Prep Genrl Weekly Prep Thread March 10 - 16, 2024

nomifyle

TB Fanatic
Judy I want to thank you for mentioning Vitacost. I have items I can't get locally and Sprouts or Natural Grocers are several hours away. And food items I used to get from a small local coop years ago. No idea where I would find those. Frontier vegetable powder for example I think they might carry.
I've ordered from them for years. Although some of their prices have gotten high, but overall I find good buys there.
 

nomifyle

TB Fanatic
Large butter beans with smoked sausage, and pickled beets and maybe cornbread. Its not that big of a deal to mix up a box of jiffy cornbread, I don't know why I resist. I have a silicone woopie pan that I cook them in, no sticking.

I'm still struggling with the time change, having trouble going to sleep and sleep til after 11:00am. Really messes up the day. With my first cup of coffee I spend a couple of hours on the computer, reading the news, the forum and other things, kinda like sitting down with the newspaper. Only there are no newspapers any more that I would read. By that time its really getting late. We may only have one meal today so I better get on making that cornbread.

ETA: There was a time I would never have considered using a jiffy mix, now I'm old and I do.
 

SouthernBreeze

Has No Life - Lives on TB
Large butter beans with smoked sausage, and pickled beets and maybe cornbread. Its not that big of a deal to mix up a box of jiffy cornbread, I don't know why I resist. I have a silicone woopie pan that I cook them in, no sticking.

I'm still struggling with the time change, having trouble going to sleep and sleep til after 11:00am. Really messes up the day. With my first cup of coffee I spend a couple of hours on the computer, reading the news, the forum and other things, kinda like sitting down with the newspaper. Only there are no newspapers any more that I would read. By that time its really getting late. We may only have one meal today so I better get on making that cornbread.

ETA: There was a time I would never have considered using a jiffy mix, now I'm old and I do.

I know what you mean about the day going by so fast. We're still getting up late every day. By the time I finish coming here to catch up on all the news, the day is half over. I have to read just about everything, LOL! I'm always checking back in all throughout the day, too.

Nothing wrong with using jiffy mix for cornbread if that's what you like. Me, I use box cakes mixes, instead of making cakes from scratch. Everybody has their own likes and dislikes.
 

nomifyle

TB Fanatic
So I did make the cornbread, also coleslaw, with the beans and sausage (added dehydrated onions) and pickled beets. I'm calling it "dunch", a combination of lunch and dinner.

And just as I was about to take the cornbread out of the oven, DH comes in with a new born baby goat. Now he's walking the fence row to check and see if she had two, she was very big.

DH's dunch will have to be rewarmed. I don't like microwaves but have given in to use it for warming things.

and Sherree, you know me, I'm an old natural foods nut, so I never used a mix raising my sons. I've used a cake mix twice, once back in the mid 80's and once last year. I have a few in the freezer.
 

SouthernBreeze

Has No Life - Lives on TB
So I did make the cornbread, also coleslaw, with the beans and sausage (added dehydrated onions) and pickled beets. I'm calling it "dunch", a combination of lunch and dinner.

And just as I was about to take the cornbread out of the oven, DH comes in with a new born baby goat. Now he's walking the fence row to check and see if she had two, she was very big.

DH's dunch will have to be rewarmed. I don't like microwaves but have given in to use it for warming things.

and Sherree, you know me, I'm an old natural foods nut, so I never used a mix raising my sons. I've used a cake mix twice, once back in the mid 80's and once last year. I have a few in the freezer.

Congrats on the new baby! Your "dunch" sounds good, too.

When I come across sales on cake mixes, I buy up a bunch and put them in the freezer. I make cakes a lot, but I also use cake mix to make my cobblers. I just like the convenience. I do make my cornbread homemade. Cary wouldn't eat it if I used a box mix. I don't think I've ever eaten any from a boxed mix, so I don't know whether I like it or not.
 

Marseydoats

Veteran Member
Congrats on the new baby! Your "dunch" sounds good, too.

When I come across sales on cake mixes, I buy up a bunch and put them in the freezer. I make cakes a lot, but I also use cake mix to make my cobblers. I just like the convenience. I do make my cornbread homemade. Cary wouldn't eat it if I used a box mix. I don't think I've ever eaten any from a boxed mix, so I don't know whether I like it or not.

