I've learned a new skill this summer which I'm rather pleased with....it's the beginning stages of canning or food preserving. I say beginning because I'm learning a lot each time I can - it's a process & although it's not hard, it does require some learning and a time investment :)
It all started with an apricot tree that is in our yard here that was producing more apricots than we could keep up with! The kiddos & I figured out a way to "pick" the fruit as so much was falling to the ground & then some was wasted. We tool out the kids parachute & held it open while someone would take the rake & shake down the fruit which we'd catch in the parachute. Such a brilliant idea that saved the fruit & allowed us to pick dozens at the same time - I think Madeleine thought of that one!
The only dilemma is that with all the fruit we needed to do something with it! I talked Lauren into making some freezer jam with me & then we somehow realized that a favorite spread/jan they use of apricot & jalepeno jam should also be made. These were perfect to start out with as they can be considered low-key canning :). We did a few batches each of the freezer & jalepeno mix that day while the cousins played - it was fun to work with someone & we ended up with delicious results! This is just the freezer jam, I forgot to take a picture of the apricot & jalepeno jam...
The apricots kept coming & I couldn't swing another day right then to make jam, so I froze the remaining apricots to use at another time. I filled 4 huge zip-loc bags with apricots - perfect solution for later use.
When Celeste came in town a few weeks later, we spent her last afternoon here making the apricot & jalepeno jam again....this time I figured out to blend the jalepenos & some seeds into the jam for more of a kick - wow! Celeste showed me some tricks to sterilizing the jars & lids - I realized I was still such a novice!
Since I was on a canning kick I decided to attempt peaches. There was an incredible sale & suddenly 50 lbs. of peaches were sitting in my kitchen begging for attention. Jacob & I are huge fans of sweet peaches - we probably each ate around a dozen in the next few days! The peaches were starting to turn quickly so I froze a lot & then borrowed Leslie's steaming pot for the bottles & bought a lot of jars to get this project rolling. It ended up that I didn't start the process until late one evening - Bryson stayed up to talk with me & then donned an apron to cut peaches. We finished most of the peaches around 11:30pm - I just wanted to stare at the jars full of beautiful color....but we were tired! I finished the last small batch in the morning & realized we had canned 13 jars. It seemed like so much more - but when I really looked at those jars I wondered where all the peaches were --- still look at these beauties! I chose to do a really light syrup as I wanted to lessen the amount of sugar used - which I read when doing a light syrup the peaches float more to the top. It cracks me up to see them all bunched up at the top of the jar!
I'd like to do another round of peaches before they are out of season....and if I stay this ambitious I'd like to do applesauce in the fall - that is one of few fruits Bryson Jr will eat so I'd like to make my own so I know he's getting what I hope is the best.
I have a lot to learn about ways to be a better homemaker & as some call it a domestic diva --- but I find it fun & enjoyable to learn....and the best is that I love knowing I did something that we can enjoy. I also have two tomato plants that are growing at a wild pace (pictures to come as I seriously have never seen tomato plants grow this big (Bryson and I joke that the one is the plant from Little Shop of Horrors)...I think that either a salsa or some kind of tomatoes will need to be canned in a few weeks as well!
It all started with an apricot tree that is in our yard here that was producing more apricots than we could keep up with! The kiddos & I figured out a way to "pick" the fruit as so much was falling to the ground & then some was wasted. We tool out the kids parachute & held it open while someone would take the rake & shake down the fruit which we'd catch in the parachute. Such a brilliant idea that saved the fruit & allowed us to pick dozens at the same time - I think Madeleine thought of that one!
The only dilemma is that with all the fruit we needed to do something with it! I talked Lauren into making some freezer jam with me & then we somehow realized that a favorite spread/jan they use of apricot & jalepeno jam should also be made. These were perfect to start out with as they can be considered low-key canning :). We did a few batches each of the freezer & jalepeno mix that day while the cousins played - it was fun to work with someone & we ended up with delicious results! This is just the freezer jam, I forgot to take a picture of the apricot & jalepeno jam...
The apricots kept coming & I couldn't swing another day right then to make jam, so I froze the remaining apricots to use at another time. I filled 4 huge zip-loc bags with apricots - perfect solution for later use.
When Celeste came in town a few weeks later, we spent her last afternoon here making the apricot & jalepeno jam again....this time I figured out to blend the jalepenos & some seeds into the jam for more of a kick - wow! Celeste showed me some tricks to sterilizing the jars & lids - I realized I was still such a novice!
Since I was on a canning kick I decided to attempt peaches. There was an incredible sale & suddenly 50 lbs. of peaches were sitting in my kitchen begging for attention. Jacob & I are huge fans of sweet peaches - we probably each ate around a dozen in the next few days! The peaches were starting to turn quickly so I froze a lot & then borrowed Leslie's steaming pot for the bottles & bought a lot of jars to get this project rolling. It ended up that I didn't start the process until late one evening - Bryson stayed up to talk with me & then donned an apron to cut peaches. We finished most of the peaches around 11:30pm - I just wanted to stare at the jars full of beautiful color....but we were tired! I finished the last small batch in the morning & realized we had canned 13 jars. It seemed like so much more - but when I really looked at those jars I wondered where all the peaches were --- still look at these beauties! I chose to do a really light syrup as I wanted to lessen the amount of sugar used - which I read when doing a light syrup the peaches float more to the top. It cracks me up to see them all bunched up at the top of the jar!
I'd like to do another round of peaches before they are out of season....and if I stay this ambitious I'd like to do applesauce in the fall - that is one of few fruits Bryson Jr will eat so I'd like to make my own so I know he's getting what I hope is the best.
I have a lot to learn about ways to be a better homemaker & as some call it a domestic diva --- but I find it fun & enjoyable to learn....and the best is that I love knowing I did something that we can enjoy. I also have two tomato plants that are growing at a wild pace (pictures to come as I seriously have never seen tomato plants grow this big (Bryson and I joke that the one is the plant from Little Shop of Horrors)...I think that either a salsa or some kind of tomatoes will need to be canned in a few weeks as well!
2 comments:
Awesome! I love having canned food. We saw Bryson and Maddie at the Golden Days Celebration but missed you. we have to get together next time we are in town!!
Way to go! I just started canning 2years ago and still have so much to learn. However, it is rewarding to see all the beautiful jars lined up and eat the food all year long.
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