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BHM Newsletter
November 24, 2008
INSIDE BHMNew Issue
We just finished up deadline for issue 115. It’s 16 pages longer than usual and it looks great! The deplorable condition of the economy drove the issue. Along with our regular features, the articles include David Lee’s two-year plan about learning to build a home, Dorothy Ainsworth’s tips on frugal meals and grocery shopping, and Linda Gabris’ detailed directions and delicious recipes for butchering and cooking game meat. Jeffrey Yago gives us the low-down on the new national alternative energy tax credit law, which was passed in October along with the rest of the “Bailout Bill.” And if the economy gets so bad that you are reduced to eating rice and beans, don’t worry — Richard Blunt’s article is titled, Gourmet Nutrition with rice and beans. He includes recipes that will have you eating like a king on a pauper’s budget. And Len Torney is the kind of guy everyone wants for a mechanic — he has great (cheap!) tips on how to keep your old bucket of bolts humming along without a hitch through the winter. If you’re a subscriber you’ll get your copy toward the end of December.
New BooksNew Anthology For those who've been waiting for the new Fourtheenth Year Anthology (2003) to arrive before ordering - it's here! Click Here to get your copy! New Handbook Our newest Self-reliance guide is Dairy Goats: A Beginner's Handbook. If you're considering or new to keeping goats, this will help you get your bearings. Topics covered include: an introduction to dairy goats, fencing and housing, food and nutrition, dairying, health concerns, breeding and pregnancy, and more! Best of all, it's only $6.95. Get your copy here. The New Solar Electric Home Subtitled "The Complete Guide to Photovoltaics for Your Home," this expanded and updated classic by Joel Davidson and Fran Orner provides the facts, guidelines, tips & tools, worksheets, formulas, diagrams, you need to install a system whether you do-it-yourself or hire professionals. See the $5 discount offer below! Use code NSE0811 Click Here for the order page The Gun Digest Book of Concealed Carry
In addition to tactical aspects of self-defense, practical information like choosing the right firearm and ammunition, used gun purchases, and all legal aspects of self-defense with a gun are extensively covered in this complete and authoritative look at concealed carry. See the $5 discount offer below! Use code CC0811 Click Here for the order page Special Discount Books Offer If you are interested in either The New Solar Electric Home or The Gun Digest Book of Concealed Carry, you can save $5.00 off each one, or $10.00 off both! Just visit our Bookstore by Clicking Here, or on one of the book page links above. Add the book to your shopping cart. If you are only ordering one book, when you are ready to check out, look for the box that says "Enter Coupon Code # here." Type in the appropriate code from above, then click the "Enter" button, and the cart will subtract $5.00 from your order. If you are ordering both books, after you add both to your cart and are ready to check out, enter the code BB0811 and the cart will subtract $10.00 from your order. You may order other items, too, but your order MUST include one of the books to receive a $5.00 discount or both books to receive the $10.00 discount. Only one discount per order. This offer may not be combined with any other coupon, offer or discount, however named. This offer will expire upon publication of the next Newsletter. Important ReminderIf you ever need to change your email address or want to stop receiving the monthly Newsletter notice, just follow the link at the bottom of your email notice. It takes you to a Control Panel that will allow you to quickly and easily perform either task. Also... If you decide to use a spam filter that requires senders to follow a link or fill out a form, we regret that we are not able to comply with such requests. Such requests are treated as returned email, which will result in your address being removed from the mailing list. To prevent any problem, just add the addresses webmaster@backwoodshome.com and bhmnewsletter@backwoodshome.com to your "white" or "allowed" list. Thanks! And Finally... SELF-RELIANCE TIPSBeware: Frostbite and HypothermiaThe following potentially lifesaving information is courtesy of the U.S. National Weather Service. About frostbite Frostbite results from the body's survival mechanisms kicking in during extremely cold weather. The body's first imperative is to protect the vital inner organs, which it does by cutting back on circulation to your extremities: feet, hands, nose, etc. If these parts are exposed to the cold and receive less warming blood flow, they eventually freeze.
