Pink refrigerator

Today's dilemma....Pink or white for my LG pace saver refrigerator???

 E.MAIL ME at www.suzy.homefaker@yahoo.com

BONE BROTH ~ CANNED HOMEMADE TURKEY STOCK BROTH

Today me and Tom turkey had a canning date ...Homemade stock/broth may not be cheaper to make, but you sure can't beat the flavor, and I know all the finest ingredients are used for maximum freshness and nutritional value.

Why bone broth??? because it is rich in minerals that support the immune system and contains healing compounds like collagen, glutamine, glycine and proline. The collagen in bone broth heals your gut lining and reduces intestinal inflammation.

I save the scraps from veggies in a ziplock baggie in the freezer and use those instead of using fresh, whole veggies,but I'm frugal that way.It is a matter of choice. Keep your peelings. All of them. Unless it is dirty, rotten, or otherwise inedible save it. Carrot peelings work much better than purchasing new carrots. Onion tops, greens and ends are great (wash them). The butt end of cabbage, the tops and bits of celery, the ends of zucchini, an old squash that is getting kinda shriveled and so on. To me the whole point of making stock is to use what otherwise would be thrown out.  I know it is time to make stock when I have 2 roasted chicken carcasses (or 1 turkey} and a  gallon zip lock baggie of scraps. I only use the bones that have been  previously cooked. You can use those grocery store rotisserie chicken bones , they make AWESOME stock!!Don't throw them out before you get your bone broth out of them!!

 Today I  used a 22 lb. turkey, brined, grilled, skin removed and deboned.I leave a bit of meat stuck to the bones, but again it's a choice.

 Place turkey pieces, giblets, neck,and carcass in your largest stock pot. I usually add a tablespoon or two of apple cider vinegar to mine while its initially cooking as well because it pulls the calcium out of the bones. Fill with water to cover bones. Add vegetables and seasonings if you are going to use them.

I used 4 T. Mrs. Dash and lots of fresh parsley from the garden. Simmer 6 to 8 hours on low, or use a crock pot , sometimes mine go for 12 to 16 hours. If you let bone stocks boil it will be cloudy, but doesn't effect the flavor at all.I usually get at least 8 quarts out of this.

Remove turkey pieces and vegetables. Discard. Strain broth to remove any small bones and pieces left in the broth. I use a colander . You can use cheesecloth if you want a very clear broth. I like some little bits so the colander works good for me.

Allow the broth to cool and skim the fat from the top if desired.(You don’t have to strain the fat. It is  good-for-you fat w/ lots of extra protein and other vitamins and minerals.) 

You will need:

Pressure canner
Canning jars and lids
Canning tongs
Canning funnel
Turkey stock



Pour hot broth into  sterile hot jars. Wipe the rims clean, remove any air bubbles and place on your lid and rings. Leave 1 inch head space.

Mine looks darker than normal because I condense it down to half on simmer due to lack of storage space in pantry

Pints ... process for 25 minutes,
Quarts... process for 30 minutes

Adjustments for Pressure Canner
Altitude in Feet	Dial Gauge Canner	Weighted Gauge Canner
0-1000	10	10
1001-2000	11	15
2001-4000	12	15
4001-6000	13	15
6001-8000	14	15
8000-10,000	15	15

Please note mine s a pressure cooker not canner.I advise everyone to use a  pressure canner for safety sake .

Place the jars into a canning rack in your pressure cooker. The jars should not be touching either the bottom of the pressure cooker or each other.

Fill the pressure cooker with water half way up the height of the jars. Twist the lid of the pressure cooker on tightly and process accordingly.

Check the seal on the jars after they have cooled to room temperature by pressing on the center of the lid to see if it is indented and does not make a popping sound. Discard any that are not properly sealed.

Label the jar with the name of the contents and the date that it was processed and store in a cool, dark place.

Let me tell ya ...add this to your next batch of soup MMM mmmm GOOD!!!

                        Don't forget to can the leftovers!!!

ADORABLE PAINTED SNOWMEN MUGS

Got these adorable little snowmen mugs at Family Dollar a few years back, and the paint started coming off.

I love them so much and they matchy matchy the dining room so well, that I spent the time last night to repaint them

 ...good for another 10 years LOL

...p.s. I swear I go through life just painting shit!

 Bring on the chilly weather for some hot cocoa, apple cider and hot toddies!!!

HAPPY NATIONAL EMPTY CHAIR DAY!!!

BRAVO CLINT!!!!!

HAND PAINTED WINE GLASSES

This is my first attempt at painting glassware. I thought I would jazz up some glasses I already had for Thanksgiving this year.

Vitrea 160 are ready to use colours.  Available in liquid, paste or felt tip markers..After baking, colours are exceptionally intense and glass seems to be bodydyed.





Bake at at 325°F in a domestic oven, the depth of the colour is enhanced and the paints are dishwasher safe.

This is what happens when you accidentally  hit the microwave button instead of bake, and wonder why your house is filled with smoke !!!

