Fugly Farm

[N F C]

Got a batch of sloppy joe mix canned this morning and cleaned up the kitchen, emptied the dishwasher and started filling again, then went out to take care of the crew. I tossed out some scratch, like in a wide area so the birds couldn’t just swarm it, then managed to get the ducks to follow me to the other side of the yard for peas. They’re very food motivated, but peas are still the key to our relationship Filled one of the feeders and Attila came to eat. She’s still broody crazy, I’m going to make sure she isn’t on a nest tonight and will lock her in the coop. A few cool nights of that will hopefully break her. We have a TON of eggs so I think I’ll send a basket full with Igor tomorrow.

I've been day dreaming about sloppy joes since you mentioned them this morning.

 

[igorsMistress]

Our daughter found some chicken breast tenders and extra lean ground beef on sale. I vacuum sealed the chicken and cooked it with the sous vide, then dated and put in the freezer. I LOVE doing this for quick meals in summer. The beef was split into 1 pound packages and put in a vacuum seal bag, then into the freezer. In a couple hours I’ll vacuum seal it and put in the big freezer.

 

[cavemanrich]

Don't think you are alone in this venture. When we run into things on SALE,,,,,,,,,,,, usually in larger package amounts,, we separate into individual use amounts, and freeze the portions. Then take out as many as needed.
Use ziplocks, since don't have a vacuum device.
BTW,,, that large quantity of refried beans,,,,, YES, there are a few pucks in the freezer currently. When I run out,,,, time to do it all over again.

 

[igorsMistress]

I agree, I try to buy larger quantities of everything and break it down. This chicken was nearly half price and the lower fat burger was cheaper than what we usually buy; even those small purchases add up over time.

OAN, none of my jars of sloppy joe mix sealed. Which is fine because when I tasted it, it was scorched. Not really bad, but the taste was noticeable. Likely my fault, but I won’t use that recipe again. I dumped them all and washed the jars.

 

[janiedoe]

I agree, I try to buy larger quantities of everything and break it down. This chicken was nearly half price and the lower fat burger was cheaper than what we usually buy; even those small purchases add up over time.

OAN, none of my jars of sloppy joe mix sealed. Which is fine because when I tasted it, it was scorched. Not really bad, but the taste was noticeable. Likely my fault, but I won’t use that recipe again. I dumped them all and washed the jars.

That's sad, IM. All that work!

 

[N F C]

I agree, I try to buy larger quantities of everything and break it down. This chicken was nearly half price and the lower fat burger was cheaper than what we usually buy; even those small purchases add up over time.

OAN, none of my jars of sloppy joe mix sealed. Which is fine because when I tasted it, it was scorched. Not really bad, but the taste was noticeable. Likely my fault, but I won’t use that recipe again. I dumped them all and washed the jars.

Oh no! That's too bad about the sloppy joe mix IM.

 

[igorsMistress]

That's sad, IM. All that work!

Oh no! That's too bad about the sloppy joe mix IM.

Thanks ladies. I am currently doing some reading and watching some videos to learn more. Lesson learned.

 

[N F C]

Thanks ladies. I am currently doing some reading and watching some videos to learn more. Lesson learned.

I have a sloppy joe recipe we like if you want to see it.

 

[igorsMistress]

I have a sloppy joe recipe we like if you want to see it.

Thank you, I have a recipe we like, but I’m not sure it’s safe for canning. Not all of our own recipes can be canned safely.

I ran out of tomato sauce so I used paste and ketchup so it was definitely my fault. Ketchup has a lot of sugar in it so that’s likely why it scalded. Also, I think the recipe assumes your canned tomatoes have a lot of water in them. When I put the stuff in the jar it didn’t follow the half full of solids and half liquids rule of thumb. So I think I’ll stick to just the sauce for now. I can cook the meat and freeze it and then just mix everything in the pot on the stove and heat it through

 

[igorsMistress]

When I watered this morning I found a couple more Armenian cuke sprouts, one of the onions has come up, and I have a couple of corn sprouts too. The broccoli and cauliflower are almost a foot tall, nothing has come up in the beds with the sunchokes. We have a hooked bill thresher that hangs out in the yard and I’m pretty sure it got to the Roselle and luffa seeds. Over the weekend I’ll plant again and put up some row cover material to thwart that little devil. The sparrows have been busy duking it out for the last couple weeks and this morning I saw a couple carrying nesting materials to the neighbors palm tree. I checked the freezer that I emptied yesterday and there was still a bunch of ice in it so cleaned that out and soaked up the water with a couple of old towels. It is back on and will get cold soon I hope. I’m ready to get that project finished so I can move stuff out the small freezer under the fridge. I’m still working on an organization scheme for that, maybe boxes or bins would help. I have some plastic bins that I’m not using, I’ll see how that works out.

ETA the plastic bins I didn’t like but we can get regular cardboard boxes with handles cheap at walmart so daughter is going for half a dozen or so. As long as kid crap is on top we should be ok.