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Sunday, September 13, 2015

INDIAN SUMMER

Hello dear friends!  I hope you are have a lovely weekend.  Cooler weather has arrived and the fields are bathed in an amber and rosy light from the goldenrod and asters. Our Indian Summer has arrived!
It's so nice just to be outside after so many weeks of heat and humidity.    Ran and I  spent several hours this week weeding.  Oh my!  Wheelbarrow upon wheelbarrow of weeds.  We are also pulling the tomatoes and other plants and beginning the process of putting the garden to bed. Harvest time is such a busy and fulfilling time of year.

FORAGING

I wanted some grape jelly, it's my favorite flavor for peanut butter sandwiches, but our grapes didn't produce much this year, as the vines had to be cut back severely due to winter damage.  Fortunately, we have lots of wild grapes climbing up the fences in our yard.
In our area, there are bushels full to be had for free, if you care to look.  While it takes more work to make than regular Concord grape jelly, the effort is well worth it.  I actually prefer them, there is a tartness along with the sweet that's very refreshing.

Wild Grape Jelly

Wash and clean  3-5 lbs. (about a peck) of wild grapes.  Place the grapes in a large pot with a 1/2 C. water and boil. Strain the grapes through several layers of cheesecloth overnight.  Measure the juice to 3 1/2 C. juice (if you need, to add a little water to equal that amount.)  In a large pot boil the juice and  3 tablespoons of powdered pectin.  Bring to a boil.  Once boiling add  5 1/4 C. sugar all at once. Bring mixture to boil.  Boil for 1-2 minutes until the jelly begins to sheet or a dab placed on a cold plate doesn't run.  (The more jams and jelly you make, the easier it will be to tell when jelly is set.) Sheeting is when the boiling jam doesn't run off the spoon, but falls off in a slower sheet.)  Pour jelly into sterilized jelly jars,  Fill to 1/4 inch from top.  Place previously simmered lids on.  Screw on the caps.  Process in boiling water bath for 10 minutes.
We went to one of our favorite foraging areas today just too check on how the rose hips were coming.
There was also this beautiful crab apple tree, just dripping with beautiful fruit. Crabapples make the loveliest  jelly and wine.

Our neighbor lets us pick her crabapples, but this just shows you, what can be had for free if you keep you eyes open.  Just be careful to know what you are picking, many plant have poisonous look-alikes. Also know the area you are foraging from; you don't want anything that has been sprayed with insecticides.  And don't trespass!  We have a lot of state land and national forests in our area.

KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN

With the rising costs of groceries, it's important to keep yours open for deals.  This week we drove to the big city and I noticed that a smaller meat market had chicken leg quarters for $2.90  for 10 pounds!  Can you imagine buying 20 pounds of meat for under $6?  What a deal!  Unfortunately or fortunately, depending upon how you look at it, I didn't need any more chicken, having canned up a bunch earlier this year.  But all the things that could have been done with that chicken!.  Shredded for tacos and casseroles, the drumsticks oven fried, chicken soups and stews and at the end the bones thrown in a pot to make gallons of broth.   It was hard to pass it up!

Also, there were 50 pound bags of potatoes to be had for $7.  I've mentioned many a time that potatoes are good fillers for hungry growing children.  And they store well in a cool dark place.  We store ours from September until April with no problem.  The ones that start to develop eyes are set aside for next year's crop.  I also can up all the little ones because I cannot tolerate buying potatoes.  They see us through until the new crop comes in.

Between the foraged fruits and bargains, you could fill your larder for under $20, if you throw in a bag of sugar for making the jam.  All it takes is time and effort.

RECIPE FROM THE PANTRY

The cooler weather brings baking.  Today I made Tourtiers or French pork pie for my husband.  It's one of his favorites.
He cut a piece before I could get a picture.  It's a good way to stretch a half a pound of ground pork.  Also baked a mixed orchard fruit pie.
Not the loveliest of pictures.  Way-back-when, when we had to buy our fruit, I used to buy it at the reduced-for-quick-sale rack of the grocery store.  There was seldom enough of one kind of fruit, so I made a lot of these sort of pies, using a combination apples, peaches, pears and plums.  Whatever I could find.  No one ever complained!