I think Krusteaz Sweet Corn is better than homemade, but I'm a terrible cook and so was my Mom... I only make it once a week because I will eat the whole
pan by myself in one day. Husband doesn't like cornbread of any kind.
 

SouthernBreeze

Has No Life - Lives on TB
I think Krusteaz Sweet Corn is better than homemade, but I'm a terrible cook and so was my Mom... I only make it once a week because I will eat the whole
pan by myself in one day. Husband doesn't like cornbread of any kind.

I've never tried that one, either. I love to cook, and Cary says that he can eat my cornbread all by itself smothered in butter. He loves homemade cornbread and biscuits. I make one or the other almost every night. We had biscuits, tonight. Cary is the big bread eater in our house. He ate 3 biscuits, and I had a half of one. I usually eat one slice of cornbread to his 3. He doesn't have to watch his weight like I do.
 

nomifyle

TB Fanatic
I think Krusteaz Sweet Corn is better than homemade, but I'm a terrible cook and so was my Mom... I only make it once a week because I will eat the whole
pan by myself in one day. Husband doesn't like cornbread of any kind.
I had a recipe for cornbread from a "natural" foods cookbook that I cooked for years, but DH didn't like it, he was use to the jiffy taste. I, too, could eat the whole pan of cornbread in a day. I loved cornbread in a glass of milk, my mother loved it with butter milk (gag).
 

Meemur

Voice on the Prairie / FJB!
It was a productive day here: the new door handle (large one) is on the sliding patio door, along with a new outside tracks (for the screen). I ended up having to reinforce the sliding screen frame with thin wood pieces on the corners after I put on the new screen (and spline). I've got that clamped and glued. I'm going let it dry overnight. With careful use, I may get another two years out of it.

I also replaced all six bulbs (back-up lights, etc) in the tail light housing on my vehicle. That was a royal pain. I'll spare everyone the details. I had to quit at one point and go make tea. but it's finished, and they work. I didn't lose or break any of the stupid trim tabs.

I probably saved myself around $160 or so today with these projects, given today's high labor costs. I know I saved myself from an encounter with the police over in Ankeny. They look for cars with expired tags and burned-out lights.

If I do everything I have planned this week, and it's successful, I'll save around $550 (or so). It's expensive to hire professionals. I do hire them when necessary, but these projects don't involve ladders or crawling under the car.
 
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kyrsyan

Has No Life - Lives on TB
Productive day, even if a surprise came out and it took longer than planned on.

I still love the transition lenses. But I think they are "at home" glasses only. Because when I look down, while I am standing or walking, it fuzzes my vision. That's okay at home. That's not okay in public.

Off to make dinner. Day number two of finishing the work day without a headache or migraine. That is definitely a blessing.
 

Marseydoats

Veteran Member
Productive day, even if a surprise came out and it took longer than planned on.

I still love the transition lenses. But I think they are "at home" glasses only. Because when I look down, while I am standing or walking, it fuzzes my vision. That's okay at home. That's not okay in public.

Off to make dinner. Day number two of finishing the work day without a headache or migraine. That is definitely a blessing.

You'll get used to the transitions. It took me about a week when I first went to tri-focals. I did just wear them at home until I got used to them.
 

summerthyme

Administrator
_______________
I love biscuits and butter too, but I buy the frozen Mrs. B's biscuits. I never learned to make biscuits, on purpose, too fattening. I don't fix them very often though. Neither of us are daily bread eaters, just not into bread.
I loved my James Beard American Cookery cookbook. It's chock full of "from scratch" recipes, most all using ingredients commonly produced in the US, with lots of historical notes.

When discussing biscuits, he first says "these days, the mixes are so good its rather silly to make them from scratch"... but then he provides several recipes for the "silly" cooks!

Summerthyme
 

Meemur

Voice on the Prairie / FJB!
I've been trying to cut back on bread use, again. Half an English muffin works as toast and to soak up my egg or like today, I used two halves for two mini pizzas.

There was also a huge loss leader sale: $0.59 for six English muffins, no limit. I bought about two dozen packs of those, repacked them in freezer bags, and froze them.

I make biscuits and gravy once in a blue moon in the winter, mainly when I have some sausage left over. These days, I use one of the small freezer cans that makes six biscuits. If I were making a lot more of them more often, I'd make a plastic tub full of homemade mix, seal it up, and leave it on the counter. That's a lot more cost-effective.

