Monsoon season Sucks !!

Well this is fun,,,NOT. My so called road has washed out again.This is the fourth time this year.I now have a ditch about 12 feet wide and 5 or 6 feet deep,don't think I am going anywhere today.Let's see if the town gets the front loader stuck again.What little of a garden I have is looking bad,got the peppers and tomatoes up by the trailer this year so they are OK,the rest are flooded then covered with sand.I realy have to find a better place to live.

Netknots:Repost

Knowing the right knot for the right use can be more art than a science.

I want to share a really cool site with you that I think is great...

Netknots
There are instructions for all kinds of knots categorized very nicely under:
1.Fishing knots
2.Boating knots
3.Outdoor knots
4.Paddling knots

There are even animations of the knots being tied.Thought this one needed reposting for some of us.

Blog News and other Crap

The blog has gone from 487 posts down to 51.Blogger has realy out done themselves this time.Over the next few weeks some may show back up,that is what has happened before,we will see.I added 4 more files over on the download page.

Red Cross - DISASTER PREPAREDNESS For Seniors By Seniors

US Army - CIVIL DISTURBANCE OPERATIONS

Backyard Chicken Production

Metalworking-Handboo

Weekly Eats

Bannock Bread :

Another repost I had made some for a few guests and they wanted recipe.Think it was my first boy scout leader that showed me how to make it.You do not even realy need a pan to cook it in,just some good coals from your camp fire.LOL,but I do use the old cast iron fring pan when I am not camping.

2 cups of flour (white and/or whole wheat) I use half and half most times.
I tablespoon of baking powder
1-2 teaspoons of sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
Enough water to make it into stiff dough

Toss the everything into a bowl and mix;add water alittle at a time you want the dough to be kind of stiff just so it sticks together.Form the dough into a patty somewhere around 1 to 2 inches thick.You don't want it to thick or the outside will burn before the inside is done.When cooking on the stove I add a little oil or butter in the fring pan.Heat your pan if useing one,drop the patty in and realy cook it just like a pancake.To check it use a tooth pick(fork or knife works too)if you poke it and nothing sticks to it,you are done.Quick fast and very good to eat.
That is the basic recipe,but you can add about anything to it.I only put in dried fruit and nuts,think the one I made for you guys was pinyon nuts and raisins.I have seen one guy who puts bacon and chesse in his.

A couple of notes if you are camping and cooking without a pan

1.You can mix all the dry ingredients in a ziplock bag,just add water.
2.Good coals is the key here,hard woods work best.
2.I have cooked it on coals,on a hot rock,in a frying pan,in a dutch oven,my kids even used to wrap it on a stick like you were roasting a hot dog.

The Ferret

This and That......

OK off the latest screw up in the news.LOL,we all know it is going to hell in a hand basket.Back to more of a how-to kind of thing,untell another idiot pops up I can't pass up.


Digging around I found that somebody over on the Life After the Oil Crash Forum.
compile an amazingly detailed database of pre-1917 (that means no copyright) books on subjects ranging from how to make farm tools to natural health care to raising animals.

Full List: LATOC Forums  


The Ferret

Elderberries about ripe......

Now most people no longer use the berries,but I do like to make jelly and wine from them.


Elderberry Wine:

5 lbs elderberries, stripped from their stems

1 gallon boiling water
3 lbs granulated sugar
1 wine yeast packet
½ cup lemon juice
½ cup orange juice

You can get fancy and use one of those wine makeing kits,but around here we just use a  old stonewear crock,think it is about 10 gallon and has been around longer than I have.

Place elderberries into your container.Add lemon and orange juices.Pour boiling water into container and stir.When cool, squeeze mixture to release juices. Let sit for 24 hours. Add 2 lbs sugar and the wine yeast packet. Stir and cover with a tea towel or chesse cloth. Let sit for 3 to 5 days.Strain the liquid into something then back in the crock and add remaining 1 lb of sugar. Stir.Let ferment in dark, warm location for about 1 week. Strain into another glass container and let sit for another 6 weeks. Pour into wine bottles and seal. Wine will be ready to drink in about 6 months.


