How To Restore Vintage Linens & Things...

Antique is mostly defined as more than 100 years old (unless it is a car). Vintage is a loosely used word - so for your edification my definition here, I am cleaning vintage 1940's linens from my MIL. As I transition from less paper to more cloth, I thought now would be great time to start work on cleaning the stains on these treasured linens.
One of the first steps for was determining just how important these napkins, tablecloths and hankies were. The only real value for me was sentimental, they are not antiques & I was planning on using them. So, I was willing to take chances and some losses were acceptable.

Like always I did a lot of reading. One of the most helpful things I read wasn't from a blogger, but from an anonymous comment:

I am a studied archival linen purchaser/collector and do not recommend any hydrogen peroxide or related peroxide products, +bleach, or any man-made definably chemical-based formulations to wash or treat linen and/or related fine cottons.

Use of these products creates irreparable hardship on the fibers and you will notice shortly thereafter that the texture of the article(s) will have changed (first detected to the touch, or ‘feel’ as it is deemed) then over time the fabric in question will begin to break and separate in the form of small holes, frayed/worn edges which often appear at the edge-seams or openings of your fabrics, garments or bedding material.

Vinegar, blueing liquid, buttermilk, lemon juice, salt soaks and mild ph detergent soaks (no extreme hot water temperatures must ever be employed) is best recommended. Wash fabrics on the gentle cycle of your washing machine using only a ph balanced soap like “Zero” or equivalent ph balanced soap.

Sun bleaching and/or hang drying is always best for archival fabrics, including natural linen or cotton. Caution: Never use Sun Bleaching if the fabric has been dyed–vegetable dyes will readily fade with sun exposure. Often antiquated quilts have depreciated in value considerably for oversights such as sun exposure and related sun bleaching.

Basically I started with the least harsh method I could find and worked my way up to soaking in bleach. The entire process took  a long time, but eventually I was able to set up a system.

Buttermilk (Step 1)

1 Gallon Water

1 Quart Buttermilk
1 TBS Fresh Lemon Juice

Soak items in the buttermilk recipe up to 24 hours. I added a plate in the pot to weight down the linens & to keep submerged in the solution. 
Rinse twice, then launder.

Step 2 When that method didn't work, I then used a gallon of water and Oxi-Clean. Soaked for 6 hours, rinsed twice, then laundered.

Step 3 Then I use an all fabric bleach and a gallon of water. Soaked for 6 hours, rinsed twice, then laundered.

 

By the time I reached this stage, I was all in. There were a lot of tough stains.
Step 4 I graduated to a bleach pen. I let that set for awhile and there wasn't any improvement I went directly to a cup of bleach in about two gallons of water. This was used of course with only the all white linens.

 

By this time, I manage to salvage almost all the linens. There are a few dots of stain left on a few of the linens and I lost about 4 pieces to deterioration of the fabric. Yet I would still be able to use these pieces. Since I went into this knowing I'd lose a few I was comfortable with the outcome.

Here is why I went to all that trouble. My picture parade of some of the fun and great pieces I am now going to be able to use.

 

 

What I do here is simply share our journey. We would love it if your joined our Perky Gramma Teaches community on Facebook.
Some of the items I have used this week.

   

I participate in the Amazon Associate program, where I receive a small % commission for linking products that I recommend. I only recommend products I personally used and like. Your support is very appreciated, anything you choose to purchase through my link, is helping me to be able to share more things that I do with you. Perky Gramma Teaches Amazon link.

Empanada Recipe with Cream Cheese Crust

We lived in Panama for five years. One of the foods we came to love was empanadas, our favorite recipe is this one with a cream cheese crust. My mom will make these for a party or for a family gathering. She takes the time to make mini versions. Me - I am lazy and make larger ones.
I probably wrote out this recipe in the mid 1970's. First I didn't write all the directions out. Plus, I find it interesting to read these old recipes, Note this recipe called for oleo.
Talk about throw back. 

