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

Thursday, January 27, 2022

What's That In Your Hand?: 1/27/22

What's in your hand and what can you do with it?

Welcome to this week's edition where we try to inspire you to focus on what you have to work with, not what you wish you had or hope to have in the future, but what you have right now ...

It’s the time of year that we start thinking about starting seeds and making garden plans.  In keeping with the idea of ‘what’s that in your hand,’ I headed to the greenhouse to see what we had left from last year for seed starting.  I found partial bags of potting mix, worm casings, blood meal and bone meal.  I mixed them all together in these two containers and then brought them inside sitting them near the wood stove to warm the soil.  This next week I’ll start seeds for the things that can be planted in our area the end of February and first of March.

I had some buttermilk left over from holiday baking, so I used it to make biscuits for pork tenderloin sandwiches as well as a meal we have from time to time called ‘eggs-a-la-golden-rod’ that uses biscuits as the base.   Yum for both!!!

We had some overripe banana’s that needed to be used so I made up banana nut muffins.  These are such good snacks and breakfast foods, and you can’t beat the convenience.  I'll freeze some and leave some in the refrigerator for eating.

I used flannel fabric I had on hand for a quilt backing on a quilt I'm hand quilting.  I had to cut it up and sew it into the shape and size I needed it, but in the end was able to make it work … and unless you’re looking for the seams you wouldn’t be able to spot them!

We continue to eat mainly out of our pantry, as in 95% of our meals, which is allowing us to put the biggest portion of our grocery budget towards something else.

When I make out our weekly menu the first thing I consider and look to is what’s ‘in our pantry that needs to be used.’   Then I post the week’s menu on the refrigerator door where it’s easily accessible helping me to stay on top of food prep and meals all week. 

I watched this free video on making herbal vinegars which is something I have on my goals 2022 list of things to master and do.    Thus far I have 2 vinegars 'in the making stage' turmeric vinegar and rosemary vinegar.  I plan to do Hawthorne vinegar and dandelion vinegar as well as I have both herbs on my pantry shelf.  Each of these herbs have medicinal properties and I'll be using them in the vinegar and honey drink I have daily.

As mentioned at the beginning of this post, it’s time to get serious about gardening so this week I’ve been working on ‘what to plant,’ ‘where to plant,’ and ‘when to plant.’  I’m making lists and plans all the while keeping two very important dates in mind … our ‘last frost date’ and ‘harvest dates.’  If I plan properly, then maybe, just maybe I’ll be able to spread the planting and harvesting out over our growing season and not have lots of things needing to be harvested all at the same time!  That’s my goal anyway!!!

I'll be keeping up with all my gardening, plantings, seed starting, harvesting, tips and notes in a spiral notebook this year.  I have several on hand that I purchased on sale during the last back to school sale in August.  If at all possible, I try to stock up on any stationary/paper needs I think I might have for the next year during that time.  These spiral notebooks are what I have in my hand, so that's what I'll be using!

Here's a heads up on a couple of things coming up the first couple of days in February ...

A Friday Fitness post that will cover my January journey (Weekly posting and encouragement has been moved to Friday Fitness Facebook group.  I'll continue to do a monthly summary type post here for those who don't do Facebook.)

and ...

A monthly post showcasing all my sewing/creating makes and finishes for the month of January.

That's it for this week!  What's in your hand and what are you doing with it?

Go to the ant, you sluggard!  Consider her ways and be wise, which, having no captain, overseer or ruler, provides her supplies in the summer, and gathers her food in the harvest.  Proverbs 6:6-8

Until next time,

patsi

A Working Pantry

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

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16 comments:

  1. Patsi, I love that you are focusing on "what's in your hand." That is similar to my "theme" this year, which is finishing up projects that need doing (as opposed to starting more new ones), using what I have, cutting down on waste, and saving money. I feel like all of these things are intertwined and remind me of "doing what we can, with what we have, where we are."
    I am planning my garden too as our spring growing season is fast encroaching. That is going to be a big focus this year too, as we want to produce as much as we can ourselves.
    We added to our pantry this week as Colton harvested two deer. I canned 13 pints of cubed venison, 12 pints of bone broth (couldn't let those deer bones go to waste!), and rendered 1/2 pint of tallow. Colton has saved the hides for tanning. We are very pleased with our efforts!

