www.indoboard.com Indo Board Team Rider, Mallory Turner, shows us her incredible Indo Board skills. … [Read more...] about Best Indo Girl ever Part 2!
The holidays are around the corner again! Check out our holiday stocking stuffers and gift ideas below. Gift cards are perfect too, especially as a last minute gift or for those who are hard to shop for. We email these directly to the recipient. You can also check out gift ideas on our website and […]
Shop Konjac Sponges > The Konjac Sponge Company, based in the United Kingdom, ensures sustainable, earth-friendly sponges that will cleanse your skin while also gently balancing its natural pH levels. Made with 100% pure and natural konjac fibre (a pure vegetable fibre), from the root of the Amorphophallus konjac plant. Konjac grows naturally in China, […]
Good Morning! Minor North swell lines lapping on the shore. Un-Rideable. Light NNW winds at 5-7+ and a Low Tide around 11::00 AM. Maybe some surf later today? Tomorrow?? Saturday??? We’ll see! Keep Praying for Surf!!! Adios!
Pantone Forecast for 2011 – Welcome to the Blog for John Bead Corporation: Beads, Crystals, Components and Carnival
Manufacturer, Distributor, Wholesaler. We supply stores, online resellers and designers with your favorite beads and components!
If you haven’t heard yet, let me be the first to tell you. HONEYSUCKLE IS THE COLOR OF THE YEAR !! Yes everyone, this warm pinky peachy , hint of fuschia has been adorned with the coveted status of color of the year from Pantonev ! As a bit of a girly girl myself , I have to say I really like it !
For over a decade, Pantone’s Color of the Year declarations have influenced product development and purchasing decisions in multiple industries including fashion, home and industrial design. Pantones innovative system for identifying, matching and communicating colors to solve the problems associated with producing accurate color matches in the graphic arts community. Pantones color matching system concept is used in color-critical industries, including digital technology, fashion, home, plastics, architecture and interior design, and paint. Today, the PANTONE Name is known worldwide as the standard language for accurate color communication, from designer to manufacturer to retailer to customer, across a variety of industries.
I love the way Pantone describes the new Honeysuckle color as ; “emboldens us to face everyday troubles with verve and vigor. A dynamic reddish pink, Honeysuckle is encouraging and uplifting. It elevates our psyche beyond escape, instilling the confidence, courage and spirit to meet the exhaustive challenges that have become part of everyday life. ”
“In times of stress, we need something to lift our spirits. Honeysuckle is a captivating, stimulating color that gets the adrenaline going – perfect to ward off the blues,” explains Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute®. “Honeysuckle derives its positive qualities from a powerful bond to its mother color red, the most physical, viscerally alive hue in the spectrum.” – http://www.pantone.com/pages/pantone/pantone.aspx?pg=20824&ca=10
Some of the top Fashion designers have introduced this color into their garment designs; Nanette Lepores floral tunic dress screams exitment and adventure and Badgley Mischkas evening design radiates glamour and allure. On the runway it’s a color that’s hard to mis and mixed with a flora pattern it’s a guranteed striking look. I’m sure we’ll see this color more throughout the year and the summer as designs make their way into stores.
Honeysuckle is guaranteed to produce a healthy glow when worn by both men and women. It’s a striking, eye-catching hue that works well for day and night in women’s apparel, accessories and cosmetics, and in men’s ties, shirts and sportswear. The Dessy Group group offers bridesmaid dresses in the Honeysuckle colors, along with tuxedo options and accessories.
As part of this forecasting I’ve prepared featured firepolish beads in the honeysuckle color. (To view the products on our website click on the image , login as a customer and browse the Pantone favorites list.)
There’s a wide variety of our Johnbead products that match the Honeysuckle color. Makes for some exiting options and design possibilities. I was exited to see that Swarovski Elements Rose color is a great match.
If you yourself have made anything using the Honeysuckle color I would love to see it. You can email me at lilla@johnbead.com and we can feature your creation on the next blog post !
I LOVE THIS! Pantone colors are all so fabulous and Honeysuckle is a prime example! We love it so much that we made it our color of the week and put together a fabulous outfit on our blog to show how to dress wearing Pantone’s Honeysuckle using a complementary color palette.
