This week we took a break from restoring our vintage dollie because the apples were in desperate need of rescuing. It's been a hard year for our apple trees. Too much heat and too many bugs! Many of the apples fell off during the summer, others were cored through by bugs, and still others rotted right on the branches! But, all said and done, we were amazed to get quite a few pecks of perfect "eaters", at least a bushel full of "bakers", a number left behind on the tree for hopeful ripening and still many more left over for cider! Ah, the cider....
There's going to be cider?? Well, our trees kinda look like this so .... No, don't cry! We'll try!
Meadow Sweet Groves claims no rights or ownership to the above YouTube videos. Meadow Sweet Grove © V. Buchanan 2017
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Hurrah! Hurrah! It's finally, fantastically here! The finest season of them all . . . Fall ! Meadow Sweet Grove © V. Buchanan 2017 / edited 2019
Poor Creepy Cinderella - Her shoes are so, so incredibly dirty from the long, lonely years of storage. They appear to be made of rubber and are so sticky; they must be disintegrating. First, I carefully removed the yellowed laces and placed them in a cool water soak with gentle Avon Soft Pink Bubble Bath. Then, with cotton swabs, and a minimal amount of the bubble bath mixture, I gently rubbed the bottom of Cinderella's Slippers. Nothing. Used an old toothbrush - it just smeared the grime around a bit. But, when the toothbrush was rubbed into a bar of soap (coincidentally Avon's Aloe Vera Soap) ... Voila! It worked wonders and white was almost immediately revealed. Actually, the shoes are a soft plastic - vinyl? After lots of scrubbing with the toothbrush, and only one daring dip in the water to rinse ... just look at the difference! Cinderella's Shoes Before ... ... and After; the difference speaks for itself! Now our Creepy Cinderella can truly put her best foot forward! Meadow Sweet Grove © V. Buchanan 2017 / edited 2019
Of course, in all the fairy tale versions of Cinderella; the most important item in her transformation was a new dress from her Fairy Godmother. So we decided to start the whole cleaning process with the clothes. The dress is actually in good condition. Pink and white lace overlay with buttons and bows (all in good condition) over an attached pink slip. Hook and eye closure at the back are okay. Hair band solid and elastic still has a bit of stretch, but seriously discoloured ... and the smell! Okay, so atrocious - I can't even begin to describe it, but worse than the smell was the feel of these clothes. They felt stiff, sticky and "crunchy" if that's possible to imagine. So, so much dirt. So into the tub they go! After two or three rinses, the water finally ran perfectly clear - here we are drying in the sun! The clothes turned out pretty good actually - still discoloured (especially the socks and hair band) but the contrast is considerably more subtle now. Best of all they feel soft and smell sweet! Tune in next week when we'll try our hand at cleaning those dreadful shoes! Meadow Sweet Grove © V. Buchanan 2017 Okay, I admit it, that's a pretty provocative title - but essentially accurate. I mean look at this gal. She is filthy! I don't know how she was stored, in a basement, attic, under the stairs, closet, garage ... but wherever it was, she was allowed to accumulate years and years of dust and grime. She was exposed to sunlight, damp, cobwebs and smoke - you name it - this poor little girl has suffered it. It was difficult to take pictures that show just how extensive the damage is and the depth of the dirt. But here are a few snaps. Some of the poses are just not lady-like - but necessary to show the terrible condition of this dolly! I don't think Cinderella saw a soul for years and years. Because anyone with any kind of heart (or sense of cleanliness!) would have witnessed the deterioration occurring and stored her differently. Poor Cinderella - she needs a Fairy Godmother for this job! The littlest fairy in the Grove is going to help me and we'll see what we can do for this girl - while respecting all her original charm of course. Stay tuned next week when Cinderella's Cleaning Commences!
