Ldychef2k: Notes from a Wannabe - Ldychef2k fesses up.

[Farmfresh]

That is the kind of soil that it works BEST on. Adding the mulch provides a way to hold moisture. It gives the garden "buggies" like earthworms something to eat. So that encourages them to come and work their magic. Do it right away! Next spring you will be pleasantly amazed!

Remember I live in the BIG city too!

 

[Ldychef2k]

I didn't realize that ! It's hard to remember who is where and why and whatfor !

 

[Ldychef2k]

Such a great day. The soup bases turned out so well. It was great to be back in the canning saddle even for a little while. Amazing what a difference it made.

Have my 10 year old granddaughter here today as well. Spent some quality time watching Nickelodeon ! She helped me trim some branches back in the back 40 and then spent some time playing a game on the computer while I typed a bit. We were going to have a great dinner, but I ruined it, so we had pancakes and sausage and some watermelon later on.

Going to take her to school in the morning and go get the peaches my friend has for me. Really looking forward to them.

My niece and her husband do a video podcast over the internet on Sunday nights, so I will probably watch it live and then go to bed.

Boring, but real.

 

[Dace]

Kris,

thanks for the great tips on canning. I made a list and wrote down the website you suggested.
You day did not sound boring, it sounded great Can you explain your soup bases??

FF I love the compost bin idea...that is brilliant! How big around is it??
I was going to just toss all my compostables into the chicken run to let them have their way with it all, but I keep coming up with things that I really don't want them to have (wax coated cuke peels for one) als I keep imaginging them finding moldy bits of old food ...so it is back to the drawing board for me.

 

[Ldychef2k]

I think there is a thread here for "cream of X" soup, which is where I got the inspiration. I can't remember who came up with it, but they deserve some kind of internatinal prize !

Basically, you are canning a very thick white sauce made with flour, a fat and stock, no dairy. Although I use butter, and so far no botulism ! To this sauce, you add your chosen flavors. I have done asparagus, broccoli, celery, mushroom and onion. When you are ready to use them, you combine the base with equal amounts of milk or cream, or more stock if you prefer. I use them as a sauce AND a soup, so with the sauce I add less milk. They are just awesome.

On the mouse/rat front...my granddaughter was too freaked out to stay last night. Her dad had to come get her at 10 PM. It didn't help that when she went to bed, there was previously undiscovered poop under her pillow. Poor kid.

 

[Farmfresh]

Pillow poop ... I REALLY dislike rodents in my house!!

As far as the mobile compost bin - I use a 16 foot long cattle or hog panel (depending on how tall you want) cut into three pieces and hinged together with baling wire. The panels usually cost under $25.00. Then I take a tomato stake or piece of rebar and poke it through the mesh and into the ground on each side at the front to make it stable and ... ta - da ... you are finished.

 

[Ldychef2k]

Went out this morning and started to remove the pile of what turns out to be pretty good compost from the top of the black plastic. Have a ways to go, so I wetted it down a little for tomorrow's part B. It's looking like the soil in my "back 40" is going to be excellent. Not much has ever been done back there, but dumping clippings and now brush and tree branches. I am slowly but surely getting it ready, and am really pleased.

I have a strip of land along my house where I recently took out six mounds of naked ladies, more than 80 tubers when all was said and done. Lots of roots, which I left to decompose, and it's starting to get more workable. I have cultivated it a bit, added some steer manure, and now am transplanting some pumpkins, sweet potatoes and butternut squash. Not sure how the taters will do, because of the deeper roots still there, but we will see. It's a northern exposure, so that's another challenge.

Twenty five years ago, I was told I would be in a wheelchair by 50. A year ago, I couldn't walk without a cast on my leg, and now I am out there digging and shoveling. Feels pretty good.

 

[Farmfresh]

I hear you!

Last summer my arthritis had me so crippled up my hubby had to cut up my food for me and I was walking just barely with a cane. I was appreciating being able to garden this year A LOT!

Glad to here the garden is working out!

 

[delia_peterson]

Mornin' Kris

I was wondering if you could share some of your canning ideas with me? I would like some meal type things....soups, stews, beans, whatever...and I know you have done some of these. I understand that them dense things should not be canned, and I can research recipes, just wondering if you could share with me what you have canned?

Oooh! Yes, can you share? I will get my notebook and pen out! Thank you!!!!

 

[Ldychef2k]

Upthread in #51 I think, that's about all I got !

I hope to be able to make some chile verde this week and see if that cans well. Otherwise...this is all new to me !!!

I have always been a very experimental cook, even when I was a preteen. So, it's all just a whole lot of fun for me.

Mornin' Kris

I was wondering if you could share some of your canning ideas with me? I would like some meal type things....soups, stews, beans, whatever...and I know you have done some of these. I understand that them dense things should not be canned, and I can research recipes, just wondering if you could share with me what you have canned?

Oooh! Yes, can you share? I will get my notebook and pen out! Thank you!!!!