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**Mix for Jar**
2 cups flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup raisins
1/2 cup walnuts — chopped
To Prepare Bread, Add:
1 1/2 cups apple butter — divided
1/2 cup apple juice
1/4 cup butter or margarine — melted
1 egg — beaten
Layering dry mix: Combine flour, baking powder, soda and salt. Using a funnel put mixture into a wide-mouth quart jar. Use a tamper or the bulb end of a baster to firmly pack flour mixture in jar. Layer brown sugar into jar and firmly pack. Layer raisins into jar. Layer walnuts into jar. Makes mix for one quart jar.
To prepare: Preheat oven to 350°. Grease and flour bottom and sides of a 9x5x2 3/4 inch loaf pan. Combine 3/4 cup of apple butter, apple juice, melted butter and beaten egg in a large bowl. Add one quart jar of apple butter bread mix. Pour half of batter into prepared pan. Spread remaining 3/4 cup apple butter over batter. Gently pour remaining batter over apple butter. Bake for 65 to 75 minutes or until top springs back when lightly touched in center. Cool pan for 15 minutes on wire rack. Remove bread from pan and continue cooling on wire rack. Wrap tightly. Store in refrigerator. Yield: one loaf.
Be sure to attach recipe card to jar complete with “To Prepare” ingredients and baking instructions. Decorate your gift-in-a-jar with fabric rounds, raffia or ribbon and a gift tag. Or, simply include your jar in a basket of goodies.
1. Garage Sales – I live in a rural area, so I often run into jars at garage sales. These can usually be had very cheaply. Just last weekend I bought over 4 boxes of jars for $20. These boxes contained well over 60 jars (mostly jelly jars which is what we really needed), rings & lids (brand new still in boxes). Plus the boxes also contained 4 antique canning jars with zinc lids, which I collect, so I was really excited to see!
2. Family & Friends – Check with family and friends who use to can to see if they still have jars they’re no longer using. I got quite a few this way from my Mom (plus a lot of other canning stuff), when I first started canning. I’d also post a notice at church or ask around church to see if anyone had any to offer. Most of the time you can get these jars for free or very little cost.
3. Freecycle – Post a notice on your local Freecycle group. I got a lot of jars this way for free…all I had to do was go pick them up. Because of gas prices, I took in consideration how many jars a person was offering and how far I had to drive to get them. If they were pretty close, I’d go get whatever they had to offer, but if they were farther away, I’d just go get larger quantities.
4. Recycle Jars – I often reuse mayonnaise jars and other commercial jars that my rings & lids fit on. I only use them in water bath canning, as I’m afraid they will shatter in the pressure canner. My Mom has done this for years and it works really well. This is how I get a lot of my jelly-sized jars and also my hot sauce jars.
5. Thrift Stores & Flea Markets – I occasionally can find canning jars at our local thrift stores & flea market. They cost a little more generally than all the above ways, but are still cheaper than buying new.
6. Clearance – Watch out for canning jars on clearance at Wal-Mart toward the end of the canning season. Last year, I picked up quite a few boxes, rings & lids for pretty cheap. I found all the canning stuff on clearance there around the end of the summer and September & October. I grabbed what I thought I could use and what I could afford. I got jars, pectin, rings, lids, a big water bath canner, jelly bags, and a couple of other things then while on clearance.
Some Safety Concerns:
Any time you re-use jars or rings; you should do the following…
1. Check the jar opening for chips. Do not use any canning jars that have chips on the openings, as they may not for a good seal and the food can spoil. Save these jars for storage or for gifty items like mixes and such.
2. Check the jars for hairline crack and such. If they have any cracks, don’t use them for canning as they may explode while canning or again, let the food spoil.
3. Check your rings for rust. If they have a lot of rust, don’t reuse them. A little rust is fine, but if they’re heavily rusted, toss them.
4. NEVER reuse lids! They may not reseal properly causing food to spoil. Lids are cheap…use a new one every time.
5. Whenever you open a jar, smell the food and check for any strange textures or colors. If you have any questions about food in a jar, it’s safer for you family to toss the contents than get food poisoning from it.
Well I hope this helps some of y’all find some cheap and useable jars for your canning needs!
One of my favorite books is “Christy” by Catherine Marshall. I am always really drawn to the character of Miss Alice. Miss Alice is a Quaker missionary and mentor to the main character, Christy Huddleston. As I read, I found myself wishing for a mentor like Miss Alice.