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There is nothing quite so pretty as the sun glinting on new fallen snow. The landscape is whitewashed. The brown and dying leaves are covered over and hidden from view. There is even a crisp clean scent in the air that is impossible to reproduce at any other time of the year.
When you live in the north, it is important to prepare for less than ideal winter conditions. Because of the threat of ice underfoot and snow overhead, a walk from the house to an unattached garage or barn can be a major challenge. Over the years, we have adapted some tools and developed some strategies to help us stay safe. Here are some suggestions:
A good shovel is a good investment. Take the time to handle any shovel that you are going to purchase before you spend money on it. Test it out in the store to make sure that you are comfortable with how it feels and moves in your hands. Slide it along the floor. Lift your coat with it (to mimic the lifting of snow). Try before you buy. There are some great ergonomic shovels out there, but there are also some gimmicky tools as well.
Spray the edge of the shovel with a product like Pam cooking spray or dry silicone spray to make the snow slide off easier. Wet silicon lubricants, such as WD40, don’t work for this purpose because they have alcohol or other solvents in them that can actually melt snow, making it stick to the shovel.
New fallen snow is easier to shovel. Getting out into the snow before it gets too deep will give you a better result when clearing driveways or sidewalks. Yes, you may have to shovel a couple of times, but for good traction it is best to clear down to the surface. If the snow is removed before the first person steps on it, it clears much better.
Be ergonomic when shoveling. Start slowly. Use several different styles for moving the snow, rather that repetitive motions over the whole job. This will exercise different muscle groups. If the snow is wet and heavy, lift smaller loads with each shovelful.
If you aren’t able to get clear ground underfoot, install handholds. Adding handrails down the stairs and along the sidewalk can save you from a dangerous fall. Ski poles can be stored by the door and used to help you walk over icy and snowy ground.
If you are doing lots of outside chores, there are several styles of boot cleats that grip the icy ground very securely. They can be found in most sporting goods stores, usually in the ice fishing section.
Lastly, there are several different types of snow melting products to help with traction on your walks and driveways. Read the instructions carefully and follow instructions. Stay current with local ordinances for their usage in your location.
If the snow is light enough, you can use a leaf blower to remove it from the walks quite quickly and with little strain. Walking upright will also reduce the risk of falls. Always be sure to wear hearing protection when you use a leaf blower. Even if the sound is less noticeable on a snowy day, you can still damage your hearing.
Waking in the morning to a bright shiny day is one of the benefits of living in the snowy north. Staying safe while walking and shoveling will give you the chance to “slide” when you have your sled or toboggan in hand.
If you have any tips or stories about making it through the winter, I would love to hear about them. Please leave a comment here, or email John at John@JohnMuellerBooks.com.
Author Pegg CondermanPosted on December 3, 2014 November 23, 2014 Categories Equipment, Self-SufficiencyTags Health, Money, shovel, Snow, Winter	
This is Thanksgiving Week. As such it seems appropriate to restate the facts that surround Thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving is celebrated in only 3 countries around the world: The United States, Canada and The Philippines.
The original Europeans who came to America were searching for religious freedom from an oppressive government, not freedom from religion itself. Those hardy folks came over in small boats carrying very few resources with them. They survived because they were able to depend on God, adapt to a new environment, and create a self-sufficient society.
America was founded on this ideal and the willingness to adapt, learn and create are still very evident in our modern times.
In 1789 George Washington signed the following proclamation to establish the holiday of Thanksgiving in America.
Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor; and Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me to “recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness:”
Now, therefore, I do recommend and assign Thursday, the 26th day of November next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the favorable interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed; for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enable to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and, in general, for all the great and various favors which He has been pleased to confer upon us.
And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions; to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our National Government a blessing to all the people by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations (especially such as have shown kindness to us), and to bless them with good governments, peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us; and, generally to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as He alone knows to be best.
Given under my hand, at the city of New York, the 3d day of October, A.D. 1789. Signed by George Washington.
