Posted on 08/19/2011 5:01:37 AM PDT by Red_Devil 232
WalMart carries cheesecloth in the sewing section ... it is in a plastic bag hanging somewhere in that section. About $4 for a bag that lasts me for a couple of years, and I use a bunch of cheesecloth.
For the best clarity in jellies, there in nothing like a jelly strainer. I bought one of these years ago and don't know how I ever lived without it. I have 6 cotton bags that I throw in the washing machine after use. One of the bags I only use to strain the flour and cornmeal out of peanut oil.
Having learned how to make jelly from the insert on a box of Sure Jell, I can tell you that although there is always something to learn, making jelly is one of the easiest things you'll every do!
Did either one of you see a host in the sun?
I just posted a ping on Twotone’s thread. I had been out mowing the yard and missed all the pings to me on Twotone’s thread.
Thank you.
One of these days we are gonna have to get you over here for one of our shindigs.
If you're talking about those conical sieves with the wooden thingie to rub the stuff around, I remember those, just never bought or inherited one (update, no you weren't).
I might try making some sometime but I don't really eat much jelly or jam any more, out of the habit. It's nice for little gifts. I guess the thing to do is find one at a Good Will Store because if I have the right utensils, and I have a real eclectic assortment of so many I use that are just right for each purpose, unlike people who have to have a perfect matched set hanging on pegs.
I was just talking to my daughter about it today how my pans don't match, but they're the reason the things I do cook turn out well. For example, I learned the hard way that you do not make candy (except maybe the marshmallow creme recipe for fudge) in a Revere stainless copper clad pan (or brown meat in their skillet). A heavy Club aluminum 2 or 3 quart or Majestic alum which is even heavier are the only kind of pans to make candy in. And you shouldn't have too much humidity in the house for divinity and other kinds which I haven't done for a long time.
If I get my raspberries going and have a lot, I WILL want to make raspberry jelly. And if anybody gives me red grapes, same. And if by some stroke of luck I find some seeds for those little yellow ground cherries in husks (tomatoes) and I get enough, you can bet I will make jam out of them. I did make little yellow tomato jam once.
Good thing I looked at your link. That looks economical and easy enough, be good for cottage cheese, too. My mom used to make that, but I won't because I'm too used to the store kind. Better shut up here now. Thank you; I know what I'll need and where to start if I get some free stuff. Like my daughter brought me 6 gorgeous peaches she got at the Farmer's Market just this afternoon.
Doesn't strike me as an herbicide problem, as almost every herbicide normally available to the public kills by foliar contact and has no ground activity.
pH is definitely something that you want to monitor with tests. It is relatively inexpensive to get a complete soil test done and well worth every penny in production returns, and fewer loss of plants.
Water, the lack thereof, and heat have wreaked havoc on many things this year. I know a lady that was watering everyday, but the ground was so warm and the sun so harsh, that the plants were actually receiving far too little. I dug in the area where she had lost azalea and the soil went from dry to dryer. It is better to water less frequently, but deeply.
WestwardHo, I am tickled that you were able to use the dry farmed tomato info. If I'm not mistaken, some of the information I gathered was from an ag department of a NM university. I'm sure you could also get some good leads on varieties that are best suited to your climate. All I started with was a link on Early Girl tomatoes, and I got into the dry farming practice info.
I have every intention of getting to one of the memorial shoots, or something else if y’all have a get-together. Without a doubt, the Texas bunch are good folks that know how to have a great time, and I would love to see y’all in person!
Aw. Thanks JDB - right back at you.
eastforker - My Hubby has always considered me a classy lady, and my folks raised me to always be polite, diplomatic, and take no guff from all the rednecks I grew up with. LOL.
Well, I was being sarcastic about a poster known as “classy green eyed blond” If you don’t remember her/it/him, you haven’t lost nothing.
Well, this site got me through the Clinton years, and lots of other stuff, but I don’t remember anything about that other dudette.
Yes, the cheesecloth can be elusive, but here is the alternative - an affordable/reuseable jelly stand and bags:
Only certain jellies need straining. Jams less so because ya want the pieces of fruit in there.
As to the acorn squash - my husband gave me that order - he was away and wanted to make sure he had at least a few of his acorn squash safe. We only have five of them :). And after our last hail storm.....
That sucker tore the leaves from the trees, and left 2+ inches of huge hail stones on the ground. It was just early enough in the season that we could replant our whole garden. Lucky for me I was late getting in four or five things, but we lost the rest.
First storm today went though with no hail, next one is starting to rumble.
“Having learned how to make jelly from the insert on a box of Sure Jell, I can tell you that although there is always something to learn, making jelly is one of the easiest things you’ll every do!”
I have to say that every time I hear how easy jelly is to make - I am amazed. I find it challenging. LOL. Prepping jars/picking then prepping fruit/cooking/straining/filling/hot bath canning-and then it might not set correctly!