In the book, she tells Christy, “My father always told us that if we will let God, He can use even our disappointments, even our annoyances to bring us a blessing. There’s a practical way to start the process too: by thanking Him for whatever happens, no matter how disagreeable it seems.” I Thessalonians 5:18 tells us, “In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”. I knew that this meant to give thanks for the good things in my life, but I forget to thank Him for the bad things in my life, my disappointments and my annoyances. Don’t get me wrong, I take my troubles the Lord, I gladly give them to Him, but thank Him for them, that’s a difficult thought. It’s so easy to give our worries to him, but it’s another matter to thank him for them! But that is just what He wants us to do! God takes our disappointments and annoyances and uses them a growth and teaching moments, our faith grows during these times.
Thanking God for our disappointments and annoyances is similar to playing “The Glad Game”. “The Glad Game” is a game that Pollyanna played in the book “Pollyanna”. Pollyanna would try to find something to be glad about in any instance. She plays this game with those around her and spreads a thankful attitude, forever changing them. When she is in an accident and cannot walk, she finds it impossible to play the game. People whose lives she touched came together to help her play the game and find something to be glad about again. As Christians, we should play “The Glad Game” and find something to be glad or thankful about in all things that happen to us, whether good or bad. We constantly disappoint God with our sin, but He still sent His son Jesus Christ to die for our sins. If nothing else we should praise him for that, both in our disappointments and annoyances.
(This makes 2 bread pans full and can be easily halved)
2 lb. ground beef or turkey
2 pkg. taco seasoning (about 4 tbsp.)
1 can green chilies (next time, I’m using rotel tomatoes)
1 tbsp. minced garlic
1 onion, chopped
4 pkgs. corn bread mix (can make from scratch and do Nurishing Traditions style, I plan on trying that soon myself)
Eggs, water/milk for the corn bread mix
1 pkg. grated cheese
Brown the meat in a skillet along with the garlic and onion. Add the taco seasoning and chilies (or rotel). Heat through. Meanwhile mix up the corn bread mix. Spray 2 bread pans with non-stick spray. Pour 1/4 of corn bread mixture into the bottom of each pan. Pour in 1/2 meat mixture into each pan. Sprinkle with grated cheese. Top each pan with 1/4 (remaining) cornbread. Sprinkle with grated cheese. Bake at 425 for 25-3- minutes, until top is golden brown. Serve with beans (Nourishing Traditions Style) and a green salad. Yummy!!
Tooth decay is caused by bacteria in our mouth, not by any natural process. There are several factors that contribute to tooth decay. They are bacteria, the availability of sugar for the bacteria to feed on, the vulnerability of tooth enamel, poor nutrition and poor oral hygiene. Symptoms of tooth decay don’t usually show up until the decay is advanced. Some symptoms of tooth decay are sensitivity to heat or cold, sensitivity to sugar consumption and tooth ache.
To help prevent tooth decay, you should eat more raw fruits and vegetables. Raw produce contains important minerals that keep your saliva from becoming too acidic. Acidic saliva increases our chances of tooth decay by weakening our tooth enamel. We need to keep our bodies at a slightly alkaline pH level. A pH level of 7.0 is neutral. Levels higher than pH 7.0 are alkaline and levels lower are acidic. Another contributor of tooth decay is phosphorus or phosphates. Carbonated drinks contain phosphates, which cause the loss of tooth enamel. Phosphorus hinders the absorption of calcium. Our bodies need calcium to build strong, healthy teeth. We also need to brush our teeth after eating and to floss daily. This removes plaque from our teeth. Avoid fluoride in toothpaste and water. Fluoride offers little protection against tooth decay and contributes to bone loss. Continual problems with your teeth are an outward sign of other health problems.
People who eat a more traditional diet consisting of raw vegetables and fruit, grass-fed meats and eggs, raw milk and dairy products and whole or fresh ground grains have less tooth decay. Also, including fresh seafood and fish in your diet provides your body with fat-soluble activators that help control tooth decay. You can also find them in cod liver oil. I highly suggest reading the book “Nourishing Traditions” by Sally Fallon or visiting www.westonaprice.org.
There are several nutrients that are important to tooth health. Calcium helps build strong, healthy teeth. Magnesium balances calcium for better absorption of calcium. Vitamin A has healing properties and helps in the formation of teeth. Vitamin C protects against infection and inflammation, although you should avoid taking a chewable form, as it erodes tooth enamel. Vitamin D is need for calcium absorption and heals gums. There are also several foods that are really good for tooth health. Cranberries are good for the prevention of tooth decay and gum disease. You should eat these fresh or in juice. Cherries block 89% of enzymes that cause tooth decay. Eating a few fresh everyday would make a difference in your tooth health. Raw milk from grass fed animals is also an important food to eat to improve the health of your teeth. Raw milk contains Lactoferrin, which is a good treatment for dental wounds.