I was just thinking the other day, how I used to have a batch of refrigerator potato rolls  ready for baking whenever needed. Fresh bread is always so good.  One way that we saved on groceries was to eat only one serving of meat, but let the kids fill up on all the breads and side dishes they wanted.  Anyway, as I said, I used to have a batch of these dough ready in the fridge fairly often.  The dough can stay refrigerated for up to five days.  One time I kept putting off baking them.  I smelled the dough and it certainly smelled yeasty, but thought nothing of it.  While they were baking the house smelled like a brewery!  Once we tasted them, our eyes began to water, the alcohol content from the yeast an sugar was so high!  Everyone had a good laugh about that!

Refrigerator Potato Rolls

1 pkg yeast
2/3 C. warm water
2/3 C. mashed potatoes (reserve 2/3 C. of the potato water)
1 tbsp. sugar
3/4 tsp. salt
2 eggs
2/3 C. sugar
2/3 C. shortening
4 1/2- 5 C. flour

In a large bowl, soften the yeast in the warm water.
Stir in potatoes, potato water 1 tbsp. sugar and the salt. Cover and let stand at room temperature for one hour.
Combine eggs, 2/3 C. sugar, and shortening.  Add to yeast mixture.  Beat in enough flour to make a moderately soft dough.  Cover and refrigerate overnight. (Or for several days until ready to use)
Punch down dough.  Turn out dough on a floured surface.  Cover and let rest 10 minutes.
Divide into 24 rolls (you can use half and refrigerate the other half for another day). Place ona greased baking sheet.  Cover and let rise until nearly doubled.
Bake in a 375 degree oven for 12 minutes until golden brown.

I usually made these on Monday, Sunday being the day we had a big formal dinner with a roast and mashed potatoes.  I always made sure to make extra potatoes and keep the water when draining them.

IS THIS IT?

So tomorrow is supposed to be the big Shemitah  day, where the stock market is supposed to crash according to Jonathon Cahn.  I asked for God to give me some discernment about this, and as soon as I did, I started to notice that Mr. Cahn started backpedaling on what he was saying. I'm sorry, but if someone has truly had a word from God, they don't backpedal.  Then I started studying it more intensely and all I can say is that while he is very good at noticing patterns, so are a lot of other people that do not claim to be prophets.  I have to say, that I am dubious of the entire Back to Hebrew Roots movement, for among many reasons, but mainly if the Jews are so wise to uncover all these "mysteries", why are they not wise enough to recognize Jesus as their Messiah?  Besides, God doesn't work with mysteries and mysticism, He plainly has given us the Playbook in the Scriptures. The other problem I have with it is that it relies on a lot of traditions and not upon scripture.  You can read what Jesus says about traditions in Mark 7 and John 8.   I'm  sorry I mentioned Mr. Cahn (I do not call him Rabbi because Jesus said that he is our only Rabbi) in a previous post.  I did not follow the scriptures and be a Berean,  testing what is said against the scriptures.

"For there shall arise false Christs and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders, insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect."
~Matthew 24:24

But I still believe that the economy is going to falter some day, mainly from what I understand about economics and politics.  In October the IMF will decide if China will share reserve status with the US. If they do, it will be devastating  to the value of our money.

I also believe that we are in the end of the Church Age. Not because of what some so-called prophets are say but  because of the reasons Jesus gave the Disciples in Mark 13 and the Revelation of John.  Just what has happened to the Pacific Ocean since the Fukushima disaster has me wondering if perhaps we are not to the point or will soon be, to where one third the oceans will be dead. (the second or third trumpet).  Anyway, just my thoughts on the matter.  Whatever the case, we do not need to fear, because when we see all these signs, we are to look up because our redemption  draws nigh! (Luke 21:28).  If you do not know the Lord, I would suggest you don't delay in doing so.  Buy a Bible and read it, ask a friend, ask a minister.

Anyway, so much for my preaching.  Suppose you wondered what I did this week to cut costs?

THRIFTY THING WE DID THIS WEEK

Harvested tomatoes, broccoli (amazing amount of off shoots from a few plants), peppers, eggplants, blackberries and some carrots.

Canned grape jelly and hot sauce.

Foraged for wild grapes.

Dyed some wool for a penny rug from some dye that I bought a garage sale for 10 cents (amazing to find just when I needed it and in the color that I needed)

Cut down the sunflowers and placed them on the garden fence for the birds. Free bird food.

Bought our own internet modem so we don't have to pay $10 a month to rent it.

Purchased a cheaper internet plan.

Ate most of our meals from the garden and pantry.

