The Front Porch Swing

[LindaB220]

guess I like canning better because we are prone to long power outages here in the winter. If it is canned I won't lose it. I am thinking of canning some meat I have in the freezer, especially some chicken for the same reason. I bought a pressure canner last year and never used it. I think I am afraid of it. Guess I had better learn. I want a pressure cooker too. All my friends pressure cook their roosters and can the meat and the broth. I need to try that.

Beekissed had a freezer full of meat and the power went out. She had to farm out or just give away a LOT of meat. Now she cans all her chicken. I'd like to do this also but first I need to get a freezer. Then you can can whenever you want to the rest of the year. Pressure canners are intimidating. At least for me. I did take the plunge and it wasn't as hard as I was expecting. Just like everything else I've been procrastinating on.

I have a lot of supplies for various projects, waterers etc. Just haven't gotten around to it yet. The power drill intimidates the heck out of me.

 

[LindaB220]

In the canning thread, someone just posted a link to Beer Jelly. I was thinking, now why would anyone need Beer Jelly? Then I read through the recipe and it says have it on rye bread toast with cream cheese and beer jelly on top. So, now I'm thinking, yah, maybe that would be alright for some. Then it says, great as a sauce when roasting pork and yah, I can kinda see that also. Maybe I need to try making Beer Jelly, if only for the novelty of it and to give as a Christmas gift to those who actually like beer, like most of my family.

Recipe or site please. I gotta see this.

 

[wyoDreamer]

Here is the site - http://growitcookitcanit.com/2011/03/17/stout-beer-jelly/

Here is the recipe:

Ingredients:

• 2 12 ounce bottles of stout beer (I used Guinness)
• 1 package powdered Sure-Jell pectin (I’m usually a pectin snob, but you know what? We’re making beer jelly here. So screw it).
• 3 1/2 cups sugar

1. Bring canner to a boil. Wash jars and lids. Put lids in a bowl and cover with boiling water with the canner.
2. In a large, non-reactive pot, bring the beer and powdered pectin to a rolling boil. It will be very frothy, that’s normal. Stir in sugar and bring back to a rolling boil. Cook on high heat for two full minutes.
3. Pour hot jelly into jars. It will still be very frothy. I decided to leave a thick layer of foam on top of the jellies to imitate the way dark beer looks in a glass, but you could certainly skim it off with a spoon if you like. I only wanted a little froth on top, so I ladled the jelly into jars and led the air bubbles rise to the top for a few minutes before I screwed the lids on. Wipe rims clean, screw on lids, and process half pint jars for 5 minutes.
4. Crack open another beer, toast some pumpernickel or rye bread, spread on some cream cheese and your new beer jelly, and eat up!

 

[perchie.girl]

OK folks, time for a little pitty party for myself. I hope I don't offend, and please, do not blast me for this, I just need to unload and you have been chosen as an outlet. You have always been very supportive and kind.

I am the socially inept child in the family, the middle child of 5 daughters. I have always been very super shy and quiet. I have not been very active with my family for years. But that is not because I don't care, but because of my inability to react correctly in social situations. Boy, that sounds bad, the truth is I just never know what to say. Plus, for the last 30 years I have lived no closer than 4 hours away from them. Too many times I have tried to respond to someone and have said the wrong thing and got laughed at or started a fight. So I choose not to say anything at all and lock it all inside. But you can't hold it inside forever, and it will get out and mostly it escapes at the most inopportune time. on the reverse side of this, if you don't say anything, it is assumed that you don't care.

One of my older sisters and I have never been close, but I love her very much. We are very different people and have always seemed to conflict. I was the nerdy, geek of a sister who was an embarrassment to the popular, homecoming queen that she was. from my view of the world, she always let me know it and that feeling has always stuck with me. We never call each other and just talk about life, I never got to know her kids (we lived 4 hours away and hardly ever got together besides Christmas and sometimes Easter). I never sent gifts because I didn't know what to get and if I asked for suggestions I would get a "I don't know, they have everything".

