NON-Hybrid Gardening Seeds

Some links from my blog re: garden seeds

http://blog.scottsontherocks.com/blog/2013/01/05/non-hybrid-gardening-seeds/

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Heirloom Garden Seeds

http://www.bbbseed.com/catalog

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Frozen Breakfast Meals

http://www.skinnymomskitchen.com/2012/11/04/menu-plan-november-5th-11th-plus-make-ahead-tips/#more-2187

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MSG Names

MSG Names

Foods always contain MSG when these words are on the label:

Autolyzed Plant Protein
Autolyzed Yeast
Calcium Caseinate
Gelatin
Hydrolyzed Plant Protein (HPP)
Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein (HVP)
Sodium Caseinate
Textured Protein
Yeast Extract
Yeast food or nutrient
Glutamic Acid
Glutamate
MSG
Monopotassium glutamate
Monosodium glutamate

Foods made with the following products

often contain MSG.

‘Low’ or ‘No Fat’ items
Annatto
Anything enriched or vitamin enriched
Barley malt
Bouillon
Broth
Caramel Flavoring (coloring)
Carrageenan
Citric Acid (when processed from corn)
Corn syrup and corn syrup solids (some companies use another process to make their product, saying it is MSG free)
Cornstarch
Dough Conditioners
Dry Milk Solids
“Enzyme modified “”anythng”””
“Fermented “”anything”””
“Flavors, Flavoring”
Flowing Agents
Gums
Lipolyzed butter fat
Malt Extract or Flavoring
Malted Barley (flavor)
Maltodextrin
Milk Powder
Modified food starch
“Natural Chicken, Beef, or Pork, Flavoring “”Seasonings”” (Most assume this means salt, pepper, or spices and herbs, which sometimes it is.)”
Pectin
Protease
Protease enzymes
“Protein fortified “”anything”””
Protein Fortified Milk
Reaction Flavors
Rice syrup or brown rice syrup
Soy Protein
Soy Protein Isolate or Concentrate
Soy Sauce or Extract
Spice
Stock
“Ultra-pasteurized “”anything”””
“Wheat, rice, or oat protein”
Whey Protein Isolate or Concentrate
Whey Protein or Whey
Yeast Nutrients

European numbers for glutamate containing additives:

“620, 621, 622, 623, 624, 625, 627, 631, 635”

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Altoids Tin Survival Kit

Altoids Tin Survival Kit

The RSK Mk5 Survival Tin Knife

RSK Mk5 Packed in a Survival Tin
The RSK Mk5 was designed to fit into mini survival tins like an Altoids Tin. It even comes packaged in a survival tin when you buy it. This knife has a Kydex Sheath and a very functional lanyard that acts as an extension of the handle for stability when using the knife for more rigorous tasks. The overall length is 2 1/4″ and the blade length is 1 3/4″. It’s small but mighty and makes a PERFECT additional to a Survival Tin Project. Thus, the base of my Candy Tin Survival Kit is the RSK Mk5. For about $20 or so, it is worth the investment. However, you can always substitute a razor blade or a couple exacto blades for cutting tools. Either way, the first item in your Candy Tin needs to be a cutting tool. Now… let’s get started…
Below is a step by step photo gallery and ‘ingredients list’ for a sample Candy Tin Survival Kit. I would expect that the contents of your own kit will vary depending upon your priorities and lifestyle. That’s OK.
2 Waterproof matches, 1 Cotton Firestarter, 20″ Trip Wire, 1 Pencil, 10 ft Duct Tape, 1 Fire Sparker1 Needle, 2 Safety Pins, 4 Iodine Tablets, 1 Water Proof Bag, 1 Paperclip, 1 Compass, 1 Fire Block, 1 Spool Thread1 RSK Mk5 Knife w/ Lanyard & Sheath1 Salt Pack, 1 Sugar Pack, 2 Pain Reliever Pills, 1 Antibiotic Ointment3 Adhesive Bandages, 1 Alcohol Prep Pad, 2 Sheets Waterproof NotepaperCandy Survival Kit: UnpackedAltoids Tin Survival KitRSK Mk5 Packed in a Survival TinThe RSK Mk5 Survival Tin Knife

