Monday, October 31, 2011
Friday, October 28, 2011
Just found a great site!
Planning out your food storage can seem kind of hard at times. Each family is so very different and trying to figure it all out can seem almost impossible. I found this site today and while they had things I don't store they also are lacking things I do store. Their free food calculator can help you plan and see where you are at.
Now I don't store things like Mayonnaise and jello. But I do store things like Nuts and coconut oil. I just decide how much I want stored for nuts and that is heavy in oils so I replace the mayo with it. I am still trying to figure out how many quarts of nuts I need and then I will be able to plan that. I do vacuum seal my nuts into quart jars so this category works well for nuts.
Anyway I am passing this site along so you can play with it and see where you are in your storage and where you need to fill in the gaps.
https://www.stockupfood.com
Have a great day!
Cherlynn
brchbell@yahoo.com
Now I don't store things like Mayonnaise and jello. But I do store things like Nuts and coconut oil. I just decide how much I want stored for nuts and that is heavy in oils so I replace the mayo with it. I am still trying to figure out how many quarts of nuts I need and then I will be able to plan that. I do vacuum seal my nuts into quart jars so this category works well for nuts.
Anyway I am passing this site along so you can play with it and see where you are in your storage and where you need to fill in the gaps.
https://www.stockupfood.com
Have a great day!
Cherlynn
brchbell@yahoo.com
Thursday, October 27, 2011
a needed break
Some times you just need a break. After going crazy all summer long preserving garden produce isn't it nice to just take a deep breathe and relax for a day? I know soon I will need to select the winter squash we will save fresh for winter storage and then I will need to can up the rest of it including all that pumpkin. Pumpkin only stays good for a few months so I know I just need to get it all canned up. Just think of all the things we can make with pumpkin! Pumpkin Roll, Pumpkin cookies, Pumpkin bread, Pumpkin pie, pumpkin muffins, Pumpkin pancakes, pumpkin cake, pumpkin shakes. The list goes on and on! But one of my favorite recipes for not just pumpkin, but also butternut, Acorn squashes and Sweet potatoes too! It uses no nasty sugar and is so very good!
Sweet Potato or Winter Squash Whip
6 large sweet potatoes or 1 pumpkin or 2 large butternut or Acorn squash
1/4 cup heavy cream, scalded
2 or 3 Tablespoons dry sherry, to your personal taste
salt
pepper
scalded milk if needed
Bake potatoes or squash in a preheated 375 to 400 degree oven until tender, about 1 hour.
Place cream, sherry and butter in food processor or blender. Scoop out the meat of your chosen vegetable and add to food processor or blender. Process until it is smooth. Season with salt and pepper. If to stiff add a little warm milk until right consistency. If to thin, heat until thickened.
It is so yummy instead of the nasty sugary sweet Potatoes most places serve. I make mine up early and leave in my crockpot on the keep warm setting.
Hope you enjoy!
Cherlynn
brchbell@yahoo.com
Sweet Potato or Winter Squash Whip
6 large sweet potatoes or 1 pumpkin or 2 large butternut or Acorn squash
1/4 cup heavy cream, scalded
2 or 3 Tablespoons dry sherry, to your personal taste
salt
pepper
scalded milk if needed
Bake potatoes or squash in a preheated 375 to 400 degree oven until tender, about 1 hour.
Place cream, sherry and butter in food processor or blender. Scoop out the meat of your chosen vegetable and add to food processor or blender. Process until it is smooth. Season with salt and pepper. If to stiff add a little warm milk until right consistency. If to thin, heat until thickened.
It is so yummy instead of the nasty sugary sweet Potatoes most places serve. I make mine up early and leave in my crockpot on the keep warm setting.
Hope you enjoy!
Cherlynn
brchbell@yahoo.com
Sunday, October 23, 2011
First Hand Account of War
We all feel it could never happen here but I can't help but feel like it very well might. Our Nation is head over heels in debt and there is no way that I can see to get out of it at this point. Maybe if our Congress had their heads on straight and really worked on a plan. But no one want to take blame for cutting stuff they think we can't live without. Years ago most American's personally were in debt more than they thought they could ever pay off. But a revolution quietly took place and now many through hard work and sacrifice are living debt free. We know what it took to get there and it was a painful battle that we fought and won. My family still has a mortgage that we are trying to get paid off but all those credit cards, ect are long gone and will never return.
