It's All Homemade: May 2010

For the longest time I was terrified of the idea of canning. All kinds of fears popped into my head like, "is it sterile" or "what about food poisoning." I finally learned how with my mother in-law, when I had picked tons of figs and did not want them to spoil. So I made fig preserves and have loved canning ever since.

Lately I have been trying to be creative and save money where possible, while also wanting to eat more "natural" foods. Cheap and natural food do not go together. We have learned that the term organic can pretty much double the price. So when I find deals on good food I take advantage and buy tons.

So sitting around were jars of yummy diced tomatoes and today I decided to make salsa. Out of 3 cans of tomatoes I made 5 mason jars worth of salsa. It was so yummy that I decided to share.

Ingredients:

2 large cans of diced tomatoes

1 large can pureed tomatoes

3 garlic cloves

1/4 cup jalapeno peppers- more or less if you like mild or hot salsa

1/2 of an onion

1/4 cup sugar (really do this to your taste)

fresh or dried cilantro to taste - about 2 tablespoons

juice of 1 lime (optional)

pinch of salt

Basically just chop the garlic, peppers, and onion in a food processor and then add it to a pot with your tomatoes. Season with sugar, lime, cilantro, and salt. All of the seasoning should be added to your taste. Cook salsa for 15-20 minutes until very hot!

Okay so now the scary part. Fill a large pot with your mason jars and lids and top with water until the jars are covered. Let the jars boil for about 10 minutes to sterilize.

After boiling take the jars out with a pair of tongs, fill with the hot salsa, and then wipe the rim of the jars clean. Make sure that you clean the rim so that they will seal properly. Next put the top on and screw down the rings (do not over tighten!).

Now is just a waiting game for the jars to cool. Do not touch the jars and be patient. The science teacher in me must explain that as the jars cool the atoms/molecules shrink and create a vacuum within the jar. This will cause the jar lids to pop and the center of the lid will be pulled down. You will know that you have a sealed and safe jar if the center of the lid has popped down.

That is it!!! Super easy and look how much money you saved!

5 jars of salsa could cost you $10 if you find them cheap

I spent a total of $3 and it is much healthier and yummier!

When you are done save your jars and buy new lids. You can begin to can anything!

These also make for great presents! Just an idea :)

I have been sewing lately, making summer clothes for the boys. Today I made a Jon Jon/Shortall and thought that I would try to share my knowledge with the blog world. Other than shorts, this really is one of the easiest outfits to make for a little boy. They are wonderful for the toddler age and nothing is cooler for the hot summer days.

So this is what we will be making.

The instructions are for a "Johnny" pattern from Children's Corner, but you could use any similar pattern.

The first step is to select what size you make.

I always choose a size bigger and just move the buttons higher, but that is your choice.

Next select your fabric for the outside of the shortall and lining of the shortall.

The outside of your pattern should tell you how much fabric will be needed for both.

Now lay your pattern out onto your lining.

I am using white broad cloth for the lining and red gingham for the outer fabric.

I will explain a little about reading a pattern.

It is very simple, but can look complicated.

This pattern has a front and a back, so we will talk about both.

This is the front of the Johnny and it will be used to cut the front lining and gingham fabric.

We will cut the lining first.

The arrow that runs down the pattern tell you which way to lay the pattern on the fabric.

The arrow should run parallel to the fold of your fabric.

This is important because fabric has a stretch one way and not the other.

It says to cut 2, so you will lay it onto the fabric and cut around.

Because most fabrics are folded in half you will get two mirror images.

Now you will do this with the Back Pattern.

This should be what you get!

Okay now do this same thing again but use the pattern to cut the outside fabric (red gingham).

Let's Start Sewing!

With right sides together of the front of the lining(which are the same if white)...

Stitch the center front seam together and then stitch the center back seams together.
This pattern calls for a 1/4 seam, which is about the size of 1/2 of my presser foot.
Your machine should be marked!

This is what you should get!

Now you should put right sides of back and front together like this and pin the sides in place...

Right sides together mean put the finished edges together.

For Example:

Now sew down the left and right side seams

Now you are going to repeat the above steps with the outer fabric, mine is red gingham.

This is what you should have now!

We are now going to put the two together.

First turn the outer shortall/red gingham right side out. Leave the lining wrong side out.

You are going to match the neck of the lining with the neck of the red gingham.

Place the red gingham into the lining like this

Make sure that the right sides are facing each other!

Pin into place

Now you will sew around the neck and arms... in a complete circle to stitch the lining to the red gingham.

A trick is to leave your needle down when you get to the corners, pick up your presser foot, turn the fabric, put your needle back down and keep going!

It should look like this when you are done!

Now you will need to clip the seams, which means to trim all the way around where you just stitched.

Turn it all right side out now!

We are now going to stitch the bottom lining to the red gingham.

First match up the right sides of the lining and red gingham at the bottom.

Now holding these together, flip the garment inside out. You also could pin.

Sew all the way around the bottom, attaching the red gingham with the lining.

Leave about a 4 inch opening, so you can flip it.

It does look funny but will flip to be perfect. It should look like this

Trim around the stitches, just as you did the top.

Now turn right side out through the 4 inch opening.

It is time to close the opening.

Fold the lining and red gingham inward and iron.

Pin closed until we will top stitch.

Now press the entire garment, especially the seams!

We will now top stitch!

This is not necessary, but makes the garment look more finished and completely professional!

To top stitch means that we will stitch along the edges to prevent the lining from poking out while it is being worn.

Now top stitch the legs.

Start where the opening is and work your way around. This will close the hole.

Time to add SNAPS!

Cut the snap tape to the length needed. I needed three. Allow for extra tape to fold under on the ends.

Pin the snap tape in place. The front tape will be sew to the lining.

The back tape will be sew to the outside fabric, red gingham.

You will need your zipper foot for the snap tape. Follow the edges of the tape until they are all sewn.

Finally! You are so close! Add the buttons! There are many options and it is your personal preference!

I chose one button because it means that I have to make less button holes :)

Mark the placement and size of the hole by putting the button on the fabric and mark using a fabric pen or chalk. Make sure you are marking on the front straps.