Archive for the ‘Homemaking’ Category

I had so much fun making jam that I felt confident in making the leap when one of the ladies I shop with often at our local Farmer’s Market said she was taking pre-orders for her figs.

I got two gallons of the lovely things, which she said would be about nine pounds.

Wolf suggested fig preserves, which was a treat he remembered his grandmother making. After much debate – since I had no idea what I was doing – I settled on this Judy’s Fig Preserves recipe. Mostly just because the lemons sounded good.

After washing and removing stems, the first real step is to pour the sugar over them and let it sit there and “stew” overnight. Since I don’t have a stockpot or anything similarly large, I ended up using my new (huge!) pressure canner (pot part only).

I wasn’t sure how much that was really going to accomplish. But what do I know?

In the morning there was definite evidence that there had been THINGS going on. So we proceeded to the actual cooking.

We cooked, and cooked, and cooked…

Was it the pot? The wrong temperature setting?

It seemed to take a long, long time to get to the point where the figs were even beginning to turn transparent. The 2-3 hours listed in the recipe was not even close.

Then we had a problem of not knowing when to “say when”. When most of the figs are mostly translucent, is that it? Or are you really trying to get all of the figs all the way?

At some point – something like 6-8 hours later – we stopped cooking it. I canned as much as I could do in a single batch in my water bath canner (5 pints and 2 half pints, since I ran out of pint jars), then put the rest (2 1/2 more half pints!) in the fridge for immediate use. (So we also got a greater yield than the recipe suggested)

The preserves are, overall, a success.

They do have a bit of a strong, bitter taste. I attribute this to overcooking, but Wolf pointed out it could simply be the character of the particular figs we had. He says it does largely resemble what he remembers from his grandmother’s kitchen.

This post was shared at the fun Titus Twosdays Linkup:

Still working on my list of 12 DIY Projects to Try in 2011. Here’s the tally so far:

• January – Sew a Blind Hem
• February – Homemade Chai Tea
• March – Homemade Hamburger Buns
• April – Plant a garden for food
• May – Freezer Jam
• And for June… Canning Jam

My original list said I was going to make Plum Jam, which is still on the list (since it’s Wolf’s favorite)… BUT I decided to do Blueberry Jam for this first batch, for a couple of reasons.

First, it seemed like it would make a better comparison (“apples to apples”) with the Blueberry Freezer Jam from last month.

And second, I came across some lovely, locally grown, organic blueberries at the local Farmers’ Market. So far, I haven’t seen any plums in meaningful quantifies.

So, we began…

First, smash up the lovely berries, and cook them up with the sugar and pectin.

I was originally a little concerned about this step, since I’ve read and watched a number of things referring to ways to test the jam and see if it is done. But with the Ball Pectin, they offered reassurance that you only had to follow the recipe – including cooking times – and all would be well.

Then, once it’s jam, just ladle it into jars and let it boil in the water bath for a few minutes.

After resting for 24 hours, all the lids were sealed. Victory!

Freezer jam definitely has a “fresher” taste to it – more like eating freshly-picked blueberries on your toast. Which has its advantages.

Cooked, canned jam, on the other hand, is really a “true jam” – more sweet, more syrupy – not that it’s thin like syrup, but the texture is definitely different. This, too, has its place.

The verdict?

It’s not apples to apples, after all. I like them both, differently.

I have been wanting to try Palm Oil for a while now, after reading about it more and more on the natural / whole food and cooking blogs I enjoy. It was perfect timing when my good friends at Tropical Traditions offered to send me a jar to review!

Here’s what I got:

Virgin Palm Oil – Organic – 32 oz. – 1 quart

(Clicking that link above will take you to their product page, which has a ton of information about Palm Oil in general, and the benefits of it, as well as their particular variety and processing information).

For many of their products, they have numerous recipes on the website, but not so many for this one.

Although I had a few specific ideas in mind, we did also try it out in our usual bread recipe, as well.

The bread came out with a gorgeous yellow color, and it had a distinct flavor to it as well… I joked that it tasted like a palm tree, but I meant it in a good way. LOL!

We did the same thing with pizza crust. It (of course) had the same beautiful, rich color. In that context, the taste was totally lost in the spices and excitement.