Well, my sister has been battling cancer for the last year. She has responded well to the chemo and radiation, and chose to have a double mastectomy. When her cancer fight started, she had sent out a couple of emails about what was going on, and about her second round of chemo, I had called her to talk and try to give her some support and tell her that I love her. We had talked a little bit about nothing really and then she said "you know you don't have to call me when you get an email" and I said something like "yeah, I am sure that you have a great support network of friends to help you through this" or something stupid, but that is the last time she ever sent me an update about what was going on. I really wanted to let her know that I love her and hope that everything turns out great for her. Anything that I heard was all second hand through my oldest sister.

She mentioned about 3 weeks ago in passing, that she was going to try to have the reconstructive surgery this week if her health insurance would allow it. I think I mumbled something about I hope it all goes well. But I never heard anything else about it. This morning I got a text message - I don't have a clue from who - that said "FWD: In case you haven't gotten word. (your sister) is possibly going back into surgery for the third time this morning. She developed a blood clot and tissue died in one breast after first surgery. Maybe trying a different procedure. Keep her in your prayers ..."
How do I respond to this?!? I am just sitting here at the dining room table with tears in my eyes praying to God to watch over my sister.

I ended up as a FWD: in my family and haven't any idea how to get back in ... I love them all ...

I am the socially awkward one.... No brothers and sisters so I learned to speak OLD people... LOL.

I would send a prayer offer to come up... Writing a very long letter might be good. Not email just a hand written letter... Tell her you love her....

I would do the letter any way even if I did go up. It will help you deal with your mixed feelings and compose your thoughts for when you do make "contact".

Family is soo hard for me I knever know who or what relation they are.... Dosent help to be an only child of an only child... either.

Hugs to you....

deb

 

[Tomtommom]

Here is the site - http://growitcookitcanit.com/2011/03/17/stout-beer-jelly/

Here is the recipe:

Ingredients:

• 2 12 ounce bottles of stout beer (I used Guinness)
• 1 package powdered Sure-Jell pectin (I’m usually a pectin snob, but you know what? We’re making beer jelly here. So screw it).
• 3 1/2 cups sugar

1. Bring canner to a boil. Wash jars and lids. Put lids in a bowl and cover with boiling water with the canner.
2. In a large, non-reactive pot, bring the beer and powdered pectin to a rolling boil. It will be very frothy, that’s normal. Stir in sugar and bring back to a rolling boil. Cook on high heat for two full minutes.
3. Pour hot jelly into jars. It will still be very frothy. I decided to leave a thick layer of foam on top of the jellies to imitate the way dark beer looks in a glass, but you could certainly skim it off with a spoon if you like. I only wanted a little froth on top, so I ladled the jelly into jars and led the air bubbles rise to the top for a few minutes before I screwed the lids on. Wipe rims clean, screw on lids, and process half pint jars for 5 minutes.
4. Crack open another beer, toast some pumpernickel or rye bread, spread on some cream cheese and your new beer jelly, and eat up!

Needs caramelized onions in it.... Mmmmm.

 

[Alice28]

@wyoDreamer I'm so sorry to hear about your situation. I can totally relate to the socially awkward feeling. If there is an event with many people I don't know, I politely decline. My husband took my son to his preschool ice cream social. I take my son most places, but that was just a little to much socializing with strangers for me and my son doesn't get much time with just him and his dad. In cases like yours where I'm bound to say the wrong thing I write a note saying "I'm thinking about you, I'm sorry I never seem to know the right thing to say and I love you". I seem to do better in writing when I can proof read it and re write it 100 times! Lol. You might want to try that. It sounds like you really love your sister. She is probably extra sensitive at the moment (understandably) ad sometimes people are just in a place where nothing you say is going to be right. I'll keep you in my thoughts

 

[Alice28]

I would also add, that I would NOT reccommend getting in the car and driving there unless I was sure this would be a welcome surprise. Major surgery, being in the hospital. I know I had an unplanned c section with my son and we were in the hospital for a week and I did NOT want visitors at all. I was in horrible pain, my son was sick, it wouldn't have gone over well, but maybe ask her or her spouse or children if a visit at this time would be welcome, or maybe in a few weeks if you could come. You could also see about getting gift cards to local restaurants that deliver.

 

[wyoDreamer]

Sorry, computer is crashing and this post was a duplicate.

 

[perchie.girl]

Quote:
Oooohh Onion Jam..... saw it made it it didnt make it to the storage containers....

deb

 

[Tomtommom]

Onions, beer and cheese. That's about all a person needs. And chocolate, but not at the same time.