Those mini-cans go on sale periodically. I can generally snag those for about $0.69 if I get there first thing. They disappear fast.
 

philkar

Veteran Member
I loved my James Beard American Cookery cookbook. It's chock full of "from scratch" recipes, most all using ingredients commonly produced in the US, with lots of historical notes.

When discussing biscuits, he first says "these days, the mixes are so good its rather silly to make them from scratch"... but then he provides several recipes for the "silly" cooks!

Summerthyme
Being Southern and all...! I have a dough bowl just for biscuits that is never washed and is covered with a sleeve that I made. Grandmother left it out on the counter all day everyday. I can't do that but I can make a mean biscuit in just a minute or two and don't ask for measurements! It is done by feel. I love that cookbook by the way as I love history. Especially food history!
 

hd5574

Veteran Member
Being Southern and all...! I have a dough bowl just for biscuits that is never washed and is covered with a sleeve that I made. Grandmother left it out on the counter all day everyday. I can't do that but I can make a mean biscuit in just a minute or two and don't ask for measurements! It is done by feel. I love that cookbook by the way as I love history. Especially food history!
I have a wooden biscuit bowl, too.
Learned to make them in NC.....from my former mother-in-law..yep by feel....she had an old deep sided metal 9x13 cake pan..she made biscuits for huge family everyday...hers never got washed either ..she also had a banged up boiler dedicated to making sweet...she used that everyday too.....:-) yep it's a southern thing
 

philkar

Veteran Member
I have a wooden biscuit bowl, too.
Learned to make them in NC.....from my former mother-in-law..yep by feel....she had an old deep sided metal 9x13 cake pan..she made biscuits for huge family everyday...hers never got washed either ..she also had a banged up boiler dedicated to making sweet...she used that everyday too.....:-) yep it's a southern thing
I have one of those boilers too! Was my mothers! And only gets a rinse! No soap. Ah memories!
 

SouthernBreeze

Has No Life - Lives on TB
Being Southern and all...! I have a dough bowl just for biscuits that is never washed and is covered with a sleeve that I made. Grandmother left it out on the counter all day everyday. I can't do that but I can make a mean biscuit in just a minute or two and don't ask for measurements! It is done by feel. I love that cookbook by the way as I love history. Especially food history!

No measuring here, either. It's by feel, too. I must have missed the Southern lesson about not washing the biscuit bowl. Being the clean freak I am, mine gets washed every time, LOL. I don't have the room on my counter to leave the bowl out even if I didn't wash it. Do ya'll use a biscuit cutter or make drop biscuits? I use a biscuit cutter, but Mom makes drop biscuits. I have a round cast iron griddle pan with a handle that I bake my biscuits in.

We decided to make a trip into big town today. I want to go to Sam's for the sale items I want, plus we need to make a stop in at our bank. Cary has a few more stops he wants to make, too.

Tomorrow, I need to go to our small town to drop off another king size quilt to get cleaned at the dry cleaners, and Frisco is running short on his treats for the month. I'll stop in at Walmart for those if they don't have what he likes at Sam's today.
 

Meemur

Voice on the Prairie / FJB!
47 degrees right now, full sun, going up to the 70s later!

Small projects continue. I got the sliding screen door back on its track without breaking or bending the newly reinforced frame. That took a long time! I can see why the previous owner just bent it and probably hammered it into place, but I want this repair to last longer than a few weeks.

Right now, four of the kitchen drawers are on a table out in the driveway. They have been repaired, re-glued, and clamped. Once the glue cures, they are going to get fresh coats of white paint. I'm pretty sure these kitchen cabinets came from the ReStore and originally from house with bratty kids. For now, I'm repairing them as best I can. If I end up staying in this house, I may replace all of the upper cabinets, probably from the ReStore, but I will use higher quality materials. Hard board and plywood simply don't hold up over time, even with careful use.

My energy is holding up. Not as well as I would like! But I'm making slow progress on my task list. I need to be more patient with myself. At the end of the day, I'm saving money and doing repairs right. I just wish they were done, and I was on a road trip, but realistically, I really don't have enough energy for that, yet. Maybe in another month or two.

