Canning Turkey Broth w/ Tattler lids

First roast your chicken bones 350 for 30+ minutes until brown.  Then cooked turkey bones covered in water for over 12 hours on low in crockpot.  If you don't have a crockpot you can cook for several hours on low on the stove covered with water.  You may need to add more water if it evaporates.

Drained reserving broth and removed bones and fat and yuck from meat, refrigerated overnight, because I wasn't ready to can.
Today I reheated the broth and three in the rest of the left over turkey.
Added hot water to jars and remembered I had bought some Tattler lids at the coop a couple months ago.

Scalded the lids and rings. Emptied the hot water out of the jars, and filled with broth within an inch front the top. Added the Tattler rubber and lid. You must tighten and then back off 1/4 inch. Then after processing, which is 20 minutes 10 pounds pressure for pints in my area, tight lids as you take them out of the canner.

My canner came with 1 15 pound weight. You have to keep adjusting.the stove to keep the gauge at the desired weight. The middle of this summer I bought the weight set where you can break down the weight by 6, 10, and 15 pounds. You can see in the picture below I have the 10 pound weight. You adjust the stove down when the weight gently rocks. I don't have to stare at it the whole time afraid it will build to much pressure and blow up. I like having the gauge as well so I know the pressure has built up adequitely.

Boycotting Paid TV

Need to rant a minute today.  I just saw an advertisement for a program that will air on a paid TV channel.  I guess they don't want me to watch their program, because I refuse to pay for TV.  This has been the best decision we made this year. 

Earlier this year we canceled our cable service.  We did keep the cable internet.  It has been refreshing to have fewer choices.  Having more channels didn't mean there was more to watch.  We receive 7 digital broadcast channels.  The reception is better than cable.  The picture is cleaner, vibrant, and less fuzz than cable.  

I don't understand why the public is willing to pay for TV when you can get it for free.  You can watch videos on several internet sites like CBS, CNN, NBC, ABC, CMT, YouTube, FOX, hulu, mtv, Weather Channel, ESPN, and many more.  If you do subscribe to a TV service some sites allow you to log on using your TV service to watch their channels online. 

How to get the video onto your TV?  We would plug a laptop with an S-Video cable into our old analog tube TV.  We finally upgraded to a new Sony google TV.  The TV connects to our wireless network.  We can surf to and watch videos on any website.  We also can log into Netflix.  The other option is a laptop with a blue ray player.  We plug the laptop into the TV with an hdmi cable.  The video is clearer than our old dvd player.  It is interesting that the sound travels to the TV through the same hdmi cable. 

Hope this give you some money saving ideas.

Knitted Shrug

Just wanted to post a pic of my new shrug I finished yesterday. I love it!
Pattern:  http://www.redheart.com/free-patterns/comfy-shrug Caron simply soft Light peach yarn. Not corn free needs to be washes a few times to get the starch out, but is very soft yarn. 

I will post a picture later.  I have also been making fingerless gloves like this. http://www.caron.com/projects/ss/ss_SS12_fingerless_gloves.html 

I have to add my Grandma Gerrie and her sisters are my knitting inspiration. I figure if they could knit just about anything so can I. I remember my poncho in elementary school that my grandma made me. I received an afghan that she had started before she died of lung cancer in 1999. I finished it several years later. Its big enough to fit my queen bed. My inspiration.

Not Good For Me - Applegate Farms Natural Turkey Bacon

I got up the courage to try the Applegate Farms Natural Turkey Bacon.  I think its ok!!!  Very good! 
The ingredients:  Turkey, Water, Contains Less Than 2% Of The Following: Sea Salt, Celery Powder, Maple Sugar, Onion Powder, Spices.

It has Maple Sugar and not Cane Sugar.  Hickory Smoked turkey thigh meat.  Yum!  I ate 1 piece and will try more tomorrow.  I do believe it is corn safe.  I eat their beef hot dogs all the time.  Others can eat their Sunday Bacon, but it has cane sugar.
http://www.applegatefarms.com/products/natural_turkey_bacon.aspx

******UPDATE 1/3/2012
I AM GETTING AN ALLERGY REACTION TO THIS BACON.

Syncing contacts into my new Iphone

I read a few sites on how to import my contacts into my phone here's what I figured out.  I downloaded my yahoo contacts into a .cvs file.  Edited the contacts adding phone numbers and additional contacts that weren't in my yahoo contacts.  I then deleted my yahoo contacts.  Went to import other file types and choose "A desktop top email program".  It gave me an option to upload a .cvs file.  Now all my contacts are in order.  I then logged into my yahoo mail on my iPhone and choose to update my contacts.  All of my yahoo contacts transferred to my phone.  They are all neat and correct.  Beware you could duplicate existing phone contacts.

New iPhone

Got my first smart phone. Also just entered the world of texting. Never had it before because I didn't want to pay the extra cost. Now that prices have come down it doesn't cost much more than the plan that we were on. We were up for an AT&T upgrade. Discovered they had an iPhone available for $.99. I think we waited long enough!

Winter is setting in.....

Well the chickens are 1/2 time laying, and they aren't a year old yet.  Of the 7 chickens, 3 polish and 4 aurcanas chickens, I am getting 2 green eggs per day.  I read an article on my friend's blog:  http://livinghealthyinthemodernworld.blogspot.com/2011/12/egg-shortage.html  I posted a comment that I am thinking the shortage is due to the lack of light.  Chickens need 12 - 14 hours of light in order to lay.  I am going to let my chickens continue to rest and molt, and put a light bulb on a timer in their house in Jan or Feb.  I am thinking I should be able to get a outdoor timer pretty cheap.  I had seen they are selling them for Christmas decorations. 

Sorry, but I am going to add that if they don't start laying regular, we will cull the flock.  For many years I had issues with eating my chickens.  They have been like pets.  Now with this corn allergy I am looking at them more as food/meat.  Its very hard to find uncontaminated meat.  The meat industry has become so unsafe.  I think due to their size, and greediness that they wash all the meat with citric acid made from corn.  Therefore I now need to look at my chickens as roasters!  Breaded and fried.  Again sorry if that sounds sick, but I really need to change my mindset. 

No Job!

