Quote For The Day

A friend is one who knows you and loves you just the same.

Forgiveness

Forgiveness is the answer to the child's dream of a miracle by which what is broken is made whole again, what is soiled is made clean again.

Camping Options and Tips

QUICK CAMPING OPTIONS
It is always a challenge to make meals when you are camping. Here is a quick and easy tip that will help out wit your next camping trip.

The next time that you are preparing to go, brown some ground beef with some onions.

Let the mixture cool thoroughly, then place in zip lock bags and freeze.

Now all you have to do is place the bags into your ice chest.

Once you get to your destination just add any variety of sauces to make spaghetti, sloppy joes, taco’s, chili or whatever else your family craves.

MEASURING GRANULATED SUGAR

Place the desired dry measuring cup onto a piece of waxed paper, or into a larger bowl. This will contain any spills for easy transfer back to the canister.

Scoop some granulated sugar from the canister with a spoon and place it in the desired dry measuring cup.
Using a straight edge (spoon handle or spatula) level off the top of the sugar in the cup.

Place the measured sugar into your mixing bowl and return the overflow caught on your waxed paper or bowl to the canister.

Mix It Up

Why is it that every time you make up a cup of cocoa or soup, you always end up with lumps. You have tried everything and nothing seems to help. The next time that you make up a cup, try this:

Place the dry mix in the bottom of your cup or mug. Slowly add just enough HOT water to cover the mix.

Using a spoon, blend the water into your mix until a thick paste has been created and all of the mix has been dissolved.

Now add the rest of your water mixing well.

Voila! Lump free!

Deep Fry Cooking and Safety

For safety in the kitchen, always make sure that you keep a lid handy for any pot that you are deep frying in.

In case your oil overheats or spills and causes a fire, immediately drop the lid on the pot of oil to prevent the fire from spreading and possibly becoming worse.

Kitchen Safety

Juicing

Juicing Jubilee

I recently received a diagnosis that made me rethink my food intake. I researched and decided that I wanted to join the juicing bandwagon. I bought a Hamilton Beach Big Mouth Juice Extractor and about 3 pounds of fruit.

I was hooked after the first drink. My daughter and I go crazy seeing what different drinks we can make up. My favorite is one apple, one orange, a couple of strawberries and a handfull of grapes. She likes adding some honey and vanilla, but most of the time I don't find the need.

I will forwarn you that it takes longer to clean the machine than it does to make the juice! If you clean it promply after juicing it may only take about 5 minutes. If you let it dry out before you try to clean..... well, I am sure that the rest of the day might be shot for you.

Canning Tips

Easy Canning Tips

When canning, the recipe will always tell you to leave headspace at the top of the jar. Not all recipes will tell you how much headspace is needed. When canning the headspace must be there in order to get the ideal seal on your stored items.

If you leave too little or too much headspace you will not get an adequate seal.

Here is a quick list of different jars, and approximately how much headspace should be left.

Sugar or Liquid Pack: Wide top Jars ½ inch for Pint, and 1inch for Quart.
Sugar or Liquid Pack: Narrow top Jars ¾ inch for Pint, and 1 ½ inches for Quart.
No Liquid Pack: Unless otherwise noted, leave ½ inch.

Grannies Kitchen Canning Tips

Jelly - Canning

When making jelly, sometimes it is hard to tell when the jelly point has been reached. There is a simple test that you can do to determine this.

Place a small plate in the refrigerator. When you think that the jelly is ready, remove the plate from the refrigerator and using a spoon, place a small dollop on the plate.

Using a knife, draw a path through the jelly. If the path stays and does not ooze back down, your jelly is ready for canning.

Grannies Kitchen - Jelling Jelly, Canning and Homemade Jelly

Weekday Themes

Summer Calendar 2009

What to do with the kids home for the summer or if you are a daycare provider of childcare for ideas and days of the week themes.

Make it Monday
Two for Tuesday
Wacky Wednesday
Trivia Thursday
Fieldtrip Friday

Grannies Kitchen