Below are my general thoughts about the main contents of the kit:
Fire Starting:
I like to pack at least 2 methods for starting a fire. In this small kit I packed 2 waterproof matches (dipped in nail polish) and taped a match strike strip on the underside of the lid. I also packed a small flint fire striker and 2 different types of tinder – 1 cotton based and 1 wax/fiber based.
Cutting Tool:
Buy the RSK Mk5 Knife or use a razor blade or small exacto blades. I much prefer the RSK Mk5. For it’s size, it is a very solid and reliable knife. It’s perfect for cutting feather sticks and many other typical camp/survival/bushcraft chores.
Signaling:
In my opinion you can use the candy tin itself for signaling. It’s not quite as shiny as a mirror but should do just fine. Just buff up the inside silver a bit and you’re ready to go. Toothpaste or chocolate with work perfect to buff it so a glossy shine.
Whistle:
I intentionally did not pack a whistle. I can whistle nearly just as loud using my fingers. If you can’t, then pack a whistle. I will do a future video about how to whistle – survival style.
Compass:
This is important. Pack a button compass. You should be able to find one of these on a cheap keychain or something. They are hard to find by themselves so typically you will have to buy something else and pry it off.
Duct Tape:
Very useful survival tool for cordage or random repairs. You can tear it into strips to add length.
Needle & Thread:
Use these for clothing or gear repair. Pack a strong nylon thread – it can double as fishing line, snares or other cordage needs.
Wire:
You can use this for snares and many other fixes/needs
Safety Pins:
Can be used as a emergency suture (ouch) or for temporary clothing/gear mends
Fishing Hooks:
Self explanatory – you can a pack a few sizes for birds/fish, etc…
Flashlight:
A compact button LED light works great. These are bright and pretty cheap. They also last a LONG time. Some people prefer to pack small candles.
Water Purification:
You can boil water in the tin itself. I prefer to pack 4 Iodine tablets. It takes 2 tabs to purify 1 liter so 4 tabs can purify 2 liters of water.
Medical Supplies:
Adhesive bandages are small and easy to pack. I also packed 2 pain reliever pills and1 dose of an antibiotic cream. The alcohol prep pad is for disinfecting a cut/wound.
Note Paper & Pencil:
You never know when you need to leave a note. I bought a pad of waterproof paper at an Army/Navy Surplus for a few bucks.
Random Items:
Salt Pack – take with water to fight dehydration.
Sugar Pack – take for quick energy
Paper Clip – use a binding/button/etc…
Tootsie Roll – quick energy
Medication – Pack necessary medication
The Tin Container Itself:
– Use to make Char Cloth
– Use as a drinking/cooking/boiling container
– Use as a signal mirror
There are certainly countless other items to consider packing in a mini survival kit. I’m still surprised from time to time with great ideas from my students. As long as the key survival bases are covered, your creativity is the limit. So my challenge to you is this:
Go spend $2 on a box of Altoids or $20 on an RSK Mk5 Knife and put together a Mini Survival Tin that works for your lifestyle. Then… share it with someone else.
As always, I’d love to hear your thoughts and see your pics. If you have any questions, feel free to post…

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Crock Pot Rotisserie Chicken

Crock pot rotisserie chicken

-1 whole chicken, skinned (4-5 pounds)
–2 tsp kosher salt (if you’d like it as salty as the ones in the store, add another 1 tsp.)
–1 tsp paprika
–1 tsp onion powder
–1/2 tsp dried thyme
–1 tsp Italian seasoning
–1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
–1/2 tsp black pepper
–pinch of chili pepper (probably not necessary)

–4 whole garlic cloves (optional)
–1 yellow onion, quartered (optional)

In a bowl, combine all of dried spices. Rub the spice mixture all over the bird, inside and out. Plop the bird breast-side down into the crockpot.

If desired, shove 4 whole garlic cloves and a quartered onion inside the bird.

Do not add water.

Cover and cook on high for 4-5 hours, or on low for 8. The meat is done when it is fully cooked and has reached desired tenderness. The longer you cook it, the more tender the meat.

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Seasone Cast Iron with Flaxseed Oil

by Cooks Illstrated

The Ultimate Way to Season Cast Iron
For years we’ve seasoned cast-iron cookware in the test kitchen by placing it over medium heat and wiping out the pan with coats of vegetable oil until its surface turns dark and shiny. When a pan starts to look patchy, we simply repeat the process. But when we heard about a new method for seasoning cast iron that creates a slick surface so indestructible that touch-ups are almost never necessary, we were intrigued. Developed by blogger Sheryl Canter, the approach calls for treating the pan with multiple coats of flaxseed oil between hour-long stints in the oven.
How We Tested This Method
We carried out Canter’s approach on new, unseasoned cast-iron skillets and compared them with pans treated with vegetable oil—and the results amazed us. The flaxseed oil so effectively bonded to the skillets, forming a sheer, stick-resistant veneer, that even a run through our commercial dishwasher with a squirt of degreaser left them totally unscathed. But the vegetable oil-treated skillets showed rusty spots and patchiness when they emerged from the dishwasher, requiring reseasoning before use.
Why did the new treatment work so well? Flaxseed oil is the food-grade equivalent of linseed oil, used by artists to give their paintings a hard, polished finish, and it boasts six times the amount of omega-3 fatty acids as vegetable oil. Over prolonged exposure to high heat, these fatty acids combine to form a strong, solid matrix that polymerizes to the pan’s surface.
How to Season Cast Iron with This Method
Although lengthy, seasoning with flaxseed oil is a mainly hands-off undertaking. We highly recommend the treatment:
Warm an unseasoned pan (either new or stripped of seasoning) for 15 minutes in a 200-degree oven to open its pores. The best way to strip a cast-iron pan of seasoning is to run the pan through your oven’s self-cleaning cycle.

Remove the pan from the oven. Place 1 tablespoon flaxseed oil in the pan and, using tongs, rub the oil into the surface with paper towels. With fresh paper towels, thoroughly wipe out the pan to remove excess oil.

Place the oiled pan upside down in a cold oven, then set the oven to its maximum baking temperature. Once the oven reaches its maximum temperature, heat the pan for one hour. Turn off the oven; cool the pan in the oven for at least two hours.

Repeat the process five more times, or until the pan develops a dark, semi-matte surface.

Even after a run in the dishwasher, the pan seasoned with flaxseed oil held on to its perfect seasoning. The pan seasoned with vegetable oil did not.

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DIY Liquid Laundry Soap

Has Borax

http://www.budget101.com/myo-household-items/5-minute-no-cook-laundry-detergent-recipe-4075.html

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DIY Powder Laundry Soap

HOMEMADE ORGANIC LAUNDRY SOAP
16 cups baking soda
12 cups washing soda
8 cups of grated castile soap
10-12 drops lavender essential oil

use 1/8 cup per load

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Homemade Bath Fizzies

http://www.homemademamas.net/2011/01/easy-bath-fizzies.html?m=1

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