Elderberry Jelly:

The Hard part is striping the berries from the stems,I have found that a plastic fork is just the right size,LOL and makes for less juice all over.Note:if you have a kid do this do not let them wear their good clothing.Granny tanned my butt for ruining my shirt way back when ;)

About 2 quarts of the berries,well washed.Place in a pot and cover with cold water.Simmer for 15 or 20 min..Then strain useing a jelly bag or one of those "Flour Sack"towels.You should come out with about 3.5 or 4 cups of juice.Most time I make my own pectin,and I'll cover how to do it sometime,but where I am now I don't have a crabapple tree.so just get some SURE-JELL.

3 1/2 c. elderberry juice

1/2 c. lemon juice
1 pkg. powdered pectin
5 1/2 c. sugar

Stir elderberry juice, lemon juice and pectin together. Bring to a rolling boil. Add sugar and return to full rolling boil. Boil exactly 1 minute!!. Remove from heat, skim the off foam and pour hot jelly into hot, sterilized half-pint jars. Place hot caps on jars and screw on bands finger-tight. Process in a water bath canner for 5 minutes.You should get 5 or 6 half pint jars out of one batch.


The Ferret

Cinnamon and Honey

Some facts about cinnamon and honey. I am not sure where this information originated,but it was e-mailed to me from someone,who got it from someone.I have always stored local honey,looks like I should add more cinnamon too.

The article

CINNAMON AND HONEY

Honey is the only food on the planet that will not spoil or rot. It will do what some call turning to sugar. In reality honey is always honey. However, when left in a cool dark place for a long time it will do what I rather call "crystallizing". when this happens you loosen the lid, boil some water, and sit the honey container in the hot water, turn off the heat and let it liquefy. It is then as good as it ever was. Never boil honey or put it in a microwave. To do so will kill the enzymes in the honey. Bet the drug companies won't like this one getting around: It is found that a mixture of honey and cinnamon cures most diseases. Honey is produced in most of the countries of the world. Scientists of today also accept honey as a "ram ban" (very effective) medicine for all kinds of diseases.

Honey can be used without any side effects for any kind of diseases. Science says that even though honey is sweet, if taken in the right dosage as a medicine, it does not harm diabetic patients. Weekly World News, in its issue dated 17 January, 1995 has given the following list of diseases that can be cured by honey and cinnamon as researched by western scientists:

ARTHRITIS: Arthritis patients may take daily, morning and night, one cup of hot water with two spoons of honey and one small teaspoon of cinnamon powder. If taken regularly even chronic arthritis can be cured. In a recent research conducted at the Copenhagen University, it was found that when the doctors treated their patients with a mixture of one tablespoon of Honey and half teaspoon Cinnamon powder before breakfast, they found that within a week, out of the 200 people so treated, practically 73 patients were totally relieved of pain, and within a month, mostly all the patients who could not walk or move around because of arthritis started walking without pain.

BAD BREATH: People of South America, first thing in the morning, gargle with one teaspoon of honey and cinnamon powder mixed in hot water, so their breath stays fresh throughout the day.

BLADDER INFECTIONS: Take two tablespoons of cinnamon powder and one teaspoon of honey in a glass of lukewarm water and drink it. It destroys the germs in the bladder.

CANCER: Recent research in Japan and Australia has revealed that advanced cancer of the stomach and bones have been cured successfully. Patients suffering from these kinds of cancer should daily take one tablespoon of honey with one teaspoon of cinnamon powder for one month three times a day.

CHOLESTEROL: Two tablespoons of honey and three teaspoons of Cinnamon Powder mixed in 16 ounces of tea water, given to a cholesterol patient has been found to reduce the level of cholesterol in the blood by 10 percent within two hours. As mentioned for arthritic patients, if taken three times a day, any chronic cholesterol is cured. According to information received in the said Journal, pure honey taken with food daily relieves complaints of cholesterol.

COLDS: Those suffering from common or severe colds should take one tablespoon lukewarm honey with 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon powder daily for three days. This process will cure most chronic cough, cold, and clear the sinuses.

DIABETES: Cinnamon has been shown to reduce blood sugar and stabilize A1C in diabetics. Blood sugar can go from 'pre-diabetic' to normal in six months of adding cinnamon to your morning oatmeal.

FATIGUE: Recent studies have shown that the sugar content of honey is more helpful rather than being detrimental to the strength of the body. Senior citizens, who take honey and cinnamon powder in equal parts, are more alert and flexible. Dr. Milton, who has done research, says that a half tablespoon of honey taken in a glass of water and sprinkled with cinnamon powder, taken daily after brushing your teeth and in the afternoon at about 3:00 pm when the vitality of the body starts to decrease, increases the vitality of the body within a week.

