Canning Plums

As of last November I have been staying with my baby sister on her little farm. Other than being 40 mins away from my husband I have loved it. Well I guess this year is the first year since she bought her house that her plum tree has really produced and when I say produced I mean the branches look like they are going to break... So we are canning them as they come off the tree to save for later in the year.

1. Rinse and cut off the pit

 2. Firm pack Fruit in Jar of Choice

 3. Make a simple syrup by combinding 2cups water with 1 cup sugar in a pot 

4. Bring to a boil until all sugar is dissolved and the mixture is clear

 5. Pour simple syrup into each jar.

6. Use a knife to remove any air from inside jars 

7. Clean the tops of each jar with a clean towel

 8. Prepare the lids according to box

9. Place lid and ring on and hand tighten

10. Place into a pot with water that is at least 1in over the top of the jars 

and bring to boil. Boil for 15 mins. Remove jars and allow to cool.

Aaron's Lo-Carb 1-pan Dinner

So my youngest son is 13 years old and 6 ft. 1 in. and has decided that he needs be eat a little healthier. So we decided that he can cook more often to help out. and so was born the first of many of Aaron's dishes. We will document all dishes here including the good, the bad and the ugly.

Here you go......1. Heat about 2 tbls of oil in a skillet (we use pure garlic infused olive oil)

2.Add about 1 cup of sauteed onions (we used some that we cooked last night on the BBQ)

3. Add about 2 tbls of minced Garlic

4.Once the onions and garlic are cooked add about 1Lb of very lean beef (we raise our own beef)

5. We added about 2 tsp of coarse ground black pepper (we love black pepper)

6. And 3 tbls. of Creole Seasoning

7. Chop up ground beef while browning

8. Add 2Tbls. Worcestershire Sauce and cook until browned

9. Add 1 can drained corn and 1 can drained green beans

10. Cook until all ingredients are mixed and hot

 11. Hot and Bubbly Yum Yum.... And mama didn't have to cook....

This could be served on a bed of rice with soy sauce but Aaron said " No mom that would add to many carbs so I ate mine with some sauteed squash.....

Prickle Pear and Jalapeno Jelly

Ok so my Dear Husband like many husbands just LOVES to go shopping with me..lol.. The other day I actually got him to go grocery shopping at a Hispanic grocery store. He see the cactus flowers (Prickly Pears) and decides that he would like some. Seeing how no one else in our family likes them he was supposed to bag 1, 2 maybe 3 to eat that night with dinner, but come to find out at the cash register he actually bagged 20..... He says oh the kids will love them and that they will be all gone by the end of dinner. Not only were they not all gone by the end of dinner not one had been touched until I took them out of the fridge this morning, 12 days later..... Not going to say I told you so, Instead I decided to I would make something from them because I have this issue with waisting money. So here comes a great idea we can make jelly... Wait better yet we can make HOT Prickle Pear and Jalapeno Jelly....

1. Seeing how we bought the pears at the store they did not have any pokers... so all I had to do was peel them with a pairing knife.

2. Place peeled and chopped pears, seeds and all, in a pot with about 2 cups of water.

3.Boil about 30-45 mins until soft and smushy.

4. Strain pulp and the strain again to make sure all seeds are removed from juice and pulp

5. Combine the following ingredients in a pot

10 jalapenos (de-stemed, de-seeded, and pureed) I used my magic bullet

1 cup apple cider vinegar

2 cups prickle pear juice

¼ cup lemon juice

5 cups sugar

2 pkgs of powered pectin

6. Bring to Boil

7. Allow to boil for 10 mins.

8.Ladle into prepped jars, and place lids on hand tight

9. Place in water and bring to boil (ensure there is about 1-2 inch of water above the top jar)

10. Boil for 10 mins

11. Remove and let cool.... 

This is so great on top of Cream cheese with crackers ... But I think my favorite is just to put a dab on a burrito... Never thought I would like it that way until my big sis showed me, No turning back now

4th of July Knit Dress out of 2 old shirts...

Well today's posts seem to have a theme...Here is dress #2 made from GGs shirts..

 1. Grab a tank top that fits your little one and cut the neck line and arms. You will want to leave the neck line and dress width a little wider than the Tank top to allow for gathering and comfort.

2. Flip under, pin and sew the arm hole twice to make a hem or you can use bias tape.

3. Gather the neck line by basting 2 lines and pulling the thread.

4. Cut a strip about 3" wide off the other t shirt for the neck pieces. Iron the strip in half and then pin the inside to both neck pieces leaving 4" in in the middle of the 2 piece for one shoulder and all the rest hang off evenly for a bow on the other side. Flip over and close the casing.

5. Cut another strip from the 2nd shirt about 6" wide.

6. Place the bottom piece 5" above the bottom of the dress right sides together and sew to each piece. 

7.Trim Excess from both sides

8. Flip the bottom piece over and baste the bottom trim to the front and back pieces along the sides

9. Sew side seams

10. Hem the bottom of the dress

Knit Top = Girls Pleated Dress

Hey you... Have you ever received a hand me down box and love something in the box but it just in not for you or not you size?? Well I received a box of cloths from my sister's GG and I fell in love with an embroidered knit top especially the applique and embellishments... So I decided that my Granddaughter could use a new DRESS....LOL any reason to make my babies smile....

Here is the shirt we picked.. As you can see it is just has such beautiful colors and  detail  I just couldn't let it go...

   1. I grabbed a tank top and cut out the basic shape                  2. Save the bottom part for later....

           

 3.Flip under and Pin the arm hole twice and sew.                    4.Sew down the side Seams

5. Measure the skirt piece from the bottom seam so the dress is the 

correct length and trim to the correct length

 6. measure and pin pleats to match the width of the top part.

7. Baste the pleats in place

8. sew the bottom of the dress to the top

There you go such a cute dress... and simple to make