Mason Jar Vacuum Sealer Kit, Electric Sealer for Wide, Regular Mouth Mason Jars, Portable Vacuum Sealer for Jars
I bought this a short time ago and have since sucked the air out of most of the jars I have with various food items, like dry beans, fruits and even nuts, but one thing I just saw online was something that I hadn’t actually thought of. Putting half of an avocado in a Ball jar and running the jar sealer on it to preserve this food longer. I’ve said elsewhere that if there was an Arlington Cemetery for Avocadoes, that there would be a whole section that I have personally buried. Perhaps the only other veggie that I consistently ruin is cilantro, and I’m going to go vacuum pack it right now. *And that got me to thinking about my head of broccoli. I cut it up into individual florets and am sealing it as I write this. *I put these in a wide mouth jar that I had.
If preserving these food items that I regularly ruin works. What a game changer. It will be worth the $30 I spent to purchase this sealer./
I graduated from Swansboro High School in 1972 and started at UNC-Chapel Hill in the fall.
I attended Carolina for two years, but did not graduate because of low grades. I transferred to Campbell College, because no one else would take me with my scores, but pulled them up and transferred to UNC-Wilmington and graduated from there in the summer of 1976, with a degree in Business Administration.
But here are some memories of my time at Carolina.
Another bar, of which I cannot recall the name. Seems to be a recurring theme, don’t you think?
I lived in Chapel Hill for a couple of years going to college in the early 1970s. Only two years, because I flunked out and had to finish my college education elsewhere. My mom was paying for my education, and there was no doubt that I would graduate from somewhere.
“Silent Sam” was still on campus and I would pass him in the early morning hours on my way back to my dorm room, in Aycock Dorm. That name was changed a few years ago because Governor Aycock, for whom it was named was determined to be a racist. Governor Russell, who immediately preceded Governor Aycock, and who was a very distant relative of mine, was ridiculed for his pro “black” leanings, but that’s because he had a black nanny, when he was growing up at Palo Alto Plantation in Onslow County. And Silent Sam was silent because she carried a rifle and he only shot it off when a “virgin” walked by. *I didn’t make this up. It’s what I was told.
Oh, and there was also Hector’s “Famous Since 1969.” I stopped in there many a time to get a couple of their egg rolls, to assuage my muchie hunger. Soooo… good.
But there was a little bar behind and below the Rathskellar Restaurant and you could either walk down stairs from the Rat, or come in the back way to the small bar. Small? I seem to recall that it had two rooms, all painted black, floor to ceiling. One room had the small bar area, and the other room had at least one “PONG” video game. And, John Sharp and I played this game well, as a team against others. I was good at defense and John was good on the front paddle.
And this bar had a beer special, a pitcher for a good price. It had to be good because I know I had several of them while visiting each time. Maybe one, but I drank it fast to get drunk.
So, I can’t recall the name of this little bar. There is a web cam that shows the intersection of Franklin Street & Columbia (the back entrance was down a concrete driveway) and I see this view quite often on WRAL TV5 in the mornings.
And after all of the above, ChatGPT managed to find the obscure name of this little bar — The Bacchae! And described as “…one of Chapel Hillโs first true nightclubs,” which I find amusing. About as far from a nightclub as a VW Bug is from a Lamborghini, and the Bacchae was no Lamborghini. And now ChatGPT adds that my version of The Bacchae, predated the nightclub version.
I asked ChatGPT to suggest ways that I could get below 230 lbs. I’ve lost over 60 lbs. in a relatively short time (about 5 months), twice in my life. Once when I was about 49 years old (2003) and then about 9 years later, in 2012 when I was first diagnosed with type 2 diabetes
I think when I was about 49 years old I became a “foodie.” Before that time I had told myself that I didn’t want to become a foodie, if I even fully understood what that might mean. I recall walking by the spices in Food Lion and stopping to look at at small jar of Saffron. I think it cost about $14 and I thought that rather expensive. I had never tried saffron, but I said to myself, “If you don’t try it now, you may never try it before you die.” And with that thought, I started trying things that I had, to that point, not tried. *Oh, and in the saffron spice jar, was a small black plastic resealable pouch, and in that just a few pinches of saffron. $14 and you probably weren’t even filling up a fourth of that small spice jar.
