Choctaw Blackberry Cobbler

I also had this served at my wedding and was amazing since it was a warm summer's night! Enjoy!

2 c. sugar
1/3 c. butter
2 c. flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
1 c. milk
1 c. blackberries
2 c. boiling water
Cream 1 cup sugar and butter then add flour, baking powder, salt and milk. Mix well and pour into 12x8x2 inch pan. Pour the blackberries over batter and sprinkle with remaining sugar. Pour the boiling water over the top. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 to 55 minutes until golden brown. Serve hot or cold. May be served with cream.

Choctaw Hunter's Stew

Hunting season is sneaking up on us again. I hear the wives talking about the "free time" they will have when their husbands and sons head off for the great hunt. So I thought I would share this recipe with you all as it is from my heritage: Choctaw. I had it served at our wedding ceremony as we tried to incorporate many of my traditions as well as recipes with our guest. Enjoy!

2 lbs. deer meat
2 tbsp. beef suet
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
6 to 8 carrots
3 ribs celery
2 lg. onions
2 lg. potatoes
1 lg. can tomatoes
1 lg. can whole kernel corn
Cut the meat into bite-size pieces and brown in suet then add the salt and pepper, cover with water and cook until done. In the meantime, prepare the vegetables and cut into bite-size pieces. Add these to the tender meat and simmer until done. This is very good served with cornbread or fry bread.

Amish Friendship Bread Instructions

Following are the recipe and instructions for Amish Friendship Bread as it was given to me. You can also go to our Recipe Box for an easily printable version of the recipe by clicking here.
NOTE: Do not refrigerate starter. It is normal for the batter to rise and ferment. If air gets in the bag, let it out.
Day 1: Do nothing.
Day 2: Mash the bag.
Day 3: Mash the bag.
Day 4: Mash the bag.
Day 5: Mash the bag.
Day 6: Add to the bag: 1 cup flour, 1 cup sugar, 1 cup milk. Mash the bag.
Day 7: Mash the bag.
Day 8: Mash the bag.
Day 9: Mash the bag.
Day 10: Follow the directions below:

1. Pour the entire bag into a nonmetal bowl.
2. Add 1 1/2 cup flour, 1 1/2 cup sugar, 1 1/2 cup milk.
3. Measure out 4 separate batters of 1 cup each into 4 1-gallon Ziploc bags.
4. Keep one of the bags fr yourself, and give the other bags to 3 friendship along with the recipe.

REMEMBER: If you keep a starter for yourself, you will be baking in 10 days. The bread is very good and makes a great gift. Only the Amish know how to make a starter, so if you give all the bags away, you will have to wait for someone to give you a starter back.
Should this recipe not be passed onto a friend on the first day, make sure to tell them which day it is when you present it to them.
BAKING INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
2. To the remaining batter in a bowl add the following:

a. 3 eggs
b. 1 cup oil
c. 1/2 cup milk
d. 1 cup sugar
e. 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
f. 2 teaspoons cinnamon
g. 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
h. 1/2 teaspoon salt
i. 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
j. 2 cups flour
k. 1-2 boxes instant pudding (any flavor)

i. Optional: 1 cup nuts and 1 cup raisins

3. Grease 2 large loaf pans

a. In a bowl mix an additional 1/2 cup sugar and 1 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon.
b. Dust the greased pans with the cinnamon-sugar mixture.

4. Pour the batter evenly into the pans and sprinkle the remaining cinnamon-sugar mixture on the top.
5. Bake for one hour or until the bread loosens evenly from the sides and a toothpick inserted in the center of the bread comes out clean.
6. ENJOY!

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Need a Starter? THE RECIPE!
If you ask around, chances are you’ll find somebody you know with an Amish Friendship Bread starter to share (exercise good judgment if accepting a starter from someone you do not know). If not, here is the recipe for making your own:
Ingredients

1 (0.25 ounce) package active dry yeast
1/4 cup warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup white sugar
1 cup milk

Directions

1. In a small bowl, dissolve yeast in water. Let stand 10 minutes.
2. In a 2 quart glass, plastic or ceramic container, combine 1 cup flour and 1 cup sugar. Mix thoroughly or flour will lump when milk is added.
3. Slowly stir in 1 cup milk and dissolved yeast mixture.
4. Cover loosely and let stand at room temperature until bubbly. Consider this day 1 of the 10 day cycle. For the next 10 days handle starter according to the instructions for Amish Friendship Bread.

Is It A Good Online Coupon Or A Fraud?