I have yet to try the thing I was most excited about… The Popcorn that Wardeh from GNOWFGLINS demonstrates in her video:

Want to try it? Tropical Traditions has a free gift for you through their Referral Program:

If you are a new customer, as an As For My House reader you will receive a complimentary copy of the book Virgin Coconut Oil: How it has changed people’s lives and how it can change yours! by Brian and Marianita Shilhavy with your order. This book is filled with testimonies and research showing how healthy coconut oil is, and it also includes over 85 recipes showing how one can incorporate coconut into their diet.

Just select “Referred by a friend” when asked, and in the box that says “How did you hear of us?” enter my Sponsor ID number: 5689476.

…and be sure to come back and share your results!
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As you watch the program, it does have some earmarks of being made much earlier in the filmmakers’ careers, such as less money for staging, less smooth editing, and that funny camera man in the background of some of the shots…

But the material it presents is still engaging and useful. Many people will probably also enjoy Serene’s “whimsical and entertaining style”, although personally it wasn’t my favorite.

With a keen awareness of the situation, Franklin Springs continue to offer the DVD for sale, but they have it priced at only $9.95. Thanks, guys!

I would have preferred a few more specifics and recipes be included, especially since her cookbook is out of print and not as inexpensive or easy to get as one might wish.

Serene has some great background information on the consequences of unhealthy eating, and some vivid metaphors to help folks understand why things need to change. Then she offers some good overarching principles for eating better, and strategies for incorporating more raw foods (the “secret” to health!) into your diet.

I would venture a guess that anyone who reads my blog is probably interested in this topic, and unless you’re already well down the road of raw food, you’re likely to get some useful tips from this pleasant little encounter.

BUY IT!

Order it directly from Franklin Springs: Rejuvenate with Serene DVD for only $9.95, or as part of the Above Rubies combo pack including (her mother!) Nancy Campbell’s DVD The Family Meal Table.

WIN IT!

One lucky As For My House reader will win their own copy of Rejuvenate with Serene!

Make sure to leave your email address with each comment. (Used only to contact the winner. If your email is entered in the form it will be saved for me but not displayed).

1. Leave a comment here sharing where you are on your journey to healthy eating – whether you are just finding out about it and want to get started, or whether you’re already growing your own food and cooking from scratch full-time!

Extra Entries (leave separate comments for each).

Once you have completed #1, you can earn additional entries by doing any or all of the following.

2. Become a Facebook Fan of Franklin Springs Family Media.

3. Subscribe to As For My House in your favorite feed reader, or by email. (Current subscribers count, too!)

4. and 5. Post this giveaway to your Facebook wall (leave your Facebook name), or Tweet about it (and leave the link)! Each may be done daily for extra entries.

6. enter the Amazing Grace CD Giveaway, then leave a comment here letting me know you did.

In additon to these, there are MANY more ways to earn extra entries. You know, all the usual stuff like sharing on Facebook, Tweeting, and so on? Just click over to our Giveaway Policy page for all the details!

BE QUICK!! This giveaway ends 6/20/2011 at 11:59pm (Central), or more likely some time the following morning when I log in again. (If you can still leave a comment, you can still enter).

The winner will be chosen using random.org and announced on the blog, as well as contacted by email. Winner must respond within 48 hours, or a new winner will be selected. Your DVD will ship directly from Franklin Springs.

*** Comments are now closed. Look for the winner to be announced soon in a separate post. ***

Still working on my list of 12 DIY Projects to Try in 2011. Here’s the tally so far:

• January – Sew a Blind Hem
• February – Homemade Chai Tea
• March – Homemade Hamburger Buns
• April – Plant a garden for food
• And here’s May – Freezer Jam!

Jewel and I found some blueberries at the Farmer’s Market last week, and decided it was time to give this a try.

(This image is not mine, but rather was borrowed from an interesting blueberry article on the Projo Fitness Blog, about which I know nothing else)

First we had to go out for supplies – pectin, and some jars and lids (since the only canning jars I’ve scrounged second-hand so far are big ones). We went ahead and bought cute “quilted glass” jars typical for jam.

Things were literally as easy as 1, 2, 3.

1. Mash the blueberries

2. Stir them together with pectin and sugar, and

3. Spoon into jars.

Since we used the Instant Pectin there was no cooking, nor any “canning” processing.

