Preserving Fresh Lettuce - Salad from a jar

I'm a salad-lover!

I could eat a salad every day,

and I usually do.

Yet I'm always throwing away

lettuce that has turned brown or wilted.

note: I don't actually throw it in

the trash bin, it goes to the chickens/compost.

Well, no more!!

(cue dramatic "ta-da"music here)

I now preserve my lettuce in canning jars

with my handy dandy FoodSaver vacuum sealer.

We purchased jar sealers for both regular

and wide-mouth. These use the accessory 

hose that comes with most FoodSaver models.

Here's how we do it!

We use a mix of lettuce, whatever

we're growing along with store-

bought.

1. Chop it into bite-size pieces.

2. Wash and DRY it really well

     in your salad spinner or with

     paper towels.

3. Pack your mix of lettuce into 

    mason jars. Push in as much

    as you can!

4. Place a lid* on the jar.

5. Place the jar sealer over the lid.

6. Attach the hose to both the jar

    sealer and your machine, hit

    the vacuum button.

7. When it is finished, DETACH 

    the HOSE from the jar sealer 

    first. You should hear a ping.

8. Then remove the jar sealer from

    your mason jar. Test the lid to make

    sure its sealed!

9. Keep your jars in the refrigerator

    for up to seven days. 

That's it.

* you can use new lids (and still use them for canning later) or

you can reuse old lids as long as they aren't too banged up.

Also, this works for quart or pint jars. 

I use a pint because that is a perfect serving size for me.

We have been doing this for well over a year now. 

You can experiment with different lettuce. More delicate leaves/spinach, I know just starts to turn by the seventh day. However, more sturdy leaves such as romaine will last longer.

This is a huge time saver during the week. For lunch, I simply 

grab a jar, empty it onto my plate throw on a few toppings and 

I'm good to go!

I have a friend that takes a jar with her to work each day, she puts

her toppings in another container; grabs both on her way out the 

door. 

I'm all about prepping for one day,

so I can eat for a week.

Do you have any prepping shortcuts

to share??

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Preserving Your Summer Squash - Zucchini

If you're someone who likes 

to share, grow summer squash. 

It's a very prolific plant!

We grew green & golden 

zucchini summer squash 

this season. 

Unfortunately, we started

our garden a bit late due

to our May/June vacation

this year and it was just

when the squash "moths"

were laying their eggs.

We didn't notice in time,

and their larvae feasted

on our plants!

#sadface  :(

We were able to pick a few before

the vines started dying off.

Most of my zucchini is shredded,

preserved in FoodSaver bags and

stacked in the freezer for later use.

Although you can add shredded

zucchini to a number of recipes

to increase your veggie intake,

our main uses are...

*Zucchini Cake with Easy Cream Cheese Icing,

*Super Moist Zucchini Bread and

*Zesty Zucchini Relish.

I'll provide links above as I share my recipes here on the

blog in the coming days.

We use a food processor with

a shredder blade.

If you have a shredder for your

Kitchen-Aid mixer great, if not

a hand grater would work too!

Then we bag it up in 2 or 3 cup portions.

3 cups for the bread, 2 cups for the cake

and relish. Freeze it flat then stack it to

save space. No blanching required.

You could also slice your zucchini in

rounds and dehydrate it for use in soups

and casseroles.

Sprinkle on some seasonings before 

drying them for variety.

Whether you shred it, freeze it or 

dehydrate it, Zucchini is easy to 

preserve and a great veggie to keep 

on hand.

Now, I'm off to bake a zucchini cake!

Do you grow squash 

in your garden?

What is your favorite

way to use it?

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Safety Education series - Poisoning

March 5, 2015

Safety education: Poisoning

National Poison Prevention week is March 15-21, 2015. 

Today we're going to learn some important poison prevention tips along with some life applications.

poisonhelp.hrsa.gov

HRSA has a wonderful site called Poison Help. 

