Are
you new to whole and
traditional foods or to
"Nourishing
Traditions"? Have
you just gone
gluten/dairy-free and
don’t know what to
eat?
The
menu mailer covers 6
dinners (including side
dishes) and one dessert
every week. It
contains a full menu,
shopping list, a
preparation plan, and
serving suggestions for
each meal. Tips and
information are included
in every mailer as well.
What
makes the Cooking
Traditional Foods menu
mailer unique? A
preparation schedule is
included with every menu
mailer. It reminds
you when to thaw the
meat, prep the crock-pot,
make the stock or soak
the grains. Because
lack of planning is a
major hurdle in getting
healthy meals on the
table, this schedule
helps you make sure
everything is done.
It also contains
blanks so you can write
in your own reminders for
breakfast, snacks and
lunches.
Biblical
Womanhood began in
2005 as a ministry to
encourage and equip women
and young women. Through
our bookstore, articles,
newsletter, and blog, we
desire to promote
femininity and build up
women as they embrace
their Biblical callings.
In this humanistic,
feministic culture, we
want to be a breath of
fresh air to women
seeking after something
greater than what the
world has to offer - to
glorify the Lord in all
they do, say, and think!
Since 1987
Mountain Rose Herbs has
consistently delivered
exceptional quality
certified organic
products with a strict
emphasis on sustainable
agriculture. From our
bulk organic herbs and
spices, to our essential
oils and herbal teas, the
quality and integrity of
what we offer is
unparalleled with smiles
guaranteed.
Canning season is fast approaching, so I thought I'd share some of the ways in which I save money on canning jars.
1. Garage Sales - I live in a rural area, so I often run into jars at garage sales. These can usualy be had very cheaply. Just last weekend I bought over 4 boxes of jars for $20. These boxes contained well over 60 jars (mostly jelly jars which is what we really needed), rings & lids (brand new still in boxes). Plus the boxes also contained 4 antique canning jars with zinc lids, which I collect, so I was really excited to see!
2. Family & Friends - Check with family and friends who use to can to see if they still have jars they're no longer using. I got quite a few this way from my Mom (plus a lot of other canning stuff), when I first started canning. I'd also post a notice at church or ask around church to see if anyone had any to offer. Most of the time you can get these jars for free or very little cost.
3. Freecycle - Post a notice on your local Freecycle group. I got a lot of jars this way for free...all I had to do was go pick them up. Because of gas prices, I took in consideration how many jars a person was offering and how far I had to drive to get them. If they were pretty close, I'd go get whatever they had to offer, but if they were farther away, I'd just go get larger quanities.
4. Recycle Jars - I often reuse mayonnaise jars and other commercial jars that my rings & lids fit on. I only use them in water bath canning, as I'm afraid they will shatter in the pressure canner. My Mom has done this for years and it works really well. This is how I get a lot of my jelly sized jars and also my hot sauce jars.
5. Thrift Stores & Flea Markets - I occasionally can find canning jars at our local thrift stores & flea market. They cost a little more generally than all the above ways, but are still cheaper than buying new.
6. Clearance - Watch out for canning jars on clearance at Wal-Mart toward the end of the canning season. Last year, I picked up quite a few boxes, rings & lids for pretty cheap. I found all the canning stuff on clearance there around the end of the Summer and September & October. I grabbed what I thought I could use and what I could afford. I got jars, pectin, rings, lids, a big water bath canner, jelly bags, and a couple of other things then while on clearance.
Some Safety Concerns:
Any time you re-use jars or rings, you should do the following...
1. Check the jar opening for chips. Do not use any canning jars that have chips on the openings, as they may not for a good seal and the food can spoil. Save these jars for storage or for gifty items like mixes and such.
2. Check the jars for hairline crack and such. If they have any cracks, don't use them for canning as they may explose while canning or again, let the food spoil.
3. Check your rings for rust. If they have a lot of rust, don't reuse them. A little rust is fine, but if they're heavily rusted, toss them.
