Prep Genrl Weekly Prep Thread: August 7~13, 2022

[ReneeT]

Sorry folks, I got caught up reading in the forum rather than writing - If y'all just weren't so darned interesting....

As soon as I get fully caffienated, I'm going to run up to the pool town to the store that has the good sales going on and pick up a few things. And then I will head back home to try to figure out where in the heck I'm going to put them....

Hubby is off to an IDPA match this morning, so once I get the house cleaned and a couple of loads of laundry done, I'm going to go out and see how wet the garden soil still is. Yeah, it'll be hotter then than if I do it this morning, but we had another very heavy dew so the top of the soil will be pretty muddy if I don't wait. I'm not sure how wet it is under the top layer of dew, and I really don't want to compact it any more than I need to as it has a lot of clay in it. If I'm determined that I want to weed something, I've still got 5 flower beds I can work on - they've had years and years of mulch put on so the soil they are more forgiving than the garden soil.

I did get in to the back garden for a quick look last evening; the pole beans are finally starting to outgrow the bunnies appetites and are flowering. The sweet corn has managed to pull it's self back upright, but there are a lot of deer tracks in the soil; I just hope I can get to the corn before the deer do. I'd like to put in a fall crop of something in an empty area I have, but I'm not sure what it will be - it probably better be something that matures fast - and that deer don't like to eat... I do need to plant fall beets some time soon; they are more for greens than the roots

We've got possible thunderstorms in the forecast for this evening, and then thunderstorms forecast for the two days after as well; I'm working Monday and Tuesday nights so I guess it'll be good sleeping weather during the days.

Well, I'm not getting my shopping done, so I reckon I'd better get to it!

Take care all; stay safe out there!

 

[SouthernBreeze]

We got up early this morning to get everything watered, before it gets too hot. 104 again, today! I think there's a chance of rain on Wednesday, but not much of one.

I've got baby cucumbers, and the baby tomatoes are doing really good. Squash is blooming, but only male blossoms right now. We've got lots of bees, so I shouldn't have to help them along this time. I gathered more bell peppers this morning to chop for the freezer. This batch should give me another quart bag.

I'm waiting to see if the thermal curtains I bought back in the Spring are going to help this old drafty house this winter. All the windows in the house have them now, except for the laundry room and kitchen. I think they've made a difference with the heat, and I'm hoping we'll see a big difference in the cold. If not, I might get some of that foam/aluminum board insulation to cut, and put inside some of the coldest windows. That, and the curtains should do the job. Putting caulk around the window seals helped, too.

I've got my next dental appointment on Wednesday for a filling. I'll be a nervous wreck until then. I'll get him to check this one tooth I've been using the garlic juice on to see if he thinks it needs to go ahead and come out. I don't see my oral surgeon until Aug. 22. If I can, I hope I can wait about getting it extracted, until the rest of them get taken out. Just do it all at one time, and be done with it.

Nothing else really planned for this week. Prayers going out for All!

 

[paxsim2]

Our neighbor rented a chipper this weekend and brought it over so we could get our limbs shredded. He is a great guy and his wife is a sweetie. He came over later after we'd all got out of the sun and helped dh finish up.

Doing laundry, watering in a few and pulling up everything in one of the raised beds. I'll plant beans and swiss chard, plus plant more beans in the vertical garden. I finally have tiny tomatoes on my plants.
Have great day!

 

[briches]

I have finally taken my new bread machine (a Zo plus I got on Amazon prime day) out of the box and will be attempting my first loaf of bread today. I’m hopeful!

I am also going to do some meal planning to use up some of what we have that needs it. Tomatoes are coming in like crazy so LOTS of tomato sandwiches in our future.

I did just order a four pack of battery powered led lanterns. I’ve ordered them beforehand, and they work great (and come with the batteries). I had given two of them away to my sons so thought it best to replenish what I’d passed on.

Slow and steady ….
I too will be uplifting everyone here in my prayers ….