If you have comments, I would love to hear from you. Please leave the comments here or email John at John@JohnMuellerBooks.com.
Author Pegg CondermanPosted on November 26, 2014 November 23, 2014 Categories Self-Sufficiency, Social CommentaryTags George Washington, History, Proclamation, Relationships, Thanksgiving	
When I was growing up, it was my uncles’ job to wield a big knife and peel the raw pumpkin so that my mom could bake pumpkin pie and make filling for canning. Watching one of “the boys” handle the knives while trying to carve away the skin of a raw pumpkin was usually a little scary and sometimes hilarious. It all depended on who was careful and who was just cutting up! When I moved into a home of my own, I had to learn a different way to separate skin from the flesh of a pumpkin because I am married to a man who loves pie, made from scratch, and he likes his pumpkin made that way as well.
Be sure that your pumpkin will fit inside the shallow baking sheet that you are going to be using. It doesn’t matter if both halves fit but you want to have the edges of the pumpkin completely inside the baking pan. Choosing the right sized pumpkin for this process is very important.
Carefully scoop out the seeds with a spoon. If you have kids that want to help, this is a great chance to include them—handling the guts and seeds is really fun (and gross)! The seeds can be washed and baked with seasoning for an added treat.
Flip the pumpkins cut side down and place them onto a shallow baking sheet with a lip all the way around the pan. I used an Air-bake pan because it is double layered and gives improved stability while loading and unloading the heavy pumpkin from the hot oven.
Add a small amount of water to the baking sheet. Just enough to cover the surface of the pan about 1/4 inch deep. The water will boil and steam the pumpkin inside while the oven is baking it from the outside.
Bake in a 350F oven until you can pierce the skin of the pumpkin with a fork. If you want the pumpkin to be more puree-like bake it longer. You may need to carefully add water while the pan is in the oven, but bake the pumpkin until it is as soft as you want it to be. The halves may collapse just a little bit as the insides get soft.
Finally, let the whole thing cool down. When it is cool enough to handle, peel the skin from the flesh and discard the skin. Then you can use it however you like. My last experiment was a simple blend of fresh apple chunks, some pumpkin chunks and curry powder to taste. No sugar and no recipe. I just mixed up what I had and popped it back into the oven to soften the apples. It was delicious!
This method of processing pumpkin is economical, healthy and easy. There are absolutely no additives or preservatives so the only thing that you will taste is pumpkin. It also works for winter squashes of all kinds.
So, if you decided NOT to carve your pumpkin for Halloween, consider Butchering and Eating It! You’ll be glad you did!
If you have any pumpkin tips or stories, I would love to hear from you! Please respond to this blog or email John at John@JohnMuellerBooks.com.
Author Pegg CondermanPosted on October 29, 2014 October 29, 2014 Categories Food Preservation, Self-SufficiencyTags Baking, Food Storage, Health, Money, Preserves, Pumpkin, Relationships, Self-sufficiency2 Comments on How to Butcher a Pumpkin…	
What warms the hands as well as the heart, especially on a blustery Autumn night? A nice cup of tea.
Recently, I received a gift from a friend who knows about my love affair with tea. It is called an “Almigh’ Tea Bag” from Supreme Housewares. This cute little thing is made completely from silicone. It is shaped like a tea bag with tag intact! I’ve carried it to work with me and tried it out with several different cups and mugs.
The base of the bag comes off so you can stuff the insides with your own mix of herbs and spices. Some like it strong, some like it light. With the Almigh’ Tea Bag, you can make it just like you want it.
Here are some of the advantages that I found with this item as compared to the metal spoons or tea balls that you have in your utensil drawer at home.
There are also other uses for this tool that are yet to be explored. I wonder how it will do for a small “bouquet garni” in a small beef stew? I also wonder how Coffee Beans will work, if they are course ground and stuffed inside with course ground hazelnuts? As you can tell, playing with this teabag may keep me occupied for some time. It is definitely an item that I will be adding to my stocking stuffer list for Christmas this year! The bag comes in four colors: yellow (shown), green, red, and ivory.
