Food Preservation: Herbs

 

 

There are several methods to preserving herbs.  The most popular methods being freezing in ice cubes and drying or dehydrating.  My preferred method is dehydrating.  Dehydrating herbs is very easy.  It doesn't require any special equipment and one is not dependent on electricity or a freezer that is in good working order.  When using dried or dehydrated herbs, remember to use 1/2 the amount of fresh as the flavors are concentrated when dried.

 After cutting the herbs from the plant wash them in a sink of COLD water by swishing them around.  Allow the water to settle for a few moments which will allow any garden particles to sink to the bottom of the basin.  Remove the herbs, drain the basin and repeat the wash process.  I always wash my herbs twice & my greens (lettuce, spinach, kale, etc.) three times.

 



 After the herbs are washed, I remove the excess water by giving them a good spin in my salad spinner.  (I've been a mother and wife for more than 30 years so, I've had plenty of time to collect all sorts of nifty kitchen gadgets, like my salad spinner.)  If you don't have a salad spinner you can place the herbs in a recycled mesh onion or potato bag and while standing on the back porch give them a good shake.

 

After removing the excess water I remove the leaves from the stems and spread the leaves on a baking sheet.  (Growing up in  the Gulf Coast region, our climate was too humid to air dry herbs, so I learned to dry them in the oven.)  Place the baking sheet in the oven.  If you have a standing pilot on your oven, all you have to do is close the door and wait 36 - 48 hours.  If your oven is fancy with an electric oven igniter, press the bread proofing feature and turn the oven light on.  Turn the proofing feature off after 30 minutes, keeping the light on.  Your herbs will be dehydrated within 36-48 hours.

 

If you need to use your oven prior to the dehydrating process being completed, just temporarily remove them and when finished baking allow the oven to cool before returning the herbs.
Once the herbs are completely dry they will easily crumble between your fingers.  I like to use recycled herb containers or canning jars for storage.  I store my containers of herbs in a cabinet near the prep station in my kitchen.  Any excess dried herbs are stored the in canning jars and placed in our food storage pantry located in the cool, dark basement.

Growing and preserving your own herbs is an easy, no sweat way of reducing your grocery bill.  As mentioned in my post, Stewardship in the Kitchen: Setting a Realistic Grocery Budget , when priced by the pound, herbs are the most expensive grocery item you will purchase.  Since herbs are so easy to grow and preserve, anyone can implement this technique and save money while still eating well.  Bon Appetite!

What Will $1.39 Buy You?

 

 

Well, a chicken fried steak dinner, of course.   (Yes, one can take a southern girl out of the south, but the south can't be taken out of a southern girl).  My last POST showed you how I can save up to 40% on ground beef.  Using that same principal, I can save 56% on beef cutlets ($4.89 lb. up here), also known in the Gulf Coast region as cubed steak,  the cut of beef used to make chicken fried steak.  I, again, purchased sirloin steak at half off from the "reduced for quick sale" bin.  Instead of grinding it into ground beef, I used my meat mallet to pound it into beef cutlets - 3 minutes of work.

Our green beans were FREE -  homegrown and home canned from last summer's garden.  The chive and parsley potatoes cost $1.32 for six servings and the gravy and steak breading cost only $0.09 per person.

What sort of strategies have you implemented to reduce this week's grocery bill?

 

Saving Serious Money: Proteins

 

 I recently posted about saving money on proteins, specifically meat products, by always purchasing them via a deeply discounted sale or from the "reduced for quick sale" bins. ( link )  In my neck of the woods, groceries, especially animal products and fresh produce, are significantly more expensive than down home on the Gulf Coast.  Up here on the Montana prairie, the regular price of ground beef is $3.69 lb.  When it goes on sale, we are expected to pay around $3.29 lb. About once per year we can find it for $2.99 lb. with a 5 lb. limit. 

