WWII Homefront

While we’re on the subject of temperature manipulation in your living quarters,  let’s touch on tent heaters. I myself do not have a heater for my tent- I have a dachshund. Not only are dachshunds fun and irresistible for the public, they make excellent heaters. (as do  most short-haired dogs who are disinclined to shed)

However I know that soon after the hot summer weather is upon us, we will be surprised yet again by the sudden drop in temperature at night.

Things you need to know about tent heaters:

1. “Tent” heaters are actually space heaters. They are designed for areas that have some sort of ventilation. Why this matters to you is that if your tent is tied up tighter than a prize horse at market you will actually put your health in jeopardy.  Fuel based space heaters emit fumes.  Even if a heater is sold as a tent heater, it will have a warning label on it regarding this.

2. They emit heat. This may sound fairly logical, but this means they are a fire hazard.  This means your ultra cool, super rare, owned-by-Patton-himself pencil set is potential tinder for a superbly colorful bonfire.  You are also in danger of burning yourself on it if you touch it, even by accident. You can’t mess around with heaters. Heaters=fire hazard. Plain and simple.

3. Fuel cells are not cheap.  While not precisely expensive, you can’t just buy a heater, you have to buy the fuel for the heater as well.  Now if you’re camping in a GP medium, and you have a great space cleared for the heater, and you have your bed set up properly so as not to lose body heat through the bottom of your cot, you will do just fine. But you will be investing in more fuel cells than if you were set up in an 8×12′ wall tent.

So… enough said on why they are dangerous. Lets show you what is currently on the market!

So remember- read the fine print.  Do not assume that because it says it is an outdoor heater that you can use it in a tent. Read the labels, read the boxes, and if you are ordering online, check out the product descriptions on the manufacturer’s website.  Be an informed consumer, and keep warm safely!

Imagine my surprise when a friend of mine called me to say “I found your post on camping at events, it helped me a LOT”! I was thrilled!   I was also entertained by the fact that he sent the link to his wife! Camping out shouldn’t be uncomfortable, and if you know the right way to do it, you will be snug as a bug during cold weather, and cool and comfortable in warm weather. Here are a few notes that were not in the last post, but are helpful.

1. If you have a tent that will allow the sides to be pegged or rolled up during the day in hot weather, (and you can keep your personal belongings from looking like a rummage sale) DO IT! You will have a temperate living space, instead of overheated oven that will bake you and everything you own. Even vented tents, like Sibleys will benefit from the breeze through the bottom of the tent. If you can’t figure out how to make your tent do this, don’t panic. If you have doors at either end, like on a wall tent, tie one side of your door about 1/3 open at each end of the tent, to give you a cross breeze.  Still at a loss?  Keep spare stakes on hand, and use them to hold up the ground corners of your tent to let the air move.

2. If you don’t have enough blankets to keep one under you and one over you while you are sleeping on a cot, put your belongings under the cot while you sleep, to keep the night breeze from stealing your body heat from beneath you.

3. Invest in a tent fan. They’re small, and you can get them online so you never have to set foot in the camping goods store.  They are small, but excellent at moving the air around enough to keep you from sweltering.  Try any of these:

These tips should help you get through some uncomfortable weather! More to come

Think you’ve got what it takes to make your own ‘vintage’ clothes?  Good for you!  You may have noticed by now that I post a lot of links to books here… it’s because research is key. So here, my friends, is a great place to do some research!

Why so many links for quilting books, you ask? Because they are going to show you reproduction prints of cotton fabrics that are going to make trips to the fabric store a whole new experience for you Go to the bookstore, or order online from the comfort of your own home, but check out what these books have to offer!

I put a lot of books up on here for you to look at today, then of course I had to go look at what I wanted to make for dinner tonight.

Silly me… Of COURSE you want to see what rationing cookbooks are out there!   You’re in for a treat, because there are some great ones!! Pick one up, and spend a week trying to eat only what was allowed!

Now then, folks. Before you start to think that I am off my rocker, lets give you a little history on the wonder that is Spam.  (which is short for “shoulder of pork and ham”, or “spiced ham” depending on who you talk to)
Spam debuted in 1937, and in 1940 had what was believed to be the very first singing commercial. ‘SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM, Hormel’s new miracle meat in a can, Tastes fine; saves time, if you want something grand; ask for SPAM’   From 1941-1945, more than 1 million pounds of Spam were shipped worldwide to support US and Allied troops.  In 1943, they even had a black and white ‘economy’ label for the war effort!

Spam is currently sold in 41 countries worldwide, the most usage being in the USA, the UK, and South Korea.  It was introduced to Hawaii and to Guam during WWII, where fresh meat was difficult to come by… and Spam is still exceptionally popular in these areas today, where the average citizen consumes 16 tins per year!  That’s a LOT of Spam.

While people of means refer to Spam as “poor people food”, places like Hawaii refer to other varieties of tinned meat as “poor people’s Spam”.

So…. here’s what to do with it when you have it!  These recipes, and many more, can be found at SpamRecipes.net and information on Spam can be found at Spam.com (which is where these fabulous images are from!)

Cabbage Apple Spam Supper

Ingredients:
1/4 cup butter
1/3 cup honey
2 cooking apples, sliced 1/4″
1/2 tsp nutmeg
3 cups shredded cabbage 1/4 tsp clove
12-oz can SPAM, cubed 1/2″

Directions:
In skillet melt butter over medium heat. Add remaining ingredients; toss to combine. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until apples and cabbage are tender and SPAM is heated through (10 to 12 minutes).

Hawaiian Spam Sandwich

Ingredients:
1 can Spam luncheon meat (12 oz)
4 slices American cheese
1 can Pineapple rings (8 oz); drained
4 Hamburger buns; split

Directions:
Brown SPAM slices in skillet. Place 2 SPAM slices on each bottom half of hamburger bun. Top with pineapple ring and cheese slice. Cover sandwich with top half of bun.

Cool Cucumber Avocado Spam Sandwiches

Ingredients:
8-oz pkg cream cheese, softened
1 medium cucumber, sliced 1/4″
12-oz can SPAM, sliced 1/8″
1/4 cup sour cream
2 ripe avocados, cut into 1/4″ wedges
1/4 cup chopped fresh dillweed
2 tbsp lemon juice
1/4 tsp pepper
8 slices rye bread

Directions:
In small bowl combine cream cheese, sour cream, dillweed and pepper; stir to blend. Spread 2 tablespoons cream cheese mixture on each slice of bread. Reserve remaining cream cheese mixture. Arrange cucumber slices on bread slices; or with 3 slices of SPAM. Dip avocados in lemon juice; Arrange on sandwiches. Garnixh with remaining cream cheese mixture.

Spam Salad

Ingredients:
1 can of Spam, regular or low-salt
1/4 cup diced white onion
1/4 cup diced sweet or dill pickle
1 large hard boiled egg, diced
1/4 teaspoon celery seed
Kraft Sandwich Spread or Salad Dressing to taste

Directions:
Decan the Spam. Either grind or use a food processor to reduce it to consistency of coarse hamburger. Mix with other ingredients using enough Sandwich Spread or Salad Dressing to get the spreading consistency you desire. Chill thoroughly. Serve as dip with chips or crackers or make into sandwiches.