 

[SouthernBreeze]

I have finally taken my new bread machine (a Zo plus I got on Amazon prime day) out of the box and will be attempting my first loaf of bread today. I’m hopeful!

I am also going to do some meal planning to use up some of what we have that needs it. Tomatoes are coming in like crazy so LOTs of tomato sandwiches in our future.

I did just order a four pack of battery powered led lanterns. I’ve ordered them beforehand, and they work great (and come with the batteries). I had given two of them away to my sons so thought it best to replenish what I’d passed on.

Slow and steady ….
I too will be uplifting everyone here in my prayers ….

Cary has told me several times that he would buy me a bread machine. He absolutely loves fresh homemade breads straight out of the oven. I want to learn to make it better in the oven, though. I try, but those recipes that call for a lot of kneading hurts my hands. I use a few no-knead recipes. He likes the others best, though.

I hope you have great success with your bread making today!

 

[spinner]

Cary has told me several times that he would buy me a bread machine. He absolutely loves fresh homemade breads straight out of the oven. I want to learn to make it better in the oven, though. I try, but those recipes that call for a lot of kneading hurts my hands. I use a few no-knead recipes. He likes the others best, though.

I use the Zo for making dough. It is so easy and saves wear and tear on hands and wrists. I make whole wheat, sourdough rye, peasant etc and when the dough cycle is finished I shape it, let it rise and bake it. It makes better dough than I can make it with my achy wrists and hands. Might take a couple of tweaks to get it just right, but it is great once you get the feel of it. Start with one of their recipes, they are good. I never bake it in the machine, but I certainly would if I needed to. I think it would use a lot less energy than a big oven. I have a counter top convection oven I use because it is more energy efficient. I prefer my range oven, but the small one is good enough and less expensive than LP.

 

[WanderLore]

SB you can just mix up the dough in a bowl and put it in fridge overnight to rise without kneading. I've done that.
Also there is a milk bread recipe on yt that calls for very little kneading and the bread is fantastic. It's the one everyone likes the best. You can make plenty of things not just bread but rolls and donuts and french bread, hot dog and hamburger buns too.
Also the hillbilly cook lady on yt has easy recipe for bread and rolls that you bake on stovetop for 5-10 mins. Some with yeast some without.

 

[WanderLore]

Hillbilly kitchen.
She does a little testimony on her vids too, very sweet

 

[Illini Warrior]

Cary has told me several times that he would buy me a bread machine. He absolutely loves fresh homemade breads straight out of the oven. I want to learn to make it better in the oven, though. I try, but those recipes that call for a lot of kneading hurts my hands. I use a few no-knead recipes. He likes the others best, though.

I hope you have great success with your bread making today!

I think over the years of garage sales - on per season average I see at least 50 brand new & never used wedding present bread makers - pretty much at "name your price $$$" - just like the new bride - nobody wants them .....

 

[paxsim2]

I love my bread machine! I've gotten several good bread recipes off Pintrest. I use it to bake during the summer but use it for just kneading as well.
I also have a Kitchenaid mixer but it's so heavy to move around. My niece needs to replace hers so when her mom goes next week I'm sending it with her.
Once you use it a few times I think you'll like it. One thing I do is use bread flour if I'm going to bake it in the machine. If I'm just doing the dough cycle I use all purpose flour.
I hope it turns out for you!

 

[briches]

Cary has told me several times that he would buy me a bread machine. He absolutely loves fresh homemade breads straight out of the oven. I want to learn to make it better in the oven, though. I try, but those recipes that call for a lot of kneading hurts my hands. I use a few no-knead recipes. He likes the others best, though.

I hope you have great success with your bread making today!

I hope so as well! It’s going now.

