Autumn Pantry Organizing

Hi Puffins,

I’ve been doing some kitchen puttering.  The change of seasons always has me organizing my pantry and planning meals that taste good for the weather.

Today (Saturday) the Farmer and I did some major stock-up shopping in the Big City.  Sam’s Club was a smallish shop with us just getting Toliet Paper, gallon-size Ziplock freezer bags, Saran-wrap and HalfnHalf cups for my office coffee.  These all should last through the holidays (well, maybe not the TP.)

The low-price grocery store has 25%-off sale on their bulk foods.  I love this sale. I try to buy enough for holiday baking and such.  Today, knowing I have Plenty of grains and most nuts; I only got a little over 4 cups of Deluxe Mixed Nuts and 3 cups of Pecan halves.  We’ll snack on the mixed nuts and I use them in Chex Party Mix.  The pecans I like in baking better than walnuts. Although I do have walnuts on hand and almonds from the last big sale.  I also have oatmeal and rice aplenty.  We don’t need the candy and I’ve been making my own raisins in the dehydrator.  We don’t eat much other dried fruits these days.  We also got frozen hash browns ($1.98) since we eat a lot of those and I’ll use them in a casserole for holiday meals.  Chili & kidney beans (.49) for soup.  And Parmesan Cheese!! (3/$5)  There are good sales on block and shredded cheeses quite often, but rarely on Parmesan.  I got 6 8-oz packages today but I may go get more.

The higher-end grocery had lots of good sales today too.  The better sugar (brown and granulated !.79 & 2.29ea), baking chips (butterscotch, I have plenty of semi-sweet chocolate 2/$4), the better smoked turkey ($4.99#) from the deli and Provolone cheese, sweet potatoes (.59#) and black grapes($1.49).  And then there was the yogurt (10/$5) Farmer likes and String Cheese ($5.99).  We got a few Braeburn apples, (.98#) since the Jonathan apples in the bulk bag I got last week are not nice.  Mostly mushy and quite bruised.  And 2 big avocados, (.88ea). for sandwiches this week. Shelf-stable broths for when my stock is not available. ($1.99) And Kellogg’s cereals!  $1.59 when you purchased 5. We got mostly Rice Krispies for holiday treats. I’ll store them in gallon jars as I empty those.

And then we stopped to get softener salt that was on a great sale with coupon at another store.  We got 6 bags which should hold us until the next sale.  ($4 per bag.)

We did very well at staying with the list and not doing much impulse buying.  I am rather amazed at that but I guess we both are trying to watch our spending these days.  The drought was hard on us and we have other plans for our limited funds.

After a quick lunch of salad with chicken for me and burger/fries for him; we headed home. Eating a larger lunch meant we had a smaller evening meal.  I had a turkey and cheese sandwich, with some pepper strips and pickles we had in the fridge and chips from the pantry.  I’m not sure what Farmer had.

All that stock-up food meant I needed to organized the pantry after we got home.  All the like-cans together, veggies on one shelf, baking on another, etc.  I noticed plenty of canned soups, canned pineapple (mostly crushed).  NO need to buy baked beans nor bbq sauce until next summer.  We have enough boxed dinners and cake mixes.  I may donate those to the food pantry since we rarely eat that anymore.  I normally cook from scratch and we’re past the busy part of the farm year now, so we’ll be eating lighter and earlier.

Since we will be able to eat from the pantry & freezer for a while now, I’ll just have dairy and produce on the weekly shopping list.   We have enough of what we normally eat in the Fall & Winter on hand.  I will need to get some tomato juice for Chili. But otherwise, we are mostly set.

In the Freezers, we are ready too. We purchased 1/2 of a small hog and had it made into sausage and I got 6 Organic chickens a few weeks ago that are in the freezer now.  We’ll butcher our beef in January.  We have been buying cheese whenever it was on sale.  I also got a case of the better bacon a few weeks ago when it went on a 2/$5 sale. It has not been on sale that low all summer and I double it’ll go that low now.  We also have 1/2 of a spiral ham from this Spring that we’ll use for Christmas.

I love the feeling of being prepared for whatever the weather may throw at us.

