More Gotta Do

So, I have nothen' for ya.  I couldn't stand the thought of those raw chicken pictures front and center on the blog one more day.  That's why I hit the infamous "Gotta Do" file.  First up is a free pattern for Rita's Rump Pocket.  It takes a very determined mother to MAKE her diapers!  They are so cute though, right? 

While we are on the subject of determined ladies, Sabra from Sew A Straight Line makes her own paper towel!!!  I was intrigued by the idea and found her tutorial here.  Wow!  I hate to admit it, but I would like to make some :0)

That is the end of my "GREEN" portion of today's program *snicker*

 

These darling appliqued shirts are from Maddie Moo's Mom.  I found the post HERE as a sponsor ad, but her site is actually HERE.  Check them both out for some truly talented applique inspiration.

This little rolled-up letter of love comes from Paper 'N Stitches.  I want to make them for my family and hide them in their sock drawers and lunch boxes.  Who needs to wait for valentines day, right?  I just need to wait until I have a second to myself.  Valentines Day might come first :0)

How-CUTE-is-THIS!!!!  I love these frames, but have never seen one as cute as this one!  And guess what?  I just found out that Lowes has the metal already cut in a pack of 10 for something like $2.50!!!!  Do I hear a Christmas project knocking on the door?  You can find this project at Nap Time Journal.

Last thing before I run out the door for a day of painful Super Saturday Shopping-Make your own coloring book tutorial using Photo Shop.  How fun would that be?  I now have my first child that likes to color coloring pages!  I was just thinking, "How do I do that again" at the thought of a coloring book of family pictures.  I had a Kodak camera that came with it's own program.  That program had a coloring book option, but is on our other computer that has no printer. 

Never mind my woes, check THIS out if you want to make one for yourself!

Canning Chicken-Raw Pack!!!

I am sure you were just sitting there at home wondering how to keep chicken on your pantry shelf for years at a time and still be able to eat it at a second's notice, right?  It is your lucky day!  I have been so busy getting ready for Super Saturday, and will be for the next two weeks, I thought I would get my mind off things with a little canning lesson.

I realize it takes a special person to even think about, let alone actually can their own meat.  I was one of those people not too long ago.  I will tell you that I stared blankly into my friend Jodi's face when she went on and on about how yummy the meat is and how easy it is to do.  Love ya, Jodi!  I learned my lesson and have been canning all my meat for almost two years now.  Every bite is tender and so full of flavor, not to mention quick and easy to use.  I will never buy canned chicken from the store again!

I found this cartoon and thought it fitting for our lesson :0)

http://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=2113717

So when old Henrietta stops finding egg money and it is time for her to go...I better not even go there...

Start with clean, sterilized jars.  Like with the ground beef, I sterilize the jars, but since my chicken is cold when I can it, I don't keep the jars hot.  My own personal belief is that it leads to broken jars in the canner when you mix hot and cold.

You wanted to see gross things to get you in the mood for Halloween right?  I do apologize for the visuals on this post.  It makes me want to scrub everything with Clorox Kitchen Cleaner.  Anyway, I usually buy 14-16lbs of chicken.  That much chicken will fill 7 wide-mouth quart jars and that is how many jars my canner holds. I wait for the chicken to be on sale for around $1.70lb or so, then buy up a bunch and can it all. 

You can cut the chicken into chunks like this, but you don't really have to cut it at all.  It is only for the ease of getting it out of the jar.  Really, the chicken shreds as you pull it out.  I do like to cut it into chunks so it is already an edible size when it comes out of the jar.  Then I don't have to cut it later, just throw it into whatever I am cooking. 

I load the jar with the chunks, with the aid of my handy dandy wide-mouthed funnel.  Normally I fill the jars about half-way, then squish everything around until all the holes are filled.  I think I was so worried about taking the picture that I filled this jar, took the picture, then realized I hadn't squished.  I took half back out, squished, filled it back in a ways, squished some more, then topped it off.  I have learned not to fill the jars exactly 1" from the top.  I stop at maybe 1 1/2" or so.  I noticed that some of the juices come out of the jar during processing.  If you under-pack the jar just a smidge it takes care of that problem.

Other than salt, don't add anything to the chicken.  When it cooks, it makes it's own liquid-real, fresh chicken broth!  As for the salt, add 1 tsp salt per quart of chicken, or any meat really.  If you are using pints, put in 1/2 tsp salt.  If you are watching your salt, skip it.  It doesn't hurt anything, just adds flavor.

Process for 75 minutes @ 15lbs pressure for Pints

90 minutes @ 15lbs pressure for Quarts.

Due to my painfully cheep tendencies, I use Quarts.  I don't want to use two jars, two lids, and twice the processing time to make two jars of meat.  I pack my meat into quart jars, then just plan two nights of chicken recipes in a row, or two nights of hamburger meals in a row.  The meat, once opened, stays good for 3-4 days in the fridge.  I won't tell you we have stretched that a little, but according to the food safety websites, 3-4 days is acceptable. 

