The basis of most food storage is wheat/flour for bread but what is bread without butter. Red feather makes a canned butter that has good reviews but at 7$ a 7 oz. can I need a cheaper supply.
I need to get a dozen 8 oz. or 12 oz. jelly jars so I can try this. I love hot homemade bread slathered with butter (I am hefty size) and jelly. I have pound blocks of margarine in the freezer but think a few jars of canned butter would store well in the pantry. I think I would shake as it cooled to mix the solids back in to the mix. If it is separated it mite as well be Gee.
Yea I am on a canning kick I could have a worst hobby . This weekend I soured the lard I planed on canning . Hot dripping in cold water was A BAD IDEA . Oh well live and learn.
This weekend I was told a friend's little dinner was closed. Me and the wife used to eat there a couple lunches a week . Old Max was a fair cook that did a decent meat and 3 plus clubs and burgers. Well Max is in his mid 70s and decided to retire . I saw him about 6 weeks ago and he asked me if I would buy it, he gave me a very good price . 12,000$ and he would take it at 1000 a month for a year from me. I know it would pay for its self but he is open from 5am till 2 6 days a week. After expense's it would have been 500 to 750 a week but it would have been 60 hours a week! I told him I appreciated the offer but it wasn't what I planned on for a retirement.
Now I know I could have changed the menu dropping some and adding others items as Max has done his thing for 15 years unchanged. My biggest problem was the hours, limited seating (40 maybe) and a Bullsitting crowd. The bane of small dinners a group of 6 or so that sit 1 to a booth or 6 out of 10 for lunch and a hour of B.S. after. I have seen to many potential customers leave because of no seating . While I want a full time food sales setup I don't want to start into it with a "gathering hole" .
Max found a Buyer for the dinner he thought. He worked with him the last week of March to turn the keys over so he could start April 1st. The new owner was a no show and it has been closed for a week. Max gave him the same deal he offered me . I don't know what will happen. 2 friends have asked me to take it this weekend. Me and the wife talked it over and agree it is not for US. I hate it for Old Max but he has let his regulars ruin his business . I will go full time but it will be a to go with patio tables only. The wife likes what I do now but I want a bit more.
Today I had a regular customer call and place an order for 8 smoked pork butts next Wednesday . She is the head of a pet adoption agency and has served my BBQ at many of their fund raiser dinners and functions. She is a trained chef and caters dinners and fund raisers for other charities. This order is for a catering dinner up in Kentucky. She said they had it Saturday at her fund raiser and asked her to do their event next Friday . It is nice to know my BBQ is beginning to be requested in a circle that has the means to purchase from any that claim to be "World Famous". I don't make any claims except its consistent ,good and reasonable priced.
Ok because of this catering order I will have a lot of extra trim meat . I take 8 to 10 lb. butts and trim to 7 lb. give or take 1/4 lb. I could save the trim till the next weekend cook and serve it in sandwich's but I plan on canning it like I did the hamburger. I may put some up smoked and not smoked. Chicken will be put up to mainly because leg and thighs are 39 cents this week.
Today I tried something I have wanted to do for a long time I canned 8 jars of hamburger meat. A lot of people including myself may be scared to attempted home canned meat but I did it.
Ok the local store is running a loss leader on Hamburger for 1.88 a pound so I got 20 lbs. for the freezer. Now in this house no one thinks about "what's for dinner" till dinner time. At 5 it is a rush to thaw a pack of hamburger and then fix dinner plus as most prepper's have found meat protein is a costly commodity to buy and store in quantity. If it is frozen you have to thaw it cook it and you run the risk of it all spoiling if the power goes out and you can't run your freezer. Sure you can buy ham, chicken, corned beef or any number of things that have meat for dinner or food storage but it isn't the same.
I decided I needed to at least try canning hamburger. I took 8 lbs. of meat and a whole onion and browned it in 2 skillets it took 20 minute's while that cooked I got the pressure canner and jars set out . I simply filled the jars like the Ball Blue Book said placed them in the pressure canner set the jiggler to 10 lb. and waited for it to start then 90 minute's later turned it off. Took them out and in 10 minutes it was ping ping ping they sealed .
I did 8 but forgot the canner holds 10 so I used 2 empty jars to fill it . These cost 2.50 per pound jar ready to eat right out of the jar. The time was less than 45 minute's of work for 8 meals .
The real test will be when we open the first one for a meal . If it is good I think frozen hamburger will be a thing of the past . Next will be cubed chicken breast , roast , pork, and Bacon. I run the numbers for storage and it is almost even with store bought but it can be tailored to our taste . If you have been afraid to try just take the leap I did.
I have been on pins and needles about getting the deed on the property I wanted for a BOL . The state sent me a letter in February that they would issue on April 1st. For some reason I was afraid something would come up and I would get a "we no longer have any interest in this property to convey " letter. Well I got the Deed by certified mail today :) . As nice as it is to have it will be a back burner project.
Today we hung sheet rock in the bedroom of the trailer and tomorrow I will start on the living room sheet rock. I hate sheet rock but hanging it is not to bad . I am still thinking about hiring the mudding and finishing work. Before I make up my mind I think I will attempt one side wall to see how I do . If you don't try you will never know if you can. It has been a slow time all I got done last week was buying the sheet rock and finish hanging the insulation. My son did paint the exterior while I was on vacation with its base coat. My daughter picked a darker gray for it but when it was painted and dried it looks BLUE . I hate it but she likes it so what the hell its going to be her home not mine. Once the sheet rock is hung I plan on hitting his place hard everyday for 2 weeks so he can move in and do the little stuff himself . After sheet rock my daughters place is all small finish work I can do alone and hopefully my son can do the same. We have been getting on each others nerves and we both know a blow up will happen if we don't put some space between us soon.
Most trailer over 15 years old are going to have some issues. At 15 years age most will only have 10 years use left in them unless you spend a little keeping them in good condition. While a vintage is nice ongoing repairs can make them a costly option to own. I wanted one but opted for a good used one instead that had more room and modern amenities' .
You must read this…… A proper decision by the courts… for a change.
In Florida , an atheist created a case against Easter and Passover Holy days. He hired an attorney to bring a discrimination case against Christians and Jews and observances of their holy days. The argument was that it was unfair that atheists had no such recognized days. The case was brought before a judge. After listening to the passionate presentation by the lawyer, the judge banged his gavel declaring, “Case dismissed!”
The lawyer immediately stood and objecting to the ruling saying, “Your honor, How can you possibly dismiss this case? The Christians have Christmas, Easter and others. The Jews have Passover, Yom Kippur and Hanukkah, yet my client and all other atheists have no such holidays…” The judge leaned forward in his chair saying, “But you do. Your client, counselor, is woefully ignorant.” The lawyer said,” Your Honor, we are unaware of any special observance or holiday for atheists.” The judge said, “The calendar says April 1st is April Fool’s Day. Psalm 14:1 states, ‘The fool says in his heart, there is no God.’ Thus, it is the opinion of this court, that, if your client says there is no God, then he is a fool. Therefore, April 1st is his day.