One way to avoid frostbite is to avoid going outside during severe cold, especially if the wind chill is -50 degrees F or below. If you must go, be sure to protect the exposed parts of your body, such as ears, noes, toes, and fingers. Mittens are more effective than gloves for warming your hands. Keep your skin dry. Stay out of the wind when possible. Drink plenty of fluids since hydration increases the blood's volume, which helps prevent frostbite. Avoid caffeinated beverages, however, as they constrict blood vessels and prevent warming of your extremities. Alcohol should be avoided since it reduces shivering, which is one of your body's ways of keeping warm. And be especially wary of smoking cigarettes in extremely cold temperatures. According to one physician, when you smoke, the blood flow to your hands practically shuts off. Different Degrees of Frostbite:
Frostbite First Aid Have you heard that you should rub frostbitten skin with snow? That old-time remedy can cause permanent damage.
Never rub or massage, but do use your armpits, a warm companion, warm drinks, and warm clothes to thaw your frozen body parts. Remove rings, watches, and anything that is tight. Your goal is to get indoors as quickly as possible, without walking on a frostbitten foot if you can avoid it. Once indoors, get in a warm (not hot) bath and wrap your face and ears in a moist, warm (not hot) towel. Don't get near a hot stove or heater, and don't use a heating pad, a hot water bottle, or a hair dryer. You may burn yourself before your feeling returns. Your frostbitten skin will become red and swollen, and you'll feel like it's on fire. You may develop blisters. Don't break the blisters. It could cause scarring. If your skin is blue or gray, very swollen, blistered, or feels hard and numb even under the surface, go to a hospital immediately. Sources:
Hypothermia: the cold-blooded killer You may have never heard of hypothermia, much less know how to get a handle on it. Here are the bone-chilling facts about this cold-blooded killer. A body temperature below 96 degrees Fahrenheit is called hypothermia, and it doesn't take arctic temperatures to put you at risk. The National Institute of Aging estimates that of the 28,000 people hypothermia kills every year, the largest percentage are older people. Some medicines, problems with circulation, and certain illnesses appear to reduce the older person's ability to resist hypothermia. Also, the older you get, the less sensitive you are to cold weather. So, your body temperature could drop to a dangerously low level without you really being aware of it. In addition, older people don't seem to shiver very effectively, which is one of the ways the body warms itself up. Remember these tips to help prevent hypothermia (some are especially for elders or those with existing medical problems):
If your temperature is 96 degrees or less or you feel sluggish or recognize that you're having trouble thinking clearly, see your doctor immediately or go to the nearest emergency room. It's better to be overly cautious than to die of a disorder that doesn't have to be deadly. To help someone you suspect may be suffering from hypothermia, first call an ambulance. Then lie close to the person and cover both of you with thick blankets. The hotter you get, the more warmth you can give the other person. Don't rub the person or handle him or her roughly. That can make things worse. Sources:
Free original clipart courtesy of Designed to a T RECIPESNon-Traditional Holiday FareTired of the same-old, same-old at the holidays? For your enjoyment we present some not-quite-traditional recipes. Our emphasis this month is on the famous meat course, but we've included a few intriguing sides and desserts. Cran-Cherry Sauce2-1/2 cups cherry cider,black cherry cider or cranberry juice cocktail
Bring cider to simmer in heavy, large saucepan. Remove from heat. Add cherries and let stand 8 minutes. Mix in sugar, then cranberries and cloves. Cook over medium-high heat until cranberries burst, stirring occasionally, about 9 minutes. Refrigerate until cold, about 4 hours (sauce will thicken as it cools). (Can be prepared up to 4 days ahead. Cover and keep refrigerated.) Sesame Dijon Asparagus2 tablespoons soy sauce
Whisk together the soy sauce, mustard, sesame oil and vinegar in a small bowl. Steam the asparagus just until tender, about 5 minutes. Drain the excess water. Toss with the soy sauce mixture. Sprinkle with sesame seeds. Les Halles Mushroom Soup6 tablespoons butter
Melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion and cook until it's soft and translucent. Add the remaining butter and mushrooms. Cook for 8 minutes, stirring occasionally, making sure the onion doesn't brown. Add the chicken broth and the parsley, stir and bring to a boil. Turn down the heat and simmer for about an hour. Remove the parsley and discard. Transfer the soup to the blender and blend at high speed until smooth, you may need to do this in batches. Return to the saucepan, season with salt and pepper and bring to a simmer again. Add the sherry and mix well. Soak the dried mushrooms in water, drain. Melt the butter and sear the mushrooms for a few minutes. Add to the soup and serve. Serves 4. Grilled Holiday Oysters24 unopened, fresh medium oysters
