Marti’s Corner – 157

GARDEN HAPPENINGS:

** Check out this link from Kellogg’s Gardening:  Summer July Garden Checklist Zones 9-10 | Kellogg Garden Organics™  Other zones are available on the website.

Do you have these:

Spider mites.  More information can be found here:  Spider Mites–UC IPM.  I get them in my cucumbers really bad, but have found them on my squash and peppers as well.  Spray, spray, spray!!!

I have an abundance of cherry tomatoes.  So…. I decided to try out a recipe for making tomato sauce with them.  Now, making tomato sauce is a real pain.  It’s not necessarily labor intensive, but it is kind of time consuming because of the roasting, simmering time.  Here is what I did:  2-3 pounds of washed cherry tomatoes and maybe a stray small tomato from another bush.  Drizzle a little olive oil.  Roast on a cookie sheet at 400˚ for 30 min.  Meanwhile, cook 1 diced onion in ¼ c. olive oil and add 1 TB garlic.  When the tomatoes are out of the oven, add them to the onions.  I put in 4-5 fresh basil leaves (only because I had fresh) and a few sprigs of thyme, stems off.  I let this simmer for 30 minutes or so.  Then I blended it up.  I have a small Ninja type blender.  I was worried 1) about the taste. 2)  I would be able to taste bits of skin.    But, it turned out really well.  The taste was good (although maybe next time I’ll add a tsp. Or two of sugar) and no trace of skins!  Totally smooth and delicious.  Was it worth it – when you can buy the same amount for only a few dollars?  Probably not, but it’s homemade with no preservatives. 

Found this chart with good information on when to harvest.

THIS WEEK’S PURCHASE: Chili / Stew

My favorite kind of chili is Dennison’s.  So, my real favorite is homemade chili, but Dennisons is my go-to when I’m making chili dogs or chili over baked potatoes.  It’s down to about $1.50 something per can at Winco’s.  Which means you can get a case of 12 for about $20.  If your local store doesn’t have Dennisons on sale, just get whichever type you prefer.  Then, once every few months, rotate in a meal where you can use chili.  Here are some suggestions:  67+ Fast Meals from Canned or Leftover Chili.  Find one or two of these recipes that you like, and add the ingredients to your storage.  That doesn’t work well for chili dogs or chili over baked potatoes but maybe some chili mac?  Does anyone actually make and eat this?  LOL

As for the stew, pick up a can of corn and/or a can of beans to add to the stew.  Make some biscuits, and have a good, hearty meal.  

MISC. PURCHASE: first aid supplies

So, Craig got bit by a dog last week — a friend’s dog — roughhousing.  Anyway, it drew blood on the top of his wrist and under his wrist as well.  I didn’t want to use bandaids, because I didn’t want to rip the hair off his arm.  Ewwww.

So I got the brilliant idea to use a few sterile pads and tape them in place.  I couldn’t find any in the house, but I KNEW there were some in the 72 hour kit.  So far, so good.  Now, for the tape.  I ALSO had that in the kit.  BUT it was about 8 years old, and none of the tape was sticky.  I had both clear paper tape – not sticky, and that self sticking brown stretchy stuff – not sticky.  Off to the store.  I bought a box of sterile pads, and tape for both 72 hour kits.  I also bought a roll of bandage to hold the dressings down (with Neosporin) , and then I taped it around.  It held for an entire day and was much healed when it finally came off.  

In a spurt of energy, I went through both first aid kits, replaced the tapes and bandaids, and checked the medications.  Luckily, I had replaced those last October and dated the little baggies.  

What is in my first aid kits?  Well, I watched a bunch of YouTube videos and then kind of created my own.  It’s a combination of bandaids and dressings, medications (Tylenol, etc), a needle and razor blade, a small bag with hotel soap and 1/2 washrag, and a pair of tweezers.  

When we went to girls camp, the items we used most were moleskin, bandaids, and Tylenol.  If nothing else, start with those.  From my own kits, I’ve used bandaids, Neosporin, tweezers, and Tylenol.  Everything else is there just in case.

FOOD STORAGE RECIPES:

14 DINNER IDEAS:

1.  Beef stew – 1 can beef stew; 1 can corn, drained;  1 can green beans drained; and 2 c. cooked barley.  
2.  Beef Stew – 1 can beef stew; 1 c. water; 1 packet gravy mix.  Serve over cooked egg noodles
3.  Chili Mac -1 can chili and 1/2 c. processed cheese spread; 2 c. cooked macaroni
4.  Chili – 1 can chili; 1 can kidney or black beans; 2 c. prepared rice
5.  Chili – 1 can chili; 2 prepared packages Mac & Cheese
6.  Baked beans in tomato sauce; add 1 can flaked ham; 1/4 c. BBQ sauce, 2 c. cooked barley
7.  Loaded Chicken Noodle Soup; 4 oz. fettuccine noodles; 1 can chicken; 4 tsp chicken bouillon; 1 tsp garlic powder; 1 /4 tsp thyme; 1/8 tsp turmeric; 1/4 tsp onion powder; 1/4 c. dehydrated carrots; 1 TB dehydrated celery – simmer till everything is rehydrated
8.  Vegetable Soup – 1 large can vegetable soup; 3 c. cooked rice or barley
9.  Corn Chowder – 1 package instant potato flakes, 2 TB nonfat dry milk (or 3 TB instant dry milk) 4 c. water; 1 can creamed corn – makes a thick corn chowder
10.  Spaghetti – Add 1 can diced tomatoes and 1 can white kidney beans; add into 1 jar spaghetti sauce.  Serve over pasta.
11.  Tuna casserole – Cooked macaroni; 1 can Cream of Mushroom soup, 1-2 cans tuna; 1 can drained peas optional.
12.  Chicken Rice-A- Roni – Add 1 can chicken to a prepared box of Chicken Rice-A Roni.
13.  Chicken Pot Pie – 1 can chicken, 2 cans diced potatoes drained; 1 can peas and carrots drained.  White sauce – melt 2 TB butter or fat; 2 TB flour; 1 c. milk; 1/4 tsp salt; Topping – 3 c. flour; 1 c. shortening cut in; 1 egg; 3/4 c. milk; 1 tsp salt; 1/2 tsp baking powder.  Mix.  Flatten dough between your hands and lay on top of chicken and gravy mix.  Bake 350 for 30 min.
14. Chicken Tetrazzini – 2 cans chicken; 1 jar mushrooms drained; 1 16-oz jar Alfredo sauce; 1/4 tsp pepper; 1/4 tsp nutmeg – Cook on low for 20 – 45 min.  Stir occasionally; Serve over pasta Top with parmesan cheese.

Each time you go to the store, buy ingredients for 2-3 of these meals and store away.  Repeat for several months until you have 6 of each meal.  Then you will have 3 months of dinners.  Add some breakfast items:  oatmeal, pancake mix, cold cereal.  Start rotating them into your regular menus.  

Marti