BLOOD RED PARROT FISH

Nursing a sick fish all day today, testing water every hour for 

ammonia, nitrates,p.h, cleaning everything, water 

changes,,etc. ...antibiotics, epsom salt, kosher salt, and even 

miralax!!!

Who woulda thunk you could get so attached to a fish....

Blood Red Parrot fish are the cutest, most intelligent and   

loving fish, contrary to who hate them due to being a hybrid 

sort of mutt of the fish world. To that I say...I LOVE MY 

MUTTS!!! 

They respond when I "kiss" the tank by coming up and

putting their funny little fish lips right on the other side! I

don't know, maybe other people have fallen in love with their

fish, too, but I've had many, many pet friends along the way

(I'm 47, for God's sake, I know this isn't typical adult behavior

and I really don't give a happy damn!). Every morning, they

come to the corner of the tank to get a glimpse of us getting

ready for the day. They also know this is feeding time, and if

you have slept late, you will get the intense stare. And God 

forbid you ever forget to feed them, they will jump out of the

 tank and smack the hood loudly to let me know it was time to

 feed them! 


I especially love when I get home from work, they will do

 their "happy fish dance "up and down the aquarium as if to 

say...."MOMMY'S HOME, MOMMY'S HOME, MOMMY'S 

HOME..YEAHHH!!!

She actually does follow me around the room -  you might be 

doing something in the room and get the feeling "someone is 

watching me", only to discover your fish quite intent staring at 

you...it's odd, but hilarious. 

For the last 2 years one of my little buddies, Lucy has had a buoyancy problem.She had a lump on her side, and couldn't swim right side up...other than that she was completely normal.I even went so far as to make a prosthetic  sort of dorsal fin with Styrofoam from a take out container and a plastic clip.It really did work keeping her upright . 

Until the last couple days....

Lucy now has the complete opposite problem...she now has sunk to the bottom laying on her side.She is still eating, so unless she gives up the fight to survive, I will not give up on her!!

   I will be updating this post on her progress...please keep little Lucy in your prayers....x0x0x0 
UPDATE:Sept.22 2012After 4 different medications, force feeding for 3 days...little Lucy is now eating on her own, and although still weak, she's upright and swimming around her hospital tank. Hallelujah !!!!!!!!!

PINK Francis Francis X8 iperEspresso Machine

This is my X8 machine  that uses the new revolutionary iperEspresso Method to prepare espresso. Hyper Espresso is a unique and innovative two-stage process. The first is hyper infusion. This is followed by emulsion, resulting in a thick, velvety crema and full-bodied espresso.
That being said, my kitchen is Shabby Chic style, so this machine in black wasn't going to cut it.I do love the curvy body style .A little sanding and taping off  made her into the curvyliscious sexy machine she is today.

Aside from being a fully functional espresso maker, the Francis Francis X8 iperEspresso Machine is a delight to look at and display on your kitchen counter.  The stylish new retro design of the machine lends it a chic appeal, all the while offering you some of the best at-home brewing of espresso that can be done.  Its durable ABS black plastic body and convenient 22-ounce water tank are just the beginning of what makes the X8 so beautiful.  Heads will turn and your friends and family will want to know where you got your incredible espresso maker when you own an X8.  So much more than just a single serve espresso brewer, you can do it all without setting foot outside.  No need to have a big flashy espresso machine that only a barista knows how to use.  With the Francis Francis X8 iperEspresso machine, you can have amazing coffee shoppe quality in the comfort of your own home.

                                                    I LOVE HER!!!!

Siamese Cat Lamp Light

This is my 

Vintage Retro 1954 CLAES Double Siamese Cats TV Television Lamp Light 

I absolutely love it, but I can't believe how much they sell for these days. I think I paid 10 bucks for it about 20 years ago. They manufactured these back in the 1950's as part of a 10 year span of mass marketing Televisions to the public. These T.V. Lamps began a craze when people thought that watching a bright Television in a dark room would damage their eyesight. These vintage TV lamps are so iconic for this time period, everyone wanted one and you were ever so cool if your family had one. 

Senior Pictures

Today I took some senior pictures for my girlfriends son at Lakeside Park. What a beautiful day,,,sunny and 82 degrees!!!

Pink Dream Baroque Wedding Cake

If you love Marie Antoinette..this cake is right up your alley. It is a sculpted  raspberry filled champagne flavored cake covered in  Italian butter cream icing as well as fondant.  I piped all the raised detail with a royal icing, then meticulously hand painted  the entire cake with pearl, luster dust, and 24 k gold edible finish.This masterpiece is truly fit for a Queen!

 Adorned with Crystals, hand painted gum paste flowers, and hydrangeas.....

Pretty Gravel Driveway

Today I finally got the top coat of gravel for the driveway. We put a thick layer o traffic bond down last year for the base. Let me tell ya that stuff is hard on the feet!!!

                                      What a change!!!

                              Sawyer...our little helper!!