Homemade Cheese-its

Recipe: Cheese Crackers

Homemade Cheese-its
Homemade Cheese-its
Recipe: Cheese Crackers
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When I cam upon a recipe for homemade cheese crackers, as soon as I got past the excitement, I realized that this simple recipe was something that I should have been able to figure out on my own.

At my house we go through boxes upon boxes of cheese crackers, my three year old loves them, and while he will share if forced, he doles them out to his daddy one at a time.

This is a good recipe for young cooks, as it is easy, but due to the novelty, it will get them lots of complements from those that they share with.

Now that I bought a stand mixer I plan on making this pretty often.  They don’t cook as crispy as the store bought chips, but I think is you cooked them twice the would get harder.

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
  • 8 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, grated
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt
  • 2 tablespoons cold water
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground mustard (optional)

Tools:

  • Food Processor
  • Measuring cups and spoons
  • Plastic wrap
  • Pizza cutter
  • Toothpick
  • Baking sheet
  • Parchment paper.

Procedure:

  • In a food processor, pulse all the ingredients (except the water) until it looks like course crumbs.
  • Once you get the crumbly texture, add in water 1 tablespoon at a time while continuing to pulse the food processor.
  • Remove the mixture from the food processor
  • Wrap the mix in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 20 minutes.
  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  • Roll out dough until it is very thin, and then cut into squares using a pizza cuitter.
  • Use a toothpick to poke a hole in the middle of each cracker.
  • Place crackers on lined baking sheet, since the crackers don’t expand much you can put them close together.
  • Bake for 13-15 minutes or until crispy.

Survival Items No Hunter Should Be Without

Survival Items No Hunter Should Be Without
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I ended up on writing this post on Survival Items No Hunter Should Be Without especially for the novice hunters or for those who take hunting as a very safe and secure task.

If you think that you will go and get the animal and will be back within hours, it’s not really that simple.

Like everything else, there’s a dark side of hunting. You can go astray, get injured or may face any misadventure.

So, the best you can do, before wandering off the beaten path, is to be well-prepared and well equipped, to face any undesirable incident. And for that, you must have some essential survival items no hunter should be without.

Must-have Life-Saving Survival Items!

Talking of survival gear, the list could be as long as you wish. But being a backpack hunter or adventurer, you have to make sure that you pack an easy-to-carry weight on your back. So, the items, I have enlisted here, sit right on the measure of safety and comfort.

Whistle

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A whistle on the hunting field is not just a tool, it’s your source of connection with the outer world. In case, you go astray or get stuck somewhere in the middle of the forest, a whistle plays the role of a signaling tool.

Blowing of the whistle by the stranded hunter may signify his presence to the other hunters (or any other fellow) around. And he may get help on time.

Note: For a better result, buy safety whistles that produce louder sounds and not the common toy whistles of your kids.

Flashlight

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At least I can’t imagine a hunting trip without a LED flashlight.

A LED flashlight is preferred because it promises a better battery timing (with aa batteries) and that is the most important thing while you are staying disoriented in the dark surroundings.

A small and handy LED flashlight, that easily fits in your hand or pocket, is highly recommended.

Compass/GPS

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Calling a compass, a great life-saver would not be wrong. But there is no use of carrying one if you don’t know how to use it. With a little bit of guidance, you can learn its functioning.

It’s the best thing that literally saves you from getting lost. If not a compass, a GPS unit or even mobile GPS can work for you.

There are many great GPS apps on the cell phone that feature a detailed mapping information of the required area.

 

Waterproof Map

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In such areas of wilderness, it would be quite risky to go without a map. Make sure you have a waterproof map of the area; you are going to hunt as the weather in such areas is extremely unpredictable. You never know when it starts to rain or snow.

A Swiss Army Knife

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If you have it, you have everything. For such hunting expeditions, a Swiss Army Knife is a must-have.

At least I can’t travel without one.

 

 

 

A Fire Starter

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To survive in the cold, dark areas, the fire has a good role to play. Don’t forget to have a fire maker.

It could be anything, from a handy fire starter, lighter (that easily fits in your pocket) to waterproof matches.

First Aid Kit

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It’s one of the most basic items. Not just for hunting but for all kind of adventures.

Pick the best one with all the updated items like; bandages, sunblock, pain reliever and disinfectant wipes.

 

 

Food

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Don’t forget to pack some easy-to-prepare food items with you. It may include some energy bars, tea bags and instant soup etc.

Water Purification Tablets

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Finding clean and clear water in such locations might be hard. Water purification tablets are the handiest way to get drinkable water each time.

 

 

 

 

 

Space Blanket

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You must be thinking how a blanket can be managed. I am talking about space blanket that is considered best for such trips. These are windproof, waterproof and so lightweight that you can easily fold, pack and carry them.

