etdeb
Veteran Member
I think pre made bags up to one gal but buy the rolls and make your own sizes.
Prep Genrl Weekly Prep thread: June 8 thru June 15, 2025
- Thread starter feralferret
- Start date
My girlfriend and I both do the same things that save tons of freezer space..plus totally less expensive than another freezer
We both have dehydrators and vacuum sealers
They are truly our friends .
We buy frozen vegetables from the grocery store..all the prep work is done...I have the round type dehydrator with a hole in the center of the trays..it also lets me set both the temperature and time..when I get home from the store I open a bag of frozen veggies and dump on a tray...about 1 lb is correct for tray..
Then dehydrate.,when dry I dump them in a ball jar and vacuum seal...much less expensive than the number ten cans of dehydrated veggies..
Faster than growing, picking and prepping my own veggies...
Now flour and corn meal and such.. I learned years ago from that older woman who was a college professor...and a prepper.. her name escapes me..that freezing flour and such is not necessary...I get my flour, corn meal and such in the smaller bags...5 lb...
Then just drop the original paper bag into a vacuum seal bag and vac and seal..slip a piece of paper inside with the date sealed..then seal and seal again...this method removes all of the oxygen...it both kills any larva and keeps the flour fresh..I put a sieve over my flour jar when I fill it..and stir it with a spoon...and it refluffs the flour like the day I got it from the store....I have years old flour this way that has no bugs and had not gone rancid..no freezer time or space needed..I do store the flour bricks in a plastic bin or pail to keep it safe.
I have lots of pasta in ball jars ..vac sealed no air lasts of years..
I vac seal everything that I can.. oxygen is your enemy
I can homemade, stews, soups and spaghetti sauces for instant homemade meals..
Just make a huge stock pot full..and can the leftovers...I use quart jars ..for both of us...except spaghetti meat sauce I use pints..cook once and no freezer needed
We both have dehydrators and vacuum sealers
They are truly our friends .
We buy frozen vegetables from the grocery store..all the prep work is done...I have the round type dehydrator with a hole in the center of the trays..it also lets me set both the temperature and time..when I get home from the store I open a bag of frozen veggies and dump on a tray...about 1 lb is correct for tray..
Then dehydrate.,when dry I dump them in a ball jar and vacuum seal...much less expensive than the number ten cans of dehydrated veggies..
Faster than growing, picking and prepping my own veggies...
Now flour and corn meal and such.. I learned years ago from that older woman who was a college professor...and a prepper.. her name escapes me..that freezing flour and such is not necessary...I get my flour, corn meal and such in the smaller bags...5 lb...
Then just drop the original paper bag into a vacuum seal bag and vac and seal..slip a piece of paper inside with the date sealed..then seal and seal again...this method removes all of the oxygen...it both kills any larva and keeps the flour fresh..I put a sieve over my flour jar when I fill it..and stir it with a spoon...and it refluffs the flour like the day I got it from the store....I have years old flour this way that has no bugs and had not gone rancid..no freezer time or space needed..I do store the flour bricks in a plastic bin or pail to keep it safe.
I have lots of pasta in ball jars ..vac sealed no air lasts of years..
I vac seal everything that I can.. oxygen is your enemy
I can homemade, stews, soups and spaghetti sauces for instant homemade meals..
Just make a huge stock pot full..and can the leftovers...I use quart jars ..for both of us...except spaghetti meat sauce I use pints..cook once and no freezer needed
My food saver has the hose and attachment hose that allows me to get the food saver lids that go over both regular and wide mouth jars..those allow me to put a regular or wide mouth lid on the jar and them cover that with the food saver top and insert the other end of the hose in that top then vac the air out of the jar...and it will seal the jar ...then date top and unlike canning put a ring on the jar..
The reason I vac seal flour in the original bag..it keeps the flour out of your sealer which will ruin it..
The reason I vac seal flour in the original bag..it keeps the flour out of your sealer which will ruin it..