Preheat oven to 500 degrees F. In a small bowl, combine the butter, salt and pepper, chopped fennel greens, ground fennel seed, and shallots. Arrange the oysters on the oven rack and cook for three to five minutes. They should be hissing and starting to open. Pry each oyster open at the hinge, loosen the oyster a bit, and remove the flat shell. Top each oyster with 1/2 teaspoon of the butter mixture and return to the oven until butter is melted. Leg of Lamb with Cranberry Wine Sauce1 leg of lamb, rolled if desired
Sauce
Mix salt, pepper, vanilla bean powder, dried thyme leaves and paprika in a small bowl. Make slits in leg of lamb and then rub with the dry mixture. Roast in 325 degree oven fat-side-up until thermometer inserted into the meat reads 160 to 165 for rare or 175 to 180 for well done. Remove from oven, wrap in aluminum foil, and allow to stand for 10 minutes before carving. Pour meat juice into a small bowl and skim off fat layer. Set aside. Sauce: Heat olive oil in a saucepan. Add shallots or scallions and saute over medium heat until lightly golden, about 3 minutes. Add cloves, allspice, jellied cranberries and red wine and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 1 minute, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat, strain into a clean pan and return to a boil. Pour in reserved meat juice and vinegar. Remove from heat and add pure vanilla extract and salt and pepper to taste. Serve alongside lamb. Serves 8. Roast Turkey with Proscuitto Ham1 18 to 20-pound turkey
Pat turkey dry. Run hands under skin of turkey, separating skin from breast and thighs. Rub 3 tablespoons rosemary and 3 tablespoons garlic under skin over breast and thighs. Carefully arrange half of prosciutto under skin over breast and thighs. Rub 1 tablespoon rosemary and 1 tablespoon garlic inside cavity of turkey. Sprinkle remaining prosciutto into cavity. Place turkey in heavy large roasting pan. Cover with plastic and chill overnight. Preheat oven to 450°F. Rub outside of turkey with oil. Season with pepper. Place 1 head of garlic in cavity of turkey. Place 2 heads of garlic in roasting pan. Tie turkey legs together. Roast turkey 30 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 325°F. Continue roasting turkey until thermometer inserted into thickest part of thigh registers 180°F, basting occasionally with 2 cups broth, about 3 hours. Transfer turkey to platter. Surround with roasted garlic and garlic from turkey cavity. Remove prosciutto from turkey cavity; reserve. Tent turkey with foil. Pour pan juices into large glass measuring cup. Skim fat from surface of pan juices, reserving 3 tablespoons fat. Set roasting pan over medium-high heat. Add wine and bring to boil, scraping up any browned bits. Add wine mixture to pan juices in cup (liquids should measure 2 1/2 cups; if not, add more both or boil until reduced to 2 1/2 cups). Heat reserved 3 tablespoons fat in heavy medium saucepan over medium heat. Add flour; stir until golden, about 2 minutes. Whisk in pan juices. Mix in 1/2 teaspoon rosemary. Boil until thickened to sauce consistency, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes. Mix in reserved prosciutto. Garnish turkey with rosemary springs. Serve with gravy. Roast Goose with Baked Apple Casserole1 8-pound goose
Cook the giblets until tender, chop and add to stuffing made by mixing bread crumbs, onion, fat, sage, salt and pepper. After cleaning and washing the goose thoroughly, stuff, and sew the neck and back. Roast very slowly (350-400 degrees F.), about three hours. Wash and core apples; sprinkle with sugar, stuff with mashed and seasoned sweet potato. Bake until tender and serve hot with the goose. Serves 6. Prime Rib au Jus Cabernet1 6-pound boneless prime rib beef roast
Jus
Remove prime rib from the refrigerator and let rest for an hour. Preheat the oven to 450 F. Rub the beef with the garlic and thyme. Rub it with salt and pepper. Put in a roasting pan and roast for 20 minutes. Reduce heat to 300 F and roast until a meat thermometer indicates its internal temperature is 120 F (about 1 ? hours, but check!). Remove, place in a serving platter, tent with aluminum foil and let sit for 20-30 minutes. Meanwhile, prepare the jus. Combine the wine, port, broth, garlic cloves, shallot and bay leaf in a medium-saucepan. Boil until it's reduced to 1 cup, about 1 hour. Add dried thyme. (This mixture can be prepared and refrigerated up to 28 hours in advance). After removing the roast from the roasting pan, pour off all the fat. Place the roasting pan on the stove top over medium heat and add the Cabernet mixture. Bring to a boil scrapping all the browned bits. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Pour into a gravy boat and serve. Pear-Apple Crumble4 medium Bosc pears, cored and thinly sliced
