Just a guy trying to do the right thing by getting myself and my family prepared for an emergency, a catastrophe, or whatever may come. Still learning, but trying to document everything along the way.

Sunday, September 23, 2012

Glenn Beck - Pie, Quantative Easing, and the Economy

This blog is not meant at all to be political.  My goal is to help people learn and understand that it is important that we all become self-reliant.  I am doing my best to become self-reliant, and I am nowhere close to where I need to be, but I'm learning...day by day.  One of the ways that I learn, is by watching and listening to Glenn Beck, and the shows on The Blaze TV.
Say what you want about Glenn Beck, but I truly believe that the guy does his research and knows what he is talking about.  One of the best things about Glenn Beck is that he teaches by Object Lessons.  He can translate things into "human speak" for guys like me.  I think it also helps that he uses food for his object lessons.  Of course I'll watch an eleven minute video, if there is pie in every shot! :)
Anyway - Please take the time to watch the video below.  Glenn Beck explains why it is important for each of us to prepare.  He explains what's going on with the economy.  Why our money doesn't stretch as far as it used to, and what is coming our way.
"Don't have money for gold or diamonds or land, whatever...Non-perishable food items!  They are extremely valuable if they've been stocked up.  That's something that everyone of us, can, and should, and must do."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbt2nRuaxM0





Busy Canning

I haven't posted anything for a while because my Wife and I have been extremely busy with all our fruit.  It seems like we have been canning nonstop for a month.  Out of the six fruit trees that we have planted, only two of them are old enough to give us fruit.  This was an amazing year for Peaches and Honeycrisp apples.  The peach tree is about five years old and the Honeycrisp apple tree is three years.  I think we canned 60 quarts of peaches, froze 10 quarts, and ate more than I can count.  We canned about 21 quarts of apple pie filling, 20 quarts of apple sauce, and dehydrated a lot.
During that same time, we made about 10 batches of raspberry freezer jam, and canned a few batches too.  The raspberries just keep coming.  I can pick about 7 cups or berries every other day!  Needless to say, we have gone through a ton of supplies.  I guess that everyone else in our little valley is having the same "problem" of having a great fruit year...You can't buy quart jars anywhere!  We have gone through tons of sugar, and pectin.
I won't waste your time with the recipes that we are using for canning.  We have decided to stick to the recipes that are considered safe and are published in the Ball Complete Book of Home Preserving.  If you don't already have this book, it is a definite must have.
Another absolute necessity is a product called Clear Jel.  Clear Jel is a modified corn starch that is absolutely amazing thickening agent. My apple pie filling and fresh peach syrup thickens so nicely with this stuff.  No more ugly lumps.
I've said it before, and I'll say it again...If you have to plant trees in your yard, be sure to plant fruit trees!!!  I can't explain how satisfying it is to come home from a long day of work and just walk into the back yard to grab a perfectly ripe apple or peach from my very own tree.

Honey Crisp Apple Pie Filling.

I'm still learning the tricks to canning.  You'll notice that these peaches are "floating".   They still taste great, they just float to the top.   http://whatcom.wsu.edu/family/facts/fruitfloat.htm



My Honey Crisp Tree.  These babies cost $3.99 / lb in the grocery store!
Happy Canning!

 

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