What preps are you doing this week? part 2.

[Brambles]

I've just ordered a pressure canner, I just couldn't wait any longer, bargain price for a 16 quart one.

Should arrive by 20th October, got my ball blue book and some ball jars/lids but think I will make a trip to Lakeland next week to stock up on more!

So excited and can't wait to can my own food yayyyyy!!! Sorry but I'm so excited

Good for you Decaff! I wouldn't be without mine. Saves soooo much money. Once you've got your jars you'll be laughing(all the way to the bank!)

[nickdutch]

Going back to trying to stop taking nicotine. So far, day 2 and a half is over and onward and upward. I have decided not to relapse unless I become practically psychotic with cravings and withdrawals. But Needs must. The fewer stimulants you put in the human body the more likely it may be (hypothetically) that the immune system is better.

[jansman]

Today, when I can be bothered to get out of bed! I am pickling onions, bottling beer and stripping pallets. I am getting loads of the things now from work and they need sorting.

[Arzosah]

I'm reaching the end of playing kitchen tetris - for storecupboard items, 6 months upward of food stashed ... for cheese, etc, stashed enough until Xmas. Just got to buy fresh veg regularly now (I don't use bread or milk). I've worked really hard on getting things stored properly, not just any old how, with the result that my kitchen is the most efficient its ever been

I used my dehydrator!!! It's not as loud as I feared - just like the microwave, tho it runs for longer, of course, and I still have to figure out an efficient way to soak the shelves and wash them.

My dilemma: do I disinfect the old cat litter tray with milton and use it? Or dig out one of the square plastic buckets that are stashed away ? Votes on this thread please

Part of the storage thing was stashing some very lightweight stuff in a plastic crate half full of rarely-used but legally necessary paperwork in the office. The little gaz camping stove was already there - with a canister in it, and the box smelt of gas when I opened it stove has now been removed, and I think I'll use the opened cylinder over the next week or so, and store the stove empty. Must buy another couple of cylinders to compensate, and the winter buying schedule is done.

[Decaff]

I used my dehydrator!!! It's not as loud as I feared - just like the microwave, tho it runs for longer, of course, and I still have to figure out an efficient way to soak the shelves and wash them.

My dilemma: do I disinfect the old cat litter tray with milton and use it? Or dig out one of the square plastic buckets that are stashed away ? Votes on this thread please .

Have you thought about using the bath to soak them? I did this when my strawberries made the trays really sticky.

Well done for starting your dehydration of stocks!

[Arzosah]

I like that, decaff, thank you! That'd be nice and quick - I couldn't bear to buy something else especially for it, that was my "problem"

[Brambles]

Could I make a recommendation? If you line your trays with baking parchment when dehydrating messy/small items, it makes cleaning a doddle, and you don't lose anything.

[izzy_mack]

made some bramble & apple jam, hope to get out this week and find some more brambles and make apple & bramble this time (1 has more apples the other brambles). Was given some venison, so butchered the peice and got 4 small roasts and a stew pack , now in freezer.

Had a major tidy out and gave away some stuff from the preps boxes and will replace with things I'd rather have in store (limited space so need to go through it and keep only the most useful/neccessary).

[Decaff]

Could I make a recommendation? If you line your trays with baking parchment when dehydrating messy/small items, it makes cleaning a doddle, and you don't lose anything.

I got square liner things for mine but they were expensive and didn't fit all the way along the tray (square ones) so I use parchment or greaseproof paper for nessy and small things. When doing my stock for bouillon powder I use loaf tin liners cut down as this really can get messy and if it spills onto the motor in sure it would blow!

Round trays can get fruit roll up trays which are good for sticky food and liquid.

[Brambles]

Could I make a recommendation? If you line your trays with baking parchment when dehydrating messy/small items, it makes cleaning a doddle, and you don't lose anything.

I got square liner things for mine but they were expensive and didn't fit all the way along the tray (square ones) so I use parchment or greaseproof paper for nessy and small things. When doing my stock for bouillon powder I use loaf tin liners cut down as this really can get messy and if it spills onto the motor in sure it would blow!

Round trays can get fruit roll up trays which are good for sticky food and liquid.

They don't fit the Westfalia model. Cutting parchment to fit is no chore and is cheaper.