SouthernBreeze
TB Fanatic
Yeah, I want to vacuum seal with a food saver all my flour and cornmeal. If I can get the gallon size bags, that's what I'll use. The bags will store flat not taking up so much room. Once the old freezer is empty and cleaned up, I'll stack and store all the vacuum sealed bags in it. I can stuff in quart and half gallon canning jars, but I just use O2 absorbers in the jars. Seals them tight. It would take way too many canning jars to do flour and cornmeal.
I've said many times here that we are independent from the grid if we have to be, except for the fridge and freezers. After this scare, I want to do away with one freezer and only keep a small amount of food in the fridge. Trying to live off as little electricity as possible. At this point, I really don't like the idea of depending on a generator, either. Cary is at the store now refilling all our gasoline cans.
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Meemur
Voice on the Prairie
Good afternoon! Nice cool day here. It's hazy but the smoke isn't reaching the ground today.
I found my boom box in the "junk" closet! It's working just fine. I'm still not sure how it got separated from its cord and ended up in the closet. I had helpers at one point when I was pulling up carpet, so maybe it was moved then. In any case, problem solved!
FWIW, I have an inexpensive MP3 player. Several years ago, a friend made several memory cards for it: folk, classical, New Age, misc, and some classic rock. That and the classic music station on the radio are typically what I listen to, but a few weeks ago, the MP3 player started to not hold a charge. I was complaining about that to a friend, and that's how I ended up with a box full of CDs.
I may or may not replace the MP3 player. The CDs sound a lot better! The one thing I like about the MP3 player: it's really light. I can clip it to my pocket and forget it's there. And, no, I don't put headphones in both ears and ignore the world. I mostly use it in one ear while walking on a closed track. I don't wear it while biking.
I hope today goes well for everyone! That's great about your fridge, SB!
I found my boom box in the "junk" closet! It's working just fine. I'm still not sure how it got separated from its cord and ended up in the closet. I had helpers at one point when I was pulling up carpet, so maybe it was moved then. In any case, problem solved!
FWIW, I have an inexpensive MP3 player. Several years ago, a friend made several memory cards for it: folk, classical, New Age, misc, and some classic rock. That and the classic music station on the radio are typically what I listen to, but a few weeks ago, the MP3 player started to not hold a charge. I was complaining about that to a friend, and that's how I ended up with a box full of CDs.
I may or may not replace the MP3 player. The CDs sound a lot better! The one thing I like about the MP3 player: it's really light. I can clip it to my pocket and forget it's there. And, no, I don't put headphones in both ears and ignore the world. I mostly use it in one ear while walking on a closed track. I don't wear it while biking.
I hope today goes well for everyone! That's great about your fridge, SB!
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If you dump the loose flour into a vac seal bag.
It will suck flour into your machine and ruin it..it will quit sucking in short order
That is why I leave the flour in the original paper bag... they turn in a solid hard brick that is easy to stack.. this shown in the video I watched about it years ago..
SouthernBreeze
TB Fanatic
Since I have everything stored and frozen in 1 gallon freezer bags already, I was thinking I could leave it in those and vacuum seal the whole thing. That way loose flour and cornmeal wouldn't be a problem. Wouldn't that work?
patriotgal
Veteran Member
We got 10 min of hail, rain and high winds last night. Blew on through. No real damage, thank God.
No you can't vac seal and remove the air/oxygen that way..it is very strong suction...and the flour will not stay flat...it will pull the flour to the edge of the bag....think how strong the suction must be to make a bag of flour rock hard..hard like a brick...if you don't remove all the air from what you are sealing you will still have oxygen in your bag and flour will go rancid...I buy the 5 lb bags of flour..and drop the whole unopened bag into a gallon vac bag...
You might be able to put your open flour in a paper lunch bag and loosely seal and then vac..you have to get all the air out..
I would never mess with oxygen absorbers...the attachments to vac the jars are not expensive..and they remove all the oxygen and seal the jar..I have opened things I sealed in jars years before and they are perfect...even roasted salted nuts...and all kinds of crackers...the French fried onions from the store.. chocolate chips.. anything dry...
If you have frozen veggies it would make sense to dehydrate them...then seal in jars..and save your freezer space for meats and butter..and such....