With all this food in the house, I’m also trying to not waste what we have.  Unfortunately I had to toss some hot dogs, baked beans and pizza sauce that all got freezer burnt. And then some homemade pizza we didn’t eat up.  And some celery that went bad.  All but the celery went to the cats for their meal, so I guess it didn’t really get wasted.

Here is my preliminary menu plan for the next week.  I tried to use the leftovers since we’re not eating them for lunch as much.  Of course it may all go by the wayside depending on how we feel each evening. (* Using leftover food.)

Sunday:  Lunch: Eating out.  Supper:  Everyone for themselves.

Monday:  Lunches:  K- sub sandwich*, F-ham & scalloped potatoes*
Supper: Sloppy joes for Farmer; Spaghetti Squash* with shrimp & veggies for me.

Tuesday:  Lunches: leftovers or sandwiches
Supper: Sausage* gravy on biscuits, fruit

Wednesday:  Lunches: leftovers or sandwiches for me, Eating out for Farmer
Supper: Tomato soup & grilled cheese sandwiches

Thursday:  Lunches:  Sandwiches
Supper:  Beef roast, potatoes & carrots & onions.

Friday:  Lunches:  Sandwiches
Supper: Broiled or grilled salmon, rice, cole slaw, biscuits*

Saturday: Lunch: any leftovers from the week.
Supper:  Veg-Beef Soup*

Sunday will be extra busy with my parents’ 50th wedding anniversary dinner and then the Fall Neighborhood Block Party at our church in the late afternoon/evening.  Monday should be interesting.

I’m trying to figure out mobile blogging so I can share more with you via my cell phone.  So far I can’t get it to post here, but when you see the strange photo of me up on on the hill on a walk, you’ll know I figured it out.

Otherwise I’ll be back here ASAP.

Hugs
Kay

**By sowing frugality we reap liberty, a golden harvest.  ~Agesilaus

Sort of a Menu Post.... kind of.... maybe....

I love having company,  and I love preparing for them.  But I tend to buy too much food!  I posted my menu HERE. We didn't eat maybe half of these meals.  Partly because I worked 2 of their 4 days here and we went out one night and had company the last evening, so we got pizza.

Right now I have some of that pizza leftover.  There is lots of milk in the fridge and lots of cheese and plenty of produce.  I shouldn't have to buy much more than maybe some half-n-half & possibly some fruit.

I need to do a pantry & freezer inventory.  Both are stuffed to the gills but I don't really know what's in the back/bottom.
Also, I'd like to be using up what's it getting close to expiration and open up some room for restocking before Winter.

I'll post something of a menu here but it is all subject to change depending on what I find when I do my inventory.

Sunday (today):
Lunch- OUT, Tacos
Supper- Sandwiches, chips, cupcakes

Monday:
Lunch:  Leftover pizza & salads (pasta or greens), yogurt
Supper:  Grilled steaks or kabobs, new potatoes (on grill?), grilled zucchini, leftover baked beans.

Tuesday:
Lunch: Turkey potpie, veggies/dip, grapes,  yogurt
Supper:  Breakfast for Supper- Individual egg & potato casseroles, fruit salad, toast.

Wednesday
Lunch:  Packaged pasta meal (for me), fast food for Farmer
Supper: ??  We are attending an outdoor church concert.

MUCH MUCH Later....... as in Thursday evening.

Well, the week took over and here it is days later & I still haven't finished this post.  So far only Wednesday's supper has been accurate.  oh well....  There's always next week.

Still doing the Pantry Challenge, however.  I stopped by the dreaded Wallyworld after work but only got half-n-half and fruit.  Ds2 was moaning over the lack of fresh fruit for a snack when he comes out after work.   I got nectarines, honeydew melon, Bing cherries, black grapes, apples, 1 avocado (the rest seemed light for their size).  Once home I bagged and refrigerated the sweet corn Farmer shucked for me and then we went by neighbors to get cucumbers they were sharing.

Supper was "What can we find that is quick and easy??" since it was 9 p.m. (again!)  He had a big salad and leftovers.  And I had leftover veggies and pasta.

And now it's 10:30 and time for bed.

Until Next Time,
Kay~

**Patience is the ability to count down before you blast off. ~Author Unknown

Crying and Corn

Cool in 3D!