I do recall making some white rice and adding saffron to it. The saffron pistils are a dark rusty red, but they made the rice a bright yellow color. I ate the bright yellow rice with bright green (from frozen) garden peas. I haven’t fixed anything with saffron in a long time. As I recall it took several attempts before I could finally taste the nuance of flavor that saffron brings to food. There are so many other flavors that can overpower it.
Lost a bunch of weight at 49 about 2003, but I first visited the Biltmore Estate in last Spring of 2004. As I recall I just missed the spring plantings, which I was told had been dug up to plant the summer plantings about a week before I visited. I took the day’s ticket, and paid extra to make it a year long ticket, so that I could visit an unlimited number of times (except for the special Christmas tour). And I did visit multiple times that year (and haven’t been back since). I visited for each season, and paid extra for the Christmas night tour, and before the annual ticket ran out, I visited again to see the spring plantings early in 2005.
Seems like it was on a visit to Biltmore that as the afternoon waned, I went into the little shopping area attached to the main house. They had a bakery in there and I bought two or three sugary items. I know one of them was a Bear Claw. And, as I started to drive back home (to Fayetteville), I began to eat these sugary, starchy desserts. And that was the start of me adding the weight back on. This was the first time I had gotten to about 230 lbs. after losing 60 lbs. in a few months.
By the way, losing the 60 lbs. both times was not a struggle. Once in the mindset, and the metabolism is going, I can eat a variety of foods and still lose weight, about 2 or 3 lbs. a week. And that is even with cheats every so often. I consider a “cheat” to be like eating a large plate of spaghetti with sauce, or having a whole half gallon of ice cream in less than two days. These cheats were the first time I lost weight, because the second time was more difficult because I was now losing the weight because I was a type 2 diabetic. I had to cut out a bunch of foods that had been fair game the first time. I think I cut out bread entirely, and drank a lot of water and now corn, potatoes, pasta and rice were now severely restricted.
Both times of great weight loss I got to about 230 lbs. (maybe even a little less) but it was at this point that instead of continuing to lose 2-3 lbs. a week, I stopped losing for about two weeks, and then I started back up. But my gain was at about half the speed from which I had lost. Visually maybe about a 45 degree slant downward, and then about a 22.5 degree slope back upward.
I have lost about 12 lbs. over the last year and cut my Resting Blood Glucose level by about 50 points. So, unlike the two times that I lost about 60 lbs., this time it has been a slow, steady loss and I weighed 237.4 lbs. yesterday (12/06/25).
I forgot I had posted the following graphs about my weight in previous years:
And here are the tweaks that may help me get below my weight goal of 230 lbs.
1. Eat protein first at each meal
A few bites of protein before anything else flattens blood sugar spikes and naturally reduces appetite without effort.
2. Include one resistant-starch food every day
Beans, wild rice, black rice, or sprouted bread improve insulin sensitivity and promote slow, steady weight loss.
3. Take a 10-minute walk after your largest meal
This small movement lowers post-meal glucose and shifts your body toward fat-burning without feeling like exercise.
4. Add one extra serving of vegetables daily
Extra fiber fills you up, reduces calories naturally, and keeps blood sugar stable.
5. Choose one meal each day to be slightly lighterโbased on appetite
Letting hunger decide the โlight mealโ prevents metabolic stress and creates a gentle calorie reduction.
6. Make very small calorie trims, not big cuts
Removing 30โ70 calories from a meal (like one less slice of bacon or bread) nudges weight downward without triggering rebound.
7. Drink 4โ6 ounces of water before eating starches or sweets
A small amount of water slows stomach emptying and reduces the blood sugar rise from the meal.