We got just over two jars’ worth of jam from the recipe, so we put the two full ones in the freezer and ate up the remainder!

There’s Jewel with our creation at the top of the post… Sorry for the squint, it’s pretty sunny here right now…

I’m working on the “31 Days to Clean” challenge hosted by Joyful Mothering (click the picture above to read all about it). You can revisit my Week 1 post, if you missed it…

Week 2 I didn’t ever seem to get on track, after thinking too much about Monday’s reading.

The lesson was one I had learned back in the self-employed business world, about making a short and prioritized list before you go to bed, then using that as your agenda the next day.

It’s true that it has great value in the business world. And certainly I think there are lessons we can take from in into our parenting and homemaking life… Prioritizing is tough, and important, after all.

But it’s just not as simple as that. Our job is really much more dynamic, and thus in many ways harder and more stressful, than a “business” job.

I know there are things that happen, but typically if you have a Shareholders Meeting scheduled for Monday at 3 pm, then that’s what you can count on.

My plan to grocery shop on Monday afternoon, however, can easily be shoved aside for a variety of urgent matters, ranging from taking an ill child to the doctor, to waiting for the plumber to come fix the leak that sprung under the sink, to being caught up in a fun homeschool science experiment that takes far longer than expected, to staying home in bed with an ill child (there’s that ill child again!), and on and on…

What we do is tough, and we should recognize that.

Sometimes that #1 “important” thing may not get done. But maybe I can knock off #3, as well as what would have been #10 and #11 had they even been on the list, while waiting around for the doctor. And that’s a tremendous accomplishment.

Anyhow, this has strayed far afield from the 31 Day Challenge, and is not exactly an earth-shattering revelation. Somehow, though, once I got off track from doing the challenge, I never managed to get back on.

I am going to get back in the saddle and keep working though this, because I think it is very valuable. I do not think I’m going to try to double up on exercises and “catch up”… although I’ll play that by ear, since it would be nice to be back in sync with the Challenge posts on Joyful Mothering.

Onward…

I decided to jump in and join the “31 Days to Clean” challenge on Joyful Mothering (click the picture above to read all about it). I purchased an eBook copy of the book, so I’m stuck reading it on the computer (via KindleForPC), but at least I don’t have to do a bunch of printing.

The challenge started last week, with Days 1 -5 being “assigned” for Monday through Friday.

Each day, the book presents a short reading – a lesson, a devotional, a motivating story, etc. Then there is a Mary Challenge (for your heart), and a Martha Challenge (for your hands). Theoretically, in 31 days, you’ll have a “Spring Cleaned” home, as well as a changed attitude and plan for keeping things in order.

Can’t hurt, right?

So, how did Week 1 go for me? Hmmmm… Fair.

I enjoyed the readings, and was able to get on-board with the Mary Challenges.

The Martha Challenges were a bit more problematic.

I did get the fridge and freezer cleaned out and cleaned up on Day 2… But I got slightly freaked out when I looked ahead for the supplies I would need to complete the rest of the tasks (that was a task), and discovered that on Day 6 I was expected to clean out an organize all my kitchen cabinets.

Ummm, no. That big a chunk of time is just not in the agenda for that day – or, realistically, for any day when anything else is happening.

That is not in the same league of time as the other Martha Challenges, which seemed like incremental and do-able “baby steps”.

Now, classically, I have gotten freaked out and I’m having trouble working up the motivation to read and participate any further. Who knows WHAT other Martha challenges will be ahead (I don’t – I was too chicken to keep looking after that!).

Yes, I will get back on the horse. Maybe this week will be smoother…

Still working on my list of 12 DIY Projects to Try in 2011. I know it’s a long way from February, but bear with me. Here’s what has happened so far:

• January – Sew a Blind Hem
• February – Homemade Chai Tea (NOW – FINALLY)!
• March – Homemade Hamburger Buns
• April – Plant a garden for food
• May – Freezer Jam, coming soon!

I started with the Spicy Chai Tea recipe from Houseboat Eats. I doubled it, since I figured that everyone would want a taste, and I didn’t want to have to skimp!

Jewel and I had a fun time together on Mother’s Day making up our new concoction.