If you have any ideas about what can be stuffed into the “Almigh’ Tea Bag”, or have had any experience with it, I would love to hear from you. Please respond here or send an email to John at John@JohnMuellerBooks.com.
Author Pegg CondermanPosted on October 22, 2014 October 20, 2014 Categories Cooking and Kitchen Equipment, Herbs and Flowers, Other Reviews, Reviews, Self-SufficiencyTags Cloves, Food Storage, Gardening, Mint, Money, Orange Mint, Reviews, Self-sufficiency, Star Anise, Tea	
When I was a kid, October was the month for the “Autumn Airing of the Quilts”. My best friend’s mother had a wide range of quilts and comforters, many of which had been passed down for generations. On a sunny Saturday afternoon we would take them all out of their storage chests. Then we would repair any damage. If they smelled musty, we would wash the bedding and let it dry in the fresh air. Anything that was brightly colored was carefully monitored so that it could be taken off the clothesline just as soon as it was dry so it wouldn’t fade in the sunshine. After that was done, all of the beds in the house were made up with winter sheets, clean blankets and these heirloom quilts and comforters.
As it is with anything that you want to last, proper storage and care is necessary for bedding. In order to provide proper care, it is important to know what you have. Knitted and crocheted items are called afghans and require a different type of care than quilts and comforters. Comforters, quilts and blankets are made from fabric.
A quilt is made of pieces of fabric sewn together in a pattern with a top, middle and bottom layer sandwiched together and then sewn.
A comforter is made by sewing two sheets of fabric together and filling the inside with something fluffy often feathers or down.
Ask yourself: Is the item supposed to be fuzzy,smooth or satiny? Different fabrics require different treatment to keep them in the best condition through the years.
Were these given to you from someone as an heirloom or is it simply a hand-me-down? Heirlooms command much more respect and warrant special attention due to the emotional attachment that comes along with it.
Check over the bedding carefully and mend any seams before attempting to clean the items. Remember the quote from Poor Richard’s Almanac “A stitch in time saves nine”? It is certainly true when it comes to mending bedding.
Be certain of the material that the item is made from. Wool must be cleaned differently than cotton. Microfiber can be treated differently than sateen. Look for fabric tags. If there are care instructions, follow them carefully for best results.
Be careful with bedding if anyone in the home has pollen allergies. While bedding is outside on a line, the pollen and pollutants from the surrounding countryside can settle on it. If there are allergies in your household, you may choose to tumble your bedding in a drier instead of airing it on a line.
Do not crowd bedding in the drier. For a large comforter it is worth the time and money to take it to a laundromat to use large capacity machines. If you decide to dry your bedding in a home machine, add small items to create movement in the dryer. Be sure that the items are completely dry before folding or storing to prevent mildew.
Filled comforters, with down or manmade materials inside, should always be tumbled dry. For fluffiness, add a couple of tennis balls or similar item (I wash and use my dog toys) in the drier. A comforter is warmer when fluffy, because the down captures and holds warm air inside the layers.
It will soon be blustery and frigid outside. Although it takes time to make sure that your bedding is cleaned, mended and ready for winter, the investment will keep you warm and snuggly all winter long!
If you have any stories about your experiences with quilts or comforters, or pictures to share, I would love to hear from you! Please add a comment to this post or contact John at John@JohnMuellerBooks.com.
Author Pegg CondermanPosted on October 15, 2014 October 13, 2014 Categories Crafts, Self-SufficiencyTags Comforters, Laundry, Money, Preparing, Self-sufficiency	
The original recipe was found in a St. Mary’s Catholic Church cookbook from Muscatine, IA printed in 1988.
1/2 cup of any kind of nuts mixed with 3 Tablespoons of sugar and a pinch of each spice used in the batter.
Alternately add the cold coffee and the dry ingredients to the bowl, mixing them between additions. Be careful not to overbeat the batter, because this cake batter will be naturally lumpy.
Drain moisture from the apples. Fold them into the batter. Pour into 13×9 cake pan that has been coated with grease (or Pam) and flour.
Bake at 350 F for 50 to 60 minutes. Check for doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center of the cake until it comes out clean.