I get very OCD when doing jelly. But then I’ve only done about four batches, and it is easier once you’ve done it a few times and know what to expect - more importantly what you NEED to have on hand. Freezer jam sounds super easy, but I want to learn the old school stuff. I have to take my lumps I suppose.
Yes, jams should be thick and small chunks but well cooked, nice and smushy, spreadable.
I guess I've been lucky that I haven't had hail damage here in town although it has come through here. More of an issue with the farm, have to have ins for it. I've seen what it can do.
Yes, if we are going to have to grow more of our own, we're going to have to get it right. Usually I hold some seeds back but more in case of a germination problem.
My daughter brought me 3 squash back a bit. One was that cream kind that looks like a bowling pin only fatter and a longer stripey one. I cooked those together; they were good, got two nights out of them, need what's in them. The acorn I did my usual with a little salt, real butter and brown sugar, but it was the most tasteless one I've ever had. Still ate it. I got it split in half just perfect this time ;-)
I can appreciate your anxiety over storms. I've lived on the edge for years because of a huge tree, finally had to have it taken down, felt sad, but it's a relief. Just one in front that I might have some major cleanup.
I lost a whole growing season last year, and have been pulling weeds like crazy. Made a lot of headway, but the hardest ones are between plants and roses with nasty thorns, arms are full of owies. And some I'm not sure if they're weeds. Then I thought, get the easy stuff and let the rest go until spring. Then use grass b gon and roundup on the hard stuff, made a shield out of a milk jug. I'm not organic. Yet.
Somebody put me onto vinegar, I have tested some, and it did work on short crab grass. I don't know if it will handle the tougher stuff or not. Then lotsa mulch.
Today I got my camera out to try to get an id on something, took a few more for practice, not good with that lens. So I went back out and pulled what I was sure were weeds where I usually ignore what's going on there. Well this one kind there were several large plants, had horrid small green round seeds that stick to your clothes. Part cotton sleeveless jumper, all on the bottom and underside, the worst ever. It took me about an hour to pick my jumper clean, just a couple on my socks.
I hope I have the energy to make jelly and do some of the things I used to love to do. The only thing I've canned in years are tomatoes, got some at the Farmer's Market not too expensive. 18 quarts. Just me. Gone before winter was over because the kids stop by. No spoilage, and I did it the fast and easy way.
Here is what is sort of funny... I never see the shoots. Never. I know they had to grow... they had to be there but I have as of yet never seen them. Maybe it is hidden with all the other foliage and I miss them. I have seen them in some catalogs and they are pricey so I purchased mine on Ebay. The dealer had high ratings and I am happy that I did. I calculated that even if 50% survived, it would be less money than going to a catalog.
Mine I planted and have kept that spot free from enchroaching stuff, at least while they're visible. I think it has to compete too much for water from 3 birth trees with long surface roots, a huge clematis, things like that. Maybe I should really give it some TLC, feed and water the spot, mulch it, maybe they'll finally bloom. I've pretty much given up on them, just don't have the heart to plant anything else there yet.
I didn't think about looking for them on ebay, haven't bought plants there, don't trust that they'll bloom true. I did have good luck with a clem I bought at amazon, one of those associate sellers, quality stuff. Ebay you have to use paypal now and they have something new called pay later with a $10 cash back, I had pushed the buy it now button but changed my mind. Can't remember what it was. Oh, a 1-quart saucepan that matched my Blue Garland sooking set, my son took that for his wife, and I want to replace it because I started a fire with one and had to throw it away, cleaned the other 1 quart with bleach and didn't like the odor it left so tossed them.
Then I found out just how expensive nice saucepans are now, even at Walmart. And I need one. I didn't want to pay almost $10 shipping either; the pan w/lid was about $20.
I did plant them but I have a terrible planting routine. I will buy packs of bulbs and then either misplace them or forget that I have them. I then will “stick them in the ground” and hope for the best. The year that I planted the lilies, I planted a bunch of different bulbs all over the place. So... yes, I forgot where I planted them. This planting method is horrible.. no planning, no thought but I will admit that I have been surprised. The Glad bulbs that I “stuck in” around the Knock-Out Roses look fantastic. Who would have thought that the bulbs were pinkish with some red (and go perfect with the roses). I guess even a blind pig finds an acorn now and again. LOL!
Colors and plants I wouldn't have deliberately put together turn out to be not bad at all. Glads are pretty but two bad things about them. Remind me of funerals because I got dragged to too many as a kid and that's what they had. And in gardens, of course. The other things is glads aren't winter hardy here nor are dahlias, so I'm not about to pamper bulbs over the winter, bad enough during growing season. Think I'll crash early, busy day, accomplished a few things but didn't get the dishes done line I wanted. I would have if I hadn't spent so much time on the web today. Oh well.
I couldn't find cheesecloth any where I looked, then saw some in the laundry aisle at the grocery store. One use and done, but its cheap, so no big deal.
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