Michigan

[swampducks]

And another Good Morning, Campers, to you!

Temp is 28, dropped to 12 last night, had a dusting of snow. Fed the birds, the dogs are outside, having a glass of orange juice. Decided to put off the Alpena trip to next week, chicks can wait, next week they're talking 50s and 60 degree temps all week! I suppose they could change that before then but for now I look on it as a good omen. Need to buy more tomato cages. Last year, they were all out everywhere by the time I tried getting them. Get 'em early I say, if they even have them in.

 

[Dascountry]

Good morning all,

25 outside here right now and the wind is howling like a wolf. Chicks did well in the coop last night...finally got the planting room ready. Just need to get everything I'll need together and start "starting" some seeds. :watering Swampducks a few years back I got about 25 cages at a garage sale for like 25 cents each! I really lucked out on that one. They are the older ones that are made sturdy and don't bend to crap when you push them into the ground. Just made some rice crispie treats......that way I can say I had cerial for breakfast

 

[swampducks]

I like rice crispy treats but don't have any rice crispies. Did get a box cake mix out of the basement, we've been over snacking at night and for some reason a nice piece of cake usually satisfies the sweet tooth.

Up to 30 here now and the wind is indeed howling like mad. Birds refuse to leave the coop thus far though they've got a nice wind break to their north and west sides.

I got my 2 flourescent light fixtures set up but need a multi plug adapter to be able to turn both on. Apparently, the one I had bought has ended up under the sofar with the end table lamps plugged in. Over kill for two prong lamps, maybe I have something around here to substitute, can't think where to look though. Not quite itching to plant anything, but I'm getting there. Did you see the forecast for next week? 50s and 60s up here!

 

[Dascountry]

I found a recipe a while back on the internet for cake in a jar. Since just the two of us here it works great. Makes about 6 jars of cake and one feeds us. Sometimes I do make a whole cake and freeze some at serving size pieces. Husband has decided to make the garden BIGGER! He'll need to cut down 3 large pine trees, but he'll take them into Prells and get some wood cut that he needs for a building project (making he chicken coop bigger) Thats killing two birds with one stone for me!

 

[swampducks]

Last year a couple huge red pines came down on the neighbor's property, he didn't want them so helped DH cut them to length, drag them to a spot next to our driveway. DH cut a couple other trees down, think one was a maple, and hired one of those guys with a portable saw mill to do it. Second time he's done that. Now he has a nice stack of wood of various sizes. I used one for a shelf high up in my sewing room. Freed up lots of space for me. He has mostly been using it for deer blinds. He must have made 3 or 4 over the winter.

What kind of jars do you make these cakes in? You bake them IN the jar? How to you get it back out? Wide mouth canning jars?

 

[Dascountry]

What kind of jars do you make these cakes in? You bake them IN the jar? How to you get it back out? Wide mouth canning jars?

Wide mouth jars 6-7, greased, cake mix made according to directions, fill jars about 1/2 full to be safe, place on cookie sheet, bake, soon as they are done, seal with hot lid and ring. All of mine have always just slid out of the jar. People make them and send to troops over seas with a store bought tub of frosting. I like to make yellow so when we want a sweet strawberry shortcake for just us, thats what I use. But we like our strawberry shortcake over hot biscuts (something my grandmother always did) better. I have even done chocolate and had with vanilla ice cream and hot fudge. Good thing I'm full from supper otherwise I'd be wanting some cake.

 

[swampducks]

How long do you bake them for? same time as a regular cake? Also you put the lids on hot? won't they steam?

 

[Dascountry]

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/cake-in-a-jar/ You can find the recipe there....but you bake it 350 for 30-35 minutes or toothpick trick. And with the cake coming out of the oven and putting the lid on right away, I think it seals from the heat of the cake causing a pressure seal. And it's a cup of batter into each jar. It really is a clever thing to do. Let me know if you try them and how they turn out for you. I've yet to have a problem with making them.

 

[swampducks]

Thanks for the info, I may give it a whirl one of these days. After I get the garden started, buy some chicks, etc, etc, etc. :/

 

[Dascountry]

Good morning all 20 degees outside right now. .... . waiting for the 40's today and the 50's for the week ahead. Heard on the news this morning that its going to be a warm wet spring. With more allergies and nasty flying insects. I'll deal with the warm and wet but, really don' t want to deal with the flies and sqeeters Always have alot of them anyways being located around a cedar swamp. Have a great day all