You can also use herbs to help with the symptoms of tooth decay. If you’re experiencing inflammation, you might try calendula, chamomile (should not be used for long period of time as it may lead to ragweed allergy. Not to be used by those allergic to ragweed), peppermint (may interfere with iron absorption) and yarrow (may interfere with absorption of iron and other minerals). For pain relief try kava kava (may cause drowsiness), Saint John’s wort (may cause sensitivity to sunlight and interfere with absorption of iron and other minerals), white willow bark (may interfere with absorption of iron and other minerals) or wintergreen. Clove oil also helps control pain due to tooth decay. Apply 1-2 drops on a cotton swab to the tooth as needed.
It’s important for us to take care of our teeth. Tooth decay is a factor in and sign of other health problems. I think the most important things you can do for the health of your teeth is to eat a traditional diet, cut out as much sugar as possible (especially refined white sugar and corn syrup), cut all out white flour and replace it with freshly ground whole grain flour or sprouted grain flour and cut out all carbonated beverages. I have a history of bad teeth myself and have found by doing these few things have helped tremendously.
1 stick butter
1/4 head cabbage shredded
2-1/2 lb. ground beef
1 can diced tomatoes
1-1/2 tbs. beef bouillon granules
Vinegar
Jalapeno salt (optional)
In a large skillet melt the butter and sauté the cabbage until it’s soft. Add the ground beef and brown. Drain off grease. Open the can of diced tomatoes and drain off liquid, reserving liquid. Pour tomatoes into skillet and mix with the meat. Lower heat to simmer. Meanwhile, to the reserved tomato liquid, add 1-1/2 tbsp. beef bouillon granules and enough vinegar to taste. Add jalapeno salt if you wish. For me this equaled about 1/3 of a cup. Mix or shake well (I mixed all ingredients into an old, saved peanut butter jar and shook it). Pour over the mixture in the skillet. Let simmer for 10 minutes. Serve over rice or noodles or eat as is.
My Mom first taught me the basics of crochet, although at the time, I really wasn’t that interested. I did learn the basics and how to make Granny Squares. It’s wasn’t until years later that I decided to try my hand at it again and fell in love with yarn. After crocheting for several years and pretty much learning how to do just about everything, I decided to challenge myself to learn how to knit and I’m totally hooked! I love to crochet and knit because it’s something that I can put down as needed and not get lost or forget where I am. It’s also very relaxing and comforting. I’m able to make useful things that my family and friends can use. A hand crocheted or knitted item is a gift from the heart. As I knit or crochet, I like to pray for the person who will be receiving the item, so each item I crochet equals hours of prayers for that person. It’s a blessing for me to be able to spend that time in prayer.
I often start up projects just to keep my hands busy or to relieve boredom (like I’m ever really bored with my 2 boys! LOL!). I don’t have any particular person in mind when I start these projects, so I decided to look into some charities that accept hand crocheted or knitted items to help those in need. I’m going to pick 1-2 charities and create items for them. It will be a blessing to know that my work will help those in need. Whether it’s to provide warmth or just show that someone loves and cares for them, it really doesn’t matter.
We have received so much love and support from individules who didn’t even know us, except through the blogging community. I want to return some of that to others in need. I don’t do this for acclaim or to be recognized, I do it because it was first done for us. Christ died on the cross to give us the greatest gift of all. He did it not to become famous or for other selfish reasons, He did it soley out of LOVE for US! We, as Christians, are called to be Jesus to those around us. We should do this not for fame or acclaim, but quietly and simply. We should do it because that’s what Jesus would do and what He DID DO FOR US.
There are so many charities out there that accept crochet and knitted items. The one’s listed below are just a sampling. I have found that there are generally at least 1 sort of these organizations in nearly every average size town. Because of our past history with both infant loss and premature/ill babies, I will most definately be making baby items. This is a cause very close to my heart. When Gabriel died, we were given the sweetest infant cap and sweater, as well as a beautiful afghan. These items were created by volunteers and they mean so much to me. They are something that I can hold, smell and snuggle…they give me comfort.
The Preemie Project – Founded in the spring of 2005, The Preemie Project strives to bring warmth, comfort, and support to critically ill infants and their families.
Knit Your Bit – The National WWII Museum is proud to launch its own Knit Your Bit campaign. You can help the Museum honor WWII veterans by Knitting Your Bit- in this case a simple, but cozy, scarf to be donated to a veteran in a Veterans Center somewhere in the United States.