I bought a new digital bathroom scale and this morning was the first time I recorded my Daily Weight. I wrote down that it showed me as 240.2 lbs. but when I looked at the app on my phone it said 240.3. *I’ll try and pay attention to see if the numbers are slightly off, or maybe I made a mistake writing it down. I don’t have to have my phone with me, because the app uses my WIFI to get the message from the scale.
I had gone to Hamlet to have the lunch buffet at Seaboard Station Restaurant. Their prices have gone up to $13 for the buffet, with water. I had one small piece of fried chicken, a taste of meatloaf, a small portion of pastry, some green beans, a small salad and some Sara Lee Carrot Cake.
But, when I got to the IGA in Rockingham (Edwards, I think.) I found that they had a pint (maybe two) of Hershey’s “Roadrunner Raspberry” Ice Cream for $3.99. I was so happy to finally find it that I bought a pint for a lady that was passing nearby. Her choice and she chose “Dulce de Leche” I think.
I haven’t made bread at home for many years but I did have a machine just like the one shown above and just got rid of it about six months ago. I was divesting myself of things and this was one that I did not use.
As I recall, the machine would perform the whole process of bread making from mixing the dough, to kneading the dough, letting it rest and finally baking the bread. The only real problem with baking the bread was that the loaf came out oddly shaped (at least for slicing into a standard loaf form). And that is why at the last I would use the machine to get the dough ready to bake, and then put it in a regular loaf pan and bake it in the oven.
But now, unless I could use sprouted grain to make the bread dough, and I don’t know how to do that, I don’t knead to make bread at home. I do like the flavor of Aldi’s “Knock Your Sprouts Off” Reduced Sodium bread, and it doesn’t appear to raise my blood sugar, but I normally only eat one slice a day, with peanut butter, some honey and a generous portion of Ceylon cinnamon.
This was simple but turned out really good. I would definitely do this several times again.
Ingredients
1โ2 chicken breasts
Onion
Bell pepper
Zucchini
1โ2 tbsp oil
ยฝ cup water or broth
โ โยฝ cup teriyaki sauce
Garlic powder
Spicy Chili Crisp (Don’t forget to add this.)
S&P
Optional:
1 tsp cornstarch + 1 tbsp water
Carrots
Okra
Add frozen peas
Cook Time
Whole breasts: 7โ8 min on High + 10 min natural release
Diced breasts: 4โ5 min on High + 5 min natural release
Steps
Lightly brown chicken on both sides.
Sautรฉ onion and bell pepper in oil.
Add zucchini on top.
Pour in ยฝ cup water or broth.
Add 2โ3 tbsp teriyaki sauce (optional at this stage).
Pressure cook using times above.
Natural release for the listed time.
Add remaining teriyaki sauce and simmer 1โ2 minutes on Sautรฉ.
Optional: stir in cornstarch slurry to thicken.
Notes
Keep zucchini thick so it doesnโt get mushy.
Add final teriyaki sauce after pressure cooking for best flavor.
I had some already cooked rice and I put that in a bowl and then added some Spicy Chili Crisp.
I fixed this again today and it was good again. I did not taste the okra, and think that maybe carrots might be a better option. This just makes a good soupy broth. Very satisfying. I don’t use much cooked rice. *I have recently fixed a black & wild rice combo in my IP Mini and have fallen in love with it. I like the flavor and each rice kernel is a shiny black color, like an onyx.
Having said I don’t use much cooked rice, here is a small batch recipe for a mix of Black & Wild Rice.
Black RiceBlack & Wild Rice ComboWild Rice
๐พ Wild Rice โ Nutritional Facts
Wild rice is high in fiber, protein, and minerals like magnesium and zinc, and it contains strong antioxidant levels. It has a low to low-moderate glycemic index (GI 45โ53), and usually falls on the lower end, making it one of the best rice options for stable blood sugar.