The job didn't work out they chose the popcorn machine over me!
I was told he wanted to hire me at Liberty Tax Service until I showed up at the interview and he asked if the popcorn would be a problem. During the 8 week tax class I told him about my allergy. I said I can't be in a room where popcorn is being popped. He said thats too bad, he has the popcorn put on as soon as they come in. Its part of their sales. They give free popcorn and sodas. I got up and walked out, and cried all the way home yesterday afternoon, and I am still mad, and depressed. 
I suppose I could have been more proactive, and asked when he called for the interview, if he was going to get rid of the popcorn, or what. I told him they could pop it some where else, and bring it in. They just couldn't pop it in the same room, because I would be breathing in the vapor. He was sorry, but the smell was part of their deal too. I just don't understand that, you can't smell it while driving by. The guy is just ignorant. My dh is going to spread the word not to go there. This is a very small town. We have 1 grocery store, a  Walmart, a Lowes, and a few other small stores, he really shouldn't have sided with popcorn over what could have been his best employee that would have brought in well over 100 new clients.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Its a great day!  Yesterday we found out that Hubby is getting a promotion.  I got a call for a job interview.  He said he does want to hire me!  After 19 months since moving to East TN things are starting to lighten up!  Thank you Lord!

What corn free foods am I having for Thanksgiving dinner?  Prime Rib from the grass feed beef we bought this year.  I scavaged about 2 - 3 cups of broccoli from the garden, and 1 gallon of spinach.  I think I might make some fried onion / garlic quinoa, and some roasted sweet potatoes with sour cream mixed with roasted garlic, green onion powder, kale powder, and salt.

Forks Over Knives

Must see movie: http://www.forksoverknives.com/ You can watch it on netflix.

Glad I am corn allergic. I don't believe I will have the cancer or other problems eating western foods.  My family has had heart problems.  I miss my Grandpa.   He had heart disease that was 15 years ago.  I didn't know what heart disease was.  I didn't know what diabetes was.  I am (glad isn't the word) fortunate that I can learn about many topics on the internet.  I would like to learn how to explain my knowledge so others would understand and want to make a change in for themselves. 

Many of you know my mom is pre-diabetic. I am hoping I can get her to watch this movie.

Its 2011. I found out I was corn allergic in 2005. I am now 45. In 2009 I was put on a diuretic for blood pressure. My low number was in the 90s. For those of you that don't know, if your low pressure is in the 90s, thats very, very bad. In July 2010 I had to full succumb to my corn allergy. I couldn't find food, and didn't realize what I was truely allergic to, therefore like a lot of you reading this I could only eat what I could find that wasn't corn-contaminated. I am not eating flour.   I am eating mostly whole foods.  Quinoa, Whole Millet, and Sweet Potates are my main starch. 

So according to this movie Forks Over Knives we should eat mostly a plant based diet.  My mom has been told not to eat beans.  They are high in starch, which I just learned in the last year is not good for diabetics according to my mom in Atlanta.  If you take out other proteins, according to this movie, aren't legumes ok?

Embroidery Project

Wrote out my saying on paper.  Put it in back of the fabric and traced onto the fabric with pencil.  Embroidered, then pinked the back edge leaving it long enough, so that I could hot glue it to the frame. and covered the frame a fabric ruffle.  I folded the fabric in half inside out.  Surged the seam, turned out and pressed.  Machine sewed a draw string, gathered, hand stitched the ends together to make a circle, adjusted the size and hot glued to the frame.  Then hot glued a lace to cover.

Online purchases taxed by states

I just got a disturbing newsletter from my Senator Lamar Alexander.  He has decided to support legislation to require online retailers to charge and pay states sales tax.  I do not think it is right that a business would have to pay sales to to a state that it doesn't reside. 

Contact your senator and tell them NO!

Bipartisan Group of Senators Introduces Bill Allowing States to Close Sales-Tax Loophole

• Casework
• Flag Requests
• Tennessee Delegation
• Tennessee Resources

  Amazon would probably have to file tax papers to all 50 states.  I rely on being able to purchase online because I can't get products locally like shampoo.  It cost more in gas to drive to Knoxville, than it is to buy online.  The local stores don't carry the vitamins that I use.  They will order it for me and charge me extra because they don't regularly carry the item.  They aren't willing to carry an item that they think only I would buy.   

• Visiting Capitol Hill
• Tours
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• Monuments / Memorials
• Tennessee Tuesdays

• Sponsored Bills
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Radish / Turnip Ferment

Again Erica inspired me.  She made fermented radishes and has been exclaiming how much she likes them.  I just happen to have several radishes and turnips in the garden that I need to do something with.  So Here it is:  Radishes, Turnips, 1/2 cup onion, a few cloves of garlic.  2 tablespoons Morton Canning and Pickling Salt, Water from Houstons Mineral Water  I dissolved the salt in a cup of water, poured it into the jar and filled the jar to the top. (The lid is tilted in the picture to show the marbles in the plastic bag.)

Kristy recommended glass marbles to keep the vegetables submerged.  I put them in a plastic bag.  I purchased some plastic storage lids instead of the metal ones because they rust.  I will be capping this for 2 - 6 days. 

Personal Note:  I am taking the Liberty Tax class, and I am thoroughly brain dead trying to finish the final due next week!  I think the tax return I just did included almost every form imaginable!  Ugh...  I have to say I do like a challenge.  :-)   Then on top of all this......  I am fighting with a new computer.  Having a new computer is great after you finally get it to do what you want it to do, like stay connected to the network!  Another Ugh!  :-)  I don't know how to tell Windows 7 to not look at the other open networks in my neighborhood.  If anyone does please help!!!
Erica, I promise to get back on my embroidery project soon.  :-)  Then I am making napkins and placemats for my gf for Christmas.  Its sometimes hard to stay on task.

Reference:  http://wildfermentation.com/resources.php?page=pickles

Canning beef and broth

I have been saving the bones from my grass feed beef in the freezer.  I cover them with water in my crockpot and cook for 24 - 48 hours.  Then put the liquid in ice cube trays to freeze.   This Wednesday I plan to cut up a few sirloin steaks into stew meat.  I am hoping I have enough broth saved up to can 7 quarts of meat and broth to use as soup or stew stock over winter.

November 10th
I finally got the beef and broth canned today.  It seemed to mess up the whole kitchen and took forever.  I know its going to be worth it. 