Empanadas

1 lb. cream cheese
1 lb. butter
4 C. flour

Crust: Have cream cheese & butter at room temp.
Cream butter and cream cheese
Add flour slowly
Chill well
Roll out and cut out circles.
Filling: 1 1/2 lb. ground meat. Add chili, salt, pepper, parsley, Tabasco and garlic to taste.
Add a small portion of meat to half of the circle of crust. Fold over gently and crimp with a fork.

Baked at 350 degrees until golden brown. These freeze and reheat extremely well.

What I do here is simply share our journey. We would love it if your joined our Perky Gramma Teaches community on Facebook. 
Here are a few things I have recently purchase for the farm. 

   

I participate in the Amazon Associate program, where I receive a small % commission for linking products that I recommend. I only recommend products I personally used and like. Your support is very appreciated, anything you choose to purchase through my link, is helping me to be able to share more things that I do with you. Perky Gramma Teaches Amazon link.

Meeting Andy the Chicken Whisperer...

My girlfriend, two young ladies and I spent the evening listening to the "Chicken Whisperer" chat with his Georgia  charm and wit - about raising chickens. I didn't know what to expect, but I had an absolute blast. Couple of special notes. I LOVED the way he interacted with the young people there. you certainly are able to tell he is family man, he even has his family traveling with him on this tour.
I learned quite a bit, but I also was amazed with how much I had already learned about raising chickens. You know I have had plans for some time to be a self sustaining farm and one of the first things I want is chickens.
He just comes across as a man who loves what he does and also doesn't beat around the bush with his opinions on a wide range of topics. The event was hosted by one of our local Coops to include a Poultry Workshop, Book Signing, Pictures & Autographs, Q&A, Everyone in attendance received a FREE Chicken Whisperer Magazine & Bio-security Booklets from the USDA. The booklet has update to date information of securing your livestock from disease, a hot topic these days.

I really like getting to meet real people and Andy is real. I picked up his book "The Chicken Whisperers' Guide to Keeping Chickens: Everything You Need To Know...and Didn't Know You Neded to Know About Bckyard and Urban Chickens" and though I haven't finished it I would recommend his book. He is just full of prctical tips.. I recommend you like him on Facebook (Plese tell him I said "hi")., read his blog, sign up for either his hard copy magazine or FREE digital magazine. He also does a radio show.

I am so grateful I was able to attend this event locally. Check his event schedule, he may be coming to a town near you. I am now  big fan of the Chicken Whisperer.

His book I bought tonight available at a less expensive price on Amazon:

I participate in the Amazon Associate program, where I receive a small % commission for linking products that I recommend. I only recommend products I personally used and like. Your support is very appreciated, anything you choose to purchase through my link, is helping me to be able to share more things that I do with you. Perky Gramma Teaches Amazon link.

5 Tips & How to Use Elderberries for Winter...

I have always been fascinated by homemade homeopathic remedies, so early on I decided to start learning how to make these remedies at home. I've been making elderberry syrup now since 2013. 

Mr. Perky stayed home from work today, which is a really rare occurrence. He was experiencing cold/flu like symptoms. So I went full scale making elderberry juice. I actually made four batches total. 

Today I am sharing various tips I have learned, plus how to dehydrate elderberries (sambucus nigra) and how to make elderberry juice.

Ripe berries:  The berries ripen varies from late summer to early fall. Mostly you can tell by the birds and the berries. If the birds aren't eating them, they are not ripe. When they are ripe they are soft, turn a deep purple color and are full of red juice.

How To Dehydrate Elderberries

First you need to identify your elderberry bushes, in Virginia they grow wild.

My DH and friends went elderberry picking a couple of weeks ago. Initially I just popped the bag in the freezer. Some of the seeds I am saving to plant this spring in my new home. 

TIP: Before or after dehydrating you need to clean/process the berries. They have short shelf life, so if you are not freezing them immediately they will need to be process within a few days. If you float the berries in a bowl of water after you have removed them, you can easily scoop up any floating debris. You need to remove berries that are not ripe, leaves, stems, old flowers blooms etc. It is time consuming, but leaving these other parts in the mix will leave a bitter taste to your elderberry juice. 
While we tried transplanting some elderberry bushes on our new farmette, I will probably order some elderberry bushes to insure I am getting sambucus nigra elderberries. I will keep you posted.

