Canning Basics

 

I have been canning food most of my adult life so I've been doing it for quite a while.  It has always been a hobby for me, nothing I felt I "needed" to do in order to feed my family.  It is a lot of work and I have often felt it cost prohibitive at times because I could buy canned goods on sale at a really good price making it seem like a better option.  In 2020 when the pandemic hit I renewed my interest in home canning when crazy people panic shopped and wiped out the shelves in the grocery stores.  Since then prices have steadily increased and shortages have occurred, canning supplies included, but I still felt it would be a better investment for me to can as much as I am able.

 

I am not a teacher, of any kind, especially when it comes to canning.  I am constantly learning new things and new ways to do it.  Many of you have asked me to tell you more about how I can and I've shied away from doing so because, like I said, I'm not a teacher or professional canner.  But, what I will do for all of you lovely readers is share more in-depth of what I am doing.  You can decide for yourself if you want to do something similar.  As with anything I always recommend doing your own research and making your own decisions.

 

I currently own a water bath canner and, more recently, an electric pressure canner.  I've done water bath canning for ages to can fruits, salsa, tomato products, jams and jellies.  In 2020 I felt it prudent to invest in a pressure canner in order to expand my ability to home can more things like meats, soups and broths, vegetables, chili and even premade meals in jars.  I chose an electric canner because I thought it would be easier for me and I've not regretted that purchase one bit.  I've received comments that electric canners aren't safe for canning meat.  While they are not USDA approved they have been independently tested and proven to be safe.  I personally do not have any concerns about using an electric pressure canner.  Once again, I recommend you do your own research and make your own decision with regard to whatever canning method you choose to do.

 

My water bath canner will hold quart jars, however my electric pressure canner doesn't, the largest jars it can accommodate is pint jars.  I only can in pint and half pint jars because that is the size that works best for me, especially now that I am a happily retired single person so this is not a problem for me.  If you want to pressure can in quart jars you will need a traditional stove top pressure canner.

 

I keep a supply of regular mouth and wide mouth pint jars and a supply of half pints on hand to do my canning.  Most of my jars are the regular mouth pint sized jars.  I also keep on hand about two dozen regular mouth size rings, a dozen of the wide mouth size rings and a good stock of flat lids in both sizes.  I am constantly shopping for jars at a good price and when I find them I will snap them up.  Prior to the pandemic I had allowed my supply to dwindle down, but since then I've bulked it right up to about fifteen dozen pint jars and three dozen half pint jars.

 

Pot roast dinner in a jar

What I really like about home canning my own food is that I am able to make whatever I want, I know what is in the jar, I have tons of good quality nutritious food to use to make meals with and I'm able to stock up more on items I find on sale or marked down on clearance.  Recently I've been canning more to depend on my freezer less as it is shelf stable and requires no refrigeration as long as the jar is properly sealed.  Mostly, I do it because it is fun for me.  I love home canning projects.

 

I will start to include more detailed canning posts when I do the Investment Canning posts I put up on those occasional Saturdays.  A lot of you are interested in canning meats so I will start there and we'll see how it goes.  Let me know if you are interested in anything else, specifically, you would like me to cover.

 

This Month's Grocery Spending 2023 – April

 

Believe it or not, I’m still working on my pantry and freezer challenge pretty much filling in with only fresh produce and dairy with the occasional fill in pantry item.  I began this challenge back in November, making it official as of the first of this year.  I’ve been doing really well, using up items that otherwise might have gone bad with freezer burn had I not done this challenge.  Additionally, I’m using up all kinds of condiments, marinades, and loads of odds and ends that resided in my refrigerator and pantry.  My Fred Meyer offers me a FREE bottle of salad dressing each month and I do go ahead and pick that up.

 

I utilized a lot of items from my freezer and already in my fridge to do some meal prepping

I’m saving money on the groceries I do purchase by paying close attention to the ads and buying what is on sale and in season.  I also check out the digital coupons and other offers available to me on my grocery store’s website.  This month I went to Winco and picked up a few items plus a gallon of milk and was able to stock up on breakfast cereal while I was there since they had the best price at the time.

 

Just a few items I picked up at Winco

My Easter dinner was made using a very large sirloin steak I had in the freezer, a potato I already had and baked in the microwave topping it with sour cream I had in the refrigerator and asparagus I purchased on sale for 98¢ a pound.  It was easy, delicious and I had enough leftovers for another complete meal.