My plan is that I could saute onion and garlic, add a jar and some vegetables.  I have frozen broccoli and green beans.  I also have dehydrated patty pan squash.  I also have dehydrated onions.  Then of course I would add salt and pepper, and maybe thyme, or rosemary.  Perhaps I will save a jar or 2 for next year so I can add some home grown white potatoes.

Looking for Winter Projects - Found 1!

My friend Ericka gives me inspiration:  cornfreelifestyle.wordpress.com sewing project

I am in search of winter projects.  I like to sew, stitch, knit, crochet.....  Erica posted her sewing project, I think its awesome.  She referenced an organic cotton fabric site:  Near Naturals  I surfed around on the site and decided to check out their blog:  http://www.nearseanaturals.com/blog/  From there I found this cool project:  http://pinksuedeshoe.com/2010/04/07/a-little-embroidered-love-note/#comment-5913  I love love love this idea.  Now I want to come up with other sayings. 

Water can be corny?

Taken from a discussion on Delphi:  http://forums.delphiforums.com/avoidingcorn/messages?msg=10726.1

Suggested Safe Bottled Water

CG Roxane bottled
Crystal Springs bottled in Blue Ridge, GA
Iceland Glacier
Poland Springs bottled in Maine
Voss
Whole Foods 365 spring

I am adding this for informational purposes, so I can refer back.  I have been wondering what water is safe.  There has been several discussions about water additives.  As I discover more on the subject, I will add it.

Preserving Apples, and Kale

I have been making applesauce from Jonathon apples I been buying from Carver's Apple Orchard.

Taste great with no sugar.  Peel and core apples, add a bit of water to cook down, then use a potato masher to mash the apples.  I like chunky applesauce.  If you prefer smoother sauce run 1/2 the apples in your food processor.  I run my jars with a bit of bleach in the dishwasher on quick wash, and heated dry to sterilize.  Jar up and, water bath for 20 minutes.  I recommend contacting your local cooperative extension for preserving instructions. 

Dried red delicious apples cut on mandolin slicer with the medium blade setting.  They take about 12 hours to dry in the Nesco dehydrator on 135 degrees.  The dehydrator came with 5 trays.  I added 2 more 2 packs of trays.  Now it has 9 trays. 

The dried kale on the lower right of the picture will be crushed and the larger stems removed, then powder in my blender.

October Update

I feel I got a reaction from the 7 oz Kerrygold dubliner yesterday.  Expiration 2/8/12.  I emailed the company today to find out if they changed anything.

My garden is growing.  I should post a picture.  The last 2 months I planted lettuce, mustard/spinach, spinach, radishes, turnips, onions, garlic, broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, and cauliflower.  The mustard/spinach is surprisingly great, and it grows pretty fast too!  I tried it both cooked and in a salad.  I have been able to start picking the spinach and lettuce.  I have been having great salads again.  I was thinking that will only be in the spring and fall.  I tried planting some lettuce in August, but it bolted because it was to hot.

Today its 80 and tomorrow the high will be in the 50s.  I bet I'll be turning on the heater for the first time since spring.  Tomorrow might be a good day to clean the oven.  I like to wait until its cooler to run the cleaning cycle. 

Hopefully it won't freeze to early this year so I can get more out of the garden.  I am afraid that it will freeze early and hard this year, we've had an abundance of wooly worms.  People are telling me that if there are a lot of wooly worms it means we will have a hard winter.  I guess we'll wait and see.

Finding Food is a Challenge, When Your Allergic to CORN!

Who will find, or grow food for me if I become incapacitated?  Fresh unaltered food is hard to find.  The big food companies of America manage to contaminate their food.  Due to the negligence of the American food companies the government feels they need to step in and manage all food sources.  If American’s stopped eating food from the giant food processing conglomerates, they wouldn’t be getting sick.  Everyone on the planet needs to take responsibility for where their food comes from instead of blaming the government, when greed overtakes responsible farming or processing.  Due to greed and failed cleanliness practices most all our food is washed with citric acid, lactic acid, or vinegar, all of which are made from corn.  This contaminates most all food for the corn allergic.  We have to go out of our way to buy farm fresh produce, or grow it ourselves.  We have to locate local grown meat, and have to double check that it’s processed without any sprays or so called cleaners.  We have to stay away from the whole antibacterial movement.  Antibacterial is made from corn alcohol.   Guess what?   We aren’t getting sick.  Most of us don’t buy from the SUPERMARKET, therefore we are not getting exposed to as many germs.  Germs aren’t bad.  Germs build a better immune system. 

The corn allergic like seeing more of the “All Natural” or Non-GMO” movements like you find at the local farmers market.  http://www.localharvest.org/  I moved across country last year (4 days travel).  Now a year later I am finding locally grown food all over the place.   I put a ½ a beef in my new 20 cubic foot upright freezer.  I grew a garden and put up jars of vegetables, and frozen as well.  We are living on less, but getting so much more, since I am not working.  I am gardening, and growing our food.  We don’t need to buy very much at the store.  We are using more natural products, therefore lessening our carbon foot print.  As the garden grows I too hope to be able to share at the farmers market, where you can find uncontaminated real food.

Apples!!!!

I was turned onto a place here in East TN that has apples!  $18 / Bushel  Awesome price.  Carver's Apples Cosby, TN.  I bought a bushel of red delicious, another bushel of Jonathan's, 1/2 peck of pink lady's, and another 1/2 peck of carousels.  So far I've used a bushel making 12 pints of applesauce, and 15 pints of apple butter.  I have also dried a 20 red delisicous; sweet and very good eating!

So this morning I made buckwheat pancakes with chopped pink lady apples topped with apple butter!!!

Kale Powder

Recently I have been surfing other blogs.  I found this one FarmgirlCyn. I read the post under-pressure.  She dehydrated her kale, powdered it and sprinkled it onto other food.  What a great idea!  I have kale the size of small trees.  They have been growing all summer.  I blanched and froze some.  I have made kale chips.  Now I am going to dry and powder some.  I plan to get through winter with some greens on hand! 

