Ask Mavis: Grape Recipes, Galvanized Watering Cans, College Care Packages and More

It’s that time again. You ask, and I pretend to know things and answer your burning questions. It really is so much fun to open my inbox and see the wide variety of questions you guys have. Reminds me that my readers are so diverse and pretty dang awesome. So keep those questions coming and I’ll keep racking my brain for answers.

I love your galvanized watering can collection and you have so many! I am so curious how much you pay for them in your neck of the woods. They are pricey to me where I live {in the Midwest}. I just was so curious where you find them and what you consider a good price. Thanks!

~Jamie

I always keep my eyes open for them when I go antiquing or during yard sale season. I normally spend around $10-$20 at antique stores and yard sales. I’ve never had much luck finding them at thrift stores, but they might be more prevalent there in other parts of the country.

Hi Mavis, after seeing your get together of mothers cooking meals for freezing I decided to so the same thing with two of my friends! What a great idea!! We had a blast and I used your recipes for freezer meatballs, manicotti, and the sloppy joes! We are planning another one in October!! I would like to send you a picture of our group but I’m not sure how to do that on this type of communication.

~Ireen

I’m so glad you had a freezer meal party and glad to hear it turned out well. We had such a blast making 100 Freezer Meals in 5 Hours and we’re still eating on those meals! I’d love to see a picture of your get together. You can email it over to me at onehundreddollarsamonth {at} gmail {dot} com.

Hi Mavis, Are the weck rubber rings reusable? Do you know if they (the rings) fit the old Ball and Kerr ‘bail-type jars? I have many of those jars but no rubber rings to use for them.

~Teresa

Another week, another question about Weck canning jars! Not that I mind one bit because I love them so much. Good news and bad. I reuse my rubber rings and have never ever had an issue with them. It’s one of the things I love most about them. Bad news is they are not for ball type canning jars, just Weck jars. You can also read up on How to Use Weck Canning Jars for a few more tips.

Hi Mavis, I was wondering if you have any recipes for concord grapes. I have a boat load that just came in and I don’t want to make only jam. I want to make grape pie, (a New York state thing,) and some juice, but if you have any other ideas that would be great!

~Barb

You are in luck. I might not have any grape recipe around here, but my friend Jane just happens to have a few amazing recipes up her sleeve. Check out her grape juice recipe and her grape pie recipe. The thing about Jane’s recipes that you need to know is that they are always always amazing. Enjoy!

I’m looking for a post you did about care packages for college kids. I’m sending my oldest off to college and I’m a wreck just thinking about it. I want to have a package waiting for her. So can you help me find that post and can you tell me I’m going to survive this?

~Michelle

You might not believe this but you are going to be fine. And she’s going to be fine. And she’s going to grow and love it and come back to you with a thousand stories to tell. So I can’t help the missing her part, but I can help you with a bunch of College Care Package Ideas. Hope they help and good luck! Be strong!

Have a question for me? Submit them HERE and I’ll try to answer them.
~Mavis