 

A delicious Easter dinner

I haven’t purchased meat in a very, very long time.  This month I cooked up an entire package of bacon to make sandwiches and to crumble and add to other meals like Cobb salad and eggs.  The rendered bacon fat was saved in a Mason jar in the refrigerator to use as cooking oil whenever I needed some.  I always save my bacon fat.  It is delicious to use in refried beans as well as stir fried or roasted vegetables.  Speaking of refried beans I made some to use in burritos and also eat plain topped with a little bit of grated cheese I had in the freezer.  I haven’t needed to buy any cheese for quite a while either.

 

I'm making wise use of everything in my fridge & pantry

I’ve been baking my own bread instead of buying the more expensive low carb breads I was purchasing last year.  I do feel my homemade bread is tastier and because I know what is in it probably better for me even if the carb count is higher.  I make smaller loaves and slice it thin when I use it, mainly for toast and BLT or egg sandwiches.  Because my chickens are laying again, thankfully I haven’t needed to buy eggs either.

 

I picked up some great buys at Albertson's

First meat purchase of 2023 which was all on markdown

At the end of the month I lucked upon some really good deals and store offers at Albertson’s.  I was able to get an quart of cream for my coffee for only 8¢ after using a digital coupon and stock up a little bit on beef (first meat purchase I’ve made for 2023) which was on markdown for 50% OFF.  Because I happen to have a gift card for this particular store all of my purchases made this month were for no cost out of my pocket.

 

Not at all unhappy with this total! 😍

My total cost for groceries this month came in at just $22.33!  I did not purchase any nonfood items for myself or the house as I have plenty of toiletries, laundry supplies and cleaning products.  How did you manage your grocery budget this month?  What great deals did you come across?  Were you able to stock up on anything?

 

Filtering Out What Doesn't Fit

 

As many of you know I’ve been on a HUGE decluttering journey as well as a HUGE pantry challenge and as of this very moment I’m still working diligently on these two things.  Last week I told you about my top three priorities for my life.  I wish to seriously make those three priorities, exactly that, a priority.

 

Loads of stuff has been given away, donated, recycled or tossed

In order to do that I’ve had to make some big decisions and I find myself literally filtering out what no longer fits in my life, hence all the massive decluttering.  I’ve been looking at my home and my things with a new set of eyes and there have been a lot of what I refer to as “reality checks” lately.

 

Piles of scrap wood have been given away

The reality is that I no longer need most of the stuff I have owned over the years.  It doesn’t fit anymore.  Systematically I have gone through clothing and shoes, linens, toiletries, office supplies, cleaning supplies, craft and sewing supplies, tools and hardware, dishes and glassware, scrapwood and project materials, you name it, I’ve gone through it.  I’ve given so much stuff away, recycled bin after bin and even sent a few bins of items to the landfill.  I keep finding more stuff!

 

A vehicle I wasn't driving now has a new home

I only need so many things to cook my meals, fix stuff, create stuff, clean stuff and dress myself.  The rest is just not necessary.  My goal is to streamline my possessions down to the point that I only have what I need, want and use on a regular basis.  I will only keep things that add enjoyment to my life and fulfill a useful purpose.  By doing this I will no longer be encumbered by extraneous items and clutter which will free me up for the things I really want to focus my time and attention to, enhancing my quality of life.

 

I keep coming back to this, it really is true

Will I become a minimalist?  While I may be minimizing and streamlining my possessions I don’t see myself really becoming a minimalist.  There are certain items I find myself keeping just because I like them and enjoy them which is completely fine.  I have a lot of arts and crafts supplies, a lot of sewing supplies and I love dishes and recipe books so there is more of that than what I truly need.  But, I don’t need clothing I do not wear, piles of scrap wood I likely won’t use, extra linens for beds no one sleeps in or furniture no one sits on, Christmas china I don’t plan to use, a car I rarely drive or old technology that is no longer needed.  Those are the things that weigh me down and make me a little anxious, they just no longer fit in my life.  Now I have room for the things that do.

 

 

My Tireless Retirement - Week 55

 

Hello, hello everyone!  I hope you are doing well and enjoying some spring weather where you live.  It has been a little wet, gray and cloudy here, but the temperatures are warming up a bit and I’m finally seeing some buds and the start of leaves on some of the trees.  My tulips still have not bloomed but they are getting bigger and I see the rhubarb is poking up from the ground now.