Topping:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In a mixing bowl, combine the fruits with the next 5 ingredients and stir together until evenly coated. Pour into a lightly oiled 9- by 13-inch baking pan. In a small bowl, combine the first 4 topping ingredients and toss to coat. Drizzle in the oil and stir until evenly coated. Sprinkle the crumble topping evenly over the fruit mixture. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, or until the fruits are soft and the topping is golden. If desired, serve warm in bowls over frozen dessert. Serves 8. Jamaican Black Rum CakeAlthough not traditional in most parts of the world, this alcohol-soaked fruitcake is a tradition in the Caribbean, where it arose as a local version of English plum pudding. Start early with this one! It takes weeks to prepare. It makes two cakes and lasts a long time. 1 pound raisins; minced
In a large bowl, mix all the fruits thoroughly with the wine and the rum; let the fruit macerate, covered, at room temperature for at least two weeks. In a heavy skillet combine one pound of the brown sugar and 1 cup water. Bring to a boil over moderate heat, stirring until the sugar is dissolved, and gently boil the syrup, swirling the skillet occasionally, for a few minutes, or until it is reduced to 1-3/4 cups. Let the syrup cool; reserve. Sift the flour, baking powder, cinnamon and nutmeg together into a bowl. In the large bowl of an electric mixer cream together the remaining brown sugar and the butter until it is fluffy; then beat in the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in the vanilla, the flour mixture, and 1-1/3 cups of the burnt sugar syrup, reserving the remaining syrup for another use. In another large bowl, combine well the flour mixture and the fruit mixture and divide the batter between two buttered and floured 10" springform pans. Bake the cakes in the middle of a preheated 350F. oven for two hours, or until a tooth pick inserted in the centers comes out with some crumbs adhering to it. (The centers of these cakes will be quite moist.) Let the cakes cool in the pans on a rack, remove the sides and bottoms of the pans, and wrap the cakes in foil or wax paper. Let the cakes stand at room temperature for a week. Roll out half the almond paste between sheets of plastic wrap to form a 10" round and remove the top sheet of plastic wrap. Fit the almond paste layer over one cake, trimming the edge if necessary, and remove the other sheet of plastic wrap. Roll out and fit the remaining almond paste onto the remaining cake in the same manner. HUMORHumor for the HolidaysThe DivorceA man in Phoenix calls his son in New York two days before Thanksgiving and says,"I hate to ruin your day, but I have to tell you that your mother and I are divorcing. Forty years of misery is enough!" "Pop, what are you talking about?" the son exclaims. "We can't stand the sight of each other any longer," the father says. "We're sick of each other, and I'm sick of talking about this, so you call your sister in Chicago and tell her." Frantic, the son calls his sister, who explodes on the phone. "Like heck they're getting divorced," she shouts, "I'll take care of this," She calls Phoenix immediately, and shouts at her father, "You are NOT getting divorced. Don't do a single thing until I get there. I'm calling my brother back, and we'll both be there tomorrow. Until then, don't do a thing, DO YOU HEAR ME?" She slams down the phone. The old man hangs up his phone and turns to his wife. "Okay, Honey" he says, "they're coming for Thanksgiving and paying their own way."  Doh!A woman was picking through the frozen turkeys at the grocery store, but couldn't find one big enough for her family. She asked the stock boy, "Do these turkeys get any bigger?" The stock boy answered, "No ma'am, they're dead." Don't Make Me Go!Thanksgiving day was approaching and the family had received a Thanksgiving card with a painting of a Pilgrim family on their way to church. Grandma showed the card to her small grandchildren, observing: "The Pilgrim children liked to go to church with their mothers and fathers." "Oh yeah?" her young grandson snorted. "Then why is their dad carrying that rifle?" PerspectiveA few years ago, an American and a British journalist were discussing Thanksgiving on a British radio program. The American asked if Thanksgiving was celebrated in the UK. "Yes," the British journalist replied, "but we celebrate it on the 6th of September." "Why then?" "That's the day in 1620 when you chaps left." Southern Wise MenIn a small southern town there was a Nativity scene that showed great skill and talent had gone into