I vac and seal all my roasts..pork chops ...sausage...and such...using two vac seal bags..
Drop the unwrapped meat in bag #1 then vac and seal then put that sealed bag in #2..I put the label in the second bag..and vac and seal..and
second time...I drop a pound of butter in the carton in a bag and vac seal...had a pound get lost once in the back of my upright freezer it was still perfect 7 years later.. sealed meat lasts much longer than freezer bags..and double sealed even longer..
I have quart jars of dehydrated carrots ..they started as frozen from the store...carrots really shrink when I dehydrated them...I have 8 lbs of frozen in one quart jar..just take out what you need..and vac and reseal...
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nomifyle
TB Fanatic
A few years ago I was putting up flour for long teen, I got 5 gallon Mylar bags and trimmed them to fit 3 1/2 gallon buckets, and used oxy things to suck the air out, after the air was sucked out I put the lid on the bucket. I’ve taken the lid off to check the bags and they were still fine.
I have tons of jars with preciously frozen vegetables dehydrated and vacuum sealed.
I’m glad I have all that food but with the way I feel now days, I would not do it again.
I have tons of jars with preciously frozen vegetables dehydrated and vacuum sealed.
I’m glad I have all that food but with the way I feel now days, I would not do it again.
Meemur
Voice on the Prairie
It was a lot of work to prepare those!
I've moved twice since the week I put together a large pantry. I don't have any food left from that original stash, just some camping equipment.
I'm not going to be sad about it. That was an insurance policy, and very little of it went to waste. Others benefited from what I didn't use in due time.
But unless something really drastic changes, I'm not going to put together a years' worth of food again. Over the winter stashes have been working for me.
I've moved twice since the week I put together a large pantry. I don't have any food left from that original stash, just some camping equipment.
I'm not going to be sad about it. That was an insurance policy, and very little of it went to waste. Others benefited from what I didn't use in due time.
But unless something really drastic changes, I'm not going to put together a years' worth of food again. Over the winter stashes have been working for me.
One of the huge advantages of my dehydrator and vac sealer...is I can buy things on sale ... saving a lot of money.. also I was able to buy things in bulk at Costco...and seal in jars..
Some of their bulk meat ..like their pulled pork .
I'll get it...have a meal out of it for both of us..then divide the remainder into single servings...and seal each in a Avid Armour half.pint bags..vac and seal them return to original package and vac and seal the whole package and freeze..
Some of their bulk meat ..like their pulled pork .
I'll get it...have a meal out of it for both of us..then divide the remainder into single servings...and seal each in a Avid Armour half.pint bags..vac and seal them return to original package and vac and seal the whole package and freeze..
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
We finally got our garden in, not a lot of things, just potato's, beets, carrots, onions. Getting to hot for anything else to go in now.
I got my fence fixed i.e. added a second short fence on top of the first short fence. I saw a rabbit in the garden last week and it kept trying to jump over the higher fence until it remembered where it had come in and it went flying over the shorter fence. Yesterday I watched the rabbit trying to figure out my doubled-up fence. It kept trying to jump into the garden until it finally gave up. It is so cobbled together and ugly, but it's working!! I've never seen this number of rabbits before and people all over town are complaining so it's not just me. It's not unusual to see 5 or more running around the backyard. Nothing outside the fence will survive.
I was very tired all day so did not do much. Hopefully I'll feel better tomorrow and get out into the garden to hoe out the weeds before they take over.
I was very tired all day so did not do much. Hopefully I'll feel better tomorrow and get out into the garden to hoe out the weeds before they take over.
WanderLore
Veteran Member
Same here Anna, the hatchlings are everywhere.
Cobbled is our middle name! As long as it works!
Good morning, coffee
Cobbled is our middle name! As long as it works!
Good morning, coffee
SouthernBreeze
TB Fanatic
Without Frisco being around, we have a small rabbit that has taken up residence in our backyard. So far, it hasn't made it into the gardens. It has plenty of white clover to eat, instead. Cary mowed all that down, yesterday, so what did he do? I had some lettuce to go to the compost pile, and he took it and thew it out where we always see the rabbit! He's even named it "Dot", because it has a white dot on its forehead.