Last week I was busy as ever.  I am once again in full decluttering mode as I am now making another full pass through my house and unbelievably I keep finding things!  How did I miss this stuff the first time around let alone the fourth?  Just crazy!  But this time around I’m also being a little more ruthless in that I’m seriously looking at things and evaluating whether or not I really need to hang onto it and the likelihood of it being used.  Lots of reality checks, to be sure.

 

One of the things I’d been wrestling with was keeping my Christmas china.  It takes up a lot of space for something that gets used once a year and last year I didn’t really use it.  It is also heavy and there are a lot of pieces.  I am blessed to have my grandmother’s china and in all honesty I’d much rather use that for special occasions.  I let it go.  I’m super happy with who it ended up with, a young couple just starting out.  Tough decision for me, my hardest so far, but I knew it was the right thing to do.  I am now on the hunt for four Corelle lunch sized plates in the Holly Day pattern.  That will suit me just fine.

 

I'd like to find four of these lunch plates

I finally pulled out a new copy of my quarterly housekeeping checklist and got started.  I’m three weeks behind on starting it, but I should catch up fairly quickly without too much trouble.  After so much decluttering it definitely does make my housekeeping routines even easier.  Bonus!

 

I did some crafting in Laverne 😃

Has spring managed to make an appearance where you live?  Is anyone planning to plant a garden?  I personally am on the fence about a vegetable garden this year.  I’m actually thinking about a complete revamp of the garden area in the backyard.  Do I want to take that on?  Not quite sure about that at the moment.

 

 

 

Focusing On My Top Three

 

Recently I was asked to consider what my top three priorities are in my life outside of family, friends or even pets, just for me and me alone.  I put a lot of thought into it and kept coming back to the same three things that I value most and that add considerably to my quality of life .  In some ways it surprised me, but in others it did not.

 

Optimal health was first in that I wish to eat healthy, improve my physical condition, improve my mental condition, be active and just feel good on a daily basis.  In recent years it has been harder to do this than it had been prior so I am focusing more in this particular area of my life.

 

Creativity is one area of my life that I didn’t realize held far more importance to me than I’d ever given it credit, or time for that matter.  Tapping into my creative side has always been something I’ve put on the back burner in lieu of “more important” matters such as housekeeping, home projects, working for a living and the needs of others.  I am now actively going to work on making creativity a large priority in my life.

 

Adventure and travel is my next item.  Something I have dabbled in over the years when time and finances allowed it, but I am now going to make it a bigger priority and focus more attention in that direction.  I hope to get to the point where taking a trip or doing something fun is just a normal part of my everyday life rather than something I get to do on a rare occasion as it has been.

 

Surprisingly, I realized how my top three priorities all seem to fit within one another.  I can manage to do all three things on a regular basis and by doing them I will benefit threefold.  I can travel, see or do something new, get some exercise, eat healthy, be creative and express myself all at the same time.  With some deep thought and reflection I was able to determine what suits me best and now I can move forward to a more fulfilling life.

 

Take some time yourself and really think about it, or perhaps you already know.  What are you top three?  And do you give those three priorities the attention that you should?

 

Making Big Decisions In Retirement

 

While planning for our respective retirements my BFF and I had often discussed the wisdom in delayed decision making, especially with regard to “big” decisions like moving to a new town or city, selling a home, buying or selling an automobile, spending a gob of money on a lavish vacation, etc.  In fact, we both subscribe to the notion that after a big life changing event, such as retiring itself, one should consider waiting a year before making any type of big decisions in order to settle in and also settle down emotionally first.  As it has turned out that is advice I am really happy I chose to adhere to.

 

Retiring is a huge event in one’s life and it does take a fair amount of time to adjust and get settled in.  I was super excited to retire, however I wasn’t prepared for all the “losses” that came along with it.  My sense of purpose faltered, I no longer had the daily interaction with the people that I used to, my entire life and schedule changed and it took me a while to readjust and get into a new groove.  Adding big life decisions to the mix would have been overwhelming and I don’t think I would’ve have been as well prepared to make wise choices as I am now that I’ve got that first year under my belt.

 

I have always tried to be practical in my decision making.  Use my head and my gut instead of my heart and my emotions.  Researching all avenues and really thinking things through first so that I can make the best decision possible for me and to not be overly influenced by the opinions of others.  After all, I am the one responsible for the outcome of any decision I choose to make, no one else.