Cell Phone

Another must-have item for those who really want to make it out safely is your cell phone. The cell phone should be fully charged. Second to a cell phone can be a two-way radio. Both of these items should be kept in a waterproof container.

Appropriate Clothing

Your clothing and outerwear, both should be carefully picked. If it is winter, dressing up in layers is what I always do and suggest to others.

Headlamp

If you have a flashlight, that’s great but carrying a headlamp has its own benefits.

It always keeps your hand free from carrying the torch. And you can walk in a more relaxed manner.

A Metal Cup

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A stainless-steel cup is a multi-purpose item. From boiling or drinking water to even cooking a meal, this small, handy cup can be a great companion.

A Thin Plastic Sheet

Lastly, you must have a thin and easily foldable plastic sheet. This could be useful in various situations. You can not only lie down on it but also can use it as a cover in spine-chilling cold or rain while hunting. So, pick the size of just about your length.

Best Hunting Backpacks for your Hunting Trip

Carrying all these above-mentioned items is not possible without a high-quality and durable backpack. For buying a backpack, you can’t compromise on quality. Here is some basic info that you all should know.

    * Before buying your hunting companion, make sure that the fabric is waterproof, durable and lightweight.
    * For big game hunters, a framed backpack (both internal and external) is highly recommended. In framed one, the weight is transmitted on your backside.
    * Looking for just a daypack for small game hunting, you can buy the frameless ones. In frameless backpacks, the weight remains on your shoulders.

Conclusion:

My last words are just for your safety. Whether you are a seasoned or a novice hunter, your safety comes first. Make sure you have got all these gears in your most suitable backpack before you set out to the final hunt.

Book Review: Teach Yourself Python (and Why Preppers Should learn to code Python)

Teach Yourself Python (and Why Preppers Should learn to code Python)

Book Review: Teach Yourself Python (and Why Preppers Should learn to code Python)
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#python
Many preppers focus on old skills like bushcraft and homesteading, but don’t forget to realize that we also live in a technology filled world. Having the ability to code can come in handy.

Python (from monty python) is a first programming language for many. It is easy to learn, easy to read, and there is a lot of libraries of code snippets so you can plug and play bits of code to make larger programs fast.

Python is used with arduino’s to make electronic devices, can make phone aps, runs many websites, and even NASA uses it in their scientific probes and computer programs.

If you have knowledge of Python and a base skill in electronics and mechanics you can take a laptop and plug into into a dead tractor and make it run. You can hack in every sense and really get things done.

Now, I am trying to learn Python myself, and I chose to use the ebook “Python: A Beginners’ Guide to Python Programming to automate the boring tasks and learn coding fast (Machine Learning techniques for database programming and computer languages”. It is $5.oo on kindles and pretty easy to use. It is a step by step guide for computers using windows, linus, and OS as well as some other operating systems. It tells you how to find free Python editors, and walks you through the learning steps.

Its a great buy, and I recommend it.

Wifi Extender Review

Gear Review: Wifi Extender
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#WifiExtender
When I got the chance to review this wifi extender – repeater/signal booster I said yes. I use the internet almost 24-7 I use it for research, for my work, and for entertainment. With my son using a e-reader, my wife an i-pad and laptop, and my using the my phone and computer at the same time we had a lag problem

This wifi extender helped remedy some of that. We now have am much stronger signal and I have noticeably faster speeds.

It wasn’t hard to set up either. Just plug it in, log into the device and enter your wireless password, then select the wifi repeater as your device’s internet source and enter the password.

That is all it takes, additionally, it includes usb charging ports so you get a lot of functionality in a small device.

My goal for this WiFi Extender is to use it to boost signal so I can install a wifi camera.  This camera would be at my gate so I can record people entering the land.  Its too far a distance to go directly from gate to shipping container, so a booster will help.

I actually have a review of a wireless camera coming so stay tuned.  If you want to have more options, I have linked to a review of the 8 best wifi enabled cameras.

Water Test Strips Review

 

Gear Review: Water Test Strips
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#HealthyWiser
Being able to test water is important. Being able to boil water only kills bacteria, it does nothting for chemical impurities. This means you need to be able to test for them.

The water test strips I am using in the video test for 9 indicators of impure water. I can detect bacteria as well as other impurities.

It is simple to use, simply dip in the water, pull out and wait 30 seconds before comparing the strips to the chart.

One thing I really like about these strips is that the manufacturer thought far enough in advance to package the strips in sealed containers and added several such sealed bags in the bottle. This means the unopened strips will last longer.

This is a great product, and I am pleased that healthy wise chose to let me review it for them.

This water test strips have given me peace of mine since my water at the land comes from a stream and is not treated in any way.  While this test strips don’t test everything but they do test the common issues that would contaminate water.

Originally these strips are used to test pool water.

I did not get paid for this review, but I did receive the product at a discount.