Mexico’s Recession Could Worsen Due to Swine Flu

A deep recession and the Mexican drug wars were already playing havoc with Mexico’s economy before the swine flu outbreak hit. Now, with 86 people in Mexico dead from the swine flu, their recession could worsen.

Mexican Finance Minister Agustin Carstens spoke yesterday at The World Bank and International Monetary Fund biannual meeting. He warned that the outbreak could have an “important” economic impact.

The World Bank yesterday agreed to provide Mexico with $25 million in emergency funds for medicine and equipment. The World Bank is also ready to draw on an additional $180 million to help with other needs that arise due to the swine flu outbreak.

On top of Mexico’s mounting troubles, Russia yesterday suspended all pork shipments from Mexico. Several other nations have issued travel advisories to Mexico due to the swine flu outbreak.

List of Ten Things I Look Forward To-Besides Fridays

 

MY TOP TEN LIST Of THINGS I LOOK FORWARD TO

 

 

1.Memorial Day and the beginning of the tourist season

 2. Seeing my children

  3. Rainy days at Barnes & Noble

 4. Sunny days at Barnes & Noble

5. Movies that make me cry

6. Spagetti dinners

6. Trips to Lowe’s garden center

  7. Blogging

8. Winning the lottery

9. My first cup of morning coffee

10. Labor Day and the end of the tourist season

Ball Jars-A Sign of the Changing Times

Here’s a sign of the changing times. Remember the last time you saw a coupon for canning jars? Me neither! Lo and behold there was a coupon for Ball jars in todays’ Sunday paper. With all the new gardens growing this year, they’re now a hot item again!

Memories came rushing back to me as I read that ad. I could smell the chili sauce simmering away on one side of my mother’s stove while a pot of boiling water to sterilize the jars steamed away on the other side. I remembered the pop the lids make when you finally got to open one of the Ball jars and sample its contents. It could hold chili sauce, peaches, pears, tomatoes, corn relish, dill pickles or my very favorite, green tomato mincemeat.

Of course, I had to visit the Ball Jar website and really enjoyed it. Here’s one of the many recipes I found there.

Dill Pickles

Featuring Ball® Simple Creations® Kosher Dill Pickle Mix
Makes 4 (32 oz) quarts or 8 (16 oz) pints

You will need:
 7 lb pickling cucumbers (about 28 small to medium)
 6 cups water
 2-1/2 cups vinegar
 1 5-oz pkg Ball® Simple Creations® Kosher Dill Pickle Mix
 4 (32 oz) quart or 8 (16 oz) pint glass preserving jars with lids and bands

Directions:
1.) PREPARE boiling water canner. Heat jars and lids in simmering water until ready for use. Do not boil. Set bands aside.
2.) CUT ends off cucumbers. Cut into spears.
3.) COMBINE water, vinegar and contents of package in a medium saucepan. Heat to a boil.
4.) PACK cucumber spears into hot jars leaving 1/2 inch headspace. Ladle hot pickling liquid over cucumbers leaving 1/2 inch headspace. Remove air bubbles. Wipe rim. Center hot lid on jar. Apply band and adjust until fit is fingertip tight.
5.) PROCESS filled jars in a boiling water canner for 15 minutes, adjusting for altitude. Remove jars and cool. Check lids for seal after 24 hours. Lid should not flex up and down when center is pressed.

Note: For added crispness, soak cut cucumbers in ice water for 4 hours before preparing recipe. For added flavor, allow pickles to stand for 4 to 6 weeks