 

Prior to retirement I was fairly certain that I was going to be selling one of my vehicles and I was pretty sure of which one that would be.  However, I took my time before I did so and I’m glad I did.  I was able to easily figure out which vehicle I use the most, is the most practical for my current lifestyle, meaning it will fit my needs as far as what I do on a daily basis and then which one was not.  As I had imagined the vehicle that fits my needs the best is my little pickup truck, not the newer four door sedan with the great gas mileage.

 

After a year of retirement I could see how I use my truck the most and found I was driving it much more frequently than the car.  I always take it to Lowes and Home Depot for home improvement supplies and landscaping materials.  It has been the vehicle I use to drop donations off at the thrift store and pick up things I find on Facebook Marketplace.  It is my vehicle of choice to pick up bunny hay and chicken food from the feed store and because I’m already out and about I will quite often stop at the grocery store on the way home if I happen to need anything.  Because my pickup has an extended cab I have plenty of room to place groceries even if I happen to have a passenger with me.

 

With a year of retirement completed I determined that I am one driver with three vehicles and as far as I can tell you can only drive one at a time.  I was finding myself trying to come up with opportunities to drive the car just so it would get used.  In the past year I put less than 350 miles on it.  By the time I was ready to actually sell my car I knew I was making a good solid decision and I was able to do so with no qualms about it.  Even though the truck is older and uses more fuel I knew I had chosen to keep the right one.

 

Now I have more space in my driveway, no more anxiety about the fact that the car was doing a lot of sitting.  I no longer have to license, smog test and insure that vehicle or maintain it so I’m saving a good chunk of change and some time too.  Someone else is now reaping the benefits of having a really nice car with low miles and a great maintenance history and a newer set of tires.  It still had that new car smell too with three quarters of a tank of gas and a new oil change.  It sold quickly and I got a good price for it meaning I was able to add that as well as the insurance refund I received into my savings account.  Letting my vehicle go actually gave me some peace of mind so I knew it was the right thing to do.  The fact that I took my time to make a solid decision that made sense for me, and me alone, also meant I would have no regrets about that sale and I didn’t.

 

My Tireless Retirement - Week 54

  

Hello!  Oh my goodness it has been a busy last couple of weeks for me.  Good thing I don’t have one of those pesky jobs to try and fit into my schedule.  This past week I had a few appointments, ran errands, caught up with friends, had friends over for dinner, worked outside in the yard and garage, did a little work on Laverne plus I had my regular chores and laundry to attend to.  And!  I found some more stuff to put on Facebook Marketplace.  I also set out a very full recycling bin at the curb for collection.  I have now cleared out more than half of what I had in my garage and my yard is looking great after the long winter.  I couldn’t be happier about it.

 

The finished stairway trim continues to make me smile

I am still flying high from having all of the “punch list” items completed around the house.  I must admit it does feel strange having all of my projects around the house finished.  I might have to come up with something new to do around here, but for now I’m just going to settle in and enjoy it.  My focus now is going to shift y attention over to Laverne.  I’ve been doing some “moving in” and organizing.  I’ll give you all a full tour once I’m done, but I’m quite pleased with my progress thus far.  I’m trying to be really mindful of what I’m putting in the motorhome so I don’t fill her up with a bunch of crap I won’t need or use.

 

I’ve also been ticking items off the motorhome shopping list.  This has been super fun and definitely a long time in coming.  I was able to pick up important items like the additive for the black tank, a new fire extinguisher, a set of leveling blocks and the clips to hold the burners tight on the stove so they don’t rattle while you are driving down the road.  Fun things like a new camp stove toaster plus I ordered an electric mini toaster and a mini waffle iron off of eBay that I can hardly wait to arrive and to try them out.  I had no idea there was such a thing as a mini toaster.  I picked up extra one pound propane cylinders for the camp stove because I do enjoy cooking outside whenever possible and a new BBQ lighter for said camp stove.

 

Thursday morning - Seriously?

My good friends came over and helped me fix the wiper washer fluid pump on Laverne so I can now spray the windshield whenever I need to.  It had apparently seized up and then locked up the relay switch in the process, but after a new pump and some troubleshooting it now works like it should.  I also ordered new marker clearance lights for the front of her last week too as the ones on her have become brittle over time and the covers now fall off.  Once they arrive my friends will be back to help me install them as they are pretty high up.  I am so grateful for good friends, especially ones that want to help me work on Laverne.