I find I am able to see a difference between the elderberries that we picked & the ones I purchased from Amazon (associate link). But, they both are really good. 

OLD FARMER TIP: Freeze the clusters, then shake the bag.

Left is before putting the berries in the freezer and the picture on the right is what was in the bottom of the bag after shaking. I did still need to pluck some berries, but shaking them certainly saved time. You may also do this when picking.

                        

    

Next, remove the remaining berries from the umbrels & my results.

TIP: Melissa Barnes Blake suggested using a fork to pick the berries off of the umbrels. Definitely going to do that next time.

                

  

I wasn't sure, but I spread the elderberries out in the 
Excalibur dehydrator tray. (associate link)  I was concerned they were going to fall through, but they didn't. I dehydrated the berries at 135 degrees until they were no longer soft. Probably about 4-5 hours. Honestly, I think that my dehydrator was one of the very best purchases I have made. I use it continually. 

Afterwords I set the trays on a towel (glad I did) and gentle rubbed the berries to remove them from the screen. Next time I will use dark towels.

Put the elderberries into a canning jar.

Then what was left of the towel was added to a canning jar and vacuum seal them.

There you have it. The elderberries on the left are the ones we picked. The ones I got from amazon are on the right. Look good don't they?

TIP: I write the recipe for elderberry juice on the lid of my stored elderberries. I also vacuum seal the jars between usages. Now my berries are ready to make elderberry juice.

How To Make 

Elderberry Juice

Originally I was using a recipe I found online, but I have edited it so much now. Many recipes I have found use 1 cup of honey, which is far too much for my taste.

Ingredients: (personally I now double the batch, since I use it so often)

1 Cup fresh or 1/2 cup dried elderberries.

3 Cups water

1/3 Cup honey (not really needed)

EDITED: Now I add a couple of slices of dehydrated ginger to my recipe. You may also add other medicinal plants.

First, add 1 cup fresh or 1/2 dried elderberries to a pot and add 3 cups of water.

Bring to a boil & then reduce the heat and simmer for 1/2 hour.

Strain everything through a strainer. Then smash the berries to get all the juice out. Previously I used a regular strainer and a spoon, but I have to tell you I just got an Oxo Food Mill.  It's one of those tools that I really wished i had gotten a lot earlier. I love this thing. Particularly, it makes the work so much easier and it is a breeze to clean.

CAUTION: Don't eat the seeds. There is some chance of toxicity. I just googled it & read about it. A couple won't hurt. just use caution.

Lastly, add 1/3 cup of honey. Since the juice is still hot, I pour it back and forth to melt & get all the honey out of the measuring cup. 

Don't you just love this bottle? I like them so much, I got them at Ikea. I just went back and bought some more swing-top bottles. Then I used a funnel and pour into a bottle of jar. You store the syrup in the fridge. It will last for several months.

DOSING: You may take it every 2-3 hours. Personally I have been just drinking an ounce or two at  time. 

REMINDER: Don't use raw honey with young children you are able to use other sweeteners like raw sugar. 

TIP: Since I made 4 batches, I also freeze my elderberry/ginger juice. Recently I have been utilizing the frozen elderberry/ginger. The cubes are super convenient. Which leads us to...

Perky's Go-Go Juice

One of my gramma names is Go-Go, long before Honey Boo Boo's go-go juice came into being. Once I started making the very best blueberry juice ever, I started mixing my elderberry/ginger juice which  I now have frozen and blueberry juice. This is an absolute fantastic afternoon pick me up. While I am not a doctor, nor do I play one on t.v., I am only able to share that this works extremely well for me. 

Items I used in this post and this week.

   

Just so you know I participate in the Amazon associate program. What that means is when you click on a link I post & purchase items; I receive a small percentage from Amazon. your cost is exactly the same. I try to make sure these are products I have used and recommend.

