Lab Experiments??

Have any of you ever bottled your own chicken? I love the canned chicken from the cannery, and have been so sad ever since I ran out. If you love it too, then you already know that they no longer allow families to can chicken to take home. I decided to can my own. It is just as yummy and ready to be thrown into so many tasty dinners this winter. My mom (who patiently mentors me on all things homemaking related) wasn't able to help me on Saturday - and so I canned it all my myself.... sort of.......I did call her no less than 25 times (no exaggeration) in the nearly 6 hours that it took to bottle 28 pints of chicken! I also called a neighbor and did a lot of internet reading on the subject. Needless to say, I was a little nervous that I would do something wrong and poison my family all winter long - but it turned out great! I know it looks like bottles of lab experiments, but it is seriously tasty chicken. You just add 1/2 teaspoon salt and the fresh chicken and it makes all that lovely broth! Yummers! Each pint holds about a pound of fresh chicken, perfect for most recipes that I make for my family. I foresee a lot of chicken enchiladas, chicken tacos, chicken pot pies, pasta dishes with chicken, chicken salad sandwiches and so many more yummies in our future. I still have about 60 more pounds of chicken to go. Wish me luck! And don't be surprised if you come over for dinner and chicken is on the menu.

And now for some other exciting news.... Vela (who we are in no way trying to potty train) came in to the bathroom tonight and said "potty." So I humored her and sat her on the potty and low and behold - within 5 seconds, she peed! She was so pleased with herself! We were all pleased too. I'm sure this is no indicator of how smoothly her potty training will really go someday, but it was a small victory for today!