Hi Everyone,
NOTES:
This year I’m growing 2 types of medicinal flowers. One of them is calendula. Check out this article for how to grow, and how to use it. How to Make Homemade Calendula Salve for Healthy Skin ~ Homestead and Chill
If using medicinal plants is something you are interested in, you should order some beeswax pastillles. I got something like this:
** Did you know you can take Utah State University extension courses for very little money? They have an extensive course list. Check it out: USU Extension Online Courses
GARDEN HAPPENINGS:
**Virtually everything I have in my garden is grown in a grow bag, or some type of pot. Here is a great article about “bucket” growing: Best Vegetables For Bucket Gardening – Part I
His best suggestions include beans, tomatoes, and cucumbers. This is only part 1. I’m curious to see what is next. I also grow, carrots, potatoes, bell peppers, celery, zucchini, lettuce, and raspberries in pots.
** May Gardening Ideas
THIS WEEK’S PURCHASE: Pasta (macaroni, spaghetti)
I feel like the price of pasta peaked, and has settled down a bit. It’s still more expensive than it was 3 years ago, but relatively cheap to use, store and prepare.
Pasta is a great meal extender. Just a little meat, some sauce, and you have a meal.
I bought a pasta maker and still haven’t ever used it!
If someone in your family is gluten free, consider storing extra rice, or potatoes for them, and pasta for everyone else (occasionally).
I like to keep a supply of spaghetti, fettucini, macaroni, and small salad pasta on hand. Sometimes I will buy wide noodles, but this type of pasta is so bulky! Don’t feel like you need to rush out and buy 50 pounds of pasta. Next time you cook a meal needing pasta, just buy 2 or 3 and stick the others aside. I usually cut a small slit in the original bag, and vacuum seal it as is. Otherwise, I get pantry moths. The moths are supposed to be able to eat through the vacuum sealing, but everything I have sealed has been moth free!
MISC. PURCHASE: How about some glue? Maybe a tube of shoe-glue – when tennis shoes wear out and we can’t just “go buy another pair.”
Maybe some individual packets of Super Glue. I just got a pack at Walmart for a couple of dollars. I think you can also get it at the Dollar Store if you look.
Probably, you should have some patches for blow-up mattresses. NO ONE wants to sleep on hard ground. Get the patches now, before you need them.
Also, I keep a small bottle of Elmer’s glue in the junk drawer. If I get any type of sticker in my hands (mostly from the blackberry bushes) I just cover with some glue, let it dry, and then peel it off. The stickers come right off with the glue.
FOOD STORAGE RECIPES:
Today’s recipes come from Cooking With Basic Food Storage, by Church Welfare Services.
Soft and Delicious Two Hour Whole Wheat Bread
Makes 4 loaves
Dissolve 2 TB yeast in 1/2 c. warm water. If you have never done this, drizzle some warm water on the inside of your wrist and it should feel neutral – not hot or cold.
Add 4 1/2 c. additional warm water
1/3 c. honey
1/3 c. oil
1/3 c. potato flakes
2 eggs
1 TB salt
6 c. whole wheat flour
Mix with a hand mixer. Let rest about 10 minutes to let the wheat be absorbed in the liquid.
Add 4-5 c. unbleached flour, 1 cup at a time. After 4 c., let it rest for 5-10 minutes more to absorb the flour.
Add remaining flour as needed to make a soft dough. Knead on a floured surface. Put in a greased bowl and cover with plastic wrap to let it rise. Punch down and form into 4 loaves. Place in greased bread pans. Cover and let rise again. Bake 350˚ for 30-40 minutes. Let cool for 5 minutes or so, then dump out onto a towel to finish cooling.
Pioneer Stew
1 1/4 c. (1/2 pound) dried pinto or kidney beans
Wash and drain the beans.
3 c. cold water
Add beans to water, bring to a boil, cover and simmer 2 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand for 1 hour. Replace the water and add
1 tsp salt
Return to the heat and simmer 1 hour and 15 minutes.
In a skillet: Cook
1/2 – 1 lb. ground beef (or 1 can chunk turkey or beef)
1/2 c. chopped onion
1/2 c. finely diced green pepper
Cook until meat is browned and vegetables are tender. Drain off fat. Add to meat:
1 can whole kernel corn, undrained
1 can diced tomatoes, undrained
1/2 tsp chili powder
Additional salt to taste
Simmer 20 minutes.
In a small dish: combine
1 TB flour with 2 TB water.
Stir into stew. Cook and stir until thickened and bubbly.
1/2 c. shredded cheese – add if desired, or sprinkle on top.
Rice Pilaf
Makes 8 servings
2 c. rice
2/3 stick butter
Brown rice lightly with butter in skillet. Place in a casserole dish and cover with
4 c. liquid (chicken broth if served with chicken, beef broth if served with beef).
Cover with tin foil and bake 1/2 hour at 375˚. Take out of oven and add:
3/4 c. chopped celery
3/4 c. chopped green onions
3/4 c. chopped carrots
1 c. slivered almonds
1 can chunk turkey or beef (optional)
salt and pepper to taste
Mix well with a fork. Return to the oven for 30 minutes.
Marti Shelley