We have become a society where we feel the government "owes" us everything. No true. We need to stand on our own feet and take care of ourselves, our family and help our neighbors when they need a hand. Each state needs a well trained Militia and we need a well trained but smaller US Military to protect our borders and nation, not police the whole world. We don't need to fund every nation in the world and we don't need to fund those feel good projects. And yes we'll need to trim those social welfare programs. How many get social society that have good pensions or retirement funds? I know lots of folks who get more than 100,000 per year in such accounts and also collect their social security too. These can be trimmed off so Grandma who has nothing else can survive. How many on welfare can work or have family who can help support them? Not all but part of them could. Hard choices but we are facing hard times. I'd rather face those hard cuts now instead of facing a bankrupt nation where anything could happen.
I hope you will go to this link and read this person's comments on what happened to them.
http://beforeitsnews.com/story/1269/137 /Incredible_Survival_Q_A_from_Serbia.html
Cherlynn
brchbell@yahoo.com
We have become a society where we feel the government "owes" us everything. No true. We need to stand on our own feet and take care of ourselves, our family and help our neighbors when they need a hand. Each state needs a well trained Militia and we need a well trained but smaller US Military to protect our borders and nation, not police the whole world. We don't need to fund every nation in the world and we don't need to fund those feel good projects. And yes we'll need to trim those social welfare programs. How many get social society that have good pensions or retirement funds? I know lots of folks who get more than 100,000 per year in such accounts and also collect their social security too. These can be trimmed off so Grandma who has nothing else can survive. How many on welfare can work or have family who can help support them? Not all but part of them could. Hard choices but we are facing hard times. I'd rather face those hard cuts now instead of facing a bankrupt nation where anything could happen.
I hope you will go to this link and read this person's comments on what happened to them.
http://beforeitsnews.com/story/1269/137 /Incredible_Survival_Q_A_from_Serbia.html
Cherlynn
brchbell@yahoo.com
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Long Week
We've been working hard here all week. We have been ripping out rooms in our pole barn. When we first moved here we lived in the pole barn. We ended up being there much longer than we had planned. Some think 9/11 happened in NY and Washington DC But the aftermath of it happened all over. First responders, travelers, soldiers, so many paid a price and still are. My husband was called up with his guard unit and spent the next 8 years mostly gone. It took a good long while before we got our home.
So now we are reclaiming the pole barn for parking and storage of machinery. It's been a long week but we have gotten all the rooms removed except the kitchen. One more day of cleaning up and it will all be history.
This last week also brought a regional hard freeze. I was able to get 2 boxes of tomatoes. So I've also been working those up. I canned ripe tomatoes and juice. I was going to make green tomato relish but my family wanted ripe tomatoes and and fried green tomatoes. So I've wrapped many of them in newspaper and set them on a shelf in the basement just like my Mom always did. They will slowly ripen of the next several weeks and we could have ripe tomatoes as late as Christmas time depending on how green they are.
Now the rest of the green tomatoes I am slicing them and then blanching them (dropping in boiling water for 30 seconds) and then breading them in a flour salt and pepper mix. I spread them out on paper lined trays and freeze them. Then I bag them up into freezer bags. I had 8 quart bags so far and will finish them up on Monday. the summer squash worked so well I just had to try the green tomatoes. We tried just one tomato over night and then fried them up and we all loved them. It will be great to have fried green tomatoes all winter!
We also discovered hot Epsom salt baths really do revive sore aching muscles. A new item to have in our storage! Good for the garden and us too!
Cherlynn
brchbell@yahoo.com
So now we are reclaiming the pole barn for parking and storage of machinery. It's been a long week but we have gotten all the rooms removed except the kitchen. One more day of cleaning up and it will all be history.
This last week also brought a regional hard freeze. I was able to get 2 boxes of tomatoes. So I've also been working those up. I canned ripe tomatoes and juice. I was going to make green tomato relish but my family wanted ripe tomatoes and and fried green tomatoes. So I've wrapped many of them in newspaper and set them on a shelf in the basement just like my Mom always did. They will slowly ripen of the next several weeks and we could have ripe tomatoes as late as Christmas time depending on how green they are.
Now the rest of the green tomatoes I am slicing them and then blanching them (dropping in boiling water for 30 seconds) and then breading them in a flour salt and pepper mix. I spread them out on paper lined trays and freeze them. Then I bag them up into freezer bags. I had 8 quart bags so far and will finish them up on Monday. the summer squash worked so well I just had to try the green tomatoes. We tried just one tomato over night and then fried them up and we all loved them. It will be great to have fried green tomatoes all winter!
We also discovered hot Epsom salt baths really do revive sore aching muscles. A new item to have in our storage! Good for the garden and us too!
Cherlynn
brchbell@yahoo.com
Monday, October 17, 2011
Getting ready for Winter
As the days pass along here the days and nights are getting cooler. We'll still have a few warm days but the leaves are mostly turned now and falling. It's time to get things done for winter.