4. NEVER reuse lids! They may not reseal properly causing food to spoil. Lids are cheap...use a new one every time.
5. Whenever you open a jar, smell the food and check for any strange textures or colors. If you have any questions about food in a jar, it's safer for you family to toss the contents than get food poisoning from it.
Here are some tips to help you make the most of garage sales.
1. Pray that the Lord provides you with the things that you need at a price you can afford, before you leave.
2. Make a list of things that you need and your family's sizes. Review it before you go out garage sale-ing to remind yourself of the things you need. Also, if you're looking for a particular piece of furniture or curtains or something like that, be sure to write down the measurements you need. There's nothing as frustrating as finding something at a good price and then to bring it home and find it doesn't fit. That's just wasting your money and adding more clutter.
3. Carry with you a tape measure. I carry one of those retractable cloth measuring tapes that's used for sewing or quilting. This makes it really simple to measure items quickly. I've even been know to measure the waist line of a pair of pants with out a tag to see if it will fit one of my guys.
4. Don't buy stuff on impulse. Buy only what you can use.
5. The one exception only what you can use. If you find something REALLY cheap that you know you can sell on Ebay, Etsy, Amazon, etc. Grab it up, but be sure to get it listed quickly so it's out of your house. I once found a complete copy of Volume 1 of the Weaver Curriculum for $1, so I snapped it up and sold it on Ebay for considerable more. I've also done really well selling name brand children's clothing on Ebay (Hillfiger, Carters, Osh-kosh, The Children's place, Gap & Old Navy). I purchase clean, gently used clothing for $.25 or less and sell online for $2-$5 a piece or up to $50 for a box with 10-15 pieces. This is a pretty good money maker and it's easy, because we have an outlet mall near here and so even new, some of these brands are available cheap anyway. BTW, when I mention Etsy here, I'm strictly talking about handmade items and pattern books that are it great condition. I occasionally find things such as afghans and hand made children's clothing that have either never been used or gently used and if I do sell them on Etsy, I am sure to mark that they are gently used.
6. If you can, go without the kids, but if you need to take them, give them each $1 to spend and once that's gone, they can't buy anything else. Also make sure to take some things to keep them busy in the car and a few snacks/drinks. This will save you money from having to stop to buy them at convience stores and save you a lot of headaches.
7. Take a cell phone and have it on you as you shop. There has been many times I've run across something I know someone else needs and I'll call them then and there and ask if they'd like me to grab it for them.
8. Don't be afraid to buy clothing that 's too big yet for your kids. This is especially true for toddler, preschool and elementary age kids. They grow out of things fast, so if you find something in great shape that's a size or two too big, go ahead and snap it up if you have room to store it. I just keep a couple of plastic tubs that I store clothes that won't fit the kids and when they start needing new sizes, it's the first place I look before I even attempt to purchase clothing.
9. If you have a hobby such as sewing, quilting, crochet, knitting, etc. Keep you eyes open for supplies. I often find fabric, thread, zippers, binding tape, buttons, yarn, needles, etc. This can really save you money! Stock up if you know you'll use it!
10. There are some things that I will always purchase if they are cheap enough. Any books or supplies that I can use homeschooling. If I can't use them, I can sell them or give them away. Also infant clothing, which I can sell or give to the women's shelter or to the hospital (they give them out to families with newborns that are in need). If you find something cheap enough that you can donate to help others, it's always a good purchase. I've even bought unopened canned goods, soap, etc. to take to the food bank if I can get it cheap.
Ebooks
by Susan
NEW!!
Nourishing Ways: Recipes
and Healthy Eating in the
Spirit of
"Nourishing
Traditions" 88 Pages |
Format: Ebook
Price: $7.49
NEW!!
My Homekeeping Handbook:
Forms and Handy Hints for
Making a Homekeeping
Handbook
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Included!! 59 Pages |
Format: Ebook
Price $7.49
