Are you prepared? Trying to be more self sufficient

Would be nice if all the blackberries got bigger. None ripe yet

 

Just lost our blossoms and berries forming. I was going to get rid of them but decided to see if they’d yield

 

We had enough for a couple cobblers, a little jam and some to eat with pancakes. They were kinda sporadic last year so had to freeze some then wait for more to get ripe till we had enough for a cobbler

 

I’ve got like 3 small patches that are growing around the edge of the yard. Usually I’d look at it as a weed but now kinda looking at it as free food. I was reading something on home security once and the person was talking about planting them around the yard perimeter as a security measure kinda like barn wire

 

That would stop you on foot for sure! Mine is in a row so im just cultivating them.

 

Well we did a thing...waiting for it to cool off.

 

You pressure canned pasta and cheese? Report back with the results of that.

I'm also curious to see what it's like after sitting for a few months......

https://extension.psu.edu/foods-that-are-not-safe-to-can

 

Tasted like lasagna

 

Exactly?

If cooking pasta and cheese for 90 minutes under pressure ended up exactly the same as real lasagna, I would not mind going over to my MIL house for dinner.

Sure if S is hitting the fan, edible is edible. Chef Boy R Dee can be eaten. Dried pasta can also just sit next to a jar of canned sauce in the pantry until ready to deploy. It's just 10 minutes in boiling water.

Like I said, let us know how it is in 3 months. Aging in the jar does some interesting things. I try not to touch my boiled peanuts for at least 2 months. They are like wine. I've also added tried adding masa to canned chili before. The early jars were OK, but as time went on they got really gummy and jar vacuum was noticably decreased.

 

It was in pint jars so 1:15. For the first try at it, its good. We only did one batch. 7 widemouth pint jars. Couple minor tweeks, next time...a little more ricota mixture. Leave off the mozzarella on top(was a little rubbery).

 

Got the rest of the garden planted this evening. Cucumbers, okra, 6 hills of various squash, and another row of beans plus 2 patio Cherry tomatoes in pots. Ground was still a bit wet but calling for more rain so doing what we can

 

I can tell you my canned Ghee is fine after over a year. My canned milk is fine after over a year as well. I bet his will be fine after a year.

Not everything meets USDA standards - yet is done all over the world daily.

 

"fine" is subjective I guess. People "all over the world" do all sorts of crazy stuff that I wouldn't do.

I don't really care about USDA standards either, I just prefer to eat food that tastes good and is texturally appealing.

If pasta that's pressure cooked for 75 minutes is acceptable to you- hey, go nuts. You would probably also like pressure canned rice. (blechhh)

 

Eh i was a little skeptical but depending on brand of noodles makes difference too. Ive used Barilla oven ready noodles and they are just mushy...in oven. I like walmart and Kroger oven ready noodles. And you bake those 60 minutes in oven.

How these hold up in long run i dont know. Rice can stay a while in dry sealed bin so prob not needed to can. But id think it would clot/sieze up.

 

I wouldn't touch "oven ready" lasagna noodles with a 10 foot pole.

They remind me of the texture of canned Chef Boy R Dee ravioli. Gross.

I put some rice in with some chicken once and canned it. Turned into a white paste. Dog loved it.

 

Lol you prob used the wrong ones

 

Still better than stuff I ate while in the service.

I prefer good and appealing. But for backup - safe is the key word.

 

Pack rice in Mylar with O2 absorbers good for 30 years. Just keep it in a dark place where it doesn’t get very hot or cold and if you have the chance of rodents put it in a tote or bucket that can be sealed.
The debate is open on if it should be frozen first or not. I’ve done it to kill insect eggs and not ever found an issue with moisture. I see it said now though it’s not necessary

 

Hey all! Not been in tw much lately we moved our oldest daughter down to NC last weekend near our youngest so spent some quality family time.
I hope nobody has been affected badly by all this rough weather. Apparently Sunday while we were gone a tornado came within thin a couple miles of here thankfully it didnt cause much damage. Just more encouragement to have a plan!

 

This is gonna sound silly but we own a small produce market in San Francisco. I live in the North Bay, but if shit ever hit the fan we’re taking all the guns and ammo and camping at the store and holding it down. Y’all are welcome to join. We got supplies for days.