What on earth is a Grease Jar?

Grease Jars:

Hillcreek Pottery sampling of Grease Jars at +Silver Dollar City Attractions 

Perhaps you have heard the term grease jar before, and perhaps you have not. To be honest, I don’t recall ever hearing the term growing up, but I am aware that my grandmother used one and most likely yours did too. 

A grease jar is just a jar of bacon grease which is going to be used later for something else. They are especially popular with people who enjoy cooking with cast iron because they help to keep the cast iron well-seasoned.

My grandmother kept her grease jar beside the stove, and used her grease often enough that it did not go bad. Some people still keep them next to the stove but I worry about spoilage and keep mine in the fridge.

Okay, my current grease jar is an old canning jar, but I love this one 

from Hillcreek Pottery at +Silver Dollar City Attractions 

When you are ready to use your grease, bring it out of the fridge and scoop it out like shortening--or you can warm it up a bit to use it as a liquid.

I had planned to write an entire post dedicated to grease jars and their use, but there is someone else who has already done it—and probably better than I could. Christy Jordan at SouthernPlate.com is who originally taught me (through her posts) the wonders of bacon grease. 

Sure, I had reused grease to fry eggs but that was about the extent of it. Christy showed me what I was missing.

Read about grease jars here and here on her website and look around at all of the other great recipes and stories she shares. 

Do you have a grease jar? Did your grandma have one? 

Scavenger Hunt Sunday 3/30/2014

Confession: All of these photos are archives--but only from a week ago. I got into writer mode this week, and completely forgot to turn photographer mode back on. On the upside, I finished and submitted two pieces (will definitely post here if they get published), read tons about writing, plus worked a little on my novel and my blog layout. So, all in all it was a productive week, whether or not I took fresh pictures.

1. What IS that?

I didn't realize blowing the picture up would make it look so strange, but you might recognize it as peanut brittle being poured from a copper kettle at +Silver Dollar City Attractions 

 2. Yum!

Enjoying a fresh warm funnel cake dusted with powdered sugar.

3. On the Road

The sun was setting behind us as we left Branson for home.

 4. On the Shelf

I love these Grease Jars from Hillcreek Pottery at #SDC. 

(Look for a post later this week about grease jars and their use).

5. Bad Habit

Hi, my name's Michael and I'm an appleholic. 

((Hi, Michael))

--Ok, really he was bowling for apple juice but it sure was cute.

Thank you all for looking. I enjoy hearing from you if you stop by to visit my blog. Linking up with: 

A Vacation from Education?

Last week, my children and I joined my Mom for a quick vacation in +Branson Missouri. When Alyson was in public school, we were not as conscious of including learning in our vacation time as we are now. As a home-school mom, I have figured out how to have a fun day and still count much of it as school time. Please don't mistake this--I am not saying we should never have fun just for the sake of fun--after all, that is a part of learning too! I want to share with you what we have done in the past to incorporate learning, and what we plan to do in the future as well.

One of the best places I have found for a vacation that is both educational and fun is +Silver Dollar City Attractions. They even have some lesson plans already made up for you (most of these work better for children older than mine).

While at #SDC Alyson practiced budgeting: she wrote down each item she wanted to purchase as we walked through the park, and then figured out how much money she had and which things she could afford this trip versus which things she could live without until next time. Considering the length of her original list, I counted this as handwriting practice too.

She practiced map reading and orienteering as she looked for which ride, 

shop or show she wanted to visit next and led us there using the park map.

 We visited Sullivan's Mill and learned how corn is ground into cornmeal. 

Prompted a discussion on what cornmeal is used for.

 Peanut Brittle was being made at Brown's Candy Factory, so we stopped to watch the lesson 

and learned how to make 18 lbs of peanut brittle.

We also visited Hill Creek Pottery, and watched this young lady making large mugs/steins on the pottery wheel. Alyson was enthralled. She didn't move from this spot the entire time we browsed the store.

We joined the Gospel singing at the Wilderness Church which falls under music appreciation.

Things we did not do this time but have in the past include:

Tour Marvel Cave (Geology, Bats, Local history)
Watch the glass blowers at work at Hazel's.
Watch taffy being made at Phoebe Snapp's
History Lesson at the Oak Trail Schoolhouse
and much more!