There are a lot of online coupons out there. (Called Bricks) You may come across offers that appear to be legitimate coupons, but you aren't sure. Here are some simple guidelines on how to verify and get the most from online coupons.

• You should never see the actual coupon on your screen, only an offer to print it. Real coupons require special software to print proper barcodes and limit the number of prints of each coupon.
• Print coupons only from the brand website for the products you are interested in, or well-known savings sites like Coupons.com or major websites that you trust.
• Avoid coupon-swapping sites and websites that post images of coupons.
• Never pay for a online coupon.
• Don't buy coupons on auction sites.
• Don't make or use copies of coupons or printouts of scanned images of coupons.
• Be suspicious of printable coupons for a free product or one that seems too good to be true. It probably is!

Facts on Printable Coupons

Printable coupons are a revolutionary way of saving money. You can now easily locate coupons online for specific products or services. Printable coupons can help you meet your needs in today's busy world, save you money, and help you learn about and try new products and brands.
Printable coupons have been available on the Internet for about ten years now, and are gaining in popularity. You'll find them offered on thousands of websites, from dedicated coupon sites like Coupons.com to media sites to portals to your favorite retailer stores.

Coupons available by category
Every day, choose from thousands of coupons for all types of products to print and use in your favorite stores

Gardening Zones

If you already didn't know your zone, here it is! Happy Gardening! I would love to see some of your results this year so send me the pics! Thanks!

Climate Zones Map - Northern Hemisphere

These zones are approximations based on the average data. Your local climate can be warmer or colder, especially in higher elevation regions like the mountains.

Recipe Ideas

• Charcoal-Grilled Tuna Steaks with Red Wine Vinegar and Mustard Vinaigrette

      

Why this recipe works:

For a tuna steak recipe that turned out fish with an intense smoky char and a tender interior, we started by covering the grates with aluminum foil to superheat them. We moistened the tuna’s flesh with a vinaigrette to promote browning and allow the oil to penetrate the meat of the tuna steaks. And instead of using sugar in our vinaigrette, we used honey. Both promote browning, but honey does it faster. (less)

For a tuna steak recipe that turned out fish with an intense smoky char and a tender interior, we started by covering the grates with aluminum foil to superheat them. We moistened the tuna’s flesh with a vinaigrette to promote browning and all...(more)

Serves 6

We prefer our tuna served rare or medium- rare. If you like your fish cooked medium, observe the timing for medium-rare, then tent the steaks loosely with foil for 5 minutes before serving. To achieve a nicely grilled exterior and a rare center, it is important to use fish steaks that are at least 1 inch thick.

Ingredients

• Vegetable oil for cooking grate
• 3tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon red wine vinegar
• Table salt
• 2tablespoons Dijon mustard
• 2teaspoons honey
• 2tablespoons chopped fresh thyme or rosemary leaves
• 3/4cup olive oil
• 6 tuna steaks , 1 inch thick (about 8 ounces each) (see note)
• Ground black pepper

Instructions

1. 1. Light large chimney starter filled with charcoal (6 quarts, about 100 briquettes) and allow to burn until coals are fully ignited and partially covered with thin layer of ash, about 20 minutes. Build modified two-level fire by arranging all coals in even layer over half of grill, leaving other half empty. Loosely cover cooking grate with large piece of heavy-duty aluminum foil; position grate over coals, cover grill, and heat grate until hot, about 5 minutes. Remove foil with tongs and discard; scrape grate clean with grill brush. Lightly dip wad of paper towels in oil; holding wad with tongs, wipe grate. Continue to wipe grate with oiled paper towels, redipping towels in oil between applications, until grate is black and glossy, 5 to 10 times. Grill is ready when coals are hot (you can hold your hand 5 inches above grate for 3 to 4 seconds).
2. 2. While grill heats, whisk vinegar, ½ teaspoon salt, mustard, honey, and thyme or rosemary together in large bowl. While whisking constantly, slowly drizzle oil into vinegar mixture until lightly thickened and emulsified. Measure out ¾ cup vinaigrette and set aside for cooking fish. Reserve remaining vinaigrette for serving.
3. 3. Brush both sides of fish liberally with vinaigrette and season with salt and pepper to taste. Grill fish without moving until grill marks form and bottom surface is opaque, about 1½ minutes. Carefully flip, cooking until grill marks form on second side, about 1½ minutes longer for rare (opaque at perimeter and translucent red at center when checked with tip of paring knife) or 3 minutes for medium-rare (opaque at perimeter and reddish pink at center). Transfer to large plate and serve immediately, passing reserved vinaigrette.