 

[ReneeT]

I use my thrift store bread machine to mix the dough; then I take it out to let it rise. I manually do the punch down, shape into whatever form I decide to use - usually cloverleaf rolls; then let it do the 2nd rise, then bake. No kneading for these arthritic hands. I'll have hubby figure out a way to hook the mixing portion of it up to a bicycle in a SHTF scenario, or we'll have biscuits and corn bread (which I prefer) instead. I don't make bread in the summer - it's too long to have the oven on. I've been known to plug the $2 thrift store crock pot into the porch outlet to keep the heat out of the kitchen.

The thermometer says it's only 80; I'm not believing it for a second. The neighbor lady came over in her buggy and we went around the farm; when we went past the front garden, she said "Girl, you need to pick your beans." I said "Oh, I just picked them last ni... Dang. Looks like I need to pick beans." Glad I don't have to work three shifts in a row this week!! I may be picking them in the rain on Tuesday anyway...

 

[paxsim2]

I got motivated by the bread posts and put the ingredients in the bread machine! Smells amazing.

 

[Cag3db1rd]

We are a gluten free household since hubby has a wheat allergy. And it sux cuz nothing tastes like wheat bread.

 

[SouthernBreeze]

I use my thrift store bread machine to mix the dough; then I take it out to let it rise. I manually do the punch down, shape into whatever form I decide to use - usually cloverleaf rolls; then let it do the 2nd rise, then bake. No kneading for these arthritic hands. I'll have hubby figure out a way to hook the mixing portion of it up to a bicycle in a SHTF scenario, or we'll have biscuits and corn bread (which I prefer) instead. I don't make bread in the summer - it's too long to have the oven on. I've been known to plug the $2 thrift store crock pot into the porch outlet to keep the heat out of the kitchen.

The thermometer says it's only 80; I'm not believing it for a second. The neighbor lady came over in her buggy and we went around the farm; when we went past the front garden, she said "Girl, you need to pick your beans." I said "Oh, I just picked them last ni... Dang. Looks like I need to pick beans." Glad I don't have to work three shifts in a row this week!! I may be picking them in the rain on Tuesday anyway...

I'm like you, Renee. I prefer biscuits or cornbread over any other type of bread, except bread for sandwiches. That's the only way we eat sliced bread. Cary likes to eat homemade breads straight out of the oven slathered in butter with a slice of cheddar or Swiss cheese. Other than that, he loves cornbread and biscuits, too. Even being able to make homemade bread, we would eat more cornbread and biscuits than it. That's another reason that I haven't been more diligent about making it, and trying to justify spending the money on a bread machine. People are different, though.

 

[Cag3db1rd]

Well, found another package damaged by a mouse. Pecans. I transferred all nuts into half gallon jars that were not either in containers or in the freezer. I am mostly just trying to organize what I have and maybe do another inventory. Nothing makes me feel blessed and content like knowing what I have.

Hubby put up a portable carport to work on his welding projects under. He has 2 trailer projects he stalled out on with the weather, first heavy rains, then the very next day after that ended, the scorching heat and suffocating humidity began. So, the humidity is under some control, and he wants at least one trailer big enough to bring home 4x8 sheets on to be up and running. Even better is long enough to bring home steel for other welding projects - like that 2x10 garden bed that is also stalled. Glad he put that carport up.

I thought someone had stolen 2 newborn cavies from my cage the other day. No, they can not escape. So, I was giving the bedding a fluff, and I found them. Mama had buried them under a pile of soiled bedding, neatly next to each other. Broke my heart. I had to exhume them and dispose of the bodies. I couldn't just let them rot there. There is still 1 baby. I'm going to offer it to a friend who's existing cavie lost his mate. Cavies should never be alone - except when being butchered, of course.

 

[ReneeT]

This place tends to motivate me too, Paxsim2 - especially the weekly prep threads. The folks who participate here are generally very kind and helpful. The world could use a whole lot more of that

Well, I got enough beans to run another 8 pints through the canner once we got them snapped this afternoon. I got about a quart of cherry tomatoes, plus a couple of larger ones - including a big ole green one that got knocked off a plant when Hubby and I were trying to drive in a t-post to stand up a tomato cage that had snapped the electric fence post that was holding it in place. The green tomato ended up being sliced, dipped in egg and flour and fried for supper. I put some slices of cucumber, halved cherry tomatoes, and chunks of string cheese in a tall jar; added Italian dressing and let it marinate a bit. Hubby fixed us each a hamburger patty, and we had sliced peaches for dessert. 5:30 pm isn't too early for bedtime, is it?