This recipe is best served to a loved one while it is still warm with a little ice cream or whipped cream. And it is also great cold for breakfast, like Pizza!
Author Pegg CondermanPosted on October 1, 2014 September 30, 2014 Categories Garden and Orchard, Self-Sufficiency, WritingTags Apples, Cake, Love, Pie, Poem, Romance	
Ready or not! Here it comes! Winter is on its way! If you live in the Midwest, it is time to winterize your house and stock up your pantry. It is also time to bring in any plants that were taken outside for the summer. There was a radio talk show host in the late 90’s who had a rant titled, “Houseplants are HOUSEplants! They are supposed to stay in the house!” But for those of us who have sentimental plants that are precious but large, taking the plant outside is a necessity in the summer.
If you are in the habit of taking houseplants out for the summer, here are the best ways to assure that you don’t bring problems back into your house along with your plants:
Spray the plant for any insects that are common to the plant as a preventive measure. Relocating a plant to the warmth of your home will encourage insect survival.
Be sure that any houseplant spray you use will kill insect eggs. If it doesn’t kill the eggs, plan to spray 3 times at two week intervals.
Be safe by making sure that the plant you are spraying is listed on the label. Many plants are killed because they were sprayed with a chemical that was not safe for them.
If you want to use less chemical and have more effect, place the houseplant inside a trash bag while it is outside for spraying. Carefully spray the chemical into the bag. Quickly seal the bag with the plant and chemical inside. Leave it alone for 24 hours away from direct sunlight. After 24 hours, open the bag and air out the plant for about an hour. Then bring your treated plant in the house. This system can also be used inside.
Trim away any dead or dying leaves. The plant will continue to try to support any weak leaves. Removing them helps reduce insect and disease possibilities as both attack dying tissue.
Give your plant as much light as you can when you first bring it inside. As the plant adjusts to the new light source, you can slowly move it to its final location. This may mean that you will be moving your plants around inside a couple of times but your plant will be happier in the long run. If your plant has only one location that it will fit inside your home, consider using grow lights to help your plant make the adjustment from summer home to winter home. (You don’t have to do anything fancy, you can actually get grow lights that will fit in a standard light fixture.)
Pay attention. With houseplants it is very important to pay attention to them. Insect and disease problems often start slowly but spread quickly and if you are paying attention, the problem leaves can be removed and the problem remedied before it affects the whole plant.
Growing and caring for plants is a very satisfying way to pass the winter. Transitioning your plants from their summer home to their winter location is easy, but takes some finesse. If you really need to have blooms through the winter, search out paperwhite bulbs, zygocactus (also called Christmas Cactus) or amaryllis. For easy greens choose spider plants, peace lily, or Norfolk Island pine. Whether they are Aunt Violet’s African violets or a new and exotic species that you discovered at the local greenhouse, plants are great company and worth the attention.
If you have any thoughts about bringing in plants for the winter or stories about the plants that you have inherited that have been part of your family, please add a comment to this post or contact John at John@JohnMuellerBooks.com.
Author Pegg CondermanPosted on September 24, 2014 September 22, 2014 Categories Garden and Orchard, Self-SufficiencyTags Chemicals, Diseases, Houseplants, Nature, Plants, Relationships, Self-sufficiency, Violets	
It’s only September and yet the thermometer has dipped into the 30’s. Since we live in a big old farmhouse with lots of character, we have consciously changed it as little as possible. In a perfect world, we would have all of the original storm windows. But unfortunately, we don’t live in a perfect world. We have a mixture of old wooden storms, some aluminum and a couple of windows that have been missing the storm for years. But we have learned how to button up this old fashioned house using some old techniques and developing a couple of new ones by trial and error.
First and thankfully, a previous owner had the foresight to completely surround the framing of the house with insulation from the attic to the basement. That addition is key to keeping any house warm during the Wisconsin winters. There are several ways to insulate the walls in all price ranges. Many of them can be done by a do-it-yourself enthusiast.