Sliced Beef Bacon

I eventually smoked for 4 hours.  The final internal temperature was 150 degrees.  I decided to just go with that because when I had checked them a couple times before taking them off, there were small spots of fluid on the surface.  This made me fell I was drying them out and would end up with beef jerky instead of bacon.  After taken them off, I wrapped them in foil and refrigerated them over night.  The following morning I cut them against the grain at an angle.  I started using my favorite non-serrated knife,

then I tried the one serrated one pictured under the meat.  It didn't do so well.  I went back to the non-serrated knife.  I had to stop and sharpen it a few times.  I am so glad to have my grandma's sharpening stone in the picture.  After slicing I layered the bacon on a cookie sheet inbetween layers of plastic wrap.  After its frozen  I will put it in gallon size freezer bags.  This way I will be able to take out just what I want at any time.  I freeze just about everything in layers on a cookie sheet like this.

I fried up a couple pieces.  Tastes like the best smoked bacon or ham I ever had.  Be sure to slice it thin, because it is a bit chewy.  My cow was very young and grass feed, so he didn't have much fat at all.  Oh so good though!  I haven't had anything that even resembled bacon in a very long time!  I ate a couple slices with 2 fresh eggs that had very yellow yokes!  I have been letting my chickens out to roam lately, so they have been getting more greens, which make their yolks almost orange.

Today is Bacon Smoking Day

This morning I heard that we may have showers tonight and again tomorrow, so I decided it was time to take the beef out of the fridge and rinse it for 20 minutes.  The meat is gray looking because I didn't use nitrites.  I would fill the sink swish the meat around until the water was frothy then drain and fill again.

I put the meat on racks in the fridge to dry.  I used a flour sack towel to get the excess water off.  I read that they are suppose to be dry when smoking.  The smoke is suppose to attach to the layer of dried film. 

I built a fire in the smoker box using an electric charcoal starter.

I closed the drawer a bit after I saw a little flame, so it would air draft the coals.  The chimney was wide open. Note the the grill has a temperature gauge on the lid.

  After the coals started flaming I took the starter out, closed the drawer, and made sure the vents were fully open.  When the temperature reaches 200 you can put the meat on. 

I soaked my Full Circle Hickory Chips in a bucket of water.  You should do this hours before.  You can even do this overnight.  I made a pouch of wet chips with foil, and put a few holes on top.  Then threw a few wet chips on top of the hot coals then add your pouch.  You might have to check that you didn't smother the fire with the pouch.  Keep the grill at 200 degrees.  

Here's what I used: 

On went the meat.  First I had it too close to the right side.  You can see the top of the piece on the right got a lttle browned.  Oops....   

Close the vents if it is to hot.  Lump coal burns hotter.  I had to open the top a couple of times to cool it down.  Open the vents if it starts getting to cold.  Add more coal if it continues to cool down.  I had to turn the grill around, so the natural breeze flowed into the smoker box to get the fire going again.  Then I turned it back around, and closed the vents a bit when it was back up to 200 degrees.  Constantly watch the grill to maintain your temperature between 175 and 200.

Continue smoking for 3 hours.  When the meat reaches internal temperture of 160 its done.  One site said that after smoking for 3 hours you can finish getting the meat to 160 in the oven.  I am guessing at 200 degrees.

I am listing a few sites that I used as a reference, but actually there are many, many, more sites about how to make bacon.  I read and read to try and get it right.:  http://www.deejayssmokepit.net/BeefBacon.htm, http://letsmakesomethingawesome.com/2011/03/home-cured-bacon-without-nitrates/, http://ruhlman.com/2010/03/corned-beef-how-to-cure-your-own/,  

Bacon, Bacon, Bacon!

I am so excited about making beef bacon.  I checked the meat tonight.  It was smashed into the bottom of my jar.  I picked it up and swished it around.  It has a couple darker spots.  I am thinking its pepper corn mashed to it.  It smells fine.  Yeah!!!  I am planning on smoking Wednesday, or Thursday.  I was really excited to remember that my Food City 10 mins. away carried the Full Circle lump coal.  I have 1 bag of Earth Fare brand lump coal.  I wanted to have a second bag on hand just in case.  The smoking part is 200 degrees until the meat reaches 160 degrees.  I also got 2 bags of Full Circle Hickory Chips at Food City.  Yeah!  I think the stores are coming around with the natural food movement!  I am so excited!!! 

My smoker:  We had a Chargriller with smoker box that we used a lot in AZ, but when we moved it wouldn't fit onto the truck, so we bought a new one at Lowe's after we got to TN.  We kept the rotisserie from the old grill.  I ordered another smoker box for the new grill 2 weeks ago.  My dh put it on last weekend, so now we are set to smoke beef bacon!  I am looking forward to smoking up and smelling up our whole neighborhood!  :-)  My neighbor hates me, so this will probably make her really happy.  I think I want to smoke in the middle of the backyard, so the smoke wafts right onto her back porch!  Eat your heart out!!  :-)  Drool all you want!  It needs to smoke for at least 3 hours!  Can't you just smell it????  :-)

Extra Watermelon or Cantaloupe

I chopped my extras and froze on a cookie sheet between plastic wrap.  Then transfered to a ziplock freezer bag.  You eat it still frozen or icey.  You can't thaw and eat it, it turns to mush. 

How to cut up a melon:  Cut off the top and bottom, so you have a flat surface.  Then slice off the rind from top to bottom all the way around.  They you just have to slice in half, clean it out, and chop it up.

Beef with vegetables

Start by cooking 1 cup of whole millet.  Brown 1 cup of whole millet in a bit of palm shortening, add 2 cups water, cover, and simmer for 25 minutes.  I just leave it in the pan until ready to eat.

Slice cube steaks (about 1 lb) into 1 inch cubes.  toss with millet flour, or flour of your choice
Chop 2 cups of vegetables of your choice, I had okra, zucchini, green beans
1 sliced bell pepper and sweet onion.
1/4 chopped fresh spices basil, rosemary, thyme, and oregano
3 chopped cayenne peppers
Salt and pepper to taste

Fry all vegetables including onions 1/2 of the spices in palm shortening until almost done.  Fry the meat with the other 1/2 of the spices until crispy brown.  Add the vegetables back to the meat and fry a bit more to mix together.  Serve on top of cooked whole millet.

Note:  everything came from my garden except the millet, and sweet onion.

Incapacitated? What does the corn allergic do?

Next!!!!!!!!  I finally got 150 lbs of grass feed beef in my freezer. My on going dilemma is what if I am incapacitated?  What if I have a stroke?  What if I get into a car accident and am incapacitated? 

