Virginia City Day Trip - 5/28/12

On our Memorial Day holiday, we decided to take a day trip to Virginia City.  I LOVE Virginia City!  It is rich in western American history...which my husband and I love.  On the way, we stopped at this scenic point to take some pictures.

Our Sierra...with the Sierra Nevada mountain range in the background - for which she is named. :)

Our Summer!  She is such a fun baby. :)

Daddy and Summer looking at the valley and the city of Reno.

Our oldest, Addie, and Eric.  She is getting so old on us. :)  

Our Autumn - she's our love bug. :)

Great picture of these three. :)

Mt. Rose and Slide Mountain - Sierra Nevada mountain range.  This is where we live...and we love it. :)

Summer and Daddy... :)

My Tips for Canning Strawberry Jam

Here are a few tips that might help you on your canning ventures...

1 pound of strawberries (small container) =  2 cups of crushed strawberries

I made the recipe amounts for 10 - 8 ounce jars. (See previous post for recipe.) Since I was using pint jars (16 oz), I should get 5 pint jars in a batch.  I made 2 batches and had nine complete jars.  And a touch that I put in the fridge.

So for 2 batches, I used 7 pounds of strawberries.  Use the above equation and you should be able to closely calculate how many pounds of strawberries to buy depending on how many jars you would like to can. :)

1 jar of pectin = 15 tbsp. of pectin

This was very important.  I had purchased enough strawberries for a double batch of 10 - 8 ounce jars.  But I didn't want to run out of pectin for my second batch in the middle of making it.  Yikes! That would ruin the batch and I would end up with runny jam. :/ So before I started on the strawberries, I measured out the amount of pectin I needed out of what was left in the container.  So I know that there is exactly 15 tablespoons of pectin in a container. :)  Exactly enough for 2 of the large batches!

*Consider purchasing 8 ounce jars for jam or jellies.  You can then double your batch and give for gifts.  

*Using this low-sugar (or you can choose no sugar) recipe, I reduced the sugar amount in this recipe from 7 cups down to 2 cups!  What a difference!

*Grab strawberries when they are in season and on sale.  Our lowest price for strawberries here is $.99/lb.  Be ready to can your strawberries the same day or at the latest, the next day after you purchase them.  Strawberries do not hold up well and you will want to can them ASAP!

*Visit freshpreserving.com today!  Click on the Pectin Calculator on the bottom of the page.  You will choose the fruit you are using, whether you are making jam or jelly, and what type of pectin you will be using.

Then click Calculate and it will break down the recipe for you!  It really is a wonderful tool.

Just a few tips that I learned from my canning venture today. :)

Recipe: Low-Sugar Strawberry Jam

This is the recipe I used from Ball's website:  freshpreserving.com.  They make it so very simple!

Your Strawberry Jam Recipe

For every 2 (8 oz) half pints, you will need:	Low Sugar	No Sugar
Strawberries - Wash, hull, then crush one layer at a time Unsweetened fruit juice or thawed concentrate or water Ball® RealFruit™ Low or No-Sugar Needed Pectin Granulated sugar, sugar substitute, or honey	1 1/3 cups 1/3 cup 1 1/2 Tbsp up to 1/2 cup	2 cups 1/3 cup 1 1/2 Tbsp none

Make Your Jam

1. PREPARE waterbath canner, jars and lids according to manufacturer's instructions, if preserving.* Prepare and measure ingredients for recipe.
2. COMBINE prepared fruit with fruit juice in a large saucepan. Gradually stir in Ball^®RealFruit™ Pectin. Add butter, if using. Bring mixture to a full rolling boil that cannot be stirred down, over high heat, stirring constantly.
3. ADD sugar, sugar substitute or honey, if using. Return mixture to a full rolling boil. Boil hard 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Skim foam if necessary.
4. PACK based on Enjoy Now or Fresh Preserve steps below.

*If you are preserving at an altitude higher than 1,000 feet above sea level, adjust processing time as indicated by the altitude chart.

QUICK TIP: Adding up to 1/4 tsp butter or margarine will reduce foaming.

