Warda: New Bible Study, Canning Tips
Family Fun Night
Camp Lone Star will have a free family fun night on Tuesday March 30 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Join them for dinner, devotion and tie-dying some cool t-shirts. Register by emailing ministryimpact@lomt.com by March 26.
Camp Lone Star Registration
Registration is also open to attend Camp Lone Star this summer. They offer overnight week-long sessions, two night or weekend sessions and day camp sessions.
Good Friday Bake Sale
Faith Lutheran High School will be having their annual Good Friday Bake Sale on April 2 at Classic Bank parking lot in Giddings starting at 8 a.m. till noon, or until sold out. Bakers are needed; any donations of baked goods and homemade treats including pies, cakes, cookies, kolaches, cinnamon rolls, homemade noodles or homemade bread are greatly appreciated.
Bible Study
A new Bible Study will be meeting each Wednesday beginning April 7 at 6:30 p.m. This will be an eleven-week course, covering the first eighteen chapters of the book of Exodus. Everyone is welcome to join as we walk along with the Israelites on their journey from Egypt to the Promised Land. There is no cost for materials, but please contact Cyndy Zoch in advance so she can get you a copy of the study guide. Contact Cyndy at: (979) 966-3166 or cyndy.zoch@gmail.com
Canning - Part 2
Last week I shared my first canning experience with you, this week continues with my first time to pressure can.
The time had come. Today was the day to figure out how to use this monstrosity of a pressure canner I bought. I read the instructions carefully and watched a few more videos. I had decided to try canning sweet potatoes, I had quite a few and we like to eat them. I did as the booklet suggested and did a “trial run” without any jars in the pressure canner, that way I could become familiar with the gauges, wing nuts and pressure control thing-a-ma-jig. This big pot sure had a lot of parts to it.
The trial run went well, I was very glad I did it. There is a lot to think about and I’ve learned that things have to happen very quickly when canning. The sweet potatoes got a 15 minute simmer to soften them so I could peel them. The jars were finished boiling, lids simmered and the light syrup that I decided to use, to add some extra sweetness was also boiling. I filled the pressure canner with the recommended three inches of water and it had begun to simmer. I filled the hot jars with cut slices of sweet potatoes and then added the boiled syrup to them, leaving the one inch of headspace, as the recipe called for. I carefully wiped the rims and tops of the jars. Lids were on, rings were screwed down and in the big pot they went.
The wing nuts on the canner were fastened to securely seal it and I turned the heat to high and waited for a steady column of steam to escape from the tiny little hole where the weight will go on, it did. On went the pressure regulator weight, set at ten pounds of pressure. I learned that you don’t start counting the processing time until the regular weight “jiggles.” It took a while, but it finally jiggled. I used pint jars and the processing time, according to the book, was 65 minutes.
I didn’t dare leave the kitchen, I wanted to make certain the jiggling continued at a rate of one to four jiggles per minute. This makes sure that the pressure is steady and consistent inside the pot.
After the required processing time, I turned the heat off, the pressure very slowly dropped to zero and I carefully removed the regulator weight. I waited the required two minutes and unfastened the wing nuts and removed the lid.
One by one, I lifted each jar of sweet potatoes out of the pressure canner. No broken jars, this was a good thing. I realized I had failed to use my nifty little “de-bubbler” tool and filled two of the jars a little full, so some of the syrup had boiled out of those jars. But they all sealed perfectly. Another successful day canning! I think I like this, I’m ready for some fresh grown tomatoes so I can try canning spaghetti sauce.
Holy Cross Services
Services at Holy Cross Lutheran are Sunday at 9 a.m. Bible Class and Sunday school follows the morning service.
Lent service will be Wednesday, March 24 at 10:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. Palm Sunday/Junior Confirmation will be Sunday, March 28.
Sermon links/streaming videos and additional information is on the website at: www.holycrosswarda.com
Faith Lutheran High School
FLHS has eight new students already enrolled. If you are interested in enrollment contact the school at (979) 242-2889 and schedule a visit.
Prayer Requests
Amy Wagner, Jim Duke, Frances Gray, Conway Whited, Mary Fenzlein, Lorrie Barrow, Raymond Medack, Eugene Zoch, Diane Tribble.
Special prayers for those serving in the military: Ingrid Devin-Kayne, Clayton Knight-Navy. Kirk Peschke, Coy Hunt-Army. Ty Bounds-Marines.
Birthdays
Birthday wishes are extended to the following celebrants: Rylee Hentschel-March 21, Stacie Mrozek-22, Katina Davidson-23, Kasey Gonsoulin-25, Apryle Kappler-26.
Anniversaries
Anniversary Wishes are extended to the following: Michael and Tara Pietsch - March 22. Ryan and Kristy Hentschel-24, Scott and Sherry Schramm-25, Troy and Christina Townsend-28.
Have news to share?
Contact Lisa Gay at (979) 218-6000 or Wardanews78960@gmail.com