Meadow Sweet Grove © V. Buchanan 2017 Chapter 1: Creepy Cinderella's Arrival at The Grove This dirty dolly entered the Grove recently. Dirty, deteriorating, sticky, smelly -- she seemed perfect for our yearly Hallowe'en display. I had not intended to alter her charms at all - except maybe, a bit of red splattering on her dress. I mean, really, she has changed colour and is literally disintegrating; if she had been stored properly, the story would be different ... and you have to have some fun, right? But as the littlest fairy in the Grove carried her 'round and 'round the thrift store, some magic must have happened. I looked back to see her holding the doll close to her chest. "Mom! She's Made in England!" Well, that's gold. "Really?" I said. I flipped up her sticky hair and there it was on the back of dolly's neck. A bit more looking around and I kept reiterating - she can't live in the house, she is just too far gone - she must live with the Hallowe'en decorations and only come out once a year. But eventually I glanced down to see a loving gaze at the doll and heard the words, "I love her Momma". So the challenge is on to restore Cinderella, so named for her brand of shoes, "No. 3 Medium Cinderella". This and the following information, is all I have on her so far:
If anyone knows of good sites to research this dolly - I would love to hear from you. The amount of information on vintage/antique dolls is absolutely overwhelming! Next week we will start to clean Cinderella - a change for this fairy tale character, who usually has to do all the cleaning herself! Meadow Sweet Grove © V. Buchanan 2017 (gif courtesty of animated images.org)
Mom and Dad are bringing them here, of course, because it is such a good food source. It's touching how the little ones are now seemingly showing up on their own for breakfast ... but I notice that Mom or Dad, or sometimes both, are always watching from a little distance away (they are good parents). They caw to let the babies know that it is okay to go get the food. The caws sure change dramatically though when my little black and white cat sneaks out the door at the same time! However, I have been advised by a reliable Gnome in the Grove that maybe I shouldn't feed the babies too much. The young ones do, however, need to learn to find food in other places too. So, I am rationing the food ... it's hard! Because they sit on the wires, and sometimes outside my window, with their little beaks open and waiting. I am finding the strength to do what is right. I only give them just enough at breakfast (and maybe a wee bit at dinnertime) to keep their little bellies hungry ... so that they go and search elsewhere. Plus, it would seem that this fellow is attracted to any bits and pieces left-over. His stealthy little hands reach up to the "special spot" hoping to grab any forgotten food. And, as you can see, he is here, all hopeful, and it isn't even twilight yet! Okay I'll scale it back ... I promise. Meadow Sweet Grove © V. Buchanan 2017 / edited 2019
But the fairies, who live in a separate realm, don't worry about these little things and intuitively know with whom they are sharing their garden space. For this reason, we have let the many folk names for flowers prevail in the Grove. Meadow Sweet Grove © V. Buchanan 2017/edited 2021 (gif courtesy of animatedimages.org) What an incredible Summer Solstice we are having here at Meadow Sweet Grove! Bright, beautiful sun, strong warm breezes - perfect for drying laundry and . . . the magical appearance of a fairy ring in the garden! This is a really grand compliment as fairy rings (rings of mushrooms) only appear in places that the fairies themselves have chosen as a desirable place for their evening revels and dancing. In fact, the little toadstools are evidence that a merry dance has already taken place. For wherever the fairies dance; the mushrooms are said to appear. The fairy ring marks a special, distinct space from the human world. It is often seen as a gateway to fairyland or another dimension where the fairies will keep you for a year and a day. We can't usually see what (or who) is inside the fairy circle ... when we look in from the outside. And if a fey beckons us to join in the dance - do we dare go in? Meadow Sweet Grove © V. Buchanan 2017 / edited 2021
