Garden Day 58

Come see the Garden at Day 58

http://mcgathagarden.blogspot.com/

Chick Pea Recipes- Day 2

Green Bean , Chick Pea and Tomato Salad

2 cups green beans, trimmed (8 ounces)
4 cups coarsely chopped tomatoes (about 2 1/2 pounds)
1 cup thinly sliced red onion
1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 1/2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 (15 1/2 ounce) can chickpeas, rinsed and drained

Directions

Place the beans in a large saucepan of boiling water, and cook 3 minutes.

Drain and plunge beans into ice water. Drain.

Combine beans, tomato, and remaining ingredients in a large bowl; toss well to combine.
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I can't wait to try this one with Green Beans and Tomato's from the Garden!

Chick Peas

Beans are great food storage items. I have a variety of beans in my food storage. Black Beans, Kidney Beans, Great Northern Beans, Pork and Beans and Garbanzo Beans or as they are better known.....Chick Peas.

I like Chick Peas! But I am sure there are other ways to eat them besides in Salads and to make Hummus. So I am doing a little internet research to find some Chick Pea Recipes.

I thought I would share some of the recipes with you.
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Four Bean Salad

1 (14 ounce) can green beans
1 (14 ounce) can yellow beans
1 (14 ounce) can chickpeas
1 (14 ounce) can kidney beans
3/4 cup white sugar
1/4 cup oil
1/2 cup vinegar
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pepper
1/2 cup green pepper, chopped
1/2 cup onion, chopped

Directions
Open and drain the green and yellow beans, discard liquid. Put drained beans in large bowl.

Open and drain chickpeas and kidney beans, discard liquid. Rinse well with water before adding the drained beans to bowl with the other beans.

Mix white sugar, oil, vinegar, salt and pepper together in small bowl until sugar has dissolved to make the marinade.

Add chopped green pepper and chopped onion to marinade in small bowl.

Add marinade with peppers and onion to beans in larger bowl.

Mix together well.

Let marinate in fridge for 8 to 24 hours.

Cook's Creed

The Cook’s Creed

The health of my family is in my care; therefore-
I will preserve as far as possible the nutritive elements in foods which are delivered to me.

My family’s enjoyment of food is my responsibility; therefore-
I will preserve and enhance the attractive qualities of he food with which I work.

Stretching the food dollar is part of my responsibility; therefore-
I will take such care of food that none will spoil. I will use left-overs with thought and skill.

A well-prepared dish and an appetizing meal are a creative achievement; therefore-
I shall derive happiness from work itself.

Good food is of prime importance to my family; therefore--
I shall take pride in doing an outstanding job of cooking.

(The Modern Family Cookbook, 1942)

Garden

We had a visitor at the Garden today.

Come see who it was at

http://mcgathagarden.blogspot.com/

IDC for June 2009

IDC for June 2009

Plant Something:

* Spinach in Bucket Garden

Harvest Something:

*Harvest Spinach
*Harvest Radish
*Harvest Lettuce

Preserve Something:

Can
*Strawberry Jam- 8 pints
* Grape Jelly- 4 pints and 4 Jelly Jars

Frozen
*6 Quarts Strawberries

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle:

*Recycling

*Rain Harvesting

*Meal Planning
*Got Pressure Canner tested. Replacing seals and valves

Preparation & Storage:

* Stocking, rotating and replenishing Food Storage Supplies
* Purchased OTC Meds and Hand Sanitizer for Survival Supplies
* Matt purchased another Jet Boil Stove for our Bug Out Bags

Eat the Food:

* Stocking, rotating and replenishing Food Storage Supplies

*Making our own Bread
* Eating Food from our Garden

Learn Something:
*Canning Class- Jams and Jellies
*Matt is attending HAM Radio Classes

Barber Bunch Products

You can be part of The Barber Bunch !

Come visit my store on CafePress!

Seven Day Challenge

What is the Seven Day Challenge?

The Seven Day Challenge is going to be a mock disaster that lasts 7 Days in which the bloggers at http://foodstoragemadeeasy.net will be initiating an emergency “fire drill”. Participants will have a chance to test their level of preparedness in a simulated emergency environment. Each day during the Seven Day Challenge participants will receive an email informing them which of their utilities and/or food they will have access to. At the conclusion of the Seven Day Challenge participants will have means to share, discuss, and give feedback on how they could have been “better” prepared.

