Thursday, July 26, 2012

An Easy Way to Can Homemade Grape Juice

Here is a very easy way to can Grape Juice, and it is really good
Grape Juice (Quarts)1/3 c. sugar
1 1/3 c. or ½ pound grapes
boiling water
Wash the grapes well. Using a funnel and ladle/cup, put sugar and grapes into hot jars. Fill jars with boiling water to 1/2 in. head space, then cover with lids and rings. Pressure can jars for 10 min. at 5 lbs. (Adjust pressure for altitude )Allow to cool overnight before testing the seals on the lids. If any didn’t seal, refrigerate immediately.

The pressure from the canner causes the juice to squeeze out of the grapes and fill the jar. Most of the grape skins will fall to the bottom of the jar eventually. I noticed that there was a layer of sugar hardened at the bottom of each of the jars, but this has dissolved over time, so don’t worry about that if it happens to you.
When ready to serve simply shake and open the jar and strain out the grapes and chill.
This is so easy and quick plus yummy.

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Make your own pectin

                                                   


I have learned how to make my own pectin. One less thing to have to go to the store for.

                               Make your own pectin  

To prepare liquid apple pectin, it is best to use Crabapples or you can use under-ripe apples that are still a bit green, hard, and sour. . You can use your damaged or misshapen apples for making pectin. If you can only get a few at a time you can throw them in the freezer until you have enough. Chop them in halves or quarters, If they are small like the crabapples I just leave whole, fill a large pot, and then add just enough water to almost cover the apple chunks. Cover the pot and place it on low heat for a long time, until the apples are fully cooked and you have something that looks like runny applesauce with skins and seeds in it. Stir the apples every twenty minutes or so while they are cooking. I put mine in my large electric roasting pan turned on med low for about 12 hours.

Arrange a strainer for this "sauce" by placing a cheese cloth (actually I use pantyhose that I buy on clearence or on sale then cut the legs out and tie the holes then it fits over the pot nicely, save the legs for smaller straining jobs) over the top of a five-gallon pail or large pot, secured by a cord tied around the rim if using panty hose you do not need to tie a cord around it. (A piece of cheese cloth in a colander works fine for smaller amounts.) The hot applesauce is then poured into the strainer; what drips out the bottom should be a clear, thick liquid that's a little bit slimy to the touch. That's your liquid apple pectin. I usually let mine strain overnight, because it drips slowly. You can get more pectin by pressing it, but then it comes out a little cloudy and carries more of the under-ripe apple flavor. you can test your pectin to see if it will gel properly. To do so, get a spoonful of your pectin, and let it cool. Pour a little rubbing alcohol into a glass, then drop in your cooled pectin ( will not work with hot pectin). The pectin ought to form a blob of gel, which you should be able to lift with a fork. If it is too runny to be lifted, then you’ll need to boil it down some more to increase the concentration. It seems like I always have to boil mine down a little more.If you need to boil it down more be sure to watch closely and stir often so it doesn’t burn or boil over. Ladle into sterilized jars, leaving ½" headspace. Remove air bubbles. Cap and seal.Process in water-bath canner 10 minutes.

 Use 4-6 Tbsp of pectin for every 1 cup of fruit juice when making jams/jellies. Once your pectin and fruit juices are mixed, add an equal amount of sugar (ie: 2 cups of pectin/fruit mixture to 2 cups of sugar).

Thursday, July 12, 2012

Are they going to try and take our Guns

If you don’t think the government won’t try to take away our guns you need to read this about the president and the UN are doing http://www.shtfplan.com/headline-news/five-words-for-the-united-nations-from-my-cold-dead-hands_07112012
And here is what one person wrote in the comment section
 
