If there are any NZ swappers who are waiting in the wings and just watching the swap, feel free to join!  You'd have in-country shipping!



And this swap is a good influence on me, too!  I've made some good decisions as well - I have dinner for tomorrow made already so I won't get takeout on the way home *and* I've got lunch for the next couple days too from leftovers.  Gotta love planning.  Far cheaper!

Christmas in July sounds awesome!

I'm going to the library on Wednesday after work (going for gardening books and cook books), so I'll look for those books, Aiki!   I'm not raising anybody (except my bunnies), but I love those periods in history too and could always use some inspiration!

Look up http://cookforgood.com If you like what you read, email me. I have an extra copy of the basic ebook I could share. I only have one copy to share (it's a PDF but, the author worked hard to write it and I don't want to rip her off by distributing it for free all over) and I've been saving it for the right person. It sounds like it could help you out a lot. So, look at the website, and if it looks like an idea you could get in to, PM me. :-)

The rest of you, check it out too. It's an interesting cooking system that we use every few months. Lots of beans, all vegetarian (but easy to add in a bit of meat here and there if you have it), basic stuff. But it uses planned leftovers, cooking in large batches, crockpot to save energy, etc.

Thank you so much for the link!  I was in dire need of bean recipes, so this hits the spot, so to speak.

Another good (easy) crockpot recipe ... put frozen chicken (I used breasts, but any would work, I think!), a packet of taco seasoning and a jar of salsa or a can of tomatoes in the crockpot.  Let cook 6 hours on low, 4 hours on high.  Remove chicken, stir in some sour cream (I forget the exact amount, but I usually make the color of the sauce a brightish orange with it).  Serve sauce over chicken.  Very tasty, and if you get a good price on the chicken, pretty frugal. 

Good reheated, too!

Ooh, gotcha. 

Thank you!

Okay this is a stupid question, but those of you who are using antennas (antennae?) ... how does that work with the whole 'switch to digital' thing that's happening?  For the first few weeks at my condo, I didn't have cable and could get NOTHING using the internal antenna so I'm curious if I get rid of cable (most of my shows I can see online, I think) if it would really eliminate all tv watching.  (My guess it would, which wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing really!)

Has anyone else had an issue with getting a DC#? My fabric was mailed in a large office type yellow envelope so it was less than 3/4 inches thick. The post office ripped of the DC# and said it couldn't be used on something that thin.

I'm sending mine today or tomorrow - I will let you know what they say because my envelope is similar to yours.

I love heirloom veggies, though I haven't yet grown any.  I'll be getting some this year from Freedom Seeds.  I'm also on the Freedom  Gardens website for tips and tricks and such.

Steaks?.. Hm I'd perfer just seeing them jumping around (not that that happens around here except for in the zoo  ) but ok, I'm veggie 

over here they are culled as pests.

I much prefer the idea of only taking enough to eat, but in some parts of the country they are a noxious pest apparently.....

I've never heard of Kangaroo steaks before.  Hmmm....taste like chicken? 

I'm a pretty adventurous eater.  If I ever get to AU, I'll have to try it.

have a look round they export it to a lot of different countries.
Tastes like a stronger version of beef really, a bit tougher but still nice, mind you wild caught is much nicer than farm breed.

When I visited Australia a few years ago, I had kangaroo - pretty tasty.  A bit like beef, but with more moisture and a slightly different texture.  Of course, then we went to a petting zoo and I pet some.  Ahh, life's little inconsistencies.