Tweaking my home library...
5 years ago
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5 years agoRelated Discussions
To Tweak or Not to Tweak
Comments (6)helenore, Sounds like you have been busy with the alternative harvest. I only have 2 under 11 but I understand what you are saying about safety. Not only can you not risk their health, but you can't take risks with your own. This is a recipe from a book that is generally considered safe, Small Batch Preserving. After the Blue Book (as a reference) it is usually everyone's favorite. I have also been happy that I purchased the new book, Ball Complete Book of Home Preserving. It seems to combine their Bernardin Canadian version with the Ball American version. Seasoned Tomato Sauce 12 cups chopped ripe tomatoes (about 6lbs) 1 cup chopped onion (subsitute a smaller amount of powder if you like) 2 cloves garlic, minced 2 Tablespoons chopped fresh oregano or 1 teaspoon dried 2 Tablespoons granulated sugar (you could safely leave that out) 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 2 bay leaves 2 Tablespoons bottled lemon juice 1/2 teaspoon salt 1. Combine tomatoes, onion, garlic, oregano, sugar, pepper and bay leaves in a large stainless steel or enamel saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat, reduce heat and boil gently, uncovered until very thick, about 1 1/2 hours; stir frequently. Press through a food mill or coarse sieve to remove seeds and skins. Add lemon juice and salt. 2. Remove hot jars from canner and ladle sauce into jars within 1/2 inch of rim. Process 35 minutes for half-pint or pint jars. Makes about 4 cups. (Apparently it is not safe to can in quarts.) Personally, I don't see why you couldn't reduce the tomatoes in the oven rather than on the stove. Sounds less messy. Alot of folks use the same oven method to make apple butter. Just don't add any oil. Here are another two from the same book. Booberry posted it in another thread. * Exported from MasterCook * Chunky Basil Pasta Sauce Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method -------- ------------ -------------------------------- 8 cups (2 L) coarsely chopped peeled tomatoes -- (about 9-12 tomatoes or 4 lb/2 kg) 1 cup chopped onion -- (250 mL) 3 cloves garlic -- minced 2/3 cup red wine -- (150 mL) 1/3 cup red wine vinegar (5 % strength) -- (75 mL) 1/2 cup chopped fresh basil -- (125 mL) 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley -- (15 mL) 1 teaspoon pickling salt -- (5 mL) 1/2 teaspoon granulated sugar -- (2 mL) 1 6-oz/156 mL) can tomato paste Combine tomatoes, onion, garlic, wine, vinegar, basil, parsley, salt, sugar and tomato paste in a very large non-reactive pan. Bring to a boil over high heat, reduce heat to low and simmer, uncovered, for 40 minutes or until mixture reaches desired consistency, stirring frequently. Remove hot jars from canner and ladle sauce into jars to within 1/2 inch (1 cm) of rim (head space). Process 35 minutes for pin (500 mL) jars and 40 minutes for quart (1 L) jars in a BWB. Yield: "8 cups" Note: This sauce also makes an excellent base for a quick pizza. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - * Exported from MasterCook * Multi-Use Tomato Sauce Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method -------- ------------ -------------------------------- 10 plum tomatoes -- (about 2 1/2 lbs./1 kg) 10 large tomatoes -- peeled and chopped (about 4 lbs./2 kg) 4 large garlic cloves -- minced 2 large stalks celery -- chopped 2 medium carrots -- chopped 1 large onion -- chopped 1 large zucchini -- chopped 1 large sweet green pepper -- chopped 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes -- (125 mL) 2/3 cup dry red wine -- (150 mL) 1/2 cup red wine vinegar (5% strength or more) -- (125 mL) 2 bay leaves 1 tablespoon pickling salt -- (15 mL) 2 teaspoons dried oregano -- (10 mL) 2 teaspoons dried basil -- (10 mL) 1 teaspoon granulated sugar -- (5 mL) (optional) 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon -- (2 mL) (optional) 1/4 teaspoon ground pepper -- (2 mL) 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley -- (50 mL) Combine tomatoes, celery, garlic, onion, zucchini and green pepper in a very large non-reactive pan. Add 1 cup (250 mL) water. Bring to a boil over high heat, reduce heat and boil gently, covered, for 25 minutes or until mixture begins to thicken, stirring occasionally. Soak sun-dried tomatoes in boiling water until softened. Drain and dice. Add to sauce with wine, vinegar, bay leaves, salt, oregano, basil, sugar, cinamon and pepper. Continue to boil gently until desired consistency, stirring frequently. Discard bay leaves and stir in parsley. Remove hot jars from canner and ladle sauce into jars to within 1/2 inch (1 cm) of rim (head space). Process in a BWB 35 minutes for pint (500 mL) jars and 40 minutes for quart (1 L) jars. Yield: "12 cups" Linda Lou posted this one in another thread: Seasoned Tomato Sauce Makes about 5 half-pints 10 pounds washed, peeled, cored and chopped tomatoes 3 medium onions, chopped fine 4 cloves fresh garlic, minced 1 1/2 teaspoon oregano 2 bay leaves 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon black pepper 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper 1 teaspoon sugar Hot Pack Add all ingredients to a saucepan and bring to a boil. Simmer 2 hours, stirring occasionally. Press mixture through a food mill and discard seeds. Return to sauce pan and cook over medium-high heat until thick, stirring frequently. Add lemon juice or citric acid to hot canning jars and pack with hot prepared tomato mixture leaving -inch head space. Remove air bubbles. Wipe rim and screw threads and adjust lids and screw bands. Processing Methods Boiling Water Bath Canner Half-Pints 35 minutes Pints 35 minutes Pressure Canner Dial Gauge Type @ 11 pounds pressure or Weighted Gauge Type @ 10 pounds pressure. Half-Pints 15 minutes Pints 15 minutes After processing, remove jars immediately, place on a rack to cool. Test for Seal. You can leave out the onion. Do not increase the garlic amount as it is a low acid food and will change the ph level. Some herbs become bitter when canned. This sauce recipe should give you a good basic sauce to can. Hopefully this will help!!...See MoreTweaking a SL House Plan