We've had a regular visitor to the Grove for about a year now. The fairies have benevolently bestowed upon him the title of "Crow Man". Since last summer, he comes often for a bit of bread or leftovers and now is very happy to wait, in his usual spot, outside the door nearest the kitchen where I can see him. After a while, he started bringing two friends with him, but by winter, they were gone, and he was just back to his lonely self again. Pictured here with another resident of the Grove, St. Finnian, a cat with the heart and name of a saint. "Finn Man" gives Crow Man no trouble at all. While he's clearly interested in the visitor, the crow knows that he doesn't have too much to worry about from this one and will even come and fetch his breakfast with Finny close by! Now there is another little trouble-maker in the Grove that Crow Man has no patience for whatsoever. No love is lost between these two ... as you can see how this little feline reacts when he catches sight of anything feathered ... be it crow or any buzzing thing! Meadow Sweet Grove © V. Buchanan 2017 ~ Your House Dragon ~ Put him in charge this vacation! (An exercise in protective visualization) Whenever I go away on vacation, I look back and see my dragon curled around our little three story house. His tail winds around the whole bottom of the house at the garden level, his body encircles the second level and finally he places his head, chest and little front feet onto the peaked roof. Digging his front claws in ever so slightly, he lays his head down by the chimney (I think the smoke from the chimney reminds him of his Mama!) ... he folds his wings and snoozes gently. We're on a bit of a hill, so from the rooftop, he has an excellent view of the goings-on in the neighbourhood! I never worry when I'm away from home because I know the slightest sound or activity on our property will make him jump into action ... and while he is a gentle dragon, he's still pretty fierce to look at and very protective of his home. Next time you go on vacation, why not practice this little visualization technique yourself? It's great fun and very reassuring to know you have someone magical protecting your home while you're away!
Meadow Sweet Grove © V. Buchanan 2017 / edited 2019
Meadow Sweet Grove © V. Buchanan 2017 / edited 2022 Meadow Sweet Grove has experienced a record downfall of rain this Spring. Most of the fairies are probably sitting by their little stoves and looking out longingly at their gardens. When they do go out, I imagine they dart for cover, hiding under handy toadstools along the way. Still, May is the perfect month to search for fairies that might be starting to play in the garden after those long winter months. An absolute abundance of froggies! Well, it has been raining an awful lot ... And even Robin Goodfellow, or Puck - as some know him - was found amongst the new growth and greenery, where he is always the happiest ... Finally, a gnome atop his new wishing well home (dry as a bone) and a fairy, trapped under ice all winter, has been returned to the Grove. Meadow Sweet Grove © V. Buchanan 2017 / edited 2021
April showers did indeed bring May flowers to the Grove. Not quite as stunning as last year's spring but as promised by Margaret Elizabeth Sangster, "Never yet was a springtime, when the buds forgot to bloom."
Meadow Sweet Grove © V. Buchanan 2017 / edited 2021
The fun part is in the imaginative play and to me is so creatively expressed in books of fairy tales (and other children's books), artwork and little figurines that try and "quantify", in solid form, how this magic must come about through the help of magical creatures or objects, and what they must look like to us mere mortals. For we are indeed mortal but magic itself is immortal as is clearly represented each Spring with the new life all around us.
So join in the magic this Spring! Meadow Sweet Grove © V. Buchanan 2017 The beautiful Spring weather has finally arrived in Meadow Sweet Grove. Warm air, beautiful blossoms, chirping birds ... the garden is beckoning! But, looking around, the house is a mess, and really, really needs its annual Spring cleaning. The rain made it so hard for the fairies to take carpets outside to beat and to wash linens and air them on the line ... and now is the time to do these things! But the garden is so enchanting with so much life showing and it needs attention too ... what to do? Time to call in the helpful house fairies! Brownies and Elves, The Helpful House Fairies Drowning in clutter? Too many things to clean and scrub and make fresh now that Spring is here? The helpful Brownie or House Elf can come to your rescue. Brownies loves to keep things neat and tidy and they are relatively cheap to employ. A little milk, bread and honey (maybe the odd shiny trinket or coin) and they are happy and content. Remember never, ever to thank them (they don't like that). Just leave