Preserve Your Jam - 2 Easy Methods

Enjoy Now 1. LADLE hot jelly/jam into hot jars. Cool to room temperature, about 30 minutes. 2. REFRIGERATE jelly/jam or serve immediately. Hide

Fresh Preserve 1. LADLE hot jelly/jam into hot jars, one at a time, leaving 1/4-inch headspace. Wipe rims. Center lids on jars. Apply bands and adjust to fingertip tight. 2. PLACE filled jars in canner, ensuring jars are covered by 1 to 2 inches of water. Place lid on canner. Bring water to gentle, steady boil. 3. PROCESS jars for 10 minutes, adjusting for altitute. Turn off heat, remove lid and let jars stand for 5 minutes. 4. REMOVE jars and cool. Check lids for seal after 24 hours. Lid should not flex up and down when center is pressed. Clean and store jars according to manufacturer's instructions. Hide

To adjust the amount of jam you wish to make, use the following table.

Ingredient Amounts for Jam in (8 oz) Half Pint Jars

Number of Jars		Low Sugar	No Sugar
1	Prepared fruit Unsweetened fruit juice or thawed concentrate or water Ball® RealFruit™ Low or No-Sugar Needed Pectin Granulated sugar, sugar substitute, or honey	2/3 cup 2 Tbsp + 2 tsp 2 1/4 tsp up to 1/4 cup	1 cup 2 Tbsp + 2 tsp 2 1/4 tsp none
2	Prepared fruit Unsweetened fruit juice or thawed concentrate or water Ball® RealFruit™ Low or No-Sugar Needed Pectin Granulated sugar, sugar substitute, or honey	1 1/3 cups 1/3 cup 1 1/2 Tbsp up to 1/2 cup	2 cups 1/3 cup 1 1/2 Tbsp none
3	Prepared fruit Unsweetened fruit juice or thawed concentrate or water Ball® RealFruit™ Low or No-Sugar Needed Pectin Granulated sugar, sugar substitute, or honey	2 cups 1/2 cup 2 Tbsp + 3/4 tsp up to 3/4 cup	3 cups 1/2 cup 2 Tbsp + 3/4 tsp none
4	Prepared fruit Unsweetened fruit juice or thawed concentrate or water Ball® RealFruit™ Low or No-Sugar Needed Pectin Granulated sugar, sugar substitute, or honey	2 2/3 cups 2/3 cup 3 Tbsp up to 1 cup	4 cups 2/3 cup 3 Tbsp none
5	Prepared fruit Unsweetened fruit juice or thawed concentrate or water Ball® RealFruit™ Low or No-Sugar Needed Pectin Granulated sugar, sugar substitute, or honey	3 1/3 cups 3/4 cup + 1 Tbsp 3 Tbsp + 2 1/4 tsp up to 1 1/4 cups	5 cups 3/4 cup + 1 Tbsp 3 Tbsp + 2 1/4 tsp none
6	Prepared fruit Unsweetened fruit juice or thawed concentrate or water Ball® RealFruit™ Low or No-Sugar Needed Pectin Granulated sugar, sugar substitute, or honey	4 cups 1 cup 4 1/2 Tbsp up to 1 1/2 cups	6 cups 1 cup 4 1/2 Tbsp none
7	Prepared fruit Unsweetened fruit juice or thawed concentrate or water Ball® RealFruit™ Low or No-Sugar Needed Pectin Granulated sugar, sugar substitute, or honey	4 2/3 cups 1 cup + 2 Tbsp 5 Tbsp + 3/4 tsp up to 1 3/4 cups	7 cups 1 cup + 2 Tbsp 5 Tbsp + 3/4 tsp none
8	Prepared fruit Unsweetened fruit juice or thawed concentrate or water Ball® RealFruit™ Low or No-Sugar Needed Pectin Granulated sugar, sugar substitute, or honey	5 1/3 cups 1 1/3 cups 6 Tbsp up to 2 cups	8 cups 1 1/3 cups 6 Tbsp none
9	Prepared fruit Unsweetened fruit juice or thawed concentrate or water Ball® RealFruit™ Low or No-Sugar Needed Pectin Granulated sugar, sugar substitute, or honey	6 cups 1 1/2 cups 6 Tbsp + 2 1/4 tsp up to 2 1/4 cups	9 cups 1 1/2 cups 6 Tbsp + 2 1/4 tsp none
10	Prepared fruit Unsweetened fruit juice or thawed concentrate or water Ball® RealFruit™ Low or No-Sugar Needed Pectin Granulated sugar, sugar substitute, or honey	6 2/3 cups 1 2/3 cups 7 1/2 Tbsp up to 2 1/2 cups	10 cups 1 2/3 cups 7 1/2 Tbsp none

NOTE: Do not exceed 10 jars per batch. Set may not occur in larger batch sizes.