Finally!  It was cool enough to turn off the air conditioner  and the fans.  This ought to save a lot on the electricity bill!

Well, that's all folks!  Hope you have a splendid week!

Jane








14 comments:

  1. GREAT post dear Jane. I enjoyed it all.

    Have a wonderful week ~ FlowerLady

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  2. hi! First the last thing...we bought our own modem too. Ours went from $4/ month rental to 7$. So that was that! ha!
    I am sure those wild grapes made the best jelly. When I grew up (and maybe this is just a small town thing) we picked wild blackberries in the woods above our house and across from our house, in a field, strawberries. I think owners of land were much more generous then. We all had little green apple trees in our yards which made the best pies. Perhaps God gave us more from our land back then because we honored the day of rest! (Pennsylvania had strict "blue laws").

    I've been hearing "prophesies" on this crash also. The trouble is, once they set a specific date, if it doesn't happen they are proven false. Hindsight is 20/20. On the other hand, even the devil knows prophecy to an extent. Lucifer had the gift of prophecy before he turned away from God. So these visions or words can easily be from the evil one and not God. I agree with you, it is not a brainer that it is inevitable this might happen here and worldwide. Hasn't it really already happened with debt and we are just "coasting on fumes"? And shouldn't our honor go to God and not money. You are so right Jane! And you are already on the road to relying on God's providence.

    I love your bargains. My mom used to write me letters filled with her bargains of the week! Smart ladies! Andrea

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  3. Hi Andrea! I just had to edit my post. It said chicken quarters for $2.90 a pound and meant to say 29 cents a pound. $2.90 sure wouldn't have been a bargain! Ha! People were probably scratching their heads over that one!

    I think there's still a lot to be had for free in the rural areas. Unfortunately the way of building now days is to bulldoze everything and level the ground. All the natural vegetation goes with it.

    Well you know what they say, if you want to know if a person is a true prophet from God, he has to have a 100% accuracy. I truly believe that many are just repeating what they have heard others say. The other day I started listing all that the so called prophets predict will happen and it included financial collapse, tsunami on both coasts, New Madrid earthquake, California earthquake, invasion by both Russia and China, war with Syria, Russia and China, and a meteorite hitting the earth, and the Yellowstone caldera going off! Whew! I find in amusing that all the prophecies are for the USA. Isn't anything supposed to happen in other countries? According to them, it makes it sound like God has it out for us doesn't it? Ha!

    Anyway, I'll just enjoy my time here on earth and continue to save for the little emergencies like furnaces breaking and cars in need of repair.

    Hope you have some nice weather this week! Keep the pictures coming! Can't wait to see what autumn brings in your neck of the woods!

    Hugs
    Jane

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  4. Ha...don't worry. I figured out all on my own that it was supposed to be 29 cents! Yes, I could "kick myself" for worrying like a squirrel and saving food since Y2K (and since have used or given away as things got closer to expiration dates!) Andrea

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  5. Love this post, Jane! All the photos are gorgeous. I love the little stand of goldenrod in front of the apple tree. I've been looking for some to gather for the medicine chest. How nice that you found wild grapes for your jelly. Thank you for the recipe, I pinned the recipe to my folder on Pinterest.
    Oh yes, we're in an unsettling yet wonderful time.. so close to the end of the Gentile dispensation. I don't listen to the so-called "prophets" anymore. There was a real man of God back in 1933 who predicted that California would end up in the ocean (and thousands of other things the Lord showed him, when no one else had a clue about it - now, it's all over the news that it could happen at anytime. Yes, the prophesies must be accurate 100% since the Lord doesn't make mistakes. :) We were promised an Elijah prophet for our day as Jesus said John the Baptist was for his day...wonder where he is....
    Have a lovely week!

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    Replies
    1. Hello! too bad you don't live around here, the country lanes are lined with goldenrod. What is
      it used for?

      The wild grapes are actually a nuisance in our area. They twine themselves around the electrical and phone lines and cause a lot of problems. But wild grape jelly is the best. It's taking all of my willpower not to crack open a jar. I think from now on, I'll only use the Concords for juice and keep the wild ones for jelly.

      I wouldn't say we are in the tribulation period, however those poor Christians in the Middle East may beg to differ, but I think we are in the birth pains. It is exciting to be part of the Great Commission! Just think, we were chosen for this time! I wonder who are Elijah is also. We must be cautious not to be deceived!