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    1. Kelsey, it sounds like we're thinking a lot alike! Two deer!!! That's wonderful and what a boon to your pantry! You should be pleased with your efforts ... you all did good!!!

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  2. I think it is so funny that Tommy, who does not cook one bit, tells me what there is that needs using up in the refrigerator. I cannot bend so far, so he drags stuff out to use in a meal.

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    1. Practical Parsimony, sounds like you have a good helper!!

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  3. I want to thank you for these posts, as they are helping me remember to look at what I already have in the house and work with it, rather than going to the grocery store or other shops. My grocery list this week was all perishables and I've stayed well below my monthly budget. Yes, I would like a new cute tablet to hang on the refrigerator for making my grocery lists. Instead, I pulled out a half-used small tablet, ripped out the used pages, and glued on some floral wrapping paper to make it look better than the bent corners. Making due with what I have on hand. I have a financial goal in mind that I want to achieve by the Fall. So every penny saved will help me get there. Thank you! :-)

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    1. Lori, good for you! We have a pretty hefty financial goal too, plus it just makes sense to be prudent and wise with what you have. Love your ideas and inspiration!

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  4. I made 18 banana chocolate chip muffins from some very ripe bananas. We really enjoy having them in the freezer. I have also been very glad to have plenty of lotion and coconut oil and salves on hand for dry irritated skin and chapped lips in this cold weather.

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    1. Lana, those chocolate chip banana muffins sound delicious! I've used more lotion, etc this winter too, it's good to have it on hand, isn't it?

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  5. turmeric vinegar? Can you share recipe?

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    1. Chef Owings, I took the instructions from the video I watched, with some exceptions, basically, it's 2/3 - 1/2 cup dried herbs to a pint of ACV. Let sit, shaking daily, for 4 weeks, strain and use. I plan to use mine in the vinegar and honey drink I enjoy every day.

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  6. Patsy, I had never heard of turmeric vinegar, please share info.
    I have made strawberry vinegar with scrapes from slicing strawberries and cherry vinegar from just dropping the pits into vinegar also. Easy to do with all fruits. This year husband wants flavored oils.

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    1. Rubies, I took the instructions from the video I watched, with some exceptions, basically, it's 2/3 - 1/2 cup dried herbs to a pint of ACV. Let sit, shaking daily, for 4 weeks, strain and use. I plan to use mine in the vinegar and honey drink I enjoy every day. The next thing I want to expand my knowledge in is flavored honey! So much to learn and I love learning!

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  7. I love a flannel backed quilt. So cozy. The vinegars sound very interesting. It has been another week of using what is in my hand. I needed some pretty filler to cushion a gift. The Dollar Tree sells bags of it, but seeing how it icy and frigid, I stayed home and cut quarter inch strips out of pretty scrap paper and crimped it myself. Now I have bags of it to draw from. From the leftover cardstock I had from another project I made bookmarks to add to the gift pantry. Finished all my valentines, shopped only for salad ingredients, made 3 1/2 quarts of bone broth for the freezer. Made honey mustard salad dressing with mayo, mustard and honey and baked molasses shortbread and 3 ingredient peanutbutter chocolate chip cookies.

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    1. Cookie, those 3-ingredient peanut butter chocolate chip cookies sound good! I gain so much inspiration from the way you utilize 'what's in your hand.' Thank you for sharing!

      For the vinegar, I took the instructions from the video I watched, with some exceptions, basically, it's 2/3 - 1/2 cup dried herbs to a pint of ACV. Let sit, shaking daily, for 4 weeks, strain and use. I plan to use mine in the vinegar and honey drink I enjoy every day.

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  8. Menu planning starting with what you already have on hand helps so much! I enjoy that weekly process.

    I've never made any flavored vinegars, but I'm intrigued now.

    Blessings~

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    1. A Joyful Chaos, I really want to learn as much as I can about flavored vinegars and all the ways they can be used this year!

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