[little jeremiah]

I find soaking beans overnight and then good long cooking helps tremendously. Chewy beans are not good for innards! I use a pressure cooker for beans.

I am sure hard times are coming, much worse than many people imagine. And then due to lack of work, many individuals and families are having very hard times right now. If I didn’t know how to live cheap I’d be in great anxiety.

Fortunately I’ve always been poor and know how to deal with it! ;-)

[bgill]

Fortunately I’ve always been poor and know how to deal with it! ;-)

Exactly! Frugality can be an art. Use it, re-use it, re-invent it, and use it up.

[bgill]

No thread about food prepping should be without mention of solar cooking. You don't need a factory made solar oven as you can make a large one from just a cardboard box and foil (it's true, tin foil has other uses than hats!). Make it a learning project with your kids.

For those of you who home can, tomatoes and acid fruit can be done with a more substantial homemade oven. This guy has been doing it for years. http://www.cookwiththesun.com/canning.htm

Many simple to more substantial oven building plans can be found at: http://solarcooking.org/