Ginger Bread Men & Cookie Recipes

Ginger Bread Man Recipe

4 cups flour

3/4 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt 1 tsp ginger — or more to taste

1 tsp nutmeg

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp allspice

1/2 tsp cloves

1/2 cup butter or margarine

1/2 cup brown sugar, firmly packed

1 cup light molasses

Icing

1 egg white

2 cups sugar

In a bowl, combine flour, baking soda, salt, ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon, allspice & cloves. Set this mixture aside. In a large bowl, beat butter, brown sugar and molasses thoroughly. Stir in the flour mixture, and mix until well combined. Form this dough into four balls with hands. Wrap these in waxed paper or plastic storage bags and refrigerate for at least 5 hours. Make gingerbread-man shaped design or use a cookie cutter. Preheat your oven about 5 minutes to 375

Remove only one ball of dough at a time, to work with, cold dough is easier to work. Press currants into the dough for eyes and buttons… Make a mouth with tip of knife, cutting into a smiling  shape. Bake about 8 minutes or until golden brown. Remove and let cool completely make about 2 dozen cookies.

Hints

For softer cookies, remove from oven sooner. For harder, crisper cookies– leave in the oven about 1 minute longer.

Icing

1 egg white

2 cups sugar

In medium bowl, beat the egg white with the sugar, adding sugar gradually. When all the sugar is added, add one tbsp of water. Beat until the mixture is smooth and stiff. Using a pastry bag with a tip or use a zip lock bag with the tip cut off.

If you need to thicken icing a little more, add a touch more sugar and beat again to desired consistency

Ginger Bread cookies

Ingredients 6 cups all-purpose flour

1 tablespoon baking powder

1 tablespoon ground ginger

1 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1 teaspoon ground cloves

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 cup shortening, melted and cooled slightly

1 cup molasses

1 cup packed brown sugar

1/2 cup water

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla extract Directions

Sift together the flour, baking powder, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, and cinnamon; set aside. In a medium bowl, mix together the shortening, molasses, brown sugar, water, egg, and vanilla until smooth. Gradually stir in the dry ingredients, until they are completely absorbed. Divide dough into 3 pieces, pat down to 1 1/2 inch thickness, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 3 hours. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough out to 1/4 inch thickness. Cut into desired shapes with cookie cutters. Place cookies 1 inch apart onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes in the preheated oven. When the cookies are done, they will look dry, but still be soft to the touch. Remove from the baking sheet to cool on wire racks. When cool, the cookies can be frosted with the icing of your choice.

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A Homemade Frugal Christmas Gift

Make a Homemade Family Cookbook for Christmas. (This is a gift that will keep giving for years to come.) A few years ago when I was trying to think of a frugal Christmas gift that I could make for my family. I came up with this idea and little did I know it was to turn out to be the best gift I had ever gave them. And it is a gift that keeps growing every year.

(1.) What I did was I asked each of my family members to send me two of their favorite recipes. So if it was a family of three, they gave me six recipes.

(2.) I then typed each recipe on a separate sheet of paper (card stock worked great)

(3.) I then placed their two recipes back to back and inserted them into a sheet protector. Then I inserted that page into a binder that I purchased for a few dollars at the Dollar store.

Example:                                         

(4.) I even had the smaller children tell me a recipe that they knew how to make. Like peanut & jelly sandwiches, toast and chocolate Milk.

Example:

(5.) I then made chapter pages for each individual family, which I put their name and picture on. (If you have time you can add their pictures to the chapter page, or just their last name in a pretty font.)

Example:

(6.) Next I made a intro page where I typed what the cookbook meant to me and why I wanted to make one for everyone in my family. This was the first page in the book.

(7.) Next I also made one whole page with everyone’s birthday on it as the second page in the book. (I also printed a extra copy of the birthday page for each of them to put on their refrigerator.)

January Jan. 8, 1955 – Tammy Jones Birthday

February Feb. 21, 1946 – Sammy Stutts Birthday ECT>

Now Each year I get more recipes from them and type and print them out to send them to add to their Family Cookbook.

