Tag: bone broth

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Simple Joys – Let’s Catch Up

Simple Joys

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Since we got home we have enjoyed the simple joys of hot clean water, sleeping in our own beds, cooking, preparing flower beds for spring, and mostly visiting with our families. Biological and Christian.

Malawi

Having spent two months in Malawi (September 12 – November 8) it is good to sleep in our own beds. As we left the airport, we headed to West Virginia to visit my mother-in-law and two sisters in laws. Happily reunited and finding them in good health. We enjoyed a short visit with them. Then we made it home on the second night, where we slept 10 hours! We continued this trend for several days.

Three of our sons came and helped us with some unfinished projects. They helped us finish the gutter and prepare for winter in our little house.  I was able to get a couple of flower boxes ready to plant for spring.  My new focus is on studying cut flowers. Herbs have been a favorite of mine for many years.

Christmas Jam and Saurkraut

One of my hobbies is learning new things. Keeping the old crafts alive. My husband made a batch of saurkraut. I’ve still yet to make my first batch. Christmas Jam has been on my list since last year, and I am glad I was able to finally make some. Here is the recipe I used. https://www.theseasonedmom.com/christmas-jam/ 

Simple Joys
Christmas Jam
Simple Joys
Saurkraut

On Thanksgiving, we gathered at my mom’s house. This has been our tradition for many years. My sister and I spent Wednesday with Mom and helped get prepared.

We are not all able to be together every year, because we live in 5 different states, but there’s always a crowd, good food, and usually a game or two.  This year, 24 of our family gathered. Their younger cousins enjoyed running around and playing, and sneaking marshmallows.

My mother is an amazing quilter and has been making each grandchild a quilt. This year, James received his quilt. The Underground Railroad. She took his love for history and made his quilt historical. It is beautiful and he was thrilled.

Simple Joys
Underground Railroad

Turkey Bone Broth

I brought home the turkey bones. I know I am selfish 🙂 I made 3 quarts of bone broth. Yummy. To make the broth, I throw the bones in my crock pot or Instant Pot. Cover them with water with a couple of tablespoons of vinegar, some celery leaves, a bit of onion, and a carrot, etc., and cook them on low for 24 hours. The Instant Pot, I usually cook them for 3-4 hours until the bones are soft.

Simple Joys
Bone broth

We kicked off Christmas and celebrated one of our grandsons’ 4 birthday. Graham Cracker houses have been part of our Christmas for a long time. It’s fun to see the second generation enjoying this tradition.

Today we have beautiful snow. We are staying home.

Simple Joys
The tree in front of our house

Now we are back to work on our record keeping and reporting as we finish up this year. How did December get here so fast?

Thanks for reading along. Hug your family and don’t forget to enjoy the little things, the simple joys of living.

 

 

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Fermenting Foods

About 3 years ago my husband was diagnosed with an auto-immune disease. This began a close examination of the foods we eat. My non-cooking husband started making homemade mayo, ketchup, pickles, saur-kraut, bone broth and now he has begun fermenting foods. He has made several batches of saur-kraut, fermented tomatoes, peppers, saur-kraut, and cucumbers. I grew up with pickle and saur-kraut making but fermenting is a new thing for me.

So what is the difference between pickling and fermenting. My understanding is that pickling is preserving by acidity. Fermenting is a specific process of preserving but uses lactic acid (Lacto-fermentation). In her booklet, Cultured Beverages, Ann Green of Bread Stock and Barrel, says, “Fermentation began with creation – bacteria and/or yeast and vegetables, fruits, dairy or animals were all that was necessary. Man has had the joy and thrill of discovering and cultivating various combinations of these elements to produce such things as wine, cheese, chocolate, bread, pickles, and even …kombucha.”

What happens in the process of fermentation? Again quoting from Ann Green. “In every case, lactobacillus bacteria and sometimes various strains of yeast eat the sugar and starches found in the medium and replace the sugar and starch with lactic acid. In the process, many vitamins and minerals are increased, the food, juice or milk is made more digestible and sugar and starch are either eliminated or reduced. Antioxidant and anticancer substances may also be produced or enhanced. The bacteria are also very happy to eat the sugar and starch and reproduce to create what we call a “probiotic” beverage or food.”

There are a lot of resources available online for free about fermenting foods. Check it out! Let me know if you ferment foods and what you have found helpful.

***You can find out more about Ann Green at www.breadstockandbarrel.com or on Facebook  – Bread, Stock, and Barrel

 

Fermented saur-kraut
Bone broth