We've never had a problem with rabbits in our gardens. It's always those dang groundhogs. We haven't seen any of those, so far.
More storms moved through overnight. Everything is soaked again. No damage and no more tree branches are down. We're still having problems with our electricity. Power company is still working on power lines down the road from us.
Both freezers are still going strong.
I finally got my long overdue Walmart package late yesterday afternoon. I called about my Blair order, and the lady told me it was late, because they are experiencing so much volume at their warehouse right now. Seems everyone is taking advantage of their 80% off sale that has been ongoing for a month, now. They have been flooded with orders.
We've never had a problem with rabbits in our gardens. It's always those dang groundhogs. We haven't seen any of those, so far.
More storms moved through overnight. Everything is soaked again. No damage and no more tree branches are down. We're still having problems with our electricity. Power company is still working on power lines down the road from us.
Both freezers are still going strong.
I finally got my long overdue Walmart package late yesterday afternoon. I called about my Blair order, and the lady told me it was late, because they are experiencing so much volume at their warehouse right now. Seems everyone is taking advantage of their 80% off sale that has been ongoing for a month, now. They have been flooded with orders.
thompson
Certa Bonum Certamen
I bet they have!
Waiting on more expected rain today. We haven't been getting as frequent as you, SB, though.
SouthernBreeze
TB Fanatic
I ordered 4 tops. They were only $7.99 each! No shipping fees, either. I get a catalog from them every few weeks. Everything in the last couple of catalogs have been 80% off. All of their tank tops are $4.99 each.
SouthernBreeze
TB Fanatic
Thanks for letting me know that. I'll leave what's in the freezer and steadily use it up. I'll use the vacuum sealer on any new bags I buy. Hopefully, I can get it the next time I grocery shop. I hope it will still be on sale.
kyrsyan
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Hey, everyone. Sorry I disappeared but life and work have been a bit chaotic. When you add in the political chaos, I've been toast. I've even had to fall back more on the "quick" meals and takeout then I ad for a few months.
@SouthernBreeze, you might look into a set of freezer alarms. My freezers are in a detached garage so having them defrost is an issue. I lost a lot of stuff when an upright died. So this past year I found a set of wifi connect freezer alarms. There are also just regular versions for if your freezer is somewhere that you'd hear an annoying beeping alarm.
I've been switching out my cookware.i gave a friend's daughter a large box of basic pots and pans that I'm not using.
I hired someone to help in the garden to get the new raised beds in. Three more are halfway full.
The squash is exploding. So is the garlic.
My allergies are through the roof. My edema appears to finally be truly decreasing. I did get a new batch of elderberry syrup made using a custom recipe.
I have today off, so now that I am awake and moving, I think I'm going to start more laundry, do more dishes, and tackle a bit more of the mess in the living room. Fingers crossed.
@SouthernBreeze, you might look into a set of freezer alarms. My freezers are in a detached garage so having them defrost is an issue. I lost a lot of stuff when an upright died. So this past year I found a set of wifi connect freezer alarms. There are also just regular versions for if your freezer is somewhere that you'd hear an annoying beeping alarm.
I've been switching out my cookware.i gave a friend's daughter a large box of basic pots and pans that I'm not using.
I hired someone to help in the garden to get the new raised beds in. Three more are halfway full.
The squash is exploding. So is the garlic.
My allergies are through the roof. My edema appears to finally be truly decreasing. I did get a new batch of elderberry syrup made using a custom recipe.
I have today off, so now that I am awake and moving, I think I'm going to start more laundry, do more dishes, and tackle a bit more of the mess in the living room. Fingers crossed.
Meemur
Voice on the Prairie
@anna43 -- I'm laughing at that confused rabbit. So glad it's working!
Last day of cooler temps here. It's supposed to be in the 90s tomorrow.
I started another thread on this topic in the cork board. One of the nearby parks now has a 5 basket disc golf course (5 holes? -- I'm still learning terminology). It's free to use. I had heard of disc golf, but I had never seen a course before. It is more popular out West, but apparently it's coming into the metro.