How to sign up?
You can sign-up online at the Seven Day Challenge page on FoodStorageMadeEasy.NET.

What’s in it for me?
· Opportunity to win a WonderMill Hand Mill for joining and by telling friends
· Participant prizes for completing the challenge
· Tons of learning
· Peace of mind from being prepared

How will I be prepared in time?
Follow the blog http://foodstoragemadeeasy.net and through-out the summer as they will be doing a summer crash course helping you get ready. You can also sign up for FREE CHECKLISTS that get emailed to you every 2 weeks with “to do” items, and “to purchase” lists!

P.S. When signing up, make sure you give credit to Carolyn that passed this along to you by entering her name in the referrer field J. Doing so will give you AND them an entry for the Wonder Junior Deluxe Giveaway!

Skin Cancer

I have been battling skin cancer. I have had so many suspicious areas removed I am about to lose count. I guess all those years in the tanning beds are catching up with me.

So far all of the sites have come back as Basal Cell Carcinoma. Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common form of skin cancer, affecting approximately one million Americans each year. In fact, it is the most common of all cancers. These cancers arise in the basal cells, which line the deepest layer of the epidermis (top skin layer). Basal cell carcinomas are easily treated in their early stages. The larger the tumor has grown, however, the more extensive the treatment needed. Although this skin cancer seldom spreads, or metastasizes, to vital organs, it can damage surrounding tissue, sometimes causing considerable destruction and disfigurement — and some basal cell carcinomas are more aggressive than others.

This is my latest removal.

The site and the size required an actual surgical procedure. I ended up with 5 internal stitches and 10 external stitches.

This site was nothing more than a red spot at my temple. My doctor found it on my 6 month skin check. (because I have had so many I go for 6 month skin checks. Most full skin exams are done yearly unless you have a history). This site was particularly bad because it was growing deeply and spreading under the skin and only presenting as a small red dot at my temple.

So if you have any questionable moles or spots on you skin. Go get them checked out!!

Be careful in the Sun. Wear your SPF and don't get burned!!

Bucket Garden Update

Here are some updated pictures of the Bucket Garden

Tomatoes

Spinach

I am on the second planting of the Spinach. We have had several Spinach salads and the the taller plants in the pictures are what is left from the first planting.

I am definitely going to plant more greens here at the house next year. Lettuce and Spinach.

There is nothing like going out and cutting some fresh greens for dinner!

Class

Click on the Map to make it bigger!

Home Preservation Series- Jellies, Jams and Preserves

Five Rivers Metroparks
Dayton, OH
Date: Sunday, June 14, 2009
Time: 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Location: Possum Creek Metropark
4790 Frytown Rd. Dayton, Ohio


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This is the first in a series of classes. Other classes include :Freezing your Harvest and Pickling.

I love it that our local Park System have these homesteading classes. Best of all......they are free! Last year the classes were at Carriage Hill Farm Metropark. This year the series is a Possum Creek Metropark. I am excited to visit this Park as I have not been there yet.

Edit after the Class:

This class was great!!! We made Freezer Strawberry Jam and Apple Jelly. Yum!

I made a couple new friends and now have a longer To Read list.

What I am Reading

Long Term Food Storage

The following are things to consider while learning about, planning, and using your long-term food storage:

Store what you eat, Eat what you store. This will ease the transition in case of an emergency

Start small. Work on a full 3 month supply, then move onto a 6 month, then eventually a year supply

Understand the basic recommended long-term foods and how to use them.

Use food storage books and sites to learn ways to use your long-term food storage on a regular basis. I recommend "The Essential Food Storage Cookbook" by Tami Ciroberger and Carol Peterson

Talk to experts in the field by going to preparedness store classes or to local church seminars.

Talk to your friends and family members about how they use their long-term food storage.

Determine the quantities you will need by:
1. Obtaining a basic food storage goal report at http://www.trackmyfoodstorage.com/
2.Use quick online calculators
3.Use books, pamphlets or resources you have on hand
4.Track what you eat and figure it out based on your own consumption

What's for Dinner- Chicken and Corn Soup

I wanted to share a recipe I made up. It is based on a recipe from e-mealz but I jazzed it up a little bit and used only stuff from my food storage! No running to the grocery store for this one.
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Carolyn's Chicken and Corn Soup

2 cans Chicken Noodle Soup
1 1/2 soup cans of water
1 can Cream of Corn
1 can Corn, drained
1/2 can Chicken Broth
1 can of Canned Chicken
(here is were I jazzed it up. Instead of the canned Chicken, I had some left over Fajita Style Chicken Strips. I cut them up and put them in the soup.)