*Visit Poison Help's, "What Can You Do?" section and read through the various pages on the left side bar. 

*Read over the articles together or have older students navigate through at their own pace, taking notes along the way. 

*On the Emergency Checklist page:

1. Within the first sentence of the article, we are given the 1-800- number to call. Have your students put this number in their mobile phones under "Poison Help" right now. Parents/teachers too! 

2. As we read over the article, I found the need to emphasize to the children the time stated to rinse the skin or eyes was longer than they thought.  15-20 minutes is a long time!!  

If you have time, let them "rinse" each other's hand 

under the water without looking at a clock and stop 

when they think 15 minutes have passed.

~ They thought 7 minutes was an eternity!

(quite an eye-opener!)

3. At the end of the article it asks us to be ready to talk to the expert on the phone. Use the questions to review important family information. 

Do your children know how old you/parents are?

Do they know if anyone in the family has special medical conditions?

Sometimes we assume the children pick up this information automatically, just by being a family member. An emergency is not the time to find out they didn't know! 

Could your child give adequate directions to your home?

If not, have them Google your address, print out the directions, and keep them near the phone.

*After reading through the section, "Poison Proof your Home" have students create their own checklist to refer to as they walk through their home or a family member's home.

*Finally, with all the information learned, have the students prepare a display or presentation to be given to fellow homeschoolers, family or friends for the upcoming National Poison Prevention week, March 15-21. Also, check with your local library or fire company to see if you can present your findings to a public group.

Thank you for joining us this week.

Additional note: Daylight Savings Time begins this Sunday, March 8, 2015 at 2:00 am. The clock is set to go forward 1 hour at that time. It's also a good time to change the batteries in your smoke detectors! 

If you are finding these classes
useful, please consider leaving a
comment. Thank you.

disclaimer: I am not a doctor or safety expert. This article is only intended 

to serve as an encouragement to discuss safety basics and give safety class 

ideas to homeschoolers. 
source

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Safety Education series - Electrical Safety

Feb. 19, 2015

Safety education: electrical safety

Learn how to stay safe around electricity!

Today were going to visit PPL Electric Utilities e-SMART kids site.

Their Kids site offers activity pages, games, info & checklists concerning safety, conservation and science.

While their GET SMART - electrical safety, allows you to print out a certificate to track your progress through safety related topics.

There is plenty to explore throughout the site either self-guided or as a family project for discussion, depending on the age of your students.

Mom notes:

Here are some additional ideas I've used over the years.

1. After reviewing the information, have the children put together a electrical safety display to present to family & friends.

2. Create a Electrical Safety Activity book to share with a younger child.

3. Write a safety essay for your local newspaper. (great practice, whether or not it is actually accepted for publication!)

 

Thanks so much for joining us!

Our next class will be March 5th.

If you are finding these classes
useful, please consider leaving a
comment. Thank you.

disclaimer: I am not a doctor or safety expert. 

This article is only intended to serve as an encouragement 

to discuss safety basics and give safety class ideas to homeschoolers. 

source

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Safety Education series - Family Disaster plan part 4

Jan. 29, 2015

Safety education: family disaster plan part 4 (final)

family disaster plan part 1

family disaster plan part 2

family disaster plan part 3

Throughout the month of January we have been creating our family disaster plan. We've talked about possible disasters that could occur in our area, gathered important information, and discussed possible solutions to potential emergencies.  

By making ourselves more aware, we have lessened our confusion factor!

Today we are going to review.

The parent/teacher, looking back over the last three lessons, should ask questions to make sure your family remembers meeting places, phone numbers and safety rules discussed. 

Conduct drills,

Implement a schedule to test smoke detectors monthly and change the batteries two times each year,

Check manufacturer's instructions to understand how to test and charge your fire extinguishers,

Develop a way to keep track of your stored food & water to replace it every six months.