Mother Bear Project – The Mother Bear Project is a grass-roots, non-profit group dedicated to providing comfort and hope to children, primarily those affected by HIV/AIDS in emerging nations, by giving them a gift of love in the form of hand-knit and crocheted bears.
Warm Up America – Warm Up America! (WUA!) is an organization made up of volunteers who create handmade afghan blankets, clothing and accessories to help those in need. These items provide warmth and comfort to people who have lost their homes, fled abusive relations, or are being cared for in hospices, shelters, hospitals, and nursing home.
Also, don’t forget to think about your local hospitals, nursing homes, shelters, hospices, etc. Most of these places take in donations of this type and they are given to people in need in your area.
Since I’ve been doing a lot of crochet and knitting lately for charity, I’ve started looking for inexpensive sources for yarn. One place that I’ve found yarn and other crafting supplies cheap was at my local Salvation Army Thrift store. Since seeing the yarn there so cheaply, I’ve been keeping my eyes open at all the thrift stores I frequent, as well as garage sales. Another good source is to ask for the items on Freecycle. A few years ago, I got a huge trash bag full of fabric. Some of it I couldn’t use, but there were several pieces large enough to make dresses or skirts from. Last, but not least, ask around at church, a lot of times people have yarn or craft supplies they aren’t using that they would be more than happy to get rid of. I just let the ladies at church know about my charity crochet and knitting and have had several of them give me yarn to work with.
We eat tacos here in some form at least once a week. My husband loves them, so we often have soft tacos and then later in the week have taco salad. I got tired of buying those little envelopes of taco seasoning, so I found this recipe to use instead. I actually double, triple or more of this recipe and store in small plastic container. I use the cheapest ingredients that I can get away with, which is usually the Spice Supreme brand from Dollar General or the Nature’s Selection brand from Wal-Mart, both of which are $.50 each. Marty hasn’t noticed a difference and it saves us money. Of course, this recipe is easily adapted to organic, simply use your organic ingredients.
Taco Seasoning
2 T chili powder
5 tsps paprika
4 1/2 tsps ground cumin
3 tsps onion powder
3 tsps salt
2 1/2 tsps garlic powder
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
In a bowl combine all ingredients. Store in an airtight container for up to 6 months. Makes about 1/2 cup total.
8 tsps = 1 envelope taco seasoning
A friend of mine daughter is participating in a “Flat Stanley” project and we volunteered to join in the fun. Late last month, Flat Makenzie arrived in the mail and we were finally able to go and take Flat Makenzie around to scenic sites in our area. We plan on doing some more this weekend before we return Flat Makenzie home early next week, along with a bunch of fun stuff! I thought I’d post about our adventures with Flat Makenzie here on the blog, as the boys really enjoyed the day off of school today.
Our first stop was at the Lake Aquilla Dam. We drove down there to see if we could find some bluebonnets to take pictures of.
Country Boy & Half Pint below the Lake Aquilla Dam.
Bluebonnets, the state flower of Texas
Half-Pint and Flat Makenzie sitting in the bluebonnets
After finding the bluebonnets and getting some pictures, we were off to our next destination….Lake Whitney State Park.
Half-Pint, Country Boy and Flat Makenzie just outside Lake Whitney State Park.
Half-Pink and Flat Makenzie with Lake Whitney in the background.
Our next destination was the Lake Whitney Dam and the Brazos River.
Half-Pint and Flat Makenzie with the Lake Whitney Dam in the background.
Half-Pint and Flat Makenzie on the Brazos river below Lake Whitney Dam.
After touring Lake Aquilla and Lake Whitney, we drove over to Hillsboro to catch the sights there.
On the way there, we drove over Lake Aquilla.
Flat Makenzie posing next to some Indian Paintbrushes.
Plunkett’s Dominos where Willy Nelson occasionally goes to play Dominos. He’s originally from Abbott, Texas which is not too far away.
Hill County Courthouse, located in Hillsboro Texas.
A historic train station located in Hillsboro Texas. It’s now the Chamber of Commerce.
Half-Pint and Flat Makenzie outside the historic train station.
Half-Pint and Flat Makenzie posing next to an antique wagon.
The Medal of Honor Memorial to Native Born Texans, located outside the Texas Heritage Museum in Hillsboro Texas on the Hill College Campus.
Close up of the center panel of the memorial. Pictured are Audie Murphy and Samuel Dealey.
Flat Makenzie posing next to the historical marker located outside the Texas Heritage Museum in Hillsboro Texas on the Hill College Campus.
Half-Pint and Flat Makenzie posing next to the Texas Heritage Museum sign. We weren’t allowed to take any photos inside though.