Strawberry Jam Canning Day

Today, I canned strawberry jam for the first time.  I enjoy canning so I had a great time doing this!

First, prepare all your jars, utensils and food items.

This is the way I did it - by how I read the recipe and understood it.  LOL!  So if you do it a different way, I would be happy to hear it. :)  I first cut the stems off, and halved or quartered one pound of strawberries at a time.  I rinsed them in a strainer.

I then mashed or crushed them in a large bowl.  I used a pastry blender.  I also read that you could use a potato masher.  I did leave chunks in it because that is how I like my jam. :)

As I prepared the strawberries, I already had my smaller stockpot with boiling water sterilizing my jars and rings.  I also have my large stockpot with its water heating as well.

Adding in the juice and touch of butter...

Added the pectin and heating to a boil.

This is the pectin for low or no-sugar jam recipes.

I bought this nifty canning funnel - what a help!

This is Ball's simple waterbath canning kit.  It holds three jars.

And the finished product!  9 pints of low-sugar strawberry jam. :)

Produce deals...

Yesterday, I needed to drop off a suit and tie at the cleaners for my husband.  So since I was in the area, I decided to make an unplanned stop at Marketon.  (My produce store :)  And I am glad I did!  

I got 8 lbs. of strawberries for $.99 each!  I have been waiting for them to go for this price so I will be able to can some strawberry jam.  :)

I also got peaches for $.59 each, cantaloupes 4 lbs. for $1 and my favorite...cherries 2 lbs for $3!!  Woo hoo! I also picked up 20 lbs of potatoes...for $3.  Awesome!

There was more that I would have gotten...but alas the money ran out.  LOL!  

So today...I will be canning. :)  Pictures to come!

Mother's Day 2012 Photos

I never did post pictures of my Mother's Day. :)  So here they are.  Addie always lays out everyone's outfits for church the night before.  In the morning, she noticed that Sierra was missing a button on her dress.  And she took it upon herself to sew a new one on!  (She surely doesn't get her sewing genes from her mother. LOL!)  

It is hard to see but she made this Happy Mother's Day banner all by herself.  And she did the dishes for me.  

On Monday morning, she got up her sisters at 6am and they prepared a breakfast show for me.  They dressed up in their ballerina outfits (even Summer - LOL!) and Addie fixed their hair.  She dressed as a waitress and made a menu for me for their restaurant.

These were my Mother's Day gifts (with Daddy's help, of course :).

My menu:  The Breakfast In Bed Restaurant. :)

And my breakfast...coffee, of course!  :)  And cinnamon-sugar toast.  Yum!

