Letter to my Readers... Reviews

I'm sure you've noticed that I've posted a couple of reviews and I hope you've found them informative.
It's not just me, or you. It's a community. There are some really awesome people doing really awesome things and I want to share them with you, my readers.

I don't have all the answers. I just write down in here what I do, many times, AS I'm doing it. My personal knowledge of things is limited, but I'm always learning. I want to point you in directions of other knowledgeable people so you can get the most and the best information. If I don't have it, I'll direct you to someone who does.

I make the reviews because these are people, products, blogs, I like, I trust and believe in. These are places I learn from. Keeping it all to myself is silly and pointless. As I learn to live better by needing to be frugal and sufficient, I want you to have the same learning opportunities as I do, the same information so that YOU, my readers can make informed decisions, and test the information for yourself, then make judgments on finding what works best for you and your families. I say it often... Learn, Understand, Research, Test & Decide.

If you have any links, videos, blogs and other whatnot you'd like me to check out, comment below! I look forward to learning where you all go to learn.

Be Well,
Niki

YouTube Channel Review: RickVanMan

I don't do this often, but I'm thinking I might. There are so many brilliant people on YT that it may require a thought...

RickVanMan's channel on YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/user/rickvanman) This guy is awesome. I really like his style. He's easy to understand, easy to follow and VERY informative.

His channel is varietal, however he focuses on a lot of the homesteading things that we do. He has instructional and informative videos ranging from herbalism, how to make tinctures, and creams and other useful things with your herbs, foraging, and even gardening. He has many other things on there too. I find him very entertaining and chock full of information. He also answers questions in his comments sections, and is very knowledgeable!

Here is just one his videos about How to Make a Cream.. This is part of a series about herbalism basics.

Do you have other YT channels you enjoy and would like me to check out? Put it in the comments section!

Website Recommendation: Homesteading and Survivalism Store

I have recently come across a website called "Homesteading and Survivalism Store." This place is chock full of information, links, products and friendly people!

There is even a CD-ROM of 24 FULL books, over 4500 pages. Many of the books on this are from the late 1800's through the 1950's. Lots of great information that has been generally lost as an art form about canning, and preserving foods for long term storage. I'm going to order the CD-ROM in a few weeks, so that I can well, HAVE and review it for you. I love canning and pickling my own foods.

But anyway, check out the site, let me know what you think. If you already have this CD-ROM, let me know what you think about it?

1. Homesteading and Survivalism Store - http://homesteadingsurvivalism.myshopify.com/
2. Homesteading and Survivalism Store :: Canning, Preserving, Dehydrating Food CD-ROM -  http://homesteadingsurvivalism.myshopify.com/products/canning-preserving-pickling-and-dehydrating-food

Recipe: Taco Pie

It's like a taco, a casserole and a lasagna had an orgy!

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground meat or Veggie Substitute (Works great with x-tra firm tofu)
• 1 pkg taco seasoning
• 1 pkg of shredded cheese. (I used sargentto taco blend)
• 4 oz whole milk ricotta
• 6 whole wheat tortillas

Instructions

1. Brown meat thoroughly.
2. Add taco seasoning to meat. Mix to combine.
3. Cut 6 tortillas in half.
4. Layer the cut sides of 4 of the tortilla halves against the walls of a 9" x 9" square pan, overlapping them to make the base.
5. Spread some ricotta on the tortilla.
6. Sprinkle a little cheese.
7. Put 1/3 of the meat.
8. Layer 4 more tortilla halves, ricotta, meat  and cheese.
9. Repeat step 8 one more time, holding back some shredded cheese for the top.
10. Sprinkle a layer of cheese on the very top.
11. Put into a 350*F oven for 15-20 minutes or until the top cheese is bubbly and the casserole is heated through.
12. Cut, serve, enjoy!

Rockin' Recipes: Salsa Chicken in Springroll Cups

My 2 thighs were small. This made 9 pieces.

Ingredients:

• 2 left over roasted chicken thighs, skin removed, and pulled from bone.
• 3 Tbsp of your favorite salsa
• 1/2 a Medium Onion
• 4 slices of REAL American cheese, or cheddar (Not pasturized processed cheese food. REAL CHEESE PEOPLE)
• Egg Roll wrappers
• Pinch of salt
• Oil for muffin tin.

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. In a food processor, put the chicken, salt, salsa and onion. Buzz until your desired consistency. I went for almost pate style with just a little chunk.
3. Oil the muffin tin.
4. Line each cup with a wanton wrapper, add filling, til ALMOST full, fold over sides allowing them to overlap each other. Do this for each cup that you have filling for.
5. Since the chicken is cooked, we're just browning the wantons, and heating the insides. So bake for about 20 minutes or until golden brown and delicious.

I've also filled wantons with banana and nutella for dessert. OMG To Die For! You can do these same cups with all sorts of fillings; sweet or savory. Fill it with your favorite things, throw it in the oven for something extra special.

Another option is use a mini muffin tin, use wanton wrappers to make appetizers for parties without breaking the bank!

Letter to my Readers #3

So I was washing up the dishes after making the laundry powder and homemade bagels. Yes, I'll post my bagel recipe at some point.

Anyway, so after shaving the ivory, i put the grater into a full sink of hot water that had dishes soaking. My Dishwasher is stupid. I have to wash the dishes by hand before I put them into the dish"Washer" which I use as a high temp rinse and for sanitizing, i guess. Otherwise its a big lump of useless crap...

Anyway 2.0, Ivory on grater, in hot water in sink, it melts into the water. i decided to add a  little borax and baking soda to it, and let me tell ya. I was able to soak the dishes for less time. Food came off, including my baking sheets with baked on oil and such on it. Took almost all of it right off. It was great!

The moral of the story... Try a little of that laundry mix in the dish washing instead of just plain dish soap. Let me know how it works for you.

Replace It: Laundry Detergent: Powder

As with the shampoo we discussed earlier, laundry detergents have the same problem; a whole mess of chemicals that aren't good for us, or our planet. It's so crazy easy, you can make great big batches for a fraction of what a box or a bottle costs. It is just as effective. You're less likely to have an allergic reaction, and you can either scent it or leave it plain.


What you'll need:

• 1 bar of plain Ivory or Castile soap (Don't get all fancy with this, moisturizes and scents won't help you wash your clothes. Plain old basic soap is all you need)
• 1 Cup of Borax
• 1 Cup of Baking Soda
• Optional: 1 Tbsp finely ground herbs or 10 - 12 drops of essential oils (experiment with amounts in this. It's for fragrance. a little goes a long way, but make it the way you're happy with it.)
• A container large enough to hold it
• A cheese grater
• A whisk or spoon

Instructions: (WITH PICTURES!!!)

1. Grate the soap.

2. Add Baking Soda

3. Stir

4. Add Borax

5. Stir

6. Add to storage container.

7. Seal and Label!

Use:

 1-2 Tbsp per regular load. Use more or less depending on how soiled your clothes are and the size of the load. 

It will make approximately 32 -64 loads depending on  the amount you use, but it's so inexpensive, you can easily make more when you want it!

Oh, you wanted liquid detergent? No problem...

Have you tried this? Know other laundry soap recipes? Tell us about it!!