your offering in a little wee dish and they will always be by your side. Here is my quick summary of "the brownie story" from The Brownie Handbook: "The Wind sighed and the Owl wondered why. Spring had come to Canada so why not be glad? The Wind explained to the Owl that the house below the pines had a Mother, Father, Grandmother and two little girls. Everyone worked hard except the two little girls. The Wind, in consultation with the Owl, decided to blow a breeze in the window; "What a lovely breeze!" Grandmother said as she sat in her rocker sewing. "I smell violets and mayflowers!" "Let's go and pick some Jane," Mary said. "Maybe we can go paddling in the creek, too." Grandmother frowned, "But you haven't made your beds yet, and the breakfast dishes are still on the table." "Oh, Mother will look after those when she comes in from the garden" ... and so it goes on. Grandmother tells the girls about long ago, in her childhood, when she first heard of the Brownies, those friendly little elves who used to come in the night to her Highland home to help with the chores. She remembers hearing them clattering in the kitchen late at night. Mary and Jane are surprised that Grandmother actually heard little fairies and of course want to know if she'd ever actually seen them. Grandmother explained that no, that was part of the magic, they worked quietly, saw what needed to be done and did it without being told. Mary and Jane aren't sure that these Brownies could exist in Canada as well but Grandmother explains that the Owl outside probably knows those answers. So Mary goes out in the moonlight and calls into the darkness of the pine branches. To which the Owl answers, "Whoooo?" Mary introduces herself and asks if he has ever seen any Brownies that might help out Mother, Father and Grandmother with all the housework. He instructs her to go and stand by the big toadstool in the moonlight, by the side of the pond, turn around three times (the magic number) and say, "Twist me and turn me and show me the elf, I looked in the water and there saw ..." And that's the magic - the answer is in ourselves ... but I'm going to leave out a little milk, bread and honey anyway just in case. ;) Meadow Sweet Grove © V. Buchanan 2017 Lots of dramatic weather is at play in Meadow Sweet Grove this Easter with beautiful sunshine one moment ... and hammering hail the next! Soon the wind will come and scatter away the last of the cherry blossoms that have managed to withstand the hail. But never mind - Spring has sprung! Like Spring weather, new beginnings aren't always gentle On a Spring visit to England one year, we were fortunate enough to see a lambing at a farm in Yorkshire. It was an incredible bit of magic to happen upon. Amazing also was watching all the other sheep come over to inspect the two new little arrivals ... and their obvious empathy when one wasn't moving. Fortunately, help was on hand and soon he was happily received by his mama. A Happy Easter Ending! Maybe this is why illustrators in days gone by infused such charm and sweetness in their now-vintage renderings. Not the artist's attempt to deny or downplay the harshness of birth or life itself, but rather a celebration that life is very, very good indeed. The incredible uplifting feeling when a new life arrives. I think all those dear images of newborn animals to celebrate Easter, Spring and New Babies, were a way to express this hope and happiness, optimism and joy that they felt when watching new little ones experience the joy of life ... and those around them. Meadow Sweet Grove © V. Buchanan 2017
Yes, it's still raining in Meadow Sweet Grove (and even hailing!) The fairies are adamant, however, that the old adage will hold true; "April Showers bring May flowers". And there certainly are hopeful signs and sounds of Spring in the Grove. Robins, jays, chickadees, flickers and even hummingbirds have returned, in droves, and are flitting about and singing their sweet spring symphonies. Hurrah for Spring! Despite the seemingly never-ending rain, there are signs of Spring all around. From the early morning birdsong to the daffodils, crocuses, snowdrops, pansies and grape hyacinth that are all blooming in spite of the rain and cold. Even the fruit trees have taken advantage of the slightest bit of sun and warmth to nurture their desire to bloom! They now have teeny, tiny leaves and hints of small buds or blossoms. Still, this year's late, cold and rainy Spring is much more somber than last year's early and cheerful Spring. In keeping with tradition, and in an effort to encourage Spring along, the fairies are happy to lend some outdoor space to the Easter Bunny, who knows so well that Spring always comes no matter; "Whether the weather!". He is cheerfully painting as many eggs as he possibly can before the much-anticipated Easter morning. We can help Spring along too by placing little hopeful reminders throughout the house such as: a vase of flowers, some painted eggs, pretty flowered teacups or lovely little figurines of bunnies, lambs and chicks. Welcome Spring! Meadow Sweet Grove © V. Buchanan 2017
