Dandelion Jelly Recipe

Dandelions have been growing all over my front and backyard. My daughter and I went around and picked a large batch of them. As I decided to make something out of them. Before they went to waste.

There are all kinds of things you make out of Dandelions. Plus, the health benefits you get out of Dandelions are worth all the fuss.

9 Things our bodies need that are obtained by eating Dandelions

1. Beta-carotene which the human body turns into Vitamin A

2. Vitamin C
3. Iron
4. Calcium
5. Fiber
6. Potassium

7. Phosphorus

8. Magnesium

9. Zinc 

Health Benefits You Obtain From
Eating Dandelions  

1. Protects bones from age-related damage.

2. Detoxifies the liver.

3. Promoting digestion.

4. Helps to stimulate the production of insulin from the pancreas. 

5. Useful in treating skin issues. Such as  itching, ringworm, and eczema.
6. The juice fights acne.
7. Low in calories which help promote weight loss.

8. Fights cancer - high in antioxidants

9. Jaundice - helps regulate bile production
10. Helps fight constipation 

11. Anemia - high in iron

12. Helps diabetics to lower their blood sugar

Learning all about the benefits made me determine this year I will make something from Dandelions. Not just write about it.  I looked up recipes for dandelion jelly, tea, and fried Dandelion greens etc. I decided on making Dandelion jelly. The original recipe I found through Simply Canning website. I converted the recipe to make a larger batch.

Dandelion Jelly
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9 cups of Dandelion tea
12 cups of Stevia or other sugar alternative
6 Tablespoons of lime juice
3 boxes of powdered pectin

You make the Dandelion tea by adding the yellow flower of the Dandelion to a pot. Add as many cups of HOT water, as you have Dandelions. Cover pot, let sit overnight. Sometimes I let it sit for a couple of days. The longer it sits, the stronger the tea will be. It should have a yellow to light brown tint when complete

Add Dandelion tea, lime juice and pectin in sauce pan. Bring to a boil. Add sugar. Make sure sugar gets blended into completely. Otherwise, it will stick to bottom of your sauce pan and burn. Bring to a rolling boil. Remove from heat. Add to jars. make sure you leave 1/4 inch of space from the top.

You can process these in a water bath for 10 minutes. Or process for 10 minutes if you are under 6000 feet elevation. 15 minutes if you are over 6000 feet elevation.

Now I let the jelly set for 48 hours to jell up before using. Jelly must be refrigerated once opened.

I made 36 small jelly jars.

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WW : Taco Bell

My boyfriend, daughter and I went to Taco Bell for a quick lunch. I normally do not go to Taco Bell because of all the process food they prepare. It doesn't agree with my body as I get older. My family wanted something quick to eat. As I wanted to save money. Taco Bell won.

The photo of cheesy crunchy griller and crunchy cheesy quesadilla looks like a commercial.

My daughter enjoying a potato griller.

I enjoyed eating my Taco Bell food.

Look at all the lettuce and cheese Taco Bell puts on the taco.

Do you eat at Taco Bell? If so, what is something you order routinely?

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This post participates in a weekly challenge called Wordless Wednesday. Where one shares as many photos as possible with as few words as possible. Letting the photos speak for themselves.

National Adopt A Shelter Pet Day 2016

Today is National Adopt A Shelter Pet Day. It is to bring awareness of all the animals in shelters throughout the United States.  Every year, there are an estimated amount of 3 to 4 million animals in shelters looking for a forever home. 

Unfortunately, if a shelter animal can not find a forever home. The unthinkable happens. They will be put to sleep. Shelter animals can put to sleep for a number of reasons. The main reason is overcrowding. The demands for shelter pets do not meet the supply. Sadly, there is not enough space. One must be put to sleep to make room for new shelter animals coming in.

An animal can be held for several days before it is put to sleep. However, if it is an owner surrender. It can be immediately. Black and bully breeds (pit bull, mastiff, rottweiler, etc.) coming in to shelters are a death sentence. As they are hard to adopt. If one comes in with a sniffle, it is automatically put to sleep. In order to prevent an outbreak in the shelter.

Excuses people give when surrendering an animal to an animal shelter : 

1. I'm moving or getting a divorce.

2. The dog is bigger than I anticipated.

3. I don't have time for him.

4. She won't stop chewing on things.

5. I don't want the stress of finding a home.
6. I'm having a baby.

Why should you adopt a shelter pet?

Adopting a pet from a shelter is cheaper than buying from a breeder. As shelter dogs are not only mixed breeds and mutts. I know of a breeder who will surrender a litter if they have to many. Or if all are not bought by a certain age. 