It is a gift that will keep giving for years to come.

This year I am printing more recipes for them. And I am also doing a equivalent measurements chart for them, which I plan to give each family two copies of it. One to put in their Family Cookbook and the other one to tape to the inside of their cabinet door. That way it will be easy and quick to find when they need to know how many teaspoons are in a cup.

Find more Frugal Gift Idea’s on my web site. www.countrywayoflife.com

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Turkey Meat Recipes

 Great way to use leftovers from Thanksgiving Day!

THANKSGIVING SHEPHARD’S PIE

In a large casserole dish put on the bottom layer, the turkey in chunks. Next the gravy & stuffing. Next Leftover veggies and top with leftover mashed potatoes. Bake in oven 350 degrees until all warmed up.

AFTER THANKSGIVING BAKE

Mix: 2 c. turkey, cubed (or more)

3/4 c. mushroom soup

1 c. Cheddar cheese, grated

2 tablespoons of melted butter

1/4-cup soft crumbs or thin layer of stuffing or dressing.

Place in turkey and Mushroom soup in greased 8-inch square baking pan or dish. Sprinkle 4 tbsp. Cheddar cheese.

Over top pour melted butter, place thin layer of soft crumbs or thin layer of stuffing or dressing. Top with remaining 3/4 cup cheese. Bake until cheese is melted on about 350.

Turkey Salad

 4 c. turkey

2 stalks celery

1 med. onion

1 c. mayonnaise

2 tbsp. relish

Chop turkey, celery, and onions. Add mayonnaise and relish. Mix well. Let it stand from 1 hour to overnight.

WILD RICE WITH TURKEY

 1 box (6 oz.) long grain and wild rice mix (cooked)

1 can condensed cream of mushroom soup, undiluted

1 can Ro-Tel tomatoes with cilantro

1 c. hot chicken broth

2 c. cued cooked turkey

5 med. fresh mushrooms, sliced

1 tsp. onion powder

1 tsp. garlic powder

Combine all ingredients except cooked rice in a 3-quart saucepan. Bring to boil. Stir in cooked rice and let simmer for 15 minutes or until all liquid is absorbed. Remove from stove and let stand, covered, 5 minutes before serving. Sprinkle with Cheddar cheese. 4 servings.

TURKEY CASSEROLE

 6 oz. noodles, cooked & drained

6 c. cooked turkey (bite-size pieces)

8 oz. fresh mushrooms (slice caps & reserve stems)

3 tomatoes, sliced

1 1/2 c. chicken stock

1 c. onion, finely chopped

3 tbsp. butter

2 c. cornbread stuffing

2 c. green beans

1/2 c. sliced carrots (1/4″ slices)

1 can cream of mushroom soup

1 can cream of chicken soup

Salt & pepper to taste

1/2 tsp. spicy mustard (opp.)

 Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine noodles and turkey. Stew mushroom stems in chicken stock for 15 minutes. Brown sliced mushrooms and onions in 1-tablespoon butter. Add to noodle mixture.

 Mix crumbs with remaining butter. Let stand until ready to use. Add green beans and tomatoes to noodles. Discard mushroom stems and cook carrots in the mushroom stock no more than 4 minutes. Remove from stock and add to noodles. Mix stock with soups and seasonings, add to casserole. Top with crumbs. Bake for 40 minutes until brown and bubbly. Serves 12 – can be made ahead and frozen.

TURKEY PIE

1 (7.5 oz.) pkg. refrigerated biscuits

1/2 c. celery slices

3 c. chopped, cooked turkey

2 tbsp. margarine

1 c. sour cream (sm. carton)

1 c. (4 oz.) grated cheddar cheese

Press biscuits onto sides and bottom of greased 9″ pie plate. Bake at 450 degrees for 8 minutes or until lightly browned. Saute vegetables in margarine. Add turkey; heat thoroughly, stirring occasionally. Stir in 3/4 cup sour cream and cheese, heat until cheese is melted. Spoon mixture into cooked shell. Top with remaining sour cream. Let set a few minutes before cutting into pie slices. Serves 6 to 8.