It has been raining so long in Meadow Sweet Grove ... week after week of it! The fairies are having a hard time getting their laundry dry and all sorts of smalls are hanging in front of all the little hearths and stoves. Still, there are signs of Spring in the Grove. Lots and lots of merry songbirds are flitting about and wee, perky daffodils are cheerfully (and valiantly!) standing up to the rain. In the meantime, rainy nights make for some great soup nights. This recipe (with slight alterations) is from one of Meadow Sweet Grove's vintage cookbooks and is a very comfy and tasty version of Manhattan Clam Chowder. Pair with crusty buns and sharp cheese for a perfect rainy night supper! Manhattan Clam Chowder 1/4 cup finely cut bacon, cooked crisp 1/4 cup finely chopped yellow onion 1 can whole baby clams 2 cups peeled, diced potatoes 1 cup water 1/3 cup finely diced celery 1 can diced tomatoes 1 tsp. salt (if desired) 1/8 tsp. black pepper 1/4 tsp. thyme 2 tsps. parsley Finely chop bacon and fry in frying pan until completely crisp. Add onion and saute together. Drain clams, reserving liquid and set clams aside. Add clam liquor, potatoes, water and celery to the onion and bacon. Cook, slightly bubbling, until potatoes are tender - approx. 10-15 min. Add clams, tomatoes and seasonings. Heat thoroughly and serve immediately. Makes approximately 4 servings. These little bowls are simply awesome. Perfect for setting out on the table at each place setting with (or as) the main course. Because they come with lids, the soup is kept piping hot until everyone is ready to join in at the table - and if there are any left-overs, simply pop the lid on top and store in the fridge. Fun way to serve soup to kids, great for sauces or small portions, and handy for saving any type of leftovers - all without the use of plastic wraps. Gotta love it! Source: Betty Crocker's New Picture Cook Book, McGraw-Hill, 1961 Meadow Sweet Grove © V. Buchanan 2017 / edited 2019/2020
St. Patrick's Day is on its way in Meadow Sweet Grove and the fairies are celebrating! There's lots of singing, dancing, green mead and shamrock sugar cookies to go around. Of course, the hunt is also on to find those lucky four-leaf clovers before the mortals stumble across them. We have a special incentive to do so - it is said if you find a four-leaf clover, you will be gifted with the power to see fairies .... Combine dry ingredients. Cream the butter and sugar together in a separate bowl. Beat the egg, milk and vanilla into the wet ingredients. Sift and add dry mixture a bit at a time and mix well. Shape dough into a ball, cover bowl and chill until firm.
Meanwhile, grease or line cookie sheets. Preheat oven to 375°. Roll out chilled dough to about 1/8 inch thickness. Cut with shamrock or clover shaped cookie cutters and place on cookie sheets. Bake for about 7 minutes until edges are a very light brown. Meadow Sweet Grove © V. Buchanan 2017 / edited 2020 & 2021 & 2022 Last week at Meadow Sweet Grove the fairies shared their penchant for a daily tea break. And what goes better with a tea, a coffee (or a glass of wine or spirits if you prefer) than a good book? Each fairy in the Grove, no matter the size of home, cherishes their little library. While most true book lovers would love a library to rival the size of The Great Library of Alexandria, most of us have to be content with bookshelves and cases, over the doorway shelves and even piled up books on the floor and staircases if necessary! Reading is universal because it doesn't matter what you are interested in ... there is sure to be a book (more like thousands) written on your favourite subject! When you're interested in something, you tend to devour everything and anything you can find on the matter. All written word has value, even if you don't agree with the author or if the sources are suspect. Often an author who has been sloppy in their research or draws too many conclusions without supporting facts, will nonetheless touch on a little known event or story that spurs you on a quest for more reliable information. For example, the