๐ Black Rice โ Nutritional Facts
Black rice, also known as “Forbidden Rice,” is rich in anthocyanins, the dark-purple antioxidants also found in blueberries, which support heart health and reduce inflammation. It has a low to moderate glycemic index (GI 42โ55) depending on the variety, making it a significantly better choice for glucose control than white or brown rice.
้ป็ฑณ (Mandarin Chinese) | ํ๋ฏธ Korean
Pronunciation (Mandarin): hฤi mว Translation: Black Rice
้ป (hฤi) = black
็ฑณ (mว) = rice / grain
So this sticker simply means โblack rice.โ
TOP PRODUCING COUNTRIES FOR BLACK RICE
China
India
Thailand
Indonesia
Philippines
Vietnam
โญ SMALL-BATCH WILD RICE + BLACK RICE (3 servings of ~โ cup cooked)
Yield: ~1 cup cooked rice
๐ซ Ingredients
2 tablespoons wild rice
4 tablespoons (ยผ cup) black rice (This ratio cooks evenly: black rice softens a little faster but still works well.)
ยฝ cup water
Pinch of salt (optional)
ยฝ teaspoon oil (optional โ keeps foam down in the Mini)
Total dry rice = 6 tablespoons = โ cup. When cooked, this will expand to ~1 cup, which divides into three โ -cup servings.
๐ฒ Instant Pot Mini Instructions
Rinse the wild rice + black rice under cold water.
Add the rice to the Instant Pot Mini.
Add ยฝ cup water, salt, and oil.
Close lid, seal the valve.
Pressure Cook: 20 minutes (High Pressure) This is the sweet spot where the wild rice softens and black rice doesnโt get mushy.
Natural Release for 10 minutes, then quick release the rest.
Fluff with a fork. You should have around 1 cup cooked grains.
โ๏ธ Texture Notes
This gives a chewy grainโideal for wild rice blends.
Pinkie Taking a ReadBoy Blue Taking a ReadYoung Girl Not Reading
Small copies of “Pinkie,” “Boy Blue,” and “Young Girl Reading” were on the living room wall of my Aunt Sis. I think Pinkie & Boy Blue were beside each other and I don’t recall where Young Girl Reading was located. Since I’ve been “playing” with AI for a few months now, I realized that it can generate images from your imagination. If you have an idea and can express it in words, the AI (and ChatGPT & Gemini handle image generation differently) and generate an image “heading toward” what you you’ve described. And, you can suggest changes, but not things like, “make her bosom fuller.” So it came to me, what not have Pinkie and Boy Blue reading. That way we would have a matched set of all three reading. And, if Pinkie and Boy Blue aren’t reading, why should we force “the Young Girl” to have to read endlessly? I think the AI did a wonderful job and perhaps if you didn’t know better you might think we are seeing them in their lives *Having written that last sentence I’ve now thought, “why not progress them through their lives. Perhaps as newly weds, or with their first child in arms, or even as elderly readers.
The first item I fixed in my new Instant Pot (actually my first and only Instant Pot) was black eyed peas with some seasoning meat. They turned out wonderfully. After a day in the fridge, and reheating, with a little chopped sweet onion, they were great!
Just yesterday, it had turned cold, and I had been up to Raleigh. I visited the State Farmers Market, Whole Foods & Wegmans before leaving town. On the way back home, I wanted some turnip & turnip greens with a little pork flavoring, and “the Red Neck BBQ Lab” off of I 40 did not have any (and really didn’t have a fixed time when they might — I was told to just check their Facebook page for updates).
I also stopped at Lee’s Fresh Market and bought three items: thick cut pork chops, frozen shrimp (heads & tails off, & peeled) and some chicken breasts. When I came through Erwin, North Carolina, I stopped at the IGA and bought a bunch of fresh turnips, with the greens still attached. By “a bunch” I didn’t mean a lot, but they come in a bunch, like a bunch of carrots.