Step-by-Step

Vinaigrette for Foolproof Grilled Tuna

A simple dressing of oil, vinegar, mustard, and honey not only adds flavor but is the secret to grilled tuna with a hot smoky crust and rosy interior (plus less fishy odor!). Each component brings its own particular benefit to the mix.

• MOISTURIZER
  Oil keeps the fish moist and traps the fat-soluble compounds responsible for smoke flavor, leading to richer grilled taste.
• ODOR NEUTRALIZER
  Vinegar neutralizes the odoriferous compound trimethylamine, created when fish is exposed to heat.
• MASTER EMULSIFIER
  Mustard helps hold the vinaigrette together so it properly coats the tuna steaks.
• BROWNING BOOSTER
  Two teaspoons of honey help the tuna brown quickly before the interior has a change to overcook.

Technique

Not-So-Great Grilled Tuna: The Ins and Outs

• NICELY CHARRED BUT OVERCOOKED
  Tuna with a smoky, well-browned crust, usually features dry, overdone flesh.
• PERFECT INTERIOR BUT NO CHAR
  Tuna with a cool, rare center often has a pale, tasteless exterior.

 

Product Reviews

WINE CORKSCREW REVIEWS~

Product Tested		Price*
Recommended
	Oggi Nautilus CorkscrewCompact and easy to use, this lever-style model fits securely over the bottle and sports a long handle for plenty of leverage. It even features a foil cutter and an extra corkscrew worm. The cork emerged from the bottle cleanly and easily, and came neatly off the worm with a second pump of the handle.	$24.99
Recommended
	Metrokane Vertical RabbitVery similar to our winner in design and performance, this pricier lever-style model was “sleek enough for James Bond to use” and effortlessly removed the cork with a simple push-pull motion. The only downfall? It’s on the bulky side for storage.	$59.99
Recommended with Reservations
	Trudeau Double Lever CorkscrewMany of our more experienced testers favored this compact, waiter-style model, which opened bottles quickly and cleanly. The trick was nailing the motion—a series of pulls, flips, and snaps to engage the lever and worm. Once opened, the two-part lever streamlined the pulling effort, and the serrated cutter effortlessly sliced through the bottle’s foil seal.	$10.99
Recommended with Reservations
	Starfrit Gourmet Stainless CorkscrewThough not as intuitive, sleek, or quick as our winners, this opener removed corks through continuous turning, forcing the cork up the worm and out of the bottle. With a little patience, it proved to be functional, cleanly uncorking each bottle.	$7.99
Recommended with Reservations
	Screwpull Original Table CorkscrewIntuitively designed, this opener slips over the top of the bottle and features a long, handled worm that extracted the cork with a few simple twists. Simple, that is, if you’ve got some hand strength; slighter testers were outmuscled. Plus, it proved awkward for left-handed testers.	$25.00
Not Recommended
	Screwpull Compact CorkscrewThough this opener calls itself the “compact” model, it’s no smaller than most of the others we tested. It uses the same mode of extraction as the Screwpull Original Table Corkscrew, except that its handle is hinged and awkward to use. It also required a bit of pressure to insert the worm without damaging the cork.	$24.95
Not Recommended
	Anolon Advanced CorkscrewThe only wing-style opener to reach the final round of testing, this model mangled a number of corks—even a plastic one. The hinges on the wings pinched some testers, and though it did successfully uncork the bottle every time, there were far more user-friendly models to choose from.	$21.99

NEW MILITARY FAMILIES TO ADD TO COUPON EXCHANGE

New military families to add!

Annette Shorman
PSC 813 Box 181
FPO, AE 09620 (Naples, Italy)

Elizabeth Barnett
PSC 3 Box 2248
APO, AE 09021 (Germany)
Please welcome them and send lots of good coupons their way! Thanks!

Coupon Lingo, Terminology, & Sources of Coupons

Coupon Lingo/Terms

v Bricks: An internet printable coupon distributed for manufacturers by Coupons.com. Bricks coupons can generally be printed 2x from each pc.

v Catalina: (Cat) A coupon printed at the register on a special printer from Catalina Marketing. Cats, which may be store coupons or manufacturer coupons, are triggered by the buyer’s current purchase or history of past purchases.

v CRT: Cash register tape (receipt). In some stores, like CVS and Rite Aid, coupons are printed on the bottom of the receipts.

v DND5: A coupon that is marked “Do Not Double” but that has a bar code beginning with 5. Unless the cashier overrides it, the coupon will double in value according to the store’s policies. Bar Codes beginning with 9 do not double automatically.

v Dollar Doubler: A store coupon that, when used in conjunction with a manufacturer’s coupon with a face value of $1, causes the $1 coupon to double in value.

