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Post by solargeek1 on Jan 24, 2019 7:31:37 GMT -7
Processed 32 pounds of homegrown potatoes yesterday as they were just starting to sprout. About 10 trays of the roasted, sliced potatoes, and 18 baked potatoes. It ended up being almost half a shelf in my giant deep-freeze!
To freeze cooked potatoes: For sliced, seasoned, roasted potatoes, the method I have always used is to cool the cooked potatoes completely on the pan. Then take a container and place one layer of the potatoes flat, put a piece of parchment paper on top of that and continue layering with every single layer having parchment paper between it. Freeze. At that point, if you want to get the containers out of your freezer, lift out the layers and put them into a freezer Ziploc bag. These will keep fine in the deep-freeze for six months, but I have never tried anything longer then 1-2 months in a regular freezer. For the baked potatoes, you must cool them on the pan and then place them in the deep-freeze uncovered to freeze solid. Then put each one into a plastic Ziploc sandwich bag and then place those into a freezer bag.
Yesterday was bread. The first two are a wonderful recipe I have for whole wheat called "simple whole wheat". But I doctored it up so they do not have any fat.
The other 3 are from Bob's Red Mill recipe for what he calls "gluten soy bread". They end up being extremely high fiber, deliciously tasty, and also high protein. I added some homegrown Rosemary to 2 of the loaves. Really looking forward to trying these as I haven't made the soy bread in probably years.
The soy/white bread recipe is only supposed to make two loaves, but I find I like to separate it into 3, so they are smaller and don't rise quite as high. If you do them as to loaves, they rise significantly higher.
Monday was making 1 gallon of chili and 1 gallon of hamburger soup. I've been sick for two weeks and used up all of our frozen soups.
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Post by solargeek1 on Jan 30, 2019 10:25:54 GMT -7
BRRHHH, Yikes! Heat pump malfunctioned due to the cold. Shut itself down.... called the HVAC place and they responded right away but So blessed to have a wonderful woodstove which can and does carry the home.
But, @9:30 am, we have everything TURNED OFF, woodstove damped down to nothing, AND the passive solar gain from our windows is holding at 70°F. The whole house😀👍❤️ Yesterday in similar temperatures we got to 73°F simply from solar gain. The sun is still slanted as it comes in. We are expecting to hit 75°F in here by noon, simply with the sun. Gotta love a solar home.
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Post by cajunlady87 on Feb 10, 2019 8:48:09 GMT -7
Two great posts SG.
Firstly, freezing potatoes. My problem is freezing foods where I have used potatoes in the recipe, namely soups. I like making veggie soups and of course adding potatoes with the rest of the veggies is what it's all about. However, I always notice the taste of the potatoes just isn't right. Now I don't add the potatoes till I thaw the soup and add the freshly cut potatoes to it. Glad you have succeeded in freezing your potatoes and the taste is still there for y'all to enjoy.
Secondly, your solar powered home is the envy of many. Again I'm glad you were able to accomplish the unique setup you have for your home. Pat yourself on the back for that one!
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Post by solargeek1 on Apr 2, 2019 5:40:03 GMT -7
Just an update FORGOT TO SHARE MY WONDERFUL NEWS with everyone. Just a crazy last month with the Fat Tuesday supper for I run 180 and then cleanup and packaging up all the leftovers, and then my own housework. Found out in the midst of all that.
DD#1 got a fabulous job in the Loop in Chicago and will be moved back on 3/23! It will only be 3.5 hours to see them NOW!!! No more 8+ hours each way in lousy traffic. We never can get together with weather, jobs, sickness, dogs....
Her DH will finish out his job and the lease in Ann Arbor until 5/1 but will come every weekend to be with her and bring their rescue Greyhound to visit. And I get to keep her from being lonesome on some weeknights (TBD what nights I will go each week)!!!! Our girls were raised in Chicago over our many moves - in fact DD#2 got IN-STATE tuition in WI only because we could invoke the "majority of the minority rule" they have in force in WI to benefit children who as minors were moved out of the state due to parental moves. She spent 10 of her 18 years in Chicago (with us) and so when we were moved back, and she wanted to go to UW, a counselor suggested invoking the rule. Saved her and us a ton of $$.
But I digress. With DD#2 and SIL in San Francisco now, it will be wonderful to have DD#1 so much closer. Really hard to have the girls and their DHs so far away. Each way was a whole day travel. DD#2 is very happy for her sister but quite sad she and her DH are not still living in Chicago - he was cherry-picked By GOOGLE in Oct/2018 so the move is still new and raw to them. Perhaps having her sister in Chicago will draw them back here sooner than the 3-5 years they are currently planning
Such great news and they already found a 2 flat near where they went to college at Loyola and even better they have a Chicago COP living in the lower unit! Now I really feel safe!
And the best news is last: I am going to visit her tomorrow (WED-FRI) and while she is at work I will see all my old law firm friends. And walk to my heart's content. We will unpack (she is too short to do all the upper cabinets!)
