A gift and a new week part 2.

I had so much trouble posting today. I think because of the length of my E book. Hence the series of posts . 

Part two. The question of time.

There are a couple of aspects to consider. The first is how do you fit the work involved in creating all your gifts into your life which may already be busy? Well, you do not have to do a lot per day. There are three hundred and sixty five days a year.You will be amazed at how much you will produce by working on things all year around. I mostly do handiwork at night after dinner when the tv might be on. I will knit, crochet or embroider then. If I was travelling to work on public transport, provided I was seated I would probably crochet in this time. We can use our snippets of time and the funny thing is this is quite relaxing. In my case I love to watch the tennis in summer and the football in winter. These times see me get through a lot of yarn gifts. 

Soft chenille rugs...

Warm woollen blankets.

These gifts I know have been well loved. And they have taken NONE of my time. I would have watched the football anyway!

Other times I might have a sewing afternoon or a painting afternoon and these times I tend to produce a lot! Later in the year there will be a few days where I'll cook towards my foodie gifts. For instance I will make fruit cakes for Christmas in October each year. This is the ideal time as they mature and taste divine in December. Plus it means that a good portion of gifts are made well ahead. Then in December I might do Shortbread, Chocolate Fudge and Coconut Ice. Packed up all these look gorgeous and as I make big batches I only cook three times for gifts in December and still end up with a lot of gifts.

You may be helped too by enlisting helpers! If you have kids they will probably love crafts and being involved. Children learn so much this way and take great pride when the gift is given and they helped. So enlist your workers if you are lucky enough to have them. My husband has handy man and woodworking skills.  If I ask him he will cut out things for me and I made french shaped chopping boards this way that looked so expensive but cost a few dollars each. I copied the shapes from a beautiful kitchen store near us and used rustic rope to tie through the handles. I found french label images on The Graphics Fairy to make french labels to tie to the handles. I was so happy with them! 

Sometimes I have found something simple like making someone a cake as a birthday gift has been the most successful present. I have had someone cry as they had NEVER had a cake made by them before, even as a child (and I never knew this). A cake might cost only a few dollars to make. I have no cake decorating skills I just use flowers....

If I had spent a hundred dollars I couldn't have had a better reaction or thanks than I did with this cake.

If you are a person who works better with someone see if you have a friend who might also like to make her gifts. Instead of coffee together have craft sessions together. It can also work well to exchange skills with someone. For instance if your friend can knit and you can make soap you could agree that you will make lovely soaps and she will knit cotton wash cloths then swap so you both have soaps and wash cloths. Arrangements like this can increase the variety of what you have. Similar arrangements with Christmas cooking would be great, cook you specialties in big quantities and swap some. Just the extra motivation of working with a friend can be a big help. Make a list of skills that those around you have and ask if you can make a deal or maybe if they can teach you so that you increase your own skills.

Another form of this is to join online groups, money saving blogs, craft blogs etc and share what you are doing and see what others are doing. I find these really inspiring. Participating in sharing ideas is good for me, it keeps me thinking! Sometimes accountability helps. For me I like to write down each month what I have made. I see the list growing. Lists work for me. And then I think about what I will do next. It moves me along!

(now this is here on the blog we could do this by reporting in our progress!) 
Really the key is to do a few projects each month. You will then never have too much to do and come December you will have so much to give. It is that easy. 

Part three. Plan your attack.

Most of us have two groups of people to give to. Some of our family or friends who like the things we like. I tend to have friends who love vintage and pretty things, Shabby Chic, and I can craft away making pretty things I love and they will love them too. With this group I note their favourite colours and the colours they decorate in so what I make will be in the colours they love and fit into their kitchen, for instance, if I am making pot holders or something like that. These are the easy gifts to make! 

Last year I made luxury powder puffs, amongst other things ,after seeing a lovely powderpuff for fifty dolalrs in a department store. And I love powder too. These were a hit amongst my friends.