I've been watching Youtubes about it, and there's used discs available at both the thrift store and Play It Again Sports over in WDM. Later, I'll go see what I can find. It's possible to drop several hundred on a bag full of discs, but I think I can get by with a "beginner set," which will run from $7 - $25, depending on whether I can get it at the thrift store. It looks like there are 3 main discs needed to start (driver, mid-range, and a putter).
The appeal to me: it's inexpensive and lots of walking is involved, not running, which is a selling point.
I don't know how I'll do with the throwing. I was pretty good back in the day. I had a pro Frisbee that we used to toss around in the front yard of the school during lunch, but that was a good 50 years ago. These discs are a lot smaller.
I consider this a prep because it fits into physical fitness. I see seniors doing it on the Youtubes, so as long as I exercise the usual precautions, it should be okay for me. The second photo looks more like my park set-up -- the course isn't out in the woods.
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patriotgal
Veteran Member
Frisbee golf looks fun.
I have 2 foodsavers and plenty of bags but am trying to get away from freezers. Had 4, down to I big and 1 small. Small one is full of pork and fat that needs to be rendered. Big one is half full of dry goods. Will foodsaver those.
Going to try to remember to look at the strawberry moon tomorrow evening.
Reclaimed the laundry room yesterday and emptied more totes. Kinley helped me move all of the empty totes to shelves in the barn. It took us a bit of playing the match the lid and tote game. Hoping to end up with enough empty totes to keep most of my books.
My desktop is loading slower than molasses so will spend some time working on it tonight. I made backups of everything so can factory restore if necessary. May keep everything on the backup and use from there. Years ago a relative worked for Prodigy and she told me then to always use an external drive and never keep anything on computer. I have several external drives so could sort stuff by client, personal, etc. We will see.
Got the class list from university. Unfortunately their offerings are not exciting. Looks like communication or psych. Since I can attend any Arkansas University under free tuition, I may check around. Lyons is good. Fayetteville is the who's who of colleges. But my intention is just to get that piece of paper. Don't have to impress anyone.
Now that we have lived on preps for 2 years I know what we really use and what we do not need a lot of. My new list will be more focused on just the 2 of us. I am happy with a 6 month supply but really prefer a year. Especially with contacts and related supplies.
I have 2 foodsavers and plenty of bags but am trying to get away from freezers. Had 4, down to I big and 1 small. Small one is full of pork and fat that needs to be rendered. Big one is half full of dry goods. Will foodsaver those.
Going to try to remember to look at the strawberry moon tomorrow evening.
Reclaimed the laundry room yesterday and emptied more totes. Kinley helped me move all of the empty totes to shelves in the barn. It took us a bit of playing the match the lid and tote game. Hoping to end up with enough empty totes to keep most of my books.
My desktop is loading slower than molasses so will spend some time working on it tonight. I made backups of everything so can factory restore if necessary. May keep everything on the backup and use from there. Years ago a relative worked for Prodigy and she told me then to always use an external drive and never keep anything on computer. I have several external drives so could sort stuff by client, personal, etc. We will see.
Got the class list from university. Unfortunately their offerings are not exciting. Looks like communication or psych. Since I can attend any Arkansas University under free tuition, I may check around. Lyons is good. Fayetteville is the who's who of colleges. But my intention is just to get that piece of paper. Don't have to impress anyone.
Now that we have lived on preps for 2 years I know what we really use and what we do not need a lot of. My new list will be more focused on just the 2 of us. I am happy with a 6 month supply but really prefer a year. Especially with contacts and related supplies.
Frisbee golf has been a thing in parks around here for many years. I think I played one time, and it was fun. I think it was when one my kids was a teen, and we went with the youth fellowship group. Don't know why it was only once. Definitely something an old lady like me could manage -- probably not to win but for fun.
I did a bit of weeding this a.m. and need to do a lot more. Purslane is so thick you'd think I had broadcast seeds! My lettuce (all new seeds) is very spotty and carrots in one row did not come up. Again, new seeds. Even radishes are spotty. The excessive wind just after I planted, then dry, then downpour and cold are likely the cause. It's time to plant cucumbers and due to the crazy cold, the peas are just getting going instead of being nearly finished. I usually plant the cucumbers on the same fence so will need to either find another spot or let them compete with the peas.