The only downside to going is that our wonderful loving funny black lab is dying quickly of kidney disease. She is only 9. Came on suddenly 2 weeks ago. That is why DH is not coming to Chicago with me. We had our beautiful goldendoodle die of a brain aneurysm (sp?) while we were on vacation many years ago. Could not get past not being there with him. So we decided one of us will be with her everywhere.
It would be good if we used this thread even for short updates. I miss hearing from you guys.
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Post by cajunlady87 on Apr 3, 2019 6:17:40 GMT -7
SG I enjoyed reading the updates on your family and just know having DD#1 living closer in will bring more joy to you getting to see her more often. Sorry to hear about your lab though, parting with our furry friends is never easy.
It was a year in February since my eye surgery and loss of sight. Yesterday's visit brought great news, all swelling in my eye has dissipated . Yay! Since my sight has been restored from surgery a year ago, I have gone from being able to see my doctors shadow of his hand to reading line four on the eye chart which is 0% to 40%.
There is still distortion and problems with depth perception but I'll take what the good lord gives me. Doctor says a new eye glasses prescription in a few months may help me more.
I have to continue my anti-inflammatory eye medication for life to avoid future swelling. There is a little scar tissue present, removing it could possibly cause another retina detachment. Doctor said for now we'll leave well enough alone and not do surgery. I will continue my visits every two months to be closely monitored which gives me much relief.
Our weather is highly erratic. Temps from 80's one day to 50's another. I can handle that but my bones can't so jackets and coats stay on the ready. My riding lawn mower gave out so until I can replace it I have someone cutting the grass for a few bucks.
I'm worried about my brother's physical condition. The meds he's on have bad side effects and he needs to take the meds for his mental issues. His meds create problems of loss of muscle control. For years his hand has shaken uncontrollably. He has had problems with bowel control though not often, thank God. I really feel for him because he hesitates to travel with me on short errands. He hasn't said why but I know that's why. It saddens me to see he has little socialization outside of our home. As his condition progresses I will have to make the decision of caring for him myself or having him institutionalized. Tough one!
Well that's it for now. Who's next?
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Post by cowgirlup on Apr 3, 2019 15:57:34 GMT -7
I just got back from visiting in-laws in AZ. It was a good trip. Would have been better if Kay and I had the chance to meet up but it was not to be on this time. Glad to be home with my cats, chickens and a fire in the wood stove!!!
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Post by ColcordMama on Apr 5, 2019 0:43:26 GMT -7
I really wanted to meet CGU in person but instead had to go help hubby Mike make a break for it from the nursing facility where he'd been warehoused for almost 10 days. I was afraid we'd have to shoot our way out so I brought our lanky 14 year old grandson Daemon with me, but the escape went smoothly and now I'm Mike's sole caregiver. Wait... what have I gotten myself into? (futile wail)
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Post by Cwi555 on Apr 5, 2019 7:07:53 GMT -7
Found a Miller Syncrowave 250 DX sitting in a scrap metal yard. Paid 300 for it, another 200 in parts/paint and few hours work with my son. They are ~4,000 new so we were a happy campers when it fired up like new. A buyer is coming by this afternoon. Just don't understand throwing away something like that without even attempting repair, but we're not complaining.
Speaking of scrap, we were there to pick up some to practice with. My son has gotten good with Tig welding. I never thought he'd pick it up, but the last year he's changed. He's turning 14 this month and most definitely not the same kid he was at 12. I couldn't pry his hands off the computer and tablets before then.
Rehab/PT still continues. Progress is slow but there. I'll take it with minimal complaint.
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Post by cajunlady87 on Apr 9, 2019 16:00:14 GMT -7
Found a Miller Syncrowave 250 DX sitting in a scrap metal yard. Paid 300 for it, another 200 in parts/paint and few hours work with my son. They are ~4,000 new so we were a happy campers when it fired up like new. A buyer is coming by this afternoon. Just don't understand throwing away something like that without even attempting repair, but we're not complaining. Speaking of scrap, we were there to pick up some to practice with. My son has gotten good with Tig welding. I never thought he'd pick it up, but the last year he's changed. He's turning 14 this month and most definitely not the same kid he was at 12. I couldn't pry his hands off the computer and tablets before then. Rehab/PT still continues. Progress is slow but there. I'll take it with minimal complaint. Wow, y'all scored big finding and buying the Syncrowave for mere peanuts. It always boggles my mind as to why people just insist on throwing perfectly good or fixable things away instead of putting them at the curb or donating them. A big profit to be had and your son is learning how to fix things, a great skill.
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Post by cajunlady87 on Apr 9, 2019 16:33:18 GMT -7
I just got back from visiting in-laws in AZ. It was a good trip. Would have been better if Kay and I had the chance to meet up but it was not to be on this time. Glad to be home with my cats, chickens and a fire in the wood stove!!! I just know your cats and chickens were so happy to have you back home. Cowgirl seems to be the most dedicated person I know when it comes to taking care of her pets.
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