Frugal Ideas for Used Coffee Grounds

• Kill fridge odor - If your fridge is full of foul odors, place a bowl of fresh, unused coffee grounds inside and leave it for a day or two. The coffee will absorb the odors and leave your fridge smelling fresh. You can save around $4 a month!
• Reduce cellulite - Pricey cellulite creams have one major ingredient in common: caffeine, which enhances fat metabolism, reducing the appearance of these fatty pockets under the skin. To make your own coffee cellulite treatment at home, mix warm used coffee grounds with coconut oil and rub it onto your skin in circular motions for a few minutes before rinsing. Average cellulite creams from your local drugstore can run as much as $20.00 a jar.
• Reduce fireplace mess - Wait until the embers are cool, sprinkle damp coffee grounds all over the ashes, let them sit for about 15 minutes, and scoop out the mess into a metal ash can. The coffee grounds cling to the ashes, so they don’t spew as much dust. The monetary savings here vary, but you will be saving yourself time.
• Repel ants - Sprinkle dry, used coffee grounds in problem areas where you notice ants. To tackle huge ant mounds, pour an entire pot of brewed coffee right on the mound. The cost of ant traps can be around $8.00 a package, plus they are toxic and harmful to pets.
• Erase smells on your hands - Some things smell delicious when cooking but aren’t so pleasant later when they linger on your hands. Get rid of them by rubbing a handful of used coffee grounds on your hands and rinsing with warm water.
• Make rich compost - Coffee grounds are rich in phosphorous, potassium, magnesium and copper. Plants thrive off of these ingredients. You can score used grounds for free at your local coffee shop; just ask.
• Get shiny hair - Coffee is recommended as a natural treatment to make hair glossy. Brew up an extra-strong pot, let it cool and apply it to your dry, clean hair. Leave it on for at least twenty minutes, then rinse. Keep it up once a week or so for best results. A bottle of leave-in hair shiner can run you around $5.00 and contains harmful chemicals. This method not only saves you money but is safer on your hair.
• Make your own natural dye - The natural pigments in coffee make it a great natural dye for fabric, paper, Easter eggs and even your hair. Just allow a strong brew to cool, then saturate whatever it is you are trying to dye with the mixture. Dyes can run anywhere from $4.00-$10.00 depending on brand.
• Fertilize plants -  Acid-loving plants will thank you for sprinkling your used coffee grounds around their roots. Azaleas, blueberry shrubs and rhododendrons are just a few of the plants that flourish when treated with coffee, thanks to all those nutrients. You can also dilute the leftover coffee in your mug and pour it right into your potted plants.  Fertilizer at your local home store can cost as much as $5.00 per pound.
• Keep cats out of your garden - Sprinkle used coffee grounds on the soil, and cats will want nothing to do with it. Products that promise the same performance can cost as much as $10.00 at home supply stores!
• Scrub surfaces - Mildly abrasive, coffee grounds are great for scrubbing surfaces like cooking ranges and refrigerators. Use them alone or mix them with a little dish soap. Even store brand kitchen scrub can cost as much as $3.00 a bottle.
• Repel fleas - Rub used, damp coffee grounds through your pet’s fur after bathing to repel fleas. Everyone with pets knows how expensive flea repellants can be. Even a simple flea collar can cost upwards of $5.00.
• Secret recipe ingredient - Just a little hint of coffee can put a unique flavor into foods like chili and chocolate cake. Use a little bit as a marinade for steaks, and not only will it make them tender, it’ll also provide a hint of deep, smoky flavor.
• Repair furniture scratches - Scratches on wood furniture disappear almost instantly by simply rubbing in a little bit of instant coffee dampened into a paste with hot water. Repeat if necessary until the scratch matches the surrounding wood. Products like this can cost as much as $10.00!

Free Summer Bowling Program

Here is a neat summer program that you can have your kids involved in to beat the summer boredom!

Many local bowling alleys are participating in free bowling for kids.   Check at amf.com OR kidsbowlfree.com to see if you have a participating alley in your hometown.

They offer 2 free games per day.  Shoe rental is not included.  

I just signed up!  Check it out!

Memorial Day - Sunday Photos

On Sunday, we wanted to recognize our men and women who have served in our military.  We had eight men that came forward that have served at some time in our military.  

Our church folks gave a standing ovation to these men...it was a very touching moment...the one that gives you goosebumps.  To know that you are in the presence of true heroes.

What a blessed day!  We had 75 in attendance.  Thank you to the Cook family who helped greatly with the music specials on this day.  Afterwards, we had a potluck in the park and enjoyed food, games and fellowship.

Freezer Cooking: Homemade Uncrustables

Did you ever think of making your own Smucker's Uncrustables?  You know...those cute little frozen peanut butter and jelly sandwiches that you just pull out of the freezer and pop into your kid's lunch?

Well, you can!  And you don't even need to do anything special.  Yes, they do have special kitchen gadgets (I believe Pampered Chef has one) that will cut and make them look like a real uncrustable.  And I plan on getting one someday for the fun of it.  :)

But, you can simply make PB & J's, place in resealable sandwich baggies, place in a gallon freezer bag...and 

wa-lah!  You have sandwiches that you can quickly pull out of the freezer and pop in your kid's lunch and you are good to go.

I also did this new venture this week and made 27 sandwiches.  On Saturdays, we have church visitation.  After we are done, the kids are hungry.  So this Saturday, I was able to bring 4 of our freezer sandwiches, they thawed while we did visitation, and was ready to munch on afterwards.

What a time saver for me!  This would be a great idea for summer outings to the beach, park or other places.  Try it today! :)  

Memorial Day 2012

Remembering any man or woman who has served this great country of America today on this Memorial Day 2012.

What an amazing heritage we have!  We thank you for serving our country.

Grandpa Holt, who is in Heaven, thank you for serving our country during World War II.  What an amazing generation of men and women.  

Have a wonderful day!