Wishing everyone a grand day!
 

patriotgal

Veteran Member
My biscuit cutter belonged to one of my grandmas. Very surprised it was left in the house. It is special to me because my dad grew up in that house. His mom hated me but that's her loss. My kids, grands and greats and I have made a lot of memories (and eaten a lot of dough) around the biscuit bowl.
 

patriotgal

Veteran Member
After the kids have taken what they want of their gmas things, I will be offering them to friends who will totally use and enjoy them. BFF and family once came to dinner at our house and I was using platters that belonged to great grandma. Friend got so excited over the ancient Victorian looking platters and bowls. She says, "you are using them!" I told her my plan was to use them as long as possible. They make me happy. Grands learned long ago that a broken dish or bowl or glass is not the end of the world. It served its purpose and life goes on.
 

WanderLore

Veteran Member
Hey ladies. Hit the ground running as usual. Son just worked a 24 hr shift, drove over and hit the couch. I bummed his truck and went to run errands. Got all that done and critters fed.
Walked the horses fence and made some repairs then put them in that pasture. Loving the weather.
Got Scot fed and watered and meds (bunch new ones). Did some cleaning and other stuff around here.
Taking break. We will look at the brakes later. Scot is on a walker somewhat but there isn't anything wrong with his mind, so he can direct us.
The daffodils and crocus are up trees all budding out. So much to do inside and out. Social worker at hospital came in when I wasn't there, asked Scot what help do we need, he said NONE. Oh boy. Lot of faith in this old girl.
 

WanderLore

Veteran Member
Our old house was put together little bit at a time. They hauled one section from the back 80 acres. Then another section from somewhere else. The planks are like 12 feet long and 3-4 ft wide. Then they built the living room in between so its like a U. LOTS of doors. The pantry they put in. Its quite large and steps down about 4 feet.
The cupboards in kitchen they handmade. Just straight rectangles from sawn wood. I painted everything white a few years and its much improvement. The sink is the old harvest type that drains on each side.
Its old and we have to keep attaching the doors but I like it.
There is plumbing stuff to do. Leaking kitchen sink that takes cartridges. Leaking tub same thing. It will get done. I have learned how to do all kinds of things over the years.
 

hd5574

Veteran Member
I learned to take a big pinch of dough in floured hands...and roll it into a biscuit shape....then punch the top with two fingers..they never used a cutter..that was my mother in law...and then Miss Helen down the road did it the same way....

Does anybody remember the Welch's jelly glasses that had a face in the bottom of the glass...I was really little but I can remember my aunt...using one of those to cut biscuits ...
 

philkar

Veteran Member
I remember those jelly glasses! Just taking a break before we get started after lunch. Spent several hours at the bank this morning cleaning up a mess my husband's son made. It is done thank God. Picked up some lumber at the sawmill was probably planed 30 yrs ago! My afternoon tasks are canning and greenhouse. Managed to can rutabagas last night. They are not mushy and so far are maintaining their color but I am sure that will change. Will work on more Ruts and then turnips later today. We are working pretty fast these days or at least as hubs energy levels will allow. I am wide open but I don't know that that is all that unusual!
Time to hit it. Have a great afternoon!
 

SouthernBreeze

Has No Life - Lives on TB
I learned to take a big pinch of dough in floured hands...and roll it into a biscuit shape....then punch the top with two fingers..they never used a cutter..that was my mother in law...and then Miss Helen down the road did it the same way....

That's what we call "drop biscuits". That's the way my mom makes hers. She pinches off big pieces of dough with floured hands, shapes them into a biscuit, then puts them in her pan. I always roll my dough out and cut with my biscuit cutter.
 

SouthernBreeze

Has No Life - Lives on TB
We're back from big town. Accomplished everything we set out to do. I splurged a bit at Sam's, but it's ok. I bought more bulk items, and that will save me from having to buy at the first of the month at Walmart in much smaller sizes. I also stocked up on doggie treats to last a good while. I also cheated on supper tonight. I bought me and Cary two of those already prepared meals that you bring home and cook yourself. I got chicken alfredo for myself and roasted chicken enchiladas for Cary. I hope they're good. We've never had either of them before. Takes an hour to cook, but both will fit in the oven together. Will probably have left-overs. These meals are prepared fresh daily in-store using their rotisserie chickens.

Nothing planned for the rest of the day.
 

Meemur

Voice on the Prairie / FJB!
Just a side note. I have been trying to get a free phone. Funds are tight and I thought this would help.
I'm approved, but congress quit accepting any applications Feb 7. Much speculation that because the illegals have gotten so many, there isn't anymore funding left.