From herbwisdom.com: "Used for its antioxidant activity, to lower cholesterol, improve vision, boost the immune system, improve heart health and for coughs, colds, flu, bacterial and viral infections and tonsillitis. Elderberry juice was used to treat a flu epidemic in Panama in 1995.

Elderberries (Sambucus) have been a folk remedy for centuries in North America, Europe, Western Asia, and North Africa, hence the medicinal benefits of elderberries are being investigated and rediscovered. Elderberry is used for its antioxidant activity, to lower cholesterol, to improve vision, to boost the immune system, to improve heart health and for coughs, colds, flu, bacterial and viral infections and tonsillitis. Bioflavonoids and other proteins in the juice destroy the ability of cold and flu viruses to infect a cell. People with the flu who took elderberry juice reported less severe symptoms and felt better much faster than those who did not."

How To Make Dehydrated Okra Chips

Never in a million years would I have thought I was going to be trying to learn to like vegetables than were an anathema to my taste buds. But, I decided I am a grown up and it is time to start trying things I have always thought I didn't like. I was given some fresh okra and here is how to make dehydrate okra chips.
Vegetable chips are a great way to preserve your harvest through the winter months. Generally speaking most vegetables could be dehydrated in the same manner.
1. First I chose the medium to larger sized okra and sliced them in half length wise. If you will note: while you are beginning to slice the top off, you will feel some are harder to slice through (almost like sawing). I gave those a wide berth since I thought they would be too tough.

 

you will be able to tell which ones are tougher when you start slicing.
After slicing, I used about 1/4 cup of warmed up coconut oil and tossed that with the spices I decided to use. This time it was adobo and ground Cheyenne pepper. Adobo is a spice blend that I have used for years and use on practically everything. 

Laid the okra on the trays, cut side down and dehydrated them at 135 degrees, mine went for about 20 hours. But, the honest way to learn to dehydrate is just by dehydrating.  I kept them going until the largest one was crispy. For giggles I jut cut up a couple pods in slices to see it the furbabies would like them. They did.

 

Once they were done, I vacuum sealed them in a canning jar. These types of things are really easy to learn, if you just try.

Items I used today:

I participate in the Amazon Associate program, where I receive a small % commission for linking products that I recommend. I only recommend products I personally used and like. Your support is very appreciated, anything you choose to purchase through my link, is helping me to be able to share more things that I do with you. Perky Gramma Teaches Amazon link.

Perky's Rich Caffeinated Peppermint Hot Cocoa

It's chilly this morning and I am now curled up under an afghan on my couch enjoying a piping hot cup of Perky's Rich Caffeinated Peppermint Hot Cocoa. All the ingredients are on the shelf. The cooler temperatures of fall have been calling out to me to start making my cold weather favorites, so I thought I would share.
What a great holiday gift basket this would make for a perky friend.

Perky's Rich Caffeinated Peppermint Hot Cocoa

Ingredients:

1 cup of milk

2 t. of sugar

2 T. of Hershey's Special Dark Cocoa

1 packet of Starbucks VIA Peppermint Mocha (this adds caffeination)

(personally I wait until the end of the holiday season and stock up)

Dash of salt

¼ vanilla

Directions:

Pour the milk into a small sauce pan and whisk in all the other ingredients until piping hot. Pour into your favorite mug. Add whipped cream or marshmallows if you wish. Enjoy!

This recipe was adapted from the one cup recipe on the Hershey's website. 

Ingredients:
2 T. sugar

2-3 t. Hershey's Cocoa

Dash of salt

1 cup milk

1/4 t. vanilla extract

TIPS:

Storing powered cocoa: On the Hershey Company FAQ they state “Cocoa is considered a non-perishable item which should maintain quality if store at room temperature in a tightly sealed container.” Sounds good to me. I tend to keep a lot of cocoa around.

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I participate in the Amazon Associate program, where I receive a small % commission for linking products that I recommend. I only recommend products I personally used and like. Your support is very appreciated, anything you choose to purchase through my link, is helping me to be able to share more things that I do with you. PerkyGramma Teaches Amazon link.