fairies have whispered to me that they are often misrepresented in books and that their stories have changed over time. This has encouraged me to seek out older and older sources of fairy tales, nursery rhymes, mythologies and even historical references that echo, essentially, the same story over and over, but quite often with juicier details ... The more you read, the more you can discern what rings true for you. Your collection of books and articles grow, until you have a wee library, and become a mini authority on your pet subject. When all resources are exhausted, you start to develop your own theories ... and bemoan the loss of all the fantastic scrolls of ancient information that were lost when The Great Library of Alexandria was accidentally (and also more often, systematically) destroyed. C'est la vie ... though I wish 'tweren't so. Meadow Sweet Grove © V. Buchanan 2017 The English fairies in Meadow Sweet Grove carry the tradition of taking their tea at 4 o'clock every day. It provides a nice break in their busy days and a chance to catch up with their fellow fairies. It's a very social time and the fairies take turns sipping tea with the other fairies and woodland creatures who live in the Grove. Some take their whole evening meal at this time, some just have a tea or coffee, and still others like to have a small sweet with their tea. A plate with a pretty, funky or unusual pattern is always fun to set out with some cookies, small pastries, chockies or savouries for guests. Whether you prefer a matching dinnerware set or a simple set with no pattern at all - tea time provides an opportunity to showcase a character plate. It doesn't have to match anything else because it is set out on its own as a single serving dish with goodies whilst sharing a cup of tea or coffee with a friend. I always remember coming home for tea after school. My Dad would stop work to take a tea break around 4 o'clock - and then continue work for a couple hours before dinner. It wasn't until some years later that I realized that not everyone followed this tradition. But I suppose since my Great-Grandfather was British, it was just too entrenched in my family's routine (and too yummy!) not to continue. Good things tend to last. Just be wary of how long you spend at tea time. Remember the Mad Hatter, March Hare and Dormouse? Forever stuck at tea time ... maybe some things are best in small doses! Meadow Sweet Grove © V. Buchanan 2017
February 14th - St. Valentine's Day = Love Starting with the Roman Festival of Lupercalia, moving on to the Greek mythology of Venus, Cupid & Psyche and culminating with the Christian story of St. Valentine ... it's always been about Love! Winter is ending, Spring is beginning ... love is in the air. The Meadow Sweet Grove fairies love cheeky vintage Valentines ... like the one to the left! With their playful play on words - they really reflect the essence of Valentine's Day with flirtatiousness, fun and comradery. Of course, the industrious fairies also love to turn the scraps, trimmings and clippings that they saved during the year into one-of-a-kind home-made card creations as well! ~ Save your scraps ~ Set aside a shoe box or large envelope and collect scraps throughout the year. Cut out beautiful pictures from magazines, cards, advertisements, tags, packaging, wrapping paper, stickers from address labels, stamps - you get the idea! Save little bits of cloth ribbon from chocolate and nut packages, cut buttons off clothes too worn to donate and anything else you find pretty. Once you get going, and truly look at everything in your hand before you drop it in the trash or recycling bin - you will be amazed at what you have available to you - for free!! ~ Making the cards ~ There are countless ways to make your card - and absolutely the sky is the limit! Here's one option for a flat card, with message on the reverse, that can be displayed by "propping":
Et voilà! Instant, pretty, unique and free Valentine's Day card. Children and the youngest fairies, of course, love making their own cards ... and some of the not-so-young ones do too ... Meadow Sweet Grove © V. Buchanan 2017 / edited 2021
The first little signs of Spring are showing as the crocuses and snowdrops push through the earth. And as seems customary here in Meadow Sweet Grove, as soon as they poke their little heads through ... another snowfall settles in! The fairies hold strong that maybe a wee show of faith is needed to bring springtime to the Grove again. Hence, their little well is decorated with a few faux flowers to encourage Spring to keep on keeping on!