This may or may not help you: the Dollar Store - type places have those no-contract Tracfones. I've seen some of the really basic ones for $25 (saw one at $19 recently). I buy minutes a years' worth of minutes at a time for around $100 (there are various deals if one looks around the internet.)

CAUTION: I don't know whether a cheap Tracfone will work in your area. You could buy one and some really cheap minutes (a months' worth) to try it. Mine works all over Iowa, except the known dead spaces, but when I get more than 20 miles or so into IL, it no longer picks up a signal, and that's not a known dead zone.

I ended up getting a "smart" Tracfone from Walmart (around $69) but it takes texts, which has been extremely helpful to me.

Blue View 4 for $29.99 at the link below:


Someday I might spring for something better, but I'm occasionally in some sketchy areas, and if I do have my phone stolen, I'm not out hundreds of dollars.
 
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SouthernBreeze

Has No Life - Lives on TB
The sun is still shinning and its warmish. I've pretty much gotten nothing done today, although a very important thing, DH and I've had coffee together twice and chatted. I'm currently on my 3rd cup of coffee, I just love the taste with the coconut cream powder.

It's 77 degrees right now, here. I love it!

We both really, really enjoy our morning coffee together. We have long chats and plan our day. Time spent just enjoying each other's company is very important to us both. It won't be too much longer, and it will be warm enough to take our coffee out on the deck and watch the sun come up! Our deck faces East.
 
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hd5574

Veteran Member
That's what we call "drop biscuits". That's the way my mom makes hers. She pinches off big pieces of dough with floured hands, shapes them into a biscuit, then puts them in her pan. I always roll my dough out and cut with my biscuit cutter.

I have a different biscuit recipe from my mother's mother for what we called drop biscuits ...you mix it up ..with a spoon
Much softer dough than what you call rolled and cut or drop biscuits...then take two spoons and scoop up a big spoon full and push it off on the baking sheet.. with the other spoon .. they bake up all rough with lots of nooks anf crannies...a bit like English muffins on the inside..
I like to use those when make creamed chicken or creamed chip beef or sausage gravy... cause they hold the topping so well...look pretty on the plate with the peaks of the biscuits peeking through the sauce. But taste like biscuits.
 

nomifyle

TB Fanatic
Just call their customer service and they can activate for...if you want to..
We have one put back ... with a couple of cards.. just for emergency use
I wanted my brother in Texas to get it activated with a Texas number, he fiddle farted around and didn't get it done, so he gave it to his daughter and she didn't do it either. He died and she sent it back to me. I wanted to call my oldest son with it and he might answer the phone not recognizing the number, he's not speaking to me. Oh well, it is what it is.

If "they" require everyone to have a smart phone I may activate it and just not keep it filled with time. I also have an iphone that I use, but have taken most of the apps off of it, including FB.
 

connie

Veteran Member
I have a recipe from my mil for what she called angel biscuits. They are made with yeast and dough will keep in the fridge for several days. Take part of dough each day and roll out. Used to make them alot when kids were growing up. I'm not really a bread eater. Prefer cornbread but even a pan of cornbread is a lot for us.
 

hd5574

Veteran Member
I wanted my brother in Texas to get it activated with a Texas number, he fiddle farted around and didn't get it done, so he gave it to his daughter and she didn't do it either. He died and she sent it back to me. I wanted to call my oldest son with it and he might answer the phone not recognizing the number, he's not speaking to me. Oh well, it is what it is.

If "they" require everyone to have a smart phone I may activate it and just not keep it filled with time. I also have an iphone that I use, but have taken most of the apps off of it, including FB.
None of our phones are smart...the TracFone is a super cheap flip..4g.was just under $20. we have 2 consumer cellular filp phones 4 g.... cost about $30 each ....just make phone calls... and a landline... total unlimited and all long distance is included...no apps...on anything...plus a couple of old princess phones in case the power goes out and we can't use the walk around phones ...plus a satellite phone..that we got it free just buy minutes that never expire once bought enough minutes to own the phone ....we cut back and we spend a lot less for less minutes each month now...our internet is with the landline in a deal....but we have had times the cell phones are down others the landline is down... sometimes the landline is down but the Internet is working ..
If they make us have a smart phone. Most likely the cheapest way we can find... and it will stay off in faraday bag...unless we are forced to use it....cell phones live in faraday bags now...and credit cards in RFID sleeves
 
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