Freezing Baked Beans

Here is a good recipe for freezing baked beans that could be pulled from the freezer and warmed up for a quick addition to a meal. It calls for dried pea beans which include: Black-eyed and Yellow-eyed peas; Chick/Garbanzo/Ceci/Spanish peas; Split peas; or Whole dried peas. See my post from 25 May 2017, Kinds of Dried Beans #2.

8 lb dried pea beans
4-1/2 c brown sugar
1/3 c salt
1-1/2 tsp cinnamon
2 c molasses
4 onions, chopped (optional)
1-1/2 lb bacon, cut up
1/2 tsp pepper
4 qt tomato juice
2 qt water

Cover the dried pea beans with water and soak overnight. Drain and cook until soft. Cool and add the rest of the ingredients. Put into jars and cold pack 2-1/2 to 3 hours.

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Ray and Bob

Ray and Bob, two Government maintenance guys, were standing at the base of a flagpole, looking up. A woman walked by and asked what they were doing. “We’re suppose to find the height of the flagpole”, said Bob, “But we don’t have a ladder.”

The woman said, “Hand me that wrench out of your toolbox.” She loosened a few bolts, then laid the pole down. She then took a tape measure from their toolbox, took a measurement and announced, “Eighteen feet, six inches” and walked away.

Ray shook his head and laughed. “Well, ain’t that just like a ‘Miss-know-it-all’ woman?” he asked. “We need the height and she gives us the length!”

Ray and Bob are still working for the Government.

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Do you Have an Advanced Care Plan?

“Do you have an advanced care plan?” was one of the questions asked of me at a recent doctor’s visit. One can take that question in two different ways. The first thought that came to my mind was, “Boy, I didn’t think my lab results looked that bad!” The thought of the medical team looking out for my future care and wishes never entered my mind. Luckily, it was the second way and not the conclusion I had jumped to. I do have one. Where it’s at, I’m not sure. I really don’t plan on needing it for a couple of more years.

An advanced care plan is another term for an advanced directive. It enables you to record the type of care you want to receive if you become unable to speak for yourself. Besides having a written plan, you may want to TALK to your loved ones about your care decisions.

T – take time to have the conversation with your physician and family.

A – Always be open and honest.

L – Leave no doubt about your values and preferences.

K – Know that advanced care planning is a quality-of-life choice.

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Black-Eyed Peas

Back on 25 May 2017, my post, Kinds of Dried Beans #2, included black-eyed and yellow peas. Here’s an excellent recipe for using black-eye peas.

1 c celery, diced
1 c onions, diced
1 c ham, diced
2 15-1/2 oz c black-eyed peas, drained and rinsed
8 oz c tomato sauce
5 or 6 dashes hot sauce
1 Tbsp dry ground mustard
Salt and pepper to taste

After placing the celery, onions and ham into a medium pan, add enough water to just cover and cook until celery is tender, about 5 minutes. Add the remaining ingredients. Add water if needed to cover the peas. Simmer on medium-low heat for 45 to 60 minutes, stirring frequently and adding water if necessary. When the peas have a thick consistency, they are ready to serve.

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Hamburger Pickle Slices

If you still have a lot of cucumbers left to pickle, here is an old Amish recipe you may want to try.

To 1 gallon of thinly sliced cucumbers, add 1 cup of salt. Cover with hot water with green food coloring (optional) added to it. Let stand for 4 days. Drain and wash/rinse and then cover with water to which 1 tablespoon of alum has been added for each gallon of water. Boil for 10 minutes, then drain. In a small cloth bag place 1 tablespoon each of whole cinnamon, allspice, cloves, and celery seed. Tie bag closed. Put in your kettle with the pickles and add 1 pint of water, 1 pint vinegar and 5 cups of sugar. Boil until transparent and put into jars and seal.

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Sunlight’s Health Benefits

I think we all realize that too much exposure to the sun can damage our skin which could lead to skin cancer although a moderate amount of sunlight has health benefits. Here are some of those benefits.

• 30 minutes of sun while wearing a bathing suit causes our skin to produce a significant amount of vitamin D, which is important for healthy bones and a healthy immune system. If you’re not into sunbathing, 15 minutes of sun on your hands, arms and face two or three days per week provides some vitamin D benefits.
• Sunlight also gives a boost to our levels of serotonin, a mood- and energy- enhancing hormone produced in our brain.
• Exposure to sunlight supports your body’s production of nitric oxide, a substance that helps lower blood pressure as well as chronic inflammation, which may have a role in the development of heart disease and certain forms of cancer.
• Remember, ‘moderation’ is the word when it comes to sun exposure, especially between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. when the sun’s ultraviolet rays are at their peak. If you are out in the sun for 15 minutes or longer, wear a sunscreen with a (SPF) sun protection factor, of at least 15.

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I Need The Rake

If you have watched The Alaskan Bush People on TV you know that they use a lot of hand signals when they are communicating among themselves. They say that because of the distance over which they are trying to make their needs known, using hand signals makes more sense than trying to shout at each other. I thought the Pickle Queen and I knew each others hand signals but I was at a loss for our latest attempt to get our needs known.

We were doing some yard work after the wind and rain we had lately and the PQ went up to the house to take a shower. As she got up to the deck I realized that I couldn’t find the rake. I yelled up to her, “Where’s the rake?”

She couldn’t hear me and shouted back, “What?”

I pointed to my eye, then I pointed to my knee and made a raking motion. Pretty clear I thought. Evidently the PQ wasn’t sure and said, “What?”

I repeated the gestures: “EYE KNEE THE RAKE”.

The PQ replied that she understood and signs back. She first points to her eye, next she points to her left breast, then she points to her bum, and finally points to her crotch.

Well, there was no way in hell I could even come close to that understanding that one. Exasperated, I went up to the house and asked her, “What the hell was that?”

She replied, “EYE – LEFT TIT – BEHIND – THE BUSH.”

Makes sense to me now.

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