As far as garden pests go, I've had or now have deer, rabbits, raccoons, muskrats, ground hogs and voles. Crows are also a nuisance and often will pull up sprouts. I gave up on sweet corn as the raccoons never shared a single ear with me. My goal in life is not to feed the raccoons so I quit trying.
Today it's 86 with low forecast as 59. Last night the temp dropped so low in the house that the furnace would have run had I not turned it off. I woke up all stiff from sleeping curled into a tight ball trying to stay warm. Even with the heat outside and the house open the inside temp is currently only 74. Nice not to run a/c but I hate being cold in June!
Supper will be the leftover sauerkraut/potato/carrot/sausage casserole. It turned out to be very tasty, but this will be the third go around so I'm getting tired of it. I think there will be more than enough for a fourth meal but that will have to wait a few days!!
I did a bit of weeding this a.m. and need to do a lot more. Purslane is so thick you'd think I had broadcast seeds! My lettuce (all new seeds) is very spotty and carrots in one row did not come up. Again, new seeds. Even radishes are spotty. The excessive wind just after I planted, then dry, then downpour and cold are likely the cause. It's time to plant cucumbers and due to the crazy cold, the peas are just getting going instead of being nearly finished. I usually plant the cucumbers on the same fence so will need to either find another spot or let them compete with the peas.
As far as garden pests go, I've had or now have deer, rabbits, raccoons, muskrats, ground hogs and voles. Crows are also a nuisance and often will pull up sprouts. I gave up on sweet corn as the raccoons never shared a single ear with me. My goal in life is not to feed the raccoons so I quit trying.
Today it's 86 with low forecast as 59. Last night the temp dropped so low in the house that the furnace would have run had I not turned it off. I woke up all stiff from sleeping curled into a tight ball trying to stay warm. Even with the heat outside and the house open the inside temp is currently only 74. Nice not to run a/c but I hate being cold in June!
Supper will be the leftover sauerkraut/potato/carrot/sausage casserole. It turned out to be very tasty, but this will be the third go around so I'm getting tired of it. I think there will be more than enough for a fourth meal but that will have to wait a few days!!
SouthernBreeze
TB Fanatic
That reminds me of the last time we grew sweet corn. This was back when our whole backyard was one huge garden with plenty of room to grow a nice patch of corn. I had just begun picking a few ears along. One morning, we got up to see that the whole corn patch had been obliterated by a pack of raccoons. Everything was laying on the ground where they had climbed the stalks. Not a single ear of corn was left. We never tried again. We knew it was coons, because it had rained the night before, and we saw all their little nasty footprints everywhere.
We have lots of deer, but they have never crossed our property fence.
SouthernBreeze
TB Fanatic
It's another beautiful morning! Sunny skies and will be up to 90, today. Not too humid right now.
I changed out the bedsheets, washed them, and they are now hanging out on the clothesline. I checked the gardens while I was out there, and I found baby squash! More peppers that are almost large enough to gather. Tomatoes are doing great, too, so far. I have my eye on the largest one waiting for it to begin ripening. We might have fresh tomatoes by the 4th of July this year. I'm done digging garlic for this year. I have a ton of it drying. I'll hang in pantyhose, once it's dry, for storage. It's too humid for me to store it in the mini barn, so I hang it in the kitchen. Smells like garlic for a time, but that's ok. I don't want it to mold out in the barn.
I baked some boneless pork chops last night using a new spice that I've never used before. It's new to me. Cary raved over them. Just goes to show how using different spices can change the flavor of almost anything. I mixed the spice in with the breadcrumbs, dredged the chops in melted butter, and coated them with the breadcrumbs. I drizzled the rest of the melted butter over the chops and baked them. The spice I used is McCormick Grill Mates Roasted Garlic and Herb.
We're eating more pork and chicken, because beef is so dang expensive, here. The pork and chicken prices are still pretty reasonable. I have noticed a big jump in price for bacon, though.