GREAT TURKEY CASSEROLE

4 c. turkey

1 lg. bag frozen broccoli

1 cream of celery soup

1 can cream of chicken soup

1/4 c. mayonnaise

1/4 tsp. curry

6 slices Velveeta cheese

Cook broccoli until done; cover bottom of 9 x 13 pan with turkey. Add cooked broccoli. Mix soups with curry and mayonnaise. Pour over broccoli in pan; top with cheese. Bake at 350 degrees for 1/2 hour.

 TURKEY  SANDWICHES

1 loaf French or Italian bread, cut diagonally into 8 long, thin slices

4 tbsp. mayonnaise or Miracle Whip

8 slices of cheese

1/2 lb. leftover turkey, thinly sliced

2 eggs

1/4 c. milk

1 to 1 1/2 c. leftover gravy (ready made turkey gravy in a jar may be

substituted)

Spread 1 side of each slice of bread with mayonnaise. Making 4 sandwiches; layer each with cheese, turkey, and cheese. In shallow pie plate, beat together eggs and milk. Heat a few tablespoons vegetable oil in large skillet. Dip sandwiches on both sides into egg mixture. Fry sandwiches in skillet, turning once, until browned on both sides. Warm gravy in microwave or small saucepan. Serve each sandwich with a small bowl of gravy. Dip sandwich into gravy as you eat or pour over sandwich and eat with a fork.

DAY AFTER TURKEY CASSEROLE

 3 c. bread cubed

3/4 c. milk

1/4 c. chopped onion

1/4 tsp. pepper

1/4 tsp. salt

3 eggs, beaten

1 can cream of mushroom soup

1/2 tsp. poultry seasoning

1/4 tsp. paprika

3 c. chopped turkey or chicken

 Combine 1/2 bread cubes with eggs in large bowl. Combine remaining cubes with milk; stir into egg mixture. Add soup; mix thoroughly. Add remaining ingredients & stir until well mixed. Pour into casserole, brush with melted butter. Bake at 350 degrees for 45-50 minutes. Makes 8 servings

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Halloween Costume Winner 2009

Halloween 09                                              If any of you have read my post “Way Halloween is special to me” then you know that I dress up for Halloween every year. This year my Husband Wayne and I were invited to a Halloween costume party. This year I decided for us to be vampires. Wayne liked his costume but the makeup was a whole other thing. While I was putting on his make up, he reminded me of my children when they were little and I had to wipe their runny nose. He flinched, fused and complained the whole time. And there was one moment there that I thought he was going to run, when I sprayed black hair spray by accident into his ear. But I was able to do a pretty good job!  There were about 25 people who dressed up at the party and we had a great time. When they called out the winners for best costume, I was so delighted when they called Wayne’s name and he won 1st place and a 50.00-dollar cash prize. I loved him winning but most of all I loved telling Wayne “See I told you so”. The truth be told he is really a good sport to go along with what I put him thru every Halloween, He must love me a whole lot!  Sorry to say my camera messed up and this is the only pic that I got. But my friends took lots of pics of us, so when I get them I will post them on here.

I just know somewhere my Daddy was smiling!                                          Please read why Halloween is so speical to me.  http://bit.ly/rT28W 

 

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Needs a Home

A wonderful friend of mine is trying to find a good home for a dog that she found. She already has several dogs & cats and she is unable to keep another dog. But she couldn’t leave him abandoned on the side of the road. I hope someone will want him and give him a good home.

She says “His name is Miller and is about 18months- 2 years old, neutered, housebroken, 
current with vaccinations, lead trained and gets along well with cats and children.  He is one of the most loyal dogs I have ever had, and I have had many.”

If you would like to know more about Miller, e-mail her at  Rochelle@haikuhouses.com  And type the word Miller in the subject line.

I need a good home, please want me!

I need a good home, please want me!

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Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies Or Sweet Potato Chocolate Chip Cookies

Thanks for the recipe Jenn!

