Getting Ahead in the Kitchen: Browned Ground Beef

I'm on a mission to do more freezer cooking and getting ahead in the kitchen with meal prep by doing things ahead and freezing them.  

This week I did this …

Strawberry Barrel Update

The windshield on our van cracked yesterday. We don't know if it is a residual from Florence or what, all we know is that one minute it was fine and the next it had about a foot long crack in it. Nothing hit it that we are aware of but we have to have the whole windshield replaced. Since this is our only vehicle it's put a cramp in our disaster relief distribution until it is repaired, which is tomorrow. So, today we found ourselves at home and we decided to do storm clean-up on our yard since we haven't taken the time to do it yet.

We also decided that we needed to get the strawberry plants we purchased while traveling (that was only 3 weeks ago but it seems as if it was forever ago!) planted so we set to work.

Making A Strawberry Barrel: Part 4 (Final part)

Part 1 can be found HERE.

Part 2 can be found HERE.

Part 3 can be found HERE.

Let's finish this project up, shall we?

Making A Strawberrry Barrel: Part 3

Part 1 can be found HERE.

Part 2 can be found HERE.

Here's part 3 …

In our last post I showed you the 6 inch center pipe that my husband had drilled holes in for worm composting, in this post we're going to add legs to the barrel and get it ready to set the 6 inch pipe in.

Making a Strawberry Barrel: Part 2

Here's part 2 of how my hubby is making a strawberry barrel …

(Part 1 can be found HERE.)

This is where we left you in the last post …

Making a Strawberry Barrel: Part 1

Here's a pictorial of how my husband is making us a strawberry barrel …

He started with a 55 gallon food grade plastic barrel ...

My Husband Built Me a Salad Barrel!!!

I've wanted a salad barrel for quite some time, but finding the food grade barrels was not an easy task.  A few weeks ago we found them and my husband set about gathering the rest of the materials he would need.  Today he built the first one (Oh yes, we need more than one of these!!!) 

Here's a pictorial of how he built it …

Making a 16 Layer Chocolate Cake

Yes, you read that right … 16 layers!  I had never heard of this cake until we moved to the area where we live now.  It didn't take us long to learn that it is a very popular cake and once I had made one, that it is labor intensive to make as well.

I made one this morning for a lady in the community and took the time to take pictures as I went along.  At the end of the photos I'll share the recipe …

I made the icing first … this icing has to be stirred continually so that it doesn't stick, burn or scorch!

Next, I prepared the batter and filled 6 pans with 3/4 cup each and placed 3 of them in the oven after I had pre-heated it to 375 degrees.  The layers bake for 10 minutes.  When the first 3 layers came out I placed the next 3 in the oven.  I kept this routine going the entire time.

Here's the first layer.  I worked quickly to get each layer out of the pan and the pans refilled ready to go back in the oven.

I spread a thin layer of icing between each layer and then placed another layer on top.  I kept the layers going in the oven while layering and icing each layer as they came out.

Here's what the layers look like fresh out of the oven.  They are approximately 1/4 thick.

9 layers and adding more

All the layers, stacked with icing, completed.

In the container it goes!

I put it in the refrigerator along side the carrot cake I made on Monday for the same lady.  They are ready for pick-up/delivery!

Here's the recipe ...

16 Layer Chocolate Cake

1 box butter recipe cake mix (I use Duncan Hines)
1 and 1/2 cups self-rising flour
1 cup sugar
2 cups milk at room temperature
8 ozs sour cream
2 sticks butter at room temperature
6 eggs at room temperature
 

Mix all together

Spray cake pans with cooking spray
Put 3/4 cup batter in each pan and cook at 375 degrees for 10 minutes 
Spread frosting between each layer as you stack them.
 

Frosting

2/3 cup shortening
1/4 cup butter
3 cups sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt
2/3 cup cocoa powder
3 cups evaporated milk

Mix all together and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until applesauce like consistency. Spread between layers, on sides and top of cake.

It takes me approximately 2 hours of continuous working from start to finish to complete one of these cakes!

Update 6/29/218:  A few comments have mentioned about making the layers thicker and using more icing … if you make the layers thicker, it changes the taste of the cake.  I know it sounds crazy but the combination of thin layers with a thin layer of icing between each gives it a unique flavor and taste.

patsi

A Working Pantry

She looketh well to the ways of her household … Proverbs 31:27

My pantry is intentional, purposeful, simple, practical, frugal and what works for my family.  It’s the food items and household supplies that keep my household running smoothly ready and available when they are needed.  It’s my contribution to our family’s economy and my work-from-home ‘job.'

You can view my privacy policy HERE.

If you are encouraged by what you read here, please consider supporting this site via one of these ways. Your expressions of appreciation help me keep my pantry well-stocked!

Thank you for using my Amazon affiliate link when placing your Amazon orders. I earn a small percentage that doesn't increase what you pay and it helps me keep my pantry well-stocked!

Disclaimer: Some of the links in this post may be affiliate links.  This means that if you click on the link and place an order, etc I earn a small fee at no increased cost to you. Thank you for your support through these means.

Reviving Prudence!

Do you remember Prudence, the sourdough starter I made from scratch last year and yes, I named her.  Last fall, I put her to rest by drying her and then grinding her up into a powder.  She has been in this state until the last few days when I removed a small amount and started the process of reviving a portion of her.  (She's been sitting on a pantry shelf at room temperature in her ground up state since last fall. She has not spent even one night in the refrigerator!)

