~ from my home to yours, living the Working Pantry lifestyle ~ surviving today's economy ~ a can-do spirit and attitude ~

Friday, May 31, 2019

30 Day Preserving Challenge: Day 7, Turmeric

Today, I'm preserving turmeric root.  I grow turmeric root but haven't reached the point where I'm growing enough for our needs, so when I have opportunity to purchase good quality root, I do.  That's what I did this week.  


Here's how I preserved it … 



Wednesday, May 29, 2019

30 Day Preserving Challenge: Day 6, Blueberries

Here we are at day 6 in this challenge and this time I'm preserving something that I did not grow.  It's something that I purchased at a grocery store on sale and brought home and preserved.  There are many ways to obtain food to preserve that do not involve gardening and this is one …



























(nice, plump blueberries)

We have blueberry bushes but only two of them are big enough to produce.  This means I have to purchase enough, when I find them on sale, to preserve if I'm going to have blueberries throughout the year at a price I can afford.

That's what I did this week.  I purchased blueberries, brought them home, washed them up and divided them into 1/3 cup increments.  Into the freezer part of my pantry they went where they will wait to be used in smoothies.
  
We're at the beginning of blueberry season in our area so I'll be looking for another good sale to purchase more.  I'd like to make a few jars of blueberry pie filling and add a few more smoothie size bags to my freezer.

patsi

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.'

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Thursday, May 23, 2019

30 Day Preserving Challenge: Day 5, Lemon Balm

I'm preserving so many things right now that it's hard to decide which to write about first!  Today, we're going to take a walk out to the area where I'm growing herbs and harvest lemon balm.  Lemon balm smells so good and it has several uses from teas to herbal remedies.


Wednesday, May 22, 2019

30 Day Preserving Challenge: Day 4, Potatoes

We've been digging potatoes from our garden and I've been preserving them as fast as I can. 


Tuesday, May 21, 2019

Sausage Rolls

I first learned about sausage rolls from watching this YouTube video from The Cheapskate Club.  As I watched the video I wrote the recipe and instructions down and set them aside.  This week I got around to making them and I wasn't disappointed!

Here's the recipe as I wrote it down along with some tips Cath gave …


Cath's Sausage Rolls
1 lb sausage
2 medium onions, grated
2 bread rolls or 4 slices bread, crumbled.  Lightly soak bread with hot water until squishy and mushy
1 egg
1 tbsp mixed herbs
3 sheets puff pastry
1 egg extra, for egg wash

Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees. Line two baking sheets with baking paper. 
Combine all the ingredients until mixture is smooth. Use your hands, it's easier. 
Cut the pastry sheets in half. 
Divide the mixture into six and drop onto the pastry sheets.
Roll the pastry over the meat. 
Place seam side down on the baking sheets, three to a sheet. You need to leave lots of room between each sausage roll to allow the pastry to cook properly and evenly. 
Cut each sausage roll into four, not quite all the way through. 
Brush with the egg wash. 
Bake 30 minutes, turning regularly so the pastry cooks evenly. 
Remove from the oven and place on cooling racks immediately.

Monday, May 20, 2019

30 Day Preserving Challenge: Day 3, Ginger

I had 3 pieces of ginger root that I needed to do something with so I decided to preserve it, and this is what I did …

First I washed the ginger root, purchased at the grocery store, and peeled it.  Then I got out my chopper, similar to this one, and chopped it up into approximately 1/4 inch pieces.
  

Saturday, May 18, 2019

30 Day Preserving Challenge: Day 2, Strawberry Powder

I'm finishing off the strawberries I told you about in Day 1, but I'm not canning them or making jam or anything like that.  How did I preserve the remaining 2 quarts?  First, I threw them into the food processor and turned them into somewhat of a liquid mush.


Thursday, May 16, 2019

30 Day Food Preserving Challenge: Day 1, Strawberries

I'm working on a new challenge and this is the first entry!  Yes, I know I already have my '100 Day Sewing Challenge' going but this one is not sewing related, it's all about food preservation!


The rules are  …
The days do not have to be consecutive
Any method of food preservation counts


Here's 'Day 1' …


Yesterday my husband was offered the opportunity to pick strawberries from a patch near our home.  The cost … free!  You can't beat the price!  Strawberries in our area are selling for $3.50/quart.  



Thursday, May 9, 2019

Pecan Cookies

I've wanted to make these cookies for a long time and I finally just did it!  I'm so glad I did, they are fantastic, if you like pecans, and I do.


Thursday, May 2, 2019

Building Raised Beds

One of our gardening goals for this year was to add some raised beds to one of our gardening areas.  Yesterday, we did that and here's how we did it …