2 -1/2 C Flour

1 tsp Baking Soda

1 tsp Baking Powder

1 tsp Cinnamon

1/2 tsp Salt

1/2 tsp Nutmeg

1/2 C Softened Butter

1 -1/2 C Sugar

1 C Canned Pumpkin or sweet potato

1 tsp Vanilla

1 Egg

1 C Chocolate Chips

Cream butter and sugar together. Add pumpkin, vanilla and egg. Beat until the mixture is light and creamy. Mix all dry ingredients together well in a bowl. Add dry ingredients to wet and mix well. Fold or gently mix in chocolate chips. Drop by the rounded teaspoonful onto a greased cookie sheet and bake at 350 for 15-20 minutes (until lightly browned). * If using fresh sweet potato’s wash and peel & boil in water until soft, then mash and let cool before adding.

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I won the “Best Supporting Twin Blog”

“Best Supporting Twin Blog”

The winner of the “Best Supporting Twin Blog” award! See the award below.

Thanks to Jennifer Miller (www.twinhappy.com) who awarded this honor to my twin Granddaughters and I.

My Grandgirls (Kaitlynn & Kassidy) have a blog page on my blog,  (www.tncountrygal.wordpress.com/my-grandaughters-page)

 Thank you Jennifer, we are honored!

supporting

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Stir Fry & Sauce Recipe

 

1-2 cups cooked Chicken or Turkey, diced or shredded.

2 cloves Garlic, mashed or 1 tsp. Garlic Powder

1 Onion, thinly sliced

1 tsp. Ginger

1 Tbsp Oil

Two Yellow Squash, thinly sliced

Two Zucchini, thinly sliced

1 Tomato, Diced

2 Tbsp.water

2 Packs Ramen Noodles, Chicken Flavored

 

Start with making the sauce below- in a bowl, mix peanut butter, soy sauce, and hot sauce. Stir cornstarch in 1-1/2 cups of water, add to bowl and set a side. In a large deep skillet, simmer the oil with ginger powder, garlic and onion over medium heat to soften onion. Add Squash and Zucchini and sprinkle with water as needed. (Do not overcook the veggies.) In another pan, Make Ramen Noodles as directed on package then drain off water. When Veggies are almost done add chicken and stir, then push everything to one side of the skillet. Add sauce to the skillet, stirring until it thickens. Mix sauce into Chicken & Veggies. Add Tomato and Noodles and stir. Remove from heat and serve.  

 

SAUCE   

3 Tbsp. Soy sauce or Teriyaki sauce

1 tsp. hot sauce

4 Tbsp. Peanut Butter

1-1/2 Tbsp. Corn Starch or 2 Tbsp. Flour

1-1/2-cups water

Don’t worry the peanut butter does not overwhelm the taste. It has a wonderful flavor and it’s really yummy! Also can be made with beef and beef flavored Ramen Noodles.

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Homemade Toiletries

Have you noticed that the prices of toiletries are getting higher every day? Well here are a few of some of my homemade recipes and tips on how to make your own. If you have any tips I hope you will share them with me.

Gel Soap/ Liquid

· 2 cups soap flakes or grated bar soap

· 1/2 gallon water

· 2 tbsp glycerin

Mix ingredients together in a large pot. Set over low heat, stirring occasionally until the soap has dissolved. Pour into a jar and cover tightly. For a less thick gel soap, use 1 gallon of water.

Liquid Hand Soap 

  •  1 bar of soap, small (Dove works well) 
  •  3 cups water Grate soap with a cheese grater.

Pour the water and grated soap into a microwaveable container and cook on high for 3 min. Remove and stir until all soap bits have melted (put in a bit longer, if needed). Let it cool, and then pour into pump bottles (save leftover store bought liquid soap bottles), pour any remainder soap in any container with a lid. Makes about 24 oz.