creating it. One small feature bothered a passing tourist from New England. The three wise men were wearing firemen's helmets. Totally unable to come up with a reason or explanation, the tourist left. At a Quik Stop on the edge of town, he asked the lady behind the counter about the helmets. She exploded into a rage, yelling, "You darn Yankees never do read the Bible!" The tourist assured her that he did, in fact, read the Bible, but simply couldn't recall anything about firemen around the manger. She jerked her Bible from behind the counter and ruffled thru some pages. Finally, she jabbed her finger at a passage. Sticking it in his face she gloated, "See, it says right here, 'The three wise man came from afar.'" Christmas Carols for the Psychiatrically ChallengedSCHIZOPHRENIA: Do You Hear What I Hear? MULTIPLE PERSONALITY DISORDER: We Three Kings Disoriented Are DEMENTIA: I Think I'll Be Home For Christmas NARCISSISTIC: Hark, the Herald Angels Sing About Me MANIC: Deck the Halls and Walls and House and Lawn and Streets and Stores and Office and Town and Cars and Busses and Trucks and Trees and Fire Hydrants and . . . PARANOID: Santa Claus Is Coming To Get Me PERSONALITY DISORDER: You Better Watch Out, I'm Gonna Cry, I'm Gonna Pout, Maybe I'll Tell You Why DEPRESSION: Silent Anhedonia, Holy Anhedonia, All Is Flat, All Is Lonely OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE DISORDER: Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell Rock, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell Rock, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell Rock, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell Rock, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell Rock, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell Rock, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell Rock, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell Rock, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell Rock, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell Rock, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell Rock, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell Rock, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell Rock, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell Rock, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell Rock, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell Rock, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell Rock, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell Rock, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell Rock, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell Rock, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell Rock, ........ (better start again) PASSIVE-AGGRESSIVE PERSONALITY: On The First Day of Christmas My True Love Gave To Me (and then took it all away) BORDERLINE PERSONALITY DISORDER: Thoughts of Roasting on an Open Fire. Hector's Hectic LifeA Classic Cartoon from 1948. Politically Correct Holiday GreetingsBest wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low stress, non-addictive, gender neutral, winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most joyous traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice, but with respect for the religious persuasion of others who choose to practice their own religion as well as those who choose not to practice a religion at all; Additionally, a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling, and medically uncomplicated recognition of the generally accepted calendar year 2009, but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures whose contributions have helped make our society great, without regard to the race, creed, color, religious, or sexual preferences of the wishes. (Disclaimer: This greeting is subject to clarification or withdrawal. It implies no promise by the wisher to actually implement any of the wishes for her/himself or others and no responsibility for any unintended emotional stress these greetings may bring to those not caught up in the holiday spirit.) OTHER STUFFDid a friend or relative tell you about this newsletter? The Backwoods Home Magazine newsletter is free and all you need is an email address so we can let you know when each issue is published and where it can be found. Even better, we sometimes have special offers and discounts that are available only to BHM Newsletter subscribers. Your email address will never be sold, rented, loaned, given, or otherwise provided to any third party. Just visit the BHM web site at www.backwoodshome.com and click on "Newsletter" in the navigation menu on the left side of any web page. Contact Info: Editor/Letters - Dave Duffy, editor@backwoodshome.com
Backwoods Home Magazine
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Even a moderately chilly air temperature of 60 degrees is low enough to trigger hypothermia if you aren't properly clothed.