The next most important thing that can be done to keep the drafts out of an old home are tight windows. A previous owner installed aluminum double hung windows. We check them over every year (washing them when possible) to make sure that there is a tight seal. If the caulking has hardened or fallen away, we replace it. There are also some of the original wood framed storm windows that we check over every year—re-caulking as necessary. We put the storm in the window and go inside with a candle to check for any draft. If there are drafts or the window feels loose, we fill it in with rope putty.
For windows that have the storm completely missing, we use the plastic window kits. In order to be effective, they are best installed on a calm, warm day so that the adhesive is tacky enough to stick well. For any window that is going to be subject to lots of wind, it is a good idea to install plastic on the inside and outside as well. Follow the directions for the window product.
Lastly, the simplest thing to do to help the house be warmer in the winter is is the same as when our ancestors did it. Open the shades during the day! Capture the solar energy inside on sunny days, then close the drapes at dark and hold the heat in!
Another item that must be attended to before the winter sets in is making sure that your furnace is in good working order. It is a good idea to leave this to the expert. Your favorite furnace guy can come out and inspect and or repair your furnace. There may be a charge for the service but compared to an emergency call in the dead of winter; or worse yet a fire call, it is well worth the price!
Smoke detectors need their batteries changed twice a year. Utilizing the biennial time change date will help jog your memory. If your smoke detectors are old (anything over ten years), it may be time to replace the whole unit rather than just the batteries. (If you want to test your smoke detector, use a spray tester, rather than the smoke from a match or candle, because the smoke can actually cause the detector to fail.)
CO (carbon monoxide) detectors are inexpensive and useful tools that have been proven to save lives.
Outlets are often a source of secret heat loss. Insulating liners are available that can be installed behind the outlet cover that can help keep these sneaky heat thieves from creating cold spots in the room.
Some people dread the fall, knowing that it is the precursor to winter. Others, like me, revel in the beauty of the fall colors and the smell of the crisp leaves. I thank the good Lord for the reminder (and the time) to prepare for the cold season. Good planning and good preparation leads to a great party! So this winter, prepare for Old Man Winter and Party On!
If you have tips for preparing for the fall preparation I would love to hear from you! Please respond here or send an email to John at John@JohnMuellerBooks.com.
Author Pegg CondermanPosted on September 17, 2014 September 15, 2014 Categories Self-SufficiencyTags Carbon Monoxide Detector, Cold, Furnace, Health, Insulation, Money, Plastic Window Kit, Smoke Detector, Winter2 Comments on Baby, It’s Gonna Get Cold!	
Just in case you’re wondering, all Russet potatoes are Burbanks, but not all Burbank potatoes are russet. The Russet Burbank is described as a natural genetic variant of the Burbank potato. It has a russet-colored skin that visually identifies this potato type. The Russet is the world’s predominant potato used in food processing, so you have probably seen a lot of them and eaten even more.
I grew up in a meat and potatoes household. Although my mom grew a garden full of a wide variety of vegetables, my dad really only believed that there were 4 kinds of vegetables worth eating. Those were corn, peas, beans and potatoes. As a result, most of our meals were created with those basics but there was always plenty! If we didn’t have enough production of potatoes from the garden, my dad would stop by a roadside stand in the fall and buy a bag of 100 pounds for about $4. That would last us through the winter and into the early spring. In the fall, potatoes are at their least expensive and best quality compared to any other time of year. Buying them in bulk and storing them is as good an investment now as it was when my dad was doing it in the 60’s.
Storing potatoes is one of the earliest self-sufficiency skills I learned. We always lived in an old house with an unfinished cellar. We would put the potatoes down in the basement in a barrel and just go to collect what we needed when it was time to make supper. Once in awhile we would come in contact with a slimy potato that had to be tossed out. We were warned that we should always bring up anything that had been in contact with the bad potato so they could be used right away. As kids, the science wasn’t explained to us. It was just the rule. Now that I understand the science, it’s still a rule that I live by.
Choose a potato variety that is appropriate for storage. My favorite is Kennebec. Some like Russet. There are others. The grocer or garden center should be able to tell you which potatoes are going to be good for storing. You can also go online to find the attributes for most vegetables.