Bulk spices all came from the Monterey Bay Spice Company (online), except for the cardamom, which I had already purchased (ground, so not as pretty!).

Pretty, eh?

Then I discovered that I didn’t know a good way to crush the harder items – whole cloves, peppercorns, etc.

Here’s what I came up with. Functional, not glamorous.

But anyhow, we got the job done! Then they simmered in the pot.

Taking a West Ladies idea, I strained it using a well-washed section from an old sheer curtain (and a brave husband).

Since the milk is added with the tea, it is already creamy looking – not the clear tea you see in some of the photos with the online recipes (although of course you could make it that way).

And the verdict? Everyone enjoyed the tea! (That’s Jewel sipping hers at the top of the post).

We all agreed it had a bit too much bite, and added a bit more sugar and milk than seemed to be indicated.

Based on our taste test, as well as the variation at Tammy’s Recipes, we’ll be tweaking it a bit next time.

Less ginger, for sure. Perhaps a bit more orange, and a bit more allspice.

Next time will be soon, though! Chai is so delicious…

Wolf asked me if it was worth it — all the time and effort, and even the monetary investment — over buying Chai teabags or concentrate in the store. Aside from the “fun” factor, I readily admit that that cup of chai wasn’t worth all that… But as part of a process, I believe it was. Being able to build it exactly to our taste is a wonderful feeling.

Hopefully we can get a “perfect blend” worked out, and make ready-to-go chai packets as Christmas presents this year.

[Be sure to check out the blog hop I'm entering with this post: Simple Lives Thursday, co-hosted by the amazing GNOWFGLINS]

This is not a theological issue, but simply a practical, physical one.

Some time back I discovered the Great Taste, No Pain system for curing digestive issues through simple dietary changes.

In the most simplistic of terms, the biggest component of that program is to avoid eating starchy carbs (which your stomach digests with an alkaline-based solution), with animal proteins (which require acid-based digestion). As you might imagine, having both those competing needs in there at once means digestive efficiency plummets.

Yummy photo swiped from Joyful Abode

Once you start thinking about it, it’s alarming how many common meals are based on that very pattern:

So the transition has been more than a little challenging.

Luckily, most veggies fall into a “neutral” category, and can be either with either the starches or the proteins. Vegetable proteins (nuts, soy, tofu, etc.) can also be eaten with the starches.

A “‘protein centered” meal is easy enough to construct:

If I’m making steaks (a favorite of hubby’s), we can just forgo the potato (or make them for the others and just not eat it myself). A nice salad, some green beans, and everything is set.

For the “carb/strach centered” meals, we’ve found some easy basics, and some real challenges:

• Peanut-butter is a life-saver. I eat a lot of peanut-butter toast, peanut-butter-and-something sandwiches, etc.
• When the kids have pizza on Friday nights, I have a big salad. I either “go meat” and put pepperoni on it, or “go carb” and enjoy it with pizza-seasoned bread-sticks dipped in marinara sauce.
• I have purchased some veggie “cheese” in slices and shreds, so that I can “fake it” – cheese sandwich, nachos, bean burrito with “cheese”, etc. I just wish it melted better.
• Hormel Vegetarian Chili has been accepted by the whole family as a substitute for the “regular” kind (in some cases without even knowing it). I know I should make my own, but until such time, this works.

It’s been interesting to look at many recipes through new eyes. I’ve found it useful to apply the label “vegetarian” or “vegan”, to help people understand the problem. Even though I do eat those things, of course, I can’t eat them in that context.

So that yummy “dessert apple pizza” doesn’t work for me, because it has a layer of cream cheese filling in the middle. I was thankful for a Facebook friend-of-a-friend who offered the idea that vegand commonly make “cream” substitutes from nut pastes.

Something new to explore!

Remember January’s list of 12 DIY Projects to Try in 2011 – one for each month?

Here’s what has happened so far:

• January – Sew a Blind Hem
• February – Homemade Chai Tea (pushed back due to budgeting for outrageous spices)
• March – Homemade Hamburger Buns
• And now for April – Plant a garden for food

Whoohoo! Did it!

If you search for post by the Topic of Gardening, you can see our plan, our raised beds, and our sprouting seedlings.

Now, if I can just get the car to stop breaking down, so I’m comfortable investing the the chai spices…