I’ve already made “one mess” of turnips & greens and they turned out great. They were so good, and it took so little time (only 6 minutes under Pressure Cook) in the Instant Pot that I won’t have to go out to get them, ever again (until I can’t cook for myself at some point in the future).
So, this page is a result of me thinking, I would like to have some black eyed peas and some turnips & turnip greens as a meal, “What should I have with these two items.” And I asked my ‘AI of Choice’ Chat GPT and here is what it suggested (knowing a little about my likes & dislikes). And I think the suggestions were so good that I made this page so that I could remember them.
1. Roasted Sweet Potatoes (top pick) Natural sweetness balances the savory sides. Diabetic-friendly when roasted plain. Cube and roast 30โ40 minutes at 400ยฐF, or cook halved in the Instant Pot for 12 minutes.
2. Cornbread (classic Carolina/Southern pairing) Matches both greens and peas perfectly. Adds comforting texture and slight sweetness. Low-carb versions are possible if needed.
3. Cabbage (steamed, sautรฉed, or Instant Pot) Mild, buttery, and doesnโt overpower other flavors. Takes only 3 minutes in the Instant Pot. Completes the plate without adding heaviness.
4. Oven-Roasted Okra (or air-fried) Light, Southern, and easy. Roast at 425ยฐF for 15โ20 minutes with salt, pepper, and oil. Crispy outside and creamy inside.
5. Stewed Tomatoes Bright and light, balances heavier sides. Simple: tomatoes, onion, pepper, and a pinch of sweetener. Adds color and acidity to the plate.
6. Chilled Cucumber & Onion Salad Cool, crisp contrast to the hot sides. Sliced cucumbers + sweet onion + apple cider vinegar + salt. Refreshing and palate-cleansing.
NOTE: I love cornbread, especially the sweet “Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix” that I’ve made into a jalapeno & onion version, or even a sweet version with fruit. But, I know I can’t eat this without my blood sugar spiking. But if it didn’t, yeah, I would have cornbread with these foods. [end]
๐ฅ 1. Roasted Sweet Potatoes (top pick)
This is the perfect complement.
Why it works:
Natural sweetness balances the savory peas and greens
Soft texture pairs with the beans
No vinegar needed
Extremely diabetic-friendly when roasted plain
Works hot or cold
Just cube them, toss with a little olive oil + salt, roast 30โ40 minutes at 400ยฐF.
Instant Pot version also works (cut in half, 12 minutes).
๐ฅฃ๐ฅฌ TURNIPS WITH GREENS โ BASIC SOUTHERN STYLE
Ingredients (2โ3 servings) โข 2 medium turnips, peeled & cut into chunks โข Greens from the turnips, washed well and chopped โข ยฝ medium onion (use more โ you love onion) โข 1โ2 cloves garlic, minced โข 1โ2 tbsp olive oil or a little bacon fat (optional) โข 1ยฝ cups water or broth โข Salt & pepper
Optional: โข Pinch of red pepper flakes โข Small piece of ham hock, diced bacon, or 1 tsp unsalted butter
Instant Pot (3-Qt) Instructions
Press Sautรฉ. Add oil, onion, and garlic. Cook 2โ3 minutes.
Add turnip chunks and stir.
๐ฅฌ Add chopped greens.
Add 1 cup water or broth.
Season with salt, pepper, and optional red pepper flakes.
Cancel Sautรฉ. Close lid โ Pressure Cook 6 minutes.
Natural Release 5 minutes, then Quick Release.
They come out soft, flavorful, and perfect for diabetic-friendly meals.
Note (11/29/25) They cooked fast and were very flavorful. I added more salt and a bit of unsalted butter โ these were a success! I should fix a mess of black-eyed peas to go with these. [end]
Diabetic Notes โข Very low carb โข Turnips are far friendlier than potatoes โข Greens add fiber with almost no carbs โข Olive oil keeps calories down โข A little bacon fat adds huge flavor