The next group are those with tastes nothing like mine! My Dad, brothers, sister in law and the teenagers and children. I write up a list in my book and all year long I listen and ask questions. Last year my nephew James moved into his own place. He didn't have much and he said he had two drinking glasses. So on my list I wrote "glassware" next to James. This sounds so obvious but we hear tips all year and forget them and go blank when we need to think of something! So I also know James is perpetually hungry and loves all kinds of home cooking. Note!

Then I hear my sister in law is bottling produce. While thinking good thoughts about that I note she might like labels or pretty tops for jars, both being things I could make.

Just accumulate ideas and write them down.

Then do some detective work and deduce... ie your uncle who is a diabetic.... imagine making some diabetic friendly treats for him. How kind would that be? 

Or an aunt who lives alone, maybe some little parcels of biscuits for some afternoon teas.

Or even some chicken pies in individual sizes for her freezer as easy meals. People are blessed by your thoughfulness. Maybe make a stack of pretty cards for someone who likes to write.

There is always someone who is difficult to give to. Ultimately everyone has a favourite food and that is often the answer for me. 

Just consider peoples likes, needs and interests and you will come up with a list.Then you won't face that frenzied moment of WHAT will I get ......?

If you have children gifts for teachers might be on your list too. I have heard of people spending large amounts on this. Yet the greatest gift you can give a teacher is a handwritten letter of how much they have helped your child and how much you have appreciated them. A small homemade gift will mean more to them than ANOTHER teacher coffee cup or apple eraser! Another option is a gift made by your child. A teacher will really love that.

The last group is gifts for people you don't know and can't hope to find out what they like. It sounds ridiculous! But think, it's the person at a family function you have not met, or someone you hear of that has no family... for these times I keep a few things that are more or less always well received like pretty soaps, some cards or a wash cloth. 

Part 3 coming next...

A gift and a new week. Part 1.

Recently Wendy asked me when am I doing more craft posts!? I had a patch where I was working on Chloe's blanket and that was all I did for a couple of months!  Well, now it is July! This means serious business as it's time to get started on Christmas presents. Don't have a fit as if you want to seriously make all or most of your Christmas presents now is the time to start!

I want to stress you do not have to be crafty to make your presents! Coming up I will share what I am making as I go. Also look in my crafts, crochet etc sections for ideas. But to help I am giving you all my e book for free. It will take a bit longer to read than a regular posts! But it will take you through a process of working out what you are good at, what your resources are and what gifts would be great for your family and friends.

Quite possibly you have both skills and items you can get your hands on for free or very inexpensively that will become wonderful gifts. Can you imagine how much this might save you this year? Would this help your budget? Apart from not spending too much you could think of it as a way to improve your emergency fund. Spend 1/4 what you normally would and save, build up your pantry or something to improve your home. It is absolutely possible. Now is the time to do this. 

I have seen ladies who said they did not think they were crafty or artistic blossom and have so much fun making things! Many times our creativity has dried up due to perfectionism. We think our work is not good enough. I won't say anymore it's here in my E Book. 

I would love to hear what you decide your talents and gifts are. Also what you might already have that you can use or what resources you might have around you. Once you have this worked out you will have time on your side. Starting now you may only need to make a couple of gifts per month. We will work that out. You are going to have plenty of time and be ready to wrap well before Christmas Day! So this is a big start but it is the start of the most economical Christmas ever but the best one ever!

I am very happy to help with gift ideas based on your talent or gift and your resources. These combined with the recipients ages and likes. It is just like maths.  Talent + Resource+ likes = perfect gift! You will stun your recipients and yourself! xxx

How to make your Christmas and Birthday gifts.

(And how to have a joyous Christmas with no financial strain)

Christmas and Birthday gifts can be a huge strain on the budget. For many these times create a budget blowout that has a hangover well into the next year and is a stress that is the downside of what should be a wonderful time.

We all THINK it would be wonderful if we could make our gifts but Christmas comes around and we are lucky if we have made a gift or two. And times are frantic, it just doesn't happen! Worse, we run around spending too much as the last minute approaches. Desperation sees us overspend. And this cycle goes around and around! Having an after Christmas debt is not the way to start a new year. We want to celebrate and be generous but there are ways to do both without getting into debt!