Your adopted pet will be fully vetted before you adopted it. That means the animal will be current on all shots, spayed or neutered to prevent more unwanted litters. Plus, be microchipped. 

I could go on and on about reasons why you should adopt a shelter pet. However, I won't. I will say the main reason why you should adopt from a shelter : You're the animals last hope before death. 

Photod from Pixabay.com a free use photo website.

WW : Dinner Date At Kissners

Things have been rather busy at my place. Between watching my 22 month grandson and having two roommates in my tiny home. Which already includes two adults and two teens can get pretty hectic.

Yesterday, I went on a dinner date with my boyfriend. As we very much needed some alone time. We had not had a date or any alone time longer than I would have liked.

We went on our dinner date to a local place called 'Kissner's'. As we had not ate there in awhile. Kissner's has been around since before I was born.

The place still has the original bar from back in the good old days. When saloons lined up and down the street of Defiance. Before all the hustle and bustle of modern life.

My boyfriend ordered the 'Carl' burger or was it the 'Carl Jr.' The burger was named after the current owner. It is the biggest burger on the menu. What I like about this place, the owner still works there. He actually brought us our menus' and took our drink orders. before telling us who our waitress would be. Not places do that anymore.

I had to share this photo to show how big the 'Carl Burger' actually is. It is almost as big as my boyfriend's head. 

I ordered the 'Sizzler Boy', which is a sizzler served with mushroom and swiss cheese on a hoagie bun.

I won't ruin the surprise on learning the history of 'Kissner's". If you are ever in the NW Ohio area, looking for a good place to eat. Stop on by "Kissner's". 

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This post was written as a part of an ongoing series every wednesday called "Wordless Wednesday". To learn more about it. Please go to the tab page marked "Wordless Wednesday".

Wildlife in Your Backyard

I was out doing more work in the yard when my family and I came came across a few of the local wildlife. The past couple of days my boyfriend and I have seemed to noticed more than usual.

My boyfriend seen this big "bullfrog" sitting in a parking spot. He picked it and gave it to a man who was going to put in near the edge of his pond. 

This little fellow was found among the pallets my teenage son had to move in order to mow under. He was moved to a different place in the yard.

It is a "Jefferson Salamander", which spends most of it's life underground.

This little "Grey tree frog" was found while my daughter and I was redoing the small flower bed out in the front yard. She moved one of the centerpieces that use to go to a covered wagon. The grey tree frog was moved to another location.

This "Garden Centipede" was found with the grey tree frog. It scurried away. As soon as we separated the two pieces. Which is a good thing. As they are equipped with venom claws behind their head.

A set of rabbits play out in the front yard every morning. They are "Eastern Cottontails" rabbits. They are commonly found throughout the state I live.

What kind of wildlife do you find in your backyard?

WW: Hiding Spot

Moose the Chug : Oh no! Mom found my hiding spot!

Rascal the Chihuahua mix : You have a hiding spot, where?

The hiding spot between a tree root and a dandelion.

Moose the Chug : I have to find a new hiding spot!

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This blog is participating in the "Wordless Wednesday" Challenge. It is a blog post with one or as many pictures as you can share to tell a story. You try to use as few of words as possible. Some blogs require a certain amount of words to post. Those are find to participate as well. the main thing i sto share photos and have fun with it.

Rascal In His New Swag

Starring 'Rascal' the long haired Chihuahua / wire fox terrier mix. Check out his new fab t-shirt for under $5.00. Which can be found on the 'WISH' website and app.

Rascal striking a pose.

Rascal wondering where his treat is for doing all these poses.

Nothing can tame the wirey hair on this dog.

Last pose of the day!

I hope you enjoyed Rascal little walk and pose on the runway. The out fit can be bought through the 'WISH' website or app for less than $5.00 which includes shipping and handling at this low price. 

Rascals The Chiahuahua Mix New Out Fit

For my 'Wordless Wednesday' post today I want to share photos of Rascal and his new outfit. I even managed to get a close up. Rascal doesn't look so tiny in his close ups.

Rascal relaxing on mommy's lap.

Front shot of Rascal's new outfit. Plus, his dirty mouth mommy didn't notice til after taking this photo. lol.

Rascal looking in the camera thinking,"Why does mommy keep pointing this thing at me?"

A close up of rascal's shirt. To be able to see the color better. I love this color of blue. rascal does wear it well.

Selfie of Rascal. He sits so well when I take photos.

Last photo of close up of Rascal. Can you tell there is a dog  in the picture under all that fur?

I decided to share in a black and white scale. As we all know how close ups tend to show the worse in photos. No matter what effect I tried. It made his fur look a yellow or a dark brown. Which is not his coloring at all.

One thing I noticed with photos, some look better in black and white.