 When purchasing beef on a tight budget, ground beef seems to be, by far, the first and most economical choice for most families.  However, I have found a way to eat ground beef for only $2.15 lb.  That is a 40% savings off the full priced ground beef and more than 25% savings off the once per year (5 lb. limit) sale price!

How do I do this?  Prior to making any meat selection at the grocer, I always check the "reduced for quick sale" bins.  For example, the above pictured sirloin steak was marked down

50% from $4.29 lb. to $2.15 lb. It took me only five minutes of extra time to grind that same sirloin steak into a full pound of ground beef.  The result was 4 very lean and generous 1/4 lb. sized hamburger patties ready for the grill at a cost of less than $0.54 per patty.  If our buns & pickles are homemade and our lettuce, tomato and onion, are homegrown, our hamburgers cost us significantly less than $1.00 per person. 
I hope this example provides you with one more strategy for getting the most out of your grocery budget.

It's a Dirty Job ...

... and it's her job.

 

She was showered with dirt while changing the air filter on the swather.

 

The ranch and farm boys are lined up at the door and ready for courting.  They'll have to wait until she's finished scrubbing all that mud out of the bathtub.  Click here and scroll down to see a picture of her after a bath.  I think she's stunningly beautiful all the time.

One on One Time With Farmer Boy

The past couple weeks have found our family busier than usual.  In addition to working, Songbird attended the Montana State 4-H Congress at MSU.  She had a terrific time, and now wants to obtain her college education at MSU ... college - I am no where near ready to even begin to think about entertaining all that.   While Songbird was at 4-H Congress, Mr.B was working out of town.  That left Farmer Boy and me on our own as we traveled to Havre, MT for his baseball team's state divisional tournament and then farther west into the mountains to visit Grandpa.  Farmer Boy has a strong tendency to be quite obnoxious.  While many, like Mr.B & his brothers,  may find his behavior humorous or "boys just being boys", I, being the way too serious one in the family, find it unacceptable.  So needless to say, I was not enthusiastic about spending an entire week completely alone with Farmer Boy.  After a stern warning about how much I dislike obnoxious behavior and a brief outline of acceptable behavior, we packed the vehicle and set off for a 1,400 mile road trip.  I am so proud of Farmer Boy.  He controlled himself and I didn't have to discipline him regarding unbecoming behavior ... Now, that I know he has the diligence to control himself, maybe he will begin to mature into my idea of a  respectful, polite young man.

 

While at the tournament, we found ourselves with quite a bit of free time between baseball games.  Being a homeschool mom I seized the opportunity to take Farmer Boy on an educational field trip to an excavated Native American Buffalo Jump.  We were blessed with a great guide who was able to keep Farmer Boy's attention and made the tour interesting for him.

 

 

Farmer Boy gives a big silly smile as he poses in front of various buffalo artifacts.

 Our tour included a brief lesson on how to use an atladle - a Native American tool used to propel spears into wild game when hunting.  Of course, this was Farmer Boys favorite part of the field trip.  What boy doesn't love throwing spears?


Ready, Aim ...

... THROW!  Farmer Boy was a natural.  He hit the buffalo target 4 out of 5 times!

The following day, we also spent a couple hours hiking around Beaver Creek Dam.  Farmer Boy had a fun time skipping rocks and trying to teach me how to skip rocks.  He also collected rock material that he thought might be good for making his own arrow heads. 

If I recall, this is the rock that skipped 8 times!

Our final day in Havre found us enjoying a historical underground tour.  In 1904 a fire destroyed the entire downtown area of Havre, MT.  Several years passed before brick and other building materials were delivered via rail to the remote Montana wilderness for rebuilding.  During the long wait, the businesses moved underground into the basements and were accessible via underground steam tunnels.  In addition to visiting an underground early American barbar shop / dentist office, bakery, bank, butcher shop, Chinese laundry, funeral home, doctor's office and general store, I took my 12 year old son to a saloon, a bordello and an opium den ... What sort of mother am I! 