For many people times are getting financially tougher. So if we are ever going to save money on gifts now might be the time! And I am going to help you get started! 

Part One. What are your talents and resources?

The gifts I make for my friends and family will not be the same as the ones you are going to make. Firstly lets think about our skills and things we might have on hand to create our gifts.

Maybe you have been a sewer in the past and have a cupboard full of fabrics. So I know you can sew and that you have materials already. Combining these two things is a place to start. Maybe you have collected yarns over the years. The things you have in your stash can be a good place to start as you can turn them into gifts. 

 Consider your skills. If you are a good photographer use family or friend gatherings to take beautiful photos. Everyone loves photos of their children or pets! You could even offer to take a series of family photos so they have an informal portrait. Instant and very appreciated gift. In this case your skills are your resource and are valuable in creating many gifts in the future.

Or maybe you like to garden and have a heap of plastic pots. These two would get you off to a good start with potted gifts. Last year I potted a series of succulents and also took cuttings from a local Jade plant which grew brilliantly. These gave me a dozen gifts which I used in place of the gift of flowers on several occasions. Lovely pots if you can find them at good prices are helpful otherwise wrap your plastic pot in hessian and tie up with string. This makes them look really stylish and rustic for very little. Or paint terracotta pots in blackboard paint and use chalk to write on the name of the plant.

Possibly you have plants that multiply in your garden. My aunty has Agaves. Big ones are over $100 in the nursery. These are a resource as are any plants that you might have multiplying. Go and see how much they are each in the nursery!

So lets think about making a list of skills, even those that might need a bit of brushing up, and even those no one might know about! Maybe you can paint or draw nicely. Maybe you are a good cook. Whatever it is consider it a skill you have. List them.

Now consider any materials you might have that would get you off the ground supply wise. Write those down as this will come in handy later. 

I really recommend you start a little book where you write down your ideas. List your skills and things you might be able to use up. And we will add things to make and also list the names of people we want to give to and ideas for them as they come to light. Then supplies to look for and all your gift making notes.

The internet especially Pinterest.com is a huge help now. If, for example, you have lots of small pieces of material and no idea what to make with it actually search "gifts to make with fat quarters" or "patchwork gift ideas". And be specific ie if you have a friend who loves her kitchen or to cook search "fabric gifts for cooks" or even "easy fabric gifts for cooks" and start pinning and taking notes on ideas that you really like.

This process helps you use the skills you have and use up things you have on hand. You will be amazed at the ideas this process produces and the choices you have. Using materials you have on hand is going to save you so much money.

Next consider resources you might have that you COULD use. We have an apricot tree, eggs, my Mum has a Bay Leaf tree... I count these as assets and every foodie parcel or cooks gift includes Bay Leaves and my apricots give me lots of jars of jam to also add to food hampers and I give apricot pies as gifts too. Once again google ideas or recipes to use up your resource.  Make the most of this money saving gift. 

Write down a list of possible supplies or resources you have. And start a corresponding list of possibilities. For instance if you have a lemon tree search "lemon preserves" or "what can I make from lemons?" as you will get everything from recipes to cleaning products! This is how you get ideas you just never thought of!

Realising you have a resource is a big thing. Many people won't consider the things they have as potential materials for gift giving. But open your eyes to the possibilities.  I just had access to some old wooden ladders.... ohhh the possibilities! I found some old wooden windows and made frames from them. You might be surprised what your resources are...

Sometimes things will just come your way or perhaps you will see a huge bargain. I got a whole big box of tomatoes for $5 knowing this bargain would be really handy. It made us lots of pasta sauce and I made jars of chutney. A stash of these added again to hamper gifts.

Just think about what materials you have access to. If my husband was a carpenter I would be asking for offcuts to make beautiful French shaped chopping boards with a rope through the handle! If a friend sewed wedding dresses I would be asking her to save me beaded and luxury fabric scraps! There may be materials right under your nose that you haven't even thought of! Identify your materials and search for ideas that will give you beautiful gifts. If my husband was a tiler I think I would be going into mosaics!