top of the bread - have a little bit of leftover parmesan? Grate (ha ha)! And for an extra-special touch - definitely sprinkle on a little bit of Hungarian Paprika! (It has to be Hungarian). So nice. Cook at 325° for about 1/2 hour - maybe longer - and there you have a "Pull-It-All-Together Macaroni & Cheese" - different every time you make it! But what if you truly do have to throw out food? Here's some options for continuing the life cycle of your food: Feed the Birds - Not even "Tuppence a Bag"! The little woodland creatures in the Grove appreciate many leftovers. Crows will eat any amount of left-over bread, crackers, chips and the like. Save your bacon fat in a tin beside the stove and spread it on the bread for smaller birds - this makes it almost a suet for them and helps them to store their own fat. Last but not least - Compost Finally compost anything left over that you can such as: spoiled fruit, vegetable peelings, old Jack o'Lanterns, and even a limited amount of teabags, egg and nut shells, etc. There are very small composters available now that fit into tiny spaces. In the Spring, you will save money once again by reducing the amount of costly dirt and fertilizers that you would ordinarily buy. Composting is very worthwhile and is seriously like "rocket fuel" for your plants! © Meadow Sweet Grove, 2017
~ Never throw food out ~ Save Vegetable Peelings/Cuttings & Leftover Bits of Chicken Chicken broth is relatively inexpensive at the store and available in tins or tetra packs. But why pay for anything that is so easy to make and for which you already have the ingredients? You do have the time if you remember your freezer. Just keep a bread bag in the freezer closed with a twist tie. Next time you are chopping or peeling vegetables (especially carrots, onions, broccoli and celery), toss all the good bits that you would ordinarily throw away, into that bag and keep them frozen. Wrap up any leftover bits of cooked chicken and freeze separately. Now, and at your leisure, you may make up a batch of chicken stock whenever you choose. Simply tip the various little bags of frozen veg and chicken into a large pot. Add black pepper, parsley and a bay leaf. Cover, bring to a boil and simmer. When ready, pour over a strainer into ceramic bowls. Use immediately or transfer, when tepid, into plastic containers for freezing. And if you are lucky enough to have a left-over chicken carcass, you can immediately add the frozen veg directly into the pan to make your broth. Don't forget to check the bottom of your crisper bins in the fridge! Often there are some veg "on the way out" that can be easily added to the broth. Save Soft Tomatoes Tomatoes starting to soften in the refrigerator? Bad on one side? Put them in a large metal mixing bowl, boil a kettle and pour over top. When cool enough to touch, make a slight cut -- the skins should peel off easily. Slightly chop, discarding any spoiled pieces, and place the remainder in a medium pot. Reduce to mush over medium to low heat. Ladle into sterilized mason jars (just boil jars and lids rapidly for a couple of minutes in a large pot of water), add a small squirt of lemon and sprinkle of rock salt on top and seal jars. Freeze when they reach room temperature. Now you have some wonderful crushed tomatoes for your next spaghetti, lasagna or other pasta dish! If you are in a hurry, simply wash the whole tomatoes in cool water, dry and freeze in a bread bag. You can then add the frozen tomatoes directly to any pasta sauce or soup you are making at a later date - just takes a little longer to break them down. Save Bits & Pieces of Cheese / Odds & Ends of Bread Cheese is so incredibly expensive ... at least in Meadow Sweet Grove. The fairies in Britain often come to visit their little cousins in the Grove and are shocked at the price of cheese! So, every time you slice cheese for snacking, or grate cheese for a meal, make sure you save the little leftover bits, wrapped up tight in the refrigerator. Start a bread bag in the fridge for left-over bread - that last slice no one seems to eat, the broken crust, etc. Also, don't throw out that last bit of sour cream, cottage cheese or unflavoured yogurt - unless it truly is off of course! Black Bananas Banana Bread of course! A tasty snack anytime and perfect for kid's lunchboxes. These are just a few ways to save food that you might otherwise have thrown out. Once you get used to the idea, you will discover many, many more ways to use up food that you thought had no life left in it, or was too small to save - and start saving lots on that shocking grocery bill! Next week for you: Two recipes -
"Pull-It-All-Together Macaroni & Cheese" & Delicious Banana Bread Meadow Sweet Grove © V. Buchanan 2017 |
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