Frustratedearthmother's Journaling Journey

[baymule]

Get the Cuisinart TOA-60!!

https://www.cuisinart.com/products/toaster_ovens/toa-60/

I ordered one before Christmas, but got refunded my money. EVERYBODY was out of stock! Going to order one next month.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

Too late, lol! I ordered a "budget" toaster oven that got great reviews. It made every "top" list that I checked and was less than $50. Hamilton Beach Easy Reach Convection Oven....it'll do everything I need it to do. I saw the Cuisinart but after dropping a chunk o' change on the Instant pot I went on the cheap with the toaster oven.

 

[Mini Horses]

I have a Power Cooker....same deal as Instant Pot. They do a lot, fast, efficiently. Mine will also let me can...haven't tried it yet but small quantities of veggies would do well for me -- loner, smaller garden, use some pint jars, etc. While I'm not real sure about doing meats, it will be awesome for veg. Had it going on 2 yrs and it is nice. This year I want to roast tomatoes & jalapeno, then dehydrate in my cheapo $8 unit. Love 2nd hand. I use it a lot for figs, grn peppers, apple rings last year. Trying okra in it this year as FEM says they are so good that way. I don't eat okra cooked because of texture. Also...going to try kale & sweet potato chips in this air fryer I have taking up space (FREE from demo work).

I have seeds, starter pans/containers, cardboard source, clean canning jars, lotsa lids, 2 canners, vacuum sealers and leftover snow on the ground. I need SPRING to arrive.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

I need SPRING to arrive.

DITTO THAT!

The Power Cooker sounds cool! Ya can't can in the Instant Pot - but I have a canner so don't need it to. I'm going to have to find another dehydrator since mine bit the dust. I'll probably go with another cheapo like I had because I already have extra shelves for it.

 

[NH Homesteader]

Spring.... Sounds nice. My spring comes much later than your spring though, lol. And I get a healthy dose of mud season before it gets enjoyable!

 

[Mini Horses]

I'll probably go with another cheapo like I had because I already have extra shelves for it.

I could not justify the several hundred for an elaborate one -- don't do that much of it. But this little Ronco one from Habitat is great. 4 tiers, liners for tiny things...all works well. Have to control openings at top & bottom vice temp gauge. That's all fine. Hope to dry some fresh herbs this year too...basil, oregano, sage I use a lot. My figs & apple rings are gone from summer. Doing lots more this year! Yummy.

Have a large canner but, this little thing will be useful for just limited amounts I may want/have at that time...between the larger crop yields...like 4 pints of green beans when they first come on, couple jars of applesauce. Things I'd not want a big pot working for small amount and still want it canned, not wasted. Save freezer space.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

We're getting a double dose of badness now - Major winter and Major mud season all at the same time.
Then will come Spring and mud season again. After that we'll get summer drought for a month or so and then hurricane and mud season starts all over again.

 

[baymule]

Well, you only have 2 seasons. Wet and dry.

 

[NH Homesteader]

Ew winter and mud season. Not sure which is worse! (actually my vote goes to mud season, it's miserable)

 

[frustratedearthmother]

Mud season is miserable...and it's not made better by pigs, lol. I'm leaning towards (or away from) keeping breeding pigs. Maybe it's just creeping into my head now because of the crappy weather, but it's just not fun right now.