 

Easter dinner eaten in Laverne

That about covers it for now.  I hope you all had a joyous week and warmer spring weather.  Have a great day and be well.

Investment Cooking - Frozen Burritos

 

Last time I posted about making your own homemade burritos and I mentioned I use them to make burritos.  I like to make bean and cheese or beef and been burritos, individually wrap them in plastic wrap and store them in the freezer for super quick meals when you are really busy or just don't feel like cooking.  I unwrap them, place them on a plate and spin them in the microwave for a few minutes to heat them up.  Topped with salsa or pica de gallo and oh my goodness, what a tasty meal.  Much tastier than buying frozen burritos at the store and I'd hazard to guess much healthier too.  Click here to see how I make my burritos and give it a try.  I'm willing to bet you aren’t going to want to buy them at the store anymore.

 

Streamlining & Updating My Technology

I recently mentioned I've been decluttering my technology items.  It has been a process, let me tell you.  Most of my stuff is old and worn, I've literally run the wheels right off of it.  In the past few weeks my cell phone died and I had to replace it, my laptop finally gave it up and the backup laptop did as well.  I can't blog without a laptop!  Fortunately I had planned to replace a couple things this year and had already set aside funds to cover those expenses.  I ordered a replacement cell phone and a laptop just before I was completely dead in the water.  But, before I made these purchases I did some serious thinking about what I truly needed and how I was planning to use these items because if you are not careful it is really easy to over buy.

 

My new laptop with an external DVD rom & new cell phone
This is primarily all I really need

I intend to use a cell phone to make and receive phone calls and texts, use Google maps and occasionally check my email or look up something on the internet.  That's pretty much it.  Basic, simple, nothing over the top.  I don't live my life with my cell phone constantly in my hand, it doesn't rule my life and I'm not one who just has to be on it all the time.  I don't particularly care for cell phones all that much.  In fact, I'm lucky if I remember to take it with me when I leave the house or plug it in and charge it before the battery dies.  In addition, I intend to use a laptop primarily to write, plan my life, pay bills, track my finances, watch stuff like Youtube and DVDs (while traveling) and a small all-in-one printer.  I'm not a gamer.  My requirements are simple so my technology can be simple too.

 

The average American household has 2.5 televisions in their home
I only have one and that is more than enough

Right now, in my home, I currently have one television with a Roku streaming stick and a Victrola bookshelf stereo to go along with my cell phone, laptop w/DVD player, the printer plus a small digital camera.  That is it.  I have collected all of my old equipment for recycling including all cords, chargers and any other accessories.  I've kept only the cords and accessories  required to operate my current equipment with nothing for "just in case".  No extra cords, remotes, chargers, none of that nonsense.  Just the necessities and it feels really good having it all streamlined and minimal as compared to years past.  I'm keeping it very simple.

  

Journaling For Travel

 

A few years ago I made a little travel binder to keep in my motorhome Laverne with the idea that perhaps I'd keep track of my travels or would jot down my thoughts while out on my adventures.  At the time I was new to journaling, in fact I wasn't really all that into it, but it seemed like a fun idea at the time.  Recently I took a look at that journal that had been sitting on the table collecting dust.  After wiping it off I thumbed through it and all the memories of not only putting it together, but the thoughts I had of using it flooded right back.  Journals are pretty powerful that way.

 

Goodies to journal with

You remember a lot of when you take a trip or go on vacation, but you also forget a lot of stuff too.  A journal is a great way to document your adventures and how you feel about the places you are seeing and those wonderful experiences that make our travels so special.  Even the not so stellar moments that can happen along the way are still memories to cherish and even laugh about later.

 

Fun pages for inspiration

A travel journal is a great place to tuck mementos like postcards, photos taken at various stops, a feather or a leaf, a pressed flower, whatever strikes you as special at the time.  At the end of a busy day you can take some time to write down your thoughts or document what you did.  Not only does it keep your memories safe but it clears your mind so you are ready for the next day.

 

A great place to document one's adventures

The best part about a journal like this is that you have it to look back on and reflect.  When you do all those memories, thoughts and feelings will flood right back and you'll get to revisit those wonderful experiences.  Our adventures seem to go by so quickly, but with a journal you get to extend them and enjoy them a bit longer.