Identifying things that you might have access to for free can possibly save you so much money. And it is fun to be this creative. 

The next one is to look for suitable gifts for family and friends using the skills you have and buying some supplies for these projects. This requires some planning. We want our gifts to be beautiful but not break the bank because that is the whole point! So costing things out is important. Sometimes materials can be found much cheaper when we compare around, sometimes we can decide to use a substitute and other times we need to scrap an idea as it is just going to be too costly! We need to be sensible on this one. 

Another idea is to look on free cycle and in op shops and garage sales etc and be open minded about what could be a material you could work with. Having lots of ideas of things you would love to make and keeping an eye out until the opportunity comes along. Last year I had the idea to make everyone kitchen blackboards. Eventually I saw a pile of wonderful frames put out as rubbish on the side of the road! Bingo! My husband Andy cut boards to fill each one and I had six beautiful kitchen blackboards (chalk boards). 

Your skills, whatever they are, are a starting point and we need somewhere to start. But you may think your skills do not equate to suitable gifts. This is where your research comes in. See what other people are doing with those skills, what people are buying in stores and what stores are charging. Online stores like Pottery Barn, Anthroplogie etc are great to look at for modern ideas from older skills like knitting. They charge a fortune for knitted homewares! You can gather so many ideas. I have met people who think their skill is old fashioned and does not equate to give able gifts. If I can show them what people are paying high prices for it is an eye opener! So if you feel this way about your skills have a look around. Even macrame is fashionable again! 

Target your searches. If you want to make gifts for someone who is a keen cook and loves her kitchen then look in Kitchenware stores and Gourmet stores. You will see beautiful bottles of herbed oils, fabulous chopping boards, stunning jars, linens and there will be things that will surprise you. There will be things that amount to ideas that you could make. I will even take a photo so I remember and I will notice the price too. My ideas go into my book. If I need to I will google instructions, go through recipe books or even watch a You Tube tutorial to start making up some of the ideas that I think might work. I am just always on the look out for things that are beautiful and that I think I could make without too much expense. Keeping the ideas coming in is both really fun and exciting but ensures after this Christmas and round of birthdays you have new ideas to get started on.

Make a study of it. Recently I browsed in a stunning home wares store that had a french country theme. It was gorgeous. I could have stayed there all day! But I was studying. Much of their stuff you would find in your Grand Fathers shed, old ladders, vintage jars, then hand knitted wash cloths and hand towels, potted herbs in rustic pots and tins... I came out of there with so many new ideas of things I can make. Also some presentation ideas. They used hessian to wrap and trim things and it looked beautiful. Jot your ideas down, ask for a catalogue or look online... and you have a list of your ideas. 

After a session of inspiration like this it's easy to forget all these great new ideas. So I tend to write them down, draw little pictures, collect photos or instructions etc to refer back to.

A resource you may not have thought about is your heritage. If you have your Grandmothers recipes, photos, cards or notes you have a resource. Compile these into cook books for the family. Include Grandmas own handwriting if possible. Make heirloom treasures that will go into future generations and record this wonderful history. What could be a better gift!? If you have old family photos they are a resource. Washable markers are great. You can write a family recipe onto a tea towel and even use that as a way to wrap up a kitchen gift. Photocopy Grandma's hand written recipe and frame it or make it up and tie the recipe to the container the food is in. What a lovely present.

Skills do not have to be crafty. If you are good with the computer and can upload photos or edit photos you could consider making personal calendars, diaries,cards and all kinds of things or use an online shop to create them for you from images you supply. These can be very inexpensive. A book of photos for Grandma could be the nicest thing you could give her! A calendar or diary full of family photos and verses or quotes of your choosing... imagine the possibilities of a personal and priceless gift. Most of the online stores that do these kind of printed products have amazing specials and if you join they will inform you. The products are so professional and amazing. What a stunning but inexpensive gift. If you feel you have no crafty skills remember back to things you were once taught. As it is amazing how quickly we pick back up skills we once learned. It might be years since you did something but a refresher can produce startling results! 

Part two following....

Feather your Nest Friday, 3rd July, 2015.