We don't eat much bread, baked goods or pastry type concoctions so baking bread on a regular basis is not needed.  However, I do not want Prudence to die or become ineffective so every once in a while I revive her, bake a few loaves for various purposes and then put her back to sleep.

I'm in the process of doing that now!  I plan to make some bread crumbs and vacuum seal them in jars for future use.  Also, now that it's summer the twins will be visiting more often so our need for bread will increase.  I'll bake a few loaves, slice them, package them and freeze them individually, I'll take slices out of the freezer on an as needed basis, thaw and use as needed.

Prudence has woken up really well … Here are the instructions I used for 'waking' her up.

It's almost time to make and bake bread!!!

patsi

A Working Pantry

She looketh well to the ways of her household … Proverbs 31:27

You can view my privacy policy HERE.

If you are encouraged by what you read here, please consider supporting this site via one of these ways. Your expressions of appreciation help me keep my pantry well-stocked!

Thank you for using my Amazon affiliate link when placing your Amazon orders. I earn a small percentage that doesn't increase what you pay and it helps me keep my pantry well-stocked!

Disclaimer: Some of the links in this post may be affiliate links.  This means that if you click on the link and place an order, etc I earn a small fee at no increased cost to you. Thank you for your support through these means.

Preserving Corn

Our local Food Lion stores run a really good sale on fresh corn in shucks once a year and it was this past week.  We've been traveling and didn't get home until Friday night so we had to do some creative managing of our time in order to take advantage of this sale, which ended midnight last night. In other words we had to turn a blind eye to all the other things that were screaming at us to get done as a result of us of being out of town.  

We purchased 4 boxes of corn still in their shucks yesterday and worked and worked and worked until late last night to get it all preserved.  After sharing some with others, we added 60 ears of corn on the cob and 14 quarts of cream style corn to the freezer part of our pantry.  

We don't really have the garden space to grow corn so this was a sale that we just couldn't pass up if we wanted corn in our pantry.  

Taking advantage of produce sales is a good way to keep your pantry well-stocked when growing it is not an option!

When it comes to keeping my pantry well-stocked, I carefully consider all my options!

patsi

A Working Pantry

She looketh well to the ways of her household … Proverbs 31:27

My pantry is intentional, purposeful, simple, practical, frugal and what works for my family.  It’s the food items and household supplies that keep my household running smoothly ready and available when they are needed.  It’s my contribution to our family’s economy and my work-from-home ‘job.'

You can follow A Working Pantry on Facebook and Instagram. 

You can view my privacy policy HERE.

If you are encouraged by what you read here, please consider supporting this site via one of these ways. Your expressions of appreciation help me keep my pantry well-stocked!

Thank you for using my Amazon affiliate link when placing your Amazon orders. I earn a small percentage that doesn't increase what you pay and it helps me keep my pantry well-stocked!

Disclaimer: Some of the links in this post may be affiliate links.  This means that if you click on the link and place an order, etc I earn a small fee at no increased cost to you. Thank you for your support through these means.

I Made Yogurt!!!

… and it was good!!!  I used to make it all the time but had gotten away from it.   Last week I dusted off my recipe/method/instructions and made a batch, here’s how I did it …

You will need:

1 cup plain yogurt with cultures (I used Fage Greek yogurt)

1 quart jar (sterilized)

3 cups milk (I used 2%)

Food thermometer  (This is similar to the one I have.)

¼ cup powdered milk

Place the 3 cups of milk in a pot and slowly bring to 180 degrees over low – medium heat (You don’t want the milk to scorch.)

When 180 degrees are reached remove pot from heat and pour milk into sterilized warm quart jar.

Let cool to 120 degrees  (I placed a paper towel secured with a rubber band over the mouth of the jar and inserted a small food thermometer down through the paper towel into the milk.  The paper towel held the thermometer dial up out of the milk and I could easily keep a watch on the temperature.)

When the milk has reached 120 degrees, add ¼ cup powdered milk and 1 cup yogurt to jar of milk.

Put a lid on the jar and give it a good shaking to mix everything up.

Wrap jar in a towel and place in the oven and turn the oven light on.

Let jar sit in the oven with the light on for approximately 12 hours.

Check yogurt for firmness and refrigerate.

I've been enjoying this with some frozen fruit from our freezer ... hmm, it's good!

When I start getting low I’ll remove a cup of yogurt and start the process over again.

until next time,

mrs. patsi @ A Working Pantry

She looketh well to the ways of her household … Proverbs 31:27 

Sharing 44 years' experience of frugal, prudent living and pantry building 

My second blog:  From This Heart of Mine, where I share my love for God and His Word through my personal Bibe study.  Physical preparedness is important, but not near as important as spiritual preparedness.  Ladies, join me over at From This Heart of Mine and study God's Word with me.

You can view my privacy policy HERE.

Thank you for using my Amazon affiliate link when placing your Amazon orders. I earn a small percentage that doesn't increase what you pay, and it helps me keep my pantry well-stocked! 

Disclaimer: Some of the links in this post may be affiliate links.  This means that if you click on the link and place an order, etc I earn a small fee at no increased cost to you. Thank you for your support through these means.