I went to a general practitioner a year ago for a pap.  When I got there I told them they couldn't use their grease on me.  The young female doctor left the room came back and, said the office manager said, I would have to go see a specialist.  They didn't even want to accommodate my allergy.   Personally I find it easier to just not to go to the doctor.  My dad and step mom haven't been in years because they haven't had med insurance.  My med insurance has a 10,000 deductible, so I figure why go to the doctor if it is going to bite into my food budget.

My main issue is:  I am 45 years old, and how will I be able to survive contamination?  How are we going to survive?  We all have to find a way to get someone to hear us!  This is really scary!  I have finally found some beef.  I will post the recipe I made tonight.  Yum!  dh loved it!  What am I going to do tomorrow?  My garden wasn't big enough this year.  I have put up about 1/2 of what I will need until April or so.......  This is a new climate for me.  I lived in AZ 3 yrs prior, TX 5 yrs before that, N. Cal SF bay area where you could pretty much grow anything year round.  Here you can't grow anything from October until at least February.  But you won't get anything until April / May or so....  Since this is my first year planting crops here, I found out that I have to have everything in by April!  The garden will be 3 times as big next year!

So if I am not growing my own food, or buying a grass feed cow from someone, where do I find food?   Whole foods (Whole Paycheck) isn't an options for me because I don't have one and if I did I couldn't afford to buy their food! 

What are we going to do if we are incapacitated?  The convalescent home can feed you corn because it's not a top allergen.  They can play stupid that they feed me beef that was sprayed with citric acid.  Citric acid doesn't say corn, nor does alcohol, vinegar, salt, pepper, toilet paper, soap, laundry detergent, deodorant, and many, many, many more products.  We all know that all meat and vegetable products are sprayed with some sort of corn derivative like citric acid, vinegar, or lactic acid.

So again, what are we going to do if we are incapacitated?

Beef Bacon

Got my grass feed beef today.  They didn't freeze the brisket.  The calf was small of half I got 167 pounds, which I think is enough for the 2 of us.  It fills 2 shelves of my 25 cubic foot freezer.  I figure the bottom drawer and shelf would equal one shelf together.  We definitely need to secure another one for next year. 

I created the curing brine after reading several different recipes this is what I went with.

Brine : Boil all
1 gallon mineral water (not tap)  I have a source of fresh mineral water.  http://houstonsmineralwater.com/
1 1/2 cup salt
1 Tablespoon peppercorns
4 cloves garlic
1/2 cup white sugar

Then chill the water to 38 degrees!  Very important.  I read some where to test the mixture by seeing if an egg will float. 

I got 2 briskets because the person that wanted the other 1/2 beef wanted it all ground, so the butcher was able to give them some of my ground for their brisket.

Kristy's idea to use marbles in a bag.  I placed them on top of a couple plastic lids.

 I added the inverted jar lid.

Everything I've read says leave it for 5 - 7 days before smoking.  Rinse for 20 minutes, put in the fridge to let the outside dry to a film.

Organic Labels Don't Mean Allergy Free

I really like this blog post: 
Organic Labels Don't Mean Allergy Free

My comment:
Good note!  What I can't grasp is that according to the Feds "Organic" is suppose to mean NON-GMO, or GMO are not allowed to be labeled "Organic".  What about the corn ingredient used to make citric acid or vinegar?  Are the Feds looking at the ingredients used to make the citric acid or vinegar?  Are they truly NON-GMO, or because it doesn't say corn, but instead citric acid or vinegar they think it doesn't count or matter that it really is GMO?

My Beef is at the Butcher!

Just got off the phone with my butcher.  I am nervious!  The cow is already there!  Yikes!  dh called a bit ago to say that the cow was going today.  My butcher is awesome.  He asked why it was there already.  I said I didn't know.  I was teasing in asking, Am I suppose to come get it?  lol  :-)  Any way he's going to go ahead and kill it because he realizes that I don't want it to have any grain.  Yikes again!  Glad he thought about it.  He said he doesn't kill until Thursday.  Sure hope this isn't going to cost me extra. 

We discussed how do I want it cut.  He said standard?  What is standard?  He doesn't have a fax machine or any way to get me the sheet.  I told him I'll get over there tomorrow.  This is going to be interesting!  Deep breath....soooo...  I did tell him I wanted the oxtails, and liver.  Ok there...  We discussed the brisket.  We determined that he will let it age a week to 12 days, cut it up, and then I will pick up the brisket fresh to cure.  Then pick up the rest of the meat in a couple days so it has a chance to freeze.  I did know that they flash freeze faster than my home freezer for that amount of meat.  OK...  so here we go!  I need to figure out what to put in the cure.  BTW he hasn't had anyone ask to cure there brisket before.  Weird?  Thats what you use to make corn beef!  ????  I plan to smoke some of the cured brisket to use as bacon.  Oh, I need a slicer!

I want to add that he is also willing to process my beef first of the day on the equipment that was cleaned the night before.  Tomorrow I will discuss with him further to be sure its rinsed well with water.  He has a tenderizer for the cube steak, and of course the grinder.  I am sure there is a saw as well.  Deep breath...hopefully all will turn out well.  I had some grass feed beef that he had processed before, and had no problems with it, so I am sure everything will turn out wonderful!!  :-)   Eek!  Anxiety is going to set in and I'm not going to be able to sleep until this is over with!  :-)

Weekend Get Away

DH took the top off the Jeep and we drove through Pigeon Forge to the Smoky Mountains.  The traffic wasn't too bad.  We stopped at the first visitor's center.  They had a great bat exhibit.  The bats are getting some kind of white nose disease.  I ask a ranger about it.  I am concerned because I want to put up a bat house this winter.  I didn't know if I need to be concerned about this disease.  Apparently they have only found it in one cave.  Good to know.  Can't wait until we build our bat house.  I have already printed out several instructions off the web.  Bats are great to keep down bugs, but I understand they also like fruit.  We'll see how that will go with my fruit trees.  Eek!  :-) 

We drove right out of the visitor's center, and continued down the road.  Next thing we knew we came to a town.  We looked at the map then and found that we had driven west the wrong way!  We found a road back to Pigeon Forge and called it a day.  DH has a few extra days next weekend, so perhaps we'll go back and try again to go South into the Smoky Mountians.  :-)  We had a great day.  Sunday was the same.  We took a ride around Cherokee Lake looking for campgrounds.  Found one that we can camp right near the water, so we'll be able to keep the boat in the water.  Might go next weekend.  I will have to plan some meals.  :-)

Day to Day Allergies

The weather here in East TN has been nice up until Thursday.  I had to close my windows and doors at 5 pm because I got a headache that wouldn't quit.  I turned on the air!  Yesterday I was still suffering, so I took a Mucinex D with my compounded benedryl.  I had to go out to get more Mucinex.  Driving back home I decided to check out what's happening on the back roads where the corn fields are.  I had my air recycle.  Half of the fields were harvested and I saw the combine taking down the whole corn stock and shooting it into a pickup truck.  I guess its dairy feed corn.  Ugh!  I found out why I have been having trouble the last 2 days. 