Salt and Pepper to taste
(here is another jazzed up item- I added a little crushed red pepper flakes for a little extra zip!)

Heat and Serve.

Yum!

This Week's Meal Plan

This Week's Meal Plan:

Sausage Lasagna and Salad ( with lettuce grown in our very own Garden)

I am tired of cooking Chicken Soup

Portabella Pot Roast over Egg Noodles

Unforgetable Chicken Casserole

Roast Beef Pockets

Next Week's Menu Plan will be Leftovers!

Garden- Day 37

I visited the Garden today.

Come see what I harvested!

http://mcgathagarden.blogspot.com/

Strawberries

Yesterday I got 16 Quarts of Strawberries

Today I made 8 pints of Strawberry Jam

(anyone have any idea why it separated like it did?)

I also froze 6 Quarts of Strawberries

and

sliced up a few Quarts for Strawberry Shortcake!

The Landscaping

So..... I finally got around to taking pictures of the Landscaping.

Like I said......it doesn't look like much now.

Just wait until next year!

(sorry the pictures are a little dark. It was getting ready to storm.)

Garden Day 30

Check out pictures from the Garden

http://mcgathagarden.blogspot.com/

What's for Dinner- Crazy Whole Wheat Muffins

I was reading my new cookbook

The Essential Food Storage Cookbook

by Tami Cirsberger and Carol Peterson

and came across this recipe:

1/2 cup oil

1 cup brown sugar

1 cup applesauce

1 tsp baking soda

1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour

1 tsp cinnamon

Bake at 375 for 20 minutes

With nothing better to do, I thought I would whip up a batch.

It was really quick and easy and I had

all the ingredients right there in my Pantry

I made them in mini loaves cause that's what Hubs likes.

Let me tell you......they smelled great while they were baking

And look how moist they are.

Gotta have one..........



Can't talk now.......mouth full.

These are YUMMY!

IDC #1

Independence Day Challenge #1 for May 2009


Plant Something:
*Everything is in the Garden and planted.
The cucumbers and watermelons are a little slow to start but otherwise everything is growing.
*Will plant more Spinach in Bucket Garden

Harvest Something:
*Thinned Radish
*Harvest Spinach


Preserve Something:
Nothing this week


Reduce, Reuse and Recycle:
*Recycling
*Rain Harvesting
*Meal Planning


Preparation & Storage:
*Organized Survival Supplies and made Evacuation Lists
*Bought camping cookware and utensils off of eBay for Bug Out Kits
*Bought 2 Gallon Container and flat of Water Bottles for supplement Water Storage.


Eat the Food:
*Working on rotating food supplies and replenishing.
*Eating Spinach from Bucket Garden

Goals for 2009
*Buy a Generator- done
*Stockpile more Food
*Grow wider variety of food
*Freeze more food
*Can more food

Last Week

Last week was a Home Improvement Week. We cleaned gutters, and weeded flower beds, rearranged the bucket garden, cleaned the window sills, washed windows and had the house pressure washed.

It seems like things take me forever to do now. With my medical issues I can't go like a house a fire like I used to. I also have to make sleep a priority due to my chronic fatigue. So I just chose a chore a day and get 'er dun!

Oh.......Remember this post:
http://thebarberbunch.blogspot.com/2008/10/we-won.html

They finally came to do the landscaping!! The installed an irrigation system and planted a bunch of stuff. Mostly bare root plants and some established plants. I meant to take a before picture but didn't get around to it. And the after shot wouldn't be that exciting this year because of all the bare root plants. But just you wait until next year!!!

We also worked on organizing our Survival Supplies and making the Evacuation Lists.
A productive week I think, I might actually use my days off to rest this week.

I hope you have a great week.

Menu Plan

This week's Menu Plan:

Oregano Chicken

Mexican Casserole

Grilled Chicken Salad

Wild Rice Soup

Manicotti Shells