 

[nomifyle]

After church we went to the town closest to our church. DH suggested we go to the local road kill (chinese) but I said I'd rather do MCdonalds 4 for four, about $20 cheaper. Well the 4 for four has gone up to 4 for 5. Still at 10.95 for two people including a drink that's cheap. We hit the local buck 25 store. I wanted some more peppermint candies, I'd taken my supplements and was getting an after taste. They had the size of fabric softener that I would consider regular size in just one brand, the other sizes are very small. I got two bottles, still cheap at 1.25.

I got a cheapie knee brace, it fit perfectly and has helped my knee. I have other knee braces from the VA but they are all too small, I've gained weight and my knee is swollen. One of the reasons I use a cane is because I'm afraid my knee will give out but with the brace it feels more secure so I'm not using the brace much and trying not to limp.

I got no food other than a few candies. They had food, but the sizes were small and 1.25 seemed pricey plus I don't need any of what they have. A lot of the stuff in food that they have you can still get for 1.00 at wm, that is if I wanted any, which I don't.

In addition to the Curcumin I've been taking I've also been taking one Diclofenac (which is an anti inflamatory) a day and I think that is also helping my knee/leg. I'm not taking much in the way of pain pills, definitely not daily and when I do I only take one.

I still have a good bit of ground pork sausage from our domestic pigs. Its too spicy for Dh, so I kind of washed it with hot water and mixed a pound of and a pound of deer meat, cooked it and used it for tacos and such. The seasoning did not bother DH.

We had another good day, church was good too. We are blessed.

 

[ReneeT]

That sounds like a wonderful day, Judy!

 

[ReneeT]

Something I like to do sometimes when it's really hot out and I have bread dough made up (or frozen roll dough in the freezer I can thaw) is to cut off a piece about the size of a large egg, then roll it out in a circle with a rolling pin, then "bake" them by cooking them like a pancakes on a griddle; kinda like you do Indian Fry Bread. It works well using a cast iron griddle on the grill and doesn't heat the house up so much. When my daughter was a little girl and we'd go camping, I'd roll the bread dough out fairly thin into a rectangle, then cut it in half 2 make to make two squares. I'd spread peanut butter on one of the squares, and jelly on the other, flip the peanut butter one on top of the jelly one, then cut them into squares that would fit our 'pie dies' - Cast iron sandwich makers that you use over a camp fire - the kids loved them!

 

[hd5574]

I put the ingredients in the mixer bowl..then mix them and let stand mixer knead the dough..most today have a dough hooks...let rise then punch it down and make it out...into loaves...clover rolls. .fold over rolls..hot dog buns and hamburger rolls(put on a cookie sheet)...and bake ...saves having space for another appliance. Saw King Arthur has hamburger and hot dog pans ...learned to do it on a cookie sheet....have also made a wreath of pull a parts for Christmas on a cookie sheet..divide the dough in 3rds braid and form a circle on a cookie sheet..let raise and bake.
My dough hooks work to mix meat loaf also.

I just got a new jar lifter..the progressive spring loaded one...it is wonderful...it is one handed...DH had to play and take the last load of tomatoes out of the canner...and put them on the towel..he was blown away at how easy it is use.

 

[SouthernBreeze]

I have a very small kitchen, and don't have room for more appliances that will take up space I don't have. My dehydrator and pressure canner are in the laundry room on a table, because I don't have space for them in my kitchen. Instead of buying a bread machine, what type of mixer has dough hooks strong enough to knead bread dough? I would want one that would hold up over time, too. When making bread, it's the kneading part that I have trouble with. A good mixer would be more versatile, so I'm thinking of a mixer instead of a bread machine. I only have room for one or the other.