v Dollar Tripler: A store coupon that, when used in conjunction with a manufacturer’s coupon with a face value of $1, causes the $1 coupon to triple in value.

v E-coupon: An electronic coupon available online that can be downloaded onto a shopper’s store loyalty card or cell phone.

v Extra Care Bucks: (ECBs) A coupon that prints at the bottom of a CVS receipt when the buyer makes a qualifying purchase. ECBs are considered to be “earned” and can be used on a future purchase (with some exclusions). CVS now refers to these rewards as Extra Bucks, but many couponers continue to use the old name.

v Hang tag: (HT) A coupon designed to hang around the neck of a bottle, such as a bottle of wine. The coupon many be used to purchase that item or, sometimes other items.

v Internet Printable: (IP) A coupon that consumers can print at home. IPs are available on manufacturers’ websites or Facebook pages and on IP websites like those run by Coupons.com and Coupon Network by Catalina. Many IPs can only be printed a limited number of times per computer, (usually 2x) but some are PDFs and are unlimited.

v Instant Value Coupon: (IVC) A Walgreens store coupon found in the store’s weekly ads and monthly coupon booklets.

v MQ: Manufacturer’s coupons.

v OYNO (sometimes ONYO): On your next order, a coupon that’s good for a specified amount off any future purchase or off the future purchase of a particular item.

v PDF: A coupon available on the internet in Portable Document Format. PDF coupons can be printed an unlimited number of times; they can also be downloaded to the user’s computer to be printed later.

v Peelie: A coupon attached to an item that is peeled off before use on that item or another specified item.

v +UP Rewards: (+Ups or Wellness Rewards) A coupon that prints at the bottom of a Rite Aid receipt when the buyer makes a qualifying purchase. +Ups are considered to be “earned” and can be used on a future purchase.

v Register Rewards: (RR) A Catalina coupon printed at Walgreens when the buyer makes a qualifying purchase. RR are considered to be “earned” and can be used on a future purchase.

v Store coupon: A coupon issued by a store rather than a manufacturer. Grocery and drug stores print coupons in their weekly circulars and make them available on their websites, through e-mail links, and in stores.

v Super Doubler: A store coupon that, when used in conjunction with a manufacturer’s coupon with a face value of more than $1. (up to a specified limit), causes the manufacturer’s coupon to double in value.

v Tear pad: (TP) A printed coupon from a pad usually found hanging from a store display or shelf.

v Video Value: (VV) A Rite Aid coupon that is “earned” by watching video ads online. VVs are a form of an internet printable.

v Wine Tag: (WT) Same definition as Hang Tag.

  

Sources of Coupons

Ø Cellfire: A website where users can select and download coupons to their store loyalty card or cell phone.

Ø GM: A coupon insert issued by General Mills and distributed with Sunday papers a few times a year.

Ø Insert: A glossy booklet that contains manufacturer’s advertisements and coupons. Inserts are distributed with Sunday papers throughout the year.

Ø P&G: Proctor and Gamble inserts distributed with Sunday papers several times a year, usually at the beginning of the month.

Ø RedPlum: (RP) A coupon insert distributed with Sunday papers several times a year except most holiday weekends, and also a website with printable coupons. RedPlum.com

Ø Reinventing Beauty: (RIB) A magazine sold at CVS that contains coupons.

Ø SmartSource: (SS) A coupon insert published by News America Marketing and is included in Sunday papers. The SS insert is published throughout the year except some holiday weekends. Also internet printables at: SmartSource.com.

Ø Tear pads: in grocery stores placed on shelves.

Ø Grocery store vendor samples. (They always have leftover coupons after their show so ask if you can come back and pick up the extras.)

Ø Coupon shop at the grocery store, they always have coupons to get the consumer to try a new product.

Ø Blinkies: the automated coupon holders hooked to shelves. They will let you take 2 coupons and then it will “wait” for a few seconds before releasing another. Common thought is take 2 and move on so that others can have a chance to get some too.

Ø Product samples always come with at least 1 coupon in the freebie. Internet blogs will advertise free samples. (Also is a good way to build up a donation box.)

Ø Facebook, like a product and usually a company will let you download a coupon they are offering.

Ø Manufacturer Websites; If you use a product and are brand loyal, then go to that particular website and ask for a coupon.

Ø Call the Manufacturer and tell them you like a product. Most all of the time they will get your info and mail you out a bunch of coupons.

Ø Internet blogs; sign up for a few in your local area and they will update you often on what coupons are available to print at that moment.