When the tournament was over ... by the way, his team took second place in the state divisional championship tournament ... we packed up and continued our travels west into the Bitterroot Mountains for a short visit with Grandpa at his off-grid log cabin where he lives full-time.



The meadow near Grandpa's.  The mountain he lives on  is in the background.

 Below is a photo of Grandpa's fully functional wood cook stove.  It is wonderful to cook on it during the late autumn, winter and early spring ... But things really heat up when cooking on it during the summer.  I'd love to add a wood cook stove to my own home someday.

 

Yes, although I live in a fully functioning modern home, I do know how to use a wood cook stove.

Farmer Boy and I had a very pleasant trip.  With Songbird working long hours this summer and Mr.B's demanding work schedule, Farmer Boy and I will have many more opportunities to spend one on one time together.  I think a day hike through the Badlands should be our next outing.

P.S. When we lived in all the hustle and bustle too close to a metropolitan city down home, I always dreamed of moving to the mountains.  I love the scent of mountain pines, the sound of Grandpa's babbling brook and the unique echo of sounds as they travel through the mountains.   I've always thought the mountains were where I dreamed of spending all my days.  However, when I returned to the prairie I stepped out of our vehicle and inhaled the sweet scent of Russian Olive trees and fields of alfalfa and canola blooms;  I heard the gentle rustle of wind dancing through the prairie grasses;  I looked up into an unobstructed view of a field of black velvet dusted with millions upon millions of diamonds; I felt a soft gentle breeze caress the exposed skin on my face and hands.  It has taken me three years and a short visit to Grandpa's to realize that my dream home is not located in the mountains - it is right here with the sweet scents of the prairie, the whisper of the wind and a sky bigger than one's imagination.

Tickling Your Funny Bone ...

When discussing bed sizes Farmer Boy said, "I don't know why it's called a twin bed.  It isn't anywhere near big enough for twins."

Extending the Shelf Life & Saving Money

Purchasing sale and reduced for quick sale items is a fantastic way to save 50% or more at the grocer.  However, when purchasing large amounts of sale items or any reduced for quick sale item one must pay attention to expiration dates and shelf life.  Even if a food item has been purchased at a great discount, if it spoils before consumption that's like throwing money into the trash - literally.

 

I never pay full price for meat products.  I purchase meat products in large quantities when I catch a fabulous sale or, I purchase it from the reduced for quick sale bin.  If I purchase 25 packages of bacon when it's one sale at a 30-40% discount once every six months or purchase sirloin steaks at 1/2 price from the "reduced" bin, I must immediately use the item or extend it's shelf life through preservation.  We certainly can't eat 25 pounds of bacon within a few days and on shopping days, I usually fill up my crock pot before heading into town, thus, we wouldn't immediately eat the "reduced for quick sale" sirloin steaks, pork chops or chicken thighs for supper (and I often find several packages of reduced for quick sale items in any given shopping trip).

 

 Knowing I have food storage system, a young mother recently inquired as to how I preserve all my food for such a long time, especially meat products.  Although I've canned meat, my preferred method of preserving it is freezing.   My food saver, given to me as a gift by my dear sweet sister, Mrs.A, has been the perfect tool for preserving meat products and preventing freezer burn.  I've personally found that it really does extend the shelf life of foods.  The food saver has allowed me to freeze meat for up to 18 months and many fruits and vegetables up to a year without any freezer burn or spoilage.

When using my food saver I like to place my food products, especially food with a high water content like fruits and vegetables, in the freezer for about 1/2 an hour prior to sealing.  This allows some of the food's natural juices to "firm up" resulting in a more complete and better seal.