Time for a review of the week! I have a lot to be thankful for and had a good week. It is really good to see progress and have happy things to report.

Some of the ways I saved money this week:

At the supermarket I found packets of pizza bases and also wraps for 60c. They all had been almost $6 a packet and I would never usually buy any of them. I got 8 packs and they are all in the freezer. The wraps had 6 per pack, the pizza was two large per pack. This is the base for some fast meals in a pinch.

I also got pumpkin for 69c a kilo and tomatoes for $1.90 a kilo and got heaps of both.

On Wednesday I visited my Aunt. She had flowers and pretty china all ready and waiting which was lovely.

Her garden was full of produce including orange trees heavy with fruit...

We picked oranges and I came home with both oranges and limes. At the moment citrus is in season and Adelaide is wonderful for citrus trees. In winter all this brightness is really lovely.

I was also given flowers! My Aunt has a way of having flowers in bowls and on plates like floral carpets. She had them on an outdoor table, the kitchen bench and scattered around. They look heavenly. When I got home I made my own on a platter...

Also she had saved up jars for me. It was five bags of jars, almost 50 in all shapes and sizes. This is wonderful and my supplies for summer are looking good!

I was reminded of a handy craft. Years ago I made my Aunt an album for photos or recipes. I had purchased a plain album and covered it in lovely images I thought she would like. As she loves chooks and produce I went with that theme. She had it out and I was reminded of it. It was well used and full of recipes.

For the card making girls or anyone wanting a simple craft for gifts this is so easy. If you go with images you know a person will love you can make diaries, journals, cook books, photo albums etc. You could do a pantry book! It is personal, useful and lovely. The album I had used here was only a few dollars and I did a series of these with different themes for different people. It was really fun and gave me many gifts. Really, it is like card making on a bigger scale. I think I will do some as cook books for my pantry themed gifts. For plain books, journals etc look in cheap shops. Cardboard covers are good, plastic covers are not so good. If you make a journal a matching strip of velvet ribbon makes a lovely bookmark. Beautiful journals are expensive to buy but really cheap to make and personalize. And now is the time to get started on Christmas presents!


Some of the ways I built up our home:

I added quite a bit to my pantry and cellar and I learned things!
We added to our emergency fund.
Easy meals were added to the freezer.
I also realize I am much more watchful and that is good for the home and family.

I hope you also had a good week! It flew by so fast. Thankfully I still have the day to do things. I am soaking labels off some of the jars and washing others. Some were already clean and ready for me as my Aunt put them through her dishwasher. Then I will get them stacked in my jar cupboard ready and waiting for summer. I have soup to put on and cleaning up to do!

How did you build up your nest this week? There are so many things we do everyday that keep things going, add to our comfort and security.

Have a wonderful weekend! xxx

A bonus Pantry and Preparedness post with Teri.

A few weeks ago I shared beautiful photos of Teri's pantry and some of her thoughts on preparedness. Her pantry is AMAZING. It is a testimony to hard work and persistence!  Teri has been kind enough to share some tips and I thought these would be a great extra post for the Pantries and Preparedness series.

Please excuse the patchwork of texts and sizes and number issues! I am putting together things Teri has send me and bits and pieces and I am terrible at it! But hopefully Teri's information will not be wrecked by the bad job I have done! 

Firstly an introduction from Teri...

"I have been married for over 40 years and we have always had a pantry full of home canned food.  We freeze, can or dehydrate extras each summer to add to our pantry.  I watched my mom work hard to preserve the summer harvest either canning, freezing or drying extra food.  And I now use a pressure canner to give us more variety. 

We started to add to our pantry by canning jams, fruits and pickled veggies.  We also shopped case lot sales and watched for specials each week so we could have a variety.  From there, I started researching ways to store powdered milk, dry beans and wheat.  As our family grew, I wanted to learn ways to make my own mixes and other "convenience" foods at home.  We rotated and used our food from "our store" on a daily basis, and still do.  Cooking from scratch was normal, much healthier and saved lots of money.  I learned how to substitute ingredients or leave something out altogether.  As a stay-at-home mom, I knew this was important economically, plus I enjoyed it!!