Discuss & answer any other concerns your family might have regarding possible disasters and evacuation procedures.

our family disaster plan

Resources:

NOAA - The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

American Red Cross

Mom note:

In addition to preparing your own family, please prayerfully consider helping other families during times of disaster. After learning how the local chapter of the American Red Cross & other disaster relief agencies quickly respond to individual disasters like house fires, the kids may want to have a fund drive to collect needed items to donate. Community outreach is always encouraged!

Thanks so much for joining our safety class.

See you next time.

If you are finding these classes
useful, please consider leaving a
comment. Thank you.

disclaimer: I am not a doctor or safety expert. This article is only intended to serve as an encouragement to discuss safety basics and give safety class ideas to homeschoolers. 

source

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Safety education series - Family disaster plan part 3

Jan. 22, 2015

Safety education: family disaster plan part 3

family disaster plan part 1

family disaster plan part 2

This week we will continue to create our plan.

Last week, the students created a list of emergency phone numbers. 

This week, let's make sure the children are comfortable using the phone & have the necessary info to relay emergency details.

Do they know their full names, how about Mommy & Daddy's names? 

Their home address?

Any special care instructions for the people in their home? (allergies, diabetes, etc)

*Teach your children how & when to call 911 or your local Emergency Medical Services.

If your children have cell phones & know quite well how to use them, make sure they have 911 listed at the top of their contacts and at least one ICE name listed. (ICE - In Case of Emergency) such as "ICE Mother"  or "ICE sister", etc.

If your younger children have not used the phone much, allow them to "practice" dialing 911 and role play caller/dispatcher asking & answering questions. Take turns.

The next step to completing our family disaster plan is to assembly a disaster supply kit with items you may need in case of an evacuation.

*Keep enough supplies in your home to meet your needs for at least three days.

Store these supplies in sturdy, easy to carry containers, such as backpacks or Duffle bag

If you joined us for our Winter Storm Emergency kit class, you'll have most of the items needed for your disaster kit. 

Here are NOAA's suggestions for a supply kit:

A 3-day supply of water (one gallon per person per day) and food that won't spoil,

one change of clothing and footwear per person,

one blanket or sleeping bag per person,

a first aid kit, including prescription medicines,

emergency tools, including a battery-powered NOAA Weather radio, 

a portable radio, flashlight and plenty of extra batteries,

an extra set of car keys and a credit card or cash,

important family documents in a waterproof bag,

special items for infant, elderly or disabled family members.

AM/FM NOAA Weather radio

We use a hand-crank AM/FM NOAA weather radio with built-in flashlight to save space!

our family disaster plan

We'll continue this class topic next week,

I hope you'll join us.

If you are finding these classes
useful, please consider leaving a
comment. Thank you.

disclaimer: I am not a doctor or safety expert. This article is only intended to serve as an encouragement to discuss safety basics and give safety class ideas to homeschoolers. 

source

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Safety Education series - Family Disaster Plan part 2

Jan 15, 2015

Safety education: family disaster plan part 2

family disaster plan part 1

This week we will continue to create our plan.

Simply being prepared for situations under our control may avert a number of disasters.

*Discuss which phone numbers you will need in the event of an emergency, then have your students create a list/index card to keep by the phone.

*Make sure you have properly working smoke detectors & fire extinguishers throughout your home. Take the time to check each unit now.

*Inspect your home for potential hazards, such as items that can move or heavy furniture/items that could fall. (Are tall bookcases securely anchored to the wall, are electronics or heavy art pieces kept overhead?) Also check for fire hazards around the home. (draperies, bedding to close to fire sources or piles of paper, etc)  If these hazards are found, discuss how to correct them.

*Have your family learn basic safety measures, such as CPR and first aid; how to use a fire extinguisher; and how & when to turn off water, gas, and electricity in your home.

Have students search online for local CPR classes if needed, review our Basic First Aid class. Contact your local fire department to see when they have public demonstrations on how to use a fire extinguisher or schedule a private lesson.