Raw potatoes should not be washed before storing. Remove the big chunks if you have been digging during a wet season. However, a powdery coating of dry soil toughens the skin and helps them stay dry longer in storage.
After sorting, store the unwashed raw potatoes in any place that is dry, cool (but not cold) and dark. Exposure to sunlight will cause the skin to go green, get bitter and can cause illness if you eat a large quantity.
Frequently check your stored potatoes for any that have developed soft spots and discard them immediately when you find them.
Wash and dry any potatoes that are in contact with a bad one during storage. Keep it apart so it can be used soon.
With smaller houses and less storage space, it is still possible to find good storage for potatoes. One way is to store them in milk crates in a pantry, cool closet or heated garage alongside an outer wall. If the area has a window, drape a heavy cloth over the whole stack. With the coolness of the wall, the airflow created by the construction of the milk crates and the dark provided by the cloth, it works beautifully. As the potatoes at the top are used, take the crates out to store and start on the crate below it.
Also, if you have a rarely used, cool bedroom; a layer of crunched up paper under potatoes in an under-the-bed container is the perfect place for storing them. Winter squash and pumpkins can be stored there also! The main idea is to keep them dry, dark and cool but not frozen.
As with other vegetables, canning potatoes is a great way to control the salt level and quality of the food as well as customizing the cut of the finished product.
For best results, the potatoes should be washed and peeled before cutting into your favorite shapes – slices, cubes, shreds or small whole potatoes.
A mandolin is a useful tool when cutting potatoes into thin, even slices. Be very careful when using a mandolin because it has an extremely sharp edge.
A French fry cutter is great for making cubes. Simply put the potato through the cutter and then cut the ‘fries’ into chunks. This cuts the potatoes into really nice sized cubes.
Do NOT try to pressure can anything completely absent of salt. A little salt is absolutely necessary for successful canning.
Once the potatoes are processed and cooled they are ready to eat! You can rinse them, cold and use them in potato salads. You can microwave them to have them warm. You can mash them with garlic and butter. You can drain them, dry them and fry them with your favorite seasonings for fantastic hash browns. In a pinch, you could eat them straight from the jar!
The potato is the workhorse of the pantry. It is low in saturated fat and sugar. It has no cholesterol or sodium unless you add it. It is also high in potassium and vitamin C as well as very high in vitamin B6, the vitamin that helps to improve moods.
If you have stories or recipes using potatoes, I would love to hear from you. Please share them by adding your comment to this post or contacting John at John@JohnMuellerBooks.com.
Author Pegg CondermanPosted on September 10, 2014 September 8, 2014 Categories Cooking and Kitchen Equipment, Equipment, Food Preservation, Self-SufficiencyTags Burbank, Canning, Food Storage, Kennebec, Money, Norland Red, Pontiac, Potatoes, Self-sufficiency, Yukon Gold2 Comments on In Praise of the Humble Potato	
My mother was a good, old-fashioned home cook. She also never learned to drive. Since we lived in the country much of the time, she knew how to make do with the ingredients and tools that were already on hand.
If she didn’t have spaghetti on hand, she would use flat noodles with Marinara, meat and cheese. She flattened out chicken breasts with a frying pan (and worked off some frustration with her kids, I think). A favorite recipe in our house is still a Chili Sauce that uses apples as well as tomatoes for a sweet and spicy addition to ground beef. Mom usually had a pot of soup on the stove made out of oxtails, ham bones, turkey carcasses or whatever meat she had on hand. (As kids, she didn’t dare tell us what was in the soup. We only knew that it was good!) She graduated eventually to be become restaurant cook but she still did her best work without the fancy gadgets that have become standard in many modern kitchens.
I don’t have my mother’s skills when it comes to cooking, but I have learned her respect for good, simple tools.
Knives should be kept sharp and safe. A magnetic strip on the wall above the counter will keep metal knives safe, dry and conveniently at hand. These magnetic strips can be picked up at most hardware stores as they are commonly used for tool benches.
A good variety of large spoons, ladles and spatulas is a must. Many can be picked up very reasonably at thrift stores or garage sales. Watch for brand name items at a bargain.
Multiple cutting boards mean less chance of cross contamination. Sterilize cutting boards regularly.