 

[paxsim2]

Either the KitchenAid stand mixer or the Bosch. The KitchenAid is very heavy though if you need to move it to use it which I do.

 

[WanderLore]

I'm over at my son's for the night. Tomorrow is my birthday I'll be 59. Still going.
Levi and I made a grill by our camp spot it looks really nice and fits the cooking grate.
He is up to about nine different balloon animals he can do real well. Noah reads to me everyday.
My youngest son left me and beautiful orchids on the counter for my birthday very sweet

 

[SouthernBreeze]

I'm over at my son's for the night. Tomorrow is my birthday I'll be 59. Still going.
Levi and I made a grill by our camp spot it looks really nice and fits the cooking grate.
He is up to about nine different balloon animals he can do real well. Noah reads to me everyday.
My youngest son left me and beautiful orchids on the counter for my birthday very sweet

Happy Early Birthday!

 

[nomifyle]

Happy Early Birthday!

yes indeed, happy birthday. 59 is still young.

 

[ReneeT]

I wish you a Very Happy Early Happy Birthday, WanderLore! Hope today is wonderful, and tomorrow is even better

 

[nomifyle]

I went out to the she shed today, its been a while since I've been out there, because of my knee. I went out without my cane and felt anxious, so I grabed the upright walker that a friend brought over for me to use. It has wheels that will roll on the ground and it worked perfectly standing upright. I'm trying not to limp so as not to put my hip out of joint. I needed to get a package of toilet paper and some paper plates for the house.

While out there I noticed the last bag of dog food opened and the canisters that hold 60#s each are empty. I need to pay more attention to the dog food and I was down to my last 5 large packages of TP. (this doesn't count what I have elsewhere). So I ordered another 50# bag of dog food and a 36 roll count of 1000 sheets of scott. This was not in my budget for this month but I panicked at being that low, particularly on dog food. The price at wm for the dog food was 23 and change and the tp was 24 and change. I consider those prices to be reasonable.

I'm getting back to vacuum sealing beans and rice today, Dh already vacuum sealed pasta this morning.

 

[SouthernBreeze]

I need to be chopping bell peppers for the freezer, today, but I have an ear that's stopped up that's giving me fits. It feels like fluid build up. I've had it before, but am out of the OTC med I usually use.

I've got several of those heavy duty plastic jugs from Sam's that have the mixed nuts in them empty all washed and ready to be reused. I just don't know what to put in them. I've got so much pasta and rice now that I'm over run with it. I don't store dry beans, either. Maybe, I can find a non-food use for them. I hate throwing stuff like these jugs away. They can be reused over and over.

Went to check the tomatoes and cukes this morning, and something had eaten my cukes again!!!!! I think it was a rabbit. Ate it all the way back to just a nub about 6 inches high sticking up. Little tomatoes coming along, nicely, and squash, too. My bell pepper plants are almost 5 Ft. tall! Loaded in blooms, still.

 

[hd5574]

SB...I have a Bosch ...and a have my mother in laws kitchen aid..it is very heavy and takes up a lot of space.... it is the small size kitchen aid....and lives in its box..the Bosch is much smaller and very light and very powerful...I keep the kitchen aid as a back up..the Bosch also has attachments that you can purchase...I also have a very small kitchen..when I dehydrate the dehydrator sits on top of my washing machine...but it all works out ok with a bit of planning... I will look up the Bosch model number and post it a little later.

 

[SouthernBreeze]

SB...I have a Bosch ...and a have my mother in laws kitchen aid..it is very heavy and takes up a lot of space.... it is the small size kitchen aid....and lives in its box..the Bosch is much smaller and very light and very powerful...I keep the kitchen aid as a back up..the Bosch also has attachments that you can purchase...I also have a very small kitchen..when I dehydrate the dehydrator sits on top of my washing machine...but it all works out ok with a bit off planning... I will look up the Bosch model number and post it a little later.

