old school repurposing

Repurposing

is a good thing.

(Thanks Martha.)

It is most definitely

NOT

a new way of thinking.

The contrary...

it is embracing a way of life

that saw our great grandparents

grandparents

and parents through

difficult times.

Or simply...

their way of thinking...

being frugal.

Before it was hip to do so.

Enter a new generation.

One that will often times pay big bucks

at fancy food chains

(aka Fresh Market)

to find others that embrace an

organic/expensive

existence.

Sure...

I could plant my own

strawberry patch out back...

pamper them...keep them

free from pesticides

and fertilizers.

Or...

I can buy three packages

for $10.

My first time at this market...

so that is what I did.

Super ripe...

smelling sweet...

I just read a list of must buy it organic

and strawberries topped the list

(all thin skinned fruits and veggies)

Now what?

Slice and eat...

Did that.

Still have 2 1/2 cartons left.

Refusing to watch them go bad

I got my frugal grandma on.

Enter Sure Jell.

Wash canning jars.

Dedicate an hour to this old craft.

I always follow the freezer method.

Wash berries...

chop/crush berries

with recommended potato masher

(don't own one)

or food processor BUT be careful

not to go too crazy

you want chunks.

(impossible for me)

OR...

use a handy dandy

pastry knife.

Thanks to mom

who purchased this for me

YEARS ago.

It can mash avocados...

chop eggs for egg salad...

today, crush strawberries...

maybe...

 sometimes...

 doing its job of

blending pie dough

ingredients.

:)

Add sugar per package

instructions...

yikes!

2 cups berries...4 cups sugar...

warning that if you don't measure

carefully the jam

won't set.

So I now have sugary jam...

in pretty jars.

I know it will be good

because I've made

it before.

I just forgot how much sugar

it called for.

Again...

yikes!

But with more strawberries

to be used I headed

to Kroger for more pectin...

reduced sugar recipe.

Unfortunately,

this recipe calls for

4 cups crushed berries...3 cups sugar.

I only had 2 cups left...

I did the unthinkable and

altered the recipe...

ignoring warnings.

Which meant I had to figure out

how to cut the pectin in half.

First measured contents=1/3 cup

(in case you are wondering)

got on ask.com to find what the

equivalent is in Tablespoons=5.

Needed 2 1/2 Tb.

Sure I could toss the rest

but the great grandma in me

found a more palatable

alternative...

I made this funnel

using a pop bottle top

from the recycling bin...

the rest of the bottle went back to recycling.

Now I have

a kitchen funnel

and a labelled spice jar with

an explanation for the me of the future

who won't know what the heck that

powdery stuff 

is in that jar.

At home with various

spices I have accumulated...

sitting on the shelf

of a spice rack I found at

a Goodwill in Manistee MI.

My sweet mom...

who started this strange behavior

of mine...

was over for lunch yesterday

and commented on my little

kitchen corner...saying...

"All those reds look so pretty together."

Don't you just love moms

who see beyond the mess

to the beauty of it all?

Back to repurposing...

I ask you...

a new fangled concept

OR

old school thinking known as

"make do with what you have?"

I think you know my answer.

Thanks to all the women in my life

past and present

who

were the founders

of the movement.