The Ohio clan and my precious Pinknesses left this morning for home.  We took them out for breakfast early so they could start out with a good meal, since ds1 does NOT stop for anything other than serious potty breaks and gas.  They have a cooler of food for on the go meals so they won't starve, but we still wanted a little more time with our girlies.

Ice cream silliness

I hate those first few hours after they leave.

Love my Girlies

 Pappo and I always cry when they leave. (they live sooo far away)  and then we have to clean up and put away all the toys and the memories come flooding back.  It's hard for an hour or two.

Being Cute

She just won't stand still!

But if we keep busy and once our house is put back to non-Pinkness, we start to get back to normal ourselves.
I stripped beds and washed bedding to hang on the line.  All the toys were stored back in the basement closet and the books in their container.  The highchair and car seats will be stored in the basement closet as soon as I reorganize the suitcases.

I had an hour or so of work at the office from yesterday, since I left early.  So I went in and finished that up.  A quick Wal-mart trip and home.

Blue-eyed Farmer was hauling bales from the 80, so he was doing his own thing.  I did more laundry and then started in on freezing corn.   Farmer bought 2 dozen ears during the week and we kept it on ice; trying to find an evening when we could have it for supper.  We ran out of evening meals.  And we didn't get it in their van to take home.

From This

To keep from wasting it, I washed, blanched, cut and bagged it.  From those 2 dozen ears, I got 6 quart bags.  They are freezing flat in the big freezer.  The fat calves got the cobs and my plants will get the blanching water after it cools completely.

to This.

(I tried Terri of Blue House Journal's idea of using cooking water on my plants.  I poured the cold water from the hard-cooked eggs on my 2 flower pots out front and they are going bananas.  I guess they liked the little bits of shell and ??  from the eggs.  Thanks Terri for the great idea!)

I used my new Amish tomato knife to cut the corn off the cob as it is super sharp and serrated.  Worked well.  It needed a longer handle to be truly comfortable but for the little bit I had to do, it worked fine.  I also stand my ears, tapered side down, on the middle part of an angel food cake pan, to cut off the kernels.  That way the kernels fall into the pan and not all over the counter/floor/etc.

After I cleaned up the mess (because "doing corn" always makes a mess, no matter how careful you are!); I sat for a few minutes to rest and then took the cobs out to the calves.  Fed the cats.  And slowly ran the hose on the cucumber, summer squash, my potted tomato and the basil & rosemary plants.
Farmer came home from spraying then.  While I waited on the watering, I snipped the tops of the basil that was wanting to go to seed.  I have the basil in the dehydrator now and hope to get many more harvests this summer.  Store-bought dried basil is NOTHING like my home-dried basil.

Brought the bedding in off the line and we are both now showered and fed and relaxing.  It's VERY quiet in our Farmhouse and I miss my girls.  At least I have my memories of all the fun we had and my photos.
And I have some harvests to make the day worthwhile also.

Have a blessed Sunday and tell me if you "do corn" or have started drying your herbs.

Hugs
Kay
** "The best place to be when you're sad is Grandpa's lap." ~Author Unknown

Readjusting

We're readjusting things.

The grandgirlies are coming tomorrow sometime.  (Can you see me grin from there?)  So we've made up the futon and set up the portacrib and found all the games, books, puzzles, babydolls and play kitchen.

And since we were slightly busy this evening, supper was NOT grilled salmon, but cheese and bacon quesadillas and salad instead.  Tomorrow's lunch for Farmer will be a "better" Turkey pot pie, grapes and yogurt.

I may not be around much until the weekend after they leave, but I'll try to post photos.

Hugs
Kay

** "And thank You for a house full of people I love. Amen." ~Terri Guillemets

Menu Musings

I'm thinking of my menu for this coming week. It's a holiday week and we have company coming and I have to work all the days except the holiday, so....  (not to mention the need to use up some food in the fridge before I lose it.)

