Canning Chicken

First off, I recently learned from my Grandma that you need to get your pressure cooker checked about every year to make sure all the valves and gauges are in working order. Not sure where to do that, my first place to ask will be my Grandma. For those of you who do not share my awesome grandma, I would start with Sears...or a google search :)

Canning chicken in the pressure cooker is a sinch, it saves a ton of space in your freezer, it's got a shelf life of 3-5 years, AND it makes dinner easier than...well something very easy. So, this is how I do it:

The night before I set out my frozen boneless skinless chicken breasts in the sink to thaw. My cooker holds 9 pint jars (it can do quart jars too, I just prefer the pints, cause we wont use a full quart at a time)

You can fit about 15-18 lbs of chicken in 9 qt jars

By morning the chicken is thawed but still cold, a few ice chunks even, but pliable enough to fill the jars. I can get about 3 or 4 chicken breasts in each jar.

Then I like to add a little seasoning, it just cuts one step out when you are ready to use it. I put a little salt in each jar. In  2 I also have garlic and onion powder, 2 have taco seasoning, 2 bbq sauce (havent tried that one yet) every batch is a little different.

 and the 3 in the front just have the salt

Now the hardest part is over :)

Yes I KNOW it looks gross

Now wipe the rims clean so you get a good seal, then put the lids and rings on tight

 Put the jars in the cooker. My instruction book says add 2 qts of water, that amount may vary depending on the manufacturer 

 See, WATER

Put the lid on, turn it on high, but leave the weight off for now. 

When the steam starts escaping set the timer for 10 mins...I don't think you can see the steam in the picture very well...but trust me, it's there. 

After 10 mins, put the weight on and let it get up to pressure

Meat needs 10 lbs of pressure. There are different kinds of gauges, I like the needles, takes all the guess work out of it. There is also one that the weight is also the gauge, and you have to listen for how often it jiggles. Don't let that scare you, I have used them too, and never had a bad batch.

Now just maintain the correct pressure by adjusting the heat. slowly turning it down till the gauge reads correctly. For pint jars cook at pressure for 75 mins, for quart jars 90 minuets. 

There chicken is done. DO NOT take the lid OR THE WEIGHT right off, the jars are under pressure and if you release the pressure your jars will break...trust me, I've done it before. Take the cooker off the heat and ignore it for an hour, then pull out your jars. They will still be boiling. They will for a while. 

I like to place mine on a towel so they aren't on the cool counter top.

Don't forget to date and label. After the jars cool, you can take the rings off

You know you did it right when you hear them *pop* Kinda sounds like you are clicking your tong. If for some reason a jar or two doesn't seal (which happens occasionally) just put it in your fridge. It's still good, just not shelf safe.

Try it, I know it looks nasty in the jars, but once you use it, you will LOVE it. each jar is full of ready to eat chicken and delicious chicken broth. Fajitas, or chicken tacos ready in less than 10 mins. Open a can and throw some on your quesadillas, so yummy. Have a casserole in the oven before you can say supercalafragilesticexpealladocious! Want some chicken fetachini alfreado, or a quick chicken salad for lunch, soup? ...well you get my picture. 

*NOTE: The chicken does not cube well, but it shreds like a dream. I have cut up onions and peppers to put in there, makes the house smell so delicious. Also, you cook pork and beef exactly the same way. BBQ pulled pork sandwiches are to die for. 

Wood See-Saw Swing

I looked for instructions on how to build a see saw swing out of wood. Couldn't find any. BUT lucky for me my neighbor had a swing so I had a reference for measurements. 

You need:

3  8ft treated 2x2's ( had one 10 ft 2x4, and I ripped it on my table saw)

scraps of ply wood, or planks for the seats

4 5 1/2 inch bolts (I used 6 inch)

1 1/2 inch (ish) screws

3 inch screws

Cut 2x2's:

2 7ft long (swinging bars)

2 1 ft long (foot rests)

2 3 ft long (seat supports)

2 14 in long (swing supports)

Then cut the seats

They are about 10 inches front to back, and 10 inches at the widest point. I used 3/4 in ply wood, just scraps I had.

Drill your holes in the seat supports at the 12 inch mark and the 24 inch mark for the bolts. I used 3/8 in bolts. Place one of the foot rests between the seat supports before screwing the seats down. This will help you get your spacing right so the swinging bars can fit . 4 1 1/2 in screws on each seat.

Back View

Now drill your bolt holes on the swinging bars. 1 1/2 in from the top

And 12 in from the bottom

Now drill the holes in your top supports 1 inch in on each side. They should be 12 inches apart, just like the holes on the seat supports.

Turn the swinging bars on their side so the holes are on the right and left, not the top and bottom, and screw the foot rests on the bottom with 3 inch screws. 2 or 3 screws on each.

Bolt the swinging bars to the seat supports.

Screw the supports to the top of the swing set with 3 in screws. Use a scrap 2x2 to place between them while you screw it down to keep the spacing right,

Then bolt the swing to the top supports and she is ready to go!

I think I might cut some dowel rods, drill another hole on each bar about 1 ft up from the seats and slide the dowels through. One screw in the center should hold them, then the kids would have some handle bars.

Seriously, they LOVE it. (it's bigger then the ones you can buy, so it swings higher)

Make a puff sleeve pattern

I'm steeling this from my personal blog cause it gets so many hits from yahoo answers.
I found this explanation:



This is a regular straight sleeve pattern that I already had.


Following fig. 2 above I cut it into 1 inch strips (numbering them so I didn't mess up the order)
Space them out, draw the new lines and you have the outlike for your new pattern.


This is now a puff sleeve pattern, and I didn't have to buy it!


This is not a very good picture, but it's the only one I have. This is the finished sleeve on the dress.

Intro to My Projects

   I have a never ending project list. Once I finish one, I end up adding 2 new ones. Things that most people will buy I look at and say, "hey, I bet I could make it cheaper and cooler"

   I have big ideas, and they never turn out quite like I imagined, but they usually work, and it seems to impress people. Everyone tells me I could make a lot of money with everything I can make, or they say I should start a business. Thing is, I usually only do a project once, then I'm done with it and I want to move on.

   I have dabbled in wood working, sewing, making patterns, glass etching, photo transfer, and yes even duct tape. And I am still learning new things. I love the challenge of figuring something out.

   My purpose with this blog is to show you in detail how I do my projects so you can do it too. I never pay for anything I don't have to pay for, and sometimes it takes me a while to find the resources I need, and a lot of trial and error. I''m hoping to share what I have learned and pass on the DIY education.

PASS IT ON.