Sorry for the long post but take the time to copy it and send to everybody you know.
My old grandpa said to me ‘Son, there comes a time in every man’s life when he stops bustin’ knuckles and starts bustin’ caps and usually it’s when he becomes too old to
take an ass whoopin.’
I don’t carry a gun to kill people. I carry a gun to keep from being killed.
I don’t carry a gun to scare people. I carry a gun because sometimes this world can be a scary place.
I don’t carry a gun because I’m paranoid. I carry a gun because there are real threats in the world.
I don’t carry a gun because I’m evil. I carry a gun because I have lived long enough to see the evil in the world.
I don’t carry a gun because I hate the government. I carry a gun because I understand the limitations of government.
I don’t carry a gun because I’m angry. I carry a gun so that I don’t have to spend the rest of my life hating myself for failing to be prepared.
I don’t carry a gun because I want to shoot someone. I carry a gun because I want to die at a ripe old age in my bed, and not on a sidewalk
somewhere tomorrow afternoon.
I don’t carry a gun because I’m a cowboy. I carry a gun because, when I die and go to heaven, I want to be a cowboy.
I don’t carry a gun to make me feel like a man. I carry a gun because men know how to take care of themselves and the ones they love.
I don’t carry a gun because I feel inadequate. I carry a gun because unarmed and facing three armed thugs, I am inadequate.
I don’t carry a gun because I love it. I carry a gun because I love life and the people who make it meaningful to me.
Police protection is an oxymoron. Free citizens must protect themselves. Police
do not protect you from crime, they usually just investigate the crime after it happens and then call someone in to clean up the mess.
Personally, I carry a gun because I’m too young to die and too old to take an ass whoopin’…..
**********************************************
A LITTLE GUN HISTORY
In 1929, the Soviet Union established gun control. From 1929
to 1953, about 20 million dissidents, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.
——————————
In 1911, Turkey established gun control. From 1915 to 1917, 1.5 million Armenians, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated. ——————————
Germany established gun control in 1938 and from 1939 to 1945, a total of 13 million Jews and others who were unable to defend themselves were rounded up and exterminated.
——————————
China established gun control in 1935. From 1948 to 1952, 20 million political dissidents, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.
——————————
Guatemala established gun control in 1964. From 1964 to 1981, 100,000 Mayan Indians, unable
to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.
—- ————- ————-
Uganda established gun control in 1970. From 1971 to 1979, 300,000 Christians, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.
——————————
Cambodia established gun control in 1956. From 1975 to 1977, one million educated people, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.
—————————–
Defenseless people rounded up and exterminated in the 20th Century because of gun control: 56 million.
——————————
You won’t see this
data on the US evening news, or hear politicians disseminating this information.
Guns in the hands of honest citizens save lives and property and, yes, gun-control laws adversely affect only the law-abiding citizens.
Take note my fellow Americans, before it’s too late!
The next time someone talks in favor of gun control, please remind them of this history lesson.
With guns, we are ‘citizens’. Without them, we are ‘subjects’. During WW II the Japanese decided not to invade America because they knew most Americans were ARMED!
If you value your freedom, please spread this anti gun-control message to all of your friends.
The purpose of fighting is to win. There is no possible victory in defense. The sword is more important than the shield, and skill is more important than either. The final
weapon is the brain. All else is supplemental.
SWITZERLAND ISSUES EVERY HOUSEHOLD A GUN!
SWITZERLAND’S GOVERNMENT TRAINS EVERY ADULT THEY ISSUE A RIFLE.SWITZERLAND HAS THE LOWEST GUN RELATED CRIME RATE OF ANY CIVILIZED COUNTRY IN THE WORLD!!! IT’S A NO BRAINER! DON’T LET OUR GOVERNMENT WASTE MILLIONS OF OUR TAX DOLLARS IN AN EFFORT TO MAKE ALL LAW ABIDING CITIZENS AN EASY TARGET.
DPS
 
 
 
 
 

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Homemade Startch

I iron a lot (well not as much as I use to ) I like this recipe because I don’t have to worry about running out, or all the chemicals in the store bought.

Homemade Startch

1 pint cool water
1 tablespoon corn starch

Dissolve corn starch into water and put into a spray bottle. You can also add a drop or two of essential oil, for a light fragrance to your starched laundry.

Make sure to shake before each use to redissolve the starch. If you don't plan on using it often, make small amounts or refrigerate the unused portion; however, make sure to let the mixture return to room temperature before you use it.