Monday
Breakfast:  Smoothie with frozen bananas, yogurt, strawberries, honey
Lunch:  Farmer-Roast beef sandwiches, yogurt, grapes & chips.  Extra water for the heat.
Me:  Leftover Mac & Cheese, mixed veggies and grapes.  Water!
Supper:  Grilled Salmon, rice, grilled veggies or heated, canned. Ice cream

Tuesday
Breakfast: Homemade "Instant" Oatmeal with craisins & pecans.
Lunch: Salmon soup for me; purchased "better" turkey pot pie for Farmer.
Company supper:  Spaghetti, garlic bread, salad, cookies

Wednesday
Happy Independence Day!  We'll eat breakfast in town.  Lunch is on your own.
Supper:  Grilled burgers & hot dogs, baked beans, chips, fruit kabobs w/ yogurt dip or ice cream

Thursday
Breakfast: Pancake cups with fruit
Lunch:  They are on their own, I'll have a purchased pasta thing or soup.
Supper:  Homemade chicken nuggets, oven fries, frozen mixed veggies, 3-2-1 cakes & ice cream

Friday
Breakfast: Eggs and Toast and fruit  or Cereal & fruit
Lunch: Leftovers for them or Pizza Rolls; Salad in a jar for me.
Supper:  Tacos or Nachos with all the fixin's, ice cream

Saturday
Breakfast: If they are still here, Waffles & Bacon, Fruit
Lunch:  Leftovers
Supper:  Kebobs or steaks  on the grill, veggies, grilled bread, brownies.


My goal this week is to not lose ANY food to spoilage this week.  And to get up and walk each day before work & while it's cool.  Oh dear......  Pray for me.  I so despise exercising in the heat/humidity.

Have a wonderful week contemplating our Freedom and the ONE who gave it to us.
Hugs
Kay

** And I'm proud to be an American,
where at least I know I'm free.
And I won't forget the men who died,
who gave that right to me.
~Lee Greenwood

I like Busy Saturdays.

Welcome to a Busy Saturday on the Farm.  Except it's not as busy right now.  We got up early to beat the heat (close to 100 with high humidity--ugh).  Farmer went out to spray weeds with the intention of going to town to buy sickle sections and guards.  I started in (after my required coffee) with laundry, vacuuming and then to tackle the growing mildew problem in my bathroom.  >_<

A quick Google-search for more natural remedies found me at eHow.com and How to Make Natural Mildew Remover . I substituted Pine oil for the Tree Tea oil. I worried a little that the oil might stain the ceiling or cause streaks down the wall but after I ran the fan and lights and let it all dry, all seems to be fine.  (I did wipe down the drips from the walls with a damp cloth.)  I used my microfibre cloth (from Harbor Freight) for a little more scrubbing action with the baking soda paste and to wipe it all down.  I also used the paste and cloth to clean my shower and sink.  I did NOT miss the chemical smell from my usual cleansers and the extra elbow grease it took did not hurt me.  Hey!  Free workout while I get a clean bathroom.  Works for me!  *wink*

Later I put about 10-12 drops of the Pine oil in my Steam mop.  My house smells clean without using chemicals.  I will be buying some Lemon oil the next time I put in a order to Puritan's Pride.  Lemon/Citrus is always the cleanest smell to me.

In the midst of all this cleaning, Farmer came back to say he had other spraying to do and we wouldn't be going to town.  Ok with me.  I was far from ready to go and was still scrubbing.  We both finished around noon and had a quick lunch of "Whatever you can find."  I've had a shower to clean up from cleaning.  (LOL)  The "good" laundry is done and I'm on the last load of rugs/spray clothes.

I'm trying to keep the man inside where it's cool since outside is sauna-like.  NO air moving and hot.  Maybe I can get him interested in a movie, but whatever he decides to do, I'm not going outside except to hang out the rugs.

I've been reading blog posts from others I enjoy and have been getting tons of great ideas for menus.
But that's a subject for another post.  :)

Stay tuned, I may post it yet today.  Or I might take a nap.

Hugs
Kay

**Who will tell whether one happy moment of love or the joy of breathing or walking on a bright morning and smelling the fresh air, is not worth all the suffering and effort which life implies. ~Erich Fromm

New recipe over on my Cooking blog

I just posted a new recipe on my cooking blog (address over there on the right side).  3-2-1 Snack Cake.  Can't get any easier than this, unless it's opening the box of cupcakes from the Bakery.  *wink*

It's Sunday and I'm taking it easy this evening.  I'll catch you all next week.

Hugs
Kay
**Inside some of us is a thin person struggling to get out, but they can usually be sedated with a few pieces of chocolate cake.  ~Author Unknown