Oatmeal Soap on a Rope
1/2 cup of uncooked oatmeal
1/2 cup of soap bits
1-2 Tablespoons of vegetable oil
1-2 Tablespoons of water
Rope- 6 inch piece of rope or cord with a knot tied at the end of it

What you do: 1.. Take the soap and oatmeal and place in your blender. First blend and then using the pulse option, pulse until the mixture becomes fine. 2.. Put the soap and oatmeal mixture in a large deep bowl. Add both the oil and water. Using your hands form a ball out of the soap/oatmeal mixture. Using your index finger make a 1/8 inch depression. 3.. Place your cord with the knot part in the depression. Bring the 2 sides of the small depression and “bury” the cord into the ball of soap. Let the soap dry for about 24 hours before using.

Fun Soap  for Kids’ Bath
1 cup soap flakes
1/4 cup boiling water
Food coloring
Ice cube tray
Drop the water into the flakes, one teaspoon at a time, stirring constantly. It will be thick and hard to stir. Spoon some of the soap into different bowls and color each with the food coloring until it has the consistency of thick paste. Press spoonfuls into the ice cube trays and microwave on low for 15 minutes to dry the crayons out. Let them dry at room temperature for several days and give it another day after unmolding. Let the kids help make these. The kids will love using them!!

Basic Shower Gel
1/2 cup unscented shampoo
1/4 cup water
3/4 teaspoon salt
15 drops fragrance oil
food coloring (optional)
Directions:Pour shampoo into a bowl and add the water. Stir until well mixed add the salt and fragrance. Add any fragrance oil that you like!

Herbal Soap Balls
1/4 cup Boiling water
5 Drops related essential oil
1 tablespoon Pulverized herbs (Chamomile, Lavender, peppermint, rosemary, sage, thyme or a combination)
2 cups Ivory or castille soap 
Pour boiling water over herbs. Add 5 to 6 drops essential oil. Steep 15 minutes. Reheat til bubbly and pour over soap. Mix well with hands and let stand 15 minutes. Mix again and divide into 3 or 6 parts, rolling each into a ball. Place on plastic wrap and dry for 3 days. 
Peaches and Cream Beauty Soap
This wonderful soap is delicately scented, and is beautiful to look at.
Makes One Bar
1 regular size bar Ivory soap
1/4 cup distilled water
1/4 cup full-fat powdered milk
1/8 teaspoon peach fragrance oil
1 drop orange food coloring
soap molds

Easy Sea Salt Bath
 Combine-
1 tablespoon of your favorite shower gel and 1-tablespoon natural coarse sea salt. Rub over your entire body, but not your face! Then wash it off in a warm bath or shower. Or you can add the mixture to a warm bath.

Foaming Vanilla Honey Bath
1 cup oil
1/2 cup honey
1/2 cup liquid soap
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
Mix together all the ingredients and pour into a clean bottle with a tight fitting stopper or lid. To use, shake before using. Pour 1/4 cup into the bath under running water. Yields 16 ounces – enough for 8 baths. 

Herbal Bath Packets (Great gift Idea)
Herbs have natural healing properties. When added to baths, they can soothe and relax and leave you feeling refreshed. This simple recipe will teach you how to prepare these packets for use in steeping your bath. These also make wonderful, thoughtful gifts any time of year! Ingredients:
Muslin (purchase at your local crafts store or fabric shop)
Twine
Fresh herbs (Add any of the below  recommended herbs and their effects.)
Fresh or dried flower petals,  (these add a lovely scent to the bath)
Chamomile – Excellent relaxing bedtime bath.
Comfrey – Exhilarating bath for when you want to feel wide- awake.
Black Tea – Great for skin irritations, especially burnt skin.
Mint – Another excellent bedtime bath that will calm and relax you.
Lavender – Soothing, relaxing and smells absolutely wonderful.
This recipe is very simpleand one you’ll use over and over again.
Cut muslin into squares about 6×6 inches. Add a large handful of herbs, or herbs and dried flowers, in the middle of square of fabric. Gather up edges of fabric and twist – tie very securely with a long length of twine, leaving two long pieces of twine. Using the twine, tie the muslin bag of herbs directly under your bath’s faucet. The herbs will actually steep as the warm water of your faucet hits it. If you prefer you can use these packets and add them directly to the bath water right away, allowing it to `steep’ for some time before you slide into the bathtub. In either case, set the water a little warmer than you usually like it, for you should allow about ten-fifteen minutes of steeping time before you enter the tub, to get the full effects of the steeped herbs. For a special effect, turn off the bathroom lights, light some beautiful candles and put on your favorite relaxing music.

