Hello

[Darlene]

Hi,I've just joined and am looking forward to checking out this forum My name is Darlene and I live in Canada. I like to cook,do all kinds of crafts and gardening. I'm married and have two kids and one grandson. I also have pets which consist of three ferrets and two cats.

Eight months ago I changed my eating habits,because of allergies and just not feeling quite up to par. So I'm needing to figure out how to cook and coming up with new recipes. Hopefully if I have questions I'll be able to find the answers from this forum.

Darlene

[jpshaw]

Hello Darlene and welcome to Spice Place. If you like to cook you will love it here. My name is John but some just call me JP and I am stuck on a low sodium diet so we all have to cook around one restriction or another.

[Cook Chatty Cathy]

Welcome to SpicePlace Darlene! We will all gladly help you as much as we can, there are many members who have restrictions as John has pointed out, and it is nice to have some others to bounce ideas off of, and ask for help, and to receive inspiration from too!

You sound like you have some great hobbies, arts & crafts are right up my alley! I love to paint with watercolors that is! I love crafts of all kinds, what are some of your favorites?

Cheers, CCCathy

[ricksrealpitbbq]

Hi there Darlene

[Darlene]

Thanks for the welcome! Right now I'm trying to learn to cook dried beans. I'd like to get away from using canned beans.

I'm not sure what my favourite craft would be,too many to chose from,lol. Right now I'm working on a cross stitching project and crocheting pet toys for gifts.

Darlene

[chubbyalaskagriz]

Howdy Darlene and welcome!

I lived in Alaska for many years- where in Canada are you from?

I also have a pair of kitties!

We're fine bunch of folks here at Spice Place- we're glad you stopped-by and look forward to having you become part of the family!

[Darlene]

Thanks,since you live in Alaska,you'd know where The province of British Columbia is.
I live on Vancouver Island.

Darlene

[jpshaw]

Thanks for the welcome! Right now I'm trying to learn to cook dried beans. I'd like to get away from using canned beans.

On my low sodium diet dried is about the only beans I can have. We can share any ideas about them or Mama can jump in and tell us how to do it.

[chubbyalaskagriz]

Thanks,since you live in Alaska,you'd know where The province of British Columbia is.
I live on Vancouver Island.

Darlene

Oh wow- Darlene! Tea at the Empress!

[Cook Chatty Cathy]

My mother was from Canada, she became a citizen of the US when I was a teenager! So nice to hear you're doing Christmas gifts by hand! Truly almost a lost art (crochet) and so beautiful when you finish a blanket or whatever!

Now about dried beans...so simple really...just place the entire contents of a bag of your choice beans in a colander wash and sift thru to find any rocks or clumps of dirt, after cleaning place into a large pot or a dutch oven and cover with water adding enough water to cover the amount of beans you have 3 times. Place onto stove top on high and bring to a boil, let boil 1 minute only; then cover and let soak for an hour (longer if you like) and then drain after they have soaked and swollen up completely. At this time add fresh water to the pot of beans and make sure it covers them 2 times at least and season your beans (I add garlic powder, onion, chicken bouillon, and celery, bell pepper if you like it, sometimes I even use finely chopped carott and some Season salt, taste for amount to use because the chicken bouillon is salty also) Bring to a boil and then lower heat and cook at a low boil until the beans are soft and done thru & thru (usually an hour or so). You may desire to add a few slices of raw bacon or bacon drippings or a few ham chunks or a ham bone or smoked sausage chunks to your beans when they come to a boil. It makes a nice flavor with smoked pork added!

Cheers, CCCathy