By tomorrow I should have all our garden beds cleaned out so we just have the isle ways and the compost bins to take care of. We've done the last of our mowing and put the blade onto the tractor. My husband chalked most of the windows, I'm not sure if he finished them all or not. We are also finishing up the pole barn. Taking out the rooms we had made so that we can park inside this winter. Our winters tend to be pretty brutal here. Yes there are plenty of places much worse but just a few more miles south they are much milder! We just assume park and stay put in the winter time and only go out when we absolutely have too.
Don't forget your cars too! Check your antifreeze and make sure you have good wipers and tires. Redo your emergency pack so it's ready in case you get stranded in the winter time! Having an emergency heater, food, water, and warm clothing can be a life saver! A good pair of boots in case you have to hike out to get help. I took an old pair of chore boots and bought some of the felt pads (at farm supply store) and put a double layer in each boot. They were cheap and if I have to go tramping trough snow they keep my feet toasty. Is your car ready for winter?
So now is the time to prepare for winter. Don't put it off, do it now! Also make sure you have food and water stored. I even buy extra milk and freeze it so we still have fresh milk if we stay in for a long time.
Enjoy the Autumn and make sure you are ready for winter before it gets here!
Cherlynn
brchbell@yahoo.com
PS I wonder where I put that really good scraper I had last year?
By tomorrow I should have all our garden beds cleaned out so we just have the isle ways and the compost bins to take care of. We've done the last of our mowing and put the blade onto the tractor. My husband chalked most of the windows, I'm not sure if he finished them all or not. We are also finishing up the pole barn. Taking out the rooms we had made so that we can park inside this winter. Our winters tend to be pretty brutal here. Yes there are plenty of places much worse but just a few more miles south they are much milder! We just assume park and stay put in the winter time and only go out when we absolutely have too.
Don't forget your cars too! Check your antifreeze and make sure you have good wipers and tires. Redo your emergency pack so it's ready in case you get stranded in the winter time! Having an emergency heater, food, water, and warm clothing can be a life saver! A good pair of boots in case you have to hike out to get help. I took an old pair of chore boots and bought some of the felt pads (at farm supply store) and put a double layer in each boot. They were cheap and if I have to go tramping trough snow they keep my feet toasty. Is your car ready for winter?
So now is the time to prepare for winter. Don't put it off, do it now! Also make sure you have food and water stored. I even buy extra milk and freeze it so we still have fresh milk if we stay in for a long time.
Enjoy the Autumn and make sure you are ready for winter before it gets here!
Cherlynn
brchbell@yahoo.com
PS I wonder where I put that really good scraper I had last year?
Saturday, October 15, 2011
This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalms 118:24. I have these days every Fall and Spring. Fall when we start having those cooler days and then suddenly have a perfect 70 degree type day with a gentle breeze and lots of sun. Spring when you have those days it's coming on the heels of a long hard winter. You just got to appreciate those days!
Yes when we have them they are so very perfect. Today was one of those days. I dashed out and got three loads of laundry hung out to dry and we worked out in our pole barn ripping out some more rooms to make parking areas.
When we first moved here years ago, it was right after 9/11 and my husband got shipped out with his guard unit. We had started a pole barn and the kids and I turned part of it into a home to live in. We were clueless on what we were doing. We relied solely on the Lord to show us what we needed to do each day or someone who knew how to do it.
We learned a lot that first year! But mostly we developed great faith. You have to understand we live far off the beaten path here. To have people just show up right when we needed them was a big testimony builder. We had one family who just got in their car up in Minnesota and started driving with no clue why or where they were going. They drove straight into our driveway right at the moment we needed their special talents.
It was a bitter sweet moment today to be ripping out what we had worked so hard to create. But it was so sweet to be out in this glorious sunshine today!
So today I hope you will count your blessing and be grateful for this day!
Cherlynn
brchbell@yahoo.com
Yes when we have them they are so very perfect. Today was one of those days. I dashed out and got three loads of laundry hung out to dry and we worked out in our pole barn ripping out some more rooms to make parking areas.
When we first moved here years ago, it was right after 9/11 and my husband got shipped out with his guard unit. We had started a pole barn and the kids and I turned part of it into a home to live in. We were clueless on what we were doing. We relied solely on the Lord to show us what we needed to do each day or someone who knew how to do it.
We learned a lot that first year! But mostly we developed great faith. You have to understand we live far off the beaten path here. To have people just show up right when we needed them was a big testimony builder. We had one family who just got in their car up in Minnesota and started driving with no clue why or where they were going. They drove straight into our driveway right at the moment we needed their special talents.
It was a bitter sweet moment today to be ripping out what we had worked so hard to create. But it was so sweet to be out in this glorious sunshine today!
So today I hope you will count your blessing and be grateful for this day!
Cherlynn
brchbell@yahoo.com
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