GAS: According to the studies done in India and Japan, it is revealed that if honey is taken with cinnamon powder the stomach is relieved of gas.

HEARING LOSS: Daily morning and night honey and cinnamon powder, taken in equal parts restores hearing.

HEART DISEASES: Make a paste of honey and cinnamon powder, apply on bread, instead of jelly and jam, and eat it regularly for breakfast. It reduces the cholesterol in the arteries and saves the patient from heart attack. Do this process daily and you will be kept miles away from the next heart attack. Regular use of the above process relieves loss of breath and strengthens the heart beat. In America and Canada, various nursing homes have treated patients sucessfully and have found that as you age, the arteries and veins lose their flexibility and get clogged; honey and cinnamon revitalize the arteries and veins.

IMMUNE SYSTEM: Daily use of honey and cinnamon powder strengthens the immune system and protects the body from bacteria and viral attacks. Scientists have found that honey has various vitamins and iron in large amounts. Constant use of honey strengthens the white blood corpuscles to fight bacterial and viral diseases.


The Ferret

Parched Rice

We were talking on another board last week about wheat and rice for your long term storage,reminded me of makeing some parched rice.

The taste reminds me of popcorn with a slightly nutty flavor.

My recipe:

1/3 cup white or brown rice
1 tsp.oil or shortening (bacon grease works too)

Heat a cast iron skillet(preferably)over medium heat and add the oil.Give the oil a minute or two to get up to temperature.

Add the rice and stir often for maybe 10 minutes. The rice will turn from white to translucent and then to varying shades of brown. This is the caramelization of the sugars in the rice. It is what adds the flavor component to your parched rice. You can make it as dark or as light as you want.

Be aware, parching rice can get VERY hot.

I added salt to the mix near the end of the parching process.If you want your parched rice to have a bit of seasoning.You could also add cayenne,chili powder,or Old Bay.

When the rice is finished,empty the skillet onto a plate and allow the rice to cool.

The Ferret

Make your own lanudry soap

What you need:

5 gallon bucket
1 bar of your favorite soap
Borax
Washing Soda (have used Baking Soda as well)

Grate the soap into a pile of shavings and melt it on the stove in 4 cups of boiling water.
Fill the five gallon bucket with about 3 and 1/2 gallons of HOT water.
Pour the melted soapy water in the bucket and stir.

Add 1 cup of Washing Soda and stir.
Add 1/2 cup of Borax and stir.

Let cool overnight and you are ready to wash clothes.You will need to experiment with how much to use,but I find it is about the same as store bought.


Blog Notes: Added a few e-books and info. .pdf's for downloading,so check them out .The link is at the top of the page.All are free and if you know of anymore you would like or find useful let me know.
Added a amazon store you can find the link on the right hand side under This and That.

The Ferret

12/03/2009

My Sister has managed to rust and about ruin a set of cast iron pots
that have been in our family for longer than my mother has been alive.
I found them down in her basement and asked why she was not useing them,
they stick and can't keep the rust off of them,she says.UGH anybody want a sister?
I spend a few hours with steelwool and reseasoned them.So you all get a fast How-To on cast iron.


CLEANING:

1.Never put it in a dishwasher!!
2.Clean useing warm water and a nylon brush (I have one that was made to scrub veggies)
3. You can use a mild soap if you have to,but be very carefull.If the food starts to stick after
useing soap you know you over did it.You will have to reseason it.
4.Rinse and hand dry,do not store pots with lids on.That keeps the moisture in the pan and will cause rust.

Note: If I am still cooking I like to set them on top of the stove where the heat will dry them before I put them up.



SEASONING:


1.Clean with hot water and soap and useing a nylon brush (You are reseasoning or a new pan so you can use soap this time)
2.Dry with a towel or paper towel
3.On the bottom rack of you oven place a cookie sheet or line with tin foil.Pre heat the oven to 400
4.Lighly and evenly coat the cookwear with MELTED vegetable shortening (Some folks say use only lard,but I have never seen any difference)
5.Place in the oven upside down on the top rack of your oven for 1 hour
6.Turn the oven off and turn the cookwear upside right and leaveing in the oven tell it has cooled.


A well seasoned cast iron pan will not stick and unlike the non-stick stuff it will not wear out after a few years.