I have a place to put a mixer, large or small, on the table with the dehydrator and pressure canner. I only have room for that addition, though.

 

[SouthernBreeze]

Our garden tiller was just delivered! Cary has a new toy! He'll prolly have to play with it. Hopefully, he won't get carried away, and till up the whole yard.

 

[thompson]

I've got several of those heavy duty plastic jugs from Sam's that have the mixed nuts in them empty all washed and ready to be reused. I just don't know what to put in them. I've got so much pasta and rice now that I'm over run with it. I don't store dry beans, either. Maybe, I can find a non-food use for them. I hate throwing stuff like these jugs away. They can be reused over and over.

Yes'm, so do we. A BUNCH. It gets out of control sometimes, but we are "nutty folk" so it's not hard to build up a surplus. We all use them for various purposes here. Dh likes to put his odds'n ends spare parts, fixit-it stuff, smaller zip ties, small oddball computer parts, etc. I use them for food storage, but also for storing art supplies, sewing stuff... all kinds of stuff. I like them because they are really heavy and they have that indented place to grab. They also stack pretty well on shelves. I've even used them for leftover soup and chili when every other plastic container was being used. Not sure how well they'd do in the freezer, but I might put something dry in there and see if they get brittle when frozen.

 

[SouthernBreeze]

Yes'm, so do we. A BUNCH. It gets out of control sometimes, but we are "nutty folk" so it's not hard to build up a surplus. We all use them for various purposes here. Dh likes to put his odds'n ends spare parts, fixit-it stuff, smaller zip ties, small oddball computer parts, etc. I use them for food storage, but also for storing art supplies, sewing stuff... all kinds of stuff. I like them because they are really heavy and they have that indented place to grab. They also stack pretty well on shelves. I've even used them for leftover soup and chili when every other plastic container was being used. Not sure how well they'd do in the freezer, but I might put something dry in there and see if they get brittle when frozen.

I've got pasta, rice, and dehydrated hash browns stored in mine, all neatly stacked on shelves in the pantry room. Yeah, they stack great. Nice tight screw down lids, too. I also like the indented side for grabbing. I've collected them for years. Cary loves mixed nuts for snacking.

 

[hd5574]

SB...I have a Bosch compact mixer...MUM 4405...it is on amazon. ..it also has attachments you can get separately. .blender. ..food processor, juicer. .I'm sure you can find it other places..but you can see it there

 

[Cag3db1rd]

I have a very small kitchen, and don't have room for more appliances that will take up space I don't have. My dehydrator and pressure canner are in the laundry room on a table, because I don't have space for them in my kitchen. Instead of buying a bread machine, what type of mixer has dough hooks strong enough to knead bread dough? I would want one that would hold up over time, too. When making bread, it's the kneading part that I have trouble with. A good mixer would be more versatile, so I'm thinking of a mixer instead of a bread machine. I only have room for one or the other.

I feel ya. I have a food preserving "kitchen set up on the porch with a dual burner propane stove and my excalibur. It's too hot do do it inside.

 

[SouthernBreeze]

SB...I have a Bosch compact mixer...MUM 4405...it is on amazon. ..it also has attachments you can get separately. .blender. ..food processor, juicer. .I'm sure you can find it other places..but you can see it there

Thanks.

 

[Cag3db1rd]

I am only thinking of getting a Kitchen Aid to get the hand crank option.

 

[nomifyle]

Would a stand mixer take up less space than a bread maker? With the bread it mixes the dough and you have the option to use it or bake in the oven. It would be cooler to use in the not months than an oven. Just saying.

I have a never used bread maker that I bought after Katrina. More likely it will never be used, if I have to make bread I'll make tortillas, we use them for everything.

 

[paxsim2]

Mine takes up about the same space as the mixer but not turning on the oven in the summer is a plus. In the winter I make batter bread that isn't kneaded.