I changed out the bedsheets, washed them, and they are now hanging out on the clothesline. I checked the gardens while I was out there, and I found baby squash! More peppers that are almost large enough to gather. Tomatoes are doing great, too, so far. I have my eye on the largest one waiting for it to begin ripening. We might have fresh tomatoes by the 4th of July this year. I'm done digging garlic for this year. I have a ton of it drying. I'll hang in pantyhose, once it's dry, for storage. It's too humid for me to store it in the mini barn, so I hang it in the kitchen. Smells like garlic for a time, but that's ok. I don't want it to mold out in the barn.
I baked some boneless pork chops last night using a new spice that I've never used before. It's new to me. Cary raved over them. Just goes to show how using different spices can change the flavor of almost anything. I mixed the spice in with the breadcrumbs, dredged the chops in melted butter, and coated them with the breadcrumbs. I drizzled the rest of the melted butter over the chops and baked them. The spice I used is McCormick Grill Mates Roasted Garlic and Herb.
We're eating more pork and chicken, because beef is so dang expensive, here. The pork and chicken prices are still pretty reasonable. I have noticed a big jump in price for bacon, though.
Meemur
Voice on the Prairie
You're making me hungry, SB! That sounds so good!
Going up to 93 degrees today, but at least the smoke has cleared out. Going shopping for Frisbee golf discs in a minute -- stopping in for iced coffee. I made coffee last night and chilled it. It's now officially summer!
Going up to 93 degrees today, but at least the smoke has cleared out. Going shopping for Frisbee golf discs in a minute -- stopping in for iced coffee. I made coffee last night and chilled it. It's now officially summer!
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SouthernBreeze
TB Fanatic
I used a glass baking dish to bake them in, after spraying lightly with olive oil. Baked at 425, until dark golden brown, about 45 mins (ovens will vary). They were so tender you didn't need a knife to cut them. I always buy the boneless rib-eye chops, and they are always tender no matter how I cook them.
patriotgal
Veteran Member
Gonna be in high 80's again today. We thought we would get last of lumber in one load. Took 2. Finished yesterday. Was like hauling hay in 104 temps.
Finishing up one bay of garage today and bringing rig home. Also working on another bay that, unfortunately, contains stuff I have to go through. Office, clothes, and keepsakes. Emptying as many totes as possible. When we land wherever God is taking us we want stuff pared way down. Wish we'd done this 10 years ago but so glad we didn't wait any longer. This is not the age to be doing extensive heavy labor.
Finishing up one bay of garage today and bringing rig home. Also working on another bay that, unfortunately, contains stuff I have to go through. Office, clothes, and keepsakes. Emptying as many totes as possible. When we land wherever God is taking us we want stuff pared way down. Wish we'd done this 10 years ago but so glad we didn't wait any longer. This is not the age to be doing extensive heavy labor.
SouthernBreeze
TB Fanatic
We landed here where God wanted us for 43 yrs. now. I shudder at the thought of moving anywhere at our age. We plan to stay put, unless God has a different plan for us. I can't even imagine what it would be like to pack up and move 43 years' worth of stuff!
patriotgal
Veteran Member
48 years of stuff is daunting and exhausting.
SouthernBreeze
TB Fanatic
I just don't think I have it in me to ever try. I'll take your word for it.
patriotgal
Veteran Member
If the farm house wasn't so dang huge we would stay put. But it is enormous and 2 story. We need something a tad smaller now that the house isn't full of kids. We built it and DH intended for it to be our forever home. We love it. He just didn't take maintenance and upkeep into the equation. I can still clean the gutters from the roof but don't want to be trying that in a few more years.
SouthernBreeze
TB Fanatic
I sure do understand downsizing. We started out small. While the boys were living here, it was a bit crowded, but now, for just the two of us, it's just right. Only 1100 sq ft. Most homes are at least twice the size of ours.
Meemur
Voice on the Prairie
My house less than 1,000 sq ft (condo without an HOA), smaller than everyone I know who has a house, although I know a lot of seniors who've downsized into condos and apartments.
I don't have a ton of energy (although that's improving). I sure don't want to expend it all on housework!