The canned chicken is stored on the shelf in the pantry, and for up to 2-5 years.  No fridge or freezer needed.  You don't have to heat it up to eat it either.  You can open it and eat it out of the jar if you wanted to, like tuna.  Perfect for a cold chicken salad, or throw it in a casserole. 

My friend buys bone-in chicken, cooks it in the crockpot all day, peals it off the bones, then cans it.  The thought exhausts me.  You can do it that way, but I really think the raw pack method is the way to go.  The chicken ends up cheaper when you aren't paying for bones and the whole process is so fast when you skip the extra cooking.  Also, I took a nutrition class in college where we were beaten over the head with the idea that the more you cook something, the more nutrients you take away from it.  I love that when you put the chicken in the can raw, it is cooked in it's own juices and most of the vitamins that are released are kept right there in the can.  If you use the broth from the jar, you are still getting most of those vitamins :0)  Again, it is all theory according to Vanessa and I really can't vouch for my mind these days.  All I can say is that my family really loves the meals I make with my canned chicken :0)  You should try it!  I am open for any questions you might have along the way!!!

Need a little more chicken humor?  Check out this link for some chicken chuckles.  They were worth mentioning, but not worth the money they charged to post the pictures :0)

More from The Wood Connection :0)

How CUTE is THIS!!!! 

I can't wait to make thousands!  I am using this boot as my table centerpieces for Super Saturday.  I think I will use them for my 200 follower giveaway too, assuming we reach 200 by Halloween :0) 

I just couldn't wait another day to post the other pictures from The Wood Connection!!!  I love that place, as you already know.  I NEED the "Wicked" craft on the top shelf.  Then check out the 2x6 faces on the bottom.  How easy would they be to make!?! 

The mouths are done with that new fatter wire everyone is using-it comes in tons of colors

I also think I "NEED" both of these word signs.  I will need them to go along with my ghosts.  You must know that a pair of these ghosts came home with me.  I am toying with mixing them in with the boot as the Super Saturday centerpieces.  We will make the decision after I see how well my new band saw cuts :0)

Sorry about the glare!  Cute, cute.  Love the hat!

Again with the hat!  Love it!  That "Trick or Treat" sign is the metal with words cut out I mentioned yesterday.  They are so cool.  They have the metal plates for all seasons and with tons of different sayings.  I think they can even do custom cuts, like your last name and such.

Also on my To-Do list!  I loved these.  I would have just bought them but the set was something like $12.  Where I can cut my own wood, I really just wanted the bat so I could have the pattern and make 20 sets, you know, like I do :0)

Not into Halloween or you are already for Christmas?  Here you go.  I don't know where they come up with this stuff!

Sorry for the overwhelming amount of things in this picture.  Now you know what it is like to be surrounded by craftiness like when in the Wood Connection :0)  On the website you can order the letters (there are several fonts and sizes to choose from) then paint and add accessories as you will.

I love the elf shoe!

Super easy presents out of 2" wood...

I have been in love with this snowman for years and have never made him.  He is of 2" wood also.

This was the last thing I noticed that I have to do. I have been looking for a manger to use for our centerpieces for the Christmas Party at church.  I need this manger to be a little smaller.  This one is actually kinda big.  It is at least 24" not counting the star :0)  I don't think it would be easy to talk over.  Whatever the case, I LOVE IT!!!

So, tomorrow begins my manic preparations for Super Saturday.  I bought wood today.  Tomorrow I will begin using every spare 5 minute increment of time to get the crafts and kits ready for September 25th!  I am getting pumped up for the incredible task that lies ahead.  Maybe I should have bought chocolate when I was buying my lumber :0) I will need it!

Don't You Just LOVE The Wood Connection!?!

When I realized we would be in Salt Lake City on Saturday there was one amazing place I just had to go...The Wood Connection!!!  I LOVE that place!  Beyond having the cutest woodcrafts I have ever seen, they are totally fine with you taking pictures!!!  I thought I would share with you some that I saw just in case you can't get there yourself. 

These darling seasonal shapes are cut out of 2" pine.  Many of them are decorated with glitter.  Apparently, they paint the shape, then sprinkle glitter while the paint is still wet.  So ADORABLE!!!

They sell the frame-like shelves to put them on.

There is also a whole line of dangle shapes.  Same shapes, different way to display them.

How cute are these.  In a more organized life, I would have loved this idea.  One for every season/holiday.  Same nail in the wall, just pull down one frame and put up the next.

Remember my whole blurb about misunderstanding my mother-in-law's description of the "HOME" sign.  This is the craft she was describing.  The shapes are sold in packs of 4 or 5 for about $12 each package.  Add in your letters and all 4 shape packs, this craft comes in around $55-$60.  That is a lot all at once, but if you can pick up one set of shapes every couple of months, totally do-able, right?  I still can't figure out how I got the other from the description of this :0)

Speaking of the cute letters, how cute is this!?!  I love the school set!  That cowboy set behind it is just as darling.