Each school age child should be aware that their home has a way to turn off water, gas & electricity and where it is located. Even if you feel your children are not mature enough to understand the operation of these utilities, they should be made aware that they exist. Advise them as you see fit.

our family disaster plan

We'll continue this class next week.

I hope you'll join us!

If you are finding these classes
useful, please consider leaving a
comment. Thank you.

disclaimer: I am not a doctor or safety expert. This article is only intended to serve as an encouragement to discuss safety basics and give safety class ideas to homeschoolers. 

source

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Safety Education series - Family Disaster Plan part 1

Jan. 8, 2015

Safety Education: Family disaster plan part one

Every family should be prepared for any hazards that may affect their area,

and have a disaster plan in place. 

Where will your family be when a disaster strikes?

They could be away from the home, at work or in a car.

How will you find each other?

What would you do if basic services...water, gas, electricity...were cut off

for an extended period of time?

Discuss these possibilities now to avoid confusion later.

Have your students search online to find then contact your local National Weather 

Service office, emergency management office and American Red Cross chapter. Ask

them what type of disasters could occur in your area and how you should respond. 

(Many are more than happy to work with interested homeschoolers!)

Also, Learn your community's warning signals and evacuation plans.

Each family should have two meeting places predetermined. One outside your home

for an emergency, such as fire and a place away from your neighborhood in case you

can't return home. Choose an out-of-state friend as your family's check-in contact 

person for everyone to call if the family gets separated.

Discuss what you would do if advised to evacuate.

These are great table-talk topics to discuss at the dinner table!

your family's disaster plan

We'll continue this class next week, Jan 15, 2015.

I hope you'll join us again.

If you've found these weekly safety classes
helpful, please consider leaving a
comment. thank you.

disclaimer: I am not a doctor or safety expert. This article is only intended to serve as an encouragement to discuss safety basics and give safety class ideas to homeschoolers. 

source

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Safety Education series - Review

With this beautiful Christmas season upon us, we

will not be having safety class in our home over the

next few weeks.

If you will be having class in your home, here are

some quick links to topics we have already covered.

Use them as a review class.

Fire Safety & intro

Fire Safety part 2

Fire Safety part 3 

Fire Safety part 4

Basic First Aid kit

Handwashing

Carbon Monoxide

Stranger Danger

Fall Season safety tips

Kitchen Safety tips

Winter Storm Emergency kit

Emergency Car Kits

Hypothermia

Holiday Safety

Enjoy this blessed time of year!
Merry Christmas

Our next new class will 
be Jan. 8, 2015

Holiday Safety - Safety Education series

Dec. 11, 2014

Safety education: holiday safety 

With the hustle & bustle of the holidays here, safety

sometimes takes a backseat. Now is a good time to

think about how your family will be celebrating this

year and discuss how you might handles some of these 

common safety issues.

Will there be small children in your home over the 

holidays?  is your home still "childproof"?

Will older relatives be visiting? check for tripping

hazards, and remember, they may be carrying 

prescription medication with non-child proof caps.

Are your decorations flame retardant if there will 

be open flames nearby?  Will you have a real tree

that will need watered?  While decorating, be sure

to not overload electrical outlets and check for frayed

wires/cords.  

Will you be using open flame candles? Have you 

tested your smoke alarms this month? 

Will your family be cooking the holiday feast?

be sure to review our Kitchen Safety tips class. 

Traveling with the family over the holidays, be safe

on the road and while staying away from home.

Decorating with live plants this holiday? Do you 

have pets in your home?  

source with article

This is certainly not an exhaustive list, but it

should start some discussion. 

Mom notes:

We had the children create a holiday safety checklist 

years ago, we kept it with the Christmas decorations

and go over it each year.  

Thanks for joining us for class this week.

We will not be having safety class in our

home over the next few weeks due to the

holidays, however there will be a review

posted next week.

Our next new class will be Jan. 8, 2015

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