I don't have a ton of energy (although that's improving). I sure don't want to expend it all on housework!
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Would it be possible to close off a portion of the house and make yourselves an "apartment" using a section of the house? Put leaf guards on the gutters or hire someone to clean them for you. If you prefer to stay where you are, brainstorm ways to make it work.
It is HOT today currently 91 feels like 98 with low tonight forecast as 62 which means likelihood of storms. We need rain especially after today's heat so hope we get a good rain without any of the nasty stuff that happens around here this time of year. Temp in the house is 79 so no a/c turned on yet.
I went to county seat to the office that distributes the food boxes. I took a folder of lentil recipes for them to copy and hand out next time we're given lentils. Lentils are such a healthy food and easy to cook so it's a shame people don't know how to use them. Of course, if they really wanted recipes they could have done the same as I did and search them out, but I'm hoping having recipes handed to them will encourage people to try eating them. That office has to be the most disorganized one I've ever visited and could use a good cleaning as well. Nice people though.
I spent an hour hoeing yesterday and another today. The inside the fence garden now is decent shape but the part outside the fence needs serious work. I had two rows of zinnias outside the fence and the rabbits decimated them, so I planted two rows inside the fence. Kind of late, but there should be time unless we have an early frost.
nomifyle
TB Fanatic
Even before I got cancer, I never intended to ever move again and still don't, unless I'm so incapaciated that I have no say in it. I'd rather be dead.
We've been trying to down size, but mostly by not adding anything new. I use to go to thift stores lookinf for something to want, I don't want anything so I stopped going to them.
If I need something its either amazon or walmart, and that's it.
DH is still not feeling well, he pushed himself yesterday to get me to and from my appointment. That was the last one there, I go to the new place 30 miles away on Monday. The truck knows the way.
We've been trying to down size, but mostly by not adding anything new. I use to go to thift stores lookinf for something to want, I don't want anything so I stopped going to them.
If I need something its either amazon or walmart, and that's it.
DH is still not feeling well, he pushed himself yesterday to get me to and from my appointment. That was the last one there, I go to the new place 30 miles away on Monday. The truck knows the way.
patriotgal
Veteran Member
Dealt with computer issues today. Ordered a new dual monitor cable and new wifi adapter.
Rain tomorrow so will make a drive and visit MIL. Will be interesting so close to full moon. But it's best time for us and we like to visit fairly often. She still knows us. She did get angry for a bit at last visit because we wouldn't take her home. The home she referred to was a place she hasn't lived in for over 50 years.
My counter is now covered in clean jars. Washed all those we recently found. Gonna pack them up good and store them in the barn since the heat and cold won't affect them.
Rain tomorrow so will make a drive and visit MIL. Will be interesting so close to full moon. But it's best time for us and we like to visit fairly often. She still knows us. She did get angry for a bit at last visit because we wouldn't take her home. The home she referred to was a place she hasn't lived in for over 50 years.
My counter is now covered in clean jars. Washed all those we recently found. Gonna pack them up good and store them in the barn since the heat and cold won't affect them.
Meemur
Voice on the Prairie
Hazy and humid here. I got everything watered and put a little more mulch down. Didn't see any beetles, but there's lots more wasps around. I'm not sure what's up with that.
I think that I saw a flicker this morning while I was watering. They are fast! All I saw was a yellow flash.
It's too warm for a long bike ride, but I got in most of my steps, both on the trail and mowing. I think I'm going to load the kayak and head for the river.
Have a great day!
I think that I saw a flicker this morning while I was watering. They are fast! All I saw was a yellow flash.
It's too warm for a long bike ride, but I got in most of my steps, both on the trail and mowing. I think I'm going to load the kayak and head for the river.
Have a great day!
nomifyle
TB Fanatic
Got a heavy rain late yesterday afternoon, but it let up enough that we both went to church. I felt okay and stil do this morning. And DH is a bit better too.
More rain today and looks like a rainy next several days.
Nothing on tap except just getting through the day.
God bless.
More rain today and looks like a rainy next several days.
Nothing on tap except just getting through the day.
God bless.