This seems to be the next trend.  2x6 blocks with paper modge podged on it, then vinyl letters.  Now, my mother-in-law had told me to use clear-drying wood glue to mount paper to the wood.  I looked at her like she was crazy and continued to pick up my favorite jar in the whole wide world, modge podge.  Apparently though, if you use clear-drying wood glue (not the yellow kind) your papers and photos will not wrinkle!!!  How amazing is that!?!  I haven't tried it yet, but you can be sure you will be hearing about the outcome very soon.

I absolutely LOVE their use of bead board on their crafts.  They have a mdf bead board.  I don't know where you would get it, but I LOVE IT!!!

I want this!  They sell all the frames and metal boards you could possibly imagine.  I think their prices are VERY reasonable!  They also have a full line of plaques and metal with sayings cut out of them.  I really am terrible at describing this place.  If you ever find yourself in Salt Lake City, check them out.

Here are the address, phone number and hours of operation:

Wood Connection Craft Store

6680 S 300 W (Cottonwood St)

Murray, UT 84107

(801) 265-2255

Monday-Friday: 9am–6pm

Saturday: 10am–4pm

There really was no way, being the devoted Twi-lover that I am, that I could end without showing you the lovely line of Twilight projects available!!!

Could not resist.

Now, I have even more pictures, mostly Halloween and Christmas, but will have to save those for another day.  I am still trying to find the carpet in this house of mine.  I babysat all day yesterday, the day after we got back from our 12hr drive.  What I would really love is a nap.  The carpet will still be there tomorrow, right?  Somewhere down there :0)  If you would like to see more of The Wood Connection, you can check out their website.  All of the crafts you see here, or on their site are SHIPPABLE!!!

Wedding Cake Cupcakes

Whew!  What a long blog break!  You would hope I would be coming back all rested.  Not so!  That is ok because it was all worth it!  We took off Friday night for my sisters wedding in Utah.  We couldn't leave until my hubby was finished with his big presentation, so the 12 hour drive didn't end until 6am :0) 

We were so tired we could hardly walk, so what did we do?  We decorated cupcakes!!!  I baked almost 150 cupcakes Thursday, filled them Friday, bagged and packed them for their debut in Utah on Saturday.  I made a whipped cream/cream cheese frosting.  It was SOOOOO delicious, but didn't turn out :-0 

Not quite sure what to do, I ended up adding powdered sugar and treating it like a glaze.  All stress considered, they turned out pretty darn cute!  I will, however, not be making that frosting again.

Some of my stress was reduced since they had a small open house, not a full blown reception. 

It was only close family and friends.

  Check out those flowers and butterflies Madison made!  That's right.  My 12yr old strikes again!  While I was running around town getting ready to leave, she was used my sizzix to die cut the butterflies out of rice paper (purchased for $.25/sheet from the local cake supply store). Then she rubbed on luster dust, brushed on piping gel, and sprinkled with edible glitter. 

When I went to take a nap in preparation for our trip, she set about rolling and cutting out gum paste flowers.  The flowers and butterflies were completely edible!!!

I wanted to fill the cupcakes. I found instructions HERE. Basically, you cut out a center core, then fill with whatever you want.

I made carrot cake filled with cream cheese frosting, vanilla filled with lemon and cream cheese, and strawberry cheesecake cupcakes. Yumm!

Apparently the cupcakes were not only yummy, they looked good when they were worn also :0)

It appears that some people don't think cupcakes should be worn...oh well!

We are all entitled to our opinions :0)

I will show you how I made the cupcake stand later.  For now, I need to find my living room floor and try and remember how my washing machine works.

Custom Clips

I worked late into the night and all morning this morning on my very first guest blogger post.  Unfortunately you will have to wait until October 1st to see.  I can't believe it!  I don't think I can wait that long to show you the project I came up with!!!  I am so used to instant show-offage that it is torture to have to wait so long to share.

I decided I had to show you something I did today, so here is my custom etsy order I am off in minutes to ship.  My customer requested the wooden shapes I made for the back to school bows, just without the bows.  4 on clips, 4 on ponytail holders.  The ponytail holders made a new experience for me.  I had to do a little research to find out how to attach them.  Looks like, if my source is correct, you hand sew a little ribbon to the back of your shape, then wrap the ribbon around the ponytail holder, and finally sew the ribbon shut.  Who woulda' known?  I love learning something new!

For tomorrow, I found someone to let me do a cupcake wedding cake!!!  My little sister is getting married on Saturday and I tricked her into letting me make the cupcake wedding cake for her.  Tomorrow we are going to try out THIS recipe for Strawberry Cheesecake Cupcakes and make a cupcake-cake tower.

I can't wait!!!  I will let you know how it goes :0)