      Hope you have a lovely week also!
      Hugs
      Jane

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  6. Thanks for the refrigerator dough recipe, I'm eager to try this one!
    I don't listen to anyone anymore when it comes to prophesying...I only trust the scriptures, and the Holy Spirit to help me understand them. The Bible says that "all men are liars", I think that means intentionally or not...sometimes people aren't truthful because of their ignorance or because they place their allegiance on other people or agencies instead of God and God alone. It's wise then to be like the Bereans and test each one against what scripture says.
    Blessings and love~ Lisa

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    Replies
    1. Hope you enjoy the the rolls Lisa! The recipe is an old Mennonite one. So many so-called prophets have muddied the waters, I wonder if we will be able to recognize the two witnesses when they appear? We will certainly have to be Bereans!

      Hugs
      Jane

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  7. Sounds like a lovely week! I have been foraging apples this week for applesauce! Guess you know what my weekend will be like! LOL

    I love your recipes! We are still enjoying the jam bars and the variety we can get with our jelly and jams! I will try your rolls next! I have been baking bread this week. Mister being retired means he eats lunch here. Of course, I pack mine -- always have... But his being home has necessitated some changes in the pantry!

    When will we see a picture of the rug? I am eager to see it! <3 M

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    Replies
    1. Happy peeling Matty! My fingers are still sore from peeling canning apples.

      Glad you are enjoying the recipes. I've gone back to my old receipt book. Most were simple recipes when I had my brood at home. So they're kid and husband approved.

      How's the Mister enjoying retirement? I still never see Ran because he keeps himself busy outside and in the woodshop all day! Just comes in long enough to eat and bring me produce to can! Yesterday he came in with apples for a crisp. I'd like to bake something without apples for a change, but our trees are loaded. We've picked six bushels and given away several plus had a lot of deer apples. My son has a deer cam and gets a big kick out of watching them. They are pretty spoiled between our apples and extra pumpkins!

      I haven't had a chance to work on the rug this week. While cleaning out the attic, I discovered a project that needed finishing. I get so easily distracted! Besides, I was getting bored with all that buttonhole stitching.

      Hope you are getting so fall-like weather your way. I got to wear tights and a sweater today. Pure bliss!

      Hugs
      Jane

      (edited for the overuse of exclamation points!!!!!!!)

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  8. Hi Jane, I'm sorry that I've been a stranger.

    As usual I always find lots of food for thought over here. We've been busy too with harvesting as much as we can from nature. I had my eyes on a big branch of rose hips at the end of the garden to make syrup but the birds beat me too it. Thankfully like in your parts the hedgerows here are full of them so I hope to be able to forage some along with berries for bramble jam.

    I love that you make soap I plan to eventually and my creams and deodorant. We are still collecting seeds daily, upcycling clothes and furniture and trying to seek out bargain finds and be as thrifty as we can. It's lovely that lots of homes nearby have produce tables outside and for a small contribution sell big bags of fruit from their garden. The Bramley baking apples are delicious and there have been lots of crumbles, pies and baked apples in the kitchen.

    Have a fruitful weekend.
    debx

    ps Can I ask how you dry your leaves for raspberry leaf tea?
    take care,
    dx

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  9. Dear Jane,

    I'm glad you're enjoying your Indian summer! You have lots of wild grapes there; we have some vines on our fences, too, but the grapes are mighty sparse. This is a wonderful time of year to be harvesting and putting away. I love when the fans are off and I can actually hear the crickets outside!
    Many blessings to you,

    Marqueta

    p.s. Don't forget to harvest some of that goldenrod for an antioxidant-rich tea!

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  10. Great post Jane, that Pork Pie sounds yummy as does the mixed orchard pie- yum! How cool to have wild grape to pick as well, I too love grape jam. I have over the years also been anxious from time to time with all the predictions about end times or disasters, but finally I have just decided to go with the advice in my favorite verse- Trust in the Lord with all of your heart, and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6 - I just decided that there is bound to be bad and good things that happen in life, and we may or may not be near the end times (it certainly at times seems like it) and its best to be as ready for whatever life hands us and trust in God to get us through, and otherwise find joy in life. This is why I so enjoy all of your common sense prepping and saving. It makes sense to be prepared and to be a good steward over our blessings and be spiritually ready for what ever might be in our future. Again great post, hope your having a good week! :)

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