Delicious!

Grandma Gertie’s Baked Beans

¼ lb. diced bacon

½ medium onion, diced

4 tbs. brown sugar

1 tsp. prepared mustard

½ tsp. Worcestershire sauce

¼ c. catsup

Braise bacon and onion till tender. Do not drain. Add other ingredients. Bring to simmer then add 1 large can pork and beans. The longer it simmers the better it tastes!

 

Dutch Oven Potatoes

½ lb. bacon

1 or 2 large onions

1 large bag frozen hashbrowns

season salt

shredded cheese

Fry onions and bacon till brown. Add hashbrowns, cook till done, stirring occasionally. Season to taste with season salt. Can add a bit of water or butter if too dry. Cover with cheese and let melt. Serve hot.

The Basics of Bobbin Lace: A Dying Art

Homesteader University, part II

Well, camping over the summer added to the skillset. Let's see where I am at. When I started the blog, I had 38 of the 101 skills. Today, I can add:

39. Learn to spin wool or fiber on a spinning wheel or spindle
40. Learn to butcher a chicken or rabbit
41. Learn the differences between trees and properties of different types of wood
42.  Learn to make soft cheeses
43. Learn to read an almanac
44. Learn to make a candle.
45. Learn how to live and entertain yourself without electronic media
46. Learn to tell the time of day by the sun
47. Learn to dye yarn from plants

Now It Gets Interesting

 It is incredible that the clattering, hulking machines of the Industrial Revolution swallowed these gifted women and children up in their great steam mouths, and spat them out onto the streets. Such coarse, mimeographed imitation laces are pathetic in their hopes to be as valuable, for no grating of gears and spindles can match the creative power of these women and children in their misery and illness.  How could society prefer such vulgar scraps, unless it, too, had degenerated in one swift motion? Education acts killed many sheltering lace schools in the name of progress and child rights. War and the weedy explosion of factories blasted gaping craters in the demand for such frivolous fineries, and devoured many of the artists in its thirst for soldiers and labor. If only the working conditions could have simply been improved instead of removed; yet, in their bondage and suffering, they have given their lace their best nurturing, for torture creates the best art.

 

Family Salads

Chicken Salad

2 c. cut up cooked chicken

2 c. chopped celery

½ c. sliced almonds

2 tbs. chopped onions

2 tbs. lemon juice

½ tsp. salt

1 c. mayonnaise

Mix together and serve. Serves 6.

Taco Chip Salad

1 lb. ground beef, cooked

1 15 oz. can red kidney beans, drained

1 head lettuce, chopped

4 large tomatoes, chopped

1 ½ c. chunky salsa

3 c. shredded cheese

1 qt. jar mayonnaise

1 13 oz. jar thousand island dressing

1 13 ½ oz. bag Doritos chips, nacho or sour cream

Toss ingredients in large bowl before serving. Blend mayo, salsa and dressing, add to salad. Serves lots!