Today Saturday we are getting cloud cover and wind from huricane Irene.  I got a second 25 pound watermelon today.  It is super sweet.  I chunked a cookie sheet full, seeded it and put it in the freezer.  Later I will put the chunks in a freezer bag.  Later I will eat them frozen, and make watermelon slush.  My pole green beans gave me almost a pound today.  I put some broccoli seeds in a few weeks ago.  They are struggling to grow and stay alive with all the bugs and cabbage worms eating them.  I had to pull a bunch of green worms off the kale, and put them in a left over spectrum shortening bowl with soapy water in it to drown.  The swiss chard is struggling.  I fertilized it and everything else the other day, and I have been giving it more water.  I have lettuce coming up.  I have 6 bibb lettuce plants, and another row of leaf lettuce and I started 2 rows of spinach and another leaf lettuce.  I put in butternut, spagetti, and acorn squash a couple weeks ago, which is late.  I am hoping I will get something out of them before October 31, our first freeze date.  I am getting more bell peppers, jalapeno's, okra, and patty pan squash.  The squash bugs took over the zucchini, and yellow squash.  They are now taking over the patty pans.  I saw about 3 dozen squash bugs on the patty pans today.  I sprayed them a couple of times.  I am disgusted.  I know I need to spray the whole plant before they get into my new zucchini plant that is starting to flower. 

Well got to go and will maybe edit this on Monday.  DH is antsy to get out of the house.  I need to take advantage because he doesn't normally go much.  He's talking about going to the smokies.  That would be cool.  Will update on what we did later.    

Breaded Okra

Cut okra into 1/2 inch pieces
Roll a in millet flour (or flour of your choice)
Roll in egg wash (1 egg and 1 - 2 tablespoons water)
Roll in more millet flour (or flour of your choice)
Fry in oil until brown, or freeze to cook later.

reeze left over flour to use later.

Plarn Tote Bag

I have to try this!

http://www.kaylaksthriftyways.com/basic-plarn-tote/

Canned 4 pounds of pinto beans

Washed and soaked 4 pounds of pinto beans overnight
Triple washed the next day, and boiled 30 minutes.
Packed into 16 pint jars with 1 inch head space. 
I have the larger pressure canner that holds 2 layers of jars.
Processed for 75 minutes.  That should last for 6 months.

Big Watermelon

Look what I just got out of my garden.

19 inches 25 lbs

Freezing Quinoa, Ground Dehydrated Onions, Kale chips

When I make Ancient Harvest Quinoa I make the whole box.  The box contains 1 3/4 cups of quinoa.  I rinse it, and put it in a pan.  I add 3 1/2 cups of water.  Simmer 20 minutes.  Cool then put some in the fridge and some in a ziploc freezer bag. 

I grounded up some of the dehydrated green onions and put them in a jar.  I used some of the ground onions on kale chips.  I made the kale chips with acv, water, honey, salt, onion powder, and a dash of grapeseed oil.

Why am I allergic to corn?

Anyone like me allergic to corn wonders why god has made my life so difficult.  Corn is in everything.

Check out these movies:
Food, Inc.
The Future of Food
King Corn

I believe the GMO crops are the reason for my allergy.  After watching, "The Future of Food" I am wondering if perhaps my issues are not with corn but with the genetically engineered process.

Hair Care with corn allergy

There are always questions about hair care.  I tried and can't use Shikai.  I have tried using other soaps and just ended up with soap scum on my hair.  yuck!

I contacted gfsoap and here is there reply:  Reply from www.gfsoap.com

Since purchasing the Gluten-Free Savonnerie Shampoo and Conditioner I discovered: 
http://crabappleherbs.com/blog/2008/02/01/simple-herbal-hair-care/

Currently I am doing a combination of both.  I use the Savonnerie Shampoo once or twice a week depending on how oily my hair is.  I inherited oily scalp.  All in all I have to say that I am not having dandruff any more since getting the food allergians out of my diet. 

Next I want to try the Flaxseed gel.

Side note, hair rinse:  I steep my herbs in a quart jar and keep them in the fridge and use about 1/2 a cup or so to a tsp? acv in a pint jar.  I top off the pint jar with hot water as I am running the water for my shower.

Quinoa Bread

This original recipe is from:  Organic Grain Free Vegan Thanks Jennifer:  Quinoa Bread

Alteration:

Ancient Harvest Quinoa has only 1 3/4 cup in the box, so I altered this recipe to use 1 box of Ancient Harvest Quinoa, and a blender and Kitchenaid mixer instead of a food processor.

Pre-heat oven 350, grease loaf pan with palm shortening or coconut oil.
Add to blender:
1 - 12 oz box of Anicent Harvest Quinoa, rinsed
3 cups water
Mix 5 minutes

Pour into mixer bowl, Add
1 cup ground flax seeds(use spice coffee grinder to grind flax seeds)
Mix a couple minutes

Add
1 cup buckwheat, or quinoa flour, or almond flour
1 tsp salt (optional)
3/4 tsp baking soda
Mix until blended

Briefly mix in
3 Tbsp apple cider vinegar

Pour and spread into loaf pan bake 1 hour, rest 5 minutes before turning out onto cooling rack.