Living in different areas, we felt prompted to prepare our family for weather issues and just simply not having to always run to a shop for one item.  Because of power outages, snow/ice storms and flooding, we are grateful to have a well stocked pantry. Plus, for several years our pantry has been the only way I've put meals on our table and just replacing essentials. I'm always learning and I hope, in some small way, I can help others by showing the ways I use and rotate my food storage.  I've learned so much from Annabel and her readers!!  It's just wonderful having a supportive group of like minded friends to motivate and encourage each other!" 

Teri, early on, also told me this which at the risk of repeating some information I want to include as it contains so great truths...

"I've been a stay at home mom 35 years and can assure you that I was always the "odd one out".  No one understood how much I was saving staying at home, raising our children, cooking from scratch, doing our own yard and housework and growing a garden.  We even had neighbor kids ask us what we were growing.  They had never seen potatoes, peas beans, etc. growing just saw them in a food store.  Now that our children are grown and its just the two of us, we still cook "big", planning leftovers and extras for easy "no cook" meals.  When I bake goodies, I often share with family and co-workers but everything tastes so much better, just like you have said.  :)"

"The kind of food storage and preparedness you and I are doing is to help our families and friends.  I also believe in God's word and following it the best I can. The scriptures tell us to be prepared and that's why we are prompted to work on our pantries.  I don't like to waste and feel sad if I do, that's why I'm always trying new things.  Also, if we have a big snow, ice, wind storm (which I've lived through many) then I don't want to be sliding on the roads with all the other crazy people or going to a shop that's had the shelves cleared.  It just makes more sense to me to stay home and have what we need.  It may not always be what everyone "wants" but that's ok because we will have full tummies!  :)  So this is why we are working so hard to fill our pantries!  Hope that all makes sense.  :)"

Teri's first tips to help us on our pantry missions...

"Firstly these are some tips to make the most of your freezer (an important part of the pantry in normal times)...

1. As you prepare food for your freezer, be sure to use a sharpie to label and date each item.  (I also label each can, box, bag, etc. we buy to make rotating our food storage much easier).  Making a list to help you remember what you put in your freezer helps but keep updating it!
2. Plastic freezer containers (which come in several sizes) are a good way to store food.  You can also recycle plastic food containers or use zip top freezer bags.  I’ve used all three and I like the square containers the best (they stack easier).  If you use freezer bags, lay those flat until they are frozen, then stack them in an up-right position to better use freezer space.  (If you lay them flat, they tend to slide around, so sometimes you have to layer them “jigsaw puzzle” styleJ)! 
3. And if you have a vacuum seal machine, food stays fresher longer in your freezer plus you can also use this method for dried goods too.
4. Tomatoes can be frozen.  I peel and core them, then put them in a freezer container raw and use them in sauces, soups, etc.  Sometimes, I cook them first to use the same way or cook, season and then stir into cooked pasta!  YUM!
5. Bananas can be mashed and frozen to make bread, cookies or cake.  (They turn dark even if you add a tablespoon of lemon juice but this does not hurt them.)  I’ve done this with extra bananas for several years now and they are a handy item to have in the freezer!
6. Winter squash can be cooked, mashed and frozen to use in baked goods.(try Streusel Squash Dessert in this newsletter)!  I also use my squash as a quick veggie for dinner.  Summer squash (zucchini, yellow, etc.) can be grated and frozen also.  Use in breads, cakes or soups (Faith makes a cream style soup with her cubed, frozen zucchini).  Also, frozen winter squash works fine in baked breads, pies and cookies in place of pumpkin.  ( I still like to cook pumpkin and freeze it too)! 
7. Pre-measure grated squash, buttermilk, grated cheese, mashed bananas, etc. and put the amount on your label.  That way, they will be ready for specific recipes.  And when I freeze eggs (whites and whole), I put the amount on the label so I can easily unthaw the right amount. Be sure to unthaw all your food in the refrigerator.  Planning helps you get items out of the freezer a day or two ahead but the microwave defrost button works very well!  
8. Saving some space in your freezer for bread, hamburger & hotdog buns, muffins and baked quick breads will save you trips to the grocery store and have goodies ready to eat.  Be sure you use your frozen bread & buns within a couple months.  Otherwise, they make good croutons or homemade bread crumbs! Frozen quick breads last longer.  (It’s nice to get a package of English muffins out of the freezer and make individual “pizzas” for a quick weekend lunch).
9. A freezer is a great way to put extra garden veggies away for winter meals.  We have blanched cauliflower, broccoli, green beans, cabbage, corn, carrots and cooked beets (almost done) and plan to enjoy them all winter long.  Plus, we bottle and dehydrate all these vegetables.  Frozen green peppers, sautéed onions and celery are also nice to have in your freezer.  (Remember, most frozen vegetables don’t require much cooking, work great in soups, stews and sauces and are convenient).   Keep in mind, when you grocery shop and look in the frozen isle, that the food you “put by” will be tastier, fresher and won’t be filled with preservatives!