Freezer Cooking: French Toast

I found a sale for loaves of bread for $.50 this past week and I grabbed up the deal!  Especially since I usually pay $1.50 a loaf at Wal-Mart.  I now had lots of bread to make up a batch of freezer French toast!

I used 3 cookie sheets to rotate as I made the French toast.  I line them with wax paper.  

Pretty simple...simply make a cookie sheet full of pieces of French toast.  Place them in the freezer until you have another cookie sheet full.  Take out the first cookie sheet and replace with the second to cool.  Place two pieces of French toast in the resealable sandwich baggies.  Seal.  Then place the individual baggies into a gallon size freezer bag.  I fit 16 pieces into each gallon bag.

I made 72 pieces for this batch. :)  Which won't last as long as you think with four kids.  LOL!  To warm, simply put into the toaster or microwave.  Great for a quick and filling Sunday morning breakfast!

Recipe: Whole Wheat Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies

I found this recipe online and it really peaked my interest!  

I will be trying this soon. :)

Whole-Wheat Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies

1 cup of shortening or butter (softened)
1/3 cup peanut butter
3/4 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
2 cups oats (rolled or quick oats)
1 - 12 oz. package chocolate chips


Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Cream together first six ingredients.  Add flour, baking soda, salt and oats.  Mix well.  Stir in chocolate chips.  Roll into 1 to 1 1/2 inch balls.  Place on greased cookie sheets and bake for 10 minutes or until done.  Makes approximately 40 cookies.


Freezer-Friendly Instructions:


Roll dough into balls and place on a cookie sheet.  Freeze for 1-2 hours.  Put frozen cookie dough balls into a plastic freezer bag and seal tightly.  When ready to bake, pull out the desired amount of balls and place on a greased cookie sheet for 30-45 minutes to thaw.  Bake at 375 degrees for 10 minutes or until done.

Snow in May? :)

So...this was yesterday, Friday, May 25, 2012.  Snow and hail.

There was a cold front that decided to come through.  And it was cold enough to give us this. :)

Not surprising for we Nevadans though. :)  Mountain weather can often be unpredictable.  A few years ago, we took a tour group up to Lake Tahoe in June...and it was snowing in the Sierras.

And last year, June 2...it snowed at our house.  Yep.  You just never know.  And that is the fun of it.

DIY: Frugal Homemade Cleaning Solutions

Here are some homemade cleaners that you can try in your home. I am out of window cleaner and furniture polish...so I am going to try these. :)

All Purpose Cleaner

• 2 tablespoon vinegar
• 1 teaspoon Borax
• Hot water
• a few drops of a mild dish detergent
• about 10 drops of essential oils
• Mix ingredients together in a spray bottle and use to clean any hard surface.
  

  Floor Cleaner

• 1 cup white vinegar
• 1 gallon warm water
• Mix together in your cleaning bucket and use this to clean floors.
  

  Wood Floor Cleaner

• 1/2 cup vinegar
• 1 gallon water
• Dip your mop into the mixture and squeeze until it is almost dry, then mop.
  

  Oven Rack Cleaner

• hot water
• 1/2 cup Dawn dish soap
• 8 dryer sheets
• Soak oven racks in bath tub with hot water, 8 dryer sheets and 1/2 cup Dawn dish soap overnight. You can use the dryer sheets to scrub off any remaining gunk.
  

  Furniture Polish

• 1 cup olive oil
• 1/2 cup lemon juice

• Shake well and apply a small amount to a cleaning cloth. Spread over surface and then dry with a separate cloth.

Window Cleaner

• 1/2 teaspoon mild dish detergent,
• 3 tablespoons vinegar
• 2 cups water

• Combine ingredients and pour into a spray bottle. Use just like you would use Windex.
  

  Tub Cleaner

• baking soda
• water
• Combine ingredients to make a paste, apply to the tub, and let it sit for about 10 minutes. Wipe off with a wet cloth.
  

  Glass Shower Cleaner

• 1/2 of a lemon
• kosher salt
• Dip the lemon into a bowl of kosher salt and scrub the glass shower walls. Watch the magic!
  

  Toilet Bowl Cleaner

• 2 cups of vinegar
• Pour the vinegar in your toilet and let it sit overnight. Clean with toilet bowl brush and flush.
  

  Carpet Deodorizer

• baking soda
• Just sprinkle it on your carpet and let it sit for about 10 minutes. Then, vacuum it up.