We learn something every time we visit Silver Dollar City, so I almost always count it as at least a partial school-day What have you learned while on vacation? At SDC or anywhere else...?

Scavenger Hunt Sunday 3/23/14

This week, the kids and I met my mom in Missouri for a couple of days at our favorite theme-park, +Silver Dollar City Attractions. Most of my scavenger hunt pictures today were taken from inside the park. (Check back later this week for more details on our trip).

1. Leading lines

These lines were leading right into the park. Mom and munchkin had just stepped off the tram in this picture. I would tell you which ones they are, but wouldn't want mom to be embarrassed by her jean coat circa 1980s (Oops! Sorry Mom!) In her defense, it was really cold, and I'm certain her coat was warmer than mine.

2. Relationship

These two #SDC employees had a great working relationship 

at Copper Kettle Candies / Brown's Candy Factory.

Don't leave without a Peanut Brittle Sample!

 3. Good Morning!

Now that I have shown you this beautiful "Good morning" photo, in the spirit of full disclosure, I must admit it was taken in the afternoon/evening. I could not find any scenery picture that 

better said "Good Morning" than this one taken through the window 

of my van since there was not enough room to pull all the way off of the road. 

4. Together

Before we left for our trip, I took this picture of the kids and I together. Mental note: buy a remote shutter release so you don't chop your own head off trying to take pictures with the kids.

 5. Project

Eighteen pounds of peanut brittle is a bit larger project than I feel up to undertaking.

 5. Project (again--because I couldn't decide)

This young lady is working on a large mug/stein at Hill Creek Pottery in #SilverDollarCity. Munchkin watched her the entire time we were in the store. She was fascinated. 

This is the type of project I would love to try someday.

I hope you enjoyed seeing my interpretations of the photo prompts this week. I would love for you to follow my blog and watch for the posts coming up later this week about our trip.

Linking up to:

If you want to participate next week, here are the prompts we will be using:

1. What IS that?
2. Yum
3. On the Road
4. On the Shelf
5. Bad Habit

The Best Thing about Spring!

Spring is almost here and with it comes longer days, warmer weather, and Spring Break Days at Silver Dollar City. Every year, after the Old Time Christmas Festival, Silver Dollar City closes its gates for two long months and fans across the country begin the long wait for spring and the return of our favorite theme-park. Well, the time has finally come! Silver Dollar City reopens tomorrow, March 15 with Family Spring Break Days.

Photo credit goes to +Martha Curtis Thanks Mom!

We have been planning our trip to Branson, MO for weeks now; Munchkin has had her bag packed since the first of March and she packed one for little man too. We plan to stay at the Colonial Mountain Inn in Branson West. We love that it is American Owned and Operated, there is a swimming pool with a slide (when the weather is warm enough), the prices are reasonable, and it's right up the road from Silver Dollar City. We have always had clean rooms and friendly service when we visit. To top it off, the hotel is beside a Taco Bell, so when we come in late from the park, we can get our late-night taco fix with a couple of Doritos tacos and a large Mountain Dew.

Spring Break Days is an excellent time to visit Silver Dollar City; the weather is usually nice, and the crowds aren't as big as they are in the summer. Even if you have to wait until summer to visit, Silver Dollar City has mature shade trees growing throughout the park so, even on hot days, you can usually find a cool place to sit. During the hottest hours of the day, I love to visit Marvel Cave, where the temperature stays cool year round. If spelunking isn't your thing, there are loads of air-conditioned shops too, so you can watch glass-blowers at work, or peanut brittle being made, or just search for the perfect souvenir. With package pick-up services, you won't even have to lug your purchases with you to the Great American Country Nights show in Echo Hollow. Just pick them up on your way out.

Whether you visit for the rides and attractions, the toe-tapping shows, perusing the shops, watching the craftsmen at work, the excellent food, or the one-of-a-kind festivals, Silver Dollar City has something for everyone. I hope your family loves it as much as mine does.

+Silver Dollar City Attractions +Taco Bell +Branson Missouri +Doritos®

 (Disclaimer: I have not been paid or otherwise compensated for my opinion.)