Comments (8)We live in a similar neighborhood. The homes have to be Williamsburg in style. It wasn't what I would have chosen if there were other options but this was the only new neighborhood in the school district that we wanted to be in and was halfway between each of our jobs. I have attached the link for the site where our plans were purchased. Since we were transferred here by my husband's company, we had to get a house going FAST. These plans were all preapproved by the development. I was the opposite of you though. I chose a plan with an interior that I could live with, with plans to change the exterior, but it was too much of a headache with the ARB so we just built as is, knowing we would move again in 3-4 years. We also have a detached garage. Ughh! Never again! Ours is off the basement level, so we were able to add a nice mudroom with cubbies and closet space for all the junk that accumulates, but I hate having to go out to a cold car every morning, since it's not convenient to just run out and start it while you are getting ready for work. Unloading groceries and kids is a major PITA. I know I sound discouraging but just wanted you to know what you are getting into. Maybe if mine were off the kitchen instead of the basement, I would like it better. If it's possible to link the garage to the house with a breezeway I would definitely go that route. Here is a link that might be useful: House Plans...See MoreI am in 'tweak mode' on my house. Hardest part!!
Comments (30)Okay, I am back at it today!! I really appreciate EVERYONE'S input. Sujafr, I will see about a cord cover...cord comes right out of the middle of the lamp!! Things like that bother me, too. Teacats, I always have appreciated your advice. Les, I moved the photos....Gosh, girl - you must be really good at doing puzzles and mazes. You have an amazing ability for spatial relations esp. when you are just seeing in 2-D. Not the duck yet - will have to get DH to help me with ladder. LOL - "quack me up!!" Igloo - too funny about dead animals but honey, most of our dead stuff is at lakehouse or duck lodge!! I am in the South - and your room just "ain't" done until it has a big ole deer head on it!! Really, I have to say that my Mississippi kin folks have done it quite tastefully. My MIL puts a Xmas wreath around her deer head!! He is great conversation!! FIL is going pheasant hunting so I am asking for pheasant feathers for Xmas decorating and I REALLY want stuffed Dead Pheasants on my table for Thanksgiving. Are you getting how quirky I am!! I gave you 2 options for the pics above the sofa. Or I could just leave the 3. They all need to be lowered/straightened but that/s another day!! Can I stuff our little "squirrel hunter" and put him on display!! LOL DH would definately go for that one!! Thingie on right is just sitting up there. It has 2 holes in the back and is a PIA to hang!! What do you think about using the chair as a plant stand?? Smiles:)...See MoreIs this chandelier too big for the office/library in my house?
Comments (3)Just because you love it doesn’t mean it’s right for you. It’s not right....See More- 5 years ago
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Well, it is applied in squares for large areas, but with the proper tools you fix the edges so they don't show.
Here. This the column of one of my harps, also 23K gold leaf. The lacquer is finger-printy because the previous owner never worried about touching the gold, but you can stare at it till your eyes ache and never see a seam:
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5 years agoSushipup, I have saved this picture from that slide show for years hoping to do a dining room cum library someday.
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So all I could manage to do was rearrange a few shelves and clear away a handful of tchotchkes. (Oh, I've got tchotchkes out the wazoo.) Our library will never be polished and elegant, but I do enjoy it, and it makes much better use for us of a good sized room intended for a pool table. Now, regarding those tchotchkes... We read and we also travel and have collected items on our travels that remind us of happy times. (Not one thing picked up at Home Goods just to fill space.) Where do others display such things? We will continue to collect books and someday I hope to come close to filling the shelves. But for now, I do enjoy our little treasures mixed in with the books; at least they're contained to one location.
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Looks great Ida!
In case anyone is interested, here is the technique for a torn or broken gold leaf foil application. In this vid they used raw umber as a base instead of an earthy red.
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Ida, where can I put this broken copper leaf application? Hehe, it's all your fault for showing that first picture.
Maybe I can do that white lamp shade?
Might not be good for reading though. - 5 years ago
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5 years agolast modified: 5 years agoWe are still getting settled into our house, (Moved here in September) but we have two libraries. This one is my favorite of the two
I spend most my time in this room reading. Most of the books on the shelves are mine with the exception of the law books on the Lowe shelves. There are some tchotchkes on the shelf, but there are things I enjoy. Also, there is built-in lightning and all the shelves, but it does not photograph well.
The second library is in the great room and is almost 100% science fiction books that belong to my husband.
The smaller library was what sold me on this house. Plus the intricate inlay design on the floor is pretty cool.
eta:Ida, I like yours a lot. I would definitely curl up with a book there often!
User thanked jojoco
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