Dehydrated Green Onions

I am excited that I will have green onions ready to use.  Make sure you put the dehydrator in the basement, garage, or outside it just stinks up the place!  :-)

Dehydrated Zucchini and Yellow Squash

I filled all 7 trays of my dehydrator with squash and ended up with less than a quart of dried squash.  Cut the squash 3/8 thick steam blanch for 2 minutes, cool in ice water, place on the trays, set the heat to 135, ran for 9 hours, turned down to the coolest setting, went to bed, and they were all dry when I got up.  Put the dried squash in a quart sized freezer bag.  Labeled with the date and popped into the freezer.  I plan to use in soup or something this winter.  I have to add that while the squash were drying I tasted a few and they were pretty sweet and tasty.

Next time I plan to cut the squash thinner and sprinkle with cayenne and salt, maybe some ground dill too before drying.  I am not going to blanch.  I am hoping to make chips. 

Garden July 2011

I started in February out of hunger.  :-)  I was harvesting lettuce by April.  Put most everything else in in April.  I am in East TN.  I think I am going to have a watermelon in a couple weeks.  I looked up how to pick one yesterday.  It’s almost ready.  We will also start having eggs by next week.  Yeah!  I am excited about that. 
I have to say I have had gardens before, but this is a first year garden since we moved here a year ago.  When my plants don't seem to be growing I have been side dressing them with the 10-10-10.  It seems about every 2 weeks.  I am having a hard time with my cucumbers being bitter.  I am guessing its fertilizer, because after I fertilized they seemed to get better.  I have been meaning to look it up. 

I was just up at my little hardware store.  I am trying to support the little guy when I can.  They had a note on the door that they will be getting fall plants July 25th for Aug 1st planting.  Cole crops broccoli, cabbage, brussel sprouts....  I was able to clean up the area where my lettuce and broccoli was and put in sweet potatoes.  My white potatoes look like they are ready.  I have to look up when to harvest those.  I was cleaning up where the peas were and onions.  I hope I will have enough space for the cole crops by the end of the month.  I am debating about using the 1/2 decomposed straw chicken manure.  It has some of their corn feed mixed in.  My chickens are not feed commercial food.  Its a mix I get special from a natural farm.  If I didn't have the opportunity to get that feed I'd drive a little farther for the organic.  I figure for the most part that if I let it decompose really well (maybe over winter) the corn will become dirt again and not give me a problem.  I just don't know.

Coffee gone bad!

The coffee I have been drinking for a few months started bothering me a couple weeks ago.  It’s giving me brain fog.  If you have allergies you'll know what that’s like.  I hadn't research what coffee I could have yet, so I drank a little bit of tea I had gotten at the coop.  That gave me brain fog too.  Ugh!  I have a bushel of beets I pulled the day before on my kitchen table.  I had separated the tops from the bottoms, and left them in my large porcelain pans.  I didn't wash them, so I didn't have to worry about them molding like the greens that I had to throw away the week before, because I had cleaned them and left them sitting too long.  I also picked a bunch of kale that I needed to process some how.  Meanwhile the post office was just delivering my new Nesco Professional Dehydrator.  I thought perhaps I would try to make kale chips.

 

It was suggested to try Chock Full of Nuts.  I called the company.  They said all they use is water after roasting.  She said there was nothing in the documentation about anything else used.  There website also had a page where I can found a store that carried their brand Store Locator.  While walking through the store picking up other items my husband wanted for lunch I started smelling popcorn, and of course more brain fog.  I hurried and got out with my new coffee, and I also picked up some Stash tea to try. 

Well wouldn’t you know it a few miles down the street I remembered that I was exchanging the vinegar I was just charged for.  I had brought back the gallon I had bought the week before that had expired May 2011.  They said I could exchange it just remember to tell the cashier.  Brain fog I forgot to tell the cashier.  I checked the receipt and it was over $5.  I new I had to go back.  Money is tight around here since I have to buy all this expensive no name food.  I went back, and walked in and instantly saw a manager at the first check stand.  Explained what happened, and pointed to the gallon jug still sitting on the front counter.  Luckily I got my money back and the popcorn didn’t give me any further problems that I didn’t already have.  I went home brewed some weak coffee had a cup and a half, and it seemed to be ok. 

I was able to get my kale chips made in my new dehydrator.  I boiled my beets, and made the kale chips.  I had too many for the dehydrator, so I made the rest in the oven.  After they cooled they got chewy.  The ones in the dehydrator turned out really good, not to crispy and not too chewy.  I think I might try putting the ones from the oven in the dehydrator to see if it will remove the chewy.  I also blanched and froze 2 pounds of beet greens, and then canned the 6 pounds beets into 5 quarts of spicy pickled beets.  Yum!  I have to add that after canning for over 20 years I finally bought a scale.  It’s wonderful!  I weighed my beets.  The recipe called for 4 pounds; since I had 6 pounds I doubled the recipe 1 1/2.  It came out perfect!  In years past I would guess, and make extra liquid that was a waste or not enough, so I would have to add more after I got my vegetables in.  I recommend getting a scale if you are going to do any pickling or jam making.

The Chock Full of Nuts didn't work either.  I am now drinking Stash Organic Breakfast Tea Blend.  I think its giving me a reaction too so I only drink 1 cup at a time.  At least it gives me some pickup for now until I try another coffee.

Freezing Cheese

I was asked how I freeze cheese, because we found out that Kerrygold cheese was going to be on sale at Earth Fare.

Cut the 5 pound block into 1/2 - 1 pound pieces.  Individually wrap with plastic wrap then place in a ziplock freezer bag.  If shredded cheese is desired, shred, place in a freezer bag.  Don't let out all the air out of the bag to try to maintain the fluffyness.  Freeze then break up the cheese if needed, so its loose and you can take a bit out as needed.  Then try to get most of the air out of the bag.  Mark the bags with the contents and the date.

Thaw the cheese in the frig.  It thaws pretty fast.  Use the shredded cheese frozen.  Just put on top of food and pop in the micro for a few seconds to melt.

Tell Benedryl we want a corn / allergy free variety

I recently contacted Benedryl and they replied asking for me to contact them.  I am urging everyone to contact them:
Thank you for contacting McNeil-PPC, Inc., makers of BENADRYL UNSPECIFIED.  It is always important to hear from our consumers, and we appreciate the time you have taken to contact us.

A report of any unpleasant experience with any of our products concerns us.  We would like you to speak to one of our Customer Service Representatives directly about this issue and provide us with more detailed information.

Please call our Consumer Care Center at 1800 223-0182, Monday through Friday, between the hours of 8:00 a.m - 8:00 p.m. EST, and one of our representatives will be happy to assist you.  When you call be sure to mention the reference number noted below.