 Lavender Milk Bath
1 c. powdered milk
2-3 drops lavender essential oil
 Mix together and add to bath. 

Herbal Bath Salts
2 cups sea salt
2 cups baking soda
1 cup oatmeal (finely ground)
2 tsp. of your favorite dried finely ground herb mix
Place all together in your food processor and mix it up. Use a few tablespoons in warm running bath water and relax and enjoy.

Milk Bath
2 cups non-fat powdered milk
1 cup cornstarch
a few drops -fragrance oil or essential oil
 Mix well, add 1/2 cup to hot bath and Enjoy!

 Milk and Honey bath
The creaminess of the milk, and the sweet scent and skin-softening effects of the honey make this bath heavenly.
1/3 cup honey
1/3 cup whole milk or cream
Add to hot running water in the bathtub.

Oatmeal Milk Bath
4 parts epsom salts
2 part Sea salt
1 part non fat powdered milk
1 part oatmeal ground to a very fine powder in a food processor.
Blend it all together, add about 1/3 cup to a tub of nice warm water

 Ocean Bath Salts
1 cup epsom salt
1 cup baking soda
4 drops blue food coloring 
4 drops vanilla
2 tablespoons glycerin
Combine dry ingredients, mix well. Add color and scents one at a time. Keep stirring until mixed well. Break up any clumps. Keep mixing until you have a semi fine powder. Add glycerin & mix well.

 Vanilla Bubble Bath
 8 oz. unscented liquid soap
2 oz. distilled water
 8 drops vanilla fragrance oil
2 drops red food coloring
 Mix all and pour into a container. Pour a few tablespoons into running bath water for a wonderful bath.

 Simple Honey Bath
Add 1/4 cup honey to bath water for a fragrant, silky bath mixture that will really help soften skin.

 Sore Muscles Bath Soak
1/2 cup baking soda
1/2 cup dry milk
1 cup epsom salt
1 cup sea salt
 Mix all ingredients together in a large ziploc bag

Sugar and Spice Bath
1/2 C baking soda
2 TBSP sugar
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp ground cloves
Mix together all ingredients until well blended.
To use: Add 2 TBSP of the above mix to a warm tub of water. Store in clean dry container.

Vanilla Foam Bath Recipe
This bath is the ideal way to luxuriate in vanilla- scented bubbles! It’s easy to make, and creates mounds of vanilla bubbles that smell good, and thanks to the oil in the mixture, it leaves your skin feeling soft.
1/4 cup Olive oil
1 c. liquid soap or unscented shampoo
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup dried milk powder, optional
This is a very simple recipe, making it perfect for any crafter! Use a large plastic container to blend the ingredients together thoroughly. (When you’re making big batches of this, it’s easy to use an old, empty, cleaned out ice cream container with a lid.) Mix well. Pour the combined mixture into a lidded glass jar. Shake very well before each use. To use, simply pour under running water to create bubbles.

Deodorant 

  •  Milk of Magnesium dabbed on with a cotton ball. 
  •  The main ingredient in most deodorants is alcohol. If you use plain alcohol with a cotton ball each morning, it will last all day!

Toothpaste 

  •  A paste of baking soda works well.

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Crock Pot Apple Butter

12 cups chopped, unpeeled apples

3/4-cup apple cider

1-cup sugar

1-teaspoon cinnamon

1/2-teaspoon ground cloves

 1. Combine apples and cider in crock-pot. Cover and cook on low 8 hours or until apples are soft. 

2.  Purée in food in blender or food processor. Return mixture to pot; add sugar and spices. Cover and cook on low 1 to 2 hours longer. For thicker apple butter, uncover, and cook on high until desired consistency, stirring occasionally.

3. Store in refrigerator or pour hot apple butter into hot canning jars, leaving 1/4 inch headspace. Adjust caps for canning. Process in boiling water bath 10 minutes.

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