Ø Grocery store/newsletter or ads.

Ø Coupon clipping services. There are many around, you can get whole inserts or have someone clip the certain ones you want.

Ø Ebay; bid on coupons. Some have free shipping. Always bid your max when you pick one to bid on so that you don’t have to continue to watch the auction plus you can move on if you don’t win the auction.

Ø All You magazine and Fitness magazine will have manufacturer coupons available in their monthlies.

Ø Coupon Exchange/Train. See if there is one in your local area you can participate in.

 Miscellaneous Coupon Terms/Abbreviations

ü Beep: The sound the register makes to prompt a cashier to take some action, like enter a price.

ü BOGO or B1G1: Buy one, get one free. The term is used to describe both sales and coupons. There are a number of variations (B1G2…)

ü Box Tops for Education: (BTFE) A promotional program through which schools earn money for supplies and equipment.

ü Cat deal: A promotional sale in which the purchase of a specified item or items triggers a coupon, usually on OYNO, printed at the register.

ü Corp: Corporate Headquarters, usually of a grocery or drug store chain.

ü Couponing: Using coupons to save monies.

ü CS: Customer service.

ü Dead: Expired. The term is used to refer to promotions that have ended or printable coupons that are no longer available.

ü DND: Do not double, an instruction to retailers not to double the face value of the coupon. Marking coupons DND is one way manufacturers limit the redemption of particular coupons.

ü Double: To increase the face value of a coupon by twice its normal value. Some stores double coupons with a face value of less than a specified amount, usually .50 or $1.00.

ü Double Dip: To qualify for two different promotions with the same purchase.

ü EXP: Expiration Date.

ü Free after Rebate: (FAR) a mail-in or other rebate for the full purchase price of an item.

ü GC: Gift Card.

ü GDA: Good Deal Alert

ü HBA: Health and Beauty items

ü Loyalty Card: a card issued by a store that entitles the buyer to sale prices and participation in store promotions.

ü Mail-in Rebate: (MIR) A rebate that consumers submit through the postal service. MIRs generally require an official rebate form, the original register receipt, and proof of purchase; usually the bar code from the package.

ü MFR: manufacturer

ü Money Maker (MM) An item that, when purchased with a coupon or as part of a promotion, provides overage.

ü MRP: Manufacturer’s retail price.

ü Out of Pocket: (OOP) the amount of money paid for a purchase after coupons have been deducted.

ü Overage: The difference between the cost of an item and the value of a coupon, when that number is negative. For example, using a $1.00 coupon on a .75 item might result in an .25 overage. In stores that allow overage, the difference will be taken off the cost of other items in the same transaction. Few stores will return the overage to the buyer in the form of cash back.

ü POP: Proof of purchase (usually the bar code from the package).

ü PSA: Prices starting at.

ü Q: Coupon

ü RA: Rite Aid

ü Rain check: A document issued by a store when the store is out of an advertised item. A rain check enables the customer to purchase the item at the advertised price at a later date.

ü Rebate: A refund of all or part of the amount paid for an item.

ü Rock-Bottom Price: The absolute lowest price that one expects to pay for a particular item. When possible savvy shoppers wait to buy until and item is at is RBP.

ü Roll: To use rewards (ECBs, RRs, or +Ups) or Cats earned in one transaction to purchase another group of items that produce new rewards or Cats.

ü Rolling Expiration: An expiration date on an IP that’s determined by the date the coupon is printed (for example, 30 days from the print date).

ü Single Check Rebate: (SCR) Rite Aid’s rebate program, which allows customers to enter their receipts online or mail them in and receive one check for all rebates owed in a particular month.

ü SRP: Suggested retail price.

ü Stack: To use more than one coupon on a single item. Most stores allow customers to stack a store coupon and a manufacturer’s coupon. But they will not allow more than 1 manufacture’s coupon on a single item.

ü Stockpile: A supply of food, HBA, and household products purchased at rock bottom prices and stored until needed. Stockpiling most of the time is not the same as hoarding.

ü Try-Me-Free: (TMF) A mail-in or other rebate for the full purchase price of an item.

ü UPC: Universal Product Code, the bar code found on the product packaging that is scanned to determine the price of an item.

ü Wags: Walgreens

ü WM: Walmart

ü WYB: When you buy.

ü X: Expiration date.

ü YMMV: You mileage may vary; in other words, your results may differ.

Now that you are up to speed o the language of couponing; grab your MQs and IPs and head to RA or WAGS to snag some RR. Don't forget to check out the HTs while you're there. I founda TMF that turned into a big MM for me. But as always, YMMV! ;)