We have forwarded your e-mail to our product safety department for their review.

Joann S.
Consumer Care Center

010970716A

June 28, 2011
I contacted customer service.  Jessica told me Benadryl Allergy Dye-Free Liqui-gels was corn free. 

I went to their web site and looked at the ingredients.

Inactive Ingredients

gelatin, glycerin, polyethylene glycol, purified water, and sorbitol. Capsules are imprinted with edible dye-free ink.

First Jessica told me that she couldn't recommend the product for food allgeries that it was for upper respiratory allergies.  I had to tell her that I get upper respiratory issues when I ingest food allergians.  Eye roll....  I questioned the gelatin and glycerin and was told they were animal, but she couldn't tell me what animal.  Polyethylene glycol was a solvent.  I questioned the sorbitol ,and was told it was vegetable, but she couldn't tell me what vegetable it was.  I told her that didn't work for me.  She apologized that was all she could tell me, because she worked in a customer service center, and that was all the information she had.  I informed her that the specifications for the sorbitol would probably read:  "If corn was used there was no corn protein left after the processing".  She said, she would forward a message to the company, asking if they would make a corn free version.  Dang I forgot to ask what edible dye-free ink was. 

Raisin Cookies - Millet & Buckwheat

I was so hungry for a cracker/bread/cookie.  I haven't had any in a couple weeks.  I tried making wheat crackers and they bothered me.  I threw that out, and decided to try some cookies.

Raisin Cookies

Preheat oven 375
Beat:  2 eggs, 1/2 cup Spectrum palm shortening until smooth, 1 cup sugar (I use beet Pioneer beet sugar)
Beat in:  1/2 cup tapioca flour, 1 cup millet flour, 1 cup buckwheat flour, 1 tsp salt, 1 1/2 tsp baking soda
Mix in: 1 cup Newman's Own raisins (This is a guess, I didn't measure raisins)  Add more or less.
Drop tablespoon size balls onto a cooking sheet, (I have a cookie scoop thats like an ice scoop but smaller) bake 9 minutes.

Now I need to break down and make vanilla.  You could add 1 tsp of safe vanilla. 
My zucchini is ripening.  I want my next cookie to have shredded zucchini.

Remember: Don't use the towel my husband has been using for a week.

I got adventurous today.  I decided to clean the siding on our house.  I don’t think it’s been cleaned for over 5 years.  We bought it as an, as is HUD foreclosure last year.  The north wall is / was very green.  The house is with full basement and is like a 2 story. 

I showered went out and bought a 16 foot telescoping pole with brush and the contractors Clorox.  I read online to mix the bleach 1 / 3 water.  Since I had the contractors Clorox instead of regular bleach, I decided to mix 6 cups to 2 gallons water in my garden sprayer.  The contractors Clorox was thick and seemed to have detergent in it.  My sprayer had the fan head spray on it, so it didn’t spray very far.  Since I couldn’t find the regular head, I emptied ½ of the solution into a bucket and brushed the back of the house.  The dirt is higher in the back of the house, so it is easier to reach the eaves.  I had on safety glasses and a baseball hat, but still I was getting the solution on me.  I tried gloves, but the water was running into the gloves.  I had to keep washing myself off including my hair because the solution kept dripping on me.  Yuck! 

My neighbor came over and reminded me that all he does is spray the house with the bleach.  He doesn’t have to brush.  As I got to the deck part of the back of the house I was able to spray the house.  It worked.  I really didn’t need to scrub, or just lightly scrub.  I decided to go back out and find a new head for my sprayer, or a new sprayer.  I showered again, and changed.

I was so excited that I found they had the regular head in a build kit.  I also picked up some regular bleach.  I mixed ½ gallon of bleach to 2 gallons water and added some dish soap.  I put the new regular tip on the sprayer and it did spray quite far.  I started on the front porch.  I washed it down.  The ceiling is about 20 feet or so.  The water was dripping on me.  I got the ladder so I could get the solution on the ceiling.  The wind changed directions and I was sprayed too.  I had to again rinse myself and hair.  I figured the people driving by were laughing at me.  I found that I could mostly spray the house without the ladder.  I had to scrub in a couple places.  I also had to put the baby bird back in its nest again.

A month ago I told my husband I didn’t want that bird’s nest in the corner.  He knocked the nest down and it had 2 baby birds.  We put the nest back up with the babies and the parents came back all was well.  Just yesterday one of the babies had fallen from the nest and died on the front porch.  Now today I scared the other one out.  I found it on the ground next to the porch.  I was scared to pick it up and had to chase it down.  I finally scooped it up and got it back in.  It appears to be ok so far.

After having enough knowing that my husband was going to have to help with getting on the roof to spray the dormer.  I think he’s going to have to spray the top of the north wall from the roof too.  The power line comes in halfway from the top so it would be hard to spray and it’s really high. 

I cleaned up and went in and showered again.  Since my towel was already used a couple times today it was wet, so I thought I’d use my husband’s dry towel.  Mistake!  He uses corny soap and shampoo.  I didn’t even think about it until I was using it.  It didn’t feel right. I showered off again and reused my wet towel again.  I guess its time to wash towels. 

Chicken Processing

We had a couple of roosters I wanted to process and didn't know exactly how.  Wade and Lucy Wisner of  Wisner's Farm asked if we'd like to come to their meat bird processing to learn how, and we could bring our birds.  My husband Mitch and I chased down our nasty rooster and took him and another over for processing today.  Mitch learned how to put them down, scald, and pluck.  I learned the butchering part.  We enjoyed learning this art. 

What I learned about possible corn contaimination.  Before butchering the birds are chilled in ice water.  Corn allergic have issues with store bought ice due to the water softening process.  The other possible contamination comes with disinfectant.  I was told there is a requirement for sterile water to be available or used to clean the cutting surface and the equipment.  The sterile water contained pinesol or white vinegar. 

I made sure to bring along my own ice chest and 2 1/2 gallons of ice from home, plus ziploc bags to put my birds in.   I made ice water in my ice chest to chill my birds.  When we were done butching their birds I rinsed my corner of the table off with water to butcher my birds.   I am excited that I now have small uncontaminated chicken.  Yeah!  I am now ready to start buying larger breed laying hens that can also be good for meat.