Old tools don’t need to be tossed out just because there is a new version, unless it is broken. If there is room to store them, multiples can make prep work more fun! It can become a contest between siblings or a chance to sit and visit with your spouse. “Show and tell” works especially well with kids when they have their own tool that won’t be taken away if they are “too slow”.
Keep a clean pair of paint stirring sticks in the kitchen drawer. When rolling out cookie dough, position the stir stick so that they raise the rolling pin and ensure the same thickness cookie with each cut. When the thickness is uniform, the cookies will bake evenly and you won’t end up with doughy middles and crispy edges. If the paint stirrer gets grungy, toss it out and head to the hardware store.
A pair of chopsticks is a great way to poke nice round holes into the tops of gingerbread (and other) cookies so they can be hung with a ribbon.
As you can tell, good tools are an inexpensive way to make cooking fun, social and sustainable. If you have other tips and or adaptations that you have tried in the kitchen, I would love to hear from you. Please share them by adding your comment to this post or contacting John at John@JohnMuellerBooks.com.
Author Pegg CondermanPosted on August 27, 2014 August 25, 2014 Categories Cooking and Kitchen Equipment, Self-SufficiencyTags Chopsticks, Cookies, Cooking, Equipment, Gadgets, Kids, Knives, Money, Pie, Self-sufficiency, Tools2 Comments on Necessity is the Mother of Invention	
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First of all, if you’re sick of all the fancy clothes, now’s your chance to dress casual! West coast swingers pride themselves on their relaxed, pedestrian look - hurray for jeans, T-shirts and yoga pants!
The first thing you might observe is the leaders seem to move in a circular motion, while the followers move in a straight line, first one way, then the other. This latter is called the “slot” in west coast swing dancing, comparable to a watchband, while the leader moves around the central display area of the watch.
Used to leaning forward to create connection? How about stepping forward as the leader, and backwards as the follower? Bad news: It’s all backwards in west coast swing dancing. Dancers stretch away to create a pulling sensation, then the leader guides the follower down the slot by stepping backwards. Yep, get practicing.
Leaders, don’t expect to run this dance like you do the other ballroom styles: Followers have a lot more say in what happens in west coast swing dancing, and can even interrupt or “hijack” a lead, although how often and when this is best done is debatable.
As you grow more comfortable with west coast swing dancing, instructors will introduce alternative ways to do an element - for example, making a ronde instead of an anchor step - or repeating an element to extend the step. Expect this kind of play and creativity to gradually infect the rest of your ballroom dancing. Don’t fight it - it’s good for you.
As if that wasn’t creative enough, musicality plays a huge role in west coast swing dancing as well, although you won’t see much of it at the beginner levels. Think of matching the energy level of the music, by slowing down or speeding up certain elements for example. Watch any Jack and Jill competition to see what I mean.
The social dance scene might look intimidating - fortunately, west coast swingers tend to be a lot more open and willing to dance with beginners than other dance styles. Just jump in and start asking!
In summary, west coast swing dancing can be a tougher dance to pick up, but one of the most fun for those who like to break the rules a little. Almost any kind of movement can find a place here, so you might end up supplementing your westie training with hip hop, jazz, or other dance styles.
Currently, Steven James teaches advanced beginner and intermediate classes at the Joy of Dance Centre at 7pm and 8pm respectively on Fridays. Stop by if you’re interested!
Ian Crewe has been dancing ballroom for over 18 years, and has a Licentiate in American smooth and rhythm. His passion for dance eventually led him to blogging and the World Wide Web. Ian currently teaches at the Joy of Dance Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Joy of Dance Centre is the premier dance studio in Toronto offering the very best in Adult, Kids and Teen dance class instruction in a warm, state of the art, and friendly environment. We are committed to providing our students a place and space to grow: uniquely, individually, expressively, technically, passionately and with excellence. We are simply the best, and are passionate about giving you every opportunity to express your best. We offer instruction in a diverse and extensive dance repertoire including Ballet, Ballroom, Bollywood, Contemporary, Hip Hop, Jazz, Tap and Urban.