If not purchased on sale or with a coupon (preferably both), food saver bags appear to be expensive at first glance.  However, because the bags are so thick and durable they can be reused 3-5 times.  To get the most out of my bags, I carefully cut them open as close to the seal as possible.  I wash the used bags in very hot water and, when dry, store them in the used bag section of my kitchen drawer.  When I have a product to seal and freeze, I first leaf through the used food saver bags and find an appropriate size to re-use.  The bag in the above photo has stored (1st use) frozen ears of corn, (2nd use) frozen chicken thighs and now (3rd use) frozen sirloin steaks.  And, I fully expect that same bag to get at least one, if not two more uses.

Hodgepodge of Recent Happenings

The snow and ice finally took a vacation ushering in a mild spring and, so far, a mild summer up here on the northern prairie.  Since the cold weather hung around for so long, we've been trying to "catch up" thus, the past few weeks have been extremely busy.  Since we homeschool and live in a very rural setting, our mornings are usually not as rushed as city folks. But lately we find we must get up and get going, not only early, but also fast. 

I am a firm believer that a hearty breakfast is necessary for a productive day.  A quick bowl of cold cereal leaves Songbird and Farmer Boy grouchy and sluggish after less than two hours  - it isn't hearty enough to get them through a morning of manual labor.

A big bowl of strawberries with whipped cream, a couple sausage patties, toast and a glass of milk has proven to be a fast and hearty breakfast for them.  Egg & cheese sandwiches with a banana and often a bowl of oats garnished with brown sugar and chopped nuts accompanied by a slice of toast have also proven to be a fast fix and filling enough to last all morning.

All the fruit &  nut trees and bushes we ordered several months ago arrived while I was very ill with an upper repertory infection (I was so ill the doctor told me that if I didn't improve after 3 days of antibiotics, she'd have to admit me to the hospital).  As miserable as I was feeling, I somehow dragged myself outside and with Songbird and Farmer Boy's help, we got all 28 saplings planted.  Because of his out of town work schedule, Mr.B wasn't home to assist.

 

Farmer Boy's baseball team had a great season.  They took 1st place in their league and Farmer Boy was selected for the post-season All-Star team.   He is one of two southpaws on his team and on Sunday he hit the ball out of the park.  There are three other farm kids on his team and they are all power hitters.

During the regular season, Farmer Boy played 3rd base and is also playing 3rd for his All-Star team.  Baseball is one of the reasons our days are so busy.  The All-Star team practices 4 days per week, 3 hours each day and they play in tournaments each weekend.  Since we are in a rural area of Montana, we find ourselves traveling 100 plus miles for tournaments.  The State Championship Tournament will be held in a town more than 400 miles away from our home.



Songbird has traded  her beautiful Daughter of the King formal gown in for her daily farm hand attire.  During the school year she was babysitting for two families.  However, one family has decided to temporarily employ extended family home from college during the summer months.  Songbird was disappointed to loose this client, but God has opened another employment opportunity door.  She has been hired as a swathing operator during haying season.  Her employer is super cooperative regarding her commitments to her remaining babysitting client and Bible study schedule.  Songbird's work days are long and by season's end she will have cut more than 2,000 acres of hay. 

 

As busy as baseball and homestead chores keep him, Farmer Boy has also been earning more of his own money.  He has mowed a couple lawns in town and with local advertising, he sold more than 10 dozen eggs this week.  When our older boys were home, they too worked through their Jr. High and High School years.  We believe it instilled a strong work ethic, helped them learn the value of a dollar earned, developed a since of responsibility and added to their self worth.  Once all the big boys left home (before aged 20), they were, and have remained, financially independent.  Mr.B and I are confident that learning to work at a young age has contributed to their financial independence.

 

Prior to planting the garden, Mr.B commented that he didn't think we grew enough potatoes and corn last year.  So, the garden was, once again, expanded.  I overheard Songbird recently telling someone, "She's gardened for the past 13 years and every single year she increases it's size.  It's now so large you could build two large houses on it!"  Well, what did she think was going to happen ... more potatoes and corn need more growing space.  Speaking of gardening, our afternoon rain shower has passed - the garden and orchard are calling out to me.