Remember to use your freezer to stock up on extra meals so when you have a hectic day, you can still enjoy a home cooked meal.  (Double recipes so you have one for dinner and one for the freezer).  A slow cooker also helps get a meal on the table fast, when you have had a busy day!  These ideas can also help you plan your party meals, giving you more time to enjoy your guests!"

Recently we started talking about eggs, how long to keep them etc., so these next few tips are about – yes, eggs!!! 

"1.   If you want to know if an egg is fresh, fill a bowl with cold water, gently put the egg(s) in ---- if the egg turns horizontal, it is very fresh; if it “bobs” on its tip, it’s older BUT still good; and if the egg floats to the top, toss it!  (This experiment only works with RAW eggs)!

2.   Most of the time eggs can be used past the expiration on the carton, if they have always been properly stored.

3.   Eggs should always be kept in the cartons instead of being put in an “egg holder” on the refrigerator door.  This will keep them fresher longer and unexposed to air plus any item stored on the refrigerator door gets more warm air than on a shelf.  (This is why new refrigerators don’t have an “egg holder” on the door). 

4.   As mentioned above, eggs can be frozen.  But there is a certain way to do this.  Whole eggs need to be “scrambled” a bit and have a small amount of salt added to them before freezing.  When I use an egg yolk in a recipe and don’t need the white, I freeze the white(s) in a small container, label the amount and freeze until I want to make meringues.  Always date your container and include the number of eggs on your container and thaw them in the refrigerator.

5.  Use frozen whole eggs for scrambled eggs, omelets, making pancake batter or baking a cake.  (Whole yolks are not recommended for the freezer,  as they turn rubbery)."

Something I have noticed about Teri's writing, also Glenda's and others is that in the US many of the ladies see pantries, preparedness and the learning and teaching in regard to this as a form of Ministry. I certainly have always thought that how we run our homes is a ministry and that the older women teaching the younger women is too. So it makes sense! It is a building up your home exercise. We need skills to do that. The more we learn the more capable we are. Then Teri wrote this to me....

     " I found a little note (in my scriptures) that I wrote years ago.  We were asked in a Sunday school class to write what we thought our gift(s) from God was.  And I wrote "helping and teaching people about food storage"!  I feel like you are helping me spread the word about preparedness/food storage and in such a loving way with your wonderful posts!  :)  So, thank you.  I have missed teaching classes on food storage and helping others set goals."  

Teri I really think you are correct, this is your gift and it is a great help to people!  And now you are doing that again.

Apart from teaching this is also inspiring and encouraging.  None of this is done in a day, it is all from things that are added to over time. In my small way I have shown that starting is the biggest step, it is amazing how your pantry will grow when you keep at it, take every chance to add something and add to your skills. 

I know many of you already follow A Prudent Homemaker. I don't think I ever knew someone so level headed and sensible (and prudent) as Brandy. Please go and read her current post "July's shopping plans" and then read the comments on the first page. Read every word and read carefully. Brandy is the latest in a series of people I really respect to come out and say such things. 

Teri this would make your teaching gift more important than ever! Thank you so much for this post and all your encouragement! 

xxx